Hi all...

I haven't even been on the site in over a month. I am just so discouraged!!

I was banded 12/18, I've had 3 fills (4.5cc in a 10 cc band). I am still able to eat just about whatever I want, well meats (of all things) give me issues-painful issues at that! I am still at the same loss of 25# that I have been at since one week post op! I went through all the counseling prior to surgery and I realized my lifestyle had to change-to a point, and that the band was not a "cure all"...so no lectures please, but if I wanted to live off of a 1/2 cup of whatever per meal in order to lose weight with this band I would have said NO THANKS! That is the exactly the type of "diet" I was never able to be successfull at in the first place!

If someone were to ask if I'd do it again it would be a definate no! I just feel so stupid to have put my body, mind and family through such an ordeal to be struggling with the same issues. Can someone PLEASE tell me that it WILL get better??? I am beginning to think there is no such thing as a "sweet spot".

Hope all are well...

Hi Annie,

I was banded 12/29/09. I was having the same problem you were with the feeling of no restriction and no weight loss. I went in on the 17th and had my band filled to 7.5 ccs, and am now just starting to feel a little restriction. I am able to eat probably 1 1/2 cups of food at a time max, and have lost 4 lbs since.

Your band is only filled to 4.5 ccs. Don't be discouraged. You probably just need another fill.

Honey dont give up! I was band Aug. 08 and I have only lost 40 lbs. I have a 9cc. band and I am at 7.5cc now and I finally feel restriction but not alot. As soon as you get to your sweet spot then the weight will start coming off. they like to give the fills slowwwwww. Tell yourself that this is going to work and make it work. You have to have will power. My big problem is when I eat my body is telling me I am full BUT my mind is telling me girl eat that food because you know you want it. If you will eat a small amount then sit there and ask yourself ok am I still hungry and I bet you are not, so all it is is your mind! Its all in your head. We have to learn to listen to our body and not our mind. Good luck!

Good Morning!!

I have 7.5cc in a 14 cc band..I have restriction and i have to eat slowly because I can feel it "back up"..I hope that I have reached my sweet spot or at least getting there..Good luck All

I eat more than 1/2 cup per meal, more like 3/4-1 cup. Is that all you can eat or do you just stop at that? I am just wondering if you are not too tight.

If you are chewing well and taking small bites you should be able to get most lean meats down.

Can you give an example of a typical day of food? (what , when and how much)

I found my sweet spot and that is where I lost most of my weight. However, before I got to that spot it was almost like I didn't have a band and it was just a diet. The thing about the sweet spot is that once you are there, you know it. There is not much of a question because you can feel it and eating more than a little food is not really possible.

Proteins can be difficult and you have to take your time and chew well. I also eat softer things with the Protein to help them go down such as plain yogurt or a low-fat, low-calorie sauce which really helps sometimes.

You also mentioned something about not signing up for another diet where you can only eat 1/2 cup of food. Once your restriction is good, you will not want much more than 1/2 to 1 cup of food, and you will stay physically satisfied with that amount of food. That is what makes banding so different than previous diets that we have all bee on in the past . . . the ability to actually be satisfied with less.

Give it a little more time and please don't give up so easily. You were only banded a little while ago and you have to give this journey time. There are many people who start off slow and pick up afterwards who do manage to lose the majority of their excess weight by following through over the long run.

It is also important to remember that aftercare and support can make a big difference in success. If you haven't visited this site in more than a month then you must be discouraged. I am not sure if you are attending any support meetings in your area or have banded friends to help you along the way. It is so much easier to do this if you stay in contact and get the support you need.

Jodi had a point on asking what you are eating. Are you charting your food intake so that you can analyze it? Are you exercising as well?

Good luck and hang in there.

Good advice as usual Heather!

I was banded November 13, 2008. I have only lost 20.5 pounds. I was getting very discouraged. When I went for my last fill at the beginning of March I had only lost about 8 pounds (I gained in 2 of the months...). But, with my last fill of .7 bringing me to 5.2 in a 10cc band, I finally felt restriction. It helps to eat right and eat less when you are restricted. My first 10 days following this most recent fill were great...I lost about 10 pounds. Now--must be because of the weight lost--I still have SOME restriction, but no where near what I was earlier this month. But--give it time. Some people get restricted sooner than others. Here--check this out...you are not alone.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/we-need-get-ourselves-check-me-included-89526/

Give it time. Good luck to us all. We will get there. We just have to believe.

