OK, I'm gonna ask the tough question...why are you eating whoppers, donuts & pizza? Having a lapband does not magically make the calories go away. Your tummy will fill up the same whether it's pizza or grilled chicken with restriction. You have to commit to changing your habits and to making better decisions. Start the day smart, eat lean protein or make a protein shake, then listen to your body. If you have quality food in it, you will not feel hungry! You are basically ripping yourself off if you are depending on the lapband to do all the work for you. It is a tool that will help you in the weight loss process...not the answer!

Sorry to be so blunt.....I had to come to the same realization about a year ago. I hope things get better for you!

I agree with Seanamw, You got a lap band not a magic wand. The lap band is a tool to help you loose weight and you have to have self control and work with it. It is hard work and you have to commit to making changes in your diet and exercise in order for it to work. Good luck

I am curious about the presurgery and post surgery diet. Did Dr. have you on certain liquid requirements? You did not lose weight with that?

I think you need to believe in yourself a little more, The diet you are on now is what led you to have the surgery in the first place. Before you sit down to eat these foods think of what they are giving you, you may find the answer to be nothing. You made a huge decision to have the surgery not eating these foods is an easy one. Try using a diary to log what you are eating and plan your meals ahead. You can do it,,,make sure you keep telling yourself that. Good Luck stay focused.

I agree as well, you really have to stop the bad food and follow the very clear instructions from liquid

to soft food. I was banded 8/24 and am down 17lbs but I am really following the instructions and really

feel satisfied and not hungry. Protein, protein and more protein. Log all your intake and get that 30min of working

out in a day and you will see results. But not with pizza, whopper and donuts, you have to realize that it is a tool

and you need to do the emotional work around eating and the physical work out as well to have some success.

I have been just like you. I had surgery 11/19/2010. I have only lost 27 lbs. I have had fills every month since surgery. I just never felt any restriction. My last fill is when I am finally feeling restrition. My doctor said everyone's openingto stomach is different in few cases it takes moret o get tight. Just be patient and you will get there. Thank you becasue I felt like the only one that wasn't losing. I hear all these success stories and they make me depressed like I am a failure for spending all this money and not losing.

RIta

Dont stress out. You are not filled enough yet. You will know it when you are. I did the same thing you did at first. Its been a year for me and I have only lost 46 lbs total. Im now back to a size 10. When you are filled about half way - stay there!!! Dont go tighter. You need to learn HOW to eat and when you do that the fat will come off. I still occasionally have the foods I like but mostly I eat clean. Research what eating clean means and follow that diet. If you are serious about losing the fat you will stay on track.

I agree with the first comment. The band is just a tool! You have to learn to eat healthy and exercise. You have to stop eating fried foods and all the food that make you big. I think your Dr should of sent you to a nutricionist, because you have to learn to eat healthy and to count calories. Wish you the best!

You are just a little off track with the "I can still eat whoppers ,donuts and pizza. There is no magic whip that will pop out and hit you when you drift to your old ways...............You have to walk or RUN away from your old habits. I d check back in with dr staff or nutritionist for a consult. MEASURE your food you have to in the beginning 4oz is the norm for a meal to effect loseing. You are a rookie don't be embarrassed and don't think this band will magically keep you from eating the wrong things IT WONT.You are the PART that really makes this new relationship work.............don't give up try try again untill you fully understand what you have to do...........Good luck friend

<BR>You are just a little off track with the "I can still eat whoppers ,donuts and pizza. There is no magic whip that will pop out and hit you when you drift to your old ways...............You have to walk or RUN away from your old habits. I d check back in with dr staff or nutritionist for a consult. MEASURE your food you have to in the beginning 4oz is the norm for a meal to effect loseing. You are a rookie don't be embarrassed and don't think this band will magically keep you from eating the wrong things IT WONT.You are the PART that really makes this new relationship work.............don't give up try try again untill you fully understand what you have to do...........Good luck friend <IMG class=bbc_emoticon alt= src="http://cdn.lapbandtalk.com/public/style_emoticons/%3C#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif"><BR>

I am curious about the presurgery and post surgery diet. Did Dr. have you on certain liquid requirements? You did not lose weight with that?

I guess we all have to learn that the band is a tool not a magic wand. You may think that counting calories or watching what you eat is a waste but you and only you can decide what you want to get out of this surgery. Lapband surgery is a life changing event for all of us, we all ended up with surgery becasue everything else had failed. Remember old habits die hard, we are like all addicts, we need reconditioning and have to believe in ourselves. Change is hard and does not happen overnight. I am 10 months out and have lost 72 lbs. But believe me it did not just fall off, I have had to learn the hard way at times that I can eat just about anything but it is up to me to control my behavior. The band does work, but you have to work with it. Don't be to hard on yourself because we all have had to learn that we are the one factor that makes the band work. It is only a tool, but a tool we have to learn to listen to. Start making healthy choices and STAY away from fast food. It is what helped get us all here! Good Luck and remember we are all here for you.

can i ask why any of u guys didnt opt to get the gastric bypass which is more effective , in still deciding which surgery can benefit me . After all this struggle i dont want to be dissapointed. im meeting with my surgeon on Monday to further dicuss my final decision.

can i ask why any of u guys didnt opt to get the gastric bypass which is more effective , in still deciding which surgery can benefit me . After all this struggle i dont want to be dissapointed. im meeting with my surgeon on Monday to further dicuss my final decision.

I would never have done bypass for several reasons.

1- I was paying myself and its more expensive

2- malabsorption - I have an extreme need to be healthy with propper nutrition and that just isnt possible with gastric

3- I was only 60 lbs over weight and the gastric bypass is for people who need to lose a lot soon

4- its much more invasive and a more serious surgery

5-you can adjust the band as you need it... none of that with gastric bypass. For me, Ive been filled completely and now that I learned the truth on how to eat to burn fat, I have disabled my band. I have no fluid in it at all and I will pay the money to have it taken out next year. My belly is flat now and my port really protrudes

I have seen a few of my friends go through the bypass, and have watched them lose weght so fast. U have also watched some of them get realy sick also....One friend had bypass done 2 years ago and went from 380 pounds down to 125 pounds in less han a year...She now weighs 350 pounds again..she had made a new stomache by eating so much food.....it is almost as if she never had the bypass done.....All these surgeries are all tools and

you need to learn how to use them......

The Band is reversable...that is why i chose it....

The only thing lapband does for me(once I was filled to the level I needed to be), was make me get full faster and stay full longer. I still count all the calories I put in my mouth. The closer I get to my goal weight the more I have to be careful about what types of food I eat. I've tried calorie counting in the past but the only difference now is I'm not feeling so hungry that I cheat all the time. The band does not work by itself but it is an amazing tool. I have done a lot of experimenting with what works for me in the last 14 months that I have been banded. Different foods can have different affects on everyone. I am 5'8" and 201 now. If you're around that you're going to have to calorie count and eat the right kinds of food. One step to take is try to keep your sugar intake down. That was the main tweak I made the closer I got to 200 that has helped. I switched to a soy milk that has less sugar than 1% milk. Little things like that go a long long way. It really is a journey. I've had my struggles a long the way and at some point it just hits you what you need to do for you and to really buckle down. No one can do that for you.

Also, don't forget the exercise! Real exercise to get that heart rate up!

@alittleloopy: I believe that you are putting us on. There is not a chance in the world that you are eating what you claim. Please get serious