I am so frustrated, I just want to pull my hair out!!! Last year on Feb. 16, 2006 Dr. Steven Malley performed my lap band surgery. I was doing really good there for a while...losing weight steadily. I actually got to the point where I had lost about 60lbs. and 3 dress sizes. Now, I go into his office and get weighed and I have somehow not only managed to gain 17lbs. in the past month! But, I also weigh 1 lb. more than I did the day of surgery a year ago. I just don't know what to do. I wonder sometimes if I made the right decision or if I should have gone more extreme with like a gastric bypass. Is anyone else struggling the way I am. What are you doing that helps lose the weight? There is a part of me that just wants to give up and start shoveling chocolate cake in my mouth, but then I think about how good I felt just a few months back when I was down three sizes. What kind of diets are you guys doing. What foods seem to work best for you, in respect to going down easily but yet still making you full? Any imput and advice that you guys have would really be uplifting to me right now. I just feel like such a failure. This time last year I was thinking about a year from then, like right now I expected that I would have lost 70 or 80 lbs. and be going strong. Instead, I am exactly the opposite. Please HELP!!!

I think you need to do a number of things...

1. go in for a fill if you think you need one

2. exercise

3. journal EVERYTHING you are eating and make sure you aren't grazing

4. perhaps speak with the dr. who did your psych eval. and see if he/she can't help you through this.

Best of luck...my husband is struggling similarly...he's gained back 20 of his 90lbs lost...life is really hard for him right now (stress of possible job loss), but he's getting back on it....slowly but surely!!!

Good luck.

Rain

What happened where you eating around the band?

Are you exercising?

I was just banded a month ago and look forward to my 1st fill and more loss. I have lost 20 lbs since being banded. My loss has stalled...but I know it's because I need a fill. I am confident once I get the fill I will be back on track.

I am not judging I just want to know how you lost the 60 lbs like what was your schedule like? what foods were you eating? where you measuring your portions? were you following all the band rules?

What is the difference in your routine now from when you lost 60 amazing lbs?

Maybe you could post what you are eating so we can try and get an idea of what is going on as well.

I know you probably don't want to hear this but the band is only a tool to help you lose weight - you still have to try very hard to make healthy choices, follow the band 'rule', exercise, etc.

Possibly in the beginning you lost a lot of weight due to the surgery, more restricted diet, etc.

Then as you 'adjusted' to the band started eating less healthy, etc....

Some people (like me) think the band is the answer - and it is just a 'help' - you still gotta work it - some people have to work it harder than others.

It is suppossed to be in for life so give yourself some time - be a little patient with yourself as you learn how to live (for life) with this band.

Definitely seek a group or person to help - food diary calorie counter and exercise are key - i have always like fitday.com -it's free and kinda fun.

Weight watchers maybe (although don't mention you had surgery-they are pretty 'anti') and keep trying.

You are healthy and still have your band. You can still work it and let it help you to lose weight again. You can do it. Don't give up.

Mary

Trissie what were you doing in the first months post surg that helped you lose those the 60lbs vs what you are doing now? do you need a fill?

Wow! Thanks for sharing.

You've heard so many say, 'stay off the scale', right?

I disagree with that and say weigh daily. And if you don't want to do that then at least weekly.

An adjustment is in order when you gain 1 pound. So you should have gone in at that time. But you didn't know.

Knowledge is power.

This is a setback but make it your shining moment...a pivotal moment in your life.

Get an adjustment. Get a scale. Get those adjustments on time, every time.

Come back and tell us about your weightloss!

If you need food that goes down easily, then you might be too tight. The band is meant to work with solid food as that's what stays in the pouch and keeps us full, to prevent grazing.

Can you eat chicken, if you take small bites and chew them well?

You may have gotten one fill too many and started get food stuck, so you resorted to soft foods.

You do, as others, suggested, need to figure out waht you are doing differently in the last months than what you did early on.

