Am I alone???

[ohiobluegal 4]

I was banded March 15, 2007. I was so excited and thrilled to be on this lapband journey. At first I did pretty good. Lost about 50 lbs. To make a long story short I have gained the 50 lbs back. I am back to where I started...struggling. I very seldom got the full feeling. I constantly asked anyone I could talk to....why??? I had two total unfills. The last one was when I decided enough was enough! I had stretched my pouch both times.

Why didn't the lapband work for me? When I went into this journey I didn't look at it as a "diet". The band was going to tell me I had eaten enough. No measuring and weighing. The band didn't tell me when I had enough. The tool didn't work. I am so frustrated and depressed!! Any advice???:laugh::mad:

:w00t: :sad: :thumbup: :crying: :mad2:

[Astrasmom 1]

I was banded March 15, 2007. I was so excited and thrilled to be on this LAP-BAND® journey. At first I did pretty good. Lost about 50 lbs. To make a long story short I have gained the 50 lbs back. I am back to where I started...struggling. I very seldom got the full feeling. I constantly asked anyone I could talk to....why??? I had two total unfills. The last one was when I decided enough was enough! I had stretched my pouch both times.

Why didn't the LAP-BAND® work for me? When I went into this journey I didn't look at it as a "diet". The band was going to tell me I had eaten enough. No measuring and weighing. The band didn't tell me when I had enough. The tool didn't work. I am so frustrated and depressed!! Any advice???:laugh::mad:

:w00t: :mad: :thumbup: :mad2: :sad:

So sorry that you have been having so much troubles. The band is a tool. And yes this isn't a diet. You are right about this not being a diet in the sense that you can eat anything in moderation. However you do have to still weigh and measure things. Your band will not always tell you when to stop especially if you have already stretched it. Having the band is very hard work. No one said it would be an easy road. I wish that were the case. You really can't just sit back and wait for the 'red lights' to go off to tell you that you have had enough to eat. For some people there are signs. Like for me I get the hiccups when I have had enough and if I continue to eat more then that I will wind up bringing it all back up again.

If you are stretching your pouch then you have to start weighing and measuring your food. Are you still doing Protein supplements as well? Are you eating high protein foods such as chicken and fish? And most of all are you getting your fills on a regular basis or at least calling your doctor when you feel that you may need another fill?

Our old habits do not go away when we get the band. We all still struggle with those demons that have over powered us for most of our lives. And sometimes those demons cause us to fall off track. Much like falling off of a bike. If you truly want to learn to ride a bike you will have to pick yourself back up and try again. Determination is the key to everything. Determination to overcome these obstacles is what should keep us walking a straight line on the path and not make a huge fall into the thorns. My point. Don't give up on the band. You have to rearrange your thinking a little. The band is there to help you. You have to work hard too. The band isn't going to do it for you. Have faith in yourself. You were able to lose those 50lbs before. You can do it again. Get back on that bike and start peddling. :crying:

[LeighaMason 19]

I think your expectations were too high. It seems like you expected to get the band in and "that will be that". (I am not trying to be mean, please don't take my comments the wrong way)

Maybe you should revise how you think of your band. Instead of wanting it to "make you feel full", maybe you should look at its purpose as "makes you not hungry". I only eat a measuring cup of food at a sitting. When I am finished I am not full, but I am not hungry anymore. Your not suppose to be full, full makes stretched pouches.

The band journey is a diet at first, if you want to lose weight you have to diet, measure your food, count your calories, and exercise. After you reach the weight where you are comfortable you can relax the diet and eat more.

I hope my advice helps you to look at your band in a different manner. Maybe if you use your tool in a different way it will work better for you. Hugs.

[ohiobluegal 4]

Thank you for your advice. When I went to the seminar before I had my surgery the point that really stuck out for me was that I didn't have to diet anymore. Most overweight people do not get hungry. They eat for other reasons. I was tired of doing the weighing and measuring. I was told that I would only be able to eat small quantities. The band is a tool that tells me when to stop. Why go through the surgery if I still had to weigh and measure the food? Why get the band if I have to still diet? What is the band for if doesn't tell you when you are full? I have always concentrated on getting my Protein in first. I took my Vitamins.

The bottom line, I believe, is that the band didn't work for me. Sure, it would work if I weighed and measured out my food. But then I would lose weight that way without the band. Right?

When I read stories from successful people I read that they changed their eating habits and exercised. Let me ask you this: If they didn't have the band and they changed their eating habits and exercised they would have lost weight too, right?

