Hi Everyone

Went to the doctors yesterday, I have lost 18kg in 20 weeks (this is including all the pre-diet work , op, etc).

Should I be a little disappointed? I have a 12ml band and I have about 9.8 in it I think - I have restriction but not that much ! My surgeon is amazed I have that much in there!

The weight is coming off soooo slowly. I have tried opti fast again to hurry it up and currently on isowhey. I go to the gym 4 times a week (on a good week, lets be honest here!) .

I know that a kg a week is normal, but I havent had any of the big losses that I was hoping for, and hear about!

I know 18kg is a lot, but I think I have lost it from my big toe, because I am still in the same jeans (baggier sure, but still size 20!!)

Thats enough of my whinge. Would appreciate your *honest* replys

Bride to be (nov 09!)

hi you sound like you are doing fantastic!! i am 8 months out and have lost 54 pounds and seem to be at a standstill i am going to try the 5 day pouch test found here www.5daypouchtest.com alot of people i know have tried this and have had a huge loss to boost them down the scale.

Hi Everyone

Well I havent wanted to go on here since I went and got my last fill last week but I am being brave today.

I went to the doctors last week as planned, and i had PUT ON 4kg. I was devastated. Honestly, I couldnt believe it . I was so mad and upset I could hardly speak to the doctor, the one I had been telling for so many months that i did not have enough restriction. He said that at least 2kg could be fluids but I looked him in the eye and said, sure 2kg could be but I have a lap band I shouldnt be putting on (at least) 2kg in 2 weeks!!

He put in another 0.5 which was good as he had only been putting in 0.2. So now I have 10 mls in a 12 ml band.

Good News Now...

I am restricted! FINALLY! I have been waiting nearly 6 months for this to happen and I am so happy (but oh so worried it wont last. Its been a week so hopefully this is it I am here and my band has finally started working!). It has been so hard to read all the posts about minimal eating, restriction, great weight loss and know that something is just not right !

My next step is to work out how far to take this (since none of the fills have really helped)

This is what I am eating in a day (today!)

Breakfast: 1/4c yogurt and half a banana (this really didn’t fill me up tho so ½ hour later I had a snack – I am not concerned as I have been reading that yogurt is pretty pointless as it slides through the band).

Snack: 1 x Vita Brix with tomato and avocado

Lunch: 1 x Vita Brix with tomato and avocado, ½ banana, ½ apple

Dinner: (Going out to a Thai Buffet but I will only have a small amount)

Is this good??? How do you know when you have enough in the band? Should I try for 0.2mls more? Do you need to overfill to know your limit?

Thanks from a much less disappointed lap bander!

To be honest, reading what you're eating now, I think you have plenty of restriction.

When I'm well restricted, I can only eat slight more than a fistful of food. No more than that. You also have to be careful about not getting so tight that your caloric intake falls too much. You want to be able to eat veg, meat, a bit of carbs, and feel full for hours after.

Pushing to get tighter when you're struggling to eat more than 1/2 cup of food is not necessary, and can lead to more complications that you need. PBing can cause inflammation and can sometimes lead to getting unfilled. Or worse, a slip.

So if you've got good restriction now, I say enjoy it. If the restriction eases (as it does sometimes as you lose weight) only THEN look at another small fill.

I guess you have to ask yourself this: What would you have lost if you didn't have the band?

He put in another 0.5 which was good as he had only been putting in 0.2. So now I have 10 mls in a 12 ml band.

This is what I am eating in a day (today!)

Breakfast: 1/4c yogurt and half a banana (this really didn’t fill me up tho so ½ hour later I had a snack – I am not concerned as I have been reading that yogurt is pretty pointless as it slides through the band).

Snack: 1 x Vita Brix with tomato and avocado

Lunch: 1 x Vita Brix with tomato and avocado, ½ banana, ½ apple

Dinner: (Going out to a Thai Buffet but I will only have a small amount)

Is this good??? How do you know when you have enough in the band? Should I try for 0.2mls more? Do you need to overfill to know your limit?

Thanks from a much less disappointed lap bander!

First of all, I'm glad you're feeling restriction now!

But as far as your meal plan goes, where is your Protein? I'm not sure what your doc's guidelines are, but I don't see any protein in that other than a VERY small amount in the yogurt.

My doc said to eat 3-4 oz solid protein plus 1/2 cup veggies at each meal. I'm supposed to target 60 grams protein.

Can you eat chicken, fish, beef, shrimp, Beans, tofu? Are you vegetarian? If so, you need to get some other protein sources in there!

It sounds like you have plenty of restriction if that's all you can eat in a day. I think if you try to eat more solid foods you'll find that you have plenty of restriction.

Yes, yogurt and bananas and even avocado can be classic slider foods--they mush down to nothing. Even crunchy cracker type foods mush down to nothing. You need some solid foods to a) get in your nutrients and make use of your restriction to get some lasting satisfaction.

Personally, I'd stay away from the avocado while you're in active weight loss mode. Yes, the fats are "good" fats, but if you're actively trying to lose and aren't getting in your protein, you need to save that pouch space for more protein-rich, nutrient dense foods, not high fat foods.

I hope you find this restriction gives you the kind of progress you're looking for.

thanks for your comments everyone. I am

Im not a vegetarian at all, I knew I should be eating more protien.

I hate slider foods! I am now off avacardo!

Ill have a look at the forum for some lunch and Breakfast ideas (dinner is always meat and veg).

Thanks again.

I am 6 months out and I am down 55 pounds. I did not lose any weight before my surgery. I was searching today because I was getting a little discouraged thinking that it was not happening fast enough. I have to be careful though that I look at other lap banders and not gastric sleeve or gastric bypass. If I average it out, I guess I am losing about 9 pounds a month and I have had 2 fills. I have a small 4cc band with 2cc's in. I am contemplating getting more aggressive and going to get another fill even though I feel like I have good restriction. Can anyone else tell me where they were at 6 months. I know it is a marathan (great analogy) but I am just curious. I want to be in onederland badly!!!

Thanks guys!

hey smajors....

Since having proper restriction I have lost a fair bit in the last 2 weeks - Another doctors appointment today should confirm that all up I have lost 20kg!

So thats about 20kg in 6 months , close to your 25 kg in 6 months!

Well.... I went to the doctors yesterday for another 2 week check up.. and not only have I lost the 4kg i had put on a few weeks ago, i had lost another 3 !!!

SO all up 21kg and definately restricted, band working, life on track!

WOOHOOO!!! This is for all those banders who are going through a hard time . Stick with it! It WILL work!

By the way, I didnt get another fill. Going to stick with this one (10 mls in a 12 ml band) until I plateau.

I am so glad I read this post. I am about 5 months out and have only lost about 25lbs. I have 4.5ccs in my 10cc band and I can eat way too much. I will go in for another fill next week hopefully. I can't wait until I feel some good restriction.