KayTee

Erica I am in the same boat. I am a sugar addict and am regretting ever having surgery! My will power sux and im very disappointed with myself! I've been banded a year and a half and no weight loss. I don't even know what to say. My doc said I will do well with lap band. I think he wanted my money and didn't care if I actually lost weight. I know what I should be doing. We ALL know the right way to lose weight. I'm just not sure why I can't get my butt in gear. It's hard to see everyone else being successfull. I am so happy for them. Wishing it was me...

Erica I am in the same boat. I am a sugar addict and am regretting ever having surgery! My will power sux and im very disappointed with myself! I've been banded a year and a half and no weight loss. I don't even know what to say. My doc said I will do well with lap band. I think he wanted my money and didn't care if I actually lost weight. I know what I should be doing. We ALL know the right way to lose weight. I'm just not sure why I can't get my butt in gear. It's hard to see everyone else being successfull. I am so happy for them. Wishing it was me...

KayTee, I don't regret having the LapBand. I am also very disappointed in myself. As someone stated earlier you cannot eat ice cream when you have a band and expect to be successful. What they miss is that after all the work and time and wanting, after not losing weight what point is it to NOT have the ice cream. I haven't given up and neither should you. Maybe, there should be a Discussion Section for those that are not losing weight to see what we can do for each other?

Erica and others. It's very refreshing to read honest personal assessments of yourselves and the lack of success you've achieved. I think for many of us we secretly share some of the same fears now and going in.
For me, it's how much I want the thin life. I want it desperately, and for me, this is my ticket, my one opportunity to make it happen. I've bought the lapband pitch, hook line and sinker. And I'm glad I did.
You will have to find something other than food to be passionate about. For me, this is it. I sincerely hope you find that switch that motivates you as much as I am. Good luck.
tmf

(I only say this with respect and the best intentions. I just hope someone would try to say this to me if I am giving up.) Don't give up... Try again. You were strong enough and motivated enough at one point to go through surgery which is a big deal and it sounds like you have had success. It is very, very hard to lose weight and change ourselves. And scary. Try to remember how it felt when you were motivated and the things you saw in your mind when you thought about succeeding. It is still there. I wish the best for you.

I'm thankful for the courage you have shown just for telling your challenging stories here. I'm also glad you didn't get too many of the lectures and condescension that some people like to spew all over anyone who does not "work" the band like they do or who is willing to be honest about the choices they are making, or the fears they have. It's awful! I'm not banded yet, but with the vitriol I've seen toward "unsuccessful" bandsters, there's no way I'd admit it around here! YOU are courageous and soooooo appreciated!
I also think it is important for people to hear stories like yours. It seems that most of the people who are active here are either pre-band or successful on the band. Of course, NOT everyone fits into one of those categories, but it seems like that's most people here. That is wonderful and I'm so happy and encouraged by their stories. However, one can get an overly rosy picture of life after band. I am sure there are many people who are banded and not losing weight and they feel embarrassed or unwelcome here. Worse yet, they probably get criticized by other banded people. I mean really, if one more person says, "you still have to work at it!!!!" So, your story brings some perspective and balance to that picture. Your story helps us remember that we have more to overcome than the scale and that we all have many reasons why we fail or succeed.
I don't know what the future holds for you, but I sure hope you are able to live in a body you can love, and be healthy, mentally and physically, regardless of what the scale says.

Sugar addiction isn't easy- I was one BIG time. Sometimes I would eat entire bags of Reese's miniatures in one sitting. I drank 6-8 regular sodas a day. Heck sometimes I'd even get up in the middle of the night to have a sweet treat.
But just like any other addiction, you have to suffer to kick it.
If you can go a week without sugary treats and restrict your carbs (because they process like sugar in your body), you would be over the worst of it. Drink LOTS of Water during that time too to flush your system.
Also, I would strongly advise seeking counseling. The Lap-Band can restrict how much we can physically eat and make us feel full sooner but it can't change our brains. Addiction is very real, including to food, and if you want to be successful with your band it's necessary to get your head in the game and seek help for the addiction.
Good luck.

I avoid it except under special circumstances. For instance, I love Cadbury eggs so over Easter I had a couple. Tomorrow is my birthday so I'll be having a piece of Tiramisu rather than birthday cake. Truth is, I honestly don't like the sluggish "blah" way sugary foods make me feel. I'm quite content without them now. But kicking that addiction wasn't easy.
I'm so glad you've started counseling! I think it's going to really help you a lot!

I agree with Mis73 on this issue! You have to think of it like a detox, and you will go through withdrawals like nicotine, drugs etc. I don't know how true it is but I have heard that for some dropping the sugar is worse than other substances.
I know when I detox I get cranky, headaches, my systems cleans itself out, I have broken out, just feel flat out depressed.
It will make it easier to avoid or to have in very limited amounts once you are off them for a bit. My suggestion is to try to keep off them as long as possible and maybe try to substitute other things for it. There are some good products on the market that use splenda and things like that. I also have found sometimes when I am craving something like ice cream or chocolate I make up a Protein shake and toss a banana in it with some extra ice. It gives me the chocolate/the coldness/sweetness/and a bunch of protein in it. Yogurt can be good to help you over the hump!
Alot of people on here do a piece or two of dark chocolate or other kind of sweet if you cannot shake it.
But try not to set yourself up for feeling negative on the band. For most of us that have been on multiple diets before, only to gain back the weight plus some extra. You figure each time you do that, and keep gaining over the course of years you are just going to see the number going up, up and away.
Try to get a control on that sugar addiction, and try not to let it control you! Good luck in your counseling for it and keep us posted!

So glad there are others who can relate to your dilemma. I like candy, chocolate but was never addicted to them. Good luck and you might try KayTee's route before you throw in the towel?
tmf

I also fear the sugar monster. It is hard to change and you are right, it is an addiction. I have stopped drinking soda and have started substituting sugar free jello for when I get a sugar urge.