After reading all this I know that there is hope for me after all.

I was just banded on 3/13/09. As of now the swelling has mostly gone and I'm not feeling anything BUT HUNGRY! I feel like I could eat a moose. I'm doing my best to keep my portions down to no more than 1 cup total (or as close as I can get it). But I find that in between meal times I get so darn hungry that it isn't funny! I'm thinking already, and I did this to myself for what?

I go in on 4/13 for my first fill. I hope how quickly that date gets here. The sooner the better for me. I don't know what size band I have, I know that my hubby has a 14 cc and already has a 2 cc fill last Monday. HE's doing so much better than me. I guess he has more will-power than I do.

I know this works from looking at all of the other people that have done this. I'm so jealous of how well everyone has done. Maybe one of these days I'll be able to inspire someone the way you all have me.

Hey Annie,

I was banded Nov. 20th and I have lost 22 lbs.!!!!

I just recently had my fourth fill and I am finally not hungry and losing weight.

I totally understand your feelings, but I have had to encourage myself to take it one day at a time and change my perception. For the first time in many years, I did not gain weight during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and I feel confident that my days of yo-yo dieting are behind me!

Honestly, I expected a quick fix, but I have learned that there is no...such thing, but I am thankful for the progress and striving to live the good life where my outward appearance reflects my inner peace!

You can do this! You've done very well....go purchase 25 lbs. of meat...it will amaze you!

Keep up the good work because YOU are worth it!

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and great advice. Heather, they should be paying you for this!

As for what my daily intake is, no I don't write it down, but like I said I'm pretty much able to eat whatever....and I know it's not a total loss because even though I'm not dropping much weight I'm holding my own, so I can only hope that once that special fill happens the scale will finally move again.

Again thanks all, I'm not giving up....this "thingie" is still in there afterall, so I'll keep plugging along!

Hi, when everybody talks about half cup or 1 cup of food, how much is that? Are we talking about putting the solid food into a cup sized cup? Thanks.

After reading all this I know that there is hope for me after all.

I was just banded on 3/13/09. As of now the swelling has mostly gone and I'm not feeling anything BUT HUNGRY! I feel like I could eat a moose. I'm doing my best to keep my portions down to no more than 1 cup total (or as close as I can get it). But I find that in between meal times I get so darn hungry that it isn't funny! I'm thinking already, and I did this to myself for what?

I go in on 4/13 for my first fill. I hope how quickly that date gets here. The sooner the better for me. I don't know what size band I have, I know that my hubby has a 14 cc and already has a 2 cc fill last Monday. HE's doing so much better than me. I guess he has more will-power than I do.

I know this works from looking at all of the other people that have done this. I'm so jealous of how well everyone has done. Maybe one of these days I'll be able to inspire someone the way you all have me.

It gets better, it took me 7 fills before I felt ANY restriction...I am almost at my sweet spot! So don't worry everyone reacts differently to the band.

Hi, when everybody talks about half cup or 1 cup of food, how much is that? Are we talking about putting the solid food into a cup sized cup? Thanks.

Yes, I do that because if I don't I'll eat too much, get uncomfortable and then I hate eating! So I use a small 1 cup size containers to carry my lunch and it works for me. After 7 fills it is just enough to satify without making me feel sick. Meal planning is a big part of success.

Took me 7 fills to get good restriction. Its a whole different ballgame now both in terms of my satisfaction with my food and in terms of the change in my body. Its too too early for you to be ready to throw in the towel. The most important thing you can do now is continue your follow ups!

I too like many others was/is in your shoes. I had my surgery on 9/30. I got my 1st fill in Nov. This month was the first month (March) that i finally feel restriction. I can still eat more than 1/2 cup which i think. BUt I get satisfied, and I dont get hungry or cravings. Since my fill which was march ? I have lost over 5lbs in less than 4wks. I canceled my appt today. Don't need a fill want to see how I do. Am I pulling high numbers like some people. No but I know my wieght will come off during my time. I will get MY numbers in my time. I am down almost 40lbs. Its taken awhile.. and you know what.. I am enjoying the ride. Hang in there. I am so often more than not in your frame of mind. Good luck.

Maranda