I have had some up and downs this past year! As of today I am only 27 lbs down. I have done what I have been told Yes I am human and I have made some mistakes but not every day. My doctor reviews my food logs and he tells me that I am doing good considering the rough 4 months that I had with all the nasuea. I know that I backed off the Protein shakes and have started them back last week. If I am making the right food choices and I am not eating full size meals.......WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME! Someone told me that it is the stress that I am under. But that doesn't make sense since the "BAD" foods are not going in my body. There are days where meeting the 1000 calories is hard for me to do. Can anyone suggest anything..... At this point I am SO disapointed that I have not lost more in this past year. I am starting to feel as if I went thru this all for nothing. I need to lose the weight and I do not know where to turn.

(I do not lie to my doctor or anyone else about what I do or do not do in turn I do not lie to myself.)

how many fills have you had? Are you loosing inches but not weight? that is whats happening to me

Have you been testing for metabolic disorders like thyroid, etc? I've heard that stress can cause you to have cortisol build up and that causes weight gain. There is also some disorder caused by a tumor on the pituitary gland. What theories does your doctor have???

How much do you have to lose? You may need to meet with a nutritionist. My doc says to have the Protein shakes as a meal, not in addition to a meal, and actually they don't really "work" with the band (not long term, any way) because the point is for food to sit in the pouch and trigger "full" and Protein Shakes don't do that. They go on through.

I think a visit with a nutritionist is in order. If you don't want to do that you MIGHT want to try something like weight watchers. It's possible you aren't eating enough, but honestly if you "starve" long enough you lose eventually. You may be getting more calories than you think, or may have some endocrine issues you're unaware of.

Are you logging your food/drink intake online? Try doing that for a week to see what you are consuming each day. If you are eating below 1000 calories most days and have for a year, your metabolism has probably slowed down and you should try to add more calories. Just make sure it is something healthy like extra lean protein, a couple of eggs, skim milk, etc.

Tigger... two things jump out at me. 1) You havn't mentioned anything about your exercise habits. IMO - the band without exercise will produce very short term results - and long term disasters... 2) I would take a very close look at what your ingesting nutritionally.

I suspect that most of your weight loss occurred early on and then quickly fizzled to not much of anything - or up and down with the same pounds for a long period of time.

IMO... I repeat... IMO... The formula to avoid is:

Low Calorie Diet + Low Exercise/No Exercise/Low Heart Rate Exercise = No Long Term Success! / Flabby Skin Results / Excessive Loss of Lean Muscle Tissue...

I recommend:

REASONABLE Band Restriction + Moderate Calorie Deficit created by a combination of exercise and diet (rich in lean Proteins, moderate in complex carbs, light on simple carbs) + Copious amounts of 60%-85% cardio workouts + light to moderate strength training = Gradual Persistant Progress with Long Term Success!

Good Luck!

Brad

Dude, that really sucks. I'm almost 1 year out and I'm, like, almost 80 pounds down. Have you considered removing the band and getting bypass? The band dosen't work for some people... believe me, it's not your fault at all, so don't feel bad. You're only human and if you made mistakes, so be it, but it's been a year and you must have tried some time in that year.

PLEASE don't feel bad and don't get down on yourself. You have depression, this is the last thing you need to add to your problems... it if not your fault at all... do not blame yourself for trying because you have.

However...

Seriously, consider the bypass. I know that we HATE the bypass here, but it seems like something you should look in to.

First Post! I had my band put in May of 2007. I've lost 160+ lbs, got about 50 more to lose. Instead of losing pounds im losing inches now. Bottom line is this. Everybody says they are doing everything by the book. Check you liquid calories, keep your protein level high, and get blood work done to make sure there isnt an underlying issue. After a fill it takes nearly a month to adjust. Stick at it and remember a lap band is a tool to your weight success, not a solution. I'm gonna post some pics on my profile when I get the chance to.

