Hello all,

I was banded 9/15/09. To keep a potentially long post short and to the point - Things were great at first. I was motivated, losing weight, following protocol. I lost about 50 pounds or so in the first 4-5 months. Fast forward to now - Weight loss has completely stopped at roughly 65 pounds. I work out like a fiend, I'm active in martial arts, and my band is filled pretty much to it's max (at least it was). I feel like I can eat almost as much as before my surgery now. All day long I think about how I want to rip this thing out of me because it does nothing but make me feel weird on occasion, and once or twice a week I need to puke something up because it's stuck. I am worried to death that my pouch is all stretched out or something. Sometimes, I still get full quickly (especially when I follow the rule and do not drink while I eat). Other times, I can eat just as much as everyone else around me and I get concerned. All in all, any success I have now I feel like it should be credited towards my exercise, not the lap band.

I lost my health insurance about a year ago and stopped going in for checkups. I simply can't afford to eat the cost of an upper GI. If I were still able to be full after a tiny portion of food I would roll with the lap band thing, feeling like I made the right decision getting it done. I suppose what I am concerned about is the fact that I feel like I can eat too much. Since I can't go get it checked on I came here for some words of wisdom and/or support. Does anyone else feel like something is wrong when they can eat too much, so long after their surgery with a supremely tight fill? Or, should i walk around feeling like my pouch is stretched?

How is your hunger level? what are you eating? It's not supposed to stop you from eating. It's supposed to control your hunger... some people can eat a lot (I sure can), some people can't, some people have their band so tight they can't get any food down... I know it's hard, it's a struggle, and it takes willpower.

The fills change as your body does. If you lose weight it gets looser.

Maybe start over.. do some liquids and mushies to get back on track? I know it sucks without insurance, but since you have to live with it, maybe try seeing if it can work for you again?

Hello,

Its very important that you follow the rules for it to work. Dont drink, or it will wash everything down! By the way you are talking, the band seems to be working, but you are not listenig to it. Yes you do need follow ups, but not necesserly fills i guess since you already get stuck.

I think you need more like counselling about food and dieting. I have had that, for compulsory eating, i saw a specialised psychologist and nutritionist for 3 years, and it had help so much, i have lost 50 pounds before even getting the band, but it was lots of work to get myself to change my relationship with food, which i feel you need to do.

The band wont stop food for going in, thats is just a missconception and i think you would just be miserable if it happenned. Dont eat more than a cup of food a meal or your pouch is most likely to strech.

Good luck, go see your doc, talk to him, yes you have to pay but you have no choice and dont you want to get better, healthy, skinny and happy?

You answered your own question for your self you said : I still get full quickly (especially when I follow the rule and do not drink while I eat). So then follow the rules and dont eat and drink. If you are going to eat as much as you want whenever you want then no you wont lose weight. Follow the rules if you are still getting full when you follow the rules then you are still at proper restriction. The choice is yours. Besides most people with the band only lose 40% of their weight except for the extreme lucky ones you might be at that 40% weight loss and now you will have to do the rest your self.