I was banded July 15, 2011 and have only lost 36 lbs so far. I am coming up on my 1st year anniversary and I feel like I haven't achieved as much as I should have.

I have 8.5 in a 10cc band and can eat pretty much anything in small quantities.

I work out really hard for a few weeks and then always seem to step back a little bit.

I really need to up my Protein (it makes me gag now) and Water again...all these things I realize I need to do but it is so HARD!!

It is scary because I feel I have wasted time not really losing that much and I worry that I might not ever get to my goal of 135 lbs....if I continue as I am...I am 87 lbs away from goal weight...

What do my fellow bandsters think? Anyone else know the rules but struggle following them in the best way...can I still reach my goal if I continue on doing as I am? Will it just take me another 2 yrs...or will My body just stop loosing bc it is so slowly losing now????

If I followed ALL the rules exactly, how quickly do u think I could get to my goal? A year??? Should I get a fill? I am satisfied throughout the day pretty well...just late at night when I am bored I seem to want to eat...lately it has been chopped cucumbers, but in the past year I have struggled and ate Cereal, etc...

Anyone else banded around the same date as me? How has your journey been?

First step in fixing a problem is understanding that u have one.it looks like u get it ! I know all the rules are hard to follow but I would say getting protein in and eating it first may be the main rule to try to stick to.for me I really hate exercise so I try to stick to the eating rules cuz I know I am up and down on the exercise.I was banded 4/6/12 and have lost 36 lbs since pre op 3/23/12.

I was banded 7/1/11 and I'm 165 today....269 at surgery. I would be disappointed too. Are you eating slider foods? Are you exercising? I still do not eat breakfast, I do protein shakes instead and I do not snack inbetween meals. Although at this point I can eat almost anything, I always eat my protein first then veggies and very little refined carbs at lunch and dinner. I had a long history of dieting before I was banded so I felt like I knew how to eat balanced but just never could stick to it preband. If you need alittle refresher, why not make an appt with your nutritionist and get a good plan in place AND exercise, exercise, exercise. You can still do it!!!

I like what Jenjaw had to say. I too have been a lifelong dieter and I think I know the nutrition rules and how my body works with and reacts to the food I consume. My nutritionist really helped me to get over a hump back in March so i agree, sit down with your nutritionist.

And, of course you can meet your goals but no one is going to do it for you. Your band is a tool and if you don't use it as it's designed, then you're on your own and it's just another diet. And we all know how well diets work without the tool.

tmf

You know the rules but are unable to follow them. It's not always easy that is for sure! Maybe you could check with a psychologist and have them help you find out if there is an underlying reason you are not able to follow the rules. Just a thought.

all great advice up above. You said you have a hard time getting in your protein. Just a little side note. You get more bang for buck with protein. Not only does your body need it but it takes twice as much calories to break down protein than it does carbs.

I was a huge carbie before surgery so I understand how hard it can be to get in the protein. At Christmas all rules went out the window and I ate all kinds of carbs, especially See's Candy and my own peanut brittle. I can honestly say what a huge negative affect it had on my body. Not only from weight gain, but I was so tired it was crazy!

So get your mind in the game again and start following the rules! You lost 36 pounds, you CAN lose the other 87!

A couple things to point out...

Being able to eat anything isn't bad at all, in fact it's good, so long as you stick to small quantities. When you asked about possibly needing another fill, then state night eating and boredom, then no a fill won't help. That is head hunger not actual body hunger. No amount of fills are going to change your head, that is something you have to work on yourself.

You have to change your eating habits and lifestyle for a lifetime. You can't look at this like another diet, you must look at the band as a tool to better your health for a lifetime.

If I were in your shoes, the first thing I would do is start logging absolutely everything you eat. This way, you can see exactly where your calories are coming from, where to cut back or out, and how much Protein you're getting. Plus, when you log everything you put into your mouth, you're holding yourself accountable. I personally use an android app called "Lose It" to track what I eat and I love it.

It's never too late to turn it around and start losing. It's a matter of whether or not you're willing to do the work to turn it around and change your lifestyle.

Thanks to everyone for your replies!! I do follow the rules mostly, but I am definitely struggling with head hunger at night for sure. I think that is my biggest issue. I will start working on it hard again and following the rules to the max. One of the issues I have when I work out really hard is that I am super starving...two months ago I hit the gym for 7 classes a week (trbo kick, Zumba, and strength and conditionkng 2x each class/week) and I also did Bootcamp 2x/week and the HUnGEr I couldn't hardly control...especially at night....and i didnt lose weight except for maybe a pound...i did lose inches though for sure...what do u suggest for that?

Now I go to the gym for about 3 hrs or classes/week....and I swim also. So I don't have the insatiable hunger issue at night, just probably boredom issue hunger.

I will let you all know how I am doing next month. Thanks for all the motivation and advice!!

I have a constant battle with head hunger and eating because I am bored at work. 7 times out of 10, if I fix a cup of herbal tea, I can overcome the urge to eat. Of the 3 times I give in, 2 of those times I make sure that my snack includes some protein. I even found a cookie that is 110 calories with 4 grams of protein.

I've been battling the head hunger too ate night lately, so much more than my first year out from surgery. And like Dulci I have been having a cup of tea to try and forget about it. When I can't forget about it, been trying to have a CarbMaster yogurt and 1/4 cup Kashi Crunch cereal.

I bought some sugar free vanilla caramel coffee creamer today, only 30 calories. I find if I have a cup of coffee with that in it, it really helps curb both a sweet tooth and head hunger.

You say Protein makes you gag. What do you mean by that? Is it getting stuck? If so, you might actually be too tight. Protein is what will keep you satisfied. It should be your priority. If you cannot eat 3 oz of solid protein at a meal, you could be too tight.

I lost very slowly, too. But time goes by regardless. Work on good habits, the rest will follow. Many of us are hungrier at night. It just seems to be the way of the band. Ask your nutritionist if you can plan your day to allow for a small meal in the evening. I know many surgeons say 3 meals a day and no Snacks, but I feel if 4 meals a day works better for you and gives you more control, so be it. My surgeon is ok with eating between meals if I am truly hungry and the food is planned out.