I'm nearly four years post-surgery and feel like I've had the oddest of lap-band journeys. I lost about 20 lbs in the first year -- didn't really pursue the whole fill thing as aggresively as I should have. But last year (start of 2012), I hunkered down and got to a fill level where things started to click in. Dropped another 23 lbs. in 2012 and have since gotten another fill -- I kinda started stalling out around Sept. 2012. Now things are working again. I'm down 51 lbs. in all.

I guess what confuses me is that I always figured if I got this surgery, I'd really lose the weight (or a good chunk of it) in the first year. I didn't truly realize how much of this depends on your constantly staying on top of fills. Well, I did realize but chose to ignore it, I guess. Part of me wonders if my surgeon was too cautious with the fills, but I suppose I could have been more diligent in the follow-up. (I've since moved to another state and like the team that's been doing my fills a little more than my surgeon.)

Either way, after having now lost 51 lbs. and being nearly halfway to goal, it's starting to occur to me that I'm no longer the lap-band "failure" I long considered myself to be. The damn thing really works, so long as you work with it. Even if I just lost another 25 lbs., I'd be truly happy (it's about at that point that my cardiologist says I'll at least be at a relatively okay weight).

Do I love the lap-band? Not quite. I'm still one of those silly souls who tests its limits all the time -- meaning I get stuck a lot. But I simply don't believe I could ever have lost the weight without something that made it difficult to eat. I just had no willpower -- was never a yo-yo dieter; basically, I just kept adding weight over the years. When I started to realize I was 100 lbs. overweight and when a therapist first mentioned the surgery, I finally dove in.

Again, what puzzles me in all this is that the lap-band is now only beginning to make full sense to me -- nearly four years after my surgery!!! I also now am beginning to see it as something of a lifelong tool -- as much as I'd love to get rid of it one day, I suspect it's the only way I'll ever curb my worst impulses. But the feeling of being lighter -- even though I'm still plenty heavy -- is worth that.

Anyone else out there have a similar, non-linear story like mine? Again, I always figured I'd win this war in the first year.

No, I am not but this reminded me of a conversation I once had with my surgeon right after I got the surgery. I asked him if he thought it would work on me since nothing else ever has... He said "many" of the people who get the band, never come back for fills. They get the surgery and that is it. If I wanted to be successful, I need to constantly stay in touch with him until I reached my sweet spot (or green spot) and then check back in once a year. So since he said many of his patients have been like that, I don't think you are alone. Congrats on the 51 lb weight loss!

I am like you in a different way. I keep going for fills - after getting rid of the PA who made you show you "deserved" a fill and used the Jilllian Michaels approach - but I am now at 8 cc of an 11 cc band and still have no restriction. I too test the limits but can eat anything in any amount and never get stuck! I am so frustrated and feel like a total failure. I have lost 30 lbs but most of that was in the liquid phase. My PA at my last fill said I may have a tiny inside and it is like putting a size 40 belt on a size 28 waist. It will take a while to get to restriction. What if I get to 11 cc and still don't have restriction? I paid a lot out of pocket for this surgery and feel it did no better for me than Atkins or weight watchers. I could use some encouragement to get back on track or hear from people who have similar stories?

Loss is a loss and congrats for that!! there are many out there who go through the same thing. What gets me is the.. "testing the limits" .. hun, I can tell you this and have known some who do this with the sleeve, and bypass as well, testing the limits is defeating the purpose of your tool. If you test the limits, you are going to stretch your pouch, and then you really aren't going to feel restriction because every little test you do, stretches it just a little more. Use the tool you have, and stretch YOUR limit but eating less and less and see how you feel, how long it takes you to get hungry, and you will find that more fulfilling and exciting!!! I wish you to all the success!! And Chaz, glad to see you are getting to were you want to be.

**hugs to you both**!

I guess what confuses me is that I always figured if I got this surgery, I'd really lose the weight (or a good chunk of it) in the first year. I didn't truly realize how much of this depends on your constantly staying on top of fills. Well, I did realize but chose to ignore it, I guess.

My story isnt like yours but I appreciate your candor especially since I believe a lot of people do not understand that the band only does 70% of the work... we must do the rest in the form of eating proper portions, tracking calories and basically making the effort to lose and not just wait for the band to "work".

I am impressed that you have a handle on it now. I bet the weight will start falling off! Congratulations!

you have to really want to loss the weight and o the work like any other diet until you are ready to do the work it wont work no matter how many fills u get...this is a new year an a new dsay get behind it and tske reposiblity for your weight loss you can do it.

Thanks for the thoughts and advice! The journey continues...

I'm nearly four years post-surgery and feel like I've had the oddest of lap-band journeys. I lost about 20 lbs in the first year -- didn't really pursue the whole fill thing as aggresively as I should have. But last year (start of 2012), I hunkered down and got to a fill level where things started to click in. Dropped another 23 lbs. in 2012 and have since gotten another fill -- I kinda started stalling out around Sept. 2012. Now things are working again. I'm down 51 lbs. in all.

I guess what confuses me is that I always figured if I got this surgery, I'd really lose the weight (or a good chunk of it) in the first year. I didn't truly realize how much of this depends on your constantly staying on top of fills. Well, I did realize but chose to ignore it, I guess. Part of me wonders if my surgeon was too cautious with the fills, but I suppose I could have been more diligent in the follow-up. (I've since moved to another state and like the team that's been doing my fills a little more than my surgeon.)

Either way, after having now lost 51 lbs. and being nearly halfway to goal, it's starting to occur to me that I'm no longer the lap-band "failure" I long considered myself to be. The damn thing really works, so long as you work with it. Even if I just lost another 25 lbs., I'd be truly happy (it's about at that point that my cardiologist says I'll at least be at a relatively okay weight).

Do I love the lap-band? Not quite. I'm still one of those silly souls who tests its limits all the time -- meaning I get stuck a lot. But I simply don't believe I could ever have lost the weight without something that made it difficult to eat. I just had no willpower -- was never a yo-yo dieter; basically, I just kept adding weight over the years. When I started to realize I was 100 lbs. overweight and when a therapist first mentioned the surgery, I finally dove in.

Again, what puzzles me in all this is that the lap-band is now only beginning to make full sense to me -- nearly four years after my surgery!!! I also now am beginning to see it as something of a lifelong tool -- as much as I'd love to get rid of it one day, I suspect it's the only way I'll ever curb my worst impulses. But the feeling of being lighter -- even though I'm still plenty heavy -- is worth that.

Anyone else out there have a similar, non-linear story like mine? Again, I always figured I'd win this war in the first year.

Better late than never.......

Congratulations on finally getting it!

You just made my night. While I was banded in April 2011, I have not really started losing the weight and appreciating (yet still actively cursing) the band until now. 58 lbs lighter.. Like 30 of those within the last 6 months. I know exactly what you mean. I constantly test mine also. It's difficult not to.

You got this! You are doing amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm very similar to your story I will be banded a year in march and I have only lost 40lbs which 15 I have gain backed in the last 4 months I am so afraid of being labeled a failure I have state fed to second guess my decision for this surgery specially since seeing a good friend of mine have fast result with the gastric bypass. Thanks for giving me hope!