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?

Have you had a barium x ray to make sure your band is functioning properly? I hope that your surgeon and team can get you on track. Hang in there

I totally get what your saying....head hungry. It's tuff. I still an trying to find why I'm not always satisfied. I am walking more wen i get that feeling. I also try to take in more protein even with bars or shakes. You have probaby tried these. Have you heard the boom "mindful Eating"? Book out team uses at support group.

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

You will succeed. I know this because you know where your problems lie. The next step is facing them headon. Get a counsellor and get assistance with the head hunger and the throwing up. Then get on a meal plan that will work with your band, then get on an exercise plan that will work with your band, and you will lose weight.

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.

I've posted already, but good job. Proud of you!

Finding out how much water is in your band is very important. My band holds 10cc's and I have 8.4 cc's in it right now. It took 6 fills to get there and my weightloss has been slow but steady. Just remember not drink while you eat and stay away from all the foods that you know you shouldn't have. I know it hard, believe me I know it's hard. I found out that if I cut out snacking and increased my water consumption between meals I lost more weight. Good luck!!!!!

Finding out how much water is in your band is very important. My band holds 10cc's and I have 8.4 cc's in it right now. It took 6 fills to get there and my weightloss has been slow but steady. Just remember not drink while you eat and stay away from all the foods that you know you shouldn't have. I know it hard, believe me I know it's hard. I found out that if I cut out snacking and increased my water consumption between meals I lost more weight. Good luck!!!!!

Hi,

I am nearly 2 year out from my banding and I have lost between 96-100 lbs, I started at 262 and today 164. I still struggle with "head-hunger" which is really why I came on here today, but really the lap-band does take some work

You need to start by tracking calories - it sucks and can be monotonous, but really it is necessary. When you see the amount of calories you are taking in then you will see where you need to cut back some. Really I HATE diets and I never considered that I was on a diet. I have tried to think of my band as a way for me not to be fat. I am at a point now where I can eat a variety of foods - and I really need to refocus on eating healthier. That being said the lap-band can't cause you to lose or not lose weight - only you can.

You have to hold yourself responsible for your weight-loss and not blame the "tool" that you were given for your failure or success.

We all have set backs or little gains. It is what you do with those setbacks that will help you. Start with calorie counting and dropping your intake and see if you can jump start your weight loss.

also - I was fat my entire life. I yoyo dieted and tried every fad out there. You can succeed with your band - it takes a little work is all

Lymarie, I think it's great that u recognize the problem that's the first step.my fitness pal has been a God send for me.just because I know I have to log it in for the world to see helps me ( most of the time).I was banded 4/6 and have lost 32 lbs so far but I seem to be discovering more and more slider foods as the weeks roll on.I think things that save me are one being petrified of the idea of vomitting with the band and 2 I really try to follow the rule of protein 1st veggie 2nd carb last.

Thank you everyone for your feedback and suggestions. I actually have set up an appointment with a therapist' date=' 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.[/quote']

YaY !! Congratulations !! This site is a great support !!

Be careful, if you overeat and make yourself throw up, you may get a slip and have to have your band removed. You don't wana go through that. We all have our demons to fight with the band (mine is no restriction with junk food) but we have to be careful and keep on fighting. Seeing a counselor will probably help, just find out why you are emotional eating and get some tools to turn it around. I am looking for one myself. Also, two pregnancies and the band within a couple years? Your body is probably freaking out. Give it a chance to settle down and be patient. Giving myself the same advice!

Hi there,

I too felt like a big fat failure during year one. If not for the exercise I would has zero results. I also suffer from a sweet tooth and have discovered that when I am under stress I eat.

But you my dear - and myself included are not failures. For some it takes a lttle or a lot more.

I went through three years of fills before I got to proper restriction. At this level I'm simply not hungry often and I have eliminated the source of my stress.

Are you working out? Exercise is the saving grace, the band needs yor helpninorder to make it work. If your eating more than a cup at each meal then you probably need a fill. The cool thing is you can start over whenever your ready, zeo pressure.

Take a walk and get a fill.

Good luck!!!

Don't beat yourself up about it. The hardest thing I have faced in my life is losing weight. Just because we have bands isn't going to make it easier. You can do it! Just make up your mind and move forward. We will all have weak moments!!!

I'm the OP' date=' 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.[/quote']

It's emotionally linked I am the same I have the band I am still swollen as its been only a few weeks and I still managed to get a hole pizza in !

Yep a large pizza all in !

I am an emotional wreck right now that's how it happend

Now I'm depressed even more as I ate a hole pizza

Lymarie just hang in there you just had a baby your hormones are messing ith the band. My son is months I breast feed for four months so doing high protein was tough it just made the baby very (painful) gasy. Once I stopped breast feeding I was still having a hard time because there were days I could eat everything in site and then there were days I couldn't eat anything without throwing it up. So I went back to the doc it checked the band to make sure everything was ok it was fine so he gave me a fill and now I have great restriction ( I have 8cc) I'm not hungry between meals and I don't eat thing I know I can't because I am sick of throwing up ( my 3year old daughter actually pretends she is throwing up from watching me so many times). Go to the doc and get a fill it will help and give yourself a little break you just had a baby it will take a little while for those hormones to get back in check.

You are not a failure today is a new day...

Good luck

I think after having a baby only 9 weeks ago you should cut yourself a little slack. Take a breath and wait for everything to go back to "normal" and then concentrate back on you -