Hello,

I was banded on 2.25.08 and have been eating between 400 -700 calories. I exercise 30 minutes-5-6 days a week.

I feel like a failure because I have only lost 3 pounds in the last 5 weeks since my 4th fill. I had great restriction after my 3rd so I had very little put in for the fourth.

I'm thinking that my body is thinking its starving. I called my surgeons office and was told to eat just 3 meals a day. That was it...she brushed off the starvation theory I had. I was eating 1/4-1/2 cup every 2-3 hours(more like 1/2) and she just wanted me to do 3 meals and try to take more time and eat more.

I'm really doing everything I can to lose more weight but its just not happening. Ok, I do need to add more exercise.

I'm so discouraged and feel like such a failure. It will be six months in a week or so, and I feel I should have lost 20-30 more pounds.

I'm doing my best not top compare myslef to others...

And I feel that when it comes to my diet, I'm following all guidlines...protein, veggies...fruits and very little if any carbs unless I have quaker weight control oatmeal.

It really has to be my calorie intake...I don't go back to my surgeon for a fill until the 21st and have anoter call in to the office today to discuss this.

Can you all help me out with your suggestions and answers please? I feel that I'm going to get the same answers when I get my return call today.

I have been MIA because I have been so depressed about this unusually long plateau.

I have also started doing my tae bo dvd (even though I cannot get through all of it) and I hope it helps with my weight loss.

How many calories do you eat each day?

What is a typical daily menu for you.

Thank you all,

Bren

My vote is you are not eating enough calories.

I eat anywhere from 1000-1300 calories a day and I try to vary this so my body doesn't get stuck. I had surgery 6 months ago and I've lost 60 pounds so far. I've noticed that if I eat less, then I don't lose. I also workout about an hour a day with both cardio and weights.

Here's a typical day for me:

BK: Protein shake(15 protein)

AM snack: Greek Yogurt(13 protein)

Lunch: Tuna w/ a little mayo and sweet relish(20 protein)

Tomato slices or a little fruit if I have any room

Snack: Fruit/or/almonds(6 protein)/or/cottage cheese(12 protein)

Dinner: Chicken(2-3 oz)(18-27 protein)

Veggie

Snack: protein bar(20 protein)

Hope this helps and good luck in your journey.

There are several of us that are having a plateau issue and I almost think it's a natural stage of weight loss since there are so many of us. At least that's the way I'm trying to stay sane. I want to slug my scale every time I see that same blasted number on it. I eat 800-1200 calories a day and I vary it so I don't have the starvation thing. I exercise about 20-30 minutes a day and I've moved that up in the last month. I think I've tried every method know to man but fasting to break the plateau. Wish I could be of more help but if I knew the answer I wouldn't be right there frowning with you. :Banane37: Let me know if you find anything that helps. I'm gonna try another fill next week and see if that helps me.

Holy crap - 400-700 calories???? I'd not only be depressed, I'd be a stark-raving lunatic crazed with hunger! :Banane37:

Although I haven't been monitoring my calories, I just plunked in a few day's menus on an on-line calculator. Assuming my portion sizes are correct, I'm averaging 1000-1200. As I've previously posted, my weight loss has not been as dramatic as others, but has been (for the most part) constant...slow, but steady.

I encourage you to speak with your doctor and frame the discussion not as I"'m eating 3 meals", but rather "my caloric intake is about 550 calories a day".

Good luck, and let us know how the conversation goes.

Thank you all for your advice. I knew this was not all in my head! I will let everyone know what my Doctor says next week!

Thanks,

Bren

You need more calories, period. How much Protein do you get in each day with only 400-700 calories? My doctor recommends about 1/2 cup of food per meal, but I think my meals are probably closer to about 3/4 cup or 1 cup per meal. I also like a looser fill than many, so I think that helps me to eat more.

I am anywhere between 1000-1500 calories a day, usually between 1100-1200. I have at least 60 grams of protein per day, but lately with some changes to my typical meals, it has been more like 80+ grams. I get typically 80-100 grams of carbs per day, but it isn't something I pay too much attention to. However, if it is over 100, I'm usually not making great choices so I tend to limit that without even thinking specifically about carbs. I also drink a minimum of 64 ozs of Water each day, since it has been really hot more like 80-100 ozs a day. I do cardio 4-5 times a week and strength training 3 days a week--I do something active everyday.

During my latest plateau (only my second so far, and each lasted about 2 weeks), I broke it by a) began exercising regularly, :Banane37: increasing my water intake, c) changing my food choices, d) increasing my protein (which was helped my changing my food choices), and e) increasing my average calorie intake just a bit (I had been closer to the 1000 calorie mark, but now I'm consistently closer to 1200). I didn't really consciously increase my calories--it just sort of happened because I was more hungry after working out. I've built more muscle and I'm burning fat more efficiently. After my plateau, I dropped two pounds one week then the next FIVE pounds. This is the third week following my plateau and I'm down about 8-9 lbs from the plateau weight.

If you physically can't eat more than 400-700 calories, I'd definitely not get another fill and even ask for a slight unfill. The band isn't a starvation diet. You need calories and nutrients.

That was a great post! I believe all those things are important when trying to break a plateau. On my preop diet, I lost 13 lbs right away, like in a week and a half, and then for over 2 weeks, I didn't lose one pound. I even gained. And I was drinking protein shakes. Then after I got that time of the month and had a nice chicken dinner with veggies, my scale just started dropping again. So, yes, I believe shaking up your menu and hormones have a lot to do with plateaus. Good luck!

Everybody has already posted, and they are correct. You need to eat more calories. I eat about 1200 calories a day. A normal day for me is:

8 am - can of tuna

9:30 - handful of granola or trail mix

11:30 - southwest chicken salad from Chick Fil A with vinagarette dressing or a cup of chili from wendy's, or pho Soup or turkey plate

3:00 - banana or another afternoon snack

6:00 - soup or chili, or some other random chicken meal with veggies..

8:00 - small snack. piece of cheese or some peanuts..

every now and again I'll be naughty and have a shake or frosty or something..

I do like adding whole grain carbs in there every now and again.. through crackers. I think getting a good amount of carbs in is important, though it doesn't look like it in the above. I dont' eat as many as I use to.

I eat about 1000 or so calories per day. If I go too much over or under, I stop losing. I think you should just try adding another small meal for a few days and see what happens. Your doc may not think you should, but it can't hurt to try it and see what happens. Also, are you exercising regularly? That could also be a factor. Sometimes you just have to change things up to get that scale moving again. Hang in there, you will find your stride!

I just posted a similar lament elsewhere, Blessed, but you aren't alone. I'm "only" down 31 lbs. since my operation (2/13) and have essentially gone from excessively eating all the time to a four-step cycle of (1) fill, (2) starve, (3) eat like a normal human being, (4) pig out.

Last month I had to be briefly hospitalized during the 'starve' cycle, having dizzy spells, blackouts and general weakness. I was told I was dehydrated, but during the 'starve' cycle I easily drink 100 ozs. a day, so that's BS.

I'm as unsettled as you are; I haven't completely given up (after all, I'm still down 31 lbs.) but after looking around here and seeing where my February brethren are in their weight loss goals, it's discouraging.