Hi all,

I was banded on june 30th and started the whole LAP-BAND® process thinking it is different than diet and exercise which I did in the past. I kept with my notion of not needing to do diet and exercise with the band and thought i can eat anything and everything without doing exercise. Here I am 4 months post op and 4 fills later still struggling to lose even one pound. Now it is dawning on me that lapband itself does not make you loose weight but you do have to work on diet and exercise. Did any of you think like me or do you think like me?

Those who are successfully losing weight post op, I URGE you all to tell me what are you doing (eating what food, doing what type of exercise and how much) so that I can learn from you all.

I am very disappointed in myself and almost feel like quitting. Anybody with kind words to revert this process are welcome to write.

Hi,

I had my band put in place on sept. 16th. since then I have lost a total of 12.5 pounds for a total of 22.5 between pre op liquid diet and 8 days after surgery. I go for my first fill on tuesday. I havent gained any weight since my 8th day but I havent lost any either. I am walking on my treadmill almost daily, and I definately cant eat the amounts I used to eat. I believe that is the reason I have not gained weight. I have NO restriction, I cant wait for my fill tuesday. Im hoping ti will give me a little restriction, right now any would be good.

I came in here ALOT in the beginning and read as many posts as I could and relaized I was going to have to work at this, just not quite as hard as I had been before my band. Im doing well and im right on track with most ppl that get a band. Ive lost some and while waiting for my fills to get me to my "sweet spot" I think ill keep up with my treadmill.

I was well educated as well with the program im in also. Alot of learning befroe the band. All is well and im ok with the fact that I havent lo9st any weight since day 8. That day is coming , but ill still have to work a little to get it off.

By the way, Congratulations on getting your band, and good luck to you. You have made it this far, im sure you will get to your goal.

I lost a lot in the beginning, we have a 2 week pre-op liquid diet, a 2 week post-op liquid, then a 2 week mushies diet before trying to introduce regular food slowly - I spent another week on mushies because i had trouble at first with real food. I wonder if my doc's schedule helps to get us really ready to change eating (though it was hell to go through).

While I did then loosen up on what I ate after that, ie I don't do fat-free or sugar free everything, and eat regular cheese, etc., I was set up to eat a lot less and be aware of what I was eating.

Since then I've lost slowly, slower than my co-horts who've gotten the band after me, but I have only done swimming a few days a week rather than mega work-outs or treadmill.

I rationalize that I am trying to do a "diet" that I can keep up for a lifetime vs. losing fast in the first year and then wanting to change to have more flavors, etc.

One thing I DO believe in is not paying attention to the numbers - we don't own a scale, I only weigh at the pool/ locker room or doctor's. Even when I was not losing pounds, I WAS losing inches - so maybe if you begin to measure yourself regularly - you might feel better, clothes fit better, etc. even if you aren't losing pounds. If you start to exercise, your muscles will also firm up somewhat and help to feel more energy and stamina. I love being able to walk around work, do stairs, and NOT huff and puff. So, over 9 mo. I'm up to 50 pounds lost, I had about 35 (from start of pre-op) by June, so it's slowed down a LOT. (banded 1/20/09) But I don't regret anything so far.

Esv2000 I eat protien-chicken, steak, turkey and veggies, Yes sometimes I allow carbs but not as a regular thing. Yes I have to work at this but its not that hard cause I am not hungry all the time like i used to be. Could you go to a support group, see a nutritionalist? It is very hard to do this on your own, I come here for a lot of support and please let us know how we can support you. Have you been going for your fills, that helps also.

esv2000,

Frist acknowledge that you were looking for an easy out, then accept that you may not have heard everything you were told. Next, get ready for 6489 people to post here and tell you that the band is just a tool...and so on.

I didn't excatly think the way you did, but kind of. I might even had been hopeing because I don't do well with diets. In 11 months (seminar to now) I have learned the following about BAND LIFE!

1. In prep I gave up on my own sweet tea, started eating from a smaller plate with one serving, only eating when hungry and lost about 3 pounds the first week.

2. The gym is still not my place. If I manage to go I do the bike for a mile or so, 1/2 hr. on treadmill. My mind won't let me do more.

3. chicken was my friend from Nov. to Mar., ate it in some form or the other daily with a veggie.

