Bummed i have only lost 25 pounds in 3 yrs

[goldngrll 9]

I was banded in Aug 07. I am only about 30lbs down, now I did have a complete unfil for almost a year. I am going back in tomorrow do do a fill under floro. I feel that I have never gotten to my sweet spot. I have some restriction now but not always. Every time I got close to good restriction I had horrible reflux at night and had to get an unfil.

I own the fact that a lot of it is me not exercising enough or making poor food choices, but I was hoping to get a little more help from the band with regard to Portion Control

I am very frustrated, but not quitting yet. I know If I can get down 40 pounds, I will be off and running! Literally. I have about 100 to go to goal.

I am a little frustrated. I was wondering if there are any success stories out there? I need a little motivation right about now.

hi,

I am going to share my story, and what I do, and take from it what you want. I am not going to preach to the choir, because we all know what we're doing right or wrong....

I was banded July 1, 2010, and as of right now, I am down about 125 lbs...still have prolly 75 to go still....I have a wonderful surgical practice, where this is all they do....I have had several fills, and actually keep my band a wee bit tight to be honest, although no reflux, if I give myself too much room to eat, I will

as a rule, I dont do white carbs. I eat tons of Beans (chili, bean Soups, etc) I still have a Protein shake every day, eat Peanut Butter every day (in my shake), buckets of cottage cheese, (full fat, chive, sometimes with soy crisps), nuts, cheeses, eggs, lean Proteins, fish. tons of salad, small amounts of fruits. I actually dont eat a whole lot. I dont get hungry very often. I will say I probably drink too much wine, but hey, I have 4 yr old triplets, and a 6 yr old.

the biggest thing though is that I exercise. A LOT, I am at the gym most days for around 2 hours. I lift weights every other day, I do Zumba, and walk, and that crazy eliptical trainer....I could starve myself, but if I didnt move, it wouldnt matter.

again, this is only a tool....but if you use it correctly, it does work...I read some of the previous posts by folks who think this is all a scam.....125 lbs in 10 months. yeah, not a scam, and frankly, I dont care how much my surgeon got from my insurance..I am healthy, no longer a diabetic, and have added years to my life. I cant put a price tag on that, and I wouldnt be where I am now without this sometimes really annoying piece of plastic

hang in there!

[eyespy 1]

Haven't been on the site in about a year. Glad to see this thread. I have pretty much come to the conclusion that I am in the minority that the band does not work for. I took about a year off getting fills, too. I just needed an emotional (and financial) break wanted to get to place where I was doing all the right things so that they couldn't blame the band's failure on me. I KNOW I need to eat less, eat right, and exercise, but I thought the band would at least make me feel full so I could do all the right things. Obviously, if I could do all the right things, I would never have needed the band to begin with.

I lost just under 30 pounds, and about half of that was in the first month when I was on the liquid diet. (It's been almost three years.) After that, I lost about three pounds per month a couple of times. Then I gained about half of it back. I have never really experienced feeling full with the band. I am amazed by people who say they just eat a few bites of food and feel full. I can eat just as much as the average person. I will say that I cannot eat the ENORMOUS amounts of food I could before, or rather, I haven't wanted to, so I guess that is something.

Right now, I am doing Weight Watchers, and honestly, I am actually doing better with it than I did with the band. I have lost 13 pounds in the last three months. Now that I am eating the right way, I think I am ready to go back and get another fill. At least now when I explain that I am not experiencing fullness, I can say I am doing all the other right things. I wish I could rely on the band a little more instead of just plain will power. We all know that will power eventually fails. I am optimistic, though, that I can keep this up long term. I'm not really depriving myself of anything. I am just eating healthy meals, avoiding processed foods and food with added sugar--for the most part--so my blood sugar is balanced, and I really don't want too much junk. When I do, I eat a little. Guess I have gotten a little (or a lot) off topic. At any rate, I feel motivated to make a call tomorrow to go back in for a fill and see if I can't this thing jump started! I have an 11 cc band, I am already at 11 cc's. They said more actually will fit in there, so we'll see.

Thanks for the thread. Sometimes a little venting is all it takes to feel better.

