mandi78

I am really struggling and I am so disappointed in myself. I was banded in September and have not even lost 30 pounds yet. I have actually gained a few recently and have really only lost around 20 pounds. I am an emotional eater, I knew this before I was banded but had been in therapy almost 2 years and thought I could do it. Well, I was wrong. I have figured out ways to eat around the band and that's exactly what I'm doing. Is anyone else struggling with this? It's an addiction.....I just can't stop myself from the chips, dip, chocolate, cheese, anything fattening or starchy that I can get down. I finally got restriction with my last fill but wound up vomiting several times daily and still, I would eat whenever and whatever I could get down. Now, it's loosened up again and I can eat more even though I haven't lost any weight. I was exercising but have slacked off. However, even when I was exercising (and I was busting my butt in the gym) I still wasn't losing because I can't get control over my eating. I am so embarrassed and ashamed, I know people are thinking "she had weight loss surgery and she's barely lost any weight at all". I'm so humiliated. I'm still in therapy and it's helping me emotionally but I just can't seem to get over my addiction to food. Any suggestions besides "just stop"? I've tried, believe me.

Dr B did my surgery. I feel that he is one of the best in the business and completely trusted him in doing my surgery. I feel that he is a highly qualified and competent lap band surgeon.

I am six months out and still having a lot of gas. Mainly that feeling that my stomach, abdomen or side has a big air bubble in it. Does anyone else have this that is 6 or more months out? Is it normal? Thanks.

Hi Patricia, my surgeon told me it was normal to feel the pressure in your chest area after surgery. As far as the lightheadedness, I'm not sure about that. I would call your surgeon in the morning just to be sure.

I agree with Lulu. At 4 ccs, I didn't even know I had a band. I'm just now getting restriction at 8.3 ccs.

Its been 2 weeks since my most recent fill. Most of my PBs aren't that bad. One lurch and it comes up usually. I did have a really bad one with eggs on Saturday. Eggs are the devil.

Since my last fill, I have been vomiting almost daily. I finally have the restriction others have been talking about for months. I'm just wondering how often you all vomit. Is there a learning curve or will I be doing this forever?

Is it still happening? It could be related to your vagus nerve. Read this. Vagus nerve - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I just now got to my sweet spot with my most recent fill on Monday. Just be glad you reached yours before 5 months out. LOL Don't worry, you're doing great!

Tell her it's personal and not something you are comfortable discussing.

I have 7.7 ccs in mine and while I do have restriction, I feel that I still need more. For instance, I wake up a lot of mornings STARVING. According to a book they gave me at my fill center, you should not be hungry in the mornings when you are at proper restriction. I will be getting my 6th fill on Monday.

I was just wondering how many CCs you have in your small AP band and if you feel that you are at the right amount of restriction. I have 7.7 ccs and feel that I still don't have proper restriction. Anyone this high or higher before you felt proper restriction? I can eat a lot of things that most bandsters cant eat....sandwich with white bread, thick crust pizza, pasta, rice, tortillas, etc. I know I'm not supposed to eat these things but knowing that I can makes it that much harder not to. Thanks.

Bloo-Reading your post was like reading my own. I had surgery on September 27th and I have only lost about 26 pounds, 1/2 of which I lost on my pre-op diet. I am eating around my band, drinking with meals, and eating almost as much as pre-banding. I'm at 7.7 ccs and I wonder if I will ever get to the point that others get to.....where restriction simply won't allow me to eat like this. I can eat almost anything except a hamburger or sandwich with a lot of bread. I can even eat thick crust pizza if I chew well and drink which I do and I know I'm not supposed to. I ate an entire box of macaroni and cheese for supper tonight. I don't know why I do this to myself. It's a cycle, eat, feel guilty, eat to feel better, feel guilty again. I know it is head hunger and emotional eating. I am in therapy with a therapist who specializes in eating disorders and she also hosts a support group that I attend. In the meantime, I just keep hoping the next fill will be "the one". Good luck to us both. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk with someone who is going through the same thing. P.S. I can't stick to the liquid diet post-fills either.

I'm supposed to do 2 days of liquids followed by 2 days of mushies but I usually don't make it. I'm planning to start Atkins with you guys this weekend....after Valentines Day....I got some of those stuffed chicken breasts at Wal Mart you've all been raving about. I can't wait to try them.

Redgirl-One of my new favorite breakfasts is greek yogurt with fruit and Grape Nuts Trail Mix Crunch cereal mixed in. It's very good.