Grace, I'm with you on the scale thing. I need a constant monitoring to be sure I am on track. I lie to myself too much and need an objective watchdog!

trissie, I just want to remind you that gastric bypass patients can also gain back their weight, and they don't have the fill adjustments to turn to. I have a cousin and a friend who lost over 100 lb with gb, but gained it back.

Wow! Thanks for sharing.

You've heard so many say, 'stay off the scale', right?

I disagree with that and say weigh daily. And if you don't want to do that then at least weekly.

An adjustment is in order when you gain 1 pound. So you should have gone in at that time. But you didn't know.

Knowledge is power.

This is a setback but make it your shining moment...a pivotal moment in your life.

Get an adjustment. Get a scale. Get those adjustments on time, every time.

Come back and tell us about your weightloss!

I don't disagree with weighing often to know where you stand, but a fill becasue you gain ONE POUND? That is crazy. One pound could be too much salt in last night's dinner or not having a bowel movement in a day or two or a period is due or because someone is too tight and is drinking high calorie drinks.

A fill should be given if we are able to eat solid Protein, or even bread, Pasta etc. in high quantity.

Now this person might need a fill, but to suggest a one pound gain is reason to get a fill, is in my opinion, bad advice. If she is too tight already, it could lead to further problems.

I feel for you!! Its so hard. When I got my lap band, I wasn't really losing any weight and it was embarrasing when people who knew I had it kept asking how much I lost so far. Then I realized, the lap band is not magic and you still can overeat plenty with it in. Especially fattening foods that are kind of liquidy.

So basically I thought if I had the lap band I would be magically thin. The thing is, you need to be motivated to lose the weight. If you are, the lap band is great at keeping you on track. It also prevents you from binging out of control. But you can still graze all day and eat all the chocolate, icecream, etc you want because its easy to go down. If I were you I would think about how I can become successful at weight loss and use the band as a tool.

I realized that me eating whatever I felt like on the lap band was not doing me any favors. Now I strive for 1200 calories a day of anything I want. Sometimes I reach that goal, and lose weight. Other times I totally go over it and gain weight. But I am more mindful of my eating and sticking to a diet I made up that works for me.

If you do the atkins diet, you are famished for carbs. If you do fat free, all you want is cheese and potatoe chips. So I really think diets are not good cuz they leave you feeling deprived and that leads to binge eating.

So I eat McDonalds. I just get a small chicken mcnugget happy meal for 400 calories. Because I have the lapband, my body is more than satisfied on that, whereas before I could wolf down a supersize happy meal plus dessert. If I want 400 calories of chocolate, I find chocolate with that many calories and try not to buy more than that because having chocolate in my house is dangerous!!

But I eat a lot of healthy stuff too when I want it, like tofu, sushi, etc. I like this way of eating because I am never depriving myself. I need to count calories to make keep myself in check and the lap band helps me be satisfied on 1200 calories per day. Maybe you should look into hypnosis, accupuncture or other things that will take away your self sabotoging behavior. Just do what works for you and use the lapband as a tool.

I am so frustrated, I just want to pull my hair out!!! Last year on Feb. 16, 2006 Dr. Steven Malley performed my lap band surgery. I was doing really good there for a while...losing weight steadily. I actually got to the point where I had lost about 60lbs. and 3 dress sizes. Now, I go into his office and get weighed and I have somehow not only managed to gain 17lbs. in the past month! But, I also weigh 1 lb. more than I did the day of surgery a year ago. I just don't know what to do. I wonder sometimes if I made the right decision or if I should have gone more extreme with like a gastric bypass. Is anyone else struggling the way I am. What are you doing that helps lose the weight? There is a part of me that just wants to give up and start shoveling chocolate cake in my mouth, but then I think about how good I felt just a few months back when I was down three sizes. What kind of diets are you guys doing. What foods seem to work best for you, in respect to going down easily but yet still making you full? Any imput and advice that you guys have would really be uplifting to me right now. I just feel like such a failure. This time last year I was thinking about a year from then, like right now I expected that I would have lost 70 or 80 lbs. and be going strong. Instead, I am exactly the opposite. Please HELP!!!