4. My 2 week liver shrink diet rocked! It was high Protein, low carb, had lots of food and I wasn't hungry.

5. The early changes did make the real changes easier. I now have about 3 glasses of sweet tea a week. I have treated myself to german chocolate cake because I refuse to feel deprived.

6. Going slowly with my fills has been right for me, 3 in 7 months. Now at 6cc and I think it might be my sweet spot! It's been less than a week, but 1/2c made me happy today.

7. I have been eating so much less than before, with this last fil I think it will go to even less. The challenge will be to eat the right foods.

8. If I don't get my protein and my fluids I don't feel well and I don't lose any weight. (July and Aug. keept dropping and gaining about 4lbs.)

9. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!!! It tells you what to do if you can understand what it's telling you.

10. SIZE 12 (STRETCH) JEANS LOOK A HE** OF A LOT BETTER THAN SIZE 22.

I agree, you've probably heard what you wanted to and not really processed the "its a tool" part. There's NOTHING wrong with that, I defy anyone here to say that at least one tiny part of them wasnt hoping for easy automatic weight loss.

some of us got it. I certainly lost most of my weight without trying particularly hard on the diet front. But I never got particularly heavy in the first place - a BMI of 36 when I was banded, and naturally, along with that goes the fact that i probably didnt have eating habits quite as disordered as someone who got to 400lb. I also live in Australia, portion sizes out can be large, yes, but we havent quite reached the stage where a human hand cant fit around a McDonalds soda cup and where the car has to have special larger cup holders. By and large our portion sizes are much smaller and the idea that ANYTHING comes in a can, packet or box is a little foreign. I cooked from scratch, I ate fresh, organic produce, and had a basic healthy diet, just with a lot of crap thrown in on the top. All I had to do was cut the crap, which the band helped enormously with becuase I couldnt fit it in! I didnt have to change my understanding of food, the way I shopped, the way I prepared it. I've never had a drive through Breakfast in my life and to me McDonalds was a once a month thing because I wont let my kids overeat that sort of food.

So that was the easy part for me. Just eat less, not differently. But I eat bread, cereals, Pasta, grains. We are not told to do Protein first here and to be honest, whilst I dont disagree with the theory behind lowering carbs and such (which I did naturally when I cut out the junk), I think its just another 'diet' behaviour. I'm never on or off my diet, I'm not "bad" or "good" on any particular day because nothing is off limits. so you can see how different we all are, there's no "right' way to lose weight, you just have to find what works for you.

I did put in a LOAD of effort on the exercise front. I took up running, and built up to about 8 to 10kms five days a week or so, and I also did/do regular circuit training. I know more focussed strenght training would help me fine tune, but I hate it and to be honest, I think the best exercise is the one you will do. However, I'm starting a boot camp tonight, being at goal weight is no reason not to continue to work harder, challenge yourself etc, I love being fit and I love maintaining it.

One way or another, there has to be a lifestyle change or you simply wont lose and maintain that loss. You have to face it, but you dont have to feel a failure because its coming now and not before you were banded. The band's there ready to work with you when you're ready.

Edited October 26, 200916 yr by Jachut

I really appreciate all of your comments, suggestions and feedback. I have started to walk on the treadmill last week 3x/week and trying to watch what I eat. My biggest problem is getting more protein and eating less carbohydrates as I am Indian and our staple food is rice and bread. On top of that I am vegeterian. I am trying to venture new foods for more protein sources. Lets see how I do with these changes.

The band is only a tool. you still must do a lot of work yourself. if you work it it will work. I have lost almost 100 pounds in a period of 6 months. i will tell you exactly what i eat and how i work out..

breakfast normally a yogurt (activia low fat) and a small amount of dry outmeal in it. sometimes if i have enough time in the mornings i make 2 scrambled eggs and eat that with ketchup

lunch.. i do tuna, with reg mayo.. or chicken breast... or chicken cutlet.. or chicken salad also with reg mayo.. and i always do out 6oz of the protien. sometimes i have a slice of cheese, and i normally have some fruit with lunch like half a banana or if i wanna treat myself i do an apple and Peanut Butter.

dinner.. usually the same as lunch.. tuna.. girlled chicken.. shrimp... omlets with cheese (not lowfat) ham onions.. its yummy.. like 2 times a month i eat red meat.. but i only started doing that 2 months ago. soo i barely eat it. kinda a treat.. i also get some veggies in at this time.

if i need a snack i go for fruit. it helps with the cravngs and its the best way to go for me.

i follow the rules to a T.. i dont drink with meals i wait an hour after. i eat in order protien the Fiber. i dont eat bread or and Snacks. i really have never cheated. i see the way i look and the success is soo much better then the instant gradification of eating a cookie that. ive gone soo long without crap (cookies chips icecream) that i do not crave it anymore.

