Okay I’m going to be very real and honest here. I’m going to tell you about my year two band journey. But before I do that, let me tell you about year one. Year one I was very motivated and committed to my band journey. I watched what I ate (too an extent) and workout on a semi regular basis. Semi being the key word here, I was about as committed as I could be at the time. I mean come on, I had surgery and that was supposed to be the end of the road right. No additional commitment on my end, the surgery was going to do everything for me (yeah I know good thought process going into this journey). Now don’t get me wrong I did try to be the best band patient I could, considering I had to give up what I most wanted “FOOD”.

I consider my 1st year successful; I lost sixty pounds without a lot of effort on my part. It was great, the weight was coming off, I was discovering a new me. My life in general was going great on all accounts, and then something awful happened. I gave up on my band. I became complacent; I was enjoying my weight loss and the new found me.

So here we are now at my year two journey. I basically focused on every aspect of my life except for my weight loss. I didn’t work out for a year, I didn’t visit my surgeon, and I didn’t weigh myself. I completed my certification to become a Certified Life and Wellness Coach, so I could help others taking the same journey I was taking. I put all of my focus into building a business, and I placed my weight loss on the back burner. So basically year two of my band journey can be considered a failure, no weight loss in year how is that possible?

I’ll tell you how it’s possible, I was happy with the new me. I liked the new clothes I was wearing, I liked being able to get around and do the things I wanted to do, I was enjoying life like I had never enjoyed life before. So I really don’t consider year two a failure, I consider it a learning experience. I mean “Come on” I didn’t lose one pound in a year’s time, however I didn’t gain one pound in a year’s time either. How many other diets/programs do you know of where you stay stable for that amount of time?

My light bulb moment came when I was coaching with my coach (business coach of all coaches). She asked me what my goals were, and where I saw myself in 5 years. What came out of my mouth next was unexpected. I said I wanted to reach my weight loss goal (what do you mean you want to reach your weight loss goal, you’re happy with the new you, you don’t need to do anymore, your fine how you are now) then I proceeded to say I signed up for 120 pound weight loss and I’ve lost 60 of those pounds and now I want the rest to come off. By reaching this goal, I can be an inspiration to others and most importantly I will have accomplished something I set out to complete the first time in my whole life.

Being morbidly obese you have a built in excuse as to why you don’t achieve your goals. I’m too fat to exercise, it’s too hard, and you feel defeated before you even start whatever project is you want to work on. Well now I’m not morbidly obese; I don’t have the built in excuse. How can I inspire others to reach goal if I’m not at goal myself? Oh trust me; that one tiny little question opened up a flood gate of emotions, thoughts, and feelings I didn’t even know resided in me. So I really had to take a hard look at myself and re-evaluate my game plan. A plan is exactly what I came up with.

I made an appointment to go see my surgeon. When I got there I was weighed and yep sure enough the exact same weight I was from my last visit, fourteen months earlier. Dr. Veninga comes into the room, looks at my chart and too my surprise the last time I saw him was for a un-fill. I haven’t had a fill in over a year, are you kidding me? I was shocked I haven’t had a fill in over a year.

So Dr. Veninga asked me what I wanted to do, I said give me a fill and let’s get this band doing what it was designed to do; help me lose weight. That was two months ago and 20 pounds later I can honestly say, “I was failing my band”. I became comfortable with the new me, I lost my focus on my goal, and I just became downright lazy in my weight loss efforts.

Now I am working out 6 days a week, eating good healthy food and really reaping the benefits by following my band rules. I know I’m a food addict always have been always will be. By accepting this fact, doesn’t mean I’m a terrible person; it means I’m a realistic person. I follow a food program and workout program 6 days a week and then on Saturday (or whatever day you choose) I give myself a “Free Day” I can eat what I want without guilt or regret.

I am a complete believer of everything in moderation, if you deprive yourself of everything you want, you only set yourself up for failure. I’m a complete chocoholic, and now with my plan I know on Saturday’s I can have my chocolate completely guilt free.

So I ask each of you to do what I did and ask yourself the hard question. “Is your band failing you or are you failing your band”? If you’re not following up with your surgeon and getting the support you need. Unfortunately you are not going to see the results you want to see, should see and most of all deserve to see. If you’re not losing a minimum of six pounds a month you might need a fill or a un-fill. Yes you can be too tight and that serves no good purpose, you will not see weight loss being too tight. Keep in touch with surgeon, he/she wants to help you and they can’t help you if they don’t know what is going on.

I wish each one of you a successful, fun filled (no pun intended) band journey.

Edited April 20, 200818 yr by CoachCher

Thanks Coach!! I did not get filled again til end Sept due to some mix ups and family issues...but I lost 5 ibs since early July, so all is not totally lost...I was feeling kinda low at fill, but surgeon was REALLY supportive - I needed that and reading your blog - so I can refocus on ME, which I kinda lost over summer, exercise - which I am SLOWLY kicking up -walking dog, and with students at PE at school - and only having 1 day of more relaxed eating...I have lost a total of about 58lbs since my March 20th surgery, so I really need to feel some success- but be realistic that I have a long way (at least another 100 -120 to go...in 2 years - goal..) So thanks for reminding us all how the race has to be done in a smart and focused on long term way..

