Hey all,

I'm really, really down. In March it will be my 1st anniversary with banded life. I'm only down 15 lbs.

I got off to a rocky start due to Medicare not paying for my fill until 6 months later. I'll be going for my second fill this week. The fill tschedule did not help, I know but also an issue is that I am out of control with what I am eating. I'm eating poorly. Bad choices. I have NO discipline when it comes to eating the right and wrong things. People say "Just do it" "don't eat the junk", but it's impulsive, compulsive for me. I'm a junk food junkie.

Granted, i went through a severe depression for a large chunk of the year, but Doctors, friends and family are disappointed in my weight loss and so am I. I did this for my physical and mental health. My cholesterol is very high, asthma, GERD, etc. I was so very much hoping this band would help me lose weight.

I'm also concerned that I will do my esophagus and band harm because of poor choices in eating.

Any support would be great.

:help:

Hi Leenerbups! Sorry to have missed this thread.

Now that you have an aggressive fill, BE CAREFUL! Take it really slowly with solid foods; chewing carefully isn't all that matters, you also have to really wait a while between bites. This is the hardest thing for me--still is, even 3.5 years out.

Good luck with this fill! I hope it sticks this time and you find the help you need to lose weight.

Glad to hear you got a fill, Leener.

I know that without restriction, it is REALLY hard to lose. If you don't keep restriction - go back. Hopefully, your band just shoved a little fat pouch off to the side or something and this new fill will help.

Hugs!

Leenerbups, hang in there. Todays fill may take several days to reach full effect, at least that is my experience. I am like you, I can eat anything. I do not eat four whoppers and four fries in 10 minutes anymore. The hunger monster is always lurking waiting for me to eat carbs. The simple carbs are like waving a red flag in front of a bull.

I work on staying away from simple carbs, and yes like you I dislike working out. If I do my workout as household chores, sweeping, moping and picking-up it is not so bad. My girl like it too, more time for helping her grade papers for her class-yuk. I my take up exercise when its time to grade papers-double yuk.

Hey Leener,

reading this thread and I empathize with you. I am newly banded so I don't know where I am going to be in a year from now. I know we all start this with so much hope that to be down 15 lbs a year later would be SO tough. I did this because I just don't have it in me to try and diet and control myself all the time. I really hope the band will help me be in control without it being so hard.

I am really pulling for you on your fill and look forward to your update and hopefully hearing about some restriction.

Hi there,

Really until you get to a good point with your band *the sweet spot* you can't expect alot of weight loss. So 15 pounds isn't so bad. So glad you got another fill. Of course now you will have to relearn things and understand how your band reacts with you. Every fill for me has been a relearning process. Also from what I can tell, 4 fills is about average for bandsters. So you might even need another one eventually so don't get down and think the band is not working. It's just not to where u need it to be yet. Having a band is a journey, not a race. You will get there if you are determined to work with your band and of course do your part too. Oh and even though its only a 15 pound loss, wouldn't you be at even a higher weight without the band? It's all in how you think about it really. I've NEVER had any diet or weight loss last more than a year. I'm into my fourth year now and it's still gone! You will be a success too..just keep at it! Take care

Di

Hi all!!

From the responses and PM's I'm getting, it seems I am not alone in this issue.

Just to update...man am I tight! I never knew what it was like, always able to eat what I wanted and gulp liquids, that I PB's Water I gulped last night!

Now I know what you all talked about in the "sip,sip,sip". I never had to do that.

Now, if I have a leak, I'm assuming I will lose this tightness before substantial weight is lost, correct?

Thanks for the reminder Alex, that is hard for me too.

You will lose SOME restriction when the swelling goes down - but if you lose all of it - then you may have a leak. If you lose all - go back to the fill doc or center and tell them.

Hugs!

Hey all, just to update you all.

I have PB'd every day since the fill. Twice yesterday and I'm so sore in my band area.

I'm not sure if I am too tight or not chewng slow enough, etc. I've never really had good restriction, so I don't know what is what.

