Irishbookworm

I have been tracking everything so far, I was even before the band. I add exercise and it doesn't seem to help. I was doing the EA Sports Active 5 times a week for a while and that didn't seem to make a difference. Then I switched to hitting the treadmill at least 5 times a week for at least 40 minutes at a time and that didn't make a difference. Now I'm trying upping my calories a little, lowering my carbs, upping my protein and hitting the treadmill 3 times a week now for 40 minutes at a time to see if that works. I think part of what I need to do is stop focusing SO much on the quantity of what I eat and focus more on the quality of what I eat. I had no restriction for a long time as I had gone 4 months without a fill, but, 2 weeks ago, I got a fill of .5 cc and now it seems like I finally have some restriction again, so, I'm hoping that makes a difference as well.

I was banded December 09. I haven't had a whole lot of success. I'm a member of Sparkpeople and I have been tracking my calories, carbs, fat and protein for at least 3 years, going on 4. I don't know what numbers I should be aiming for and I can't seem to get much of an answer from anyone. I've been trying to keep it around 1000 to 12000 calories, 150 carbs or less and at least 60 of protein. Am I eating too little? Seems like I keep losing and gradually gaining the same 15-20 pounds and I can't get below the 275 mark. I'm just getting frustrated is all. Anyone have any thoughts? I thought having the band was going to help me lose weight and it's kind of just been nothing but frustrating so far.

I seem to be in the same boat. Banded 12/09 and it seems like Ilose the same 15-20 pounds all the time. I focus so much on counting calories, carbs, fat, protein and sodium that I can't imagine NOT tracking my numbers everyday. I try to keep it at 1100 or less, calorie wise. It's the lifestyle change that I'm having the hardest time with and sounds like that may be your case as well. Good luck, we're all in this together!!

So, how do you know when you've hit your sweet spot? Do you just KNOW when you hit it? What does it feel like? Do you have restriction ALL day long? Sorry, I'm just trying to determine a few things and figure out where I am in the grand sceme of things.

OK, so, I was banded on December 9th, 2009. As of this morning, I've only lost about 40 pounds and that includes the 20 I lost on the pre-op liquid diet. I have a little restriction in the morning, some in the early afternoon and then by time evening rolls around, I have hardly any restriction and I find myself eating whatever, simply because I can. It's so irritating and I know that it's primarily my own fault. I need some help here. I'm really getting discouraged. I've had something like 4 fills so far and still no "sweet spot". Tomororrow, I go for another fill and they're going to have me swallow some barium and see how aggressively they can fill my band. I guess I'm reaching for some support here. I was SO gung ho when I went through the pre-surgery process, but, now I feel like a sinking ship and I'm gaining a few more pounds and it makes me feel even worse. Help!! I kind of feel like I'm majorly stuck right now......:thumbup:

I know that it's a different amount for everyone. They added a cc to my band today so that now I'm at 6.5ccs in a Realize band. It feels different this time. Previously, right after my fills, I could still eat whatever, right after the fill. Today, after my fill, I felt full after a couple spoons of chili. I need to really start focusing on eating when I'm hungry and not just cause I think it's "time" that I eat. I just needed a little guidance as to what clues to look for when I'm getting close to my sweet spot. Is it like a light bulb moment? Do you just kind of "know"?

Well, I feel better at least knowing that I'm not alone. They put in a full cc today and now I have about 6.5 ccs in a realize band. I feel like it's different. I've always been tight in the morning, but, it really loosened up during the day. I'm hoping that I'm much closer to my sweet spot. I actually FEEL full right now and it's a little after 9 and I've had a little under 1000 calories today. So, we'll see. I really appreciate the support! It is frustrating, but, I know that a lot of it is my fault in that I'm not eating right and I'm not exercising nearly enough..... But, I'm really trying to pull myself up and get back on track.

