Lap Band doesn't let healthy food down

[Nicolasjon 4]

I weighed 426lbs when I decided to get surgery. My insurance made me go through a 6 month song and dance before they would approve my lap band.

During the six months, I got down to 330 on my own with counting carbs and walking.

I had the lab band installed in May 2013 and I weighed 330.

Here it is 9 months later and I am down to 320.

I am very disappointed. I thought I would have been down to 230 by now.

I have hade about 6 fills and the doctor wouldn't fill anymore. He said the lap band is just a tool and not a miracle cure. :-(

Any advise?

[gowalking 10,790]

Have you been counting carbs and walking since getting banded? Can I suggest you plug in all you consume into an app like myfitnesspal? I did that and was amazed at how high some foods were in terms of fats and calories and sodium. Doing this helped me an awful lot in knowing what I was eating and what it was costing me in terms of caloric intake. Oh, and shame on your doctor for telling you the band is a tool but not helping you to understand how to use that tool. In fact, I think your doctor is a tool....

Good luck, and let us know if you find success per the above.

[Nicolasjon 4]

Thank you! I actually take full responsibility for my lack of weight loss. I am just disappointed in myself for not following what I was taught by the nutritionalist. I guess I really was expecting the band to be a miracle cure.

I will try myfitness pal and start counting carbs again like before I was banded.

[cheryl2586 3,053]

Well if you haven't done any work then it wont do it for you. I think you know what you have to do you just have to do it.

[bootsie40 6]

I'm in a similar boat! I've developed some bad habits & joined this forum today just like u seeking advice, encouragement & accountability. You lost 90 lbs without the band! That is something Awesome!!

I told myself yesterday "I have the power, but do I have the will". I wanted to have a Protein shake & fruit for lunch...that was the plan. But I was out of the office running errands, hungry & I actually talked myself into a burger!! Knowing I'd pay for it later.

You can do this...2muchfun told me to RESET! So RESET, & lets do this!

[Nicolasjon 4]

What's crazy about this lap band is that I am not able to eat Breakfast or lunch. Seems like everything gets stuck.

Come dinner time, I am able to eat most everything.

I can honestly say, I eat a whole bunch less than I used to eat! It's because I am no longer physically able to eat like I want to. However, the weight just isn't coming off anymore. At least I am not gaining my weight back.

Do y'all have the same issues with breakfast and lunch?

[bootsie40 6]

Yes, Breakfast is a real issue for me. I just found out that our bands are tighter in the morning....after three years of struggling. It sometimes takes me as long as 11 am to get where I can eat something solid. This is something my nutritionist never told me....she's not really a nutritionist, but a nurse. I'm actually looking for a real nutritionist now.

[gowalking 10,790]

Hi Nicolas. I haven't had any fills so I can't give you any input on being tighter at some times than other times. I do know from what I've read that many bandsters say the same thing. They are tight early in the day and not so much as the day goes on. Some of them mention drinking warm liquids to help loosen the band.

Just know that this whole process is such a head game because we deal with the head hunger all the time. I know that I do. Well...not all the time...that's the good thing about the band. But evenings tend to be difficult because of the sitting in front of the TV thing.

I combat that by finding things to do in the evening instead of sitting on my ass and watching the boob tube. I go to the Y and swim twice a week. I also get a massage once a week (good for my lower back pain and a nice treat as well) When I am at home, I find something to do with my hands and head to keep me busy. I do crossword puzzles, read and post to this forum, or even listen to music instead of watching TV. For some reason, this works for me. Oh, and I read as well. That also helps. And there's no food commercials when you read..lol.

Hope that helps you some...

Edited March 19, 2014 by gowalking

[2muchfun 8,927]

If you have a Protein shake for breakfast or lunch, is it hard to get them down? Just trying to see if maybe you're too tight or maybe you aren't chewing your food enough?

Or, what food is getting stuck? eggs, ham, breads?

[bootsie40 6]

Hi Nicolas. I haven't had any fills...

. Wow! No fills and you've lost this much weight!

Edited March 19, 2014 by bootsie40

[Nicolasjon 4]

Very true! Warm liquid helps. I was never a coffee drinker until I was banded. However, no amount if coffee makes eating eggs possible.

I do have a bad habit of eating while watching TV.

Protein Drinks and other liquids go down in the mornings.

I don't think it's to tight.

That's strange that my Doctor never mentioned that warm liquids help and that it was tighter in the mornings.

[egilb00f 10]

What's crazy about this lap band is that I am not able to eat Breakfast or lunch. Seems like everything gets stuck.

Come dinner time, I am able to eat most everything.

I can honestly say, I eat a whole bunch less than I used to eat! It's because I am no longer physically able to eat like I want to. However, the weight just isn't coming off anymore. At least I am not gaining my weight back.

Do y'all have the same issues with breakfast and lunch?

I too have issues in the morning and lunch, but can keep down liquids. I do a Protein shake for breakfast and lunch, then a sensible dinner. Keep in mind that changing habits is a mindset. Before we were used to eating whatever we wanted with no consequence. With the band, we have to reprogram our brain.

Here's what I do: No bread, no rice, no carbonated drinks (goodbye my dearest Dr Pepper!) I use a small plate or bowl when I serve myself. I put my fork down in between bites and chew chew chew. No drinking before I eat and I wait at least an hour to resume drinking (or else I find myself praying to the porcelain God!). It's hard......not even lying, but well worth the journey we decided to take when we had surgery.

Let us know how you're doing now! I'm curious since your initial posting here!

[Jack 855]

re: "Do y'all have the same issues with breakfast and lunch?"

I was never a breakfast type preOp, except by enforced habit and attempted overlay of new good habits in place of old bad habits.

PostOp I developed a case of "1st bite syndrome" for nearly 2 years, which I don't see discussed much any more. It may be due to improved Bands, or called something else now.

We are all Works in Transition and Diamonds in the Rough. We all benefit from buffing up our actions and performance in the face of what we think we want to accomplish.

Cheers in your journey!!!

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

@@Jack, "PostOp I developed a case of "1st bite syndrome" for nearly 2 years, which I don't see discussed much any more. It may be due to improved Bands, or called something else now".

What's that?

.