Band Regret

[magicfanpjc 8]

I had my surgey on April 13. I lost 18lbs pre-op. I lost another 12 in the post-op liquid stage. Since then, I've lost nothing. I did a lot of research and read forums beforehand. I read about people not having success. I thought they weren't doing what they should be doing. Now, I'm one of them. I guess my frustration is that if I could have lost the weight without being hungry, I would have. I paid cash for my band and I feel like such a failure. I know people who have lost over 100lbs in just over a year's time. Here I am, losing nothing. Yesterday, I started working out with a trainer, so I'm hoping to see results, but quite honestly, I'm feeling rather negative right now. Why isn't ths working for me?

[Toddy 758]

You're only two months in. Have you had any fills yet? Your band doesn't work to its fullest potential until you have restriction. I didn't have any restriction until I had my third fill. It sounds like you did a lot of reading beforehand, so I would think you already know that you're going to have to do maintenance on the band.

The band is not a magic cure. YOU have to work with it!

[2muchfun 8,927]

Apparently you haven't been reading this forum for long? You are following the same path most of us have followed for years. I know, I followed the same path as you except I wasn't ready to throw in the towel at 60 days.

You've lost 12 lbs in 60 days. You probably won't have this much success from here on out. I don't know what you are eating, how much you excercise or if you are in the green zone? Calories in vs calories burned will be your new challenge.

I lost 12 lbs the first 10 days and nothing for the next 3.5 months. Then, fill #3 helped me find a little restriction. Also a very good nutritionist pointed out where I was going wrong with my food choices. I've lost 25 lbs since late March. You will follow a different path than me or anyone else but you need to find some patience. It can be frustrating I know but it will come in time.

Only expect to lose 4-6 lbs per month from here on out. And, expect to see week if not month long plateaus along the way. Some people don't experience this but they are far and few between. Good luck!

tmf

[DizzyLizzy 21]

Oh, dear, you are just starting! Don't give up so quickly! The band is not magic. It takes time and it takes effort on your part and cooperationg with your doctor to make it work for you.

Stay close with your doctor, be honest with your doctor and yourself about what you are eating and drinking and how much you are exercising. You will have periods success, failure, and sometimes nothing at all! Your band is a tool, but no tool will do anything on it's own!

I paid for my band myself too! That is giving me more reason to stick with it, even though I have had setbacks and failures. I've only kept off 50lbs in the two and a half years since I've been banded and still would like to lose another 75 to 100 lbs! So, I'm still working with it and trying to get myself back on track. You HAVE to follow the band eating rules if you ever want to get to your "sweet spot" I didn't and never got there, so here I am trying again!

Good luck, stay focused, and never give up!!!

[KimJ384 46]

Yup it's true you won't start losing weight steadily until you get some fills and restriction! I know you are like me I was hope it would just fall off instantly and as I got to my 6 months I was at 30lbs lost and I didn't have any movement for 3 months then I got another fill and I've lost 4lbs in a week an half! It's all about restriction!!!!! Be patient I know you are tired of hearing that but it's the best advice to give to a new bandster because we have all been there in your shoes but it does happen!!!!

[Fabulous Sasha 5]

Take it one day at a time. You will go through phases where you do not loose at all; however, in a few weeks the weight may start following off you. This is not a race but a journey. Make good food choices, count your calories and exercise and you will definitely see results eventually. I've only lost 35 pounds in 6 months; however, I don't exercise and I don't always make good food choices coupled with the fact people are telling me I don't need to loose any more which decreases my motivation to loose. Good Luck on your lifetime journey.

[Jim1967 3,569]

I was banded 3 days after you so I can sorta relate to what your going through right now even though our weight is different and of course I am a guy. I researched for months and continued to educate myself throughout the whole process up till surgery. Last week I posted a rather embarrassing pity poor me rant on my blog. Even though you do all the reading/research it can still be frustrating when the weight loss is slow especially after having gone through surgery.

At first I was not tracking my food intake close enough and realized that is where my problem was. I was trying to differentiate between the good food and the not so good food without taking into consideration of Portion Control. I hadn't had a fill at the time so it was like eating before surgery.

Stick with it. Have you had any fills yet? I just got my 2nd fill this past Tuesday and I think I am starting to find that restriction. Time will tell for sure but accountability is all on me not my band.

