Weight Loss Has Slowed Down =(

[armywife1129 0]

Hello everyone, I havent posted in while, its been 7 months since I have been banded Ive lost a total of 50 lbs. I WISH it was ALOT more, but I cant seem to get anymore weight off. My restrictions pretty good, I can still eat a little more than I think I should with the band but I dont want to be toooooo tight. I must say I do eat a little fast that I know I should still be working on. But im wondering how people get to like 120 lbs lost lol. Im really really curious. Any idea insight, suggestions advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you! & by the way the 50 lbs lost Ive only went down two pant sizes which I wish would have been a lot more.

[Maddy1 55]

what is your exercise level? Can you bump it up or change it around?

[TheRealSouthernBelle 22]

It is inevitable, weight loss is going to slow down especially if you are able to eat more than you are supposed. I know that you do not want to be too tight, but I would suggest getting the smallest fill level possible. Perhaps .1 will do the magic trick. I've heard that just a little can do a lot. Also, changing up your exercise routine will help tremendously. Are there exercise classes around town or the gym you go to? I did a 5 week boot camp and it changed my overall strength and fitness. Do not fret about the sizes. Plus sizes are way larger than regular sizes, so it will take awhile for you to go down in sizes. Also, are you tracking all the calories and Water you are getting in everyday? Often we eat more than we realize and a lot of foods have more calories than we think. Good luck!

[shakey88 37]

The key for me has been exercising and putting a variety in my life. I do not eat the same amount of calories each day. I read somewhere that your metabolism will stay there if you are constantly eating the same amount everyday. For example, last weekend I was at a birthday party out of town. I know I ate way over what I was supposed to, but I came home and went back on my normal 800-1200 calories a day and I lost 5 pounds this week. I also change up my exercise routines. I do not go to the gym. I do everything at home with DVDs, free weights and resistance bands. THis works for me so I thought I would share it with you! Good luck and dont get frustrated.

[Rachel412 116]

It seems to go in fits & bursts for me, but it does average out to 1-2 pounds a week so I can't complain. Also I've heard you go down a size every time you lose 10% of your weight so if you're 270, you go down a size at 243, then you go down another at 219, then 198... does that make sense? Also seems to hold true for me. Plus I know that i may have lost fat but I still have all that skin and I don't really look much different. Hang in there!

[Army's girl 4]

Excercise is a HUGE factor for us banders. I know its not easy & we don't always have the energy or time for excercising but we gotta remember the money, time & emotions that we have vested in this.I found that even walking my dogs help burn calories & was amazed that goping around the block burned 550 calories!!! Hang in there, good luck dear.

[pollywogg 17]

Also remember its not about how much you can eat with the band its about how little you can eat and be satisfied. Keep all meals and Snacks to a cup of food or under!! Also exercise everyday!

[Corrigan 75]

I post this every once in a while to help those experiencing stalls:

Our bodies use glycogen for short term energy storage. Glycogen is not very soluble, but it is stored in our muscles for quick energy -- one pound of glycogen requires 4 lbs of Water to keep it soluble, and the average glycogen storage capacity is about 2 lbs. So, when you are not getting in enough food, your body turns first to stored glycogen, which is easy to break down for energy. And when you use up 2 lbs of glycogen, you also lose 8 lbs of Water that was used to store it. This accounts for the "easy" 10 lbs that most people lose in the first week of a diet.

As you stay in caloric deficit, however, your body starts to realize that this is not a short term problem. You start mobilizing fat from your adipose tissue and burning fat for energy. But your body also realizes that fat can't be used for short bursts of energy. So, it starts converting some of the fat into glycogen, and rebuilding the glycogen stores. And as it puts back the 2 lbs of glycogen into the muscle, 8 lbs of water has to be stored with it to keep it soluble. So, even though you might still be LOSING energy content to your body, your weight will not go down or you might even GAIN for a while as you retain water to dissolve the glycogen that is being reformed and stored. I hope this gives you some idea of the problems associated with weight loss stalls.

