ladybug3

I'm just checking in, too. I rarely come here anymore, but I've been feeling like I need to re-focus, you know? I've been at the same weight (144) for ages and ages, but I'd really like to lose another 15 and be down at 130. It's not so much the weight, but I'm feeling less in control of my eating than I used to feel. I'm reasonably good diet-wise, although I probably eat too many carbs and drink too many calories (lattes and alcohol are my biggest downfalls) but I mostly stick to "the rules" which helps a lot. I think right now I just mostly miss feeling like I was in charge, not my stomach. I get hungry more often than I used to. I might need a fill, since I haven't been to the doctor in a pretty long time - probably almost a year - and I can eat things that used to be hard, mainly hamburger and rice. I ate cold sushi recently without getting stuck and that's usually a big tip-off that I need a fill. My life is going through a lot of changes right now. It's my birthday tomorrow and I will now be closer to 40 than I am to 30. I'm not admitting to anyone how much that bothers me. I don't mind getting older. In fact, I love it, because I care less and less what others think of me. But I don't like it because my body is less able to adapt and to adjust. I need more sleep, I need better nutrition, I need to take better care of myself than I used to. And that bugs me. I'm not big on self-care. So, I'm glad there are still some people around. Our issues are so different than people who were just banded. I love my band. I would never go back for anything. But I'm still learning how to live with it and how to face that I still have weight issues, even after all of this time and work.

As I am just a few days away from my one-year bandiversary, here's my two cents. First, everyone is different. For some people, weight slides off no matter what they do. For others, they have to fight for every pound, even with the band. But really, I can't imagine that anyone who has longterm success does it without work. I have found that it's really easy to get lazy and stop paying attention to what I'm eating and how much. What's nice, though, is that now my discipline level is closer to my friends who watch their weight. And having good fills is super important! Good luck!

For anyone reading this who has not had their surgery, I highly recommend discussing port placement before your surgery. For some reason, it never occured to me to ask my doctors where the port was going to be. When I'm standing, it's fine, but when I sit (especially because I hunch over - yes, I have poor posture!) my underwires really dig into my port and it's very uncomfortable. And there's nothing they can do, unless I have a tt. Some bras are worse than others, but I really wish I had asked that question. I have to adjust my bra sometimes when I'm sitting and sometimes my port site gets really sore. And I'm down to a 32H these days. Gah. Try finding THAT size. And a 32 is almost too big. I so wish I could have a reduction, but I probably can't. I have heart issues and am on blood thinners, so I can't imagine my docs letting me go through such an invasive surgery. I didn't have one when I was younger because I really wanted to be able to breastfeed. Considering that of my three children, only one nursed past four months old and even that was once a day (and except for that last baby, it was never a pleasant experience - I did it because I felt it was best for the baby), it was probably not worth putting off the reduction for, at least for me. Because not only am I huge, but I'm really saggy and have never been "perky" or firm. Oh well. My husband says he likes them. At least that's one of us. :thumbup:

I think my surgeon mentioned PS for the first time today when I got a fill, but I was well aware of the possible need for it. I've wanted a breast reduction since I was in high school (I didn't because I wanted to be able to nurse my babies), but at this point, if I had to choose, I think I'd do the TT. They may have mentioned it in the seminars, but I didn't really pay attention because I knew I already wanted it. I just don't know that I'll be able to get PS at all because I have heart issues and am on blood thinners. It was an issue even getting my band and I had to stay on aspirin and go off my plavix for a few days and start it right away after my surgery (I have stents in my heart). I really, really hope I can at some point because I have terrible sagging from having babies (my skin stretched as soon as I saw the plus sign on the first pg test!) and I'm sure I have muscle damage, since my first was literally pushed out by the nurses. And then I had two more babies! My body NEVER recovered! LOL! I'd also like a reduction because I. am. huge. Seriously, I can barely find bras to fit me, especially now that I've lost weight and am not a "plus-size" band anymore, but still need huge cups. And never mind trying to find a swimsuit. I'd hope that insurance would cover that (I've been complaining to my PCP for years and have been to chiropractors and everything for my back pain), but I don't know that physically I could do both. But I'm only 34 and my kids are still little, so I have lots of years at the beach ahead of me! It's scary, too, because there's always a risk and my family has been through so much with my health. I'd probably have to do some major convincing of my husband first! My question would be for the doctor, is it better to do things seperately or together? How much do medications affect one's prospects for PS? Great thread! I've already learned a lot!

