male only question about loss

[evobuilder 0]

I was banded on 10/08 and at the time, I was 279 and now today, 11/20, I am at 250. I am really glad about the weight loss, but it seems like I can eat more, about 8 oz at dinner (less at lunch and breakfast)...

Now... I have had 1 fill (3oz) and honestly, i am pretty happy with the volume of food I am eating, just not happy with the sloooowwwwww loss. It seems like I am only losing a pound a week (if that).

Also, I am not eating any carbs, so I would have expected that to kick it up a notch as well... but I am telling you, this losing weight with the band is slow going.

So? Should I be content or does it seem like I cam eating too much?

[Manatee 3]

My doc says aim for a lb a week, that's a safe and sustainable rate. Increasing your workouts will increase that drop without requiring a change in fill levels. Speaking of, I think you'll find your fill was 3 cc or 3 ml, not 3 oz.

I was able to lose 100 or so in a year starting at 285, but really was aggressive about the workout and fills. I would have been healthier with a slower loss, IMHO.

[evobuilder 0]

thanks... I am only 6 weeks in... the fact that I am at 250 is a pretty cool thing. I will keep on, keeping on. I did not do this for the short term. I beleive the 1 lb a week is a much better thing than being 348 again (my heaviest many years back).

Thanks for the words of wisdom.

Eric

[jolinbrown 0]

I was banded August 11 and have lost 70 pounds (started @ 323) and still have not had a fill above the 3cc done during surgery. The doctor has said as long as I keep loosing, there is no need for a fill. They said there is another patient, that is 5 months post op that hasnt had a fill either. Has anyone else gone this long?

John

[bambam31 168]

John, are you hungry or are you satisfied after eating a reasonable amount of food? If you are fighting through hunger I'd be screaming in that doc's ear. The whole point of the band is minimize hunger after eating a reasonable amount of food.

I don't understand docs that make fill decisions based on what the scale says. It's how you feel after eating a reasonable meal that matters.

Brad

[jolinbrown 0]

I notice that I'm starting to get hungry quicker, but I am satisfied after eating. The weight continues to come off, 3 additional pounds this morning.

[jolinbrown 0]

I notice that I'm starting to get hungry quicker, but I am satisfied after eating. The weight continues to come off, 3 additional pounds (from last Monday) this morning.

[evobuilder 0]

ok, here we are, Dec 9 and I am at the same weight. I am calling my doctor tomorrow and scheduling a fill... 19 days and no weight loss... I would be OK if I was at 200 but not at 250... so off I go, to get another fill.

I am 8 down since Nov 1 and 20 since being banded on Oct 8, but I have certainly plateaued, and now that I am getting hungrier, I can tell for sure that I am ready for a fill.

thanks for the input

[bassriley 0]

It's easy to get discouraged with one pound a week. In the first couple of weeks after being banded, I was losing two or three pounds a day, and I loved it. After a couple of weeks it slowed down and now I'm losing between one and two pounds a week. I remember one of the times that I was on Weight Watchers in the past that someone recommended that to get a sense of what losing a pound of fat means you should melt a pound of butter and then look at all the fat that is in that melted pound of butter. Or get a pound of Crisco-same thing. That's an image I keep in my head-it really helps put in perspective what it means to lose a pound of fat.

Good luck with the fill. I'm two fills in now, and the second fill really has got me right at the sweet spot. It makes a big differrence when you get there.

Bryan

[bambam31 168]

evobuilder.... I'm not certain what you're doing for exercise. I had a period where my weight loss stopped. I'm not talking slowed - I mean stopped. I had fairly decent restriction and wasn't pigging out.

I joined a gym and go 5-7 days a week and that was all it took - the weight started melting off. I do a spin class almost every day and burn, according to my heart rate monitor, between 600 - 1000 calories per class, depending on how hard I work. That, accompanied by some strength training has really lit my metabo-fire. I never thought I'd become a gym rat but exercising - and seeing the fruits of your labor - is very motivating. Good luck!

Brad

[Jachut 487]

Yeah, I agree. I always like exercise but didnt feel like doing it hard six days a week! But once you see what happens when you combine it with consistent diet, you become totally addicted!

[scarecrow 4]

Yah Evo, I lost 125 in the first year, 315-188. But... I shouldn't have. Your skin will be much happier if you lose maybe a pound a week.

I just jumped into non-stop hardcore exercise. I never even had a fill, not even a first. I jumped into MMA training, weight lifting, and paintball, lol. If it's not something that's absolutely fun to you, you're not going to want to stick with it.

The most fortunate thing of my life has been getting to the point where I wait all day to be able to go workout or spar. I absolutely love it because I have good friends to do it with and it's a lot of fun.

But man, it sure is hard to do it on no carbs. I've been there, you just feel... like shit really. I live on Protein shakes, 95% lean ground beef, fish, broccoli, and fish oil pills. But I feel excellent. It's ok to spike your GI carbs (sugar carbs) right before a workout, the insolin spike will help deliver nutrients to your muscles better, and give you energy to get gains from the activity. No sugar added grape juice - half a cup - about 20 minutes before your workout will make the whole thing a lot less painfull. The serotonin spike from sugar probably has something to do with that, but who cares : P. You'll burn it off.

Good luck bud. I plateu'd at 230 for a few weeks and it was a horrible feeling. I thought I was just destined to never get any smaller, and no one could tell me any different. It'll pass bud.

If you don't want your skin to look like melting wax when your done, stick with that 1lbs a week. Trust me.

[FatManInALittleCoat 0]

Scarecrow...damn, you lost a lot dude! I'm in Longview. What doctor do you recommend? Im still in the research phase.

[scarecrow 4]

Longview! wondered where you were from, I saw the comment about shreveport, and knew only a local would understand how bad it sucked : P.

Dr. Merrimen in Shreveport did an excellent job on my surgery, but he's really the only doctor I know too. The whole thing went smooth as could be man, I'd suggest him for sure.

[evobuilder 0]

ok, here we are... I said I was going to get another fill and I did... 1.5 weeks ago. I hit 245 this morning. My doc is very conservative, he gave me 1.5 cc and said that he usually only does 1 cc at a time, but I have followed the rules soo well, that he was going to go a bit over for me (this time).

I hear some people gettting 3cc at a time... I am at 4.5 total and seem to have hit my sweet spot, or maybe even a little beyond... I had restriction for the first time last week (cottage cheese). It's funny, i can eat red meat, ckicken, whatever, not much restriction, but WHOA... cottage cheese... that was rough. Just ate too much I guess.

Anyway... working to see the lower side of 240s by end of year... maybe New Years will bring the 230s and I am about to switch out my 40 Jeans for my 38s.

Great year and next... I am talking the advice of many and hitting the gym.