Not losing

[nelly123 0]

So I've been reading alot of these posts hoping to find insight on my situation, it has helped on some things but I wanted to share some of my issues to see what people might say. I had my first fill on Jan. 27th finally, ( I mean I couldn't wait, ) I felt like they made me wait forever. My surgery was Dec. 13th. So after she puts in 5cc's i swallow Water and because she hears gurgling she took out 1 cc, i was so worried that it would not help with my hunger and they said insurance wouldn't pay for another fill for another month, and it didn't help w the hunger at all. The next day wow i felt like my stomach was screaming at me all day! I have not yet experienced any restriction. I feel like I never get full. I do stop at the required portions. Haven't lost any weight is this normal, has anyone experienced anything like this?. I went for another fill and they wouldn't give me back the cc they took, just gave me 1 cc so i'm at 5 cc's still no restriction at all. i've been exercising doing everything they say, it feels like these last few months are taking forever just to get to the next fill. My next fill isn't till the end of the month, should i ask them to see if there may be a leak?

Thank you!

[ElfiePoo 109]

Nelly,

Sounds like you have two things going on - not yet at restriction...and not losing weight.

I don't know what your required portions are, but if you're stopping at them, then you should be losing weight. Are you tracking what you eat? Perhaps there are hidden calories and carbs that are stopping your weight loss? I use Fitday.com to record everything I stick in my mouth. It's surprising how both calories and carbs add up.

Restriction is...well...when it is. As long as you're hungry and wanting to eat, you still aren't at your 'sweet spot'. If you reach the point where you can't eat the foods you need to (Protein and vegies) without constantly getting stuck, then you're overfilled and need them to back the fill off *just a bit* (assuming you're following the rules for toddler sized bites, chew well and eat slowly and no drinking with meals). If you think you're still hungry and you're so tight you're constantly getting stuck, there are two possibilities. The first is that you need to take a long hard look at what you're eating and how you're eating to make sure you aren't just 'craving' and have a desire to eat (something the band doesn't seem to do much about). The other possibility is that you may be one of those the band doesn't work for.

[amberakamom 13]

How many calories are you eating? Maybe not enough? I lose best at around 1300-1400 calories.

[nelly123 0]

Thank you Melody, I sure hope i'm not one the band doesn't work for! I've never had a restriction though so i'm not at "sweet spot" i'm just so discouraged and anxious to get there. I don't even know what it feels like to get stuck. I will continue to follow the rules. Thank you for your advise.

[nelly123 0]

How many calories are you eating? Maybe not enough? I lose best at around 1300-1400 calories.

I get about 1200-1400 approx.

[mattie7632 24]

I have found that I do best when I eat 5-6 times a day vs. 3 meals only. Plus I have to get enough calories in. This is really hard for me to follow so I end up failing most days and haven't lost anything in almost a month. I just know if I can eat 200 calories 6 times a day for---EVER? I will lose........discipline. It's the hardest thing for me........

[honk 780]

You are not at restriction yet so yes you will eat more than bandster sized meals if you don't weigh/measure your meals. My fills went something like the following: 4, 2, 1, 1, 1.6, .4, .6 now at 10.6 in 11CC band. I did not feel any restriction until 10. and now at 10.6 I think I am at my sweet spot/restriction.

For now you need to measure your food and when it's gone you are done eating; even it you feel you could eat more. My doctor prefers that you grit it out and not have any Snacks between meals. The Nut said if there is a long time between lunch and dinner (because I go to the gym) to have a low fat cheese stick for a snack.

I am a slow loser (aver. 1 pound week). I follow a very conservative diet and exercise an hour a day. I think there are a lot of slow losers who feel intimidated by people that post "I've been losing 3 lb a week for the last month."; so they don't admit to being slow losers. It's too bad because it sets up unreasonable expectations for new bandsters. There are also people who took a long time like me (6 months) to hit restriction; where as others get there at like 5 cc's

[HeatherinCA 10]

Best you can do is watch your calories and exercise!! The hunger should eventually subside... also make sure the hunger isn't mental. My brain always wants tasty food, but my body doesn't.

My advice, don't focus on fills, or how much is in your band, the most important part and 80% of the journey is diet and exercise.

[2beskinny 4]

Thank you Melody, I sure hope i'm not one the band doesn't work for! I've never had a restriction though so i'm not at "sweet spot" i'm just so discouraged and anxious to get there. I don't even know what it feels like to get stuck. I will continue to follow the rules. Thank you for your advise.