I guess I'm frustrated with the amount that I'm NOT losing right now. I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm keeping my carbs low and my protein high, I've been working out on the Wii Fit 3-4 times a week and I'm getting my water in. I'm not losing anything. I had surgery on 12/9 and I just had my first fill last Thursday, they put in 3cc's and I go back in 4 weeks. I guess I'm just frustrated that the band doesn't seem to be working. I have no real restriction yet, and I know that's part of the problem. What am I doing wrong? Why does it feel like I've plateaued before I've really even gotten started?? I lost 24 pounds on the liquid diet 2 weeks pre-op and 1 week post-op. I gained back almost 12 pounds of that once I could eat again and now, I've RE-lost that weight, but, now, I'm getting nothing. Help, I need something here because I'm just getting irritated with myself!

Right now, I'm eating 3 meals a day and trying not to snack in between. I usually have sugar free hot cocoa with non-flavored Protein powder for Breakfast (I DO have restriction in the morning, hence the liquid). lunch can vary. I WAS eating the little lunchables, but, they aren't great for you. I bought some low fat cheese sticks and some deli turkey and deli ham this weekend that I'll be using for lunch. I already have the meat divided into 2 oz portions. dinner can very too. Usualy by time dinner rolls around, the band is not tight at all and I can eat pretty much whatever. I've been eating baked fish or baked chicken and some sort of veggie normally, but, it's not constant. I've been eating baked sweet potatoes with sugar free pancake syrup, turkey burers with low fat mayo or light miracle whip thrown in there too. I'm trying not to snack, but, after dinner, I always want a little something sweet, I just need to find something better than what I've been eating. I've been averaging roughly 1400-1500 calories a day and keeping carbs under 150 and fat under 48. DIZLIZD.... Thank you for giving me some numbers to go by! I've been tracking my food and calories everyday for almost a year and a half and my brain needs to see SOME kind of number to know where to fall! That will definitely help. I need numbers right now and not "until you feel restriction" since I essentially have NO restriction right now!!

I just got my first fill on Thursday and they put in 3cc's. I go back in 4 weeks. After reading everyone's posts, I have to say I feel a little better that I'm not the only one out there that's getting a little frustrated and is struggling a little. I think the hardest for me has been not drinking right before, during and right after I eat. I had lost 24 pounds total on the pre-op and post-op liquid diet. Once I was able to eat again, I managed to gain back about 12 pounds, but, then, I've re-lost about 10 of it. I will say that I have lost a total of 9 inches in a month, so, that's something I suppose. I'm not sure what I was expecting. I knew that the band wasn't a "miracle weight loss" device, I knew it was a tool to help you lose weight, but, I feel like I've plateaued before I've even gotten out of the gate! Grrrr, it's kind of frustrating, isn't it? I'm not the only one, right? Is this normal? I want to start losing again!

I track everything with www.sparkpeople.com. I've used them for awhile now and they're REALLY easy. I realize that I can't track everything for the rest of my life, but, it helps me stay on track and it's a REAL eye-opener as far as the nutritional content in some items! I believe they do have an iphone app that's free as well.

Oh man, am I SO glad that someone posted this! I have been MISERABLE thinking that all the hard work that I did before the surgery and to even GET the surgery was all for nothing! I love 24 pounds on the pre-op diet and the week of liquid diet post-op, but, since then, I've gained 12 back and now I've lost 5 again. I had my surgery on Dec. 9th and my first fill wasn't until Jan 28th, but, I called the other day and had them move it up a week. I've been eating a lot less than I have in the past, but, I'm still eating more than I should. I am getting more exercise in too, which is a good thing. I'm just getting really frustrated with everything. I knew that the band wasn't a "miracle" weight loss tool, but, I didn't expect Bandster Hell to be THIS bad either! I'm so discouraged! I hope no one is offended by this, but, I am SO glad I'm not alone. That and my friends don't really understand why I'm still eating some of the same old ways that I have been and that frustrates me too! GRRR. So, come on first fill! Maybe THEN I'll feel at least a little restriction cause right now, I have NONE! NONE as in I ate 2 1/2 slices of pizza tonight! UGH! But, the old me would have had a lot more, I guess that's one way to look at it!

I go in for my surgery tomorrow! I'm so ready and I'm SO excited! I'm all packed and ready to go and I have all my post-op goodies all ready to go too. This time tomorrow, I'll be banded! Wish me luck, I need to try to go get some sleep!