[armywife1129 0]

Thanks everyone for the insight I do appreciate it. My exercising should be bumped up a bit I do agree, I try to exercise as often as possible but i am not on a regular routine I have a 4 year old thats keeps me on my toes & when he naps or goes to bed early Im able to get it in. My husbands coming home from a deployment shortly so I know ill be able to make trips to the gym on a daily basis which im really really excited about. I think i just need to get back into a routine & keep pushing im sure ill get over this slump shortly. I had some Fluid removed from my last fill because I was so tight I couldnt even get Water down, I was in so much pain just from the water trying to pass they had to remove fluid, I am able to eat about a cup and half of food at meal time, so im going to kick up my will power & eat less & get my butt back in the gym. thanks all =D

[Cocoabean 430]

Do you track your calories? I don't and did not all the way through my weight loss. At one point, after I'd been maintaining this weight for a while, I got curious. I estimated I was eating 1200-1400 calories a day. Which meant I should weight a bit less than I do.

I used an ipad app to track everything for about 4 days. I was shocked to learn I was actually consuming about 1700 calories a day. With the amount of exercise I do (very little), that puts me spot on for this weight. So, if I want to lose more, I'll need to create a deficit. Either eat less or burn more.

It was an enlightening experience. After so many years of dieting, I thought I was pretty good at estimating what I was consuming. But it is easy to gloss over a bit here and there, and they add up.

[Cocoabean 430]

p.s. 50 pounds in about 34 weeks is a fantastic average of about 1.5 pounds per week. Don't sell yourself short. You are doing VERY well in the weight loss phase of your journey!

We often feel we are not losing fast enough. But remember, the band is a purely restrictive procedure. The losses occur due to the deficit we create. I think you are doing GREAT!!!!

[Beachy_Babs 5]

You are not the only one my friend! I just went in for my 4th fill yesterday and although I have only lost 43 lbs in 6 months, my PA says that's really good and fast for LAP band patients since the end result takes about 3 years or so. He suggested that I just stick to three meals a day and no snacking. When I asked about exercise, he said do whatever I want, but don't overdo it. So...I'm on the same boat as you. Then again, those who weigh over 300 lbs are likely to lose alot more weight alot faster than those who were in the mid 200's to begin with..

hang in there, you'll be okay !!

[Jess55 97]

I understand that, my weight loss has slowed way down too and it's getting kind of annoying. It's to the point I don't haven't been to my doc in 2-3 months, because last time he was there he wanted to give me a fill, which I do not want. My weight los now seems to come in spurts. I'll plateau (last one was 7 weeks!), then I'll lose for 2 weeks, (which equaled 4.2 lb), now I've been plateaued again for the past 2 weeks (TOM right now, hope it drops when it's over). But it's really annoying. I work out 6 days a week, burning anywhere from 500-almost 900 calories sometimes. I have a daily deficit of a minimum of 1000 calories. Which should equal 2 lb per week, but it doesn't. I know my exact deficits and burns thanks to my Bodymeda Fit. So it is really annoying. Last time I broke the plateau, I thought that was it, I'd finally figured it out, but nope, I guess this is just what my body is going to do now. Oh and I don't plateau at my lowest weight, I plateau a little above it. (ThoughI don't count that, I only count my lows) But it is really discouraging!

[crittlebird 7]

I also had surgery in April, the 20th. I have lost 63 lbs altogether, 11 lbs before surgery. So, since surgery I have lost 52 lbs. Starting weight 280 (at time of banding). I had a plateau that lasted 1 month, not weight loss. I am unable to exercise much because of balance issues and fatigue. I had 2 strokes in 2007 that left me with balance and eyesight problems and fatigue. I exercise when I can. I use the treadmill because I can hang on when I walk. I have gone from a tight 28 to a loose 24 size pants. I am very proud of my progress and you should be also. It takes time and patience. Be proud of yourself and keep up the good work!!!!

[Crystalapril11 36]

I was banded 5/10/2011 down 51lbs and stuck for the last 5wks. So I truely know where you are coming from. I keep looking for folks that were banded around the same time I was for advice.