I was banded 2/09 but unfilled due to complications. Is anyone else out there unfilled? How are you maintaining/losing weight. Sure could use help:smile:

I think I need your help. I was banded Oct 16 and have lost all in all since pre-op, about 54 pounds. You havent had a fill yet? I have had three and the first two didnt work for me. The third one did. I am now 218 pounds and honestly I really havent followed a low fat diet. I just strted using a treadmill about 30 mins at least 4 times per week. Do you ever eat regular food, just in smaller portions? For the most part, I have aprotein shake for breakfast and lunch , greek yogurt w/almonds and honey and dinner is regular food. Maybe thats why I'm losing slower than you. I do have restriction and get stuck with breads and rice and have had to PB because I still dont chew thouroughly or slowly. My question t you is: Do you ever eat rregular food or do you strictly follow low fat and low carb?

Hi, I have been banded since Oct 13, 2008 and have not had a fill. I have lost just over 80 pounds in that time. Both my surgeon and nutritionist feel that my weight loss has been great and not to worry/adjust just yet. I have restriction and am careful of what I eat. I tend to eat alot of cottage cheese, greek yogurt, egg beaters, spinach salad and fish. I log everything that goes into my mouth so I am very aware of what I am consuming. I also keep my Protein over 80 grams a day and strive for over 100 grams (this is my surgeon's & nutritionist's advice - I add unflavored Protein powder to my greek yogurt & egg beaters almost every day to boost the protein). Hope this helps. Good Luck!

Lipstix, I eat very little "regular" food, I figure that if I'm trying to lose weight, I need to follow a low fat, lower side carbs and more protein. I am a vegetarian so this is been a challenge. However, I will eat more regular food when I have achieved my weight loss, Just a lot less to maintain. The treadmill will help a lot. Hang in there, the next fill may be the perfect one to help with more restriction. Also, everyone loses at there own pace, my dr. said you can't compare other peoples losses to your own. You are doing a great job, don't lose heart!! Let me know how you are doing from time to time, and I will do the same. Keep up the fight!!

hi, can I just ask what are egg beaters?

thanx

chubby

Egg beaters are egg substitue that comes in a little carton, like cream. You buy them in the egg section of the grocer. They are supposed to be healthier than eggs...but real eggs aren't something I want to comprmise on, especially at 6 grams of protien a pop.

thanks for that, not sure we get egg beaters in the uk anyway

Hi I was banded Mar 12th and go on the 21st for hopefully my first fill. Have you yet had a fill since your posting?

I had my evaluation started in October, Band in December 2008 and now down 41 lbs. Only filled once 1 cc at last visit. What's odd for me is I feel I can eat more now that before fill.

No fill yet, going to dr. tomorrow to discuss that,I have a feeling he will not fill. I will let you know

I was banded Aug. 4 with the Realize Band. I have lost just over 40 pounds and have not had a fill. As long as my progress is one pound per week, my doc says no need for a fill. And, that's fine with me! Forty pounds may not sound like a lot to most folks but it is MAJOR for me. I have never lost that much without a relapse. I have VERY good restriction and my eating and exercise habitats have vastly changed for the good.

Wow, that's fantastic..Good for you. It is a lot of weight for anyone to lose,especially without a fill!! It's great that you have restriction. I don't and have to just have to stop eating even if I don't feel full, or I will eat more than I should. It might be time for a fill. Good Luck and keep up the great work!!

I think I need your help. I was banded Oct 16 and have lost all in all since pre-op, about 54 pounds. You havent had a fill yet? I have had three and the first two didnt work for me. The third one did. I am now 218 pounds and honestly I really havent followed a low fat diet. I just strted using a treadmill about 30 mins at least 4 times per week. Do you ever eat regular food, just in smaller portions? For the most part, I have aprotein shake for Breakfast and lunch , greek yogurt w/almonds and honey and dinner is regular food. Maybe thats why I'm losing slower than you. I do have restriction and get stuck with breads and rice and have had to PB because I still dont chew thouroughly or slowly. My question t you is: Do you ever eat rregular food or do you strictly follow low fat and low carb?

Yes I do eat regular food just not a lot of it. Visually I always use a small cocktail fork and tiny plate. This visualization really helps me to feel like I have a lot of food on my plate. Believe me I don't strictly follow a low carb low fat diet. I try to limit them but I have my vices still (cream in coffee or cheese and crackers for example just can't give them up just limit how often and how much I have)

Also I honestly can not tolerate certain foods - bread, rice, Pasta and have lots of trouble with meats. Because of that I do try to up my Protein (my nutritionists suggestion which has really seemed to help me) by adding Protein powder to my greek yogurt (breakfast) and eggbeaters with cottage cheese & turkey pepperoni for lunch. These are my most common meals during the week cause they are easy to prepare. My dinner is usually a spinach salad with something else. Tonight was salmon, last night tuna and the night before that ham. I have had fried fish & shrimp a number of times just a small portion of it and watched everything else I ate that day.

For exercise I ride my recumbent bike for 10.5 miles a day 4 days a week. Unfortunately I have a lot of trouble walking as I suffer from severe arthritis in my knees so the bike is great. I try to keep my calories around 1100 - 1300 a day with the proportions being protein 40%, carbs 30 % and fat 30% (ideally my nutritionist wants protein 50% and carbs & fat being 25% each ... I have trouble sticking to that). This ratio seems to work for me and please remember we are all different. My sister who was banded a month before me has lost just about 100 pounds, has had 2 fills and can eat more than me and much more variety. She seems to be able to tolerate anything. We are just all different.

Anyway I agree with many of the other posters. We all lose at different rates. I was stuck for a few weeks with a pound weight loss then had a week of 5 pounds lost. I tried to change it up alittle by reflecting on what I had been eating and eliminated some food and added others. Hard to explain just think the body has to catch up with itself. It is great that you have begun exercising (this really helps with the weight loss). Your loss to date has been great. I am sure that my BMI was higher than yours and have much more to lose than you, hence why we shouldn't compare our weight losses (though I must admit I do all the time ... just don't get down on ourselves if it is not as much as others by keeping it all in perspective). Keep the faith, maybe change up some of what you have been eating and remember you have to find what combination works best for you. Good Luck and if I can help you at all message me.

I had surgery 1/15/09 and will be getting my first fill on 4/21/09. I had complication so check my signature for details.

I could have gotten a fill a week ago but had just been able to start eating regular food for about 4 days as of my last appointment so I told the doctor I was not ready and he agreed.

About 2 days after my last appointment I suddenly became hungry and have been hungry ever since. However, I am okay with that and I know as soon as I get a fill all will be better.

Thanks, I just went to Dr. D. yesterday and in the last 3 wks I lost 7lbs. so no fill. Because of my complications that led to the unfill, he wants me to have another month of getting built up a little and then next month, he will fill. Only because I am very hungry. I'm only eating minimal amounts though, because I'm scared to death to gain. Thanks for all of the great responses, it has helped me so much!! Keep up the great work, you should all be so proud.