This is why I need the band -- I can't lose weight on my own. . .

I'm on my pre-op diet. . . I've eaten between 900 and 1200 calories a day for about a month. (This is down from my regular diet of about 3000 calories a day.) The first week and a half I lost 17 pounds -- okay, I know that's a huge amount. It's been almost three weeks since then, and I haven't lost a pound. And I'm starving! If I didn't have to keep the 15 pounds off for surgery, I would have given up by now. This is what normally happens when I go on a diet. I stop losing, so I quit. But, if I used to be able to maintain my weight at 2500 calories, versus maintaining now at 1000 calories, why should I starve myself? Only, now if I were to go back up to 1800 or so calories, the weight would come rushing back on, and I couldn't have the surgery. I just can't understand how I cannot lose weight eating 1/3 of what I used to eat.

Oh well, I have less than two weeks until my surgery, and if I can keep the 15 pounds off, I'll have reached my first goal. Thanks for listening.

Do you have to weigh yourself? I know you mentioned it's a requirement for surgery to lose the 15 pounds but since you've reached that goal, is it possible to put the scales away and just keep working hard on following your plan?

Unfortunately, weight loss is not linear. There are so many systems at work in our bodies that you can't just cut out 3500 calories and lose a pound. If only it worked that way! In the past, I would lose every other WEEK with no explanation for why one week and not another. I finally got used to the pattern and didn't fret about it. This time, I'm not even going to weigh myself at home -- and I used to weigh myself twice daily! But even though I swore it didn't affect me if I showed a gain or no loss, it wasn't true. It did affect me. Have you ever watched The Biggest Loser and they get depressed because they lost ONLY four pounds that week? Five would have been fine but only four?

Anyway, I know how hard it is to suffer and then feel like it was for nothing. This time, though, you're losing to get ready for surgery -- that's your ultimate goal. Fortunately, my doctor put me on the pre-op diet with no mention of losing weight -- just shrinking my liver. So I'm not looking at the scale, just following the plan. I know your situation is different but I hope there's a way you can change your outlook about these next few weeks.

Good luck!

Been there hon!!! I feel for you that is how most of my diets crash and burn.

I cant offer any words of wisdom hon, all I can say is KEEP STRONG!!! You have got this far you only have 2 more weeks to go and than you will have the band, just focus on that and stay off the scales.

I know that it will all be worth it in the end

Nina x

I rarely feel hungry...since being banded. I have a mental clock in my head that says when I much eat (the three squares a day bit...AND I'm a member of the clean plate club). If I would just eat when I am feeling hungry....I'd probably have lost more but this is my journey!!

Perhaps, when you are banded...the starving feeling will go away! Keep up the good work.

what are you eating to consume those calories? When I went on my preop full liquid diet... soup, protein drinks, jello, pudding, etc.- I lost about 10 lbs in 10 days.. may help to switch things up a bit