I was banded on 1/22/10 and I am SOOOOO frustrated. I've lost about 20 pounds but mostly from the pre/post-op diet. I haven't lost any for about 3 months. Eating is now no fun but I am still overeating, despite the pain of overfilling and forcing food through the band. I just cannot get mentally satisfied by the tiny portions I'm supposed to eat and I do not have the energy (physical or mental) to come up with 5 or 6 mini-meals every day. I feel like my whole life revolves around food, now just as much or more than it did pre-surgery. Please, please, please...I need some encouragement...I don't know where to start or what to do! My doc tries to help but she just keeps telling me "the band is not magic". No kidding, doc! I am so disappointed in myself and this band!

I was banded on 1/22/10 and I am SOOOOO frustrated. I've lost about 20 pounds but mostly from the pre/post-op diet. I haven't lost any for about 3 months. Eating is now no fun but I am still overeating, despite the pain of overfilling and forcing food through the band. I just cannot get mentally satisfied by the tiny portions I'm supposed to eat and I do not have the energy (physical or mental) to come up with 5 or 6 mini-meals every day. I feel like my whole life revolves around food, now just as much or more than it did pre-surgery. Please, please, please...I need some encouragement...I don't know where to start or what to do! My doc tries to help but she just keeps telling me "the band is not magic". No kidding, doc! I am so disappointed in myself and this band!

Sorry that you are having so much problems with this issue. I know it's so easy for anyone to tell you that your issue is with the food and that you have to let food stop controling you like this. BUT it's not so easy getting rid of those old habits that follow us even after we are banded. The only real thing that I can possibly say to you is this, Step back and re-evaluate things. You had the band for a reason. You can either make this work, or you can give up and let food take over like it has probably done for most of your life (I know that's what it was for me). I am not trying to be harsh here but sometimes the only way to the heart of things is facing the truth. Honey we can sit here and type until we are blue in the face and it's going to go in one ear and out of the other. You have to be the one that makes the decision of wanting this to work. "You can lead a horse to Water but you can not make them drink."

Yes the band is only a tool. And if you want it to work for you, you have to put your best efforts into this. Yes this is not a diet but it is a lifestyle change. And it will work if you set your mind to it, and WANT it to work and MAKE it work. Look food is a comfort food that we turn to when we are stressed, when we are upset, and when we want pleasure. It's just like an alcoholic turning to the bottle or a drug addict turning to heroine. It's a addiction that can only be broken by you. And if you want that to happen, only you can do it. No matter HOW much your mind tells you to do otherwise. Most of what you are feeling is head hunger. You really need to learn the difference.

I don't eat 5 to 6 meals a day. I eat 3 meals a day which are no more than 5-6oz. I have sugar free ice pops and plenty of Fluid in between. I have a sensible snack once and awhile. If you are THAT hungry then you need to make sure you are eating higher Protein foods. And you need to stop yourself when you have reach the end of the plate. If you are having problems stopping then you need to measure your food and only eat that much. Keep a journal of what you are eating, that sometimes also helps.

Get back on the path and don't give up. Don't give into frustration. That's probably how we all got into this mess in the first place. You can beat it. Don't let food beat you. Have faith in yourself. You can do it. If I can do it, SO can you.

If you want to chat, Im hear for you...........I hear where your coming from as I often feel like wanting to still eat even after my puch is full........what a bugger it is!!!!!! But maybe we can help eachother....Talk soon....Suzie