Lap Band instructions vs MFP calories

As you said, you eat WAY too much processed food. Your sodium counts are anywhere from 1000-4000 over the daily MAXIMUM allowance of 2500. Get off the processed food. Try some fruits and veggies instead. They're better for you.

ADDITION: I just read through your entire diary. I have a hard time believing that after lap band surgery, the doctor would want you eating fast food for every meal. You need to start eating in a healthy manner. Overly processed and fast foods isn't the right way.

It sounds like you found a happy medium by boosting your calories to 1200-1400 calories. I eat less than what MFP suggests also. It may be your sodium--are you drinking enough water? My sister has a lapband in and she is also experiencing difficulties losing weight. Keep working on it and ask the nutritionist what they would suggest. Good Luck
:flowerforyou:

I would check with the Nutritionist or whoever is supervising you. That may be too many calories for this soon and/or the size of your band. 900-1100 w/110 grams of protein should be about right which is close to what you stated.

It maybe that you are just getting back into the exercise routine. It could be a short stall while the body adjusts to exercising again.

You have to ignore the warning on MFP when you are under Doctors orders, the site cannot adjust for that.

If over on sodium that can also be your problem. It makes you retain water. So you will really need to make sure you are getting in your 64oz of water every day.

Otherwise, you have done great and maybe just need to be pateint!

Best of Luck!

Agree with other posters.

You're on the right track - upping your calories was wise, I think.

The first month or two are gimmies after WLS, but after that - it's the same work as for anyone: healthy food choices and moving more. Watching sodium is important, but so is getting lots of whole grains, lean meats, healthy fats. Consider eating multiple times during the day: maybe even 8 meals of about 150 a piece.

Stick with it. You're on a healthy road - now you just have to stay the course, make some great food choices, drink your water, and keep on moving.

Best of luck!

I had weight loss surgery on February 7, 2011 and I have lost about 70 pounds. I stick with my nutrition plan from my nutritionist. I eat 1/2 cup of food 6 times a day.

This is a Calorie Counter! Try Obesityhelp.com for great advice and experience from others who have had YOUR type of WLS.

I highly suggested getting better educated about food. Process food is a NO NO. You are not eating enough....just crazy combo of food. . The more you learn about food the better you loss will be. I never had weight loss surgery but if you don't start changing your diet you can gain not loose. you can do it!

Okay, so I'm feeling the need to comment to some of your commenters. :-)

1st - you're doing FINE. If you're following the advice of your doctors and nutritionist - you're doing fine. The weight will come off.

2nd - I *completely* advocate and support a whole food diet that eliminates or significantly cuts back on processed foods. However. It won't kill you. While it's not my preference, and there is research that suggests the additives, salt, and processing can cause other issues - - - the bottom line is it's calories in and calories out. With gastric alteration of any type, you have to be even more aware of taking in the right kinds of food more often, and most likely supplementing with an oral multi-vitamin. Again, I really do support a whole foods diet - - - but processed food is not the devil.

After lap banding and/or gastric surgery, your diet will absolutely be different. Your calorie and intake will NOT be normal - that's part of the process. So, while 1200 calories for someone at 400 lbs seems severe (and it is), that is part of the weight-loss-surgery bargain. And why, again, what you do take in should be as fulfilling and nutrient rich as possible. Others have posted concern over the fast food, and I echo that. My rationale is that now is a great opportunity to try changing your diet and liking other foods. You've got a time-limited advantage here to change your tastes and opt for healthier foods. Otherwise, over time - the bad will not help and you are likely to regain your weight. However, again, the fast food isn't precisely evil - a little bit here and there as a treat should be considered as an option. And, quite frankly, if you consume just 150 calories of fast food 7 times a day, you'll still lose weight. But you may suffer in other nutritional ways, and you will have lost the opportunity to begin changing your eating habits to set you up for longer term success.

3rd - the idea of printing your food diary is AWESOME. If you track your food and print it - you can get specific feedback from your healthcare provider.

4th - And most painfully (and hopefully not offensively), the people here are great and supportive. Use them. However, most of us are not doctors or providers. So, while we can give our humble opinions, a little misinformation could take you into a dangerous zone. I am an RN, but I quiver when giving advice - we just don't know your context and what is right for your body. So, as always, please check in with your provider.

Especially with following the diet and keeping your calories in check, you really should be seeing progress. It might be time to make a check-up appointment. Perhaps your band needs to be tightened - maybe it's a plateau - maybe it's something else. The great thing about WLS is you've got a whole team of people ready to support you, that know you.

Best of luck!

I had the lapband done in Dec 2009. I lost 40 lbs quickly and stayed there for about a year. Sorry to say, but it isn't easy finding what works for you. I finally got tired of being obese and went back to my doctor this October and had all the fluid removed so I could eat normally and lose weight correctly. I started eating every 3 hours, no processed foods, and working out 2 hours a day. I am down another 85 lbs since October and never go over 2500 of sodium. I have fine tuned my gym time and now only spend 1 hour a day while burning the same amount of calories. I know I am an exception to the rule and this might not work for everyone, but it did for me. PS, I'm getting the lapband removed in September! Yay! Friend request me if you want to see my food diary and anymore support you need.

AWESOMELY FANTASTIC inspiration!

Yah at first I dropped weight like crazy!!!! But once the initial post surgery diet was over and I was living normal life again on the bander diet, I don't lose any faster with my lapband than I did w/out it. I'm a 1-2 lb a week loser eating about 1200-1300 calories a day. It's totally fine with me. I knew that it was different from bypass in that my weight loss WOULD be no faster than anyone else eating a healthy diet. It just helps me stick to smaller portions (when I follow the bander diet). Sure, I could eat slider foods till it came out my ears and never feel restriction and never lose or even gain. The processed foods are so bad (but so convenient - especially for a working mom!!!) But when I eat the dense protein I'm suppose to, I feel it.

I can't eat less than 1200 w/out feeling sluggish and useless though. I also don't beat myself for eating a little more on days I work out. (I never go over 1500/day though). On those days I allow myself more snacks a day like greek yogurt, low fat cheese. So I may eat 5-6 times a day vs. 3-4 on days I don't work out. But my meals sizes are always small.