I have had my band for nearly 5 years. In the first year and a half, I lost about 170 lbs.

Then it took a few years to let that creep back, and now I am nearly back to where I started. I am just 30 lbs down from when I first had my surgery.

I realize that it was not the band that failed me, it is me that failed to use this tool that was put inside of me. You see, I ate around it. Although I am not "too tight", it is still easier to eat Cookies and ice cream than dense Protein and veggies. I drank empty calories in the form of iced coffees or lemonade, chocolate milk and slushies. I binged on chocolate and cookies, junk food of all kinds. I skipped meals, then ate much larger meals than I needed.

All of that ends now. I am getting back on track. I don't think I need a fill... I still have a band, that tells me it's there. I hope I haven't messed it up too badly. I am going to exercise daily, watch less tv, and let the band do it's job and stop trying to sabotage it's role.

The "dieting" is never over. I know I will always have to be mindful of what I put in my mouth. But I vow to let the band do it's job and keep me from that "I-am-so-hungry-i-could-eat-a-house" feeling that normally goes along with dieting.

It seems so easy, but it's not. It is a constant battle to keep your head in the game, to keep watching that those bad habits don't return that got you here in the first place.

No matter how many times you have to start over, the most important part is that you don't turn around and go in the wrong direction.

Good for you! You know what you did wrong and now you can correct it. Best of luck

Way to go choosing yourself and your healthy future! Sometimes the Cosmic Clock doesn't line up perfectly -- turns out this is your time, right now. Good news is the surgery is done and you're ready to give up sliders.

Never ever ever give up on yourself.

You are amazing! You can do this!!!!! Private message me any time. We can be "STOP! DONT EAT THAT!" Buddies hahaha Best of luck to you. You got this!!

Good luck on your new beginning!

I know exactly how you feel. I had my surgery 4years ago. At first I lost 50 pounds in six months and was feeling great then over the last few years it was just easier to eat ice cream and slider foods now I am back up to my starting weight and trying to do this all over again, I pulled out all my paperwork and working hard at the gym and this is the last time I'm going to do this and I'm going to do it right. I am also going to keep reading posts to keep me motivated. So Good Lick to both of us. We can do this.

best wishes and hopes this didn't happen in week or month and is a long journey back you can and will do this! Your on right track it's long haul it's your life and it about you. I too have struggled and felt the pain. Its a mind matter it not about weight ask for help if need it but starts with you.

I too am starting over. I realize it's never too late. I am more mindful this time. I have been banded 6 years.

We all fall down at times but the most important thing is that we get back up and try again..????

I had my dr appt last week. My full is good I had just fallback into bad habits. My band is in good shape, no fluid loss and port is good too. They have me on only liquids like soup for the next 2 weeks. They just want me to shrink my pouch down So 1 week down and I am ready to get back to real food. And no sliders !!

Have are you looking on the scales?

Go for it. It about you not weight.

I too am having the same problem. I had my lap-band surgery in March of 2011, and I had not seen the doctor in a few years. I had gotten discouraged shortly after my surgery. I went to a few support meetings and so many people were having great success, but I wasn't. I tried to talk about it, but it seemed that they only wanted to focus on up-lifting success stories. So I quit going. Then moved away. I started seeing a new bariatric doctor last spring. She gave me one tiny little bit more filling, but said that I was pretty much at my maximum. In late spring I went back and she told me that my esophagus was stretched and not working properly, so she did not give me another filling. I went again yesterday, and she told me that my esophagus was stretched, because food backed up from overeating. That is the reason I could eat too much and not feel satisfied. It had been hurting me to eat Breakfast, and I always coughed after eating and at night when I went to bed. So I guess those were warning signs too. I looked on the internet for stretched esophagus and some articles said that it is common in lap-band situations. So the doctor drained my band, and I have to start over. Bummer. I have to be on a liquid diet for a month so that my esophagus goes back to normal. Double bummer. But in a way, I'm glad that something jarred my thinking, and for some reason, I feel like I can do what I need to this time. I had basically given up and was just cursing myself. Now I feel like I am unstuck from the mud (muddy thinking) and can move forward. We'll see. I hope that you can free yourself from whatever is holding you back, and move forward too. Don't give up and stay in contact with your doctors. They can help figure out what is wrong.

I haven't had a fill In two years.

I have gained 40lbs if I get my fills as well as eating right and working out will I be able to loose weight again???

Well, although this thread started several months ago, it seems like there are plenty of people who are still in the same boat. I am one of them. I have had my band for 5 years and although I didn't get down to my goal weight, I had been around 158-165 for a year (my goal was 140). My band became irritated and tight and I started having a lot of difficulty getting any food down. I was miserable and ended up getting all of my Fluid out, so that my esophagus could heal. I am now up to 199!!! It is my fault of course. Once my fluid was out, I was pretty much binging daily. I really am shocked at how much I have gained so quickly. I finally got 5 ccs of fluid put back in last month. However, I was used to having a lot more than that (8-9 ccs) and the 5 feels like nothing. I go in again tomorrow for a check up. I hope to get more fluid put in. Now that the holidays are over, I have started back with exercise, counting calories, and drinking Water. I am so discouraged though. I was within 20 lbs of my goal weight but now I am 60 lbs away!! I am mad at myself. I know exactly how it happened and how to lose it again, it just SUCKS that I let myself gain the weight back that I said I never would. Good luck to all of those who are starting over again, for the first, second, or tenth time!