My name is Lymarie, I am 27, wife and mother of 2, ( 7 and 2 months) I had my surgery March 31 2011, it's been a year since my surgery. I was 281 pre-op, 271 after liquid diet and at the time of the surgery. I got pregnant 3 months post op, at that point i had lost 15 lbs and weighed 256 the day i found out i was expecting. I've struggled with PCOS since I was 16 & have been obese my entire life. I don't remember being under 200 even as a pre teen. My most recent pregnancy was planned but since i have pcos we.weren't expecting for it to happen the first month of trying. I had a good uncomplicated pregnancy and only gained 10lb. Today I am back where I started, I weigh exactly 256 lbs, the same I weighed on July 18 2011 when i found out i was pregnant.

My band has been filled 3 times in a year. I'm not sure how much is in there or how big or small the band is.

Here's my problem;

I can't seem to get below 250 lbs no matter what I do. I do have to admit that after signing up on my fitness pal, I realize that my choices on foods are not the best. I have a terrible sweet tooth, I can say I eat emotionally and out of boredom. I get full with my meals, but for some reason I can't get myself to stop, especially if I don't feel satisfied, I'm embarrassed to say that sometimes I rather make myself throw up so i can keep eating what ever i was eating than just quit eating that particular food. I don't do this with all foods or at every meal but I do do it.

I feel like a failure. I feel like I've wasted my time and the time of every one who has helped me or supported me. I have no problem working out, I actually enjoy it, Zumba, yoga, pilates, spinning etc, i work out an average of 8-9 hours a week.

I want to be successful. I want to be happy, I want to be healthy, I want to be respected, noticed, I want to look in clothes how in my imagination I think I look in clothes, once I see myself and realize that I don't look as I imagined it's depressing. My marriage is depending on my weightloss, my happiness depends on my weightloss. My family depends on my I feel like i had the surgery, then that was it, I never had any.direction or a way to correct my actions.

I'm looking for any guidance or suggestions on how to get this going, please?

4 yrs for me. Only weight lost was from pre-op optifast. Waste of money.

If you haven't lost then it is because of your choices. The reality of weight loss is calorie in and calorie out equals weight loss but if you choose bad foods and large portions then the scale won't move. Dig deep inside of you and make some changes.

the band has a very specific set of rules. I saw that Jean recently posted an article on the magazine section called "How to eat like you're banded." I would recommend looking over her article and then start to diligently track your caloric intake/breakdown for a few days to see where you are.

Also, you did not mention if you felt restriction or not? If you do not feel restriction, make an appointment with your surgeon and start the fills.

It also sounds like you need to work on the head vs real hunger. If you overeat even when you know you're not hungry, it is unlikely you will see the results you want.

If you haven't lost then it is because of your choices. The reality of weight loss is calorie in and calorie out equals weight loss but if you choose bad foods and large portions then the scale won't move. Dig deep inside of you and make some changes.

Before you go pointing fingers at my choices in which you know nothing about, get facts. I have been eating and getting filled and doing what I'm supposed to. Your ignorance inferiorates me.

Actually I wasn't pointing fingers. Just stating facts. If you have been trying for four years and can't figure it out then I would say ignorance is something you have a handle on..... not me. If you are doing what you are supposed to and doing everything perfect then you wouldn't have a problem. You can lie to yourself and stay on the track you are on or get real. Either way don't blame me for stating the obvious.

You said in your own post what your problems were and you asked for advice remember. I havent been banded yet but I know there are alot of changes ahead. This is a place to put our problems and issues out there and get advice not to get pissed off when someone comments.

I'm sorry Lymarie. I am not judging... But It sounds like snacking and emotional/guilt eating play a big role in this and that is something the band itself cannot control. If you are eating to the point of vomiting then continuing to eat, that's dangerous. Have you told your Dr? Have you considered seeing someone like a counselor to help you understand the underlying reasons for this?

You said in your own post what your problems were and you asked for advice remember. I havent been banded yet but I know there are alot of changes ahead. This is a place to put our problems and issues out there and get advice not to get pissed off when someone comments.

