slm2007

I've been banded almost a year (mid-april) and have had very little luck at this point. Honestly, I gave up in October and stopped going for fills etc. I've decided to give it another shot and I'm going to start over when I go to the appointment on 2/21. I became so disgusted and while I know the band is supposed to help and not do the work for me, there was NO help happening. I was having a difficult time staying under 1,600 calories let alone 1,100. I was struggling and failing and not getting much "support" from the doctors office. Frustrated, I stopped going and doing follow ups. I'm going to try again. It's hard work and those who say "oh, she has a lap band and that's cheating" - well, honestly it's like I have no band and I'm doing it on my own. IF I could have done it on my own, I wouldn't have resorted to surgery! Anyhow, everyone is different and a lot of people have had wonderful success on this and I am jealous of that and wish you the absolute best of luck and hope it happens for you quickly. Everyone tells me that when I reach the "sweet" spot it will start happening.....fingers crossed. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!

Thank you Alex. I'm getting back to the program after giving up in September. So frustrated. I'm definately NOT in the Green Zone but was so disgusted with the criticism from the PA. I know she was trying to be helpful but I wouldn't be in this situation if it were easy for me! Keeping it under 1,000 calories a day is hard when you are starving! I stopped going for fills after my last appointment in September because I was so frustrated. I feel that at 5.5 cc's I should be feeling "Something?" but I'm not. So, I'm going to give this another shot, maybe I need more to get in the "Green" - THank you and I'm taking this chart with me, very helpful and maybe it will help me communicate better with my PA. Thanks again

I think I would name my PITS ( Pain in the Side) - If I squat to pick something, it moves up under my ribs and I swear the thing moves around because some days it is really bothersome and I can feel it hitting me in the ribs or it gets sore in that area just from regular activity. It is in the way for a lot of things, I can feel it when I bend over at the waist, when I put my son on my hip etc.

There is a Lap Band Success Stories section on here somewhere and I would go there all the time. I'm a frustrated bandster.....BUT.....I know that it is going to take time. I'm getting less frustrated and more accepting of this process/journey. I actually frustrate myself because I DO read the success stories and they are losing 30 pounds in two months and losing 3-4 pounds a week! UGH! I had surgery in April and I'm barely losing a pound a week. THAT is frustrating. I'm NOT at a good restriction and I understand that takes time. I get double talk from my "fill" lady and she says one thing but then I read another. Frustrating. I get frustrated because I'm on YET another diet and I didn't want to diet, but I'm getting the mind set that I'm a fat person right now and fat people need to diet to lose weight! I have to diet before I can do maintenance and maintain my happy weight. I didn't want to sacrifice and I've set myself back. I'm learning. I'm not perfect but I'm getting better and I've made HUGE changes to my life compared to how I was before surgery. I get full now on a Lean CUisine....that would have never happened before. They talk about life style changes and I've made a lot of them. I'm getting better at eating better and I make such better choices now, but like I said, I'm not perfect. I think a lot of how you lose is how you work it. If you are super disciplined (or really lucky) then you'll lose faster but I'm happy with 1 pound a week....if it is more, awesome but I'm accepting my fate that I'm not perfect but if I can lose 1 pound a week, that is 52 pounds in a year. I don't regret my decision. I regret that I wasn't prepared mentally for not being able to lose as fast as I wanted. I thought the first few months would be the easiest weightloss but that isn't the case with me. I've read that some people it took months before they really had the band kicked in and working with them. I have to do a lot of my control on my own....it is a lot of will power and the band won't stop you from eating whatever you want. Just be clear about that. Some people have restriction problems with certain foods sticking or not agreeing wtih them. I havent' found that yet....I can literally eat anything, steak, bread, chicken, anything. Good luck and it's what you do with it...I don't regret getting mine.