First Post! I had my band put in May of 2007. I've lost 160+ lbs, got about 50 more to lose. Instead of losing pounds im losing inches now. Bottom line is this. Everybody says they are doing everything by the book. Check you liquid calories, keep your protein level high, and get blood work done to make sure there isnt an underlying issue. After a fill it takes nearly a month to adjust. Stick at it and remember a lap band is a tool to your weight success, not a solution. I'm gonna post some pics on my profile when I get the chance to.

Wow! Congrats! I want to see those pictures. You are amazing!

I have had some up and downs this past year! As of today I am only 27 lbs down. I have done what I have been told Yes I am human and I have made some mistakes but not every day. My doctor reviews my food logs and he tells me that I am doing good considering the rough 4 months that I had with all the nasuea. I know that I backed off the Protein shakes and have started them back last week. If I am making the right food choices and I am not eating full size meals.......WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME! Someone told me that it is the stress that I am under. But that doesn't make sense since the "BAD" foods are not going in my body. There are days where meeting the 1000 calories is hard for me to do. Can anyone suggest anything..... At this point I am SO disapointed that I have not lost more in this past year. I am starting to feel as if I went thru this all for nothing. I need to lose the weight and I do not know where to turn.

(I do not lie to my doctor or anyone else about what I do or do not do in turn I do not lie to myself.)

I'm not far enough out to advise you, but I also would insist the Dr run all kinds of tests to be sure there were no metabolic problems hindering weight loss. You do not give any info about the number of fills you have had and whether you feel restriction, but I guess you do if you eat so little. Do you not have so much to lose?

Thanks for responding. I have 5 1/2 cc's in my 10 cc band. I do log my food each day on daily plate. There are most days that I DO NOT meet the 1000 calories and I am adding in the Protein shakes to help with that. Now I get over 40 grams fo protein per day. I do exercise but I know not like I should be. I work 2 full time jobs and I have been tired so much here lately and I keep getting the "bugs" that everyone is getting. And that is not excuse. I have stated getting up earlier so that I can get my cardio in before I start my day. I seem to have issue with solid foods "hurting" and if I chew my bites any more they will be pure liquids and I know that band works with solids. Example of my menu for a day:

Morning coffee w/ equal and powder creamer.

1/2 Protein shake (25 grams of protein)

cottage cheese or hard boilded egg

on lettuce

1/2 of protein shake

and for dinner it is lean protein w/ veggies

Some times I eat peanut butter(protein) with celery.

*** Coffee (1) cup per day, protein shake and then after that it is Water for the rest of the day******

I have started trying differnt teas with no sweetners at all. but again no calories in them.

I can fit into some clothes that I could not wear before my band. and people tell me that they can see the weight loss.

From what I am being told, I am doing what I should be doing. (Adding more exercise in as well)

Any suggestions?

I would love to see your pics!

From what you say, it sounds like you aren't eating enough. Most drs recommend 60-80 g of protein per day, and around 1000 calories. I really think if you could shake your metabolism up by every third day eating around 1200-1300 you will probably start to drop weight.

Edited February 3, 200917 yr by crzytchr

You might want to see an endocrinologist ,a doctor that diagnoses hypo/slow thyroid on symptoms as well as on blood work... Mary Shoman has a great book on thyroid and a website ,thyroid.com, i think it is called. Her website has links to recommended doctors on it too. I was diagnosed with a slow thyroid a year ago and since taking the medication [armour thyroid] feel a million times better; did not lose alot of weight but i notice that my metabolism is working now. Before i was on a strict diet and working out hard with weight training and cardio 6 days a week with very limited results. I plateau-ed about 29 pounds down and stayed there for months and months. Now i notice that i can eat more and get more results with less. I would say to definitely go and see a Endocrine Specialist; that could very well be the problem.