I don't disagree with weighing often to know where you stand, but a fill becasue you gain ONE POUND? That is crazy. One pound could be too much salt in last night's dinner or not having a bowel movement in a day or two or a period is due or because someone is too tight and is drinking high calorie drinks.

A fill should be given if we are able to eat solid Protein, or even bread, Pasta etc. in high quantity.

Now this person might need a fill, but to suggest a one pound gain is reason to get a fill, is in my opinion, bad advice. If she is too tight already, it could lead to further problems.

I agree with ShortGal,

I was told to continue your routine of diet & exercise if the scale has not moved in the right direction and you are following proper lap-band guidelines then schedule a fill.

A person's weight can flunctuate anywhere from 5 to 15 lbs per month as a consequence of food,medications or any other events going on with your body such as TOM.

Trissie, to be honest with you the only thing that has saved me is good restriction and giving up beer. I can only eat 1-2 oz at a time now. I recommitted myself by joining Weight Watchers and buying a 10 week pass. If I can stay on Weight Watchers for 10 weeks and eat 1k a day (20 pointsl) I will lose at least 1-2 lbs a week and that will put me 15-20 lbs from goal. You really just need to recommit yourself. Make sure you have good restriction. Buy a motivational outfit. Take some before pictures, walk and drink lots of water. You can do it. The band will help you.

First of all, its ok... But stop feeling bad for yourself and make the changes!!!

Start with baby steps....

1.) Remember why you got the band in the first place..

2.) Go back to bandster rules.. Try going back to liquids(low cal) for a few days, then mushies and etc. As a way of starting all over. food journals help a lot as well.

3.) Get a fill!!! You probably need one from the sounds of it.

4.) Get the butt moving again... Excercise... even if it is only walking for a few extra min a day at first. It will help a lot.

5.)Avoid over processed sugar foods... it only gets you craving my high cal. treats.

6.) Get support... Always feel free to get help from you fellow bandsters here on the web.. We are all willing to help.. Or get it from family of friends.

7.) If need be join a weight loss program like weight watchers or go see a nutritionist.. to get you back on the right track.

8.)BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!!! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!

Best of luck to you...:thumbup: And keep us updated... We are here to help.. I know that i would have never gotten this far without the support of my fellow bandsters.. And that tough love does give us that much needed push.

P.S. Follow these rules.. they will help you get started and figure out if you need that adjustment:

Adjustments<!--webbot bot="Navigation" i-checksum="27883" endspan -->

<tt>How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted

You are losing 1-2 pounds per week.

If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week:

A. You may need an eating adjustment

1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day

2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber

3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories

a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome”

b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram

(1) It’s also a stomach irritant

c. fruit juice is just sugar Water

4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of

foods?

a. Are you avoiding soft foods

b. You can’t just eat what’s easy

c. cheese is glorified fat

5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals

6. Are you eating too much junk

a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly

processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a

healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you

feel deprived.

b. Stay out of fast food places

7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily

8. Do you always eat the protein first

9. Then the vegetables or fruits

a. Five servings a day

b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable

10. Is your portion size appropriate?

a. meat or fish

(1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards

b. Vegetables

(1) ½ cup – the size of your fist

c. Starch

(1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need

much

(2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, Pasta

11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners

a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the

appetite

b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar

c. They teach you to like things too sweet

d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner

than people who don’t

12. Avoid most diet foods

a. Real food usually tastes better

b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes

c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not

that great

(1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet

margarine

(2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats

a. They may go into permanent storage

b. Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove

hydrolyzed fats from the body</tt>

<tt>B. You may need a behavior adjustment</tt>

<tt>1. Are you eating only when you are hungry?

a. If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait.

2. Are you eating three meals a day?

a. With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks

3. Are you sitting down to eat?

4. Are you eating consciously?

a. No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper

away, pay attention to your food and your companions

5. Are you eating slowly?

a. Put the fork down between bites

b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal

c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying

6. Are you taking small bites?

a. Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork

7. Are you chewing well?

8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals?

a. Practice water loading between meals

b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal

9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness?

a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough

b. Hard stop versus soft stop

10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing.

