ErinMarie

So I just had my 3-year bandiversary a couple weeks ago and now next month I'll be getting my first fill under fluoroscopy to see if there is anything funny going on with my band...I had a baby last year and I've gotten a few fills since then with no change...like none whatsoever. It feels like I don't have a fill at all but I still get stuck. I'm worried something is wrong but at the same time, I'm hoping something is wrong so I have a reason for my weight loss being at a stall. Is it weird to be excited about a possible issue?

Anyway, wish me luck! I'm not sure if I want the all-clear or them to find an issue that is fixable...Here's hoping whatever is wrong isn't super bad and doesn't cost an arm and leg to fix!

You need a second opinion sister! Just because one doctor says you are failure does not make it so!

Gastroenteritis + the band = HELL! I had this same problem and made the mistake of getting a fill just 2 days later! DUMB! Won't make that mistake again!

So lately, I've been really into the self-love body/fat acceptance movement. The Fat Girl Dancing videos, The Militant Baker and her big FU to the guy from Abercrombie, the girls making the documentary Fattitude... Body positivity and fat acceptance is spreading at a faster pace than once before. I feel empowered when I read about these women changing beauty standards and as plus-size model Tess Munster says, #effyourbeautystandards. I want to be a fat girl that doesn't care that she is fat and wears mini skirts and crop tops and bikinis! I want to stop saying "when I get to this weight" then I'll wear this/do that/eat this/etc...and I've realized the only thing stopping me from wearing and doing what I want now is ME (and society, but mostly me).

But I am so torn between loving my body the way it is and wanting to accept it but at the same time desperately wanting to change it and be smaller so I can feel normal in the eyes of society and the image I have had of an 'acceptable' weight. How do I join the body acceptance movement without being the hypocrite with the WLS? How do you balance wanting to lose weight but also wanting to be okay with your body NOW? I feel so strange trying to push body and fat positivity while counting calories and feeling guilty for sitting all day at work instead of finding time to walk the stairs for some form of exercise.

Surely I'm not alone in wanting to accept my body and be proud to be fat...even though I don't want to be as fat as I am now? How do you find a balance as to not feel like a total hypocrite?

Hey all you slackers! How are you doing?

I'll start! By August 2012 I had lost 97 lbs and FINALLY got into ONEDERLAND. It was so wonderful, I found out I was pregnant a month later! I had Xander Leon May 13, 2013... Just over 2 years after I was banded!

I had half of my Fluid taken out due to swelling and not being able to eat well...I ate whatever I wanted (to a point) and gained 60 lbs during my pregnancy. Now, 10 months after the birth of my baby...I started getting fills in December 2013 but it's been slow-going and I've been super unmotivated and putting my child first (for obvious reasons).

I just got another fill today and am ready to re-commit to my weight-loss/lap band. I've started using My Fitness Pal again, I'm cutting back on my carbs, upping my Water intake and exercise, and sticking to my band rules! I'm getting closer to my green zone and I'm so ready to be there!

I have 50 lbs to get to where I was before and another 40 after that to reach my goal weight! I'm annoyed I'm so far behind, but I'm motivated to get back into it!

Tell me how you are doing!

I had some Vitamin B candies that were made for pregnancy nausea. I'm not sure how much they helped because I never got super nauseous, but they were good! lol

I agree...sounds like you're a bit too tight! Just be careful with that. If you stay too tight for too long you be more swollen and have to potentially get more taken out to relieve the tightness...and then you have to start all over again! No fun!

Thanks for the replies! I posted this one night and have been busy ever since!

My husband is finally getting in the "I need to get healthy" mindset and I couldn't be more happy. We are moving on Saturday and get to literally start all over in our kitchen. He's already said he wants to try to shop on the outside of the grocery isles! So proud, lol.

I'm hoping with my fill and his new revelation we will start losing weight together. He also wants to join Planet Fitness once we move as well... I'm not sure if we will really have a lot of time to devote to working out (with a 10 month old at home), but I'm sure we can find some time!

I got my Soup and protien shakes for the next 2 days for my liquids... I'm not sure I'll do liquids at dinner, but I'm going to make the effort (I tend to always cheat with the 2 days of liquid diet after a fill). I logged my Breakfast and lunch in MFP already and I'm drinking my water...

I'm ready to start today! I'm waiting to get a fill right now! Let's get back on this bandwagon. I gained 7 lbs since I was here in Jan! Not terrible but NOT good! So ready to get this started.

I have 2 job interviews tomorrow, I close on my house on Friday and move on Saturday! Here's hoping me and my band can handle it all!

My home situation is very stressful right now and im prepaing to move next weekend so my diet may not be the best this week...but my husband and I are soooo looking forward to starting over in a clean empty kitchen!