[Kalipso2 25]

don't give up!

there are many of us that are slow losers... and i'm one of them. i've gone thru so many lengthy plateaus i've lost count... along with a number of physical problems with my band.

i was banded april 2008 and had a relatively low BMI. i wanted to lose enough weight to get me to the "normal" BMI weight which ended up being 68 pounds.

i lost most of my weight the first year but i had a lot of problems that first year too. i let myself be too tight for about 5 months. i lost most of my weight during that time but i was throwing up a lot and have severe acid reflux.

i got unfilled and then slowly refilled during the 2nd year. it too me 2 years and 10 months to lose 68 pounds but i did it!

[morrisong 2]

HI Alysa, your post could have been written by me. I was banded summer of 2009. I have lost 32 pounds total, 22 pounds of which I did prior to the banding and the rest during the liquid phase right after the banding. I have been filled 3 times on a 11cc band. I have never felt satiated, never felt full, still don't know the "sweet spot". I do have to be careful what I eat in the morning, but after that initial meal of the day, I can eat anything. I was looked at by Flouroscope on my 2nd visit and they said it looked fine. So I kind of gave up-but just for now. I do plan to go back to my doctor in Mexico this summer and see if there are any issues and give it another try. I do wonder if some of us don't have the "shut off" button in our brains to tell us we are full-that's my scientific interpretation, but you get what I mean. It's frustrating to see so many bandsters here be so successful. I know of someone who never even got a fill and he lost 80lbs! My daughter got Gastric Bypass and is doing fantastic with it. I am thinking about that as a possibility down the road. On a positive note, the weight loss I have accomplished is maintaining and I quickly got into the normal range with a little bit of weight loss avoiding Diabetes.

Haven't been on the site in about a year. Glad to see this thread. I have pretty much come to the conclusion that I am in the minority that the band does not work for. I took about a year off getting fills, too. I just needed an emotional (and financial) break wanted to get to place where I was doing all the right things so that they couldn't blame the band's failure on me. I KNOW I need to eat less, eat right, and exercise, but I thought the band would at least make me feel full so I could do all the right things. Obviously, if I could do all the right things, I would never have needed the band to begin with.

I lost just under 30 pounds, and about half of that was in the first month when I was on the liquid diet. (It's been almost three years.) After that, I lost about three pounds per month a couple of times. Then I gained about half of it back. I have never really experienced feeling full with the band. I am amazed by people who say they just eat a few bites of food and feel full. I can eat just as much as the average person. I will say that I cannot eat the ENORMOUS amounts of food I could before, or rather, I haven't wanted to, so I guess that is something.

Right now, I am doing Weight Watchers, and honestly, I am actually doing better with it than I did with the band. I have lost 13 pounds in the last three months. Now that I am eating the right way, I think I am ready to go back and get another fill. At least now when I explain that I am not experiencing fullness, I can say I am doing all the other right things. I wish I could rely on the band a little more instead of just plain will power. We all know that will power eventually fails. I am optimistic, though, that I can keep this up long term. I'm not really depriving myself of anything. I am just eating healthy meals, avoiding processed foods and food with added sugar--for the most part--so my blood sugar is balanced, and I really don't want too much junk. When I do, I eat a little. Guess I have gotten a little (or a lot) off topic. At any rate, I feel motivated to make a call tomorrow to go back in for a fill and see if I can't this thing jump started! I have an 11 cc band, I am already at 11 cc's. They said more actually will fit in there, so we'll see.

Thanks for the thread. Sometimes a little venting is all it takes to feel better.

[flipp98 0]

I haven't been on here in a long time and I logged on today because the band just isn't working for me. Reading these posts have actually given me a little hope, letting me know I'm not the only one. I have decent restriction which keeps me from being hungry. In the beginning I wasn't getting fills like I should and I wasn't following my diet, but since then I've been getting the fills, changed my diet and started exercising and I'm only down about 30 lbs since July 09, I'm going to the doc Wednesday to get another fill, my doc says I'm not at my sweet spot, if something doesn't happen soon, I'm seriously going to consider gastric bypass.

[Bandedbear 2]

What do you mean not following your diet?

[mousek 4]

O.K.,I too have been struggling with low weight loss this past year.Afriend and I discussed this subject just today. what is it about us that sets ourselves up for failure just as we get close.? All of us had the band placed as a last result.so now we have a tool that helps us restrict our portions but we still want to eat the old way! That for me means,too many sweets,fried foods Cookies,etc. so I alredy know that indulgence of these foods made me fat in the first place!What is the mind block that makes me do this.?I say that I want to lose the rest of my weight but do I really want it bad enough to do the work or do I think by some miiracle the weight will just drop off(Iwish)!!! Maybe I think I look ok now??? I personally plan to take a good long look at this and make a decision either give up and accept where I am at or get with it and become a success story!!!!!!!!

well said Laura, i hope you are on the road to success.