I'm the OP, I'm not pissed off at any of the comments. In fact I agree with pp, i have to get a grip of myself,i have to dig deeper, but honestly, I don't know where to start.

for the question if i felt restriction, i do feel restriction just not satisfaction. I feel full but not "full" if that makes sense.

When I decided to have this surgery I met with a nutritionist she said you can't eat this this and this. That was it. I met with her almost a year before I actually had the surgery.

I knew I had to make some changes but i didn't know what to change. To lose weight it takes more than just eating less or different, it takes will and mental readiness and determination, I'm determined but I just can't figure out how to get ready.

I'm sorry Lymarie. I am not judging... But It sounds like snacking and emotional/guilt eating play a big role in this and that is something the band itself cannot control. If you are eating to the point of vomiting then continuing to eat' date=' that's dangerous. Have you told your Dr? Have you considered seeing someone like a counselor to help you understand the underlying reasons for this?[/quote']

Yes, i have considered a counselor. I've not told my dr about throwing up. I guess i should start there.

I'm the OP, I'm not pissed off at any of the comments. In fact I agree with pp, i have to get a grip of myself,i have to dig deeper, but honestly, I don't know where to start.

for the question if i felt restriction, i do feel restriction just not satisfaction. I feel full but not "full" if that makes sense.

When I decided to have this surgery I met with a nutritionist she said you can't eat this this and this. That was it. I met with her almost a year before I actually had the surgery.

I knew I had to make some changes but i didn't know what to change. To lose weight it takes more than just eating less or different, it takes will and mental readiness and determination, I'm determined but I just can't figure out how to get ready.

I would encourage you to have an honest talk with your surgeon, also speak with a dietitian to revisit your diet requirements and ask for assistance to plan meals.

Some of what you wrote about originally point to some tendencies towards bulimia, definitely an issue to address with a counselor.

Maintaining compliance with diet requirements can be difficult even under ideal circumstances, this is a journey which does involve physical as well as psychological changes. Having a support system such as you can find on this forum is another excellent tool, along with your band, to give you the opportunity to loose weight and regain some health compromised by your weight.

You reached out to some very knowledgeable people on the same journey...I hope you find your focus again...

I found through talking it out on here and with my sister in law...banded 2 years ago. That I have been eating too SLOW. My loss has been really slow, but I am already at 7.4 fill in a 10cc band. I actually canceled my fill for this week because I think I need to work on my eating habits before getting another fill. I am going to.try and stick to the rule of Proteins first and finish eating within 30 minutes. Until now, I have been eating really slowly in order to finish all the food on my plate. Which basically, I was eating all the time and feeling no real restriction. Even my best friend has said repeatedly "it does not matter how slow the band makes I eat..if you are still consuming the same amount of calories!"

I understand ur pain. It's not easy I was first banded in 09 and is a very slow losser but what helped me was goin to weight watchers just to get a jump start of recommitment to it all and it has helped.take care and be encouraged by reading something on weight loss

I was just about to say the same thing! I was banded in 2008 and lost 79 lbs, but it's been rough letting go of that lost 30 lbs in between spinal surgeries. I think I'm finally at my sweet spot and am now eating very healthy thanks to Weight Watchers. I've fought those physiological issues for years and I think WW is helping me get past that point.

Thank you everyone for your feedback and suggestions. I actually have set up an appointment with a therapist, this way I can sort out other issues with myself beyond my weight.

Like I mentioned, I recently had a baby (9 weeks ago) and I'm really afraid of developing post partum depression, so this is another reason for me to see a specialist.

Since writing this post on Sunday, I've been very careful with what I eat. Cutting out candy and other sweets, I have succeeded with stopping when I'm full or it starts to feel like it's going to get stuck., I've also been logging everything I eat and all my workouts. I have not weighed myself so I have no idea if my weight has changed any.

LyMarie- first, congratulations on the baby! Exercise (when cleared as okay by a doc) will help with both losing weight and ppd. You have been banded a year but also preggers most of that time, so you're going to be able to get back on track. MyFitnessPal or Fit Day or whatever you use to track really is a good thing to do- and it motivates me to really stay on track- no way do I want to put in 1500 calories of ice cream!!! LOL. Good for you for seeing a therapist, that is going to really help. Really internalize the bandster rules and follow them and make them your way of life.

Good luck, you're doing the right thing!