I'm in my fourth month post op and I just had my 4th fill which gave me good retstriction. The problem is that now that I can only eat such small portions, how am I supposed to eat enough calories to break a weight loss plateau? How do you all get in all the calories you need? I'd ask my nutritionist but he hasn't called me back yet. I'm not allowed protein shakes as per my surgeon...he doesn't want me drinking my calories. I'm only able to eat 500-600 calories a day right now, and believe it or not, I'm not losing weight. And, yes I have started exercising. I'm so frustrated right now. I can't believe I'm not losing any weight between the exercise and the limited calories. Someone please help!!!

I am wondering the same thing. I kicked up my working out into top gear and am at the gym 6 days a week for 40 to 60 minutes each time. I work off 75% to 100% of the calories I eat each day which is 500-600. Today I put a tablespoon of peanut butter on an apple wedge for a boost. Totally not healthy but hit that 'spot'. Peanut butter is a pretty mild junk food, though, so I am not too concerned. I am going to give it about 3 mmore weeks to see if my increased gym time needs to just meld with my body and if I am still at the same weight, I plan to go in for an unfill. I hit my first goal with only 8 pounds till my second goal so I am not worried about gaining, at this point. I feel I need about 400 more calores a day, though, to sustain the 600 calories a day workouts I have been kicking out.

I eat every 3 hours regardless if I am hungry or not. That way my metabolism stays high. I try not to drink protein drinks, but sometimes after a hard workout I have one to help my body recover. (a good recovery after a workout help build muscle tissue). The more muscle the more calories you body will burn. So eating every three hours and consuming about 200 calories each meal with about 5 or six meals a day will get you 1000-1200 calories. Try that and up your workouts and you should start losing. Some banders are instructed to eat three meals a day. My nutritionist says six times a day. All I know is if you dont consume enough calories your body goes into starvation mode and you dont lose any weight. Lets just say I am never hungry. Good luck:thumbup:

losing it in texas: With your 4 fills and good restriction do you have more problems with food getting stuck? Have you ever had food stuck? Also, do you have to eat a smaller variety of foods now than when you only had one fill? I've only had one fill and had food stuck twice. That makes me very afraid to get more fills but for the band to work for me I know I have to. Thanks.

I hate to state the obvious but if you cant eat enough calories in a day you dont have good restriction. You have too tight restriction.

However, I think good restriction *can* mean that you need to eat five or six times a day, that's a good way for bandsters to go.

I know this sounds weird, but it seems when I workout really hard everyday, I don't lose. So I only keep it to about 30 minutes each day, 4 or 5 times a week.

I hate to state the obvious but if you cant eat enough calories in a day you dont have good restriction. You have too tight restriction.

However, I think good restriction *can* mean that you need to eat five or six times a day, that's a good way for bandsters to go.

that is my thought process, too. However, the nurse at the docs office tells me that if I can eat 4-6 ounces at a time three times a day without getting stuck then I have 'good' restriction. By those guidelines, I have good restriction. I just cant imagine how anyone can have enough calories eating 4-6 ounces of lean Protein and veggies. I would have no problem eating 5-6 times a day. I have a problem timing getting my fluids and eating throughout the day with having to wait certain amounts of time between the two. I think smalle and more frequent meals might by the way to go for me, though.

It is for me. These days, if I'm unrestricted enough to get in enough calories with 3 bigger meals, I've also got too much appetite.

When I was a bit TOO tight, I couldnt have eaten five or six times a day. I simply wasnt ready to eat after 3 hours and it would be miserable, painful and unsuccessful obviously because my pouch was still too full.

Now I can eat enough at a meal to get me through to the next meal but I *CAN* eat in between, which is what I try to do because it keeps me from eating rubbish if I'm always satisfied on good healthy food. I'm not necessarily hungry in between meals but I eat anyway.

