I just realized its been one month since I was banded. I've lost 15lbs, 10-12 the week before surgery on a liquid diet, and only 3-5lbs since surgery. I am able to eat normally and am going to be scheduling a fill in the next week. I feel disappointed that I've not lost as much as I've seen other people lose. But I am trying to follow the advice I'd give someone else which is to not give up and realize that everyone loses differently and at different paces.

I do miss eating the way I used to - I also have not been perfect. It has helped me to understand that I'm not perfect and as everyone says - the band isn't going to do it for you. You still have to be motivated and driven to lose the weight and stick to a diet that would make you lose weight even if you didn't have the band. The band is there I think just to help you eat less and not feel so hungry. We can all eat more, but you have to make the conscious choice not to do so.

I am secretly scared that the pulling pain and burning I feel when I lean forward or bend the wrong way is a problem with my port having detatched or come lose on one side. Has my body built up scar tissue that has atttached itself somehow in my abdomen so when I lean over that's why it hurts?

My 40th birthday is in 2 months. Where will I be then? I'm afraid to predict b/c I've clearly predicted WRONG already. I calculated I'd lose 25lbs by now and I've only lost 15. I'm also traveling for business in a few weeks, I really wanted to have lost a lot of weight by then. My friends at work in other cities are training for marathons and triathalons. And here I am! I'm not the fit one - not yet anyway.

What is it going to take to get me back to the personal trainer and on the treadmill everyday? I think I need the motivation of seeing the scale move and I hope a fill will do that for me.......

I felt disappointed at first also. I got banded 2/6/09 and by the time I had surgery I had lost 22 lbs on my own. For the first 6 weeks after surgery I only lost 11 more pounds which had me pissed!! After my fill 2 weeks ago which was my first I lost 9 more pounds and got another fill this morning of only a little over .5 cc just to really put me in the green. So I think once you are filled to a comfortable place it is alot easier. My problem is ice cream and sweet soft foods so I have to pay particular attention to that. I'm not perfect and when I screw up I say okay it's done nd move on but I will say I have been doiing 40 minutes at least 5 days a week at the gym on the treadmill and that's only been for the last few weeks and that's when the weight has started falling off. Do the gym for a week and see how much more you lose, you may shock yourself right into making it a habit! :rolleyes2: Good luck to you!!

I am curious were your bands put in deflated? Is this your first fill? I had my surgery 4/7 and my surgeon put it in partially inflated. I am not thrilled with the protein shakes but know i need the nutrients. 4/16 starts my pureed. I find so far i am not too hungry and am having to force myself to drink

My surgeon put my band in with 3cc's in it so at my first fill on 3/25/09 I got 2 more which put me at 5cc's. I definitley noticed the difference but I wanted just a little bit more because I felt like I could eat over a cup at night. So 2 weeks after that on 4/8/09 I added another .5 cc's that seemed to be perfect I am still on pureed stuff cause for 4 days after the fill they have u eat soft but I notice a huge difference from 5 to 5.5cc's. I was hungry after my surgery not for a week or so but my appetite definitly came back and I didn't feel like I had that much restriction I was hungry between meals etc. My doctor's office says most people not all but most are comfortable within the 5-7 cc range. I feel like my weight loss is slow but I started this in the 2nd week of january doing my preop weight loss and since the 2nd week of January I have lost 44 lb's. I started heavier than some people though I was 345 when I started this so only a pound or so away from being back in the 200's :rolleyes2: Any more questions feel free to ask and good luck to you!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the words of encouragement SaraEmily! I know you are so right about exercise. I just need to make it happen. I also need to get a fill and get myself motivated.

Hearing how well you've done actually does encourage me. I'm so very impressed with what you've accomplished - this is truly not easy at all. I'm really surprised at how this is 90% me. My weakness is also ice cream and soft stuff.

Thanks for re-energizing me. i needed it!

No problem!! Weight Watchers makes these great mini cups of ice cream and they only come 2 in a package they are great to keep in the freezer for when you have a big craving!!! Alot of flavor but still relatively little damage also the 2 small cups is a perfect portion and keeps me from overdoing it. 90% you I chose the band over the bypass because I wanted some control, but it's crazy how the old habits are in there and the times they creep up on me always throw me for a loop. Anyway good luck to us all!!!