I ate a protein bar for breakfast this morning and was STARVING less than 2 hours later. Do protein bars keep you all full? I know I have good restriction now and I didn't drink after I ate it. I'm just wondering what the deal was. It was one of those slim fast protein meal bars.

Yes, it is a 10 cc band. I'm pretty sure I've determined the problem is what I'm eating....and not eating. I'm eating junk and like Karen said, that washes through fine. When I'm eating protein like I'm supposed to and try to drink, it does hurt. I'm going to start trying to do better. Thanks for all your responses. I'm just having some emotional issues right now and a grilled chicken breast is not as comforting as mac and cheese, mexican food, etc. I'm working with a therapist who deals with eating disorders and working on myself. Thanks again.

It used to hurt like a bitch....after my 4th fill. Now, it doesn't any more. Does that mean I've stretched my pouch or messed something up? Because seriously, there are a lot of times when I can eat almost as much as I did before surgery and I've had 5 fills w/ 7.7 ccs in a small ap band.

Amy, I know how you feel. This is why I'm not even sure if starting Atkins is the right thing for me. I know I have to do something though. I am not losing at all and my habits are very destructive. I'm not following bandster guidelines at all. I'm just hoping and praying that I have not already stretched my pouch or messed up something regarding my stomach or my band.

If you were at your optimal restriction level, would you be able to take a drink after every couple of bites and eat as much as you did pre-band? I know, I know, we aren't supposed to drink with meals. I'm having a very hard time emotionally right now and I am eating around my band. I am wondering if it is completely due to the drinking (and eating junk that goes down easily) or if I'm still not at my sweet spot or a combination of the three. I have never pb'd or vomited once since I was banded in September but the past few weeks, I have been drinking a lot with my meals so that I can eat more. Any advice, suggestions?

Whew.....well, I spent all day (off and on) reading this thread. I was banded in September and am not pleased with my progress at all. I have nobody to blame but myself. I am a big emotional/stress eater and though I was in therapy for almost 2 years before I had surgery, but I guess it was not enough. I am now back in individual and group therapy. However, I know that a big part of my problem is also my sugar/carb addiction. I did very well on my very low carb pre-op diet because I got off the sugar/carbs. Now, I'm back on sugar/carbs full fledge and I drink with my meals so I can eat more and I'm just basically eating around my band. I'm very disappointed in myself and I have some serious changes to make. I think low carbing will help me because it will help reduce my appetite and cravings. Anyway, enough of my rambling. I really want to do this. I have a few questions if you all don't mind. Georgia girl--What does the lightly salted dry roasted edamame taste like? Those who workout, has low carbing kept you from being able to work out as long/hard as you did before low carbing? I am very proud of myself in that I have been working out religiously for a month now and I am able to do 45-60 minutes of cardio plus some weights (not a whole lot) about 4 times per week. I do not want to lose my stamina and endurance. I know in the past when I have tried to eat low carb or even cut my calories, it makes a big difference in how good and long I can workout. Well, I'm sure I'll have more questions. I'm thinking of starting Friday because I know for me, in the past, days 2 and 3 have always been the worst and that would put those days being Saturday and Sunday so I could just sleep all day if need be.

My doc had me do 2 weeks of 2 protein shakes and 2 lean meat/green veggie/fruit meals per day.....it came out to about 1,000 calories a day. I have a history of having a very enlarged liver and I lost 13 pounds on the pre-op diet but he was barely able to still do the surgery. This is just me personally though. Most people who do a 2 week pre-op diet shrink their livers fine. Mine is just always enlarged.

I am having some of the same problems.....and I still buy way too many groceries. I keep thinking "I'm going to need this and this and this and I want that and that....etc, etc". I've been banded for nearly 4 months but I still don't think/eat like a bandster. I had good restriction for a couple of weeks after my last fill but I feel like it's gone already. Does this happen to anyone else? Every time I get a fill, the restriction seems to only last a few weeks.

It's not the calories (since that is about all you are having in a day) so much as it is having that much protein in one sitting. Your body cannot use 67 grams of protein at one time or even 1/2 that much. Maybe drinking 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the evening would be a better idea. I'm surprised it doesn't make your stomach hurt. Too much protein at one time gives me horrible stomach cramps. But, if your doc knows what you are doing and doesn't have a problem with it then do what works for you. However, if you are eating as well, this would be way too many calories for a protein shake.

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