Hey November 07 bandsters! I've noticed everyone with such huge numbers, I've only lost 10 lbs. I was banded November 14 went in weighing 240lbs. I lost 20 lbs in 2 weeks from being on only liquids and have since put on 10 of those 20. I've been filled twice. I'm up to 5 in a 10 band. help! I feel like a failure. I'm really proud of everyone but what am I doing wrong?

I can still eat pretty large portions without getting full.

Hey November 07 bandsters! I've noticed everyone with such huge numbers, I've only lost 10 lbs. I was banded November 14 went in weighing 240lbs. I lost 20 lbs in 2 weeks from being on only liquids and have since put on 10 of those 20. I've been filled twice. I'm up to 5 in a 10 band. help! I feel like a failure. I'm really proud of everyone but what am I doing wrong?

I can still eat pretty large portions without getting full.

Sounds to me like you haven't had much support. I find that our success has been largely a result of being a part of a community/family of bandsters. We are very supportive of each other and have grown close through this experience.

Not only does it take following the Band Rules, getting fills and exercise it also takes a support system.

My suggestion would be take a look at all the band information that you got about how and what to eat and follow to the tee! Protein first, veggies and if still hungry carb. Drink your Water and allow yourself a treat once and while and for goodness sake get over here for some support.

Cindy

WOW! thanks so much Cindy. That's probably the first motivating and informative comment I've had.

I cannot believe your weight loss. You must feel so great! I will def be looking here for support and info. I really think it's what I've been lacking. With 3 small children, It's hard to get on the pc to often though.

Sounds to me like you haven't had much support. I find that our success has been largely a result of being a part of a community/family of bandsters. We are very supportive of each other and have grown close through this experience.

Not only does it take following the Band Rules, getting fills and exercise it also takes a support system.

My suggestion would be take a look at all the band information that you got about how and what to eat and follow to the tee! Protein first, veggies and if still hungry carb. Drink your Water and allow yourself a treat once and while and for goodness sake get over here for some support.

Cindy

I will second what Cindy has just stated! Cindy and I have kinda been band bro. and sister. (even had a lil sibling rivalry there for a while) It has been rough sometimes when the job is really kicking my patooty, but I still try to get on here and keep in the loop. It really helps out a lot.

My bariatric center also has a monthly lap band support group. It is awesome! I always leave there so motivated. I would encourage you to get plugged in somewhere that you can talk to people face to face that have been where you are. It really isn't like the proverbial "support group", ours is a lot of fun.

Best of luck... and if there is EVER anything I can do, PLEASE don't be afraid to shoot me a PM and I will see what I can do to help out. Even if it is just for a ranting session! Lord knows we have all been there!

I've been in the EXACT same position as you for a long time. I had a rough go for a while there and was very frustrated with the band. About 2 weeks ago I reached restriction and joined a gym the day before. Combining the 2 has been amazing for me (and they made me more motivated to eat the right foods). I'm finally feeling like this band is going to work for me. I've lost almost 9lbs in 2 weeks.

I'm assuming you haven't reached restriction yet? Have you been exercising? Eating the right foods? If you haven't reached restriction I completely get how that can impact your motivation and weight loss. Looking back, had I at least tried to make the right food choices and work out daily I would have had some results instead of gaining weight like I did. So I would suggest starting there until the band starts doing it's part.

I hope this comes off as motivational and not naggy =) I just want you to know that there is hope and things will change in time, but you can start to implement some changes before the band kicks in. I wish I had.

I hope that I don't offend you in asking, but are you tracking your calories and nutrients? There are several websites that help you do so. I use a program called Dietpower (Diet Power Calorie Counter, Diet, and Weight Loss Program) that really helps me.

It's surprisng how many calories that we can ingest without really knowing. I have read many posts where members had not been losing weight and had the food-logging suggestion made to them. They posted later that when they actually logged their food that they had been taking in a considerably higher number of calories than they thought they were.

I find this a wonderful checklist to look over when I am feeling off or not losing weight. It's from somewhere else on this site. Enjoy - hope things get better. - Bandpal

How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted: You are losing 1-2 pounds per week.

If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week:

A. You may need an eating adjustment

1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day

2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber

3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories

a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome”

b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram

(1) It’s also a stomach

irritant

c. fruit juice is just sugar Water

4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods?

a. Are you avoiding soft foods

b. You can’t just eat what’s easy

c. cheese is glorified fat

5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals

6. Are you eating too much junk

a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived.

b. Stay out of fast food places

7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily

8. Do you always eat the protein first

9. Then the vegetables or fruits

a. Five servings a day

b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable

10. Is your portion size appropriate?

a. meat or fish

(1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards

b. Vegetables

(1) ½ cup – the size of your fist

c. Starch

(1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much

(2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, Pasta

11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners

a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the

appetite

b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar

c. They teach you to like things too sweet

d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner

than people who don’t

12. Avoid most diet foods

a. Real food usually tastes better

b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes

c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not

that great

(1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine

(2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats

a. They may go into permanent storage

b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove

hydrolyzed fats from the body

B. You may need a behavior adjustment

1. Are you eating only when you are hungry?

a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait.

