but please be "semi" gentle.

I just can't seem to get my head in da game. I was doing so good in the beginining - but started to get really discouraged because the weight was just not coming off. I was excercising, journaling, drinking my fluids, etc. but have not lost a single pound since starting mushies. NOTHING. The last few weeks I have just not made good food decisions..no excercise, no journaling. I have not been good to myself. I think it is my frustration of not loosing and part of me giving up. I know this is a tool that is only as good as I let it be but I'm just having issues.

I feel no restriction (first fill was February 8th - I haved 5cc in 10cc band) and I definitely feel hungry A LOT - just like pre-band. I don't even feel like I have a band except the first few bites of food always feels really tight like I am going to get stuck but then it loosens up or something because I have no problems when I continue eating.

Please help me get back on track. Can someone please tell me they had problems and discouragment in the beginning, too, and then down the road it all came together? I'm starting to get really down on myself.

Thanks-

Michelle

Welcome to Banster HELL!!!

Dont worry it will get better after a few fills (maybe more) when you reach restriction the weight will come off...

being almost 3 years post op.... i'm still losing weight! yes, i've been losing slowly but time flies, you know? it doesn't feel like its been 3 years! i went from a size 16 jeans (that were very tight and i refused to go up to an 18), i now wear a size 8 jeans that are getting baggy!

you didn't gain weight overnight so you won't lose it overnight either. it will get easier, i promise.

I was banded in December 15th and had my first fill January 28th. I GAINED weight between my surgery and the first fill and was feeling very discouraged. Of course it was my own fault with Christmas goodies abounding and me unable to eat "real" food and the Cookies went down smooth. Anyhoo, I started the whole self-defeating behavior thing that got me to this weight in the first place until I said 'STOP"! I'm not going to do this to myself. Don't fall back into your old ways. This is a new start for you--don't let those old habits back into your life!

I have only lost 8lbs since surgery, but I got this surgery because I have stubborn fat so I just have to be MORE stubborn that it is! Excercise more and stay positive and focused. If you give up, your fat wins and its WAY too early in the game for that!

You'll make it. You are not going to be a statistic! Buckle up and ride for the log haul. Write back soon!

Both my daughter and her husband went through the same frustration and doubts that you describe and they didn't lose much and occaisionally slipped back the first couple of months after surgery. He started out at 425 pounds and she at 380 pounds. They were lucky that they had each other to push them along and continue the exercise even when it appeared hopeless. My son in law found his sweet spot after the third fill and my daughter on her forth. My son in law has lost 150 pounds as of last month and my daughter's weight has dropped 125 pounds as of last month. They look great and they say that they feel great. They certainly have more energy than a year ago. As of now there weight loss has dropped to 1-2 pounds a week they eat modest quantities of food but don't deny themselves a taste of the good things (except for my son in laws problem with keeping down bread and lettuce). They both say its the best thing they could have done for thier future lives together and I believed them so much that I had the band put into myself on the 10th in the sure hope and desire to do as the children have done.

I'm coming up to that mushies stage where everything will go down easily and the potential for taking in more calories than I expect will be high. Knowing that doesn't make it any easier and I am sure that the demons of dispair are near my doorstep.

As said earlier it's bandster hell till the sweet spot is found on the band and I look to my kids for inspiration. I'll make it and SO WILL YOU. You were doing everything right pick it up again, don't quit the race for your life so early. You are important, you are a winner, you are loved by your family and friends and everyone here wants you to succeed too.

Sorry but that is as bad a scolding as I can muster I am far too humbled by my own past failures and my hope for a thinner future to yell at anyone. I've offered you the inspiration of my childrens success and all of my encouragement...because if I doubt or stumble on this journey I too would want a kind hand to lift me up, plant my feet on the path and cheer me on to be the winner I always wanted to be in this the longest and hardest battle of my life.

So, with our chins up our feet on the path and with tears of hope glistening in our eyes we'll both move towards the prize and ya know what I'm sure I'll see ya there. Good luck, don't lose hope.

Best Regards

Tom

I'm with ya girl! I even think I have restriction and I've been so bad lately! Somehow I expected to be on track all the time and magically lose 2 pounds a week! Not so, it's going to take awhile, just as everyone says, and just like you, I'm going to have to learn to eat right even while incorporating cheating! Bandsters Hell Be Gone!!

Don't be so hard on yourself. If you're still hungry, then you haven't hit your sweet spot. When you do, that hunger will disappear after a meal. In the meantime, if you want to try to lose any weight, it's going to take sheer will power and dieting. You'll still have to diet after you hit the sweet spot, but at least then it's easier because you're not always fighting the hunger. Hang in there.

.

Tom,

You're a beautiful person. Thank you for your encouraging kind post. You hit home for me and I needed it.

I was banded 1/18/11 and "feel" unbanded. I have 80 pounds to lose and it might as well be 800!!! Cause THAT'S how far away I feel.

Again thank you

Both my daughter and her husband went through the same frustration and doubts that you describe and they didn't lose much and occaisionally slipped back the first couple of months after surgery. He started out at 425 pounds and she at 380 pounds. They were lucky that they had each other to push them along and continue the exercise even when it appeared hopeless. My son in law found his sweet spot after the third fill and my daughter on her forth. My son in law has lost 150 pounds as of last month and my daughter's weight has dropped 125 pounds as of last month. They look great and they say that they feel great. They certainly have more energy than a year ago. As of now there weight loss has dropped to 1-2 pounds a week they eat modest quantities of food but don't deny themselves a taste of the good things (except for my son in laws problem with keeping down bread and lettuce). They both say its the best thing they could have done for thier future lives together and I believed them so much that I had the band put into myself on the 10th in the sure hope and desire to do as the children have done.

I'm coming up to that mushies stage where everything will go down easily and the potential for taking in more calories than I expect will be high. Knowing that doesn't make it any easier and I am sure that the demons of dispair are near my doorstep.

As said earlier it's bandster hell till the sweet spot is found on the band and I look to my kids for inspiration. I'll make it and SO WILL YOU. You were doing everything right pick it up again, don't quit the race for your life so early. You are important, you are a winner, you are loved by your family and friends and everyone here wants you to succeed too.

Sorry but that is as bad a scolding as I can muster I am far too humbled by my own past failures and my hope for a thinner future to yell at anyone. I've offered you the inspiration of my childrens success and all of my encouragement...because if I doubt or stumble on this journey I too would want a kind hand to lift me up, plant my feet on the path and cheer me on to be the winner I always wanted to be in this the longest and hardest battle of my life.

So, with our chins up our feet on the path and with tears of hope glistening in our eyes we'll both move towards the prize and ya know what I'm sure I'll see ya there. Good luck, don't lose hope.

Best Regards

Tom