heidib

I get shoulder pain when hungry. I am 3 yrs out.

Been banded for over 3 yrs. lost 40-50 lbs in first yr. Been bouncing from 170-185 for the past two years. Last time I saw my doctor I had an unfill because of acid reflux. Anyway, I can eat whatever I want and a good amount of food. To tell you the truth I have considered having my band removed. If I'm not using my band why have it in me. I cant get it tightened and have no restriction. I dont know if I believe in the Lapband anymore. Not sure what t o do.

yup :-) normal sounding

ok...you have only been banded for less then 1 month. Right? Your saying you can eat whatever whenever? It is dangerous to do that in the first stages especially....you could slip your band. I know all docs are different but shouldn't you still be in mushy stage? I've been banded since 2008 and have only lost 50 lbs myself. I have been up and down 10 pounds for the last year also :-(. The band is ONLY a TOOL. We have to work it. Believe me there has been plenty of days I say "WHY DO I HAVE THIS THING!?!?!?" I do have to say I have kept off almost all of my weight since 2008. I would have gained it all back if I wasnt banded.....I believe. We still have to put our BIG GIRL PANTIES on & do the right things...eat the right things ect. It sucks and I've been there...I still am there. We all struggle with "head Hunger". I have to tell myself all the time "Nobody will fight this fight for me//////I gotta"!

Anyway, give it time and after a few more fills you wont be able to just eat whatever whenever. :-) Took me about 5 fills before I had good restriction. Hope this helps! :-)

ha ha!!! I've dreamed of eating food too! Thank god its only a dream lol!

It was as though I wrote this post myself. I was banded Oct 2008. I lost a total of 135lbs and have now gained back 25-30lbs. I cant seem to stop eating sweets at night. I dont know what is wrong with me. I want this so bad but dont seem to have the self control anymore. I havent been on here for a while and thought I would look here for motivation instead of hitting up the DQ drive thru. Thanks for reminding me I'm not alone. Good luck!

Yes , It is nice to know we are not alone. :-) This is why we got the band in the first place right? We have a problem with food. I have not been on here in awhile either and came seeking motivation too. :-)

I agree. I've been struggling this past summer, actually this whole year with an addiction to ice cream. I got banded last August and came down to 200lbs and finally 196. My goal is 165. Unfortunately, I've become addicted to ice cream. Once I eat one, I begin to binge every night. I even have to wait till my wife falls asleep so I can go out secretly to buy some. I feel like I've let myself down. The lap band is wonderful but it won't stop me from overeating on these type of foods. What it does is keep my hunger in check. However, what happens if you eat when you're not hungry. I have to get over this ice cream addiction.

Not to mention that I get so confused on how to eat. I figure low carb is what works for bandsters but then my doctor says eating fruit is okay too. I'm just so frustrated and in need of a pick me up.

I here ya on the ice cream! I was never so into ice cream and sweets as I am now . I wish I new what to say but I am dealing the same issues. I guess we just have to want it.

thanks everyone for the nice words I appreciate them :-)

For me its not about rewards, I buy things I want all the time anyway, lol. I really get off on the idea of being an athlete. I think of myself as strong, tough, fit, committed etc, that kind of mental play gets me out running, gets me through that spin class, gets me up that tough hill, I never ever quit. I value that quality in myself and I work for it.

The body I see every day, which is not only thin, but looks strong and fit, is more reward than any "thing" could ever be to be.

When I focus on athleticism like that, eating is secondary. I really dont want bad food. However, I'm not good at being hungry and exercise means I can pretty much eat whatever I want, in reasonable quantity.

Thats amazing! Wish I had that mind set!

Hi! i have had my band for 3 years banded in 2008...long story short, never had good restriction, got pregnant, got complete unfil, just started getting fills again. i currently have a fill that feels perfect, i haven't wanted to post anything cause i didn't want to jinx it, normally i get a fill and i'm like ok this is awesome and then a week later i can eat everything under the sun. before i was pregnant my last fill was definately too tight, ended up eating junk cause chewing normal food a million times would not help it go down and i was still hungry ALL the time.

my office was kinda on the defensive, i guess cause so many people go in complaining, but i'm like you have to work with me, there was one time they didn't want to give me a fill cause my xray looked like i had "good restriction" and i just had to tell them in my nicest most polite voice, i can go eat a big mac, a can of tuna, chicken , and have a half a dozen brownies and never flinch.

this past time i knew i was close, carbs were getting hard to go down, i had to chew my meat well, only thing was i was still HUNGRY!!!...i asked for small fill...and i'll be darn its like 0 .3cc from where i was when i was so restricted everything got stuck...and finally after being the only darn person with the lap band that didn't lose weight, i'm finally getting the scale to move, i'm NOT hungry between meals...definately 1/2 a cup to a whole cup of food at meals, my toddler daughter eats more than me. so what i'm saying is...dude after 3 years i was calling it a loss, i was looking into getting phentermine again, i was back on weight watchers...yet there was my $15,000 TOOL not working. so i'm thinking you need to ask for a SMALL unfill and give at least 2 weeks...i swear some people hit that perfect spot and have a giant range and for me, it was a small difference of 0.3 cc's. hey if you want a buddy and wanna give this another try...message me, i definately know what it is to be a stuggling bandster!!!

