I was banded in Sept 07. I wasn't losing weight fast, but that was ok. I didn't tell people that I had the surgery, so it was ok that the weight was slowly coming off, but coming off. So I would say since Feb I haven't lost really anything. I know it is my fault and not the bands. My last fill was in March and it didn't do a thing for me. I actually feel like I could eat more now than I could before that last fill. I kept telling myself give it some time because I have read on here were people say their fill kicked in a few weeks later. Well mine hasn't. I have scheduled another fill and I pray that it will help me and get me back to being motivated.

What really gets me down is I feel like if I eat 1 bad carb I gain a pound. So does this mean I am no longer allowed to eat a bad carb for the rest of my life? Is this normal?

I use to be on this site all day long every day. Then I stopped coming around and I think that is one reason I am not motivated. I need you people!

I can't fail at this too!

That's awesome! How are you keeping up with it now?

That's a great loss...good job!

That's awesome! How are you keeping up with it now?

That's a great loss...good job!

I'm doing okay, just trying not to go back to my old habits. How are you doing? I am still struggling with "head" hunger.

Argh! I'm not doing well. I eat okay most of the week and then the weekend comes and I go nuts.

For some reason I'm tighter than I used to be, even though I have lost a few pounds since I firsr posted on this thread.

I find I can't eat more than a couple of bites - sometimes. Other times I can eat a lot more.

I'm really getting frustrated and upset...ack!

I so need to join this club. I was banded in Aug of 2007. I lost 32 lbs. I was slow but still okay. However in the past 4 months. I have gained 14 lbs back and I am so scared. I almost feel embarressed to return to my doctor for an update.

I have been able to eat almsot anything I want, and am nervous that I have "strecthed my small pouch". What is the 5 day test?

This is my first day back onto the forum in almost 6 months. I am ready to face the truth again. I am no longer feeding into my own personal pity party.

But I soooooo need the support.

Edited January 20, 200917 yr by BrownSuga

The 5 Day Pouch test can be found here:

Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test

It helped me a little bit. I really needed to stick to it better. I ended up doing the liquid part longer and then over compensated later.

do you mind if I ask why your band had to be replaced? Was it something you did or a problem with the band itself or a surgical error?

So...I was doing well until Sunday. We track our calories, which isn't something I've done before. For 2 weeks we've doing well and then Sunday came, and we had a cheat day. We still tracked our cals - up near 3000 because of the chips/dip.

That one day bumped me up 2 pounds. Ugg. I worked so hard to get those 2 pounds off and now I'm back up again just because of one day.

We also hit the gym in the morning on Sunday, out of our normal routine because we knew we'd be bad that night.

Both of us gained 2 pounds. We're hoping it will fall off easily, but it was still difficult to handle that gain.

Okay, so let me jump on this band wagon......I suck at this! I had been doing okay. Then Christmas came, and I gained 2 lbs. Since then, I haven't been able to loose ANY weight. I go to the gym at least 2 times a week, sometimes 3. But, I do not eat what I am supposed to. I get my protein in everyday, but I also eat things I shouldn't!

I was doing better when I visited this site everyday, but lately I feel like I've just completely fallen off! I need your help and encouragement. I'm embarrased that I haven't lost anymore weight than 25 lbs. in 6 months!

I am self pay, so I cannot fail at this......

Regarding the carbs, the answer must might be that whenever you eat a carb, you retain Water rather than actually gain fat. Carbs - even good carbs - make your body retain water. I assume with this that you're not making whole meals out of carbs, because if you are, it could actually be fat gain.

I know that whenever I've gone on low carb diets, all it took was a little bit of bread to make the scale jump, but it was never a long term gain if I just ate reasonably. So don't worry - it's probably just water. Just eat carbs in very small portions and you should be fine!

I was surprised to see that someone else had Fluid retention with refined carbs. I thought I was the only one that did. It's actually worse for me than having salt.

Thanks for sharing.

Best of luck to those who are struggling. I hope you will find your personal solution.

I know from personal experience: "When all else fails, persistence prevails!"

Its the same for everyone - for every molecule of carbohydrate your body stores you also store a couple of water molecules - 2 or 3 (I think). That's also why you drop weight so quickly at first on low carb - its not fat, its water shedding.