cutieKel

Don't give up Chelley, I completely understand what you have been saying and you are definately not alone. When I get discouraged I too have to take a step back and understand that prior to the band, I gained and lost the same 15 lbs four times in one year. At least now, I am keeping those 15lbs off and have not gained them back!!! I know that may only be a small bit of comfort but understand that the stress you are putting yourself through just might be the reason you are loosing you hair. We are all here for each other so please know that if you just need to vent there are people here that are willing to listen and understand Kel

Hi Chelley, We haven't heard from you in a little while. Just wondering how you are doing. Kel

Chelley, I am with you completely. Yesterday, I have signed up for Weight Watchers on line food tracking. This way I can see if the problem is what I am eating and not necessarily how much. I am determined to do this so I think if we all try to keep each other positive we will all succseed. Please keep us posted... Oh yeah, if you are going to exercise I would reccomend an MP3 player or an IPOD. I couldn't do it without it. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!! Kelli

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement it is really appreciated and just knowing that I am not alone really makes all the difference in the world. At this point I seem to be eaing less then I was before and exercising I am doing my best to make good choices when it comes to my food. To my surprise, a salad for lunch will actually last two meals, who knew that was possible . I never drink with my meals, surprisingly that was easy for me and do not drink for an hour after meals. I will take your suggestion to try to eat vegies between meals and if I don't want it I must not be hungry. Again thanks for the support. My family, although they are supportive, just don't really understand.

Hey Jenna its nice to see you on the board again. You always have such wisdom that us newbies could always use. Thanks

Claire, Thanks for the link with the examples of both bands. Thought it was really interesting to see.

Chelly I am sorry to hear that you are frustrated and I completely understand what you are going through. I posted almost the same thing yesterday under a different thread. I feel your pain my friend. I am on my second fill and although I have not gained any weight back, I have not lost any more. My 12 lbs have stayed off which I guess is a blessing however, I see so many posts in which people have lost 40 lbs in 4 months and I wish that were me. I too wish I had not told people because I am getting the same responses as you. However we both need to keep reminding ourselves that we didn't do this for anyone else but us. We owe it to ourselves to keep going and not give up!!!!! Have you talked to the Dr that is doing your fills now? I have noticed on lapbandtalk.com that there are quite a few people that have the VG band and their fills are as much as 7cc's before they really start loosing. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers Kelli

I am hoping for some loving support. I am so frustrated I am not sure what to do. I was banded 4/13/06 to date I have lost a whoping 12lbs. I fluctuate between 12 and 15 lbs but don't go any lower than that. I know that my BMI was low to begin with being that it was at 33 and I am 5'5" and was 200lbs but I just see so many people loosing much faster and it just really makes me frustrated. I even have started running on the treadmill at the gym 3 days a week and have been doing this since May with no results. I guess the only good thing is that I can now run almost 2 miles.... Since my band was placed I have had 2 fills. The first fill was done on 5/31. With this fill I was given 2 cc's however when I went in for my second fill on 7/29, Dr Romano could only pull back 1.8 cc's. At that time he gave me a total of 2.4 cc's and I keep waiting for it to kick in but I just am not sure it is going to. I am going to call next week to schedule my third fill and hope that does the trick. I know that I have invested a great amount of money and time into this process and I am not ready to give up I just wish it would really start working. Any words of encourgement would be greatly appreciated Kel

I purchase it at the health food store. If you have a Whole Foods or Henrys Market either one will have it. Littleroo, there is no milk protien in it the protien is derived from egg whites. You shouldn't have a problem with it.

I have another protien drink for you to try. It is made by Jay Robb and is called Jay Robb's Egg White protien powder. It has 24 grams of protien per with no fat or carbs. It mixes great with crystal light.

I have found a wonderful protien powder that is made with egg whites and has no sugar and no carbs. It is Jay Robb Egg White protien powder. I mix it with crystal light and it is really good and because of the egg whites it even gets a little frothy.

Chelly, Thank you so much for your quick and detailed response, it is really appreciated. Based on what you are describing, I don't believe I have hit my "sweet spot" but I am willing to keep going for fills until it is right. Fortunately for me, I live in CA and only 1 1/2 hours from Dr Ortiz's officc. As far as head hunger.... that is of course an issue as food is definately a freind. But I keep working on it and do my best to just eat 3 meals a day and maybe one snack. That way I am sure not to listen to the dreaded head hunger. Again thanks for the great posts we all love it Kel

Hi Chelly, I is always nice to hear your experiences. I have to ask, as I have had 2 fills in the regular band, what it is like. I am on my first week of my second fill and have not reached the "sweet spot" I can still eat much more than 1/2 cup or 3 or 4 oz of food. I started out with a lower BMI and know that weight loss is going to be slow but I was banded on 4/13 and have lost 13lbs to date. I am getting really frustrated. I am planning on following in your footsteps and three weeks from now if I do not have restriction, I will go back. Just looking for the sweet spot. Kel

I completely understand, the same thing happened to me. I ended up emailing Dr. Miranda and telling her. She gave me some suggestions. I would reccomend that you do that. However, giver her a day or so to respond. I found that if I copied Dr. Ortiz, she responded quicker. However, don't go off of the post op diet without her consultation.