Hello everyone! I was banded July 21, 2012 and have a 14 cc band. I have only lost a total of 25 lbs, pre-op and post-op. I have a total of 4.8 cc in my band. The problem is, I am getting so sad and depressed bcuz I do not lose any weight and I have no restriction what so ever. The scale goes up and I have to be very strict and lose what I gain bcuz I can eat anything. Is this ever going to get better? If so, when? When I get depressed, I eat and I am afraid of gaining everything back Please help!

Oops a mistake on band date. I got banded on June 21, 2012. Even worse right?

I'm very sorry you're struggling and frustrated

You say "I can eat anything". You need to realize the band isn't meant to stop you from eating anything, so please don't expect it to do that. Too many people end up over-filled and too tight from thinking the band should stop them from eating and that's simply not the case. Sadly, many of those people end up with complications and slips from being too tight, too.

The band is supposed to satiate your hunger, with little food, for a long period of time. Very specifically, it should help you to eat a cup or less of food and not be hungry again for at least 4-5 hours.

Have you considered counting calories to help your weight loss?

first of all, you've only had the band for around three months. Losing 25 lbs in ~3 months is EXCELLENT. Not sure why your so downtrodden.

My doc told me 1-2 lbs a week is the expected rate of weight loss so your right on track.

If for whatever reason you were told/were under the impression that the pounds would come flying off quickly then you are mistaken.

You are doing GREAT but as mis73 has advised, count calories (i use myfitnesspal.com but there are also other sites) and stick to one cup of food per meal.

Keep your head up and try being patient. Its hard, I know (also frustrated by my super slow loss)

I was banded on June 27, 2012 and I have lost 25 lbs too. You and I are right on track for our loss so far! The average is 1-2 lbs per week. I find that by tracking exactly what I eat on myfitnesspal, and staying at or below 1200 calories, I tend to lose 2 lbs per week. Don't get discouraged! It's a marathon not a sprint! You got this!! :-)

It took me 6 months to get "restriction". As mentioned previously the band does not stop me from eating anything. It helps me eat less. I am two years post op.

Today was a major fat for me. I went to a college football game (my first ever) and ate in the stadium. I shared a hot sausage sandwhich with my sister (preband I would have certainly eaten a whole one); and had some french fries, at halftime had a brownie. Moral of the story I ate A LOT less than I would have preop. I also don't eat this way very often (maybe once a year). Previously I would have eaten food like that daily.

Your post actually makes me feel better! I was banded on the 29th and am down 25 lbs. Sounds like we are all about in the same place. I have 4.5 ccs in my band and have had 4 or 5 fills. I *could* eat almost anything but don't. I really do feel full after a cup or less than that of food. I can now go hours and hours without thinking about food. Today I noticed it was 3 pm and all I'd had was my protein shake in the am. I don't think I'll get filled for a long time but I also know I have to be more strict about exercise (get in about 3 days a week, 5 is my goal) and also count calories if I want more to come. Also I talked to my dr. when I got filled last week about feeling depressed as you said - they reminded me I picked the band over bypass for a reason... slower really is better and I'll have less loose skin, keep it off longer, etc. if I do it this way. It's hard I know but try not to get discouraged. Even at this pace I could still lose 100 lbs in a year. And even if I don't? I'm way better off than I was 3 months ago... Hang in there.

Sorry left out the part where I didn't feel this way until my most recent fill and it was like magic... it will happen for you too.

Hi Patty, I was banded the same day you were and am at about the same place you are - 30 pounds down since surgery and pre-op. I lost about 18 in pre-op (2 weeks) combined with post-op (2 weeks), and the other 12 pounds have come off very slowly, since about mid July. I have had 2 fills for a total of 3.8 ml and I find I can stay at about 1200 calories a day, with considerable hunger from time to time through out the day. I don't know if I have the restriction I should have, but I'm okay where I am - might go for a fill in a month or so, depending on how it goes.

