Help-I've stopped losing!

[bpd123]

I was banded December 23rd and have lost 19 pounds since my pre-op diet. I now have not lost anything in 8 days. Is this normal? I still have 3 weeks to go before I can get a fill.

[ValleyGirl]

Totally normal! They say the first six weeks is all about healing and you should worry about losing weight after your first fill. Easier said than done, I know. I haven't lost in almost two weeks and can't wait for my first fill on January 15th! As of this morning, I decided to start to track everything I am eating with the nutrition tracker on sparkpeople.com. I've just been eating too much since I went back on solids and I've actually GAINED a few pounds:( Hang in there! There are lots of us in the same position right now. We're here if you need us.

Sabrina:)

[JazzyJude]

I was mentored a little differently before I had my surgery in Oct. Right up front I was using the 'other' food guideline of 2-3 oz protein (meat, fish, poultry, cheese, egg), 1/4 cup veggie/fruit and 1/4 cup of grain/starch/carbs per meal, 3 times a day. I stuck with this plan, religiously, up until my 2nd fill, and I've lost a lot of weight. when asked how much I was eating. I was told I was NOT eating enough! Yeah, can you imagine that? I was told to eat 1/3 of what I use to eat, which was more than what I was doing (less than a cup worth at each meal). I lost a lot of weight and then I plateaued. My body needed to catch up with my weight loss, but I've lost inches, wearing 24W down to a tight 18! But since my 2nd fill on Dec 20, I cannot eat 1/3 of what I use to eat, there's no way I can ~ I get full real quick. So, I am starting back to the food guideline I had before but increase my proteins to 4oz and I am going to increase one more bottle of water, as I am starting to do hard core exercises next week, which is my 3 months post op anniversary.

Every person's body is different and the food guideline of "1/3 of what you use to eat", I feel, really pertains from preop to your 2nd or 3rd fill. Once you've start getting your fill, you get tighter and I believe, IMHO, it's impossible for one to continue to eat 1/3 of what you use to eat. What I am lacking in eating my protein intake, I am substituting with a protein shake. Some days my band is fickle and so I need to adjust whatever I have to do to maintain my daily intake.

Hope this helps...

[leyla]

Don't worry at all!

I really was concerned about this myself, but it seems that most people lose between 5 and 12 pounds before their first fill. The fact that you've lost 19 (I'm assuming it includes your pre-op diet) is fantastic!

Don't be discouraged. It all gets better with the first fill. I get mine on Wednesday :-)