I'm 2 weeks out and NOT losing. I'm eating soooooooo much less that before. What is going on? I'm really frustrated. Any help? Thanks! Kelly

this must be very frustrating for you , im 10 days post op, but i am still only on liquid , 2 very small bowls of clear or thin soup( no lumps) and 1 yoghurt per day , with a multi vitimin tablet, is this the diet that you have been given ?

no-I was on clear liquids the first few days afer surgery-then after about a week liquids/soups. Now I am on "mushies" and am trying more solid things that are cut up really small. I'm really getting hungry some days. Today I had lunch at olive garden with some friends and had minestroni soup broth without the thicker ingredients. It was sooooooo good.

As I understand it, the vast majority of initial weight loss is simply water loss. The body simply does not have the ability to burn more than a few pounds of fat a week. Eliminate salt intake, all caffeine, drink large quantities of plain water (no sodium, no sweetener) for just a day and you'll find yourself peeing like a race horse and see a massive weight loss the following morning. If you have swollen ankles and puffiness around your face, it might even warrant a diuretic pill which will further escalate shedding of excess water.

I was wondering the same thing. I had my band placed about a week ago, and I am supposed to be on liquids for 2 weeks before I can start mushies. I have been drinking water and crystal light, my 3 slimfasts per day for my 60gr of protein, and a few sips of broth or tomato soup here and there. Is that my problem? should I cut out the tomato soup? Maybe too much sodium? I haven't dropped anything either. Guess I thought I'd see the scale move a little bit. Anyone else having a really hard time getting down the protein and all the water? I feel so stuffed, like I can barely get it all in.

GIVE IT TIME!!!! If you're only a week or 2 out, you could still be swollen, and won't see a loss. You should be taking in at least 48oz of liquid a day to push out the fluids you were given in the hospital. This is not an instant fix. I'm 5 weeks out now and have dropped 20 lbs. Most of it in the last 2 1/2 weeks.

I actually gained a couple of pounds in the first few days post op due to swelling. At first this surprised seeing as clear liquids wasn't many calories... Once the swelling went down the scale sort of jumped. Two months out I'm down about fifty pounds. Once the scale started to move it really moved-- so don't be discouraged. Just focus on healing and walk when you can and watch the sodium and get in tons of protein. Then after you are all healed if you still aren't losing you can see if you are adequately restricted and so forth.

Yeah, I am totally swollen. I joked with my husband because I look about 5 months pregnant! I have this little ball in the middle of my tummy. Looks like it'd be a boy! LOL

From memory, my weight loss really got going at a few months post op after a couple of fills.

I am now on day 5 Post-Op so I don't have much time to speak of. However, I have lost 12 pounds so far. I am assuming it is because of the liquid diet I was on and am now on.

What my Doc put me on was:

3 day liquid diet - Pre-Op

No liquid until 2nd day after surgery & upper GI to make sure no leakage

First 2 weeks - Protein-based liquids - I have been adding unflavored whey Protein in creamy chicken noodle soup (strained of course) with a little bit of Better than Bouillon to the soup for extra flavor or Creamy Veg soup (strained of course) with Better than Bouillon Beef flavor to the soup. Both are VERY GOOD!!! Surgar free Jello with whipcream, and 1 or 2 sugar free popsicles a day. I also have the Isopure drinks and drink one a day. I found a few to have great flavor. That gives me a few Gs of protein plus Water. Lastly, I am doing the shakes with 24G of protein. Oh and water of course.

So far this has kept me loosing weight. Of course I'm sure I will quickly tire of this but will try to maintain it as much as possible for proper healing as well as weight loss until my third week when I am allowed to start the soft food.

Hope this helps.

Kitty

As frustrating as it is, try not to get too frustrated yet. This time frame (after surgery/before a fill) isn't even designed for weight loss anyway. This is the time for healing. You are working with an empty band, it's like driving on a flat tire. How far will it get you? Not far, right? An empty band doesn't make for much weight loss either.

Consider this, it used to be the only band available was not adjustable. What you came out of surgery with is ALL the restriction you had. See how much better you have it? At least by the time you heal you'll be able to get a fill.

Relax, heal, life will be good once again!

I lost 14 lbs between banding and first fill. Contrary to what I read here, my surgeon says that you should have some restriction / should see some loss during that period. However, those of you who are only a few days or weeks out – relax. One piece of advice I would give you is to put your scale away. I didn’t weigh myself at all between surgery / 1st fill. I left that up to my doctor’s office so I wouldn’t get discouraged.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, if you were hospitalized and had IV fluids pumped into your system, that stuff can be retained in your fat cells for about 4 weeks. That’s what I was told. So my advice is to be patient and keep your butt off the scale for now!

Syrah,

That sounds like absolutely perfect advice. I have been trying to avoid the scale too. I keep having people come up to me at work and ask how much I've lost, have I weighed myself, etc. I just keep saying as you did, I don't want to know until the dr weighs me. I know I am still swollen in my belly, so that makes me want to stay away as well, I don't want to get discouraged already!

I completely understand your frustraution. You are probable wondering if you did the right thing! I have been there!

I lost 6 pounds the first two weeks after surgery, then GAINED three back! I then worked hard at losing them again. Then at six weeks I got my first fill and I lost 5 pounds the first week. I am just starting my seventh week and not expecting as much weight loss but I know I will lose something.

In other words don't give up hope...You just started your weight loss journey

Tamjpjb - I bought a scale after my first fill (on 5/9) and have not even opened it up yet, lol!

ya'll are so encouraging! Thanks so much!!! I'm still frustrated but excited to start another day tomorrow. One day at a time! Thanks so much! Kelly