I was banded January 9, 2011. I was so excited. Did well on an Optifast diet prior to surgery. Did very well the first 4 months. Lost 43 pounds and felt so good. New clothes, people noticing. Then I started to struggle. At the time, I had an upper management job and my responsibility was 24/7. Things started getting very challenging at work and I found myself working 12 hour days (mostly a desk job) and I became exhausted with little time to eat and less time to think about it or exercise. Not an excuse, but I am 62 years old and this was too much for me. My weight loss stopped. Several months went by and I started to see myself barely moving, grabbing anything I could to eat quickly through the day and the weight started to creep back up. I gained back 20 lbs. So...I retired because I knew it was time. After a couple of months of finally getting my energy back and I am working to get back on track. I am trying to walk at least 30 minutes every other day. I want to get back to every day. I am working on my diet. I have lost 9 of those pound over the last 3-4 weeks. I am desperate for a Support Group because the closest one in my area is an hour and 15 min away. So, today I posted a forum to seek possible new members and I will start one myself. Do you think it is possible to start over after all this time? I feel so much stronger now. I didn't realize how much my job was killing me in stress and time I did not have to take care of myself. I would appreciate any advice anyone might want to share.

You can always start over. Support is definitely the key to sustaining your success. You may consider going once a month to the support group that is an hour a fifteen minutes away. If you make that commitment it might help you realize how committed you are to the new start.

You could also start your own support group in your area. There is a website called Meetup.com that is really helpful in starting new groups or finding weight loss groups in your area. Good luck!

You are on your way! Look for a thread by Sunnyside who has a thread going for encouragement and accountability. Congratulations on your retirement -- great to opt out of a lifestyle that wasn't good for you. Here's to showing up for the kind of life you WANT. A healthy one!

PS I wrote a blog today for myself as a way to keep track of my goals, etc. That might work for you, too. A kind of on-line journal of challenges and successes. Best wishes!

Thank you both for your responses. I posted a notice in the Support Group Forum for people in my area interested in a SG. I also contacted a friend who has had LB and is interested in working with me. Already I feel so much more encouraged. Thanks again.

It's never too late to start over! I was banded the first time in May of 2008, lost 88 pounds. Felt great and was proud of how I looked. In 2011 I noticed that I was gaining weight and eating more. Long story short, after gaining 40 pounds back found out my band was broken. Found a new doctor and had my band replaced in May 2013. I found a great website, it's free and you can track what you eat. MyFitnessPal.com. I have been logging in for a little over two weeks and I am down 6 pounds. I think making small steps is the best way to stay on track. Good luck and hang in there.

You can definitely start over! I was banded over 10 years ago. I have had my ups and downs but one thing we have always got to remember is that the band is only an added tool. It doesn't change our thinking about the way we approach food (unless you get hung up and then that's temporary change ), it doesn't alleviate our stress level, it doesn't change how our emotions can affect our behavior, etc. It sounds like you have identified some of the main culprits. I totally understand how much time and effort it takes to focus on taking care of ourselves! A lot of us women have spent many years working, being caretakers and not putting much focus on our own health and well-being. You mentioned feeling stronger! Of course! It is very empowering to make the kind of positive changes you mention. Congratulations on your retirement! I will turn 63 Monday so I'm right there with you age-wise. I did start a thread about encouragement and accountability. I came here, too, in search of support and to surround myself with other banded folks who understand our struggles.

I forgot to say anything about this but I assume that everything is okay with your band and it is working properly as far as restriction?