Today, out of habit, I thought to myself...."self, I better get a 1/2 salad because that Lean Cuisine I have in there just isn't going to fill me up." Yes, this is how I still think and I'm learning this isn't the case anymore and I'm so thrilled. It's been a long 6 months! Anyhow, I went out for lunch and forgot to pick up a salad and came back, heated up my Lean Cuisine and guess what....I'm full! I'm actually full on a little Lean Cuisine dinner. NOW, if I could just learn to listen to the band I'll be better and not "think" that I need more food. I'm working on this still but doing so much better and my portions have been cut down dramatically, I'm now paying attention to how long I stay full. That's the next step but I think 5.5 cc's is good for me. I'm starting to finally like my band and understand it. :woot:

Wow, thank you. I tape him daily but don't get to watch the show daily (my 3 year old consumes the television in the evening watching NickJr. and even if he's not watching he has to have it on as background.). ANyhow, let us know how the recipe is. I'm going to look this show up on-line now. Thank you! Staci

Totally normal....I was banded on 4/18/11 and still feel totally normal like I don't have a band. I have to catch myself taking too big of bites at times and slow myself down eating because I have no problems. I've had 3 fills!!! You are doing fine and may not "feel" anything just follow the rules, and try to stay on track no matter how easy it is to "test the waters." Good luck to you in your journey!

I hear you! See this is what frustrates the heck out of me. I THINK i'm doing so much better in comparison to what I could put away before. A steak, salad, pototo and veggie would have been nothing for me. I'd be full but not "stuffed." Now I have not even 1/2 piece of steak, veggie and maybe (huge maybe) a small red baked potato (spray butter and greek yogurt for sour cream). I still get criticism from my physician assistant because that is "too much" - - seriously, if I eat less, then I'lm looking in an hour or two for something to get me over the hunger and a yogurt isn't going to cut it. I'm proud of my improvements and know I could be doing better but if my band would ever get in gear, and help me out a little, maybe some weight would start coming off better? I "just keep swimming" and hope I hit that sweet spot soon. I have 5cc's in an 11cc Realize band. Good luck to everyone...those who are not struggling so much and those of us who are. Keep up the good efforts everyone.

I'm struggling with this right along with you. I hear what everyone is telling me and I get back on the horse and try to keep going so I guess my advice would be what I tell myself (sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't) - - - "just keep swimming, just keep swimming" (hopefully you have seen Finding Nemo and know what the heck i'm talking about) Anyhow, There are alot of success stories and we'll get there. Patience (not something I admittedly good at) is what I must learn to have. I keep hoping that one day it will "click" for me but right now I'm struggling with you. Good luck....we can do this and everyone on here offers such great words of wisdom. I come here often and re-read things to keep myself going. Staci

I have a "new" Realize band. I think it is called Realize C? It is 11cc's and I went for this option because of the lower profile and that I've heard recovery is a bit easier with this band because of how it is attached. Honestly, I had hardly any pain with my port...the worst pain for me after surgery was the massive headache I got from the gas about 4 days post op and it lasted for another 4 days. Horrible. Anyhow, my doctor didn't have a preference and would have done either. His words to me it is an instrument that we use, they both do the same thing. It is up to me to use the band. Neither is going to be better or worse. He said it is 95% you and 5% the band. I researched both sites and went with the Realize because of the things I've read....but it is a personal decision and if my surgeon only placed Lap Bands, that is what I would have gotten. I wasn't thrilled with the "continous balloon" and maybe like the idea of the baffles of the Lap band, but I liked that this had a wider band and they have done changes to it so it is a low pressure band and helped with the erosion issues. Erosion according to my doctor is not a super duper common issue so really shouldn't be a deciding factor...either can erode and the %'s are about the same. Good luck...I like my decision.

Welcome! And, good luck to you, I hope you are healing nicely. This is an awesome site. You will find some incredibly helpful and supportive people on here. Some people get frustated with this site because "we" (me being one of them) likes to come on here and vent, blow off frustration and get advise, support and good ol' fashioned butt kicking when we/I have screwed up and need to get back on track. Don't let the negative discourage you. Everyone is different, feels different, loses weight differently, and progresses differently but these people are awesome to give you suggestions and explain what happened in their case. I've been slowly figuring out a lot of things I'm doing wrong that I thought I was doing right. I love these people...well, most of them Good luck to you and welcome to being a bandster. Staci

Yes, it is terribly sad but it is so true. You can actually make eye contact with someone now. It's a shame that your outside has to change for someone to notice your inside.

