Hey Bandsters,

I really need some honest feedback from anyone who has been down this road I'm traveling.

I was banded in Sept. 2004. Before surgery, I lost 34 lbs by exercise and low carb eating (I was told to lose about 23 before my surgery). I lost that in about 3 months. Anyway, since then, I've only lost about 30 lbs. I have done FAR WORSE with my band than without. Of course, in the old days, I would have gained it back (probably, etc.) so I know the good effect the band has had for me.

However, I got lazy from about Feb to April this year and stayed about the same weight. I was only working out about 2 days a week. Well, I kicked myself in the butt and have been working out 90 mins 4x a week, doing 50-60 mins of that cardio and the rest lifting, abs, stretching...basically what I did last summer. I even take a spinning class to really push the effort on my cardio. I'm drinking about a gallon of Water a day, no caffeine, get in about 60-70 g. of low fat Protein, and eat a lot of salad. I have choked a few times and have eaten some Cookies, etc., but I am not making that my main life.

SO, I lose and gain the same 5-6 lbs over and over again!!! I am SO discouraged. It seems that the harder I'm trying, the less ground I'm gaining. Has this happened to anyone else??? Just wondering how you got over this hump.

Thanks,

Rose

First, great work! You've lost more than 50 pounds! Okay, sounds like you've hit that dreded platoue. (gawd, I wish I could spell.) I'm beginning to thing that these are rather on the desirable side, since they give you a chance to get used to your new size. Some speculate that it's the body's way of maintaining it's sanity.

I noticed right off you haven't listed any of your NSVs, which in my book, are more important than scale victories, especially given that the scale is a damn lier.

Look at how fit you are! WOOT!

Have you had a real measurement of your body-fat taken? it could be that you are losing fat and gaining muscle. You didn't publish your weight, but it could be that you have an athletic build and will find that at 180 pounds you have a body-fat of 23%. Woot!

In my not so humble opionion, the body-fat percentage is much more important than what the lying lyer of a scale says.

It sounds like you are doing things right, but how is your level of restriction? I know for me, I can eat the right things 90% of the time and exercise like a maniac... but if my portions are still too large I won't lose weight. Too much yo-yo dieting over the years has killed my metabolism.

Maybe you need a fill?

Yes. I agree. I am scheduled for a fill next Friday. I just can't take weighing myself one day and have gained three lbs. It's driving me crazy. I know part of the angst is the agony of getting weighed next week when I go to the doc. I haven't been for about 6 weeks...and it's like I'm 12 again...being dragged to doctors because I'm fat... and the crushing shame that I wasn't successful again. The last time I had a fill, I had gained 6 lbs...my first gain since I was banded. It's the fear of failure all over again. I can't be the only one having this fear.

Thanks for the great replies...a steady course ahead, right?

Thanks,

Rose

367... banded at 334/currently 303-307

two things...

do you drink much Water in a day?

what is your Protein intake?

youd be amazed how much of a difference it makes!

Hi,

I drink 3-4 quarts of Water a day...am faithful about that. I also usually eat between 60-75 g. of Protein.

I am definitely wanting to get my fill next Friday.

Rose