I am here often just reading and trying to figure out what to do, but I don't post. I got my band in March of 09, started out just fine; the mental adjustments seemed to be right and I was happy. I had a couple of issues steming from not knowing better, but thought I had overcome them. I have about 5.5cc in my band and hunger is not a problem for me; until I eat. I don't get hungry until then and I become an eating machine. I have gained about 11 lbs in the last 6 weeks or so, some because I hadn't been drinking enough water, some was just about bad choices of food. I don't think I'm eating anything ""new", but eating to much of it. I am concerned that there is something else going on because I am seeing changes. My hair isn't growing (I keep it short) the texture is different even though I still take Biotien daily, EVERYTHING makes me bloted; even water. My BP is up but I take my meds daily. I had a check up with the PC, did a colon screening last week and everything came back good. I will see my surgeron/PA on Mon. and made an appointment for a fill on Fri. I haven't had one since last year and I hope this will get me going again. I love my band and the weight I've lost but still feel like a failure because I never reached goal which wasn't the same as my doctor's and I was happy to be where I was, but now that I'm gaining I am really down.

I recently had to have an some fluid taken out of my band because of plastic surgery and i was shocked at how much food and how hungry i was even tho it was only 1 ml taken out. But although i did eat more as i was advised to help my skin heal, i made sure i weighed every day and if i ate a lot i knew i had to burn a lot in exercise. I didnt put any weight on at this time even tho i was eating like a horse because i was burning it off, hopefully after a fill u may be able to curb your appetite better , but things like using a smaller plate, drinking water before u eat or i eat a weight watchers soup before dinner, all help to stop u over eating at meal times. Make sure its protein first then the veg, make sure u have something like 0 fat greek yoghurt for desert or with some sugar free jello etc , make it a good satisfying meal but not so calorie laden , it is possible to feel full without shovelling in calories that will put on weight . I always had a bloated feeling after eating and some of this was due to IBS but some was also due to my ab muscles not holding my tummy in, its called diastasis recti .. google it as theres a self test u can do. I think also if u were a big eater like i used to be our stomachs are just more stretched and therefore when we eat like a big shopping bag with very little shopping in it, its still looks as big good luck with the fill and tomorrow is a new day just start again and see how u get on

I am at the same point right now also, "I just can't seem to get it right" when I first got banned I loved it things were great, a year or so in something happened and I had to have it taking out. I did really well on the 6 months of healing I had to do, then I had it put back in, and I'm just doing ok now, not losing much at all. My lost I got to was 170 something and that was not eating at all for days, so not good at all, before I had it taking out, now that it is back in it just seems harder to lose for some reason. I am still working at it. I hope things start to work out for you.

Dawn

One, always listen to your gut. If you fear something else is going on with your body beyond the band, then listen to it and get it checked out. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

As for the band, bad food choices can effect your entire body, including your hair. It sounds like you're dealing with head hunger far more than any physical hunger- which is far harder to deal with. I know I seem to ask myself daily "am I physically hungry or head hungry?" More often than not, I am head hungry and have to grit my teeth and wait for urge to eat to pass.

You're not a failure. A failure is someone who eats horribly and too much yet still gets on these boards howling how "the band didn't work for them". You realize where you need to make some changes and are honest enough with yourself to admit it. That's not a failure, that's being human and learning from your mistakes. We ALL do it.

Hang in there, you're on the right track, just stick with it