dhoff

I apologize for "slamming" the board, the truth is that it (the Lap Band) probably IS helping me. I think where this comes from is that I have a bit of pent up resentment and hostility by the way the band was marketed to me. I truly thought my lifelong desire to be thin was going to be handed to me with a surgery, and it wasn't. I thought I was only going to be able to eat tiny amounts of food before feeling stuffed and this was partially true, but instead of eating the whole pizza at one sitting I just did it in two or three. Yes, I had all sorts of fills/adjustments, I had it so tight at one point I developed night cough. So, needless to say I was left incredibly depressed and disappointed over this for years. It was like thinking I had a winning lotto ticket only to realize I had read the numbers wrong.
I have come to realize that weight loss is much more of an art than a science. You truly do have to find what works for you, and it might be entirely different than what works for somebody else. Frankly I had tried LCHF in the past and lost weight only to regain it, so I know it too is FAR from "failure" proof!
Maybe LCHF could be combined with the Lapband (for some). All I want to suggest is this, look at ALL THE NEW research on the LCHF lifestyles. Yes I know there is a a study here or there that says bad things about it. What I am talking about are the meta-studies, where instead of looking at 50 people in one isolated test they instead combine ALL the tests with tens of thousands of people to draw meaningful results. In my opinion the jury is no longer out (like it was even 5 or 10 years ago), if you dig deep with an open mind you will see that we have gotten to the point there is a virtual avalanche of evidence that this is (one of) the most effective ways to gain control of your weight and health. If you want a shortcut you can start with the list of studies on this page: http://www.dietdoctor.com/science
Again, I apologize for the initial negative tone. I understand this struggle and the fact that we all need encouragement and positive suggestions. I just happen to have become passionate about something that works for me (and may not work for others). So, if you are one of those Lap-Banders like me who was/is stuck and depressed about the lack of progress, this is simply my experience with what is working for me. (and I still have 30 more pounds to go)

I want to genuinely thank everybody who has responded............I am happy to report that the mere act of my taking the time to write my story and share it with all of you has begun sparking a bit of a change in me, I am feeling a little more hopeful again, feeling like maybe I can still make it work, I have even been eating better since my first post, it seems to have been a bit cathartic.....I also recently went to a 12 step AA meeting (although I am not an alcoholic) and found it very powerful too.......I simply substituted the word food everywhere they used the word alcohol......
In fairness to all here I think I owe it to admit that I just found out my un-supportive wife was doing things far worse than simply not caring about what foods I ate..............I don't care to go into details but any adult ought to understand what I am saying.....
I must have been aware of this at some subconscious level and that caused my food addiction or compulsions to be extra hard to manage...................
I plan to go ahead and get the study done to make sure the band has not slipped, and I am going to give it my all once again....
For those considering the band I just want to say that my experience shows that the lapband is not magic, it can and does fail if you are not ready for it.....Weight loss is an an all encompassing process of changing many things in your life...............The band will reduce your hunger and you will feel full quicker...............but if you are using food as a drug to make you feel better (as I was) you CAN and WILL find ways to defeat it........
The work is not over once the band is on, frankly it has only just begun...........all it does is gives you a little boost, head-start or helping hand in the process, but it does not run the race for you.........
I think I will spend more time on this forum, I can see that the support, tips, tricks and experiences of others can be truly valuable in helping us succeed.........
Thanks again, I'll keep you all posted, I need to go weigh in quick tonight before I start losing weight without knowing it!

I want to genuinely thank everybody who has responded............I am happy to report that the mere act of my taking the time to write my story and share it with all of you has begun sparking a bit of a change in me, I am feeling a little more hopeful again, feeling like maybe I can still make it work, I have even been eating better since my first post, it seems to have been a bit cathartic.....I also recently went to a 12 step AA meeting (although I am not an alcoholic) and found it very powerful too.......I simply substituted the word food everywhere they used the word alcohol......
In fairness to all here I think I owe it to admit that I just found out my un-supportive wife was doing things far worse than simply not caring about what foods I ate..............I don't care to go into details but any adult ought to understand what I am saying.....
I must have been aware of this at some subconscious level and that caused my food addiction or compulsions to be extra hard to manage...................
I plan to go ahead and get the study done to make sure the band has not slipped, and I am going to give it my all once again....
For those considering the band I just want to say that my experience shows that the lapband is not magic, it can and does fail if you are not ready for it.....Weight loss is an an all encompassing process of changing many things in your life...............The band will reduce your hunger and you will feel full quicker...............but if you are using food as a drug to make you feel better (as I was) you CAN and WILL find ways to defeat it........
The work is not over once the band is on, frankly it has only just begun...........all it does is gives you a little boost, head-start or helping hand in the process, but it does not run the race for you.........
I think I will spend more time on this forum, I can see that the support, tips, tricks and experiences of others can be truly valuable in helping us succeed.........
Thanks again, I'll keep you all posted, I need to go weigh in quick tonight before I start losing weight without knowing it!

I want to genuinely thank everybody who has responded............I am happy to report that the mere act of my taking the time to write my story and share it with all of you has begun sparking a bit of a change in me, I am feeling a little more hopeful again, feeling like maybe I can still make it work, I have even been eating better since my first post, it seems to have been a bit cathartic.....I also recently went to a 12 step AA meeting (although I am not an alcoholic) and found it very powerful too.......I simply substituted the word food everywhere they used the word alcohol......
In fairness to all here I think I owe it to admit that I just found out my un-supportive wife was doing things far worse than simply not caring about what foods I ate..............I don't care to go into details but any adult ought to understand what I am saying.....
I must have been aware of this at some subconscious level and that caused my food addiction or compulsions to be extra hard to manage...................
I plan to go ahead and get the study done to make sure the band has not slipped, and I am going to give it my all once again....
For those considering the band I just want to say that my experience shows that the lapband is not magic, it can and does fail if you are not ready for it.....Weight loss is an an all encompassing process of changing many things in your life...............The band will reduce your hunger and you will feel full quicker...............but if you are using food as a drug to make you feel better (as I was) you CAN and WILL find ways to defeat it........
The work is not over once the band is on, frankly it has only just begun...........all it does is gives you a little boost, head-start or helping hand in the process, but it does not run the race for you.........
I think I will spend more time on this forum, I can see that the support, tips, tricks and experiences of others can be truly valuable in helping us succeed.........
Thanks again, I'll keep you all posted, I need to go weigh in quick tonight before I start losing weight without knowing it!