I know when I signed up for my surgery I had all sorts of high hopes this was the be all-end all and my life was going to be what I finally wanted it to be. Well as many of you know that's not what happened to me. For those of you who are not familiar with my story, I'll give you the brief overview.

I was only half commited to my post-op lifestyle, I had expected my surgery to do a lot more than it actually did. I really believed I had found my "Magic-Bullet" and I would be on the road to losing weight and getting fit. Well I did the first year, very little effort on my part and I lost sixty pounds. After the first year everything came to a screeching halt, no weight loss or weight gain in a year, not bad uhh? After two years of staying the exact same I finally had to have the "Heart to Heart" with myself.

Are you happy with who are now? "NO!"

If you don't lose another pound will you be happy? "NO!"

Are you willing to commit to a completely new "LIFESTYLE"? "YES"

What are you going to do to make it happen? "Adjust my eating and exercise"

I'm sure you have "Played this game"! What kind of talk did you have with yourself? Did anything change after you had the talk? I'm asking you to be very honest with "YOU" not anyone else.

I can honestly say I have had that talk with myself on more than one occasion, but this time something stuck. Maybe it's because I'm in my forties now and have really embraced the gift I've received.

Here are some other things that I've learned that have helped me to stay on track:

· Get plenty of rest.

· Eat slowly and chew my food thoroughly.

· Eat until I'm satisfiedl, not "Thanksgiving full".

· Find an exercise program I really enjoy

· Drink more Water.

· List all of the things for which I am grateful.

So, here's my challenge to you: Try these suggestions for 1 month and notice how differently you feel, physically as well as emotionally. If you find that you feel better, and are experiencing some new sensations in your body and attitude, then consider extending this experiment for another month. This time, add one or two things that would introduce a small degree of change to your life. This last one is key: introducing too much change too fast just sets you up for failure, so keep it simple. I like the KISS acronym: Keep It Simple, Silly.

I would love to hear your feedback. How are you feeling about the changes you are experiencing?

Edited July 23, 200818 yr by CoachCher

Thank you so much I wrote down your list and will look at it everyday. I will have my first consult with a surgeon next month and am excited. I have been reading the scary experiences after surgery, and I'm concerned. Is this surgery right for me? I am 48 and 2yrs ago i had a heart attack and had 4 stents in my arteries. I quit smoking (heavy smoker 2 pks a day) and gained a lot of weight. I am 5'4 and weigh 240. About 100 lbs overweight.I am hopeful about this surgery but didn't know the band stays in forever. I would so appericiate any feed back. Thanks sher1422:eek:

Sounds good. I'm 3 years post, lost 100 lbs, would still like to lose another 30 but just can't seem to get there. One month at a time sounds great, thanks.

brd

I'm a total loss. Even though we paid for the surgery it seems I won't use it properly. I lost 17 pounds then it seems I just quit working with it. What is wrong with me. My husband lost his job soon after and we had to relocate. We are getting settled now and my husband says "are there any more excuses". I don't know if I need to try another fill. My doctor doesn't accept failures and I don't want to go back to him. I'm stuck.:biggrin:

Dear Taz,

First let me say this; you are not alone. You have has some MAJOR life changes, (surgery, lose of job, moving, ect..) any one of these can send even the "best" of us to the kitchen to seek comfort in our life long friend/foe, food. Please stop beating yourself up for being human. As corny as it sounds you really need to belive that you are worth the time and effort it take to change your life. You have not failed, this is a life long event. You have had setbacks, not failure. The doctor should be your partner in this fight, but if he is not, find peolpe who are. This is not like a diet where you have regained weight and you feel ashamed and alone. There are lots of us band people and we have been there and we are here for you. Take a time out to think about all the reasons why you got the lap band, list out some goals, (not weight, but life long), and write down ten things you like about yourself. Find out how much you have to offer to the rest of us and try to use that as inspiration. YOu can do this! Let me know if I can do anything to help!

-Nora

I was banded 11/09/2007. I haven't been on this site in some time, probably from shear embarrassment about my sub-standard performance with the band. I have gone through my "job stress-blah-blah" phase. Now what is my excuse?

Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the band, because I have lost 34 pounds with it, and 24 before that. So 58 pounds since November 2006 is definitely a positive move, right?

I eat so many healthy things every day, but around 2pm every day at work, I loose my mind. I raid the chocolate bowl. Sometimes as many as 14 chocolate bites (you know the miniature kinds). I feel stressed because I have to write the majority of the day, feel side-tracked, distracted, stressed, whatever, and then boom-don't get in my way during the five trips back and forth to the bowl. Embarrassing....

I am not sure how to lick this horrible habit I have. If I could only stay away from the chocolate and incorporate 30 minutes of walking every day, I think I would start loosing again.... So why can't I do these simple things???

I am glad you found your avenue and the lap band got you on track to knowthat the will power was there buut simply ahd to find it congrats.