Are we starting on Monday? Because I had a bagel for Breakfast :/

Erin, I'd love to help you as well! I've been trying to get back to the gym and it seems like I do so well and then something happens. I got bronchitis this week when I had planned to start back on Monday. Now I'm on prednisone which is making my whole body swell and my hunger out of control. I'm off the prednisone in 3 days and hoping my cough is better so I can work out without making myself more sick. You are exactly right, I need to eat like my band is properly filled and I'm having a horrible time with cravings and then I give in. I'm going to try to start again tomorrow and hope I can do this! I think we're in the same boat of weight lost and gained so lets do this together!

Congrats on the baby also

That's neat we have similar stories! How has your post baby weight loss been? I've put on more than I wanted to with my little man but I'm not letting it stress me out. I'll work my butt off again after with a little new motivation in tow!

Oh my terrible lol. I gained 60 lbs and im only down 10! I haven't been trying super hard but I am getting my 2nd fill next week and trying to get more motivated with my eating and food choices! I'm not stressing either right now but I'm ready to get back into onederland.

I'm curious how your wives/girlfriends/etc have handled your surgery, change in eating habits, and weight loss. Is your lady bigger or smaller than you? Do you think that affects her reaction to your situation? If she is bigger, is she going to consider WLS or has she had it already?

Also, do you think you have a harder time with the smaller portions? I know society always assumes men need the huge portions so how hard was it to change your mindset? I struggle with it myself so I can only imagine how hard it would be if I was expected (I can't think of a better word for this) to eat that much anyway!

I'm asking this because I am trying to picture my husband getting lap band and I just I can't see him being able to follow through with all the restrictions. (Although he has surprised me in the past!) He's not getting it or even considering it anyway...just a thought that popped into my head!

Congrats on your surgery! Cute baby!!! I just had a baby (well he's 10 months) and I'm struggling to stay focused on eating properly and take care of him. Msg me if you ever need mommy encouragement!

Your doctor should know that sometimes life gets in the way and your health takes a backseat! Don't feel ashamed! You had the guts to go and get a fill and that's what they are for.

What you need to focus on now is getting back into mindset of banded eating and rules...this is what I'm working on after gaining 50 lbs after getting pregnant and getting a partial unfill (I was 97 lbs down). I'm getting another fill on Tuesday and have decided to eat like I'm in the green zone already. Cutting out breads and thick pastas, detoxing from sugar/chocolate (my weakness), and upping my exercise and Water intake!

I'll help you if you help me!

I got the band in June of 2012, got pregnant in August 2013, and an due in June 2014. Almost two years to the day! we had 8 failed fertility treatments before I got my band. It took one year for me to have regular cycles (I didn't even realize they were regular so I was shocked when I found out I was pregnant). Best decision of my life!

Your story is basically identical to mine! Banded May 2011, surprise baby in Sept 2012 (also didn't know my cycles had regulated), and had him May 2013!! No issues at all

Keep in mind the band is removeable not reversible. It's meant to be permanent.

Also, it can definitely help with getting pregnant! I'm proof of that too

Maybe try setting some small goals to work towards or give yourself a nice reward (like a spa day) to help sweeten the goal!

Where are you located?

Think of some clever remark like, "Hey, how do you gals lose weight eating Krispy Kreme and Smashburgers". Of course, you may want to tame it down?

I'd think that if I was in a group and I posted I was eating Krispy Kreme(example) I'd assume everyone knew I didn't care about losing weight.

Can we be friends? Lol im erinistehawesome.

Im not tracking right now but I intend to start after my fill on Tuesday!

I know this is a documentary, but it's pretty awful and paints the lap band as the WLS that does not work and that RNY works so much better. (And with that poor woman dying, that you will too if you are fat and don't get surgery.)

These are the types of documentaries that create people that are so against WLS. They don't realize that the woman with the lap band was taking WAY too big of bites with her food after her fill and was probably doing so all along. And she was right in saying there needed to be more support after the surgery...sadly what she didn't know is that there IS more support but you have to seek it out and if you don't use a doctor that provides that support, its your responsibility to find some.

Thankfully, the doctor pointed out that it is just a tool and does actually take willpower and smart choices to succeed with any WLS. I'm wondering if most people getting these surgeries know that before they get into it. We need so much more education on WLS for people that are considering it and that are going through the process to get it!

If you haven't made any progress in 2 years and you are constantly throwing up then something obviously needs to be done! Throwing up could me there are underlying probmels with your band, or it could be from your eating habits. Have you been successful in eating smaller bites, chewing more, and eating slower? That really is a big part of the learning process and takes a lot of time to get used to.

That being said...getting the sleeve is also an option! Your doctor would probably have some good insights as to what would be the best option for you.

If you are working out, you may be taking in too few calroies as well. I would try upping your calories by 200-300 a day for bit and see what that does!

I second what everyone else said! You need to take smaller bites, chew chew chew, and slow way down! You have to remember that food is passing through your band as you eat it and when it gets backed up, thats when the sliming happens. You have to give it time and space to get through there!