[Subie66 6]

How are all the slow losers doing now??

[morrisong 2]

Okay update! Went for another fill and guess what, this one is working. I have lost 1 dress size. THIS WAS FILL #4 and finally, I feel restricted. I couldn't tell you why this one worked and the others didn't. This fill performed differently right off the bat. Right after my fill, I went to the Applebees and ordered vegetables and hamburger which I crumbled up. I couldn't swallow either one easily. So I went back to the clinic and they looked at me under the flouroscope and said it looked fine and I probably needed a few days of liquid till the swelling went down. That's exactly what happened. After about 3 or 4 days, I could eat my 1/2 cup protein-vegetables and felt fine.

So the tool is working, now its up to me to exercise and make good eating choices. That was the deal with the band and I am so happy its working the way it was suppose to finally.

How I am eating:

It's been 3 weeks and I feel like its a habit now eating this little, though its not ridiculously skimpy amounts. This week for dinner I have been eating barbecued salmon about the size of my palm, and a mixed salad with peppers, carrots, tomatoes, greens, feta/goat cheese crumbles and a glass of wine or two. My lunches are usually salads with canadian bacon cut in very little dices. Breakfast I am usually too tight to eat, but will get down cream of wheat easily-I do try scrambled eggs, but some days are better than others. I drink fresh veg juices during the day. Starches have pretty much left my diet, but I do eat corn. I do have sweets, but I can only take a few bites mentally and physically now, so I don't worry about it when I do.

I will update again to see how my journey is progressing. I hope this isn't the honeymoon stage. Staying positive and feel great getting into clothes I haven't worn in awhile!

HI Alysa, your post could have been written by me. I was banded summer of 2009. I have lost 32 pounds total, 22 pounds of which I did prior to the banding and the rest during the liquid phase right after the banding. I have been filled 3 times on a 11cc band. I have never felt satiated, never felt full, still don't know the "sweet spot". I do have to be careful what I eat in the morning, but after that initial meal of the day, I can eat anything. I was looked at by Flouroscope on my 2nd visit and they said it looked fine. So I kind of gave up-but just for now. I do plan to go back to my doctor in Mexico this summer and see if there are any issues and give it another try. I do wonder if some of us don't have the "shut off" button in our brains to tell us we are full-that's my scientific interpretation, but you get what I mean. It's frustrating to see so many bandsters here be so successful. I know of someone who never even got a fill and he lost 80lbs! My daughter got Gastric Bypass and is doing fantastic with it. I am thinking about that as a possibility down the road. On a positive note, the weight loss I have accomplished is maintaining and I quickly got into the normal range with a little bit of weight loss avoiding Diabetes.

[Sharon1222 19]

Good morning, I was just reading this post wanted to knwo how everyone is doing now?

my surgery was Aug 11, 2011 1st fill September 9, 2011 3cc doing go lost 21lb total

please update and have a great Friday

[Pegsinthewoods 8]

I too, WAS a slow looser. I found out I had an eroded band and it was removed April 9, 2011 (installed Aug. 4, 2008). I was very ill. Please watch yourself if you stop loosing, it could be a sign of a complication. I do miss my band. Without it, I struggle even more and wrestle with unnecessary guilt over eating. I am currently checking into other WLS because once you have an erosion, you cannot be banded again.

[Xandy&Zak'sMum 0]

I haven't been on here in a long time and I logged on today because the band just isn't working for me. Reading these posts have actually given me a little hope, letting me know I'm not the only one. I have decent restriction which keeps me from being hungry. In the beginning I wasn't getting fills like I should and I wasn't following my diet, but since then I've been getting the fills, changed my diet and started exercising and I'm only down about 30 lbs since July 09, I'm going to the doc Wednesday to get another fill, my doc says I'm not at my sweet spot, if something doesn't happen soon, I'm seriously going to consider gastric bypass.

I have been banded just over a year (August 12, 2010) And have lost VERY little weight (less than 20 pounds) I actually lost more weight pre-op in the opti-slim liquid diet.

