I'm the worst bandster there ever was. I drink with all my meals, I drink soda, I eat the same I did before the surgery. I take big bites and don't chew well enough. I still eat carbs, I eat bread and sandwiches, chips, crackers, etc.

The only good thing is that I do exercise.

I obviously wasn't ready to do this, but I did. I was baded about 6 months ago, and of course haven't had much success. I know that it's bad and that this is all my fault. I cannot, however, pay to have the band taken out. What should I do? I am obviously sabatoging my health, but what am I doing to my insides as far as the bad goes?

Well, if you're able to do what you were doing before, and it's not causing you any problems, then there is no reason to remove your band.

When you are ready, get yourself a fill and start making smarter choices!

Do you have any fill? That will automatically limit how much you can eat and probably eliminate the bread. The band without any fill doesnt do much. Are you seeing your surgeon for followup? He will work with you on getting restriction. The rest you need to work on yourself. Could you just take it in tiny steps??? Try not drinking with meals. Once you get that down work on the carbs. Baby steps, the band is there when you decide to work it. It is not a foregone conclusion that you have failed at this.

I'm at 2ccs in a 4cc band.....i have a little restriction but i can definitely still eat bread....does the "sweet spot" actually stop you from eating certain foods? Can't you just drink and flush it through?

I'm at 2ccs in a 4cc band.....i have a little restriction but i can definitely still eat bread....does the "sweet spot" actually stop you from eating certain foods? Can't you just drink and flush it through?

I can't. If I eat to much bread, we're talking three to four bites, I'm stuck and drinking only makes it that much worse.

I would love to be able to eat bread, i love it, it's part of what got me here in the first place. Maybe I just don't need it and the pain is just not worth it

Take a deep breath, make a commitment, fill it up more and get to work. That's the beauty of the band, its always there when you decide to work with it. But it takes almost as much work with a band as without to lose weight consistenly over the long haul, its very much a head game.

Oh, and I'm at 2.5 in my 4ml band and I can easily eat bread. But I cant eat a LOT of anything. Eating bread in and of itself is no drama, its what you eat overall and how much you eat that matters. I eat a slice of bread or so a day, usually toast for breakfast and I've lost weight just fine.

So if I get proper restriction, will I be able to "drink through" bread and other things?

Have you considered counselling to see why you continue to sabotage yourself????? You have taken a huge step in doing this....you DESERVE to be whole and healthy....maybe someone could help you process and figure this out!!?!

God Bless,

Melody

Banded 3/20/06 -88lbs

Not to be rude or anything, but you keep asking if, even with restriction you can drink your food through the band. Do you want to sabotage your efforts? I am not sure why someone would get the band without being committed to it. You have it now, either you or your insurance company spent a lot of money for you to have it. It is still in there waiting for you to use it and become healthier. Are there any local support groups in your area? Or, perhaps as the other poster said, you should seek counseling to help you with your issues.

Can't you just drink and flush it through?

Yes you can but if you can do that without pain then you need more fill or to have your band checked for a leak. When I had 2cc's in my 4 cc band there was NO way I could drink with my meals and push my food through without having the most horrible horrible pain and feeling like I was backing up like a toilet.

I cannot possibly drink and flush anything through..if I drink it HURTS so bad that I am miserable until it comes back up....apparently your restriction isnt what is should be...just my h/o

When I was a "newbie" I COULD eat ANYTHING, just not as much as I did prior to banding. Not that I DID. I could even eat sandwiches, pizza and breads up until my last fill and occasonally I did. I must be getting closer to my "sweet spot" because now I can not eat any bread, pizza or sandwiches. Even one bite makes me miserable.

I have found (for myself) that this band is strictly a TOOL. It is very possible to eat "past" the band. It makes it much easier to control the quantity of food that I eat, but it is entirely up to me to control what I put in my mouth and how much exercise I get.

You have to work at making the band successful.

Well put ms vicki- its a tool for us to use...

Why did you get banded?

Carol

I think you need counseling. A fill won't make it better. It will just make you sick because you will still try to eat everything you did pre-band. You have to decide if you want to lose weight before anything will help. The band won't help you unless you help the band with healthy food choices.