Thanks for all your replies! It's just nice sometimes to know that other people feel the same way. :teeth_smile: I do know that this is a life change and it's a slow process. I totally agree that as long as the scale is not going up, that is a victory, too! Just being able to vent about my feelings really helped. Most of the WLS people I know in real life have had bypass, so their issues are a little different. And while my husband is very supportive and encouraging, he's not going through it and has his own weight issues, so he sometimes sabatoges me without meaning to. Rugman, you're totally right on about the eating being my control factor. That's how I got in this mess in the first place (besides genetics, too)! Sometimes eating is the only thing that makes me feel good at the moment, even though I don't feel good afterwards. I'll have to try the rubberband thing. I think sometimes I want to eat and I don't even think about it. I do try really hard to stop and ask myself if I'm really hungry or if I'm "feeling" something. I still sometimes eat something, regardless of the answer, but it's usually less or is a better choice. I am angry about not being in control in the other areas. I've been in counseling before (I had a heart attack two years ago and saw a therapist to deal with my anger and depression after it) and maybe it would be a good idea to go again. Actually, the best thing I did during that time period was take a class on mindfulness based stress reduction. I was part of a study that was looking at the effects of mindfulness (including, but not limited to, meditation) on cardiac patients. I loved it and regular meditation made a huge impact on my control issues. A meditation group is something I would love to find, but being a stay-at-home mom doesn't give me a lot of time or opportunity for something like that. And honestly, it's not the same for me when I do it alone. Something about the energy of being with other people makes a big difference for me. Oh well. I'll have to keep looking. Thanks again for the responses! I was actually down a couple of pounds this morning, so I feel a lot better. :thumbup:

Hi. I don't post here very often, but I do check in now and then and read a lot of posts. First, I will say that I love my band, I'm so glad I got it, I'd do it again in a heartbeat, etc. But, having said that, I'm in a bit of a funk at the moment. I thought this last fill was perfect and was all set to lose 10 pounds over the last two months. I haven't lost a thing. I'm having a serious motivation problem. I think I've reached the point where my body and my head are in all-out war with each other. I want to eat when I'm not hungry, I want to eat things I shouldn't, I want to keep eating when I'm full. I'm so irritated with myself and I know all the things I should do. I've been pretty successful with this so far and I've been very happy with my weight loss until recently (I was banded last November). As I say, I know what I should do. I'm just really, really having a hard time doing it. I want to. I feel out of control and I hate that. My summer has been very busy and feeling out of control with my eating ties in with feeling out of control in other areas. I'm not practicing self-care in all sorts of areas and I just feel yucky! I'm especially irritated with myself because I don't have that much farther to go to reach my goal! What is wrong with me?!!! Does anyone have any suggestions for getting out of a slump? I know everyone is different and everyone's life circumstances are different, but I just need something to get me started on the right road! I do have an appointment for another fill in a little over a week and I'm sure that will help! But I feel the bigger problem is the head stuff. I'm returning to my self-sabatoging (sp?) ways and that makes me angry. I will not go back there again. I'm feeling depression creeping in again and that makes me angry, too. There's no reason AT ALL for me to be depressed and I refuse to give in to it. But the bad eating habits I thought I'd broken have reared their ugly heads again and I can't seem to get a grip on them. I try reinforcing my good habits instead of focusing on my bad ones and that helps, but man, that's a struggle too. I have tons of support and I feel my main battle is against busyness and emotional responses to stress. I think part of my struggle is that I feel that I can't find the time (or sometimes the energy) to do the things that help me maintain equlibrium, such as meditation/prayer, yoga, writing, reading, etc. While I don't feel those things are optional, they get pushed aside by the immediate needs of my young family (I have three kids - 7, 4 and 2). I feel like I'm finally myself again after several years of very difficult circumstances and I'm struggling to reorder my life to be the way I want it to be and my biggest obstacle is myself! So after all that long rambling and introspection (:thumbup: - more than anyone cared to read, I'm sure!), any suggestions?

I take aspirin every day, per doc's order for a heart condition. But it is a "baby" aspirin. I take lots of other meds, too. I usually drink a lot of Water or take them right before I eat, so they don't make me sick. My main no-no's are drinking during and after meals and eating too fast. That's something I really struggle with. I have little kids and my husband is a really fast eater (too fast!) and I get left at the table a lot. They're not trying to be rude, but one can expect little ones to sit still for only so long. My husband is too hyper to sit still for long, either. So I really have to work at remembering to eat slowly. I don't have a problem chewing a million times - been stuck enough times to remember that! It's the taking time between bites that I forget. I eat so much less when I remember to do this.

