This has been the hardest thing to do I was banded April 5 of this year. At first before surgery with the preop diet I lost 20lbs then after the surgery in the beginning i lost another 20. So that leaves me with two months of not weight loss. My dr is aggressive tightening it for me. (Thank god he's not one to drag the tightening out) but it seams I still am having issues making the right decisions on food choices. I haven't lost any weight in almost 2 months. I started my journey swearing off all bad for you foods. Then i get in to is ok tomorrow will be better. I am now a wine drinker (bad girl) I have only a half if cup or so every night. Then that leads to the snacking at night boo.

I really thought it would be easier. Then I think maybe it needs to be tighter. But I know in my heart it doesn't. I have issues with chicken for gods sake. And one kind of fish. I really had no idea. But I did know I just chose to think it would be a piece of cake. Then now I sprained my ankle. A bad one my take 3 months to heal. I swear what do I do? Sorry for venting. I needed to talk to someone who is doing this too.

Unfortunately, weight loss surgery happens in your stomach, not in your brain. And yes, even though WLS should make weight loss easier, it's still hard. Making your band tighter and tighter is not going to speed up weight loss or banish those demons who tell you a glass of wine and handful of potato chips and 2 Cookies are OK, just this once. There is no such thing as just this once. That was true for me before WLS and it's still true now, 6 years and 100 lbs. later.

Also, you sure don't need a tighter band if you're having eating problems at your current restriction level. I think right now you need to stop worrying about weight loss and start concentrating on good food choices and good eating skills (take tiny bites, chew very well, eat slowly, etc.). Making good food choices means choosing foods that are good nutritionally and are good for satiety. In other words, emphasize solid foods and avoid slider foods (soft and liquid calories, plus crispy carby stuff like crackers, chips, etc.).

You'll have to experiment with food preparation to make things like chicken, fish, or whatever more band-friendly. I can't eat chicken or turkey breast, but I can eat dark meat if it's prepared in a way that doesn't dry it out. Broiled, grilled, or microwaved meat/fish/poultry can be a problem for me, but baking or braising with some liquid (like broth) or sauce can make all the difference. A little bit of sauce, gravy, salad dressing, salsa, etc. can add flavor and make the food easier to get down. Just don't drown the food in it!

One more piece of advice - something you already know, but I want to reinforce it. Drinking wine every night is the first thing you need to address. Alcohol is not only liquid calories with no nutritional benefits; it also makes foolish food choices and hours of grazing seem like splendid ideas.

Hang in there!

Many of us have gone through similar spells during our journey and most are able to change the tide and some don't. Family situations certainly play into what foods we allow in the house but for me it starts with grocery shopping and what I allow in my house. I've got grandkids coming in today for 10 days. There will be chips and pizza around I'm sure so it will be up to my own willpower to avoid those foods.

I'll keep healthy food in the house and make every effort to eat healthy but I'm sure I'll slip up now and then. Don't beat yourself up, just keep moving towards the healthy foods and it will come.

tmf

Track your food to hold yourself accountable and you can see the damage on paper/computer and that might help you get back into gear. I know it helps me. I start sliding when I avoid the tracking, but when I see that scale go in the wrong direction, I get back on track again by tracking. I use myfitnesspal.com, but there are several others, or even just doing a paper version of a diary.

Speaking from my experience I had many bumps along the road.

Making bad food choices have been one of them.

Having too tight of a band

Stop exercising

Eating in front of the TV

Choosing to eat so call comfort foods (mash potatoes, chips, ice cream etc)

Drinking with my meals

eating after 10:00 pm

Wandering why I am not losing weight

Things I like about the band

I have reasonable restriction

Hardly every forget to chew my food throughly

Nose starts to run when I eat to much

Get up early so I am ready to go to bed before 10 pm to avoid late night snacking.

rarely drink with my meal

eat my protean first

never fill my plate to reduce the temptation to try to over eat.

The fact is that in my journey I have lost over 100 pounds with out the band I am positive that I would be well over 350 pounds, since previous attempts to lose weight I would love 40 pounds but gain 60.

I had sleep apnea and had to use a breathing machine at night now I do not use a breathing machine

I had to take medicine for diabetes now no longer take any medication

had pains in the back and knees now pain free.

The journey is hard but I seem to make more correct choices then bad ones.

Just take it one day at a time. It sounds like you are tight enough just need to make better choices for food. Consult a nutritionist is you need guidance.

You got some great advice...heck, I got some great advice reading all these. You didn't mention it, but are you exercising? That will kick start some weight loss and help you rethink food. Or at the very least...burn some of the bad calories you take in!

I love this group it helps me so much! As far as exercising. Right not I am out of commission hopefully in a week or two I can get into the pool. I hurt my ankle bad hurt. But I think the doc is going to let me swim again. It's less impact. But I have been doing better lost 2 lbs because I am really ignoring the "it's ok" brain talk. I posted something else on this site about breakfast and go some great ideas. So now I can start my day off on the right foot

I honestly believe that anyone who wants to get a band should be told right from the start that this is going to be 30% the band, and 70% YOUR commitment.

Commitment is hard, or anyone would do it. Weight loss is hard, or everyone would be thin. But even many lapbanders don't all lose the weight, and why? Because if you don't get your head in the game, you can still sabotage yourself. That's not the band's fault. It all boils down to whether YOU want it enough.

I have a friend who keeps getting her band filled and unfilled because she's too tight already. So even the smallest adjustment makes her unable to swallow her spit. And she doesn't understand why, coz she exercising lots (more than me!) and can't lose.

And yet when I point out that she will sit and eat cookie dough one small bite at a time ALL night, or nurse a milkshake for hours until she gets it all in, or she eats one bite of fish so she can snack on chocolates for the rest of the day, she doesn't understand that THAT may be why she's not losing?

Like I said, if you want this, you can do this. But get your HEAD in the game too. Or you'll always struggle with the band not meeting this crazy unrealistic expectation you have of it.

Oh, I forgot to mention something important but entirely off-topic. Your dog is adorable!

I honestly believe that anyone who wants to get a band should be told right from the start that this is going to be 30% the band, and 70% YOUR commitment.

Commitment is hard, or anyone would do it. Weight loss is hard, or everyone would be thin. But even many lapbanders don't all lose the weight, and why? Because if you don't get your head in the game, you can still sabotage yourself. That's not the band's fault. It all boils down to whether YOU want it enough.

I have a friend who keeps getting her band filled and unfilled because she's too tight already. So even the smallest adjustment makes her unable to swallow her spit. And she doesn't understand why, coz she exercising lots (more than me!) and can't lose.

And yet when I point out that she will sit and eat cookie dough one small bite at a time ALL night, or nurse a milkshake for hours until she gets it all in, or she eats one bite of fish so she can snack on chocolates for the rest of the day, she doesn't understand that THAT may be why she's not losing?

Like I said, if you want this, you can do this. But get your HEAD in the game too. Or you'll always struggle with the band not meeting this crazy unrealistic expectation you have of it.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

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