:glare: Well I just read someone's blog here who had lost 90 lbs.in 6 months. I am not about 11 months post op and am creeping back up! I have gained a couple more pounds. I think I might have lost 33 now. Had lost close to 40. I am trying very hard to not eat much. It is so hard. I do not feel the band too much. Have trouble eating stringy meat, now apples with skin. But I just do not feel too much. I have about 6 and 1/2 ml in a 9 ml band. I don't think they can put much more in there. This last few pounds I have gained back has made me feel really tired and depressed. it is right on my stomach. I can just feel the "ledge" coming back on. Everyday I get on the scale and it is higher and higher. I feel like I am on a roller coaster and I cannot stop the gaining. I keep thinking I will go back on liquids with just a few ounces between meals and then I don't do it. Same old same old as before surgery. I really eat in a very good way--low fat milk, etc. etc.... I only eat barely half of my meal when eating out and no bread. Only bread I eat is sometimes diet breads. No caffeine at all, no carbonated sodas and I am really really wanting a diet coke! Yikes...and I don't see why I cannot have it, I am not losing anyway!! I do have a cookie here and there but not much. I walk briskly every day. I guess my body is just so used to dieting for years and years and years that it can now even GAIN weight on very little food. I have just about given up on the band helping me at all. For some reason, I get to be one of the few that it doesn't work for. This is making me tear up now. I again feel like a loser and failure. I am tired of looking like this fat thing. I am so tired, tired of this. I had hoped to lose constantly. I have lost nothing since Nov. and have now started gaining it back. This is a classic for me. it is what I always do. Lose 40 and gain it back. I need to lose like 65 more. never going to happen. The doctor is no help. I don't need to see a dietician. I just need help!! why , why why can't I be one of the ones this works for? Why did I have to be one of the failures?? Oh well... I will keep exercising and eating as well as I can until I am as fat as before and i will have a band in me too. Great.... done...I hate this. :devil:

I just want u to know that u are not by yourself, I had the band done in December of 08, and I an hungry in one part of my stomach, while th other part is full, and I hav e had 7 fill, and basically the doctor told me it is me. I have come to realize that the band just does not work for everyone

Hi BioTeacher!

Have you ever been testing for Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome or Metabolic Syndrome? Based on what you have experienced I would say that you might be experiencing a difficulty that I have also experienced. I had a hell of a time in the beginning because the band books I was following said to go low fat and low this and that...it wasn't working and I didn't have any restriction for the first 6 months (6 fills). It wasn't until I got a new fill doctor and my 7th and 8th fill that I really started experiencing success. I knew I had PCOS but I didn't realize that if you have any kind of metabolic syndrome that the low fat approaches will not work.

This new doc told me that I had to get in enough protein and fiber to kick start and fuel a metabolism that was completely headed in the wrong direction. He said one gram of protein for each half pound of body weight. So basically you can figure out how many grams of protein you need every day by divinding your weight in two. Mine was 230/2 =115 grams per day.

Try it and see if it works for you. It did for me.

I highly recommend the following items that will help you kick start your metabolism:

1.) Week 1 and 2 - reduce your carb intake to less than 50 grams per day eat only vegetables, meats, cheeses, and low carb shakes or bars with no sugar- gradually work your way up in protein intake by 20-30 grams per day until you are at the amount you should be taking in based on your weight calculation. Put your fork or spoon down in between bites and chew 12-15 times per bite. Don't bother bringing a drink to the table when you're eating...this prevents you filling up on liquid. Steer clear of all sugar in fruits, no yogurt, no processed foods with any sugar, honey, etc. Only splenda or stevia. Also, watch our for cured meats and items with nitrates. These will interfere with your kick start. Get some Atkins shakes, breakfast bars...these really help a lot! Russell Stover makes great low carb candy that will carry you through this so you don't freak out about not having your sweet fix. Have nuts and seeds on hand to give you fiber and energy.

2.) Go see your doctor about another fill. I had to be at 8.1 in a 10cc band before I had any restriction whatsoever. You might be having the same issue. My doc told me that if you are overweight and overeating for most of your life that you can often have stretched the top portion of your stomach as well so it takes more tightening before you get to the sweet spot. IF your current doc is unwilling, consider fillcentersusa.com - I have had great success with the doctor they recommended. He listens and only does fills...so he knows what he is talking about. They have centers all over the country and more added every month. www.fillcentersusa.com

3.) Week 3 and 4 - continue to limit yourself to less than 50 grams of carbs per day...try to go closer to 20 grams if you can...this will really kick start your metabolism and you will start losing weight if you haven't already. Do not eat anything with sugar in it. IF you mess up, get back on the horse and get on with it. You are still eating less than you were before...also if you want a freakin diet coke then have one...depriving yourself will mentally throw off your whole effort. Just don't make it a habit.

4.) After 4 weeks...see where you are. Are you losing? Do you have restriction? IF not, go visit the doc again for another fill. You can ask for one every month until you get where you need to be. Fill Centers has a policy that if they overfill you - then you can come back within 72 hours for an unfill with no charge. Some even have an underfill policy within 72 hours so you don't have to pay again if you aren't happy.

After you start losing, you can experiment with adding a few more carbs to see where you stop losing weight. When it stops then back off the carbs a little and you'll find your spot where you can eat some carbs you like without ambushing your loss.

This is how I'm doing it. Very little bread and fruit, lots of meat, cheese, vegetables (not so much on the carrots, corn, etc) but green veggies and salads, lots of nuts and seeds and protein shakes.)

Also, there are some very high protein shakes out there called NewWhey. www.newwhey.com or at health stores. They are about 4 oz each (three swallows) and they have 40 grams of protein. I put them in the freezer for about 15 minutes and then drink it...you are more than half way done with protein for the day with these. Also, Atkins shakes and bars are very high in protein. Almonds are always good to have around.

Let me know how this works for you. I'm very hopeful that you'll be able to enjoy success with your band!

I just read and copied your note. I feel like there has GOT to be something wrong with my metabolism. Maybe this is it. I have not been having too many carbs but more than 50g a day for sure. I will give my doctor a couple for more tries. I guess i am just very hesitant to switch off. It has taken me almost 11months to get the 6 1/2in there that I have. I keep waiting for the big difference and it just isnt happening. I feel like I am a freak or something. We have discussed the protein thing several times and I thought I had it up there pretty high but maybe not. I have been using instant breakfast in mornings but even the low sugar has carbs. I will check that. Now my doc says it will take two years to even get this straight. I just think they think I sit around and eat bon-bons which I do NOT. I just came back from a big walk and am trying to drink lots of water too. Thanks for taking all the time to write all that out!! I will start in and see what happens. :devil:

Don't give up. Cassy--that is wonderful advice. I plan to use it also. I have been told (repeatedly) that the answer to weight loss is "protein." Eat lots of protein. Best of wishes, BioTeacher. You will succeed. Keep positive thoughts and focus.

Thanks BioTeacher for starting this post! I am in the exact same boat as you. I have a pretty good restriction now but I think that my band is pretty well full! The answers that followed are great and I am going to copy them and read them over. It is basically like the Atkins diet and I love my proteins so I am good with that! Try to see if you can get the band filled up some more and that may help!

hi guys, i got my band 3-08 and only lost 30 lbs so far. It is very frustrating but i am now back on protein shakes and lots of water and one food meal a day its hard but i think its working a little bit. i thought i was the only one out here feeling this way. thanks for posting