I was banded on November 9, 2010. My first week I stuck to the post op diet, by the start of the second week I was eating eggs and soft foods...but by the end of the third week I was eating normal......and by normal I mean my old habits!!!!!!!!!! I rushed into this surgery and thought.."Oh this will be easy, I wont be hungry" WRONG. The only thing I notice when I eat, or over eat is pain between my shoulders. I've lost 11 pds. I haven't had a fill because of a new job and getting bronchitis. Basically I feel like a big FAILURE. Now its Christmas time and sweets are taking over, any words to help me pull my head out of my >>>

Well, you likely do need a fill, but the main thing to remember is that it is hard to change habits. Try to be conscious of everything you put in your mouth. Count your calories and make yourself accountable. It is HARD to be around all the holiday foods and sweets but just remember your reasons for doing this and hold yourself to a higher standard than you have before. Beating yourself up wont help..just repeat...I CAN DO THIS!

I was banded on November 9, 2010. My first week I stuck to the post op diet, by the start of the second week I was eating eggs and soft foods...but by the end of the third week I was eating normal......and by normal I mean my old habits!!!!!!!!!! I rushed into this surgery and thought.."Oh this will be easy, I wont be hungry" WRONG. The only thing I notice when I eat, or over eat is pain between my shoulders. I've lost 11 pds. I haven't had a fill because of a new job and getting bronchitis. Basically I feel like a big FAILURE. Now its Christmas time and sweets are taking over, any words to help me pull my head out of my >>>

First, and most importantly ... you are NOT, let me repeat that NOT ... a failure!!! You are less than two months out and you haven't had a fill so you are the same as you were before surgery (provided your doc did not put Fluid in during surgery, did he?). So, stop it, stop it now! You are healing. Give yourself a break, ok? This is a difficult time of year to start a "weight loss" anything. Seriously, as it has been written on the forum (and is so true), even thin people eat a lot during this season! But, I digress. Please remember that the band is a "tool" and at this moment your "tool" isn't even turned on. LOL While it is a really good idea to make efforts to change your eating habits before you reach proper restriction, not everyone is good at it. But, you should keep trying. When you miss the mark and fall down, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start again.

You are not expected to be perfect, but for your own sake you should try your best. Do more reading about the band and how it works. Did someone really tell you that you wouldn't be hungry anymore right after surgery, without a fill? Hmmmm, not true for most (but for a rare few, yes). Apparently, you -and I - are in that "not true for most" group.

Remember, when you don't do what is best for YOU, you only let yourself down. No one else matters when it comes to weight loss. It's your health, it's your life, it's your future. Take a breath and give yourself credit for having lost 11 lbs without a fill.

There is a wealth of information on this forum. Take what you can use and leave the rest.

You can do this!!!

All the best to you on your journey.

~Fran