I am a 57 year old female looking for a Lapland buddy. I was banded mar 12 and have been struggling. I would prefer someone around the same age. I was banded in savannah, ga. Thank u

Hi Lemens ~ I was banded February 2012, I'm 46 in Austin, Texas. You say you are struggling, can you give me a little more information as to what is going on? I'd love to help you. Offer you my experiences over the last year and support you. If you prefer PM me and we can chat a little.

I'd love to help.

Lots of us here ready to help. As AJ says, tell us what is going on and what your questions are. I am 63 so between us we average your age!

Well as I said I was banded mar 12. For the first two months lost about 12 lbs. 3rd month stayed the same, 4th month gained a lb, 5th month gained a couple more. Stopped going for my appts. A couple of months ago I started getting sick, queasy and throwing up but nothing came up. This went on a day or two out of each wk. made an appt to have my band checked. Band was ok so went to pcp. Anyway had gall bladder removed 1 feb. have an appt with Lapland 20feb. I want to get back on track but have such a hard time. I eat just like I did before surgery. I have been a complete failure. Help

First, you are not a complete failure.

What worked for me was eating 1200 calories a day, about 60-70g of Protein. I log all my food on myfitnesspal (Add me as a friend & you can see my food diary. user: ajtexas0), drink 80 oz of Water a day and I walk about 3 miles a day (during the work week I climb the stairs in my office building 30-50 flights a day).

Sounds easy.....but it wasn't. The hardest part was my head! Food cravings and I eat when I'm bored or upset. In the beginning I kept a journal and I would write down everything from what I ate to what I was feeling. Then when I found this site (4 months post-op) I would post and blog here. Having good support is what made me successful. My family didn't always understand but always supported me. I have a support group through my doctors office I go to every month and all my friend here are priceless. I log on here every day to get support. And finally, I check in with my doctor every month. I don't always get a fill, but I weigh in and tell them how I've been doing.

So, first thing to do is forgive yourself and quit beating yourself up. You are ready to get back on track and we are ready to help you.

You can do this, I believe in you!

Did you ever backslide? How do u get excited about exercise and drinking the water. I guess I am asking how did u turn yourself around? Sounds like you are 100% focused. That is what I need.

Hi Lemens........funny I am in the same boat. I had my band "installed" almost 3 years ago....I lost 37 pounds and I was doing well. Then the back slide started. I gained a pound here and there and now since October, I have gained almost 19!

There has been a lot of stressors in my life of late.....I live in an ocean front town, so my town and my home took a beating from hurricane Sandy. My home gym and my club were both destroyed. That wasn't the worst party........my communities beloved boardwalk was also destroyed. So my exercise regime has gone by the waist side. I'm very sad over a relationship breakup and my job has become increasingly stressful so as of late.....I go to work at 7:30 and get home by 7, come home, eat dinner, watch some tv and then go to bed. I am definitely in a slump. I feel awful physically and emotionally.

I had appts with my doctor and the office nutritionist but they cancelled on me and when they could reschedule, I could not go. The office hours end at 3:30. I have to take time off of work to get there and I am a first grade teacher so it's not that easy. I too feel like a failure....and eat almost like I did before the band.

Last Friday night I had a meeting with myself and decided that enough is enough. While I can't get into an exercise routine like before, I decided that when the weather breaks I will walk more around the streets and up on the beach. I printed up guidelines for lapbanders online since I no longer have them from my dr.'s office. I am making small steps to getting back. One thing I loved was a food diary from lapband.com. Sadly, it no longer works on the site and I am in search of new one online. That one was great because I could download it to my blackberry and my i pad. It counted calories and Protein. Do you know of any? I really think that was a great tool!

I will be glad to be your buddy....I think having someone who knows how you are feeling is key.

All the best, Stefanie

Hi Stephanie. Sorry, I have not responded. I am still trying to learn this site and have difficulty. Hope you are still willing to be a buddy. Please let me know. I am not going to write too much until I hear back from you. Hope you are out of your slump and doing better. I will check and see if you respond. Try my fitness pal app. I read about it on this site. Hope to hear from u soon!