what am I doing wrong

[Melissannde 41]

1/2 cup of food sounds way too small to me. But then again, 3oz Protein & 1/2 cup veggies sounded way too little to me 2 years ago..and now sometimes it looks like a lot. Maybe.. no, definitely, my perceptions have changed.

yes, there needs to be a better word than restriction. I really try not to use it. I prefer "appetite suppression" or dimming or something like that.

[MaybeBanding26 5]

I had the band thr first of November and I have had 3 fill since then. I have only lost 3 pounds. Before I got the band I was doing no carbs nd had lost 20 pounds. Once I go the band I did the liquids and Soups. Even the Protein drinks, and I'm not lossing. My last fill was last week, so I'm still on liquids. Why is everyone lossing weight and not me. I feel like I'm barely eating anything. I got Soup for lunch today, and didn't even eat all of it. Can someone help.

there is a possibility that you aren't taking in enough calories and you have gone into starvation mode. Why can't you continue low carving with the band, if that was successful for you? Also, Soup may be one of the least useful things for us to eat (according to my nutritionist) because it can up our calorie count but since it slides right through the band, it leaves you hungry very soon after. It's hardly worth it, really. It's like eating and drinking at the same time.

Maybe drink less of your calories?

[sandi2004 2]

I had the band thr first of November and I have had 3 fill since then. I have only lost 3 pounds. Before I got the band I was doing no carbs nd had lost 20 pounds. Once I go the band I did the liquids and Soups. Even the Protein drinks, and I'm not lossing. My last fill was last week, so I'm still on liquids. Why is everyone lossing weight and not me. I feel like I'm barely eating anything. I got Soup for lunch today, and didn't even eat all of it. Can someone help.

Emma I realy feel for you. I hear your frustration. You may want to start keeping a journal of everything you eat and drink and at the end of the day total up the calories and Protein and ounces of Water and make sure your body is getting enough fuel so that it's not hangin on to everything it has thinking its starving. Sometimes when I write down everything I have eaten in a dayor week I am surprised - in a bad way as often as in a good way. It really helps me understand what is going on with my body. Each of us have different caloric requirements and food requirements to convince our bodies to let go of that weight. Have you talked with a nutrtionist that knows the lap band? That's another possibility. Are you back on your no or low carb eating plan? Don't throw in the towel, it is certainly not over yet and high frustration levels just lead me to craving carbs to "soothe the savage beast" so keep looking for your answers. Reaching out is perfect and that's what you're doing. You may find some help listening to our free call The 10 lessons of successful lap band patiens - it's a download available for a few more days at no cost, so give it a try and let me know if you got any useful information from it. Hang in there and good luck. I am still learning even having been banded in 2004, so how can you possibly know everything it takes after a month or two/

[Cocoabean 430]

1/2 cup of food sounds way too small to me. But then again, 3oz Protein & 1/2 cup veggies sounded way too little to me 2 years ago..and now sometimes it looks like a lot. Maybe.. no, definitely, my perceptions have changed.

yes, there needs to be a better word than restriction. I really try not to use it. I prefer "appetite suppression" or dimming or something like that.

Oh how well put!! I do use the word "restriction," but it is somewhat of a misnomer.

Emma, I didn't start losing until about 5 months post-op and my fill level got to such that my appetite was truly under control. Try not to compare yourself to others, it just gets discouraging.

[Formerly Fluffy 5]

But it IS about restriction! That is why we got this surgery isn't it? To have restriction so we would fill up sooner and not eat as much and not be hungry all the time.

You might benefit from reading Dr. Simpson's article "It's not about restriction" http://drsimpson.net...newsletter.html

[Dreamingof139 3]

But it IS about restriction! That is why we got this surgery isn't it? To have restriction so we would fill up sooner and not eat as much and not be hungry all the time.

Restriction is a misnomer. I loved that article because I have never felt restriction with my band in the way that I expected I would before surgery. I thought that I would eat a half cup of food and feel full, but that is not how it works. I have eaten too fast or failed to chew enough and been miserable and brought it back up. For me, the band creates a need for mindful eating. We went out with friends last weekend and because I was eating slowly over two hours, I actually ate a good amount of food - more than you would think someone with a band could eat, but I ate slowly...