2. Are you eating three meals a day?

a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks

3. Are you sitting down to eat?

4. Are you eating consciously?

a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper

away, pay attention to your food and your companions

5. Are you eating slowly?

a. Put the fork down between bites

b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal

c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying

6. Are you taking small bites?

a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork

7. Are you chewing well?

8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals?

a. Practice water loading between meals

b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal

9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness?

a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough

b. Hard stop versus soft stop

10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing.

11. Do not eat when you are not hungry

C. You may need an activity adjustment

1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3

times a week?

a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day

b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week?

c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes?

2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your

physical activity?

a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators

b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding

c. Parking your car further away from the entrance

d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through

e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination

f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash

g. Playing with your kids

D. You may need an attitude adjustment

1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey?

2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are

eating and exercising?

a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days

3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional

issues?

a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your

eating?

b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those

emotions?

c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor?

4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings?

5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends?

6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically?

7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss

journey?

8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating?

a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts

(1) Obsess about something else

b. Perfectionism

(1) All or none, black and white thinking

c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss

9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards?

10. Have you learned how to take a compliment?

11. Are you giving up diet mentality?

a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day

b. Stop dieting

c. Stop depriving yourself

d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad”

e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food

12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place?

E. You may need a band adjustment

1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate

portion sizes but getting hungry between meals?

2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large

portions.

3. You are having to struggle to lose

4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and

having a good mind set.

F. You may need your band loosened

1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down

2. You are vomiting too much

a. How much is too much?

3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night?

a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating

b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime

c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime

d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux:

(1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods

(2) Chocolate

(3) Caffeine

(4) Alcohol

(5) Some fruits and vegetables

a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers

(6) Peppermint

a. Baking soda toothpaste

(7) Carbonated drinks

e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals

f. If you smoke, quit smoking

g. Reduce stress

h. Exercise promotes digestion

i. Raise the head of your bed

j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist

k. Stress increases reflux

l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning

m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime

(1) Tylenol is OK

n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring

o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications

p. See your health care provider

4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if

a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest,

especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is

accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast

heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack.

b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise.

c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you

also have nausea or fever

d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee

grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar

in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention.

(Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.)

e. If your pain is severe

Something is definentlywrong. I've had about 5 cc's total, and have lost 30 lbs since Nov.1st. If you getting enough fill, and it sounds like you are, the full filliing you get shouldn't allow you to overeat. I know if I continue to eat after I get that "Singnal" to quit, I get sooooo sick!! I'd definently be talkin to my doc!!!

Thanks everyone for all your great advice.

I'm sure I'm eating way too much and woke up this morning with a new attitude. I'm going to start tracking my calories as I wasn't doing so before and probably overeating. I will also be on this site for support as I've been feeling down and unmotivated. I feel people are looking at me like "Wow, she really hasn't lost anything" I'm really embarrassed and wish I hadn't told anyone.

West Coast- I've read some of your posts and really admire your words of encouragment and understanding. I think only other obese people can really understand our addiction.

I know my head plays a huge part of this, I just have so much trouble making the right food choices. It seems like cookies and ice cream go down so easily while chicken and the "healthy stuff" I really feel going down and it hurts.

I also know my restriction cannot possibly where it should be. I remember pre surgey going to see the RD and her telling me the small amout I would be able to eat and I couln't believe it. So that is something I must talk to my doc about.

I was always a person who was able to consume huge portions of food, so maybe it takes alot of fill for me.

I've also had knees sugery( as a result of being heavy for so long) so I'm just able to incorporate exercise now. Only 20 min 3x a week until physical therapist says I can do more.

Again thanks everyone for responding, listening and understanding.

I'd love to see some of your daily diets to give me some ideas?

Not everyone gets to the right restriction with 5 cc's in their band. We are all different sizes inside and we need a fill that fits our stomach.

Until I got some restriction, I don't think it's perfect yet, I just followed my old weight watchers plan. I had been on that so many times, what was one more time? I weigh or measure food and write it down and stay at or under 1200 calories. I track my Protein to be sure I get enough.

I did his because gaining weight or not losing weight, while I waited for restriction was not an option I wanted. As my fills got me to a slighly better place, it got easier to stay on plan.

Practice all your band rules during this time. Small bites, chew well, don't drink for one hour after eating, eat protein first. By the time you get a good restriction level you'll be ready and those things will be habits.

Many people like to track calories on a web site. I just figure the calories and protein and jot it down on a notepad. Whatever works for you.

Cookies and ice cream? Come on, You know you will not lose weight eating those foods.

