Prior to banding, when I would reach diet plateaus, I would know exactly why I was in a plateau and exactly how to change it to start losing weight again. Of course, I got banded to avoid the "giving up" that ultimately always happened after significant weight loss successes in my life. I always, always regained.

Why on earth do these bands cause us to experience such long plateaus for seemingly no reason? Especially when weight losses are slow and steady, and there is no real reason for a body to plateau? I began a new workout regimen on January 5th. Today is March 9th and even while working with a Trainer, keeping my calorie intake near perfection, drinking my fluids like a good bandster, and eating all the right foods, I HAVE NOT LOST ONE POUND. Not one, since beginning a brand new workout routine. I even vary it up week to week so that my body will experience new things and hopefully shock me into a loss. But...NOTHING. My trainer is getting horribly frustrated. He's never once seen this happen...and he is curious to learn why.

Of course, I'm crying all the time and wanting to rip this thing out of me.

Does it act like a plug??? Is it hindering my weight loss efforts? I should be losing big time right now with my lifestyle and with my amazing dedication. I'm like Superfly Superwoman over here. I'm unstoppable. I can say, without any shadow of a doubt, that this is not my fault. I've blamed myself for years, because I had nobody to blame but myself. This time, it's not me.

So I"m looking for a reason why. If I knew the reason for these long, frustrating, troubling, upsetting and debilitating plateaus, then perhaps I could figure out a way to break through it. Without a reason or an explanation, I feel helpless and like a big fat dummy who got duped.

So maybe I sound harsh. I have a right to get frustrated and get angry sometimes. That's all this is. Yes I'm happy I've lost 56 pounds in a year. Sure. I'm not happy that since I've kicked it into high gear, I've not lost 1 single solitary pound. NOT ONE. That's not right. Not by any standards. So can someone give me some sound information that might chill me out a bit? Because right now, I'm feeling like a fool for believing in this tool. I'm about ready to visit my trainer for week #10 and the scale still hasn't moved, and I'm gonna see it on his face and I'm gonna break down in tears in front of him again and he's going to question what I'm going wrong at home...again...when in reality I'm not doing anything wrong at home. I swear on all that is holy. I'M DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT...FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE.

I have gone through just what you are several times throughout this journey and I just don't obsess with it. Try to not weigh yourself for a whole week and I bet you will see a pleasant surprise!

Barb,

That is good advise. I find weighing myself every day can be really annoying!

I will stay at the same weight sometimes for a week or two, maybe even gain a little..then all of a sudden there will be a good 2 or 3 lb. drop when at the right restriction.

Thanks for reminding of of that Barb. :smile:

Boy I could have started this thread too. I have been at the same weight pretty much for over 5 months. I haven't exercised much (bad knees) but still I should be swimming or bike riding I guess. I can't complain because I have forgotten the main bandster rules. I have enjoyed the loss of half my weight and think for some reason that rest should just magically fall off. But I still like the band because without it I would have gained it all back by now. It's time for a small fill and recommit to the bandster rules.

SueAZ, I noticed our stories are similar too. Except I'm exercising like crazy & haven't lost anything in months. Still thankful for the band though, cause I would have gained it all back by now. Going for a fill this afternoon & hoping it will be just right because I either don't have restriction or I'm too tight.

Boy I could have started this thread too. I have been at the same weight pretty much for over 5 months. I haven't exercised much (bad knees) but still I should be swimming or bike riding I guess. I can't complain because I have forgotten the main bandster rules. I have enjoyed the loss of half my weight and think for some reason that rest should just magically fall off. But I still like the band because without it I would have gained it all back by now. It's time for a small fill and recommit to the bandster rules.

I could take what you just said here Sue, and put my name at the bottom. I've lost ~ 70 lbs. (keep gaining and losing the same 5 lbs. over the past 6 months), which is just a little more than 1/2 of what I want to lose. I'm trying to get refocused and recommitted. I see others who were banded around the time I was who have lost more weight than I have and it's really hard.

I think this is a great support site and through encouragement, we can all help each other.

I heard by taking vitamin B complex would accelerate your metablish. Have you ever tried taking it everyday? In addition, I think only weigh youself once per week is a good idea. So you would not frustrate yourself out everyday.

That's one of the reasons I keep coming back to this forum. So many of us have similar experiences and it is SO NICE to know I'm not the only one. We can face the fact that most of us slip up from time to time. But the sucess of many keeps me motiviated. And at least I haven't gained it back. (Big Sigh)

I know, that's how I feel too. I don't know why I do it, but it just seems like lately I've been fighting the band. I know it's there to help me, but it's like there is a little devil on my shoulder saying 'go ahead, eat the Oreos, they go down easy...' I read somewhere that when you eat (what you should be eating) and you start to feel the discomfort, that's the band working and we should welcome that instead of fighting against it.

I'm trying to get back on track with baby steps...just tracking all my Water (along with trying to drink more) and writing down everything that goes in my mouth, good, bad or ugly, it's getting written down!

I knew the band wasn't a magic bullet, but I guess I didn't count on having to work this hard for this long!