11. Do not eat when you are not hungry</tt>

<tt>C. You may need an activity adjustment</tt>

<tt>1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3

times a week?

a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day

b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week?

c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes?

2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your

physical activity?

a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators

b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding

c. Parking your car further away from the entrance

d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through

e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination

f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash

g. Playing with your kids</tt>

<tt>D. You may need an attitude adjustment</tt>

<tt>1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey?

2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are

eating and exercising?

a. Log your food and activity on ww.fitday.com for 3 days

3. Are you using food inappropriately to deal with emotional

issues?

a. Have you identified what the emotions are that drive your

eating?

b. Can you think of more appropriate ways to deal with those

emotions?

c. Are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor?

4. Are you attending and participating in support group meetings?

5. Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends?

6. Have you dealt with saboteurs realistically?

7. Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss

journey?

8. Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating?

a. Obsessive – compulsive thoughts

(1) Obsess about something else

b. Perfectionism

(1) All or none, black and white thinking

c. Patience with the pace of healthy weight loss

9. Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards?

10. Have you learned how to take a compliment?

11. Are you giving up diet mentality?

a. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day

b. Stop dieting

c. Stop depriving yourself

d. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad”

e. Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food

12. How do you feel about all the changes taking place?</tt>

<tt>E. You may need a band adjustment</tt>

<tt>1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate

portion sizes but getting hungry between meals?

2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large

portions.

3. You are having to struggle to lose

4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and

having a good mind set.</tt>

<tt>F. You may need your band loosened</tt>

<tt>1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down

2. You are vomiting too much

a. How much is too much?

3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night?

a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating

b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime

c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime

d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux:

(1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods

(2) Chocolate

(3) Caffeine

(4) Alcohol

(5) Some fruits and vegetables

a. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers

(6) Peppermint

a. Baking soda toothpaste

(7) Carbonated drinks

e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals

f. If you smoke, quit smoking

g. Reduce stress

h. Exercise promotes digestion

i. Raise the head of your bed

j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist

k. Stress increases reflux

l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning

m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime

(1) Tylenol is OK

n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring

o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications

p. See your health care provider

4. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if

a. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest,

especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is

accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast

heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack.

b. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise.

c. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you

also have nausea or fever

d. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee

grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar

in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention.</tt>

<tt>(Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your

stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.)

e. If your pain is severe</tt>

This was written by

Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.

Edited March 18, 200818 yr by Jeni 85

Does your surgeon's office do any aftercare, like have a nurse or doc to talk to, a counselor on staff, support group meetings? That would be a great place to start.

The bandster eating guidelines posted are how you can eat and lose weight, and be sure to read the list Jeni 85 posted on how to tell if you need an adjustment.

I know I sound like a broken record these days, but I'd really like to recommend you pick up The Beck Diet Solution if you feel like you need that extra push to get back and stay back on track. It's not a diet, it's tools to help you succeed at whatever eating plan you choose to lose or maintain weight with. And it's working really well for me.

You CAN do this.

Does your surgeon's office do any aftercare, like have a nurse or doc to talk to, a counselor on staff, support group meetings? That would be a great place to start.

The bandster eating guidelines posted are how you can eat and lose weight, and be sure to read the list Jeni 85 posted on how to tell if you need an adjustment.

I know I sound like a broken record these days, but I'd really like to recommend you pick up The Beck Diet Solution if you feel like you need that extra push to get back and stay back on track. It's not a diet, it's tools to help you succeed at whatever eating plan you choose to lose or maintain weight with. And it's working really well for me.

You CAN do this.

Molly,

The Beck Diet Solution is an awesome book! It has helped me get through this first week of pre-op dieting like you wouldn't believe. I highly recommend it as well.

For those who don't know, this book is based on cognitive behavioral therapy. Dr. Judith Beck is the daughter of Aaron Beck, considered to be the father of cognitive therapy.