I was banded on 11/1/08 and so far I have lost 20lbs. I am at the eight week mark and can now feel I am in a plateau...

Many of you had your fills between four to six weeks post surgery and my doctor won't do a fill under no circumstances until after eight weeks. I won't stay I am dieting, but I am watching what I eat, in addition to working out hard at least five days a week...and with a trainer for two of those days. I have not gained any weight, but I only lost one pound for the whole of last week.

Basically, I am envious of all of you who have had fills and have some sort of restriction, and are losing. I am not hungry all the time, and I get full quickly, it's just that I would like to see the scale move again like when I got banded.

I have vowed not to weigh myself until my fill on 1/8/08 only because I don't want to feel disappointed if I have not lost a thing, or only lost one pound again...

Basically, this is just a vent session and was hoping someone out there had some encouraging words...

Hi Solla:

Be patient, and remember 1-2 pounds is what to expect with banding. Sure some people will lose more than this and some will lose less, but this is truly the average and it is a good healthy weight loss. We all need to remember that we did not get this heavy over night. And the weight will not come off like that either.

I was told prior to my surgery by my surgeon that if I wanted immediate results that bypass would give that to me where Lap Band would be a slow but steady process.

Your skin has time to recover with slow and steady. Therefore allowing it to not be so saggy. Just stick to the program and eating only healthy choices and excersie regularly and you will be a huge success I am certain of it.

For me it is the long term that is my goal and I set mini goals for myself. Like hitting the next 10 marker. I am 4 pouns away from my second goal after surgery the 30# marker. Then it is not so overwhelming. When I look at it that way it makes the final goal more real for me.

Remember you are retraining years and years of overeating and of making the wrong food choices and this takes time not only to achieve but also for our bodies to catch up. We are retraining our metabolisms as well. Your body will get the message and know it is not starving.

I would recommend using something like FITDAY.com to log all of what goes into your mouth each and everyday. This will help you to eat between 1000 and 1200 calories a day which is what my nutritionist said the goal should be. I have trouble getting that much but I am losing very nicely I feel.

Always eat your Protein first at every meal as well.

YOU CAN DO THIS and YOU WILL succeed!

Hugz,