Wow it's been a while! In the past Year leading up to my 5th bandaversary I feel like my life has went in to the dumps. I have to admit I've gained weight and that is greatly effecting me. Let me go back to Oct 2012 I decided I was going to get merina (this evil device) and that's when it all started. Yes my life changed and by that I mean my weight my mood my everything. I became a coach potato depressed person. I felt like I was going to bleed to death the first 6 months (sorry TMI). Month 7-8 gained another 20 lbs and then another few So I finally had the thing removed because well I started producing large cysts like grapefruits and well hence my frustration. I've been trying to get it together but well apparently it's not working. I did get a fill actually 2 since... and a slight unfill. Jan 1 I decided I should join the gym and stop being a coach potato and I've been doing pretty good with that but I haven't really lost much maybe 3.3 lbs and gained back 1.8 UGH. I know I need to learn to work this band again and not eat around it but wow it's a challenge I've become dependent on soup and hot liquid to losen this bad boy up so I can eat =( and well I need to stop it. Last 5 days I've only had hot liquid in AM (coffee) and I've actually been eating breakfast 1 egg and 2 slices of turkey bacon.

I need help I need Idea's and support (a buddy... email, text and phone would be awesome and LBT) to get back to losing and working this band.

let the suggestions and support unleash

on a side note wow LBT has really changed.

complex issues we all face, tieing emotional/eating/hiding out/overeating/avoiding/ and being willing to re-boot & jump back in a skill that helps us all continue re-inventing ourselves.

You've taken some great steps & all I want to do is say WELCOME back to LBT vets.

Cheers on your journey.

Sorry...I am having a hard time following your timeline....first you say you had it removed? Then you say you had a fill, actually 2?

Developed cysts size of grapefruits.....where? related to the band? What was done about them...

I take it "Merina" is the name you fave your band? And you refer to it as that "Evil Device" which implies you hate it, and when you hate something often times we rebel against it, have no respect for it, and refuse to cooperate and work with it....

People often refer to the band as a "Tool"...I get it....but for me, the tool is the "Master" controlling my eating and behaviors...I do not, and cannot control the band...it controls me...that is not a tool.....step out of line, and try to fight it would only end up with me being miserable, and ultimately a failure...

Learning to "Listen" to it, following the rules it demands, (not anyone elses) results in harmony and makes life, and this journey "Easy"

The hardest part of this for me was learning what the heck was going on...and there are not many people around to explain it to me, or maybe there were too many opinions as to what to do that only confused the situation.......I had 3 fills...after my last one my world was turned upside down...it took me another 2-3 months to figure it all out and find that "Groove"

And what I found out for myself, does not mean it is what everyone else had found that works best for them...

I do not like to tell other people what to do...only what I have experienced for myself...I do know many people when trying to find their way, go back to step one and start to build up again...

Edited February 6, 201412 yr by B-52

@B-52. Merina is a birth control method and it sounds like the hormonal component of it deregulated the original poster's system.

Sorry yes it's birth control... That really honestly is evil. I guess there is a lot going on hormonally and I need to fix it I can't have surgery to remove cysts since I'm not doubled over in pain so the fix is wait have been doing that since July now. But my biggest thing is working and finding ways to work my band again it's almost like I forgot or can't find my groove hence why I need support by people who have a band.

Side bar I loved my band (still do) but I don't think Merina liked my body or band. I have faith I can get my band to work again I'm just having hard time finding that happy!

I can relate about falling off the wagon due to issues impacting you. I won't go into details, but after doing great I had a few things happen and started to eat more and stop working out due to emotional issues. I'm trying to get back on track, and it is significantly harder than it was the first time. I feel like I can't get started.

I am going to go in and get a fill (i had a significant unfill after some issues with being too tight). In addition, I just joined Weight Watchers. Looking back, I wasn't eating the right foods when i lost the weight last time, I was just working out enough to compensate. I am going to try to really learn how to eat right in addition to the exercise to see if I can't make it stick this time around.

Feel free to message me - I could also use the support!

Lori

I too fell off the wagon, sometimes I feel like the the wagon ran me over. I gained about 15-20 lbs last year after a very very stressful year. I too had to have a slight unfill and lost my sweet spot after that. With my stressful year, I am now seriously addicted to carbs again and just totally unnerved about it at my weight, feel free to message me too, I could use a friend too.

I don't know if I need a fill or not....some days I feel tight but others not feel much restriction...been since May that I had a feel, but everytime I think about going in I have a day where I feel tight. I've had my band just shy of 3 years. Any others have days where they don't feel as much restriction?

I heading for my 5th year being banded... I started out at 258 and got to goal 130 in year and half.. then got a hernia and tilted band, had to be unfilled for over 2 months waiting on my surgery, gained 30.. got it all fixed and hard to get this weight back off, I am 162 today.. I want to get to 145.. I realize looking back 130 was to thin i'm 5'7. I didn't think so at first, til I look back at photo's... but darn this 20 is hard to get off... been stuck here for over 2 years...

Are you guys able to eat carbs or a lot more food in one setting after you've had the band a few years?

yes, you can.. you get adjusted to the band, and you tend to go back to old habits, gotta stay on your toes always.. good thing is, it does help control portions though..

I know I can eat carbs wish I couldn't! I find myself craving carbs... I'm working on breaking that and hitting Protein hard. I find more protein I eat the less I want anything else... I'm really liking this!

To respond on band being moody Yes all the time! Some days are tighter then others the more stress I have the tighter my band is. This is why I'm tryin to learn not to eat around band it really = disaster!

Sapphire you can do this girl!

Are you guys able to eat carbs or a lot more food in one setting after you've had the band a few years?

The band has changed the way I eat...forever....it prohibits me from doing the bad things like I used to...

I no longer diet, no longer count calories....

I am not afraid to eat carbs, or the things that are forbidden while dieting...I just cannot eat too much, so a little here and there does not hurt me at all...and like I said, the band will always hold me in check from the old habits...which is overeating and ceaseless hunger/cravings....

If the band should change, then something is abnormal...but to date it has been very consistent other than small variations which I have gotten used to, and have some maintenance practices I do from time to time to keep everything in top shape, same as it was ever since reaching that "Groove"....

Our last vacation was a 12 day cruise....plenty to eat and drink....I said screw it, throw caution to the wind...eat whatever and whenever I want to....well, the band would not let me over indulge..and there will always be foods I cannot eat...so even though the temptations to "Blow it" where there, I could not....just like any other day...

And because I continued to workout everyday, plus how active we were all day long, I actually lost a pound or two...and I was trying to overeat!

Edited February 12, 201412 yr by B-52

@CHI

I currently have mirena and have been banded almost 3 1/2 yrs. I gained about 25lbs back after an initial 70lb lost in 1st year. In 8/13 I had a "come to Jesus" meeting with myself and decided to stop tricking my band. I went on a Daniel fast clean eating 21 day plan to get things jump started. I hit the gym now 4-5 days per week and got a trainer as a gift to myself. Now I'm about 15lbs away from goal the last I checked. It's hard and everyday is a struggle. I try to eat the things I love in moderation. If I want fried chicken, I eat it and keep it moving versus mulling over it and binging and tricking the band. As it's been said most of the struggle is in our minds and our negative relationship with food. Look into alternatives in changing your diet to get the band back on track. I'm at restriction now and doc won't adjust it. Anyhow, sorry for log message. I wish you much success