I'm tight in the morning too and am a night eater. It honestly sounds to me like you're not getting nearly enough protein or calories. Foods like cereal and soups are not really good band foods from what I understand. Lots of carbs and lots of liquids don't keep you full. All carbs aren't bad, of course, but choose ones that will stick with you better. Here are a few things I do (most of which have already been suggested!): - Eat protein. Keep cheese snacks, almonds, whatever, handy. I always make extra grilled chicken and if I'm hungry, I'll grab a piece. I also like cheese and whole wheat crackers or a small (saucer sized) plate of nachos with salsa. - Eat dinner later and keep it protein heavy. If I eat dinner at 5:30, I'm hungry by 10:00. But if I eat dinner at 7:00, then I'm good for the rest of the evening. This is hard with kids, but I've done it. I find I eat less when I eat without my family, too. - Drink something warm with a little fat: tea or coffee with cream (I use half and half). I don't like hot chocolate, but I could see how that would really hit the spot! Make it with milk so you get calcium. - Go to bed early. This helps me a ton! I hate going to bed and am a total night person. But, I get hungry and I make bad food choices. So I've been really trying to make myself go to bed on time because I won't eat once I'm in my pj's and have brushed my teeth. This goes with Hairband's very good suggestion to think about why you're eating what you're eating. Night eating is a habit that is really hard to break. So you need to make new habits for yourself. - If I feel the need for something sweet, I keep a stash of dark chocolate peanut M&Ms. With these, I get both a little sweet (I'm not a sweets person in general) but i can also tell myself they have protein! LOL! Just be sure to measure out what you want (5 or 6) and then put the bag away! And eat them one at a time and chew reeeeaallly sloooowly. :wink2: And seriously, if you're hungry, eat. The band is not about starving yourself. If you're too hungry, you need a fill. The band is supposed to supress your hunger to the point that you can think about your choices and make good ones. My doc tells me I should be getting about 800-1000 calories a day. That is not starvation. Your body needs energy to function, especially if you're exercizing a lot. But eat before you're so hungry you can't wait any longer. One of my favorite meals is a whole wheat grilled cheese sandwich with lots of shaved chicken, honey mustard and tomato, raw spinach, avacado and whatever other veggies I can fit on it. I can only eat a half a sandwich, but there is so much nutrition packed into it! And it only takes a few minutes to make and it tastes like you ordered it in a restaurant. Sorry to write such a long post, but since I've struggled with this, too, I wanted to tell you what helps me! Good luck! Always remember, tomorrow is another day!

Yes, I own the Vitamin snob title. LOL! No, I have no costco near me. It a source of neverending sadness. :wink2: I have heard a rumor that one is coming though, so I'll keep that in mind. I do wonder if a liquid vitamin wouldn't work better for me. I take a lot of medications so I'm already swallowing so many things that the vitamin seems like just more work. Lovekatz, you're lucky. I don't even want to try swallowing something big. What would I do if it did get stuck? Ack.

I was banded about the same time as you! I've gotten a bit stuck myself lately, but I think this last fill is the right amount. For myself, I know that means I need to kick it in gear a little. You exercise way more than I do! Good for you! I find, too, that sometimes it takes a while for the scale to catch up to what is going on in my body. For me, weight seems to come off in "chunks." I'll lose four pounds one week and then none for a few weeks. I figure this is a long process and as long as I feel good and my clothes are still getting looser, I'm ok! Be sure to voice your concern to your doc. If you don't feel that your hunger is under control, you need a fill. I think that I'm at the point where I really have to start dealing with the emotional hunger now that I have the physical hunger pretty well dealt with. Can you go to your doc sooner? Mine still has me seeing him every 3 - 4 weeks until I stop needing fills and then we'll move to every couple of months. But he's told me that if I don't feel the fill is enough to call him sooner. Good luck! I totally understand the discouragement since I feel it sometimes, too, but just remember that this is a process, not a quick fix. You're doing great so far and should be very proud of yourself! The changes you're making now will benefit you for the rest of your life. :wink_smile:

Actually, my question is about swallowing Vitamins. I've been taking the chewable centrums for a few months, but I really don't like them. I've started taking my old Shaklee vitamins that I took before I had surgery and I feel such a difference! I have more energy, my hair loss slowed down finally (although I seem to be one of the few who's actually enjoyed losing some hair - I can actually do stuff with it now!), etc. The only annoying part is that I've been cutting them into rough thirds or quarters because they're so huge! Does anyone else do this? I'm afraid to swallow a larger piece because it would be so awful to have it get stuck! What would I do if a pill got stuck anyway? But I tell ya, they are not tasty when they've been cut! And the edges aren't smooth so it sometimes hurts. Plus, they crumble, so I lose some of the Vitamin. And I'm supposed to take two a day! Needless to say, I don't always do that. But I do notice the difference even taking only one, which tells me I may as well flush those Centrum down the can. I keep meaning to go to the natural food place and compare my Shaklee with the chewables they have there, but I just haven't yet. My clinic's nutritionist thinks I'm a vitamin snob, but I feel a difference. So I'd really like to find a better vitamin than Centrum or the others like it. All that to ask, what do the other vitamin snobs do? Do y'all cut your vitamins up or have you found a better alternative? Thanks. :biggrin2: