I know there are a lot of threads out there like this, but I just wanted to vent about my situation for a minute. So thanks to anyone who decides to "listen"! :smile:

I had my surgery May of 2009, I was doing so well until about February of this year. Last year, I was so strict and worked out everyday. However, this year, a major life change happened. I moved to Illinois from Michigan to live with my boyfriend. It's been really hard here. I used my move and added stress as an excuse to eat things I haven't eaten in awhile and I've certainly fallen off the working out bandwagon. I'm so disappointed in myself. I don't know how to get my motivation back and keep it. I've been overweight since getting out of highschool which has been 14 years now. I want to let go of this monkey on my back. I want to be healthy and thin but lately can't seem to make myself do it. I've been dealing with some depression, so I'm sure that doesn't help matters. :bored:

Another problem is my band. I had a pretty good doc back in MI but can't seem to find a good one here. I have a good fill, but I still seem to be able to eat amounts of food I shouldn't be able to. Also, it's weird because these get stuck a lot but I know Idon't have too much of a fill. So that stresses me as well.

Anyway, I just was maybe looking for a few helpful suggestions on how to get some motivation back. I'm sure there's some people who have been through something similar and just wondered how you got over it.

Thanks everyone, I appreciate it! :w00t:

Hi!

I'm a newbie to this board, and a relative newbie to the band, but I'm not new to any of those feelings you wrote about. Ever since I started the journey to get the band, I've experienced peaks and valleys in my motivation and feelings about myself.

Stop and remember why you chose to go through this major surgery. Think about how you want to feel, what you want to do, in the long term- not today- not this month- but one year and five years from now. Are the current stresses you are experiencing worth sabotaging those goals? Is there any way you can eliminate some of these stresses? Right now, I'm battling myself in how I face these stresses- I've used food for the past decade to "reward" myself for those hard days. If you're experiencing depression that is affecting your daily life, would you consider talking to your doctor about an antidepressant? One plus with many of these is also that it curbs appetite. I'm on Prozac now and that has helped me remain on an even emotional keel as I have mild depression.

Does this help at all? Life is going to lead us through ups and downs with or without this crazy band. How we choose to let them affect us is a conscious choice we emotional eaters will have to face. I've been beating myself up a lot lately, and I have to keep that big picture in mind- I see myself feeling strong and capable and able to hike up a mountain- and it helps me keep going and close the chip bag or ice cream carton.

HUGS

Depression can hinder the most motivated person so please don't be too hard on yourself. First and foremost is to deal with the depression. I have been banded for 14 months (1 month after you) and the depression really kept me from focusing on my goals. I have had a lot of setbacks in that time. I have been on Wellbutrin for about six months and have completed so many important things because of the antidepressant. I really feel so much better.

If you cannot find a good doctor there, try and take a trip back to Michigan if you can or search this site for recommended Doctor's in your area if money prohibits taking the trip. Don't just search for Doc's in Illinois, look for doctor's one or two town's away as well.

Don't let your environment or circumstances change the fact that you should take care of yourself first and foremost. Start taking walks everyday to clear your head and to help with the depression.

The fact is setbacks happen to all of us but try and remember why you got the band in the first place...I'm sure you wanted a change...I know I did...I wish you the best of luck!

Don't give up! It's a journey and some of it will be rocky and uphill. I was banded in Sept 09 and lost 52lbs in one year. I wanted to lose twice that, but life got in the way. I have just resolved to lose at least another 52 in the next year! I didn't always have money to get my band adjusted, and I definitely didn't exercise enough... so those are things I will try to improve on to get me back on track.

A few months ago, I went through a really stressful time in my life and I was due for a fill but suddenly, everything I ate was getting stuck! I went to some forum posts and found that this is not unusual if we are under stress! Imagine how your stomach knots up when you are anxious... now add a band! And it can feel like a rollercoaster because u may be over-eating at lunch, but then one bite gets stuck at dinner! It is frustrating!

Hang in there and no matter what, remember that you are important!

Gail

Boy, was it just what I needed to read this whole string of conversation...I am feeling exactly what she is! I have wondered for quite some time if an antidepressant would help me for a little bit with all of this. I was banded in December of 2009, and have lost about 60 lbs since then, which I could have done sooo much better. I have not been exercising, and for the past weeks have felt I can eat anything I want. Sometimes I can eat more than I should and some days one bite gets stuck...at least I know I am not alone in that. I agree that stress really makes a difference in how the band works. I plan to talk to my doctor tomorrow. I am a nurse, and I think that we are the last ones who decide that we need help like everyone else. Thank you so much for this string of words, I needed it so much. I want to win this battle. I really do.

God bless all of you. And best of luck with your weight loss journeys.

<3 Shaun RN <3

Thank you everyone so much for listening and for offering such kind words and advice. I definitely am going to take care of the depression first. I have struggled with it in the past and have been on medication and it's helped, but I am not sure if it's what I want again. But first I'll talk to someone.

AS for the LB doctor, I found one recommended on this site and am going to call tomorrow to set up an appointment.

I need to get my life back on track. When I was losing the weight, I felt so great about myself and so positive about my journey. I hope to get back to that place.

Thanks again everyone. I really do appreciate it. I knew that my family and friends couldn't understand because they haven't been banded, and I knew that some people on here would be able to identify. I love this site and am so happy to be part of a great community.

Best of luck to all of you and thanks for being so great!

I'm glad you are feeling better. I love that this board is here where people are going through the same thing and understand the valleys as well as the peaks.

Best wishes.

Thanks kippers, and best of luck to you on your journey!

I am soooo glad I found this thread today. I was banded in February 2009. I lost over 100 before my 1year anniversary. I was(am) so proud of myself. By June of this year I had lost 120 pounds. Somehow between June and now, I have totally lost all motivation and have regained 20 pounds!

I think that I have let life get in my way and have "forgotten" WHY I got my band in the first place. Today begins my journey again......:puke:

I have a call in to my doctors office to go in and have a check up as well as discuss another band fill.

I wish each of you tremendous success on your own journey and thanks for the thread, again, it was exactly what I needed today! Ann =)

I won't repeat all that has been said about being in the "wrong" place, it all applies to me. I was banned in March 09. Doing really well, I felt. Only about 75lbs. down till Sept. I got a fill in Oct. 09 and still wasn't loosing but was holding and inches were coming off. Not much exercise and I didn't measure because I didn't want to. It's not for me and I knew this going in, I have to do this my own way. I don't remember being hungry so it was working. My lifestyle is all over the place and i am away from home nightly and can't bring in my own foods. No life control because of my recreational activy (pool). In Jan. I was getting stuck at least weekly with it building to daily and then every meal was a problem by June. I had an unfill and i have put on about 8lbs. since. I got a fill last Mon. and just started back on solids. I don't feel any restriction yet, but I already know my mind isn't right yet because tonight I ate way more than I really wanted. I just ate because I had it (Navy Bean Soup) and I kept going back until I was uncomfortalbe. Time to get real and get myself back together.:thumbup:

I'm sorry you're having a hard time.

If you're willing to do a bit of driving, Brian Lahmann and Christopher Joyce at BMI Surgery in Joliet are worth the time it takes to get to their office.

I started at 337 got down to 247 back up to 264 with 5.1 cc i have a 10cc band and for some reason my stomach or band gets way to tight when i reach 5.3 cc strange very strange im so frustated because I want to lose another 50lbs before march which is my 40th birthday.. any reccomendations? i also go to the gym 4days out of the week and i have a personal trainer ..I just started in September