I'm so glad to have found this site. I was banded January 11, 2011 and have had quite a journey the past year of my life. My pre op weight was 292 and as of today 2/6/12, I'm at 235. My goal is 180. I have been "stuck" the past few months..losing a pound or two to regain it back. I had some fluid taken out of my band recently because of severe heartburn and hoping that my band was just too tight. It is great to read and see everyone else's progress and hoping that this gives me the inspiration that I need to get to my goal. I've come so far the past year but still the old me in my mind...such a hard image for me to change.

_Melissa,

_{I got banded last June and I know what you mean. For a couple of weeks I didnt lose weight at all. I then talked to my dietician and we went over my food journal. After looking at it, she told me to cut back on the fresh fruit and not comsume alot of it. That made the difference. Just keep it up and congrats on the weightloss}

Thank you!! That is a good idea...maybe I need to take a harder look at my intakes on fresh fruits..it is so easy to forget how much sugar I'm consuming because in my head "since it's fruit, it's healthy and ok"

^{Do you keep a food journal?}

I did for roughly two months and quit...I know I should..would probably show me exactly where I am messing up at

If its a hassle doing a food journal, you should try some of the apps they have for smart phones.

you could make your blog private on here and use this website. i use one at mylapband journey and it will add up all your fats , Proteins and carbs. and its printable.

Good Luck!

I was also banded 1/11/11.....Can you believe a whole year went by? I'm down about 46 lbs as of my visit to the doctor last week. It has been a journey but I'd do it again in a heart beat. Wish I would have done it years ago. I went through a period of losing 1 or 2 and then gaining 1 or 2 over the summer/fall. It was frustrating for sure. I was using myfitnesspal to journal, doing zumba 2-3 times a week and even did a test at the hospital to check my metabolism. I felt like I had enough restriction, in fact I was worried I had too much. I almost had some fluid taken out back in Oct but decided to just stay as it. I truly believe I was confusing full with being a little stuck. If I'd only eaten a bite or 2 of my dinner and got that stuck feeling right of the bat, I figured I had too much restriction. I assumed I'd just eaten too fast or taken too big of a bite. Well, turns out, sometime, I''m just "full" sooner than other times. I didn't want to eat between meals or snack but I'm pretty much a rule follower but I figured out for me that if I ate 3 bites of protein at lunch and felt full but then felt hungry 2 hours later....it's ok. I can eat again and not feel guilty. One of the nurses said it sounded like I was over-thinking the whole thing too much and needed to just listen to my body. Well, it all seemed to click, mentally and physically....I can't really explain it. I'm not a fast loser and was so jealous when I'd see people who'd lost 70 lbs in 3 or 4 months. I felt like I'd failed but fortunately I realized that everyone is so different and I can't compare myself to someone else. My doc's office is thrilled with 40 lbs in a year so I am too! of course, I'd love to be at my goal but I've been able to do it thus far without any huge problems so I can keep on doing it until I get there. I feel better, I look better and my health is improved...what more can you ask for? Keep up the good work and continue to post your progress.

Shelley