rosettag

Thanks!!! You look great and,above all,I appreciate the serenity and balance you've achieved.
I've been banded for 2 years and 8 months and I'm convinced that my band is my best friend.
And I'm so pleased with and encouraged by your long-standing friendship with your band

I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom & hunger. I had 6 years of great work with my 10cc Band and then Cancer showed on the mammogram. That was like a bomb to my everyday emotions and the way I brought myself out of the pit was pleasurable living by eating gooooood food. One year later I'm told the Cancer is gone after the surgeries and my Bariatric Center & surgeon just smile and say, "we'll see you in a year!". No mental help there. (My insurance pays for annual Lap Band checkups!)
I live way out here in the boondocks and don't know where to go next. I've had an appointment with my Nutritionist, but most of our conversation was on things I already knew. The days after spending time here on BP are beginning to put me closer to satiety. . . . I've quit my late evening snacking and have resumed my food tracker. . . . any ideas on what I can do for happier healthier days. . . (it's 19 below zero and I'm housebound . . . no traffic on our road today!).

Thank you! You've done a great job as well. In the first 5 years of banding it was much easier to maintain and lose weight, the hard work comes after 5 years for most people, the motivation is not that great and also as I've gotten older, wiser and married.
Being a size 6 or 8 is not that important to me unless I am getting paid to stay that skinny... haha...and my bikini fashion model days are over...I just want to enjoy the rest of my life healthy, travel, eat out with hubby and small enough to stay out of plus size stores!

This year will be reflection on my long journey, I've had many ups and downs, weight loss surgery IS a journey. I will be 9 years post op this year, and this great little tool is still keeping my weight down.
I am still happy and healthy, I don't have to take a boat load of supplements, or kill myself exercising, just an hour walk daily on my treadmill or outdoors helps keep my weight down.
I started in a size 26, and my lowest size was a 8, I hover around a size 10/12 at 5'7 inches tall now, I don't have to kill myself at this size -- and still eat what I want, I am grateful to be healthy at 9 years post op and most importantly -- still wearing a size 10...

Hi Thea,
I was on the fence about WLS for a while - I'd seen success stories, but I wasn't sure this was truly for me. I had been through all the typical methods: liquid Protein, fasting, TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), Weight Watchers, you name it. It hadn't worked - any of it, because I hadn't make the LIFESTYLE and MINDSET changes that are truly necessary for success.
I want to urge you to take your own advice, darling - "Stay strong and believe in Yourself". I'm also an emotional eater - but that can be worked on! I'm also a Type 2 Diabetic, but you can also stay in compliance with that and continue to work on it while you are banded - but you know that...
Time with a counselor is a great idea - and you can do it before and after being banded! No, the band isn't a cure-all, WE still have to do some of the work, but all of this can be done together! We are not "fixed" entities - human beings are forever growing and changing...so start the process of getting qualified for your lap-band (if you haven't done this already) and while you are awaiting surgery, keep working on the other mental and emotional issues that you want resolved.
Sometimes getting a surgery date "forces" us to pay attention and focus our efforts on being as ready as we can be for the surgery and the lifestyle changes to come afterwards. Its as if the deadline (surgery day) puts the motivation into the situation and we use the deadline to force ourselves to move...I know it was like that for me.
I can say that losing weight via the lap-band, at a moderate but steady pace, will help other health issues to resolve - they did for me!
I've also seen people who have had other surgeries (what worked for THEM) and the rapid loss can cause some challenges with their physical appearance (just my opinion).
I've read studies that indicate that once an individual is 50 lbs overweight or more, willpower is just NOT enough. There are chemical systems in our bodies that literally PREVENT us from doing the right thing where food is concerned. "Diets" or "eating plans" often do NOT incorporate the WHOLE person - physical, mental and emotional. Start the work on your mindset and emotions, follow the path toward your lap-band, and see it as a TOOL - a process and a physical aid that will help you reach your goals.
Please let us know how you are doing, and if I can be of further assistance, I'm willing. This forum and the people on it were there for me when I started investigating my lap band (I was banded in Nov 2008) and I wouldn't change a thing - except maybe to work on ME more before surgery.
Blessings,

Well it'll be 3 years since my lap band surgery and honestly it's been an up and down climb. I haven't been online for almost three years!!!!!
I started off strong and lost 55 lbs. and since have gained some and lost some. Didn't think i"d still be up and down with my weight after getting the band. After almost 3 years I still haven't found a way to make my band work for me. This is the year however!!!!

Think positive thoughts, cut your meals in half, walk, walk & walk, read & study nutrition and keep tuned to BariatricPal.com.
P.S. Welcome home! Let us know how it goes. .

A friend of mine had a second band placed after the first had slipped.
The second band is a great success, since she has lost all the weight she had gained back ( about 100lbs, 52 kilos) during the two years without a band.

A friend of mine had a second band placed after the first had slipped.
The second band is a great success, since she has lost all the weight she had gained back ( about 100lbs, 52 kilos) during the two years without a band.

I was banded on May 10th 2013. From the day of the operatin till Christmas I followed a very strict food plan ( no carbs, Proteins , also vegetal ones, a lot of salads, two spoonfuls of olive oil a day, skim milk or yogurt.
I lost 100lbs.
At Christmas I tasted sweets and other dishes which belong to our tradition (I' m Italian).. and from that day on, it was all more difficult.
l can understand what you feel, but I think we can always decide to resume our journey to helth and target weight.
Why don' t you join Overeaters Anonymous? They are very helpful.
The advice I read here are wise, but it is better for us not to travel alone.
When I go to OA meetings , I feel stronger because they support me.
Love!!!!