I feel a LITTLE better now too. I think I'm in bandster hell too. I have to wait until January 28th until my first fill though. I need to up my protein and my water, but, it feels like I can eat pretty much anything I want, but, not NEARLY in the quantities that I was before. This bites, no pun intended. I had lost 25 pounds on the 3 weeks I was on liquids and now, I've gained 6 pounds back and I'm really upset about it. I was planning on starting to REALLY get going with the treadmill and the Wii Fit this week though. Anyone think that will help at all? I'm hoping that it will. I still track ALL my calories and I'm still eating under 1000 calories a day, but, I'm not losing anything. I'm a little worried I'm MAYBE eating too little? I have no idea what's going on.

Good luck to everyone today! Don't be too nervous, it's pretty easy!

Hey Everyone! Good luck to everyone close to surgery! It's REALLY not that bad! I'm one week post-op and I'm into the mushies stage. I had some cottage cheese yesterday and some soup today and some pasta for dinner. It's not too bad, but, I'm still trying to re-train my brain on portion sizes, is anyone else having the same issue? That and I've over-eaten a little and while I'm not in a LOT of pain, I do hurt a little. I still have a big bruise and some pain where the port site is, but, nothing too bad. I have my first fill in 5 weeks. I can't wait!

Good luck to those being banded today and tomorrow! I am one week post op and I'm in the mushies stage. I have to say though, I don't have any restriction, but, if I over eat, even a little, BOY do I feel it! I have my first fill scheduled in 5 weeks and I'm really excited about it! Right now though, I'd just be happy with healing so that I can sleep on my side again! How is every one's recovery going? I think for me it's going to be a little rough getting my brain to re-think portion sizes. Anyone else having the same issue??

missKAYLA: I feel ya. I was on liquids for both Thanksgiving AND my 30th birthday. Yick, but, it was worth it. I was able to lose 18 pounds on my liquid diet. I was on all liquids, protein shakes, sugar free jello and bouillon, but, since the sodium is so high in the bouillon, I only had one serving a day. I started mine 2 weeks exactly before the surgery. I would say to start yours maybe at LEAST 10 days out and make sure to keep the sugar and carb content on your shakes low. I used the Atkins Advantage shakes, they're pretty good. Good luck!

Good luck today STL and CGREEN! You'll be banded and loving it in no time! You'll BOTH pull through with flying colors, I just know it! Besides, if I say it, than the luck of the Irish is with you! :willy_nilly:

I have the SF Swiss Miss packets and I just had some! There are no carbs and no sugar, I can't imagine that your doctor would be against you having it. I've TRIED adding chocolate protein powder to it, but, I haven't QUITE gotten the tempurature just right yet so that the whey doesn't curdle :willy_nilly:

Sounds like an infection from the IV and not with the Lap-Band. It sounds like some kind of either infection or perhaps an allergic reaction to something? I assume your doctor will give you some antibiotics to take in liquid form. If you're not running a fever, it's good, hopefully you caught it in time! Good luck!

I was banded on 12/9 and was planning on going back on 12/14, but, my doctor won't release me until I see him on 12/16. I am PERFECTLY capable of going back, but, if I DO go back and something were to happen, I'm afraid insurance would deny paying for anything since I went back to work against medical advice. I'm just going to work from home. Everyone is different. I "heal well" according to my urologist, but, others may not. I would say a week should be perfect. Even if you're not in any pain and WANT to go back, at least being at home will give you time to re-learn how to eat!

Hey Donna, I think you'll do fine. As far as hunger, I haven't really had any. I've had less than about 500 calories a day and I'm really struggling to get my Protein in. I don't want to FORCE myself to drink anything, but, my calories have been crazy low. But, I haven't been hungry. It's so odd. I don't FEEL like I'm starving or anything. I even went through the food section at Sam's Club and nothing really appealed to me even though all I've had today was an Atkins shake (at that point anyway). I think you'll do just fine! Good luck and let me know how yours goes! :willy_nilly:

Hey Linda, I was banded on the 9th and my pain has been VERY manageable! I have had to take pain meds 3 times. Once was while I was in the hospital and twice were the first two nights I was home and I took it right before bed because I wasn't sure how I would feel lying flat. I've had VERY little gas pain. It seems to manifest itself in my left shoulder, but, after walking a bit and taking some Gas-X, it's managed to work itself out.