I think it's quite premature to be jumping to "one of the one's the band doesn't work for." Please don't think that. You are just in bandster hell, that period of waiting for the proper fill level so the band can actually make a difference. I gurgled all the time, even before I was at my sweet spot. You will do great, just are in that crappy gray area where any weight you lose is really on you, not on the band yet. Yes, as Mel said - if you stop eating like the band IS working, you will lose weight. Well that a lot easier said than done, huh? That's part of what bandster hell is...thinking why the heck did I just have this surgery if I have to do all the work myself? Hang in there...your day will come! Just stay positive enough that you don't miss it Don't beat yourself up either! If you can get through this period without a gain, many consider that a success! I know there were times when I was so hungry that "not gaining" became my goal. This isn't a race - it's a lifestyle change. Take it one day at a time!

[Dave_NW 92]

Nelly, if you have just 5cc's in your band, and if your band happens to be a 14cc capacity, it's unlikely you will feel restriction. And it's also unlikely you'd get stuck with that little in the band. I'm at 7.2cc's in a 14cc band after two fills, and I didn't experience being stuck or sliming till after my second fill. I don't get stuck often, but if I eat too fast or take too large a bite, I can just about cause it to happen.

You need to understand that banding is a process. It's not instantaneous, nor is it exact. What one person feels is generally not the same thing another will feel. You need to learn how you and your band work together, and adjust what you're doing to suit your particular situation. It'll come with time. Hang in there, work the plan, and be aware of what you're doing to/for yourself. The rest is just details.

Good luck!

Dave

[Momto3redheads 18]

Hang in there ---- be diligent in getting your fills and you will find your sweet spot! In the meantime, how much Protein are you getting every day? I have found when I am not losing if I up my Protein a bit that seems to help. Also if you had surgery in Dec you are just now getting to where you can focus on losing weight - your first 6 weeks post op is time to heal, not lose. So don't fret that you haven't lost a lot yet - once you hit your sweet spot you will.

Kim

[nelly123 0]

I have found that I do best when I eat 5-6 times a day vs. 3 meals only. Plus I have to get enough calories in. This is really hard for me to follow so I end up failing most days and haven't lost anything in almost a month. I just know if I can eat 200 calories 6 times a day for---EVER? I will lose........discipline. It's the hardest thing for me........

Thank you it really helps reading everyone's best replies, i will definitely keep coming back to them.

[nelly123 0]

Hang in there ---- be diligent in getting your fills and you will find your sweet spot! In the meantime, how much Protein are you getting every day? I have found when I am not losing if I up my Protein a bit that seems to help. Also if you had surgery in Dec you are just now getting to where you can focus on losing weight - your first 6 weeks post op is time to heal, not lose. So don't fret that you haven't lost a lot yet - once you hit your sweet spot you will.

Kim

Thank you, i wish i could get more flls, of course they won't let me more than 1 time a month. I have been getting alot of protein can't give you exact, but i even put the powder in Soups and stuff, don't see or feel a difference with that. I'm really looking forward to that sweet spot! Thanks so much!

[nelly123 0]

Nelly, if you have just 5cc's in your band, and if your band happens to be a 14cc capacity, it's unlikely you will feel restriction. And it's also unlikely you'd get stuck with that little in the band. I'm at 7.2cc's in a 14cc band after two fills, and I didn't experience being stuck or sliming till after my second fill. I don't get stuck often, but if I eat too fast or take too large a bite, I can just about cause it to happen.

You need to understand that banding is a process. It's not instantaneous, nor is it exact. What one person feels is generally not the same thing another will feel. You need to learn how you and your band work together, and adjust what you're doing to suit your particular situation. It'll come with time. Hang in there, work the plan, and be aware of what you're doing to/for yourself. The rest is just details.

Good luck!

Dave

Thanks Dave, I have an 11cc band. with only 5 cc's it feels like i should feel something but alot of people do say they don't. what is sliming? I thought about eating till i get full just 1 time to see what it actually feels like to feel restriction.

How much have u lost?

Thanks for the incouragment!

Ronelle

[andrea0121 28]

Nelly, I had surgery December 8th. Have 5.5cc in a 9cc band. I'm not at my sweet spot either. I'm STARVING (not mental, but sick feeling...stomach growling [not gurgling]) STARVING. I go tomorrow for a fill hoping for some restriction. I've lost 25lbs by pure willpower for sure. I haven't gotten stuck, slimed or vomited once since surgery. It's crazy!! I hope I'm not 'one of those' either. Keep us posted, I hope you get more restriction eventually too!