Occassionally, I run across a few posts from people like me who have failed their bands. But these posts are usually just a venting opportunity. I have failed my band - I acknowledge it - and it would be great if we could have a group of other "failures" who want to work together to become success stories.

MY STORY

I was banded in March of 2007. At the time I was 299 lbs. I am a 6ft tall lady. Today, I weigh 255, and basically just as big as I was when I got my band. I have got numerous fills and I usually eat through my fiils. I can eat whatever I want. I overeat and I am confident that I have caused my stomach to expand. I snack on candy, I eat the wrong foods - I eat until I am STUFFED. Sometimes when I overeat, I feel sick and gag to relieve the pressure.

I moved to Houston 4 months ago, and last week, I went in for a port-readjustment with Dr Alanis. It went well and I now have a new resolve to make it work. My doctor mentioned to me that about 40% of all bandsters fail. I do not want to be a failure. I have paid too much money to go through this.

MY GOAL FOR DECEMBER

• To write everything I eat down, including calories
  
• To stay within 1500 Calories.
  

What's your story? What's your goal? How can I support you? How can we support each other?

Misery loves company, and company can help us move from failure to success. Please join me by telling me your story, and your GOAL for December. Let's vent - but more importantly, let's talk about strategies to make this work - let's share and support each other - Let's turn this from failure to success.

I REFUSE TO BE A FAILURE

I am happy to report....drumroll please....my first week of going back to workout at curves has paid off. Last Monday my weight was 258 today it is 253! WOOHOO! Could be Water weight, who knows, but I am THRILLED the scales are down 5 pounds! Makes me more inspired to KEEP AWAY from all the devilish demons of food all around me here this holiday week!

!

OMG IBBANDED!!!!!!!!!! I am SOOOO EXCITED FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!! That is awesome!!! You just recommitted and it is already dropping. Doesnt matter if it was water weight or juice weight - hehehe - it is lbs gone forever. ANd I bet it is more than water weight. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!1 I am sooooo excited for you. Nice work and keep it up!!! whoooo whoooooooooooop!!!!

Oh my goodness, I just have to say how HAPPY I am to have found this thread!

I haven't been banded yet, I have my first visit on January 12th, but already I'm thinking into the future, knowing how much I tend to overeat. That is my biggest fear, that I fail myself and the band.

Wow, you all really inspire me so much!

A little about myself, I am 30 years old, 5'3" and I currently weigh about 276 pounds. I've decided to get banded because I really don't want to get up to 300 pounds. I'd like to change my life, once and for all.

Again, I am so inspired by reading your posts. And honestly, I don't look at what you've gone through as "failing" so much as you have finally faced your habits dead on and are realistic about your challenges with the band. Hearing your honest dialogue is like listening to myself.

Thanks, Ladies. I look forward to reading more about your successes and sharing mine with you!

-music

WELCOME Music!!! Glad you can find inspiration from us girls. Believe me, the lap band is definitely worth it, but you have to WORK IT!!!!

Well, keep in touch and let us know how your journey goes. When do you get banded??

So, as dissapointed as I have been in myself this last month, I am happy to say that I did not cancel my fill appointment as I wanted to do since last night (when I realized that I would have to step on a scale)- I went ahead and did it, kept the appointment, faced my clinicians and got a fill - another 1 cc added - I am up to 2.5. I will also keep my appointment in a month and see him more regularly.

I

:smile:

Hi Aquameliza!!!

Welcome, welcome, welcome, to our little group. I am so glad you went to get your fill despite the fear to disappoint. The good news is that now that you went, it brought some accountability back to you - you went up 2.5lbs but I am willing to bet that in a month, you will have lost that 2.5lbs and then some. Sometimes it takes "facing our fears" which can be the scale, to get us right back on TRACK.

Question for you - what are your goals for the rest of December????

ARGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH Guys!!! I am still getting used to my new fill. I ATE TOO MUCH and I feel SO UNCOMFORTABLE. I really need to cut my portions a little more.

My goals for the rest of December:

- Eat no more than 1500 calories a day

- Drink at least 84 oz of Water daily

- Work out 3 times a week (notice that I scaled down on this? hehe)

- Measure everything I eat

- Write down everything I eat on fitday.com

- Work on this darned HEAD HUNGER!!!!!

What are your goals for the rest of December, fellow strugglers??? How are you doing on your goals?

