Hi everyone,

I had my initial surgery 10 years ago. I lost 98 lbs and it brought my 5'6" frame to a svelte 156.00 lbs. I was looking and feeling great. Then I started to get sick and was passing out about 2 years post-op. I found out my lapband had slipped and I went in for a revision. Again 3 years later I had to have another revision. After that time I gained weight and leveled at 180 lbs. I didn't like the number but with exercise I looked okay and felt good, so I was okay with it. Push forward 4 years and I have gained another 25 lbs and now weight 205 lbs. I have tracked my food intake for one-full year and I average 1100 calories per day. So how in the heck can I now weigh 205 lbs? I went to the surgeon and was sent for a swallow test and was told my lapband had been tilted and was extremely tight and there was no reason to gain weight. I was documenting food right down to one tic tac. Last month I had a double hernia surgery and it was performed by a surgeon who also handles gastric weight loss surgeries (not my original surgeon). He stated that my port was located in a weird area, and not the norm, the port was disconnected from the band and therefore, was not working! Not what I was told by my original surgeon. This surgeon re-connected the band and stated, the band is not tilted, nor is it too tight since it was empty, and he can fill it in February.

My question is this: I keep feeling bloated and I continue to gain weight, I am currently 209 lbs. I cannot locate anything online that states how many calories is normal for labband patients. I find diets up to 4 weeks post op but nothing for long term. Would I be okay with 1100 calories and making that up with 75-80 grams of protein per day? Should I be doing less calories? Has anyone been successful with 21 day fix or some other program in addition to the lapband? I really need help I do not want to continue to climb the ladder of weight until I am adjusted. Thank you!

You have a new opportunity to retrain your Stomach Beast to obey your Rational Mind.

I discover bow & then giw easy it is to allow my eating plan to revert to the old sport eating habits. Even the 18 months I tracked each bite at under 1800 calories my weight didn't drop...but my pants size fell and so did my tshirt size. Don't forget to exercise whatever your meal planning. Cheers!

Hi, fellow lap banded and future RD. I sympathize with your struggle. I lost 115 lbs and have rebounded almost 25% with a unhealthy rapid gain of 12% my UBW in 3 months.

There are not established energy requirements for bariatric patients - at least no one agreed upon measures, though there are practitioner or article specific ideas. Calculate your basic energy requirements using an online Mifflin St Jeor calculator. You should never go under 1200 calories a day without a significant medical reason or supervision by a healthcare practitioner and definitely not at your height. The basic way to estimate protein requirements 0.8g x kg method. (kg = lbs/2,2). Unless you are under physical stress, such as when you had surgery these needs might be elevated a bit but 0.8 g is the DRI.

Consider seeing an RD who takes your insurance for really tailored educated energy requirements, especially since you are concerned about a specific macronutrient. Try to find one that specializes in bariatrics (search through ZocDoc or get a referral from your surgeon), as she make understand the weight rebound common with Lap band patients, have creative, targeted strategies for LB patients and also recipes that are Lap band friendly.