:thumbup: :mad: :mad: :sad: :sad: :mad: :laugh: :w00t: :crying: :mad2:

[LeighaMason 19]

Yes and no. I could always lose weight before I got the band, but I couldn't stay on the diet forever because I was always hungry. I mean HUNGRY!. So when I dieted I was in pain so eventually after a few months I would eat again, because I couldn't stand the pain of being hungry. Not just wanting food but hungry. Before the band I could eat a full plate of food and still be physically hungry.

Now I eat a small portion and I am not hungry. I wouldn't call it full but not hungry is good enough for me. Then a couple of hours later I get a "need to eat" feeling, if I don't eat within an hour or so then the HUNGRY comes back. I don't really emotionally eat, sometimes when I am really enjoying something and I get full, I am sad that I cant eat more, but that only happens 2 or 3 times a month.

I understand your anger, I think that what the band actually does is glossed over by people who are to sell it. But since you have it now, are you interested in trying to change your eating to work with it? I would be happy to try and help you if you want.

[ohiobluegal 4]

Thank you Leigha. You sound like a wonderful woman.

I am an emotional eater. I don't usually get the hungry feeling. What I have discovered is that if I don't get enough Protein in my diet then I get very tired. I eat my meals whether I am hungry or not. Noon comes around and it is lunch time so I eat.

I am now seeing a doctor, psychiatrist, who is looking at everything. She has put me on a fruit and vegetable diet only for two weeks. My glucose, insulin, and cholesterol numbers are up. I'm hoping that seeing this doctor will help me understand why! I now realize that I should have seen a doctor earlier to figure out why I eat!

I am VERY frustrated but I haven't given up!

[LeighaMason 19]

Thanks for thinking I am wonderful! Since you are on a fruit and veggie diet, I thought you might could use this, Jachut posted a green smoothie that she uses (I added the Protein Powder part). I made one this morning and I didn't even think of food for 3 hours.

Put 1 cup of mixed ice and Water in the blender, add 1/2 of a banana, turn it on, then add half of an apple, 3 or 4 strawberries, 1 scoop of unflavored Protein powder (I use unjury), and 1 cup of spinach. I know it sounds weird but you really cant taste the spinach and it is really good for you.

22.2 g protein, 33.7 carbs, cholesterol 0, sodium 60.9, with only 210 calories, 58% of your Vitamin A, 30% of Vitamin C, Glycemic load 8.

[ohiobluegal 4]

Thank you for the recipe! I will give it a try. Actually sounds good!

[CharmedMist 0]

Thanks for thinking I am wonderful! Since you are on a fruit and veggie diet, I thought you might could use this, Jachut posted a green smoothie that she uses (I added the Protein powder part). I made one this morning and I didn't even think of food for 3 hours.

Put 1 cup of mixed ice and Water in the blender, add 1/2 of a banana, turn it on, then add half of an apple, 3 or 4 strawberries, 1 scoop of unflavored protein powder (I use unjury), and 1 cup of spinach. I know it sounds weird but you really cant taste the spinach and it is really good for you.

22.2 g protein, 33.7 carbs, cholesterol 0, sodium 60.9, with only 210 calories, 58% of your Vitamin A, 30% of Vitamin C, Glycemic load 8.

That sounds excellent! I'll give that a try

[ohiobluegal 4]

I have been drinking this for the past two mornings and it is very satisfying...if you can get past the green color!!! Thank you again!!!

[LeighaMason 19]

I'm glad you like it, but I really cant take credit for it, I got it off this site from Jachut. I have been drinking it in the morning as well. You seem to be feeling better. :smile:

[bbjerseygirl 0]

I wouldn't say you are alone - many believe that the lapband itself will do all the work. Unfortunately, I believe you were either misinformed and not properly educated by those who gave you the band. Having the lapband does mean you have to follow a diet and the band will give you the ability to do so more easily and effectively. If you do not eat properly and in proper quantities there is no way you will lose. The theory remains the same about calorie in, calorie out. You have to eat properly and exercise with the band to lose and maintain. What happens at first is the you eat the smaller quantities or better foods and lose. As time goes on, we all start slipping back into old habits and the weight will come back on - just as in our old dieting ways. Our body adjusts to the lower calorie intake and once we start eating the bad foods again, we gain. Then the snowball affect hits and we get discouraged and give up. But the good news is that you still have the band and with proper nutritional advice from your doctor and nutritionist and with a proper fill you can get back on the wagon and start over. It wasn't a waste of your time and the band can work for you - don't give up hope. Just consider a bump in the road and go around it. Talk with your doctor and tell him whats going on and ask for his help. If you don't get it from the surgeon, talk with your primary care physician and get direction. We all have to eat right and exercise and we need guidance on the right choices.

Good luck!!!