Hello, I am a medical/surgical specialist for over 25 years. I am sorry that you are having trouble with this procedure. There are successes, but I see too many patients in my practice that have been disappointed with the results. Personally, I prefer a different approach. While I appreciate the efforts on the surgical community to bring innovative procedures to the forefront, I am not impressed with the basic philosophy or the overall results of lap-banding. The problem with obesity is much broader in scope than simple lap-banding and giving basic instruction on eating and exercise habits. Don't be discouraged about the failure, but look at it as an opportunity to succeed, albeit perhaps by another method. When your "toolbox" of knowledge is full, then you can go forward with enthusiasm and success. However, if you have not been taught the highly researched reasons that obesity is at near epidemic levels, then when lap-banding and basic education and exercise do not work, you get discourage and you ask the question, "what is the matter with me?" Well, the truth is, there is nothing wrong with you. The problem has to do more with external factors that influence every aspect of your life. For example, why can a T-bone steak in one hand be one of the worst foods you can put into your body, and a T-bone steak in the other hand be one of the better foods that you can consume. What is the difference? Or why is over 90% of what you buy at the grocery store harmful to you and will contribute to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, caner, and other major diseases. I recently worked with a group of Type 2 diabetics and got most of them off their diabetic, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol medications in three months. This is much too exhaustive to discuss here, but you can feel free to email me at drtomreed@earthlink.net for a more detailed discussion. Please be encouraged!

Thank you for your encouraging words, doc. I think you are absolutely right - that we need to delve deeper into the reasons behind our obesity or our apparent failure to date with the lap band - that the reasons go beyond simple weakness of character - and in order to be successful at this journey, we need to explore those reasons, and explore them earnestly and honestly.

I recently got another fill and my stomach gets full so quickly - yet my mind is always hungry since this fill. Yet i find myself craving food and I find myself always wanting to eat. I need to delve deeper and really understand the reasons behind my emotional eating, and the reasons behind my apparent failure with the band.

Thank you doc - do you by chance do lapbad surgeries yourself? In your opinion, what is the #1 reason for failure with the band? My doc mentioned that 40% of people on the lapband are not successful and I do not want to be a part of that statistic - and I think I can speak for everyone else on this forum. Perhaps you can clue us in to the main reasons behind lack of success with the band, from your perspective.

Thanks for the insight!!!!!!

I am so happy with my fill. She took an hour going over things with me. She is so different than my surgeon. I am following her eating rules and am really looking forward to success.

I got my band in Oct. 07, but have had difficulty with fills - nausea, unfills, etc. I gave up this summer because I felt like such a loser. I am recommitted now and will join you.

For the past two days I ate when I was hungry - 200 calories average at a time. I ate 5 times. I was satisfied. My family is doing a buffet for Thanksgiving so my goal is to eat 1 tablespoon of the things I want and stop. It will be easy to stop since I have a good fill. I am going to make another fill appt. tomorrow.

Take care Tab, and be strong today. You are so worth it! Beth

MizPEPPY - Where did you disappear to?? :smile: How are you doing?? We miss you!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone, it’s nice to see I’m not the only one struggling. I ran across this forum thread and was really inspired since I’ve been having problems sticking to my band diet and exercise plan for the past few months. I was banded March 27, 2008 and I lost weight quickly for a little while, felt a decent amount of restriction with the first couple of fills but it’s almost as if my stomach gets used to the band after a month or so following a fill.

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I went in for my 4th fill yesterday because I’ve been able to eat WAY more than I should be able to. I had 4cc’s in my band already and my surgeon decided that I should probably go with another full cc. Uhg that was not a good idea…I didn’t realize it until much later in the day that he had shut me down completely and by that time the office was closed. I can’t even keep down my own saliva! Let alone Water. I can’t lie down because it starts to become too uncomfortable and I feel nauseous so instead I’ve been up all night waiting until I can call the Dr in the morning. Not to mention my head is killing me and I’m extremely thirsty.

<o:p></o:p>

Besides this current misery I’ve been feeling pretty awful about myself lately, I can’t seem to stop the emotional eating that I thought I had under control. Lately I’ve noticed foods that I’ve been missing and wanting to indulge more often, that I’ve been snacking when I’m bored, eating when I’m not really hungry, and low and behold I gained a couple lbs!! What’s worse is I have lost all motivation when it comes to exercising. I’ve only been banded 9 months and I already feel like a complete failure, I can’t seem to get myself under complete control again and now I’m afraid my Dr. is going to empty my band because of this shut down problem.

<o:p></o:p>

I think I would like new goals, instead of just the diet problems I need to work on getting an exercise routine going again while not setting myself up for failure.