I realise this is mostly my fault, I don't exercise... my band restriction is pretty good. I rarely feel "hungry" and get full quickly. Here is my problem: 80% of what I eat makes me throw up. I cannot eat bread, toast, rice Pasta, beef, chicken, even most veggies. All seem to get stuck after the 3rd or 4th bite. And it is NOT how I chew, as the Dr has suggested. I have chewed and chewed until the food turns to liquid. Still comes back. I don't think the band is too tight as this doesn't happen ALL the time, I may have 1 or 2 days a week that I can eat normally and not throw up.

My BIGGEST problem is the frequent throwing up, even when I try to eat healthy, and I can't tell you how many times its happened in a restaurant and ruined my day. I get miserable. I get depressed, and then here comes the milkshake and chocolate and ice cream, because they all go down no problem!

My sweet food consumption has increased like tenfold since being banded. Lucky thing I haven't gained any weight! I just don't know how I can go throw life eating only yogurt. I even threw up from eating a pear the other day... I hadn't even had half of it!

I don't know whether to have a complete unfill, have the band removed, or just keep being miserable. If I gave up sweets and exercised, I'd probably starting losing again. But feeling so drepressed or all the throwing up makes it very hard to be motivated...

[xavier 153]

I have been a slow loser but looking back its mainly because of two things. One I didnt get a fill when I hit a plateau and I had two of them that lasted me nearly a year total. My fill doc was far away and I was thinking if I idont gain weight my retriction must be fine.Through this whole thing I have never gained more than two pounds which is great.

Second I have never dieted, eaten diet food, or exercised. At a good level of restriction I always lost about five pounds a month which was good I think.

It is more than two years since my band and I am at normal BMI and will probably continue to lose a little from here as my restriction is pretty tight.

My first jeans were a Levis 505 size 16 short and now I wear the same 505s in a 6 short. Usually I wear an 8 everywhere else like at the Gap.

[4my4kids 1]

Hello Everyone:

So glad I found this blog...I 2 am a slow loser. And I finally have accepted that that is OK! I was banded in Dec. 09. I have lost 75lbs, i lost 30 lbs pre-op for a total of 105 in 2 years....I 2 have been a victim of you own laziness and unwillingness to change old habits. Once I decided that the last 30lbs were not going to come off without some lifestyle changes I was forced to take a hard look at myself....And we all know how we love to do that...For my birthday this year I asked for a bicycle and a committment from my family not to bring junk food into the house....OH HOW I LOVE THE SWEETS....Everyone so far has been very accommodating..My birthday was only Sept 13th so we will see. I am riding my bike everyday and have lost about 4lbs. I did not change anything other than adding bike riding and not eating sweets...My goal is to be at goal weight by Dec. 2011. I to thought that I would already be there and having some skin removal done by now...But the one thing I can honestly say is I have a life time to get that skin removed. That was not something I could have said before lapband....Everyone keep working hard every pound lost is one you didn't gain....If you have only lost 30lbs in a year so what....That is 30lbs you didn't gain....and we all know that it is very easy to gain 30lbs in a year......KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK EVERYONE!

Jani

[lbstoloose 0]

Okay update! Went for another fill and guess what' date=' this one is working. I have lost 1 dress size. THIS WAS FILL #4 and finally, I feel restricted. I couldn't tell you why this one worked and the others didn't. This fill performed differently right off the bat. Right after my fill, I went to the Applebees and ordered vegetables and hamburger which I crumbled up. I couldn't swallow either one easily. So I went back to the clinic and they looked at me under the flouroscope and said it looked fine and I probably needed a few days of liquid till the swelling went down. That's exactly what happened. After about 3 or 4 days, I could eat my 1/2 cup protein-vegetables and felt fine.

So the tool is working, now its up to me to exercise and make good eating choices. That was the deal with the band and I am so happy its working the way it was suppose to finally.

How I am eating:

It's been 3 weeks and I feel like its a habit now eating this little, though its not ridiculously skimpy amounts. This week for dinner I have been eating barbecued salmon about the size of my palm, and a mixed salad with peppers, carrots, tomatoes, greens, feta/goat cheese crumbles and a glass of wine or two. My lunches are usually salads with canadian bacon cut in very little dices. Breakfast I am usually too tight to eat, but will get down cream of wheat easily-I do try scrambled eggs, but some days are better than others. I drink fresh veg juices during the day. Starches have pretty much left my diet, but I do eat corn. I do have sweets, but I can only take a few bites mentally and physically now, so I don't worry about it when I do.

I will update again to see how my journey is progressing. I hope this isn't the honeymoon stage. Staying positive and feel great getting into clothes I haven't worn in awhile!

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