I was banded 10/8/14. I lost between 10 and 15 pounds in the first few weeks from the presurgery diet and the initial post-surgery liquid diet. Then nothing, For weeks and weeks. I got my first fill at five weeks, experienced a huge reduction in what I could eat, and still, no movement. I went over a month without losing any scale weight. My clothes were getting looser, but not drastically. Not a single person noticed or commented that I had lost weight.

Finally, this week, 8 weeks out from surgery, the scale is slowly and steadily creeping down. I'm down 20 pounds as of today.

Here are some things I have learned:

1. Losing weight with a lap band can be a very slow process. Patience is key. I am very bad at being patient.

2. I am a very slow learner. I get stuck almost every day from eating too quickly. Undoing a 40 year habit of wolfing down food is not easy.

3. When I exercise, I am more likely to lose weight. Plain and simple.

4. Preparation is key. It is not easy to grab food when you are out with the band. Keeping Protein bars on hand and not going too long between meals is important.

Almost 2 months later, I finally am starting to feel good about my choice to get a lap band and feeling like I can make a success of this.

Edited December 3, 201411 yr by loser2014

@@loser2014 I know the average with lapband is about 2lbs a week, that is about what it is with any type of diet so I have had to really wrap my head around that. I also do better with exercise, and am really working on not wolfing my my food down, but you know what I think is going to be one of the hardest things for me is remembering not to drink anything with my meals, it seems so unnatural not to have a drink with your food. Glad your weight is moving down again, I know that had to be discouraging.

I've learned all those same things you have!

Surprisingly, I've become really good at not having a drink during meals. lol

Keeping a little something on hand in case I feel like I'm getting 'stuck' - albeit rarely- Is such a relief! I take a tiny little sip or two to help things along, as opposed to the inevitable purge if I don't.

Of course there's been times when the tiny little sip-trick just doesn't work.

This band-thing... It's a live-n-learn situation, for life!

OMG @loser2014. I feel like you were telling my story lol.

I was banded in September too and had exactly the same problem, 14 pounds down straight away and then nothing absolutely nothing until I reached 8 weeks. I am also 20 pounds down as of this morning.

Also your points 1-4 are so me too.

Looks like we are on this road together, good luck with the rest of your journey

Weeks at a stall. I hid my scale and focussed on everything I knew I should be doing. Dr weigh in said 7 lbs down. Perhaps I will find the scale again or wait for next doctor visit

• Yay for you and your doing AWESOME. Yes, the lapband WL is slow and it depends on your age and genetics. Most of us here, former foodies, have to re-learn our daily habits of chewing our food and changing the way we eat FOR A LIFESTYLE CHANGE and of course exercise is so KEY and strength training!
• I turn 54 today and I am down 60 pounds in 2 years with lapband, and it has not been an easy road.
• One thing for sure today, I am healthy and wear a smaller size clothes
• I have completed 12 races this year, which includes a 70.3 Ironman and 3 half Marathons!

All the best to all of you in 2015-Lets rock this FAT off our bodies and make a better mind, body and soul!

Is there a difference between a stall & a plateau?

I also frustrated, I was banded on Jan 21, 2015 I am only eating about 1/3 of what I use to eat but I have only lost 24 lbs, 20 of that was before surgery. They are assuring to be patient it will come off. Seems like a lot to go through to use only a little bit. I am determined to stick with it though.

Edited March 16, 201511 yr by rbt