But if I could seriously *only* get in 500 or 600 in a day then I'd say I was too tight.

losing it in texas: With your 4 fills and good restriction do you have more problems with food getting stuck? Have you ever had food stuck? Also, do you have to eat a smaller variety of foods now than when you only had one fill? I've only had one fill and had food stuck twice. That makes me very afraid to get more fills but for the band to work for me I know I have to. Thanks.

Hi Cleo's Mom....I have had episodes of food getting stuck but strangely enough it was mainly after my second fill which did not leave me with very good restriction. I attribute it to eating too fast because I was so hungry during that time. If I honestly take my time, take small bites and chew very well (like we are supposed to) then I don't have a problem (usuallY). I eat pretty much the same types of food now as I did then, just much less. I haven't had bread or pasta since my surgery (just my choice), but I have had rice a couple of times with no problem. Fills shouldn't scare you....if you do things right then you shouldn't be getting stuck. I just have to remember to take my time and not let myself get too hungry between meals. Good luck!!

Hi Losing It in Texas: Thanks for your reply. I still get very hungry and haven't lost weight since the two weeks after my banding in Sept. Surgeon is not happy but I refuse to starve myself to reach some number on a scale. I am at 183 and have lost 60 pounds in almost 4 years - pre and post surgery diets. The two times I got stuck I was eating with other people and I think I was eating too fast and not chewing as well. I usually eat alone (my husband died 3 years ago and my kids got married recently) so I concentrate more on what I am doing. When eating with others I am talking and not paying as much attention as I should. The last "stuck" was so painful I was very close to going to the ER. My nutritionist said I was lucky it passed through the band and they didn't have to go in and pull the food out. Pleasant thought. I may or may not get my second fill pending results of my getting an upper GI to see if band is causing left shoulder pain. Stay tuned. LOL..Thanks again.

I am wondering the same thing. I kicked up my working out into top gear and am at the gym 6 days a week for 40 to 60 minutes each time. I work off 75% to 100% of the calories I eat each day which is 500-600. Today I put a tablespoon of peanut butter on an apple wedge for a boost. Totally not healthy but hit that 'spot'. Peanut butter is a pretty mild junk food, though, so I am not too concerned. I am going to give it about 3 mmore weeks to see if my increased gym time needs to just meld with my body and if I am still at the same weight, I plan to go in for an unfill. I hit my first goal with only 8 pounds till my second goal so I am not worried about gaining, at this point. I feel I need about 400 more calores a day, though, to sustain the 600 calories a day workouts I have been kicking out.

Peanut butter is actually very healthy and you can buy organic sugar free. Often people stop losing weight if they are not getting any good fat in their diet. I try to remember to cook my eggs with olive oil.

I'm not allowed protein shakes as per my surgeon...he doesn't want me drinking my calories.

Funny that every other doctor I have ever heard about promotes protein shakes. You need more claories, start the shakes.

disclaimer: I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.:thumbup: But I have had my band for almost a year.

Funny that every other doctor I have ever heard about promotes protein shakes. You need more claories, start the shakes.

disclaimer: I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.:thumbup: But I have had my band for almost a year.

My doc does too, protien shakes are fine. I wish they made lactose free ones that I could buy in a can instead of making my own.

I am not a nutritionist and I have not had this discussion with my nutritionist. But the professional health care person leading our bariatric support group stated that they are not worried if you are only consuming 600 to 800 calories in a day.

She stated that they are really concerned that you get 80 to 90 grams of protein in a day if you are a woman, plus everyone must, absolutely must, take all their vitamins.

My dietician said no shakes once I start on solids, but I don't think this is forever, just while you get used to solids. Everyone else I talk to says they drink the shakes. I plan to, to help get cals and protein that I need.

My doctor said no shakes either because most are loaded with sugar and are not good for you. He said we need to be eating our protein, not drinking it. But that's fine with me anyway because I have yet to find one that tastes good. All the ones I have tried are really nasty.