I came across this and HAD to read it because I noticed this on me too the other day. I was sitting at work and could feel "spiders" on my arms...it was my hair just falling out. I have never had hair problems and my hairdresser swore after my pregnancy that my hair would thin...no way. Anyhow, I'm just about 4 months out from my surgery and my hair is falling out like crazy. I have a huge thick head of hair but for me this is alarming. I'm going to start the biotin and see how it goes. It seems like it is a pattern between 4-5 months people start noticing this side effect. I'm NOT losing weight in any alarming amount....ugh...but maybe it is just the surgery issue??

Okay, so my PA says to me that I need to start watching my carbs. And, honestly, the only way I'm going to get myself under control is if I start living off of Lean Cusine or Smart One meals....I just know me. What are too many carbs? I'm looking for meals that are above 15 grams of Protein so I can have a yogurt or something to get my 20 grams in per meal like she suggested, but my carbs with these meals are about 30-50 grams.....isn't that too high? If I have one for lunch and one for dinner lets just say I have to higher carb ones and I'm up to 100 grams of carbs? That is just for those two meals and doesn't include the yogurt or extra stuff to make up the protein amount I need/required to have. I feel like I'm just going to back to my old roller coaster diets at which point I lived on WW and SO meals, here I am again. Anyhow, enough whining, just do it.....what are the suggested grams of carbs that you have? I'm NOT a bread eater but I do like my Pasta and potatoes...guess that is my problem Thanks everyone. Staci

I've been venting and whining alot lately. Anyhow, I've gone the route of trying to really reduce my carbs and today....I got it.....that thing they tell you about eating slowly....LISTEN TO IT. Gosh, I just had a fill about a week ago and maybe things are starting to fall into place because during lunch, which I usually have to work through so it is hard for me to concentrate on eating slowly...anyhow, I ate 3 small grilled chicken pieces and some veggies. I was NOT full in the least but that was my lunch so that was it. OMG, about 30 minutes later, I am so uncomfortable, Thanksgiving full.....this has never happened to me before so maybe the band is doing something finally and now I just need to slow it down!!!! Whoo hooo, maybe I'm getting some help and now I just need to pay attention. I hope I didn't stretch anything by being this full but this sensation has never happened before, I didn't get "full" if you know what I mean. I don't know why I had to post this but I guess I'm excited that I've got some type of sensation. dinner, if I feel like eating, is going to be my next challenge....lets see if that little bit fills me up....GOSH, please let this be a good sign....I'm so excited I could cry right now.

I think that is what I have to work on now....I never had a "feeling" before. I'd just eat my allotted amount and go back after 30 minutes cuz I was still hungry. Nothing was working for me. I just had a fill last Monday and she lectured me about too many carbs in my diet so I've been trying to watch them and feel like I'm going through withdrawl. Anyhow, like I said...today, I had my 3 small grilled chicken pieces and some raw veggies. I ate them because that is what I was allowed. AND, I ate them relatively fast because I was sitting at my desk for lunch and not paying attention, but I didn't eat slowly and let me tell you 30 minutes after I ate....OMG, I'm FULL! I don't think I'm supposed to feel like this - Thanksgiving full - BUT, I think this is my trigger to let me know that the band is doing something now and if I slow down, I will get full. I don't think we are supposed to get that "thanksgiving" full feeling but just a "phew, that was good" feeling??? Maybe, I'm not really sure. I'm going to give myself the allotted portion tonight for dinner and eat slowly and pay attention. I'll let you know how it works and if I get satisfied for a change on my smaller portion. Lets keep fingers crossed!

Gonna try it! I've tried sneaking in the spaghetti squash and that didn't fly with the rest of the family.....but perhaps I can sneak this one in.. Thanks

I KNOW....that is my question. This is why I'm frustrated and confused as to what my "tool" is supposed to do for me. According to what thie PA is telling me, I'm on a self-control diet of high Protein and low carb and exercise. I get that but I could have done that without surgery because my band isn't really doing anything for me hunger/satisfaction wise. I don't get "satisfied" that I can walk away from the table saying "ahhh, I'm done" - - no I leave the table by saying "that was my measured portion, walk away" - - - only to be hungry in 2 or 3 hours. I'm working on it but I'm frustrated.

