honw long does it take to actually start losing??

[Lisa73 0]

Dragonflylover,

I understand and totally agree with you. I always express how I feel to my doctor, but my doctor is really going to do what he feels is best regarding my fills. Some doctors are going to be aggressive with fills and some are going to be conservative theres nothing you can do to change that. I have decided that I can not loose any weight while I am waiting for restriction or I can just diet like I would before the band and loose some weight while waiting for the restriction. I also have not been exercising or counting calories. I know after reading on this forum that the ones who are loosing are exercising and counting calories that is just the truth. I joined a gym over the weekend and started journaling my food, Water and exercise. I know now thats the only way its going to happen for me. I measure my food and stop eating once the food is gone I may not be stuffed but the hunger is gone and in between waiting for my next meal I drink, drink, drink Water. The weight will come off just be patient it will happen for you and me to. Lisa

Banded 10-7-09 Starting wt 242lbs Current wt 228.4

Edited February 23, 2010 by Lisa73

[bmoon 0]

Hey Jessica, I was banded on 2/12/10 and was very nauseous as well. When I went in for my one week check up the nurse informed me I was not eating or drinking enough. By not eating and drinking enough we are making things worse for ourselves. By not eating we aren't getting the calories we need to properly heal and being undernourished it can make you feel much sicker. I have been eating(full liquid diet) and drinking more and feel so much better and not nauseous so you may wanna give it a try. Who knew?? Good luck everybody!!

[JJLaw08 4]

Hey Jessica, I was banded on 2/12/10 and was very nauseous as well. When I went in for my one week check up the nurse informed me I was not eating or drinking enough. By not eating and drinking enough we are making things worse for ourselves. By not eating we aren't getting the calories we need to properly heal and being undernourished it can make you feel much sicker. I have been eating(full liquid diet) and drinking more and feel so much better and not nauseous so you may wanna give it a try. Who knew?? Good luck everybody!!

I will definitely try, but it's hard when you aren't thirsty. How do you make yourself drink more when you don't really want anything?Also when I do drink it is too fast. Before surgery I usually only drank with my meals, and hardly anything in between. I will have to do better.

[kim60 0]

so i was banded 11/09 and i lost a total of maybe 15 lbs since then. most of it was within the first 3 weeks of being banded. I had 2 fills so far totaling 4.5cc in a 12 cc band. i definitely eat a lot less.. but i am not at my "sweet spot" i don't feel full for long and i can eat more than i should. when am i really going to start to lose? i know about exercise and gotta diet thing. but i see lots of people on here that lost like 50 lbs in 4 mths and so on... why not me?? i feel like a failure sometimes.

I was going to ask the same thing . I was banded on 12/17. I lost 21 pds so far. I had my first fill on 1/26 and have lost maybe a pound or two.My next fill is 3/2. My portions are smaller and I exercise 4xs a week Treadmill 2miles for 35 min.I don't get it! I am getting hungry in between meals.

[~amy~ 1]

You say you've overeaten but then say your calorie input is 1000 or less per day. It can't be both. :wink:

The things that will help you consistently lose every week:

• Make sure to drink your 64 oz of Water. Our bodies operate at peak when we keep the machinery oiled. Don't drink enough Water and your organs will be too busy dealing with that problem instead of doing what they should be doing.
  
• Keep your calorie intake between 1200-1400 per day. Studies show that the farther we drop under that 1200, particularly when we drop under 1000, our bodies become more efficient and our metabolism drops to conserve energy. Women who ate 1200-1400 per day lost more weight than women who hate 1000 or less.
  
• Make sure you get your Protein. I start my day with a double scoop of EAS whey powder in 2% milk. I drink an EAS ready made shake (110 cal, 3 carbs) mid-morning, mid-afternoon and in the evening. This boosts my Protein. For meals I eat about 1 cup of food (2-3 oz protein, 1/4-1/2 cup vegies, 1/4 cup carbs)
  

My activity level is 'light'...one step above sedentary. I do not exercise, but I do move through the day. Perhaps at some point I'll get motivated to exercise, but for now pfft...not interested.

.

Thank you soooo much for this!! I was banded 2/10/10, and although I've lost 32 lbs (pre-op diet to present), I've recently hit a road bump. I'm only taking in 300 - 400(if I'm lucky) calories a day, but I've found that if I increase it, I start to gain a little. When I decrease my intake back down to 300, I start losing again. I can't live like this! I'm a homeschool mom with 4 kids! I need some energy. The Protein shakes make me ill - very ill - and I haven't been drinking them b/c I'm soooo afraid of vomiting and causing a slip. I did find one today that's not so bad, so I'm going to try that from here on.

I just kept worrying that I was taking in too many calories since I wasn't losing - but your explanation makes a lot of sense. I'll definitely try to increase my calorie intake and see what happens. I'm just sooooooo afraid of gaining!!

I'm getting about 3 bottles of water down a day. It's not because I can't get it down, it's just a matter of remembering to. I need to do better with this, too.

