I was banded on 10/24 and was originally 238 pre op. I lost 8 pounds the two weeks before surgery. Now I am between 216 - 218. It has been over 2 months and I need to lose more, and am so frustrated that I haven't. I've been really active, haven't started a committed excersise regime yet, however I get a work out doing my everyday chores, which causes me to sweat. I eat low carbs and only a fist full of food during meals. I must admit, I have to increase my water intake, but I am getting better. I have only received two small fills, and do still feel hungry between meals. Any suggestions is appreciated.

Remember that the object of the band is not just to lose weight, it is also a tool to help us improve our overall health! I've been getting so frustrated that people think that being thin, or fitting into a certain size jeans is the objective! Being thin doesn't make you healthy! Is our objective to die thin or to live longer because we are healthy? Being able to starve ourselves by getting the band so tight that we can no longer can eat protiens and healthy foods is NOT HEALTHY! The things that you avoided in your past, like water consumption and exercise are still things you are avoiding or not putting as priority! Don't let the scale judge our success!!!! Concentrate on water intake, eating healthy, and exercise! The weight will follow! We chose to put those 3 things on the back burner for too long and that is what brought us to here! Now those are the things that will lead us out! Good Luck and keep us posted with your healthy path to a new you!

You mentioned low carbs but do you count calories? If so, about how many a day are you eating?

Also, do you keep your meals to a cup or less of food?

I am a month ahead of you and some days feel the same way. On the benefits side, I have not had heart burn or indigestion since the day I started my pre op, no tums, no antacids....I didn't have huge problems before but coffee, ground beef, garlic would cause me to munch away on tums......not 1 in 4 months. On the benefits side even though I don't see physical changes in me, I am getting compliments on 'looking good'. I am going to the gym 5 days a week and during a recent trip, the seatbelt on the plane was 'snug' not tight. And finally, have had 3 fills and even though the loss is slow I have not gained a pound back. I am not at restriction, am hungry between meals, and fighting hard to say within 1200 calories a day and a cup of high Protein food per meal and Snacks. We didn't gain it in 3-4 months, so we certainly aren't going to lose it in 3-4 months. Slow and steady and healthy. Why not start by walking around the block once a day, and work to 2x around the block........

good luck to you and chin up.

Thanks everyone, I needed those words of encouragement. My close don't fit snug anymore, so I am losing inches, just not pounds. You are so right Laurie, I definitely have to kick this into high gear and increase my excercise and Water intake. Wildrose, you are right it didn't take 2 3- 4 months for the weight to get on, I have to learn patience here.

Missy, can you suggest where I can get an app or some type of tracker that I can take with me? I am no longer on Weight Watchers, but that concept really help me for a minute. I really need to begin counting calories again. I eat 1 cup of food per meal, or a fist size as my doctor recommends.

You guys are really great, thanks so much!

Thanks everyone, I needed those words of encouragement. My close don't fit snug anymore, so I am losing inches, just not pounds. You are so right Laurie, I definitely have to kick this into high gear and increase my excercise and Water intake. Wildrose, you are right it didn't take 2 3- 4 months for the weight to get on, I have to learn patience here.

Missy, can you suggest where I can get an app or some type of tracker that I can take with me? I am no longer on Weight Watchers, but that concept really help me for a minute. I really need to begin counting calories again. I eat 1 cup of food per meal, or a fist size as my doctor recommends.

You guys are really great, thanks so much!

I personally the Lose It! app on my phone. It's awesome because not only does it make tracking calories easy, but it also has a massive database. So say I go to a restaurant to eat, like Applebees. I can then look up what I'm having and track those calories. Or if I'm eating something at home not in the database, there is a barcode scanner so you can just scan the nutritional data in. It's really useful!

I love "Lose It"!!!!! Especially the bar code reader!!!!

I love My Fitness Pal to track food and exercise!!

Thanks everyone!! I just registered for Lose It!!! I love it, thanks so much for the recommendation!!

I use SparkPeople.com. They have a food tracker, weight tracker, workout tracker and allot more!

I use spark people to. I also was told to weigh by volume and not count calories.

I was banded in September and plateaued for about a month. People on here all said same to me. Track food, drink water and have your protein. As soon as I did the scales started going the right way again. I use 'my fitness pal' it's great and you can chat to other bandsters. Good luck xxx

Drink your water! Think of it as your melting juice! It will help if you're doing everything right!

I like "melting juice". So great and true. I think sometimes we forget that our bodies are 80. Percent water.

Thanks again everyone, you all have been wonderful! I am still not seeing the scale move, but I am still hopeful. I received another "mini" fill on Monday. I still can't feel much restriction, however I am still limiting my intake and drinking my 'melting juice' ---I will ust keep going!