Thanks everyone...GREAT tips and suggestions that I can put to good use. I'm not a bread freak but love potatoes and Pasta so I'll have to work on that. I totally forgot about the "fake tater" recipe with the cauliflower....gotta do that one again. Thanks again...you guys rock

I felt the exact same way before my surgery. Gosh, why am I going to go through with this surgery if all these people are so negative and having so many problems. However, with that said, I received a TON of support on this site and went through with it. THEN, it comes to me...now negative nilly because I'm frustrated with my lack of progress, thinking I'm doing the right things to find out that I'm still screwing up but in a different way. Honestly, the past few months I've done a lot of venting here and have really been seeking some advice from those who have done well. I've had things clarified for me and I've come away with some good information. So yes, I come here to vent and whine but I get the most awesome, awesome feedback, suggestions and help from people. Everyone, well, almost everyone on here, is amazing with suggestions, support and advice! Everyone is different on how they are with the band so getting a bunch of feedback is so helpful to try different things that might work for you. I'm 4 months post op right now and I'm still trying to figure this whole thing out. I've learned that you have to take the good with the bad....there are some awesome success stories on here. There are some who haven't succeed but it seems like the success outweighs those who haven't. There is a section of Lapband Success Stories and I go to them for inspiration at times. I can totally relate to your concerns, but I don't know what I would have done without this site. I've learned things from the negative posts too. I've learned that "yeah, I'm doing that too" and I've learned "okay, lets not do that" - - so you can work it however you want. Good luck to you.... Staci

I'm up to 5 cc's in my band and feel the same way. I eat my Protein first and veggies and I'm hungry within two hours. Frustrated. My PA says I need to get my carb count WAY WAY down. Maybe look into that? I'm trying and it has been 3 days and I'm miserable w/o my carbs but everyone tells me it is like a drug and I have to get it out of my system and I'll start to feel better. I'm not a big bread eater, but liked a baked potato or Pasta. I'm trying. See what your carbs are and maybe that will help?

I just know what happened to me at my last fill appointment....I gained a pound and she told me to cut my carbs way, way, way back and keep my calories under or at 1,100. I don't know what your intake is with this but that was my suggestion from my PA????

Yes, she told me that carbs are my issue and they are too high. I gained a pound in 6 weeks. I am finding it very difficult to stay under 1,100 calories because I'm stomach hungry. I was concentrating so hard on calories and protein that I apparently didn't pay attention to carbs...again the "diet" we are on now. I wasn't what I considering over indulging in foods, not excessive potatoes, Pasta etc. My measured portion but she gave me major heck for eating a small, red skinned potato w/my chicken. I used spray butter and greek plain yogurt instead of sour cream and butter, but apparently my changes are not significant enough? I try to explain to her that even if I ate eggs, chicken and tuna, I could eat all that as a prebandster portion and I'd still be hungry in 2 or 3 hours. I'm not staying full/satisfied (I try not to get stuffed full but just 'done"). ANyhow, I'm rambling again, but she says carbs are my problem, yes, so I'm working on that but not sure how. Frustrated that I'm on a diet I could have done without surgery because I'm not getting any assistance from my band. Oh, well, keep trying that is all I can do..hopefully working on the carb issue will help.

When you say that "you can only eat as much as your band will let you!" - - - that is part of my issue too....my band is not helping in that area at all....I could eat a pre-bander portion, but I ..not my band..force myself to stop with my measured portion (hence I am then again hungry in 2 hours). THis is where part of my frustration comes in and then my PA tells me that there is no such thing as a Sweet Spot...the band doesn't do that. *Grrrr*

See, I want to do this too because I know that carbs are my issue. I'm actually on day two of REALLY watching my carbs/sugar and I'm shaking and tired. But when I went on the Lean Cuisine website for example, because the only way I'm going to eat is if I live out of a box and frozen foods since my life just isn't practical for real cooking during the week, but all the dinners that are above 15 grams of Protein are about 30-50 grams of carbs so if I eat two of them a day, I'm easily above 50 grams of carbs and that doesn't include breakfast (which is usually an egg and yogurt). So I could be lookin at 100 grams of carbs per day and living on Lean Cuisines or Smart Ones. This is getting more and more difficult.