I am getting really frustrated! I have only lost 27 pounds in my first six months after surgery, and I keep gaining and losing the same 3 pounds. As of today, I am 248. I have been walking faithfully (I have 1205 minutes for July as of this morning). I have been trying to stay on program and succeeding most of the time. I don't know if I need another small fill or what. I am pretty tight (Water is slow to go down) in the am and it feels like I can eat a lot in the evenings. I am just really getting discouraged that I haven't done better, especially in that important first six months window. It was a year ago that I started in this journey and I am glad that I am not at 275 any more, or even bigger the way things were going. I do wish however that the weight was coming off a bit easier.

Thanks for letting me vent a bit. I think so many of you other Knockouts are doing FABULOUS! Keep up the great work.

~Amy

Hi! My name is nancy i was banded almost 11 months ago (9-13-07) i have only lost 18lbs as of this date. I have had 10 fills in 10 months since surgery. I have no restriction or maybe very little for only a few days. I have a 4cc band and filled 4cc still no restriction. I have kept a food journal for 2 weeks as per my nutritionist and she said the quality for food was fine but the amount i should not be able to eat at one time(like pre-band). I am an x-ray tech. And have taken alot of pictures of my abdomen because if i didn't feel the port i would actually think i had no band placed.i also drank baruim and baruim laced food and watched it go down to see if it gets hung up on the band but it doesn't. I also had an ugi on the record and the radiologist said that the band isn;t working properly because it is not restricting anything. I went to my dr. Appt in june and the nurse practioner said that she looked at the disc and everything is fine i just need another fill,so i was filled to 4.5cc in my 4cc band and i could not even swallow water so she pulled .3 out. I did feel some restriction for about 4-5 days now nothing i can eat anything ,nothing is a problem. I do have another dr. Appt. On aug 5 with the doctor so hopefully i will get some answers ?leak ?malfunctional band wish me luck

I have discovered that if I am not eating enough with a ramped up exercise program, I don't lose. I would try to do protein shakes throughout the day as well, as that will get the protein in. Keep a food journal too.

I know how you feel. I am a little frustrated as well. I have been at or around the same weight since March 30th or so. There are times that I feel restriction and times I don't. One thought though - at least we are still down in our weight from the beginning. I mean, it used to be that I would lose 10 gain 20 and the cycle would repeat - so frustrating!

Sometimes I love all the feedback you can get from these support sites, but I gotta tell ya, I tend to be a little competitive. So, when I read about ppl who have had surgery and six months later have lost 80 lbs or so, it kills me. Instead of it making me want to work harder, I tend to just sulk.

I have learned (it just escapes me at times) that we are all different and the band is included in that difference. Some of us lose faster than others, some of us feel that sweet spot of restriction, some not so much yet. It will happen for us. It already is! We may not be melting away like we want to, but we aren't gaining, right?

Be proud of what you do. Be happy you haven't gained. You are going in the positive direction or should I say we...

I am so sorry you are having a hard time and are feeling frustrated. ((GIANT HUGS)) I had a 2 month period where I gained and lost the same few pounds as well. It can be VERY frustrating. Unlike you though I didn't have any restriction until my last fill which finally has me losing again. So hang in there!!

When you are looser at night do you still restrict your amounts and measure out what you eat? If you are eating the right foods, but too much... try using a measuring cup you may be surprised. I know you say you are pretty tight, maybe just a scooth more will do the trick. Did you ask your Dr? Are you avoiding slider foods?

I know it is frustrating at times but hang in there. As hard as it is... you cannot compare your weighloss to others. Everyone is built differently, some people have a substantial amount to lose (like me) so it comes off quicker initially.