2muchfun

You have to excuse me but WTF is going on today??? This is the 6th post like this in the last 8 hours? Sorry, but here are the links to the first two that mirror your thoughts almost exactly? http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/161530-very-confused-about-lapband-and-reason-for-it/page__hl__b#820852#entry1893880 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/161530-very-confused-about-lapband-and-reason-for-it/ I'm sorry and I don't mean to be rude and I know you just logged in so you have no idea what went on before you came along today, but many of us have been answering the same questions over and over again today. So, the links above should help you, i hope? tmf

I believe that most doctors here in the states, do not advise their patients well. And support is nearly non existent unless you demand it and even then the staff may make it hard to find? When you have time, watch these videos. They are invaluable: Part 1 part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Pbbbbtttt! No worries. I only lost 12 lbs my first two weeks and then nothing for the next 3.5 months. Everyone is different. I know it's hard to watch as some others post that they're losing 30 lbs in two months but it happens and if you stay patient it will happen for you too. You're still in the healing phase so I wouldn't worry about it. Get a fill the first of the year and start your journey. Go to this post by B-52, it should make you feel better: His post is #7 but there's a lot of good posts and advice. The topic addresses your issues closely. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/161530-very-confused-about-lapband-and-reason-for-it/page__hl__b#820852#entry1893880

If you're eating slider foods, restriction may never kick in and you will not lose. You eat less food just once a day? And the other meals you don't? I'm going to suggest you watch a series of videos. These are invaluable if you don't understand how this works and it sounds like you're not there yet? Watch these videos. All 4 of them: Part 1 Part 3 part 2 Part 4 tmf

This is the 4th such topic today. Sorry, but here are the first two topics with many many answers to your questions? I just posted this a few minutes ago with "Is this normal" topic: Yours is the 3rd such post of the day. Here's a link to another post and topic that dealt entirely with the same issues. http://www.lapbandta...d-some-support/ And another: http://www.lapbandta...t/#entry1893882 Don't mean to put you off, but many of your questions are answered in these two topics. I will say that for me the band was very finicky the first 8 months. I could go a week eating pretty much anything and then suddenly, my band would say, no way, no chicken today. It takes some time to change old eating habits. Big bites, eating too fast and the wrong food mix takes time to change, but you'll do it, in about 3 more months. tmf

Yours is the 3rd such post of the day. Here's a link to another post and topic that dealt entirely with the same issues. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/161522-so-discouraged-and-i-just-need-some-support/ And another: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/161530-very-confused-about-lapband-and-reason-for-it/#entry1893882 Don't mean to put you off, but many of your questions are answered in these two topics. I will say that for me the band was very finicky the first 8 months. I could go a week eating pretty much anything and then suddenly, my band would say, no way, no chicken today. It takes some time to change old eating habits. Big bites, eating too fast and the wrong food mix takes time to change, but you'll do it, in about 3 more months. tmf

If you want some advice we're going to need a lot more info: What are you eating? How much are you eating? Calories? Are you exercising? Do you feel any restriction? Do you count calories? Have you spoke to your doctor or nutritionist? Starting weight, now weight?

I too was angry over the time it took to find some restriction. I thought I would immediately lose 8-10 lbs every month. HA! So much they don't tell you. Or, like I said earlier, so much I chose to not hear. LOL 6 months from now you'll be coaching some other lapband newbie on how to stay the course and commenting on all the weight you've lost. I look forward to it. tmf

Don't take this the wrong way Seeme. But I don't understand how you could have got this far into your journey without some basic knowledge of how this all works? Now, I know that sometimes we weren't told that we wouldn't start losing immediately. But, I know I was told over and over that I could need up to 6-8 fills for the band to start working? And maybe I was told I'd be in bandster hell and that I may only lose 4 lbs a month, but I apparently chose to ignore those words of wisdom and I was going to be one of the lucky ones who drops 80 lbs the first 4 months. And, the number of folks who have had no fills on this site is miniscule compared to those of us who have had many more. 7 for me btw. Hang in there, this can work but you're going to need a lot more patience. Keep reading on the forum. tmf

I too only lost 12 lbs the first 4 months. And the 12 lbs came in the first 2 weeks and then nothing for the next 3.5 months. I would have to say that you are eating all the wrong foods. You really need to see a nutritionist! I did at 4 months and I was eating like you. Turned my whole program around and I immediately started to lose weight. You're eating slider foods that will not give you that feeling of being satiated. They just slide right through your band and do not place any pressure on the nerves that send the feeling of satiation to your brain. It's OK to eat stuff like that occasionally, but not if you are not losing weight. Some people, like Honk, your foods may work, but for most of us, yogurt and slippery lean cuisine meals will not work well with the band. We're all different and if something isn't working, don't do it anymore! Change it up weekly. See your nutritionist, and you're really fretting over a small plateau that all of us have experienced one or many times during our journey. It's very normal. But you should be consuming more Protein and definitely more solid food. tmf

