DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

Yes, in fact some even have a temporary gain when on their period. Keep in mind that hormones aside, plateaus are normal. You can go weeks without a loss, it's a normal part of the weight loss process. As long as you know you're eating the right things and burning more calories than you consume, any plateau you hit won't be permanent. You just have to be patient and see it through.

Vomiting is never good with the band, bile or not. It can lead to slips so should be avoided at all costs- and definitely never self induced. As far as being too tight, if you're eating on the run, that could be a big part of your problem. When you eat, you need to actually sit down, take your time, and really be aware of what you're doing. If you're just mindlessly eating on the go, chances are good you're eating too fast and too big of a bite. Slowing down and concentrating on small, slow bites might help you considerably. Best wishes.

It's a choice to deprive yourself, not a requirement. Personally, I am not dieting. I have changed my lifestyle and eating habits to healthy ones but deprivation is not part of that plan for me. I still eat pizza, but only one slice rather than a whole pie like I used to. In fact, I still eat whatever I want, just in moderation and within my daily calorie allowance. I also eat bread, Pasta, rice, and potatoes regularly. I don't do the whole low carb thing. Again, it's simply not realistic in my opinion to be low carb forever. The closest thing I do to dieting is I carb cycle when I'm trying to break a plateau or had a major cheat day I'm recovering from. But again, that's my choice not a requirement, and it's only temporary.

I don't have it often, maybe once every 3 or so months, but I still have a slice once in awhile. Granted this is my opinion, but I'm not on a diet I'm changing my lifestyle forever. Deprivation isn't part of it for me, so if I want a slice of pizza, I have it. I'm just careful to only have one and count the calories in my daily total.

I was banded January 6th and just had my first alcoholic drink 3 weeks ago. It was a margarita.

You need to make an appointment with your surgeon to have your band position checked. If you haven't had a fill in months and are years post op, the symptoms you're describing could be from a slip. Granted it may be just fine and another reason entirely, but it's always best to check with your doctor immediately. If you do have a slip and catch it early, you may be able to fix it with a simple unfill for a couple weeks. If you let it go for months, the greater the risk of it getting worse. Best wishes to you.

I eat a lot of salads and I've never had a problem.

I would strongly suggest setting up a meeting with a nutritionist. They can help you establish calorie and food guidelines specific to you and your needs.

If you're following your doctor's guidelines, then I don't understand what the problem is? Just follow your doctor's rules and you'll be fine.

Your post isn't real clear, are you supposed to be on soft foods or liquids? When was your surgery? You really need to fill out your profile so we can better help you.

Definitely not. I didn't have any pre-op diet at all, but I've lost a lot of weight in 11+ months since surgery. How much you lose is directly equal to how much work you're willing to put into it.

Your best bet is to call local bariatric doctors and ask their out of pocket costs. Be sure to specify it's out of pocket because most surgeons give hefty discounts to cash patients.

Please don't be discouraged, everything you're going through is totally normal. Plateaus suck but are a normal part of the weight loss process. I've gone more than 6 weeks without losing an ounce before. I hate it, but I know it will pass, and yours will too. This may be the first plateau you've hit but I guarantee it won't be the last. Just remember, simple math- if you're consuming less calories than you burn, you will lose weight, despite any plateaus. Just be patient

I slept on my stomach since the same day of surgery. You can't hurt anything so get comfy and a good night's sleep

Wow what a thread...ugh. I can see it from both sides. There are a few posters on these forums that are downright nasty. There is a monumental difference between being the voice of honest tough love and someone being a judgmental jerk. On the other hand, it's very easy for people to misinterpret text. You can't hear voice inflection or read body language via written word. Quite honestly, I think sometimes the message is received based on the reader's perception. I tend to be a very happy, positive person by nature, so I will read posts and unless they're blatantly nasty I assume they're meant with good intentions. I can easily see how if someone is upset, depressed, or generally a pessimistic person they can read the exact the same message I read and see it as something horrible. It's all a matter of perception. I have been attacked on these boards, by the way. A couple of times by people who simply didn't like my honest response to their threads, usually because they didn't really want the truth they'd rather be coddled. I'm totally ok with that. If someone wants to flip out on me for simply sharing the truth, let them, they only make a fool of themselves in the end. Bottom line is, this is an open forum. Jerks can post here and be idiots, too. It's their right. If you don't like what someone has to say, block them or ignore their posts, but you absolutely must have a thick skin if you're going to participate here. Just my two cents.

Congratulations and welcome to the forum! I agree, getting the band is the best decision I've ever made too.

I agree with the others. I didn't deprive myself over Thanksgiving and I'm not going to on Christmas, either. That includes a little bit of pot roast, a sugar cookie, and maybe eve a bite or two of apple pie. It's ok to eat like everyone else, just in much smaller portions. If you deprive yourself you're setting yourself up for failure. How many times have we dieted in the past, felt totally deprived, and reached a point of "Oh screw this!" and gone into crazy pig out mode? This isn't a diet, it's a healthier way of life, and deprivation shouldn't be a part of that way of life. Enjoy your holiday and the foods you love this Christmas, just in moderation

Excellent post!

You're not supposed to have nasty side effects or a long list of foods you can no longer eat. Some walk around with super tight bands making eating difficult, and that's their choice, but that isn't required. I can still eat anything I want so long as I take small bites and chew thoroughly. I wouldn't have it any other way, either.

Banded: January 6, 2012 Start Weight: 421 Current Weight: 246 Weight lost: 175 pounds in 11 months (and still losing)

Carbonation (Coke) and meat tenderizer to get unstuck? With the Lap Band?? I don't mean this offensively, but that makes zero sense. Why would a doctor recommend something that the majority of other surgeons tell you to never do? I'd try the papaya enzymes Pebbagirl suggested. It's actually safe and makes sense.

Try a second hand shop, like Goodwill or St. Vincent DePaul. You'll probably pay even less than you would for shipping.

The first 4-6 weeks after surgery are for healing, not losing. Follow your doctor's post op diet, stick to band sized portions, and just worry about healing.