G:thumbup:

Wow and I thought I was the only one!!! I too felt like someone was writing my story. I have been so happy with the way I feel and all the compliments I've been receiving that I forgot why I got this procedure. What a great tool it is and I've quit using it.

Time to get back on track. I love LapBandTalk.com.

:thumbup: I love your story..........or is it mine ? except, you fixed your problem....I'm still working on it.......I do have a couple of questions.......Do you get Hungry? How many meals do you eat in a day? I don't get hungry and struggle to eat a maximum of three meals......advice? besides, telling me to eat 6 x daily......

I know this is an old quote but it is just what I needed to hear. I did well my first year 60lbs lost and the second year I have fallen off the band wagon. Tomarrow I am going to a convention with my family. My goal is to work out and not eat all the wrong things. I too am the same size last winter, I am totally disappointed in myself but thank god I still have the band and I can get back on track.

Hi Krygo,

My eating varies from day to day. Some days it's 6 meals a day and some days it's 3 meals. Really you need to find what works for you and make sure you focus on at least getting in 3 meals a day.

Hi, I've been banded since July 07 and the first year I lost 60 lbs.... then a whole year of messing around... weight stayed the same.

THis year, as motivation I am planning a TT as my reward to getting to goal weight... Now since Xmas I have lost 7 lbs... so I am back on track..

I just had to give myself a good SHAKE and remind myself that I didn't spend $16k to get half-way healthy...I wanna be ALL the way healthy and at a good weight for my height...5"5" 150 lbs will be a nice finish.

can some one tell me how to post a new thread..help lol:ohmy:

I enjoyed that because a year later and i have lost a little over 70 lbs and i am exercising almost everyday but i fill like i'm not getting there

Thank you so much for the pep talk. I had my lap-band surgery 2 weeks ago. I am trying to get food out of my mind, I keep telling myself later I can have my old foods. I hate to exercise and I am able but i've always made excuses. You have helped me realize i will have to get some sort of regular exercise program. I have a long way to go but being able to read your experiences has helped me realize what direction I need to be focus on. Thanks again.

Well, where do I start? I was banded on Jan19, 2006. I lost 55 lbs and stayed with that loss for some time. I started having reflux issues. I did nothing about it, but to add some meds for it. I continued to have the issues. My husband is disabled and all the attention has gone to getting him better. I have sort of put myself on the back burner. I want to get back to working with my band and the bandster rules. (can't hardly remember them anymore)

I went to see a doctor here in my area. Not my original doc because he seems to have moved. I don't know where though. Doesn't really matter anyway. In fact it may be good because I feel like this is a new start.

I had all of the fill removed just recently. It was 2 weeks ago today. I had tests to see if my band was prolapsed after my fill was removed. He thinks it was but it is not prolapsed now. I will have a refill in the near future. I will call for an appointment tomorrow.

I do excerise some but need to do more. I will also make an appointment with the support folks down in Bismarck, ND and see if there is anything they can say to help get me back on track. I need some help big time and I think that is where to start.

I have gained back some of the weight I lost. About 20 lbs. I am scared I will have it all back soon. Like you, I got comfortable with my new clothes and I was able to do most of what I want to do. I still had 50lbs to lose then and now I am up to 70 so I do need to do this. I have been feeling sorry for myself and am trying to get past the feelings of poor poor me. I wish there was a support group here in my area, I think it would help if I were able to get back on track with a support group. I guess I will have to use Lapband talk forum more to keep upbeat.

Thanks for listening! I will keep you posted as to progress.

your article is exactley what i needed. I have been feeling depressed and frustrated. today is exactley 1 month post op and I've only lost 13 pounds. my goal is 100 within a yr. I have always been active. I do turbo jam and turbo fire 5 days a week. and the I have an eliptical at home. I don't know what I'm doing wrong!! I expected to have lost at least 20-25 pounds by now. althought I have to say that i've cheated a bit. I do eat bread!! i just can't give it up!! I don't understand it...please help :sad:

I guess we are all in the same boat. It is easy to say stay focasted, but then everyday life comes along and we lose our focas. I was banded on sept 29/10 and was clicking away like wildfire, then i relized that my band was not filled and started eating just like before. Bad idea!! Now i want to mak a better effort to get back to the start again. Instead of swallowing food, food, food i should be thinking about the 12,000.00 i swallowed for the good of my health.

P.s. Can someone show me how to get one of those trackers on my file.

Lol debi

I enjoyed your post and it was very encouraging. I posted a thread 2 weeks after my band surgery. Now I am 7 1/2 months post op., lost about 97 lbs and on maintainance. I credit my success to journaling my food so I know that I was getting what i needed and knowing if I went over where I made mistakes. Each day is a new day and a chance to do what is right. Good luck to all my band buddies and pray for compiiance for me. Now to not regain the weight is my goal. I have gone from a size 24 jeans to a size 12. Even i can't believe it when i look in the mirrow. God bless.