Good luck...

[GuyMontag 1,264]

It's just bandster hell. You need more restriction then you'll start losing more.

[melonie 6]

Relax and remember Rome wasnt built in a day nor did we gain all our wait in a day . you are in a transition stage right now with fills comes restriction and with restriction and activity comes weightloss. Your going thru the same thing we each did in the beginning the first few months are very frustraiting and the only thing you can do is hold your head up stay positive and follow the guidlines youll do great . I suggest reading up on and understanding head hunger . Head hunger was my big hurtle took me forever to figure out how to tell the difference and when i did BAM its a revolation i promise cause thats the day you concure your own mind. Hang in there you can do this .

[Mrs. CMK 188]

Oh Magicfanpjc, I can truly empathize with you. I had my surgery on 5/23 and lost 19 lbs pre-op. The week after surgery I lost an additional 5 lbs and now nothing since. Last week I had an emotional meltdown not understanding what was going on when I was working so hard at watching my calories and exercising. Then I found this forum and realized that I was not alone. When I discovered they even have a name for this phase, Bandster Hell, it made me feel so much better.lol. I don't get my first fill until 7/10 but I'm not giving up and I will take it one day at a time. Please don't give up and be encouraged that this is a normal part of the process. God Bless.

[Scooby_Who 5]

I totally understand your frustration, but remember that averages to over 1 lb per week, and that ain't too shabby! I keep hearing "expect to lose 1-2 lbs per week" and how exercise will be critical to maintain even that pace. *Especially* yesterday at my 2-week follow up when I expressed disappointment over losing only 3 lbs since surgery two weeks ago on 5/30.... (Disclaimer: Today the scale was down 2 lbs, making it 5 lbs, but still ....) I lost about 12 lbs pre-op, so I was giving this some hard thought last night (after I had a somewhat sarcastic pity party for myself). This is just like any other weight loss plan - eat less + exercise. And just like any other weight loss plan, it's gonna be sllllllllllllooooooooowwwwww for some of us. I'm still working on getting that mantra mentality down in small bites (along with my mushies - har har), but it's helped me to periodically give myself a reality check or two.

[magicfanpjc 8]

Thank you all so much! I'm very careful what I eat...I measure my Proteins, but I'm not writing it down. I guess that's where I need to start. I've had one fill and go back on the 25th. Your advice and encouragement is very helpful. I did do my research, but it seemed that the forums I read pre-op were through rose-colored glasses. I've started my exercise program, so that coupled with proper tracking should put me on the road o wight loss. I guess we all feel that self-pity at times? Thanks again.

[Jim1967 3,569]

I am not a big fan of journaling especially writing stuff by hand. I find myfitnesspal very useful and easy. You can get it on a smartphone as well and you can use the phone as a bar code scanner and scan food products directly.

[magicfanpjc 8]

I am not a big fan of journaling especially writing stuff by hand. I find myfitnesspal very useful and easy. You can get it on a smartphone as well and you can use the phone as a bar code scanner and scan food products directly.

I downloaded it today. Thanks!

[Shannon28 26]

I had my surgey on April 13. I lost 18lbs pre-op. I lost another 12 in the post-op liquid stage. Since then, I've lost nothing. I did a lot of research and read forums beforehand. I read about people not having success. I thought they weren't doing what they should be doing. Now, I'm one of them. I guess my frustration is that if I could have lost the weight without being hungry, I would have. I paid cash for my band and I feel like such a failure. I know people who have lost over 100lbs in just over a year's time. Here I am, losing nothing. Yesterday, I started working out with a trainer, so I'm hoping to see results, but quite honestly, I'm feeling rather negative right now. Why isn't ths working for me?

You're not very far out, only two months now. It's slow when you first start out and takes a few adjustments to get to the restriction level you need. I had mine on April 16th and just now got my second fill. My first fill didn't give any restriction so I felt a little bummed out about it but reassured myself that this isn't an overnight thing. Your 30 lb loss is great though and you should be very proud of accomplishing that much. I gained several pounds after starting solid foods, then lost all of it, then stayed the same weight for almost 2 weeks.. didn't budge at all. Now I'm starting to lose weight again. So it's an up and down battle but it will be worth it in the end. You will do great on your journey, just give it some time. Good luck!