<o:p></o:p>

New Goals:<o:p></o:p>

Write down everything I eat<o:p></o:p>

Keep under 1200 calories per day<o:p></o:p>

Work out on the Wii Fit for an hour a day<o:p></o:p>

Jog or Walk at a fast pace on the treadmill for 30 minutes a day<o:p></o:p>

Stop snacking when I’m not hungry<o:p></o:p>

Stop eating when I feel satisfied instead of full

P.S. Your enthusiasm is realy inspiring!

WELCOME Music!!! Glad you can find inspiration from us girls. Believe me, the lap band is definitely worth it, but you have to WORK IT!!!!

Well, keep in touch and let us know how your journey goes. When do you get banded??

Thanks Tabithan! I am so excited. Well I don't have my surgery date, originally I had been scheduled for a first visit on January 12th, but they just called me with a cancellation, so I go in on January 2nd, I'm SOOOO excited :thumbup:.

Last night I had a sleep study done, so I'm hoping that I don't have sleep apnea, but we'll see.

-music

ARGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH Guys!!! I am still getting used to my new fill. I ATE TOO MUCH and I feel SO UNCOMFORTABLE. I really need to cut my portions a little more.

My goals for the rest of December:

- Eat no more than 1500 calories a day

- Drink at least 84 oz of Water daily

- Work out 3 times a week (notice that I scaled down on this? hehe)

- Measure everything I eat

- Write down everything I eat on fitday.com

- Work on this darned HEAD HUNGER!!!!!

What are your goals for the rest of December, fellow strugglers??? How are you doing on your goals?

hey Tabithan, et al, :thumbup:

My goals for December (or rather, January, since December's almost gone, lol)

-Document everything I eat on sparkpeople.com

-Take more Iron (my doc says I'm anemic and I DO NOT want that to be a rejecting factor for my surgery)

-Exercise 2-3 times per week (it's a realistic start)

-Drink more water

Hi everyone, it’s nice to see I’m not the only one struggling. I ran across this forum thread and was really inspired since I’ve been having problems sticking to my band diet and exercise plan for the past few months. I was banded March 27, 2008 and I lost weight quickly for a little while, felt a decent amount of restriction with the first couple of fills but it’s almost as if my stomach gets used to the band after a month or so following a fill.

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

I went in for my 4th fill yesterday because I’ve been able to eat WAY more than I should be able to. I had 4cc’s in my band already and my surgeon decided that I should probably go with another full cc. Uhg that was not a good idea…I didn’t realize it until much later in the day that he had shut me down completely and by that time the office was closed. I can’t even keep down my own saliva! Let alone Water. I can’t lie down because it starts to become too uncomfortable and I feel nauseous so instead I’ve been up all night waiting until I can call the Dr in the morning. Not to mention my head is killing me and I’m extremely thirsty.

<o:p></o:p>

Besides this current misery I’ve been feeling pretty awful about myself lately, I can’t seem to stop the emotional eating that I thought I had under control. Lately I’ve noticed foods that I’ve been missing and wanting to indulge more often, that I’ve been snacking when I’m bored, eating when I’m not really hungry, and low and behold I gained a couple lbs!! What’s worse is I have lost all motivation when it comes to exercising. I’ve only been banded 9 months and I already feel like a complete failure, I can’t seem to get myself under complete control again and now I’m afraid my Dr. is going to empty my band because of this shut down problem.

<o:p></o:p>

I think I would like new goals, instead of just the diet problems I need to work on getting an exercise routine going again while not setting myself up for failure.

<o:p></o:p>

New Goals:<o:p></o:p>

Write down everything I eat<o:p></o:p>

Keep under 1200 calories per day<o:p></o:p>

Work out on the Wii Fit for an hour a day<o:p></o:p>

Jog or Walk at a fast pace on the treadmill for 30 minutes a day<o:p></o:p>

Stop snacking when I’m not hungry<o:p></o:p>

Stop eating when I feel satisfied instead of full

P.S. Your enthusiasm is realy inspiring!

Welcome Penny!!! You have had amazing results!!! You have already lost over half the weight that you need to lose, and that is TRULY inspiring. COngratulations on a job well done, so far.

The problem with weight loss as I am sure you have experienced MANY TIMES BEFORE is that once you lose a ton, you lose motivation. In the past, if you are anything like me, you would lose about half the weight, feel great, wear new clothes, then gain back the 50lbs, PLUS. So it seems like you are just in a normal weight loss cycle - you have seen some results, you got excited and the motivation is a little decreased. The good news?? - The band will keep us from regaining all that weight, so long as we use it as a tool.

