Recently I've been starting to feel like my band isn't really working...not because I'm not losing weight or eating less, cos' I am, but because I'm doing the extreme low carb (under 30 g per diem) and I'm exercising 7 days a week for at least 45 - 60 mins. each day. So for someone that goes from eating fast food 2 -3 times a day and never exercising to eating extreme low carb and lots of exercise the of course I'm going to lose weight and fast too right!!! So what is the band doing for me??? I definitely feel that it is a great motivator to know that it's there if I need it but so far I haven't really needed it I guess. I don't know, it's just some crazy thoughts I've been having and wanted to see if anyone has had the same and if so how and what did you do to get past them! Any help or input would be appreciated. Much love. KKG

Recently I've been starting to feel like my band isn't really working...not because I'm not losing weight or eating less, cos' I am, but because I'm doing the extreme low carb (under 30 g per diem) and I'm exercising 7 days a week for at least 45 - 60 mins. each day. So for someone that goes from eating fast food 2 -3 times a day and never exercising to eating extreme low carb and lots of exercise the of course I'm going to lose weight and fast too right!!! So what is the band doing for me??? I definitely feel that it is a great motivator to know that it's there if I need it but so far I haven't really needed it I guess. I don't know, it's just some crazy thoughts I've been having and wanted to see if anyone has had the same and if so how and what did you do to get past them! Any help or input would be appreciated. Much love. KKG

KKG

I understand where you are coming from - this is why I say that 75% of the work is up to you and the band does the other 25%

I eat healthy 98% of the time and exercises 4-5 days a week - I still get hungry between meals - I don't find that the band takes away my hunger - i have never forgotten to eat - I am doing most of the work - the band does help me feel full faster - but I am no longer eating tons of fried foods - I am no longer a slug bug - who sits on her butt all day at work and would come home and continue being a slug bug...

I call my band my interior motivator. Ya if I had done this prior to the band - I would have lost weight - I had done this a million times before - but always gained it back plus some - and the band is no guarentee that I won't but I can say once you have proper restriction it does help you feel full on 1 -2 cups of food per meal - where as with out the band that was 4 - 6 cups of food per meal..

But I choose what I put in my mouth not the band - I choose to go to the gym not the band - so hell ya - I'm doing the work not the band - it's just my little tool..

The band really plays its part with maintenance. Sooner or later, you do have slip ups and periods of eating not so well, or busy times when you eat out five days out of seven, Christmas will come, Easter etc. You may have to do 98% of the work to LOSE weight (it can be quite hard to figure what the band is actually doing sometimes, as I sit here with my tummy grumbling with hunger), the band will do a LOT of the work in maintenance.

The band really plays its part with maintenance. Sooner or later, you do have slip ups and periods of eating not so well, or busy times when you eat out five days out of seven, Christmas will come, Easter etc. You may have to do 98% of the work to LOSE weight (it can be quite hard to figure what the band is actually doing sometimes, as I sit here with my tummy grumbling with hunger), the band will do a LOT of the work in maintenance.

That's what I am hoping for (keeping the weight off) it good to hear this from someone who has lost their weight and mainting it - From your post I have read you eat like a regular person (healthy)- and this is what I want... Thanks Jachut..

The band is about volume, so we still have to do the work to choose WHAT we eat, and I agree with Jachut that the band is going to be more about helping with maintaining than with actual weight loss. (I'm counting calories, I know where you're coming from).

After three months of my life with my band.....I am still shocked when people think that band was suppose to do the work.....I was told straight up that it would be up to me as to whether or not I lost weight with it.

I was told that it would depend on my food choices and my Portion Control. Staying within the limits of what my new pouch is suppose to hold. I never eat more than 3 ounces at a meal. I was told not too. So I don't.....I am not hungry.....and I am happy. I have really tried to learn my body and it signals. What I used to think was hunger is dehydration. I know now that when I would run to the snack machine at work what my body was really wanting was Water.

I just never drank enough water ever.....Now it is all I drink, except for skim milk and the occasional V-8 that I allow for.

I think we all have to come to terms with the fact that the band was put there to keep our portions within reason, sure you can eat around the band. You can also feel the pain, wait a little while and keep on eating.....I know people who have done this. But WHY would you want to do this, when you went through everything. I say if you are doing these types of behaviors hurry to the nearest psychiatric office because you need some serious counseling on why you EAT in the first place.

I never ever want to go back to the fast food junkie that I was pre surgery. Or the sedintary blimp that I had become...LOL I love all the moving that I do now and I look forward to it.

I just want to commend all of you that do such a great job eating the right foods and exercising all week. However, that being said, I didn't spend $16000 to diet and exercise! I eat whatever I want and I never get a chance to workout and I've still lost 50lbs. I keep my band tight enough that it works for me so I don't have to work for it. If I could diet and exercise I woudn't have needed the band to begin with. I get my protein and I take my vitamin, I think the band is what you make of it, find what works for you and go with it.