Thanks again for posting! :eek:

[HeatherR 0]

Don't let the tickers fool you! At least, don't let mine fool you! I had my surgery 10/20/09 but was not 252# on surgery day. My "starting weight" was 252 July 2009 when i started losing to prepare for surgery. I was 229 on the day of surgery. I refuse to leave those hard earned 23# off my total! Since surgery I have lost 32#.

I can tell you however, that I have had 4 fills. After each fill I felt I ate a tiny bit less than before but still too much. I dare say that I finally know what restriction is & how it works after my 4th fill. WOW! What a difference! I just know when to stop & I am satisfied!!! HUGE milestone for me! I never even knew what satisfied was until now!

Keep getting fills & hang in there! It really does happen! It's not a myth!

[Rierie882 0]

I am so grateful that I found this discussion. I havent lost any weight for the last couple of weeks. I have been very discouraged because I have been exercising 6 days a week, my portions are much smaller than what they were before. I do find that I have to have two small Snacks (a cheese stick or a yogurt or applesauce) because my blood sugar drops...I have my first fill tomorrow.

[~amy~ 1]

Dragonfly....

Just curious - have you had your thyroid checked since the surgery (or ever)??

Personally, I have always had a harder time than most losing weight (even on meds, etc.) because I have hypothyroidism. It's a fine line that I have to walk with my meds, too. My levels fluctuate quite a bit, so I'm always getting checked and rechecked. I have no fewer than 7 different dosages for my medication because it's always changing!

And if by chance you are already on meds for a thyroid issue, FYI: My pharmacist (not my surgeon) told me that this surgery will affect the absorption of the meds, and so I may need to start checking even more often than usual.

Just a thought... :smile2: Good luck!! Stay strong!!

[desperateinDE 0]

what do you do when your surgeon doesn't really want to do fills?I was banded in August 09...I have lost 30 pounds but I only have 3cc in my 14cc band. I have NO restriction. My band started out empty...fist fill 8 weeks after surgery. 1.5cc, next fill 6 more weeks....5cc...3rd fill 12 weeks after that 1.0cc! He doesn't want to see me back for ANOTHER 12 weeks. I am eating less than I used to and trying to concentrate on Proteins and A LOT less carbs...but if I had the willpower to do it myself, I would never have gotten the band. Help!

[Poppyred 0]

I was banded on 12/10 and have only lost 14 lbs total!..I have 5 cc in an 11 belt. My first fill was January 14th..I go for another one the first of March. I felt restricted right after for two weeks..and was told that was because of swelling..(that is why they only fill a bit at a time to not overfill when there is some swelling due to the tightning) and when I'm at the best spot..that is how I will feel for the rest of the time. I can't wait to get to that point! I'm hoping this fill will do that..till then I'm hanging in there. I agree its makes you wonder what you are doing wrong when you see people on here loose close to 50lbs by now! I think it has everything to do with getting to the perfect banding.

POPPYRED

Edited February 25, 2010 by Poppyred
mispellings lol

[Samara 0]

I was banded 12/29/09 and have only lost a few pounds as well. I try not to get discouraged and realize this is my journey and I just have got to get it together. I've spent way too much not to have this work. This is my last hope. Good Luck to you I have to believe we can do it!!

[Poppyred 0]

I was banded 12/29/09 and have only lost a few pounds as well. I try not to get discouraged and realize this is my journey and I just have got to get it together. I've spent way too much not to have this work. This is my last hope. Good Luck to you I have to believe we can do it!!

Thanks for the comments...4 more days I get filled again..hope this is my "sweet spot"! I was self pay..and I need to make this work...Good Luck, to you as well!

We can do this!!

POPPYREDE

[becklang 0]

at the 7 week mark (last week) i got my first fill. i am starting with a very small fill to avoid any of the problems of overfilling. so far it is working great. i only weigh 1x a week so i do not know yet what the loss is but i am confident there will be some. getting to this point has had some frustration and confusion. Is this right, am i doing this ok, should i be doing something else ect. ect. ect.

Surgery is tough on the body and it takes time to recovery - even after you feel better the body is still recovering. This is a time to take good care of yourself and to be kind to yourself. eat slowly and in a relaxed manner. If possible serve the food on a nice plate and make it special. it is ok to take a few weeks and give yourself extra care - there is plenty of time ahead when you are feeling stronger to do for others. Protein is very important.

[becklang 0]

another week and no weight loss...I am so discouraged and not sure what else to do. I am following the rules - do i go under 1000 calories? almost 9 weeks and the emotional roller coaster of hope and dashed hope is taking its toll on me.

[dragonflylover 0]

another week and no weight loss...I am so discouraged and not sure what else to do. I am following the rules - do i go under 1000 calories? almost 9 weeks and the emotional roller coaster of hope and dashed hope is taking its toll on me.

Hello,

from experience this is a very sloooooow process. but it is also the healthiest way to lose. i too became beyond frustrated.. it wasn't until these last 2 weeks i have started losing again.. i got my 3rd fill on 3/3 and it seems to be working wonders. granted i have been under A LOT of stress and i tend to not eat.. so maybe i shrunk my pouch that way? who knows.. but whatever it is, it's working so far *knock on wood* It will happen for you, i thought it would never happen because you just can't imagine it. but keep strong and focused on why you got the surgery to begin with.. :-)

good luck