Karen72

I'm very happy that you have found this journey easy and have lost weight with little effort. Not all of us are that lucky. I don't just go back and have Fluid taken out when things get tough. I go when I throw up once or twice a day for several days in a row. I'm not over eating those times I throw up. I have three or four bites and run for the bathroom. I have found changing my eating habits a challenge. I have two children's ages 7 and 12. I have to be very careful that I explain that when mommy gets sick it's because of her surgery. I don't want my 7 year old to thing throwing up after meals is normal. I know I need to try harder and with going back to Atkins for two weeks I hope I can loose some weight and feel better about myself.

Hi ladies, let me be the first to say that you are not alone. I work on this every single day.
WLS no matter what type you have take a really big commitment from the individual as well as a total life style change.
I know when we are on a weigh loss program or diet we hear this all the time, when you have WLS it becomes reality. If you are not willing to change your life then you are not going to be successful with your weight loss surgery tool any more than you would be with a diet.
The Lapband can be a fickle partner that is true, and it takes that extra time and care to find that "right" level of fill that you can live with. If you are going to eat around your band then you are going to cause complications that in the long run can hurt you and cause your band to fail.
My motto with the band is slow and steady wins the race.
So try taking a step back from where you are today.
Go back to the early days of pre- and post op. Reset and start again. That is the beauty of the band. You can "reset"!!
Get back on that liquid diet you may have had pre-op or post op. When getting fills, go slowly. Try .05-1 cc at a time. Give it at least 2 weeks to a month to settle in before you go back for additional fills. See how your feeling and how food is passing.
The point with the band is not to be so tight that you can't eat but to be just right so you are not "hungry" between meals and are satisfied with the small band portion of food.
Start measuring out your food. Use Ziplock containers that have volume measurements on the side. Start tracking your in take with my fitness pal or one such app or just write it down or take a picture of all the food you are consuming and then take a look at that and determine if you are eating band size portions or over eating. Are you choosing nutrition whole food or fast food, greasy food, sugary slider type food?
Are you eating too fast? Taking too large a bite? Did you drink enough Water? All these things factor into finding our balance with our bands and our weight loss journey.
Feel free to come back and share your insights with us...and we can share with you as well. We are all on the path to finding what works and what doesn't and what we need. We are a "virtual" support group. I know I can't always make the "live" meetings, and I host them!!

Karen, I'm new to this site and am struggling too! I had surgery nearly four years ago and the weight is coming back on. I developed GERDS, which my physician indicated is a result of me eating around my band. He emptied by band which then allowed me to eat more. I know what I need to do, but having trouble doing it. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that you aren't alone in your struggle.
Is it possible to join a support group in your area? I keep thinking that would help me, but they set the meetings when I've barely gotten off work. As a commuter, I can't make it in the time allowed.
I'm here to offer any motivation I can. Maybe if we could create our own support system our chances of succeeding would improve.