[Melissannde 41]

But it IS about restriction! That is why we got this surgery isn't it? To have restriction so we would fill up sooner and not eat as much and not be hungry all the time.

Doesn't work that way for me. If I depended on physically being prevented from eating.. it wouldn't work. I could still eat everything in the house. The way the band works for ME (and more than a few others) is that we eat our measured portions, and we step away from the table. Wait 20 minutes and see if our hunger is gone. Still hungry.. have more veggies (provided they're not loaded with high calorie butter or some sauce).

Did you read Dr. Simpson's article? I don't want to go over it again if you have.

[mattie7632 24]

I agree with you, Formerly Fluffy. It IS about restriction, or at least that's what we're told so the sale goes through. I think this whole thing is a scam and I am so so disappointed. I sincerely hope that in 6 months I've lost a bunch of weight so I can "eat my words" no pun intended!!

[mattie7632 24]

Yeah, but you don't need a twenty thousand dollar band to to measure foods, count calories and wait 20 minutes to be full.. Same dif band or not--I believe that is the argument here --

Doesn't work that way for me. If I depended on physically being prevented from eating.. it wouldn't work. I could still eat everything in the house. The way the band works for ME (and more than a few others) is that we eat our measured portions, and we step away from the table. Wait 20 minutes and see if our hunger is gone. Still hungry.. have more veggies (provided they're not loaded with high calorie butter or some sauce).

Did you read Dr. Simpson's article? I don't want to go over it again if you have.

[Formerly Fluffy 5]

I saw that. If restriction is irrelevent..............then why are all these bariatric Drs. saying that after a certain point with the fills that you will have "restriction" and will then be able to eat less and stay full longer???

But it IS about restriction! That is why we got this surgery isn't it? To have restriction so we would fill up sooner and not eat as much and not be hungry all the time.

[mattie7632 24]

I don't know FF, but I hope we both are still on this forum in 6 months after getting our "restriction", have lost weight and are singing a different tune! You think?

[Formerly Fluffy 5]

Well the band does NOT take away my hunger.........and I have noticed it does NOT for a lot of bandsters!!!

To all of you that have a band that is working, I am very happy for you. However you need to realize that the band does not work for most ppl.

I think this is something we need to keep saying over and over because the message is getting lost or misunderstood. Too many doctor's still talk about 'restriction' as only being able to eat 1/2 cup of food and being satisfied for 4 hours without emphasizing they aren't talking about physical restriction. Too many banders believe they're looking for the band to make them put the fork down and aren't listening at all to whether or not they're hungry.

The band's job is to take away the abnormal hunger. Without the hunger driving us, we have a better chance of eating less at meals and not eating 24/7.

.

[Formerly Fluffy 5]

I wish...........but I don't think. :-( I have had my band 14 months and had 14 fills. I have followed band rules. I have given this more than a fair shot. It just does NOT work for most ppl.

I hope u have better luck with it than I have!!!

I don't know FF, but I hope we both are still on this forum in 6 months after getting our "restriction", have lost weight and are singing a different tune! You think?

[Formerly Fluffy 5]

So true Maddie! Although I think all of us realize we need to eat better to work WITH the band. We did NOT spend all this money to do it ALL by ourselves! I hear all the time..............."the band is just a tool". Yes, that is true. But for some of us..............WE HAVE NO TOOL. IT JUST DOESN'T WORK!!! :-(

Yeah, but you don't need a twenty thousand dollar band to to measure foods, count calories and wait 20 minutes to be full.. Same dif band or not--I believe that is the argument here --

[mattie7632 24]

Yeah....weight watchers would have been a lot cheaper huh?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So true Maddie! Although I think all of us realize we need to eat better to work WITH the band. We did NOT spend all this money to do it ALL by ourselves! I hear all the time..............."the band is just a tool". Yes, that is true. But for some of us..............WE HAVE NO TOOL. IT JUST DOESN'T WORK!!! :-(