Doctor says eating too few calories...????

[Banded08 0]

I was banded on 01/24 and the scale has not moved in 3.5 weeks. I've been obssesive and tracking everything on fitday. I go to the doctor with all of my reports and ask how on earth can I be taking in an average of 520 calories a day and the scale not move???!!! His infuriating response is that I am not eating enough calories and my body is in starvation mode. The nutritionist was there and was backing him up.

I'm now so confused. I thought this was the entire reason for the band to reduce your intake of calories as much as possible. I also do not understand how I lost the 21 lbs when I was on fluids if what he is saying is true. So, they told me to stop tracking everything, to stop getting on the scale and get my calories up to 800-1200. I also was not getting enough Protein and they said that was more important than the calories. Any thoughts or advice would be helpful, I'm really confused and disappointed. I've just been trying to have the best results possible.

[NYGMEN 0]

I would have to say that is true. Right after i was banded i was also only eating 500-600 a day and doing 5 - 10 miles on the bike but not really dropping anything. Then my doctor told me to eat more. I thought about it and when i was on the pre-op diet i was taking in 1500-1600 a day and dropping a lot. I did what the doctor said and i started to lose again and have been doing good ever since.

[travelgirl 3]

I know I'm not a January 08 bandster, but........

Most likely the majority of the weight you lost on liquids was Fluid, not fat.

You ARE eating too few calories. You are just a month out from surgery, and your body needs to HEAL right now, which takes Protein and calories! Now, I don't really buy into the whole starvation mode theory, but I do think it's possible to not get enough calories for your body to function, which would slow your metabolism down to the point of just maintaining at whatever cost.

Give your doc's instructions a shot, no matter how crazy it sounds.

Good luck!

[Joaquin 0]

I would have to agree with the everyone. I was banded on 1/21/08 and I lost the majority of my weight on the pre-op diet. I have been loosing about 3 pounds a week by eating 800-1000 calories. If I was to go lower I would stop loosing like I did on the post-op diet.

[citygirl4616 2]

I know you don't want to hear this, but the first 6 weeks after surgery are for healing, not necessarily for losing weight. That is why we have to eat so many grams of Protein per day (I think I was eating/drinking 70 grams a day). Are all of the calories you are getting in the form of good quality Protein? Your body really needs the extra protein right now, and if it is not getting it, that may be why you are not losing. Also, have you had an adjustment yet? If your band was put in empty (most doctors put them in empty), you will notice another jumpstart to your weight loss, once you hit the proper fill level in your band.

I completely sympathize with you. I lost about 16 # immediately after surgery, then at 3 weeks post-op...I stopped losing weight. I even gained 2 pounds! I just kept reminding myself to wait until my first fill. Once I reached 6 weeks post-op, and got my first fill, my weight loss began again, and I am down about 3 - 3.5 # per week. Be patient...it WILL work!

[Genesis2008 0]

Hey Ya'll,

I was banded on January 28, 2008, I started my post op at 261, was 253 day of surgery, then I went in for a check up Feb 13th, and was down to 239. I scheduled my first fill for February 20th, was still at 239 that day. I never really felt any different and was absolutely starving all the time. I too, track my foods and intake on The Daily Plate and was eating only 500-600 calories per day and still at 239. I called and went in this morning for my 2nd fill, weighed 240.5,,ahhhhhhhh, how could that be I don't eat. Long story short, my doctor also said I wasn't getting enough calories, he had me drink before we put any more saline in and the stuff flowed very quickly and easily, he agreed I needed more, we put one more cc in for a total of 5cc, so now we will see. He encouraged me to take in more food and calories and concentrate on the Protein. I am on liquids so don't know what my restriction will be, but one thing I do know, there are too many great success stories and great advice on this site not to be successful ourselves!!! Good luck to you and we will make it!!!:biggrin:

[Banded08 0]

I threw the scale in the yard today. I upped my calories as I was told and I did not gain, but I did not lose either. I have not lost 1 POUND since 2 weeks after my surgery. I will succeed!!!