Working out... i normally try to do about 5 days a week.. about an hour to 2 hours. i started off slow tho. you gotta work your way up. walking around the track a couple miles.. doing sit up and and doing the stairs at the track,.. to going to the gym for 45 minutes. now i usually do like 20 min on the treadmill with incline.. then ill do someting like an eliptical for 25 min. and then i do weights. i work every part on my body. inner thighs outter thighs. arms. back. stomach. i usually do like 30 minutes of weights. and crunches and stuff..

I really hope this helps and GOOD LUCK YOU CAN DO IT!!!

The band is merely a tool in helping you lose weight. Unfortunately it's not the magical cure all. Although we wish!!! The band does make it easier to control how much food you do put in your mouth it's up to you what it is you put into your mouth. My recommendation is get rid of any junk food (just don't buy it anymore). Replace it with fruits and veggies. Starting there helps to make those steps easier!! Good luck!

Sorry to hear you thought that the band would just do the work for you. I initially hoped it would too, but before I even got signed up for surgery I had to meet with a Dietician who went over the rules for eating after the band and so I've found it to be more of a change in eating rather than your usual diet. It's working though - the protein part is important and I've been following that part more than any single rule.

I've been surprised with what people knew before surgery compared to others. My doctor required a psych eval with a specialist who counsels people doing lap band, a nutritionist, attend an info session and watch the emmi video... I think I knew what I was getting in to and I was excited by it.

You have to stop thinking of "diet" as a negative word. Everyone is on a diet, a diet is simply what you eat and the band is here to help you eat less of it. I'm almost 3 weeks out and I've been excited by being able to eat less already... can't wait for a fill.

For me now that I have good restriction I seriously cannot eat more than a half cup of food at a time. I have to eat really slow and that has taken the fun out of it...that's a really GOOD thing for me. Part of it is getting the right level of restriction and part of it is your own mental will power...I think its the combination of both that makes so many people successful long term. Stay on this site to keep yourself focused and read everything by people like jachut, band_groupie, and imaluckydog...they tell it like it is!!

Thanks all, I am feeling some motivation now even though I am not at sweet spot yet!

I feel some may be 10% restriction and can eat 2cups of food easily. I am watching what I eat and exercising 3x a week which I think is a good start. My main reasons for failure are not eating enough protein given I am vegeterian, still craving for sweets and not moving my body as much.

Once you get away from eating sweets you will be amazed how those cravings go away. Being a vegetarian is going to be quite a challenge for you but you can do it! Do you eat fish? I know some vegetarians who eat tuna and stuff like that. If so there you go eat a lot of fish! If not there are nuts out there and beans and stuff. Good luck!!!

Dear ESV, Just hang in there!I consider myself a vegetarian but I do eat fish...I am curious if you do? Anyway I also eat a lot of cottage cheese (with salsa on it, go figure!), hummus, egg salad, cheese of any kind, and lots of tofu and veggie/mushroom stirfry. I also LOVE the regular Boca burger although I still have some difficulty chewing it enough!I dont eat any low fat or diet foods but my restriction keeps me from eaing more than a small portion...

I had a completely different idea when I got my band. I knew that I would have to really watch what I eat, not just for calories but also for the ease in which I can get them down. I have now had my band for two months, and have not had my first fill yet. My weight before surgery was 374, and I weighed 352 when I went to the doctor for my six four weeks check up. Still no fill, so waiting again. I go back to the doctor on Thursday, and should get my first fill. My weight now is 332, and I don't really have any restriction at all. I have had to really watch what I eat every mouthful because I know I don't have restriction, and I get hungry a lot! I have a protein shake for breakfast, some type of protein and a small sugar free pudding for lunch, and then more protein and a veggie for supper. It is hard, but it can be done. I am very surprised that I have not been meaner to everyone around me, because I do get really hungry! Hang in there, you can do it!