I know what you mean about being frustrated with how slowly it comes off. I find I bounce around for a few weeks (down 2, up 1 down 1 down 1, up one) then settle at about 3 pounds down, and stay there for several weeks. I don't change anything, just keep to 1200 per day, then it seems to start bouncing down again, slowly. As long as I'm not up, I'm okay with the slow weight loss. I think we will be better off if we lose it slowly. I don't know about you, but I'm so ready to lose weight that I want to just cut it off, and we're working hard to stick to it. I'm proud of you for the amazing 25 pounds you lost in 3 months! Wow, congratulations. I know you want to lose it qicker, but don't give up! So far you are doing great and you'll only do better as you get to the green zone. Remember we're in this for the long haul! Best wishes!

Omg!! reading this makes feel like a total pain in the ass ( please excuse my language) I was banded on august 21, 2012 and I was in a 2wks pre-op ( not a liquid diet) and lost 17lbs, 2 week spost-op I lost 12, and then I did not weighted my self until tuesday of this week when I got my new scale and I had only lost 7lbs in 20 days. I went crazy I though thet it was not normal. I though I was getting off-track so I got my body in ketosis mode ( which is great if you are stalling it makes you body get going again) So ketosis I only do for 3 days. So I started on wednesday morning and by this saturday morning I had lost five pounds so I am now 41lbs down =) now if you do ketosis- if you dont know how to maintain long term healthy ketosis diet like I myself don't know long term please only do the 3 days and you can only do it once every four weeks or only if you stalled.

Hello everyone! I was banded July 21, 2012 and have a 14 cc band. I have only lost a total of 25 lbs, pre-op and post-op. I have a total of 4.8 cc in my band. The problem is, I am getting so sad and depressed bcuz I do not lose any weight and I have no restriction what so ever. The scale goes up and I have to be very strict and lose what I gain bcuz I can eat anything. Is this ever going to get better? If so, when? When I get depressed, I eat and I am afraid of gaining everything back Please help!

Please don't be depressed we are all here for you give Kitosis a go and see if that helps if u have questions about how to do ketosis i'll be more tah happy to tell you. I know it sounds weird but its totally healthy nutitionist recommend it and there are no pills invloved or expensive foods or products. Take care!

Sorry to hear your feeling down.. but i feel i need to remind you to Celebrate you have got through the surgery and you have lost to date, a much better result than gaining.

No doubt your body and your mind is going through some changes. Hope those here on the forums can lend you some support and advice.

I was banded only a few weeks prior to you and have also found the weight loss is stalling, despite watching what i eat, exercising and staying in touch with my surgeon.

I've also had a few times where i've gone back to eating the wrong foods or indulging on the weekend. A few key things i've come back to remember:

- Drink plenty of Water. Sometimes thirst feels like hunger.

- Visualise a cup of food, try and restrict your portions to this size

- Dont feel pressured to keep up with non banded friends while out or eating with them

- Treat yourself on occasion, but make up for it in exercising or reducing the rest of the calorie intake throughout the day.

- Keep busy, head outside, go for a walk, go to the movies, do the ironing or anything to keep your mind off wanting to eat for the sake of it. If i'm truly hungry, then I listen to my stomach and have something Protein rich, low fat and nutritious.

Please don't be so hard on yourself, just take one day at a time and stay off the scale

Sending you hugs, ((())) best wishes and keep up the good work and hard work, Karen

In the early days I found that a couple of brisk walks a day helped with feeling impatient with my body it speeds up your metabulism and releases those good healthy feelings that I can not spell indorfiums . You are doing well but excercise may help speed things a long.

Just think if you hadn't had lap band you would be 25 lbs heavier and depressed, I think you will settle for where you are now instead. And your future is going to be so much better....Good Luck

Thank you all for your support. I feel much better and I will follow your advice. What I was trying to say about eating anything was that I can eat my regular portions as if the band was not there and that depresses me bcuz I will end up gaining weight again. I hope I can feel restriction soon.