So I've been reading these boards and how most lap band patients (well, at least the ones who are losing weight) are eating between 800-1,000 calories per day. I've been tracking my daily menus and today I've had it up to my eyeballs in confusion. I've had Breakfast, mid-morn snack, lunch, afternoon snack so far. I've not even had dinner yet. I'm already at 1,075 calories and 85 g. of protein! I know the Protein is good since my goal is 59 g. per day...but how in the heck do some of you low-cal eaters make it through each day on such low calories? I'm eating very little food and I'm making really, really good choices (my Nutritionist agreed)...so why am I not losing weight and why am I so hungry that whenever people stand and talk to me they morph into a giant turkey drumstick??? I am really, really hungry. How are you all eating so very few calories? What are your menus like?

Is it because I've not been filled yet? How would having a fill at this point make me suddenly begin to lose weight? I'm eating exactly how the center told me to eat...so it's not gonna change much when I get my band filled...except by that point I'll be on soft & regular foods and my calories might rise. That will make this even harder...right?

Here's today's menu (remember I haven't had dinner yet)

BREAKFAST:

1 cup Weight Control Quaker oatmeal, banana bread flavor - made with Water

SNACK:

1 cup 1% milk

30g. Pro Complex chocolate Protein powder

LUNCH:

1 cup white bean Soup (homemade) with ham (pureed, no other added fats)

1 Dannon Light & Fit yogurt smoothie - strawberry (7 oz.)

SNACK:

1 medium banana, pureed

***TOTALS: 1,076 calories / 85 g. protein

So how is it that with 40 minutes of workout per day added into the mix am I not losing any weight? I lost 13 pounds immediately after surgery and I'm stuck. I'm not cheating. I'm not eating foods that I shouldn't. I'm really into this, and I'm getting horribly frustrated. I stick to about 1 cup of food per meal and that does fill me up, but then I'm hungry (drooling) 1 hour later. I am getting about 72 oz of fluids each day so I'm okay in that department as well. Right now I'm freaking out and afraid to eat anything the rest of the day cuz I'm already over 1,000 calories. Why isn't my body burning anything like it should be? Going from 4,000 calories (or more) per day as an obese woman down to 1,000-1,300 calories per day with exercise I should be losing steadily and constantly. What else can I eat today without totally ruining my calories and going too high?

I'm very, very angry at my body right now. Any words of advice for someone who thinks she may have made the biggest mistake of her life in getting this band?

I'd also look to the grams of carbs that you're eating as well as the sodium. Personally high sodium foods, like ham tends to be, make me reatin Water like a balloon. I'm also one who can't loose on higher carbs. Does your protien shake have higher carbs?

This is the frist that I've heard of eating 6 small meals with the band. My bariatric team says 3 small meals, no snacking in between them either.

Considering you're just about 2 weeks post-op your diet has advanced much further than mine. At that point I was still on liquids. Most doctors won't fill until 4 weeks post-op at the earliest, some wait as long as 6-12.

My 3rd week opst-op I didn't loose a single pound, then weight loss picked up again. Bodies sometimes just take breaks once in a while.

Mama,

I just wanted to lend some support. I lost 16 pounds my first week, I haven't lost any this week, but I haven't gained either. I'm okay with it. I too get pretty hungry during the day. Please remember that we are in the healing phase now. Just consider any weight lost during this period before the fill to be a bonus! I know its hard to be patient, but we really must remember that we probably don't have any restriction yet so we haven't truly seen the benefits from the band. It will get better. I have faith!

That typical post-surgery feeling. It will lessen each day. I think I had it for about 2 weeks. Just be sure and not to push it with the mushies. I had an "incident" with some mashed potatoes at week 2 that had me for about 2 hours feeling like a someone was standing in high heels on my chest bone. YEOW.

You're going through bandster's hell, we all do. You will lose weight after your first fill, keep on doing what you're doing.

I've been reading your posts and it brought me back to the first weeks of being banded. I'm 5 months out and have lost 40 pounds. I remember it was VERY frustrating those weeks because the scale didn't move. But, as I remember what my Dr said, "don't worry about not losing and you may gain weight during your HEALING phase, but it is more important to HEAL than lose."

At my 4 wk post-op I had a fill and that made a difference for about a week. Then I was in "BANSTER-HELL" I was STARVING!!!! It took a lot of will power that I didn't know I had, but I got through it. Then another fill which again helped.... I am a SLOW loser, but at least I am losing, I'm on fill #4 and it is getting easier, but it is a DAILY battle... I am still battling with the "head hunger", but then I think I always will. Food has controlled our lives for so long it's very hard to turn the table and be in control of the food...So please hang in there, I know what you are going through, I have been there, we can do this!!!!!

you said you lost 12 pounts very fast. How long did it take you? Do you realise you have to burn 9.900,- Calories to burn 1 kilo of fat? I think at the start you loose also a lot of water and then when you are loosing weight- burning fat- it does not show on your scale because you are recovering a bit of water. So the scales lie to you. I dont think you should eat any less this will get your metabolism slowed down and makes it more harder later on to loose weight. 6 small meals a day would also do that. You could look at your carb intake like recommended as yes this can help you loose faster weight. You are also exercising which can put on more muscle and you will need that extra bit of food to keep your body burning fat.

I think you are doing great. Just hang in there and try to make sensible choices and you will see the scale start to move or throw the scale out - I could never do that - and buy a measure tape.