Laurie

I lke Brad's formula. I personally would be happy with a 27 lbs weight loss actually...I've lost 5 lbs since my band 2 months ago. I think age plays a big factor as well. I think Rose at age 30 could definitely start up a serious exercise program. When I was 30 I liked to exercise with sports. I joined a raquetball team and bicycled almost everyday. I lost 60 lbs. from a pregnancy and kept it off till the next one 9 yrs later! Now at age 50 ...it is hard and dangerous to go full force into an exercise program but I do believe that excersie + thoughtful eating + the band is an almost fool proof formula for health and weight loss. Go for it Rose you won't be this young forever.

Tigger... two things jump out at me. 1) You havn't mentioned anything about your exercise habits. IMO - the band without exercise will produce very short term results - and long term disasters... 2) I would take a very close look at what your ingesting nutritionally.

I suspect that most of your weight loss occurred early on and then quickly fizzled to not much of anything - or up and down with the same pounds for a long period of time.

IMO... I repeat... IMO... The formula to avoid is:

Low Calorie Diet + Low Exercise/No Exercise/Low Heart Rate Exercise = No Long Term Success! / Flabby Skin Results / Excessive Loss of Lean Muscle Tissue...

I recommend:

REASONABLE Band Restriction + Moderate Calorie Deficit created by a combination of exercise and diet (rich in lean Proteins, moderate in complex carbs, light on simple carbs) + Copious amounts of 60%-85% cardio workouts + light to moderate strength training = Gradual Persistant Progress with Long Term Success!

Good Luck!

Brad

The band dosen't work for some people... believe me, it's not your fault at all, so don't feel bad.

Huh? Weas, how can you tell?

Seriously, consider the bypass. I know that we HATE the bypass here, but it seems like something you should look in to.

It's not that we hate the bypass (or at least I don't.....If bypass is a better fit for somebody, cool. That's a very personal choice), but in this instance, I think before recommending another major surgery, I recommend that Tigger work her existing tool some more.

Tigger, it sounds to me like you might be too tight. One of the most common mistakes that I see is that folks get too tight.....and then have to eat less filling foods just to get things down. Most of your sample menu is composed of very soft foods, and like RestlessMonkey said, the band works best if you're eating regular foods.

Also, Brad's words are gold! Exercise is the catalyst that really gets the weightloss started with the band. I realize that having 2 fulltime jobs makes it very difficult to exercise, but remember......even walking helps. Get creative. Tigger, you can do this.

Thanks for responding. I have 5 1/2 cc's in my 10 cc band. I do log my food each day on daily plate. There are most days that I DO NOT meet the 1000 calories and I am adding in the Protein shakes to help with that. Now I get over 40 grams fo protein per day. I do exercise but I know not like I should be. I work 2 full time jobs and I have been tired so much here lately and I keep getting the "bugs" that everyone is getting. And that is not excuse. I have stated getting up earlier so that I can get my cardio in before I start my day. I seem to have issue with solid foods "hurting" and if I chew my bites any more they will be pure liquids and I know that band works with solids. Example of my menu for a day:

Morning coffee w/ equal and powder creamer.

1/2 protein shake (25 grams of protein)

cottage cheese or hard boilded egg

on lettuce

1/2 of protein shake

and for dinner it is lean protein w/ veggies

Some times I eat peanut butter(protein) with celery.

*** Coffee (1) cup per day, protein shake and then after that it is Water for the rest of the day******

I have started trying differnt teas with no sweetners at all. but again no calories in them.

I can fit into some clothes that I could not wear before my band. and people tell me that they can see the weight loss.

From what I am being told, I am doing what I should be doing. (Adding more exercise in as well)

Any suggestions?

I would love to see your pics!

compared to what I eat and what I have seen that others eat, I would definitely say you are not eating enough. If you are so tight that you cannot eat solid protein without it hurting, perhaps you should ask the Dr to do a slight unfill. It has been a world of difference for many people and it may be what you need to get your weight loss going! I sympathize with you working two jobs. It must be difficult to even find the time to eat your meals properly and to take the time it requires. Hang in there!!