Hi everyone,

I am feeling discouraged about my weight loss and am feeling scared that I may be one of those who do not loose enough weight. I list easily in the 1s month. I lost 11 pounds since December 17 and that fluctuates daily. It can change 4-5 pounds a day.

I have been pretty conservative around food so I don't think that is it. I have had one fill and am scheduled for another in 3 weeks. I have the smaller band and had a lot of trouble with the fills so I am wondering if it got in. The doctor said that I had some fiberous tissue that formed around the port and had trouble getting it in. The procedure was painful and took three needle sticks to get it in.

I have been eating a lot of tuna and the only thing I am having trouble with is not drinking with my meals. I use to drink a lot pre-surgury and have cut it to 4 oz or so but I feel like everything gets caught in my throat. I also chew a lot so I wonder if I will have to be on liquids to loose all my weight. I was just release for exercise so maybe that will help. I have three little ones so I am not sitting around and I am also working full-time again so life so full and busy.

I see a lot of people have lost a lot and I am just checking this all out. My partner had the RNY and lost so much quicker so I am just worried.

Thanks in advance for any responses/information you have.

First of all, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? You have lost 55 pounds in 2 months! THat is freakin awesome. They tell you when you get your band to expect 5-10 pounds lost a month. If you have lost all of this and don't even have a regular exercise routine that is Amazing. You need to look back and rethink this. THe second fill is always better than the first and your probably just in a funk or plateau. It will keep coming off it just gets harder the smaller you get. You have to work at it more. You can do this!! Keep at it and you will lose it! You have done better than most already and will surely improve with exercise. GO FOR IT GIRL!!!

RNY patients will initially lose weight faster than bandsters. But they tend to gain most of it back once their body adjusts to their smaller tummy. A bandster can get a further adjustment when they reach a point that they need to lose more weight.

You really need to NOT drink with your meals or for one hour after eating. This helps the food remain in your pouch and helps you feel "full" longer. Eat your hard proteins (lean, moist meats) first, then veggies, then if room left carbs. Eat small bites and chew, chew, chew. Get some form of regular exercise. Drink lots of water throughout the day (except w/meals or right after). Only weigh yourself once a week. Use www.fitday.com to keep track of your calories, what type foods you're eating, and your exercise routines. This is helpful to show you where you need to make changes. Best of luck to you!

Melanie, I hope you are over this because you are going to have LOTS of times in the future where your weight loss slows or stops for a while. Get used to it. Holy cow, girl, you've lost 55 lbs!!! What on earth are you upset about???

Seriously, this is not a race. Your body is reacting to a sudden drastic drop in caloric intake, and it's taking a breather. That's a good thing! Take the time to get used to your new body, your diminishing profile, your smaller clothes, your increased energy, and so on. Don't look forward at some distant point: enjoy where you are RIGHT NOW, because it's a whole lot better than where you were only TWO MONTHS AGO.

You're doing PHENOMENALLY well! Most bandsters lose less than half of what you've lost in the first two months. But comparisons are odious, all that matters is your personal progress. And it's amazing!! :D

You were Banded on 11/30/04 and have lost 55 pounds and feel discouraged?!?!?!? I guess I just need to go shoot myself, LOL!!!

Ditto what Blossom said. I'm 17 months out and have lost (See....I didn't say only!) 60 pounds.

Melanie

Like all of the rest here who have posted a reply, you have no reason to de discouraged. You are doing fabulous!!!

A couple tips though that may help

STOP wieghing yourself everyday, this is the biggest thing to get you discouraged, it sabatoges us. Too much fluctuation.. I weigh on Mondays ONLY ( join our weekly scale challenge)

STOP drinking with meals..as hard as it is, it will make a diference. I know from experience.

We all chew alot it is part of being banded. Liquids will not help you to lose all of your weight, not with the band anyway

DON"T compare yourself to others who have had the band and especially the RNY, every RNY patient will lose faster then us banded patients and that is a proven fact!

Think of all the good things in your life that have changed since you have lost 55lbs, focus on that, the wieght loss will come and as many have said, it doesnt matter what the scale says..losing inches & feeling healthier is just as good in my book

Hang in there

Hi guys,

Thanks for your responses and just for the record I have lost 35 pounds since my banding. I lost 20 before surgury so maybe I need to adjust my little ticker.. So... I am not this super weight loss lapband person. My MD told me when I went in after six weeks that he had expected me to loose more. At that time, I had loss 25 pounds per his scale and 30 pounds from mine. In any event. I will not drink with meals like you suggest. I have tried fitday and I am unable to figure out how to adjust the portion sizes. I have been eating meat first but how do you get the calories for 1/3 tuna and 2-3 crackers or a half portion of some food. It would say - 1 ... and I ate 1/2 and couldn't adjust the size.

Well, I am at work and need to head out for lunch. Yes, tuna again. Seems to be my main staple. It is one of the foods I can eat without some Water to wash it down.

Oh, I am very happy that I am down 55 pound but I am still wearing the same size clothing so while it sounds huge it feels less that it is. The doctor said my stomach is still swollen and when I loose more wieght the fills will be easier. I am shaped like an apple so most of the wieght I have lost has come off my back and face. Sounds weird but it is true.

#35 pounds in 2 months is still an awsome achievment!!! You should be proud and stop trying to keep up with someone elses weight lose and see that you have done a wonderful job!If you keep a good outlook and don't get in such a hurry and realize this is no race, it is a lifestyle change, you will see that long term you are getting some where!!! Congratulations and give your self a big patt on the back for your sucess!

Thanks guys for all your support. I will check out the scale challenge and look at this as more than a race to the finish. I am feeling better about the whole process and need to look at the positive steps I have made. I again, am thankful for all of your help.

Melanie, while I was in the pre-op area waiting to get my band, I saw a surgical nurse I knew. I hadn't seen her in about 2 1/2 years. I knew she'd had the bypass and had lost a lot of weight. But she had gained about half of it back. It was just an extra reassurance to me that I'd chosen the right WLS.