This sounds a lot like me.

I think that Drs that tell people that they will only be able to eat 2 - 3 bits and won't be hungry should be rounded up and shot. OK joking but at the very least they should have their licences revoked. It is not possible to get all the nutrition the body needs from 3 bites of food 3 times a day. The head hunger would be overwhelming as you would be looking at all the yummy foods that you were "too full" too eat and be craving them anyway. The body would be screaming out for food and nutrition. You would starve and end up looking like an anorexic or a famine victim. Not a good look.

I swear that the majority of problems where people are unhappy with their bands are caused by Drs that market it incorrectly and give all this misinformation before the op. Those that have researched and/or been given the correct information tend to do a lot better.

totally agree~ ! There is no way you can get all the calories you need in a day if you could only eat a few oz at each meal. My hair would be falling out for lack of nutrition! I dont like being too tight. I am known to eat around my band "easy food" . I can eat chips and sweets easily & have a hard time staying away from them. I have found having my band does not get rid of the head hunger {DAHHHH} and it never will. I have been banded for 3 yrs and have only lost 40-50 lbs. Its an addiction for me...I cant stay away from it.

where are you guys on fills. Have you been to the doctor and gotton fills on a regular basis. This shoud be your first step and then take it from there.

I have had several fills over the past 3 yrs. last time I was there I had to have some taken out because of reflux. I am thinking I need to go back in. I feel like I will be too tight if I do though.

I was banded 2008....lost 50 lbs but I have gone up and down with the same 8-10 lbs for over a yr. I feel like i am out of control again!! Its always i'll start over tomorrow. I am a food addict....this is my addiction. I will always have to fight it....it will never end. I have to want it bad enough i guess. I feel like i dont even have the band to help me I dont know what my problem is...

your not alone. I was banded 2008....lost 50 lbs but think i have put on 10 lbs again. I feel like i am out of control again!! Its alwasy i'll start over tomorrow. We are foo addicts....this is my addiction. I will alaways have to fight it....it will never end. We have to want it bad enough i guess. I feel like i dont even have the band to help me

hi Honk,

I have been banded over 2 yrs. So I am at good restriction. Actually today the scale FINALLY went down!! YAAAY! I have been pushing Water eating right and working out more then i have in ages! So i am down 2 lbs since the begining of the week. (just started my time of the month too). It has givin me that push i need!

I have been doing biggest loser workouts. They are 10 minutes each of cardio but I do 3 of them in a row. You use you larger leg muscles a lot Lunges squats ect... It kicks my butt!

Thanks for advice.....I have def changed it up! I am losing but it's like turtle speed . I would like to atleast bump up to 2 lbs a week!

I have been doing a biggest loser challenge for 9 wks now. I have lost BUT I have only lost 1/2 of what my non banded friends have lost. It's frustrating because I don't know what else I can do!!>!>!>!>!?!?! I am losing 1/2 lb to 1 lb a wk. I would like to push it up to 2 lbs a week. Been eating 1000-1200 cals a day. I am increasing my exercise and drinking my Water. UUUGGGGG!!! Maybe I need to see nutritionist??? THX ahead!

I have been experiencing tight throat feeling, feeling of lump in throat for about 9 months now. Was not painful just annoying at times. So, I had a few experiences of being awaken from pain in chest and up jaw! SACRED me thought it was heart attack! so finally went to my surgen and she said def reflux. took out 1cc and gave me meds for reflux. So I go back in 3 wks to see how I feel. JUST FYI...thoght i would share.

mmmmmmm.

I make eggplant Lasagna too. Cut eggplant in about 1/4 inch circles or length wise...put sauce on bottom of baking dish the eggplant and keep layering with waterever you like (cheese/ ricotta/ hamburg/ eggplant) put tinfoil bake 375 deg

45+ minutes until eggplant soft (DO NOT put cheese on top till very end or it will stick to foil) uncover add top layer cheese crank heat till top is bubbly and golden bown. mmmmmm~

Hi everyone! I made through my fist few days back on the wagon! Going to Zumba for first time this am!

Thanks for the welcome. Yes Apples I think we have talked. I am just eating whatever. I have not been writing down no regular exercise either. Taking care of everyone else but myself. I have to write down and set sm goals for myself....i guess. I would like to lose some more weight before christmas. Then I want to make a SASSY holiday outfit for myself and buy a pair of SEXY heels! That s a GOAL right!

Yep! You need a fill. Go for it. Then you have to startworking on your head and your thinking. Try exercising when you want to eat. Buy some sugar free Snacks to substitute for high carb high fat foods.

You can do this!

I know your right! I have 3 little ones and I need to take care of ME so I can take care of them. I have not been good with the exercising at all! Ty~for helping! :-)

Hi everyone, My name is Heidi I've been banded 2 yrs sept. I have been a slow loser but I'm ok with that...atleast I havent gained all back! I need support! I am a total emotional eater...when I'm stressed, sick, tired,sad happy/////I wanna eat! I have been up n down with same few pounds for a long time. I just realized i havent had a fill in 7 months! I don't feel overly hungry and still get a little stuck on ocassion. The other day I ate a WHOLE steak n cheese sub!!!! I have not been able to do that in OVER 2 YRS!!! I have an app to see doc Nov 12th for poss fill. HELP!!!!