If healthy food like chicken go down hard, then it might not be you need a fill. Our pouch will only keep us satisfied between meals, if we eat solid Protein that stays in our pouch.

Ice cream and cookies and other slider foods won;t keep you satisfied and the more carbs you eat, the more you'll crave them.

Start eating solid protein, take very small bites and chew them well. Eat a 4 oz portion and eat some veggies with it. Stop eating. Don;t drink for one hour. During that hour, consider your hunger level. Your brain has to catch up with your band. Our brain ( and eyes) want more. Our eyes tell us that is not the amount of food we used to eat and trys to convince us to eat more. Just keep asking your self after this meal, am I really hungry or just craving. If your not sure, after the hour, drink a bottle of Water, and then ask the question again.

We have to re-train our brain. We cannot trust our stomach for the answer, it always lied to us in the past!

The above are all good pieces of advice and definately worth heeding.

I can say that (for whatever reason) I haven't been tempted to eat "bad" foods. But, I am definately a "bowl cleaner/plate licker" from way back. It has taken me some time to LISTEN to my new pouch telling me that it has had enough to eat. I eat slowly, chew a LOT, and set that fork down. However, I still have trouble stopping when I look into the bowl and see food there. It's generally only a few ounces left, and I have already weighed it out and counted the calories, so my old voices tell me that I SHOULD eat it - I DESERVE to eat it.

I have finally come around paying attention and listening for that little "satisfied" whisper and then SETTING DOWN THE BOWL. To make this possible, without seeming like deprivation, I promise myself that IF I am hungry later, I can finish it up. But, if I am not, I just saved some calories and gotten closer to understanding what "satisfied" is all about. Mind you, I said "satisfied" not "full" - that is a whole 'nuther topic.

It may seem like a small thing, but multiplied over three meals a day for the rest of my life, it is a HUGE step to healthy eating. Good luck. You can do it.

Thanks Foofy Good advice

I have to tune into my body more. I need to pay attention to myself. I feel "life" and "children" take up so much of my time and I wouldn't have it any other way but I need to take care of myself too! Started my food journal today and feel good. Worried about the evening though. I like to snack and watch tv. Days when "the Biggest Loser" is on I can control myself better. It motivates me:biggrin2:

I have some trouble measuring calories though for example I made small lean italian meat patties(with whole wheat bread, an egg an spices) and baked them to go with my Barilla Plus pasta and have no idea how many calories were in the patty? It was on the small side so I find myself guessing? Any suggestions?

I see my doc on Friday for another fill. I'm very excited to get my ball rolling like my fellow November Bandsters. Bye

To track calories with multiple ingredients count the biggest part first, the meat. I type on online searches things like "calories in chicken" or Protein in chicken and info comes up. Add in the calories of the egg, measure the bread crumbs and add that to the total. Once you make the meatballs, count them and divide the total by the number of meatballs, Then you know how many calories in each one.

Pasta? and meatballs?

I know whole wheat is better than regular, but carbs will cause cravings, the pasta won't hold you long becasue the portion is very small compared to a meal of chicken and salad.

Once you reach restriction, remember solid protein will stay in your pouch longer than softer food.

Sounds like you need that fill. Good Luck.

I am not very consistent at tracking my food; to help me with this I plan my meals the night before; from Breakfast, snack, and lunch and to what I’m making for dinner. I also keep a journal with me at all times, so I can write down what I ate and drink and how many calories and Protein it has. I joined a gym, and to make sure I go and keep going I got a trainer and pre paid for all my sessions. This also provides great motivation to keep me moving; I also set a fitness goal for myself every month. Four months ago it was to be able to climb the stairs leading to my classroom without having to stop half way, two months ago it was to walk 2 miles on the treadmill at 3.0.in 1 hour. Today it’s to be able to walk at 4.0 for 3 miles on the treadmill for 1 hour, and hopefully a 10k by my 36th birthday in July. I love to belly dance so I bought workout dvs that use belly dancing as the means to get fit. I also use an old teaching tool, a behavior modification chart. I give myself a star for every day I exercise, after earning 10 stars I get to buy myself something I want that‘s not edible (a book (I love to read) jewelry, purse, shoes, new outfit). When I earn 100 stars I am going to buy myself a Sony E-book reader.

If I mess up at any point during my day I start fresh with the next meal, I try to follow 99% of the bandster rules. I tell myself everyday is a new day, everyday is a fresh start. My doctor has a support group but it meets at 6 pm on Wednesday, and I can’t make it because of childcare issues. I started going to therapy and I go on here for help, advise, motivation, cheering up and a good laugh.

Hope this helps.

Marie Gabrielle

Thanks Marie

Great tips!

Look at you doing so well. You must be really proud of yourself. I feel like I have so much to learn. I really didn't do enough research before surgery and am now taking my band for granted. I feel like I have really turned a corner in these last few days. I should be so blessed to have this unbelievable opportunity/tool to help me.

Congrats again on all you've achieved hope to be with ya soon!