Leener - I feel your pain and am in a similar situation to yours - finding the right restriction has been very hard for me. I am actually doing better with less restriction then i've ever had, i'm enjoying eating and haven't pb'd since. I was also prescribed a medication for appetite control that is helping -

I did follow the band rules with eating, exercise and still do so that might be a place for you to start over agin - sad, but true, we really have to work at this with numerous behavior and lifestyle changes.

It is not good to pb everyday as it becomes a cyclic thing and you don't get nourished, it messes with your head and could hurt your band. I would call the doc, stay on liquids for a day or so (and if they don't stay down- get to the doc immediately) and see if things settle.

Bandsters even at correct fill level should be able to eat three meals a day with solids although many can only do liquids for Breakfast. You deserve that!

And also, you didn't get your first fill for 6 months and most don't lose until then so Celebrate 15 pounds - i can't wait to get there at 13+ months out. That is super esp considering all your challenges. Good luck and try not to give up.

Yeah, Leener.

You are supposed to let your esophagus rest after a PB by doing liquids, then mushies then back to real foods. If you don't - you can cause a viscious cycle. The swelling never goes down, so you PB again and the swelling never goes down, so you PB again....

Try to do liquids for 24 hours after every PB. Plus - it took over a full week for the swelling to go down after my last fill. Give it some time. It's just like starting banded life all over, isn't it?

Hugs and Good Luck.

I am so sorry things are not going well for you, but I do not believe it is a reason to give up hope. To me it sounds like you need more of a support system, do you go to a group at all? You need someone that will help hold your hand, not belittle you for making bad choices! Seek a support group or a friend that is great with support! Never give up hope, it is never too long to change your thoughts and relationship with food. You really don't need a relationship, food is for sustainment not pleasure. That is the way I have to think about it, otherwise I go nuts. Good luck!

Good idea.Warm liquids for the day and mushies when it calms down.

Thank you!

Mary and Jack:Thanks for your support.With restriction it has shocked me how hard it is for food to go down. It was so easy before!

Boo-Boo Kitty: No, I should go to my support group, but it's an hour away. But I will start I think. Although the board is great, I think I need to add that in.

I had a problem with PBing until I learned what triggered it. For me, I was "snarfing" my food... taking too big of bites, not chewing and eating too fast.

All my life, I have been embarrassed because I wolf down my food. I would always say I was going to stop. Now if I don't eat slowly, chewing small bites of food thoroughly, then I get in trouble. I have only been banded for a short time but I feel like this is a really positive change for me. I haven't lost a lot of weight yet but I am sure that this one change will really bring me a long way down the road to my goals.

leener:

when I am at 'tight' it is very easy to trigger the PB....and while frustrating, learning what that particular lesson has to offer does move me toward a greater appreciation for the entire 'M' word.....'Moderation'....

'sip' and 'chew' and 'eat even m o r e s-l--o----w----l-------y' begin to make sense and become a habit themselves....

I still find at times a single saltine eaten in less than 5 minutes can become a problem...

cheers!!!

It only takes one little bit of food that is not chewed to start the problem. A minor distraction like talking to someone is all it takes to allow me to swollow too soon. It is work to remember that I must chew.

Boy, can I relate to you guys.....

I am closely approaching my One Year Bandiversary on 02/28. At one time I had lost 35 lbs and was doing great. Then I suffered a torn meniscus in my left knee. It "gave way" on me more and more frequently so I decided to have surgery to repair. That was back in October and my knee feels worse than before the surgery. On top of that, my right knee is bothering me because of the extra stress of doing "double duty" while my left knee healed. Now I can hardly walk at all and when I do, it is very painful. I am back to my original starting weight and fear it will only go higher.

Although lack of exercise is the excuse I give the public, the other hidden excuse is that I have become very depressed and am making all the wrong food choices. I am at the point of deep despair and am so tempted to just give up.

I am sorry for sabotaging your thread. Thanks for listening anyway.