Go back to basics as if you just had surgery. Do a couple days of Clear Liquids then full liquids then back to eating only Protein and good carbs. You have detox from the sugar and day three and four may be hell with a headache but you can get through it. For those that think a fill will help it will not. chocolate doesn't care how tight your band is it will still slip through. No fill will help with that. You have to help that.

I was banded on May 10th 2013. From the day of the operatin till Christmas I followed a very strict food plan ( no carbs, Proteins , also vegetal ones, a lot of salads, two spoonfuls of olive oil a day, skim milk or yogurt.
I lost 100lbs.
At Christmas I tasted sweets and other dishes which belong to our tradition (I' m Italian).. and from that day on, it was all more difficult.
l can understand what you feel, but I think we can always decide to resume our journey to helth and target weight.
Why don' t you join Overeaters Anonymous? They are very helpful.
The advice I read here are wise, but it is better for us not to travel alone.
When I go to OA meetings , I feel stronger because they support me.
Love!!!!

I was banded

There is nothing you can do but decide to stop eating it. I know that this is easier said than done, but really, what choice do you have? It will suck for a day or three and your head will tell you that you want it MUCH longer than your body will, but YOU and only YOU can make the decision to stop eating it.

Stop eating it. Carb will scream your name for a day or four and then the "need" for them will fade and you will be able to break away from the addiction. What good is that candy doing for you anyways? Why are you eating it? I know you want to hear more than to stop eating it, but really, that's all that can be said.

Stop eating it. Don't buy it, don't keep it, don't go near it.
Oh! I put boogers in it. Just so you know.

It is May 2011..
It's a mess when I write in English..

I was banded on May 10th 2013. From the day of the operatin till Christmas I followed a very strict food plan ( no carbs, Proteins , also vegetal ones, a lot of salads, two spoonfuls of olive oil a day, skim milk or yogurt.
I lost 100lbs.
At Christmas I tasted sweets and other dishes which belong to our tradition (I' m Italian).. and from that day on, it was all more difficult.
l can understand what you feel, but I think we can always decide to resume our journey to helth and target weight.
Why don' t you join Overeaters Anonymous? They are very helpful.
The advice I read here are wise, but it is better for us not to travel alone.
When I go to OA meetings , I feel stronger because they support me.
Love!!!!

I was banded on May 10th 2013. From the day of the operatin till Christmas I followed a very strict food plan ( no carbs, Proteins , also vegetal ones, a lot of salads, two spoonfuls of olive oil a day, skim milk or yogurt.
I lost 100lbs.
At Christmas I tasted sweets and other dishes which belong to our tradition (I' m Italian).. and from that day on, it was all more difficult.
l can understand what you feel, but I think we can always decide to resume our journey to helth and target weight.
Why don' t you join Overeaters Anonymous? They are very helpful.
The advice I read here are wise, but it is better for us not to travel alone.
When I go to OA meetings , I feel stronger because they support me.
Love!!!!

Maybe you have lost weight because of your health problems, but now you are recovering.
A lot of people lose weight when they are ill, but gain it back when they recover.
I think your band will help you avoid it.
You can resume your journey to health and target weight. You are not alone,you have a friend, your band, to help you.

You have a new friend now, your band.
You'll recover soon and enjoy it ( or him? Her?)
I'm Italian and make a lot of mistakes..

I don't drink alcohol, empty calories.

Best of luck with your surgery!
What did I do before band?
I took part in a three-week programm of rehabilitation from compulsve eating, tried to choose healthy food, started chewing longer and avoided drinking during meals.
I lost 20 lbs in a month and a half.
I know that a lot of people often eat as much as they can before surgery, but I knew that I had to get used to eating less and better before surgery, because I wouldn't be able to cope with a sudden and forced change in my eating habits.
I also started having a one-hour walk every day.
Here in Italy surgeons don't ask to follow any sort of pre-op diet, but my surgeon said that weight loss would made both surgery and recovery easier

You are all so kind!!
I feel at home here.

I've just joined this forum.
I'm Italian, 61 years old.
I've been banded since may 10th 2011.
I've lost 50 kg (about 100 lbs) .
I've gained 5 kg back,but I think it is something that happens to most people.
My band is my best friend.
When I had my lap band surgery I knew it was the last chance life was giving me e that, if I failed, I would live (and die) as an obese.
This is the reason why I'm determined to make my band work.
Here in Italy, when there are no more chances left, we say "it's my last shore".
I hope you can help me not to give up..

I've just joined this forum.
I'm Italian, 61 years old.
I've been banded since may 10th 2011.
I've lost 50 kg (about 100 lbs) .
I've gained 5 kg back,but I think it is something that happens to most people.
My band is my best friend.
When I had my lap band surgery I knew it was the last chance life was giving me e that, if I failed, I would live (and die) as an obese.
This is the reason why I'm determined to make my band work.
Here in Italy, when there are no more chances left, we say "it's my last shore".
I hope you can help me not to give up..

I've just joined this forum.
I'm Italian, 61 years old.
I've been banded since may 10th 2011.
I've lost 50 kg (about 100 lbs) .
I've gained 5 kg back,but I think it is something that happens to most people.
My band is my best friend.
When I had my lap band surgery I knew it was the last chance life was giving me e that, if I failed, I would live (and die) as an obese.
This is the reason why I'm determined to make my band work.
Here in Italy, when there are no more chances left, we say "it's my last shore".
I hope you can help me not to give up..