Hi, I had lapband surgery 3 months ago. Have had 2 "fills."

I lost a few pounds initially, but gained them back. Am now at the same weight that I started at.

Has anyone had this experience? Did you eventually start to lose weight?

Thank you !

Have you looked at what ou are eating? I was told to eat no more than 1500cals a day and to eat protein first, then veggies then carbs if I was still hungry. Don't drink with meals but make sure you get your 2 litres in. Exercise as much as you can. The band is a tool....you still have to diet and exercise with it....it will help you control your portions and that is about it...the rest my friend is down to you.....so if you can honestly say hand on heart that you are abiding by the bandster rules then go back to your surgeon and ask him/her why it is not working for you.

As Linds said, you need to count calories to lose weight. Once you learn what a daily intake should be you will do fine. I have kept my caloric intake between 900 and 1200 a day.

Sven,

Hang in there. I had my surgery in November and I didn't lose any weight from Jan. until March. Yes, it's discouraging, but I assure you that if you keep on keeping on -- eat your Protein, drink Water, and exercise -- the scale will eventually go down.

I totally understand how you're feeling, but don't give up and don't give in...

Hi, I'm 3 1/2 months out my self. Things have been going slow for me. They keep telling me everyone is different. I've had several fills - I'm at 5 1/2 cc's and I think I'm very close to where I need to be. I've only lost 23 pounds so far. The first 18 came off quickly. I would recommend going back to the doctor's office for another fill. Do you fill out a questionnaire when you go to the Dr? How many hours do you go before you get hungry again kind of thing. Do you have anyone you can call that will be your cheerleader? I have someone I call, she's about 10 days ahead of me and we get behind each other and rally. We go to a support group twice a month - and believe it or not - it helps!

My philosophy is this - Slow and steady whens the race. And, slow and steady is better than none at all.

I am 10 months out from surgery, I lost 35 lbs on the liquid/mushie stage and then no more, actually gained a few back from Halloween to Valentines day. Keep getting your fills, you will know when you have finally found your "sweet spot". I skipped a few fills which I do not reccommend and finally found it at 6.8 cc I have lost 8 lbs in 4 weeks. Do not give up, keep getting you fills and watching what you eat.

Stay positive! If you are following all the rules of the band and you are still not losing anything then why not another fill? See a nutritionist, do the 5 day pouch test ( google it for details), try a liquid diet for a couple of days. Are you exercising? These are all things you should be looking at. Talk to your doc, they may be able to give you more advice.

i had my surgery in january, lost 19pounds after two weeks. post-op. then it stalled. gained back three.this is my fourth fill. an boy did it kick in. i lost 13 pounds. within that week my appointment was may 26th, by thursday i lost those pounds. i was so scared i went to the doctor that morning because i could not drink liquids.but turn out i was swollen that evening it losen up an i was allright.so just wait on your fills, also continue to exercise thats a big plus.i keep doing everything right but the scale would not move.

So glad to hear your update! I am struggling! I have been banded for 6 months and have only lost about 30lbs. I have not lost anything significant since the month after surgery. I have 5ccs in my band and I just need to get another fill I guess!

Good job!

try to be positive if you can, Its hard to lose weight before you get try restriction but it is very important at this stage of having a band to log in all of your input. write down everything you eat and drink and how much cals it counts up to every day. Eat your protein, than veggie and than fruit. try to stay away from the carbs. drink your water and most importantly you have to move, walk, swim or just do something. Its important that you do your best to burn as many cals as you take in. I know you can do it and if you need anyone to talk to just e-mail me. It gets frustrating but you have to work for your band and than it will work for you. Good luck.

bigpapa hit the nail on the head!!!

I HIGHLY recommend using a online food journal to track what you are eating. I read a post just yesterday where the poster stated how shocked she was when she saw the cal. count of what she was eating. Sometimes we think we are doing good only to later find out that "healthy food" we were eating was packed full of calories/carbs/sugar.

Second you have to move....even if you "can't find time" to schedule something into your day do all the little things u can. Park further from the door, take the stairs when you have the option, carry the groceries in one bag at a time there are all kinds of little things you can do to help, and YES I'm a firm believer that you need to find the time for a regular fitness routine, but you also have to admit that every little thing you do is going to help some.

Good luck to you, I can imagine how frusturating this must be for you, but don't give up on yourself!!

~Monica

sven, i'm in the same boat as you. i was banded about 4 months ago, and i've lost about 20lbs since (the first dozen during liquids post op). it's extremely frustrating. it's nice to read that there are others going through this painfully slow road to the sweet spot. i'm following all the bandster rules, so i keep telling myself that once the fill is right, the weight will drop. until then all i can do is keep on truckin' along, up my exercise (been a bit lax truth be told) and schedule another fill.

our time will come!

Hi, I had lapband surgery 3 months ago. Have had 2 "fills."

I lost a few pounds initially, but gained them back. Am now at the same weight that I started at.

Has anyone had this experience? Did you eventually start to lose weight?

Thank you !

yes, this is normal for many, some call is "Bandster Hell" this is when you are working of finding the right amount of restriction for success. Some of us who are also on a plateau are going to try this...

Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test

I have heard it really helps get things moving. I am going to start this on monday, if you would like to join me that would be great! I am cureous to see how many of us being at different stage are affected by following this 5 day plan. I will go start a thread so there is a place we can all connect on.

I was banded 2 months ago and lost 20lbs... for the last 2 1/2 weeks have lost NOTHING. I've had 2 fills. I can relate to you.. as i'm reading the reply's I notice your being advise not to drink with your meal...why is that? does that include water?

you shouldn't drink with meals because it pushes food through your stomach faster. You stay fuller faster, and you do not eat as much if you are notating and drinking at the same time. I am surprised your doc did not have that be part of your guidelines. Good luck to you!

Yup. Jenny is absolutely correct. You are defeating the function of the pouch if you drink while you eat or, basically, within an hour or two after eating.

That, I'm afraid, will be my toughest challenge.

The placement of the lap band is not arbitrary or random. The stomach receptors for "full" are in the upper portion of the stomach. That's why the lap band is placed where it is.

When you eat, you should only be consuming about a half-a-cup of food. That will stay in the "pouch" and tell your brain, "Hey STOP EATING! We're FULL" and it will then SLOWLY pass the food through the lap-band opening into the bottom of the stomach to be digested SLOWLY.

This will keep you feeling SATED between meals.

If you DRINK anything, including Water, or if you consumer Soup, or anything liquid with your meal, you will "wash" the food bits through the pouch too soon.

They will simply pass on into your lower portion of your stomach to be digested as normal, BUT you will be HUNGRY still, and possibly not know when to stop eating, because you are BYPASSING the pouch AND the stomach receptors that tell you to STOP so that you know you are full.

That is one of the very few hard and fast rules with our "new normal." NO LIQUIDS WHILE EATING.

Before meals and 1-2 hours AFTER meals you can chug all the liquid you want.

But during meals: nada.