bandedehs

Just so you know you are not alone...I was banded on 10/21/11. I have a 4 1/2 yr old and a baby that will be one yr old on 4/16! And I work full time. And I commute 1 hr to work & 1 hr home b/c my mom keeps my girls & she's in between where I live & where I work. And I used to be a gym rat before I had 2 little ones & a husband & a house out of control... I weighed in at 267lbs when I had surgery & now am at 247. Have 5cc's in a 10cc band. I have restriction. I eat protein first & then veggies/fruits & yes I have a sweet tooth & i indulge in a little low-fat ice cream or a piece of chocolate. The band does keep me from overeating...Lord knows I've thrown up enough from eating too fast or too much! But I get hungry & I'm struggling to find a window of opportunity for exercise. I actually cook dinner most nights so when you factor in the clean up & getting babies ready for bed (& yes my hubby helps)....my time is gone...'scuse me...MY time is gone. Thought I'd have lost a lot more by now since I eat so little. Been feeling like this is just another failed (& very expensive) attempt to leave the fat girl behind...

Totally agree. People think that if you got "banded" you ought to be dropping weight like crazy. I'm 4 months post-op & only 20 lbs down & have been discouraged. Until I saw the nurse pract. at my surgeon's office & she "got in low gear" (don't you love that saying?) w/ me & helped me see that I haven't really been using the band like I should. I've been so discouraged b/c I too have lost & gained 100's of lbs over my 40 yrs of life & I struggle finding the reason that I sabotage myself. But I think at that appt last Friday I had an "aha" moment & realized that this band ain't the easy way out. I already have learned how to eat around it, so I know I better get myself in line if I plan to use this thing & not have wasted the time & money.

I think everybody's got some kind of trigger...something we miss. Hubby & I do not eat out a lot & when we do, I'm usually glad I can't eat the amt I used to. But for Valentine's (at my request) he took me to a fancy, schmancy place that is a "farm to table" experience. Communal table for about 15 folks. Chef uses products he's grown or gotten from other local farmers. 5 course dinner. I knew I better start out like I could hold out, you know? So I had a bite of the bread & a taste of the salad, but by the time the succulent, utterly awesome filet arrived...I took about 3 bites & had to leave the table, go out by our car & puke. Bathroom was so close to the table I knew they'd hear me in there! I was embarassed...mortified actually & ticked off that I couldn't "enjoy" this meal. When I came back to the table--they'd brought out dessert & I took one bite & pushed it over to my husband (who by the way is very thin & was at his gag limit as well). so the chef (who brought out each dish & explained it all) & his wife were worried about me....I ended up making up a story about having to check on the kids & that's why I left the table 3 times & couldn't finish dessert. I didn't know any of these folks & didn't feel like explaining LAP band surgery to any of them. So we left $120 poorer w/ part of my dinner on the ground & we laughed & said "maybe we shouldn't do that again anytime soon"...live & learn w/ the band.