[Loseweightin08 0]

From what I have heard and seen, alot of us are going through the same thing. I too get frustrated at times, I was doing about 600 calories a day and going to the gym 4-5 times a week and not losing anything. After reading a lot of posts, I determined that I needed to up my calories. I track everything on thedailyplate and finally 1.5lbs came off.

Just stick with it. I was banded in January and lost pretty steady and then not a pound for over 2 weeks. I try not to get frustrated as I know this is my lifestyle for the rest of my life and it will eventually come off.

Good Luck!

[WestCoastFatGuy 3]

I threw the scale in the yard today. I upped my calories as I was told and I did not gain, but I did not lose either. I have not lost 1 POUND since 2 weeks after my surgery. I will succeed!!!

We all completely understand the emotional pain that you are going through. It totally and completely sucks!

I am sooooooo proud of you for sticking with it and knowing in your heart and mind that you will succeed! You are a major inspiration to all of us that you are keeping up the fight and not giving up. That's exactly what all we all need to feel... that incredible conviction that THIS TIME is DIFFERENT! THIS TIME EVERYTHING CHANGES! THIS TIME NOTHING! NOTHING! CAN BEAT US!

You made my week! Thanks so much for your spirit and support even as you are going through bandster hell! You ROCK!

[Genesis2008 0]

Okay my January 08 banded friends, like I previously shared I went for almost 3 weeks with absolutely no weight loss. From getting my second fill last week to 5cc on Tuesday to today, Wednesday morning, 5 lbs gone!!! I have very good restriction. I am now down 26.5 lbs since pre-op and 18.5 lbs since surgery; January 28th. Getting the second fill was definitely a great decision for me!!!

[Chrisann 0]

I found that when I upped my calorie intake to 1200 I started losing too. I don't care if its 1 pound a week either. I am down 13 pounds since surgery, 37 total since the pre opt liquid phase, and I am damn happy about it. :cool2::huh2:

[salsa1877 10]

So I am not a Jan bandster, but I have had incredible success and I try NEVER to go below 800 calories, and only go that low when I am on liquids. I know that some people lose efficiently on 600 calories and some don't. You need to toy around with what you eat and find what will work for you. I know a lot of people who cycle their calories. 600 one day, 1000 the next, 750 etc. This is a very individual journey and it is all about you.

Good luck and keep trying. Use the time to change your lifestyle. This isn't a diet, but a lifestyle. Believe me you can eat a lot of food for 1000 calories, if you are choosing the right ones.

Best wishes!

[healthyagain 0]

I Posted this once before under a different topic but got no response...I'll try again...

I know everyone hates to compare banding and bypass. But why is it that people say that we (the banded) are not consuming enough calories and that is why we are stalling. And most bypass people can't physically get in more than 700 at first and they seem to drop like crazy? I'm happy about my choice, just confused about peoples comparisons or reasons for slow weight loss

[WestCoastFatGuy 3]

I Posted this once before under a different topic but got no response...I'll try again...

I know everyone hates to compare banding and bypass. But why is it that people say that we (the banded) are not consuming enough calories and that is why we are stalling. And most bypass people can't physically get in more than 700 at first and they seem to drop like crazy? I'm happy about my choice, just confused about peoples comparisons or reasons for slow weight loss

Gastric bypass patients often have the same problems with plateaus that lapband patients do. Do a google search and you'll find lots of links to articles about it and posts on boards similar to the one we're on.

I found one post on a gastic bypass board where a woman had lost 13 pounds after surgery but then had stalled for 4 weeks. She was very frustrated.

[Banded08 0]

Thank you all for your support, but I have excellent news. After throwing my scale in the yard, one wee later I realized it is essential in our journey so I went and bought a new one. The same day I went to the dr so I made sure our scales where the same. LOW and BEHOLD upping my calories WORKED!!! I have mysteriously lost 10 lbs!!!! This is absolutely amazing, I don't know what to do with myself!!! I hope this helps others out there that are counting every calorie, starving themselves, trying not to go above 500 calories and not losing anything. I have been averaging between 1000 and 1200 calories and I am losing, it's the best of both worlds!!!