DebbiePolk, The lapband is not 100% effective. And for many reasons. For most of us, it has given us the tool to manage our eating behaviors and eventually our destiny. There is no magic pill, tool or wand that will make each of us a compliant patient or make your doctor be a Dr Simpson or Dr. O'Brien. Dr's are people too and some of them will be A-holes. Do your research and be very comfortable with your choice. BTW-The number of posts like this one are well below 2% of the posts on this forum. Yes, there are many who are struggling in the beginning or during the journey and that's what this forum is for, but don't confuse those strugglers with failures, it's a learning process for all of us. tmf

I wouldn't call 27 lbs as nothing? You may need to reign in your expectations? I only lost 12 lbs the first 4 months and I know i'm not alone. tmf

You teased us with a website that offers advice on how to lose the last little bit of weight? And the website issszzzz?? tmf

You should update your profile so we know more about you? Need more info Dino? How many calories a day? Do you track your meals or calories? How long is the plateau? What else are you eating? Do you have restriction and do you feel satisfied after a can of tuna? Are you hungry often? What did your doctor have to say? Have you visited with your nutritionist? tmf

I'm down 50 lbs over the last year myself. I always told myself that if I lost 50, it would be worth it. I plan on losing 30 more early next year. It took me some time before I bought new clothes(Late October). I'm still very judgemental of myself though. I'm very happy with my weight loss, I'm so happy that I'm so much healthier now, and I know I look better, but my mind is still not completely there yet. And, it's so comforting to see so many other bandsters who lost even more in their 2nd year. So, I'm looking forward to 2013. tmf

What kind of band do you have? 4 CCs doesn't sound like much?

You make a good point. I think it would be helpful for the poster to research if her insurance will pay for bariatric surgery in the first place. Then move forward with the tests etc. tmf

My first choice doctor did the same. Had me schedule a visit with the cardiologists, shrink and labs. I called back to tell them I wanted to wait till I had insurance approval and what will insurance cover. I eventually dropped that doctor and glad I did. Didn't stop him from sending a $500 bill for one 10 minute consultation that my insurance did pay for. I can see many patients go into some of these surgery mills and just get rolled over by all the medical jargon and starry eyed fantasies of being thin. And then the bills start rolling in. Yup! Some doctors and their office just don't care and neither do the staff. On the other hand, it could stop a lot of morbidly obese people from having their surgery and achieving a healthier life. Don't know if it worse to bully people into spending the dollars or letting them go on with their sad unhealthy lifestyle? Heaven knows how many times I've heard myself and others on this forum look for excuses not to follow through with the plan? tmf

You're perfectly normal. I don't know what you expected but more than 6 lbs in any month is good and 2 lbs in two weeks is still good, especially this time of year. 40 lbs in 5.5 months is excellent too. Don't expect the weight to fall off consistently from here on out or you're going to be very disappointed. You will see plateaus that last a week or even a month or two. It's normal and is the way most all of us have lost our weight. I weigh myself twice a day and I'm one of the few who sees no problem with it. It doesn't affect how I eat and I feel like if I know where I am, I know what I have to do to stay the course. Daily weight fluctuations are very normal and expected so I don't get all emotional over a lb or three here or there. tmf

LOL..I'm right there with you. I had to try on 3 shorts this morning before I found one that doesn't just fall off. tmf

Fills will help eventually. You may only need one but average is probably 5-6. Doctors prefer to sneak up on restriction, that way you have time to educate yourself how to eat properly with the band. As our esteemed forum member B-52 said: "Until there's restriction...It's just another diet"! tmf

It takes time to find the green zone. You sound like you're in the red zone. A very small unfill should tweak the band just right. We see posts like yours nearly every day so you're in great company. tmf

LOL...I found some spots on my scale that give me 2 lbs less. I don't use them but sometimes I flirt with that spot. I remember when I dropped below 200 last May. Great feeling. It had been about 8 years for me and it was so painful back then. I literally starved myself to 198. Add the endless biking, running and walking and I never did it again. Of course I gained 30 of it back in a few months. Not now though. Good for you!

Lots of good advice up there. I double vouch for the nutritionist. I was 4 months into my journey and had only lost 12 lbs. I sat down with my nutritionist and she pointed out some mistakes I was making. i started losing almost immediately. Of course, I got a few fills and the extra restriction enabled me to eat less. So now I'm down 50 lbs and loving it. Sounds like you are not near the green zone yet? Do you eat solid food? I'm talking about seafood, lean hamburger, chicken breast, veggies? I know even now that I could sit down and down half a pan of hamburger helper easily. I can eat slider food almost like I could a year ago. But, if I eat a lean chicken breast, broccoli, salad I can eat much less. I feel satisfied so much sooner. If you are eating right you really need a good fill. Don't give up, I've seen so many here who didn't really kick it in gear until year 2 or later. See a nutritionist!! tmf

I see these posts all the time. You're not alone. In 2 months you won't remember any of the discomfort. tmf