You've taken the first step, by posting here. Congratulations. Next step - small goals to get you back on track. And I think you can. Please post your successes and struggles along the way, and we will pick you up when we need to, and Celebrate along with you. You CAN lose that additional 47lbs!!!!!

I hear you on the emotional eating because I was not able to control it the past few days. It is like it TOOK OVER ME - my stomach was full but i continued grazing - and couldnt stop. Then I took a moment on Sunday, and took a step back. I asked myself, why now?? why am I all of a sudden looking for everything to eat, when I was so disciplined the last month? Then it dawned on me. It is the holidays, I dont have my family around me, I feel lonely and I REALLY miss having them around me. Those feelings of sadness, loneliness, maybe some guilt and missing my family are what was driving me to eat. The moment I understood that, I took some steps to try and control it and so far, from Monday through today, the emotional eating has gone away. I'm not sayign it is gone forever, but for now, it is gone.

Maybe you could explore the true emotional reason behind your eating, journal what you were thinking when you had the urge to eat, or what issue has been bothering you lately - what emotion you are feeling - hurt, anger, happiness, sadness, loneliness, fear - all those feelings that drive us to eat for comfort.

Then, go shopping and put some healthy fruit or vegetable Snacks in the house - I love baby carrots. In addition, I bought some sugar free popsicles and fudgesicles - only 10 or 30 calories!!!!!

Good luck - let us know how it goes with the emotional eating...and the FILL!!!!

PS: I LOVE YOUR NEW GOALS!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm glad there's a support group for strugglers on here.

I haven't been banded yet, but my surgery is scheduled for January 14th. I am SO excited.

Currently I'm 5'4 and 304 lbs. I can't wait to be a healthier weight.

I'll be checking in here more often to help track my progress and give updates.

We can do it! I know we all can:)

-Maggie

Hi Cryzytchr - How are you?? how did your procedure going? How are you doing??

Thanks for checking on me. I just got home. They were able to leave my ovaries YAY! But, the surgery took 2 hours because the dang uterus was so enlarged they had to cut it up to get it out. I am hurting now and aggravated. I stepped on the scale and I am up 8 lbs, even though almost no food has gone in my mouth in the last 2 days!:thumbup: I guess it is all of the fluids and gas they pump in you. Are you still doing well?

Thanks for checking on me. I just got home. They were able to leave my ovaries YAY! But, the surgery took 2 hours because the dang uterus was so enlarged they had to cut it up to get it out. I am hurting now and aggravated. I stepped on the scale and I am up 8 lbs, even though almost no food has gone in my mouth in the last 2 days!:thumbup: I guess it is all of the fluids and gas they pump in you. Are you still doing well?

Hey Crzytchr,

I'm so glad you are ok from the surgery and the ovaries are intact!!! Whuwhooooo

Don't worry about the weight - it is all Water retention and will fall out shortly. It did that after my port revision surgery about a month ago. I was heavier but it all dropped in about two weeks!!

Welcome back and feel better!!!!!!!!

Wow all of these goals sound really good :thumbup:.

Today I met my goal of logging all of my foods. I went out to lunch with a girlfriend. When i came home and added it all up, I had eaten 2,500 calories for the day!!!

I shouldn't be surprised, it wasn't a healthy lunch at all. I'm still glad that I've made it home and remembered to log in all my food.

So, here's to small victories *raisin my hot cocoa* lol :eek:

-music

Wow all of these goals sound really good :thumbup:.

Today I met my goal of logging all of my foods. I went out to lunch with a girlfriend. When i came home and added it all up, I had eaten 2,500 calories for the day!!!

I shouldn't be surprised, it wasn't a healthy lunch at all. I'm still glad that I've made it home and remembered to log in all my food.

So, here's to small victories *raisin my hot cocoa* lol :thumbup:

-music

Hi Music, - Good job writing down the good, bad and the ugly. Sometimes its tough to write down the ugly!!!! RAISED sugar-free COCOA MUG TO YA!!! :cool2: But no more 2500 CALORIE lunches - tehehe!!!!! :tt2:

I dont like salads at all, so what i try and do is get healthy alternatives at restaurants. For example, I went to Pappadeaux today - food is awesome and all soaked in grease - YUM - so I asked for my tilapia grilled with no oil and a side of grilled Beans. I asked them to skip the sauce - and it tasted...simply delish.... !!!

But, great job writing it down...whoooo whooooooooooop!!!

Edited December 23, 200817 yr by Tabithan