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

Hey Crzytchr,

How are you doing now after the surgery? Much better?

You are just rocking it on the Valentine's day challenge. I love it. Please, share with all - what is your secret?????

Ok so I got up and stepped on the scale. I want to throw it in the trash. How in the world can I go from ?89.8 to ?91.2 (1.4lbs) in one day. I always gain after that time of the month. I know its water gain but oh my gosh it sure made my heart drop. I'm just like you Tabithan, I was going to just ignore it and not say anything but then that's what got me here in the first place. I kept ignoring the small gains until it was to late. You reminded me to face it; good, bad or ugly. I've finally admitted to myself I'm PETRIFIED of what the doctor will say if I go see him. I don't think I really need a fill after doing the pouch test. I find if I over do it my chest hurts like in the beginning. I think sometimes I eat past the band , I found myself eating and when it hurt I'd wait a bit then finish eating. Thats why I say I eat past the band, so to speak. Coming back and being truthful to my failure is very hard. As I've said before I'll brush myself off and go on, tomorrow is another day. As for today I will try and not let it get to me.

Ok so I got up and stepped on the scale. I want to throw it in the trash. How in the world can I go from ?89.8 to ?91.2 (1.4lbs) in one day. I always gain after that time of the month. I know its Water gain but oh my gosh it sure made my heart drop. I'm just like you Tabithan, I was going to just ignore it and not say anything but then that's what got me here in the first place. I kept ignoring the small gains until it was to late. You reminded me to face it; good, bad or ugly. I've finally admitted to myself I'm PETRIFIED of what the doctor will say if I go see him. I don't think I really need a fill after doing the pouch test. I find if I over do it my chest hurts like in the beginning. I think sometimes I eat past the band , I found myself eating and when it hurt I'd wait a bit then finish eating. Thats why I say I eat past the band, so to speak. Coming back and being truthful to my failure is very hard. As I've said before I'll brush myself off and go on, tomorrow is another day. As for today I will try and not let it get to me.

Thank you for posting the bad Kaelin's G Ma. I know it takes guts. Did you read what I wrote earlier today about how I self sabotaged the last two days after gaining 2 lbs?? Given that, I will recite what Cryzytchr said - it is impossible to gain 1.4lbs of fat overnight on 1200 calories. So please, don't fall down the hole I fell into when i self sabotaged after gaining 2 lbs. Then ironically the 2lbs just fell off. Yours will fall off too. it is likely just water weight. What you do in the next 48 hours will probably be the most important. Good luck and please let us know how it goes!! Thanks for the post!!!!!!!

Edited January 10, 200917 yr by Tabithan

Thank you so much for the kind words. I did read your post from earlier and that's what gave me the courage to post my issue. Like I said I will brush myself off and TRY not to let it get to me. Thanks Again

Hello ladies...my name is Scarlet ...may I join your group? I feel like such a loser(not in a good way) and wonder if I can get my act back on track again. I will try with small baby steps and check in often to find my way. I had my surgery March 07 lost 70 pounds, not very steller but I was happy. Then 08 was a bad year with a 5 month platue and then a tight fill which brought on 2 complete unfills. I am just hanging on by a thread but will not give up!

Edited January 11, 200917 yr by Scarlett
spelling

Hey Crzytchr,

How are you doing now after the surgery? Much better?

You are just rocking it on the Valentine's day challenge. I love it. Please, share with all - what is your secret?????

Thanks for asking. I get a little better everyday. I drove too much today, though. My hubby is working out of town and my daughter has a Mardi Gras ball tonight. So, this morning we had a hair appt, then she had to work, we had to go to the other house 30 miles east get the long gowns from our other house and then 40 miles back west to go downtown to the ball. I am exhausted!

My secret is I can't eat as much right now. I was below 1000 calories for about a week, and I freaked. It is because the swelling from surgery had me a little more restricted than I like to be. It is loosening up now, though, and I am eating around 1100 calories. In a week I should be back up closer to 1500 and the weight loss will slow down, but I will feel better.

I figured out where the gain came from, at least I think. When I had surgery I was given pineapple juice and mango juice. Well to make the story short I didn't even look at the label and I've been on a pineapple juice kick, :yikes:OMG never noticed it had 30 grams of carbs in each glass. I've even been putting some in my Water just for taste. For a person that stays away from carbs this is a lot for me. I figured it out, with the juice I've consumed, its like 150 carbs in 1 day. I promised myself I will always try to look at labels...

Scarlett, Welcome Aboard. :thumbup:

Another 1.4 lbs fell of OVERNIGHT. Oh thank goodness I didnt completely self distract during my two day binge in revolt of gaining 2 lbs. Phew. It's made my day so I thought I would share. Hope everyone is doing well!!!!

Another 1.4 lbs fell of OVERNIGHT. Oh thank goodness I didnt completely self distract during my two day binge in revolt of gaining 2 lbs. Phew. It's made my day so I thought I would share. Hope everyone is doing well!!!!

Congratulations!!!!:thumbup:

Congratulations Keep up the good work.

Congratulations Keep up the good work.

Would also like to join your group. I really need some support. I was banded 2 years ago and did fairly well. Lost 140 pounds over 15 months.. was down to 158... but I have struggled with a band to tight for almost a year. My doc will not do a complete unfill only pulls a little off.. as a result of this and poor self control, I figured out how to eat past it... eating soft foods that go down easy and dont get stuck... bad thing is they are high calorie and foods I did not eat a lot of before.. so now I am back to 194 and very disappointed and frustrated... I read the post on pouches that are stretched and so I decided to go on liquids only for at least a week to see if I can shrink it back down... I have 4 cc band that has 2,6cc in it.. but when they did my last dye study I am VERY tight. I also need to start being more committed to exercise EVERYDAY... thank you in advance for your support and advice... lisa

Would also like to join your group. I really need some support. I was banded 2 years ago and did fairly well. Lost 140 pounds over 15 months.. was down to 158... but I have struggled with a band to tight for almost a year. My doc will not do a complete unfill only pulls a little off.. as a result of this and poor self control, I figured out how to eat past it... eating soft foods that go down easy and dont get stuck... bad thing is they are high calorie and foods I did not eat a lot of before.. so now I am back to 194 and very disappointed and frustrated... I read the post on pouches that are stretched and so I decided to go on liquids only for at least a week to see if I can shrink it back down... I have 4 cc band that has 2,6cc in it.. but when they did my last dye study I am VERY tight. I also need to start being more committed to exercise EVERYDAY... thank you in advance for your support and advice... lisa

Welcome to the group. I applaud you for realizing that you are too tight and knowing what needs to be done. Please find a doctor who will unfill you so you can heal, then GRADUALLY put your fills back in. You know what to do, but it seems the doctor you have isnt willing to listen to you. Have you thoroughly explained to him the food choices you are making because of the band being too tight? Please try. I hate to see people suffering because the tool they paid so much for is hurting them. You shouldnt have to feel like this.

thanks,,, my problem is he is the only doc in town to do bands... hopefully the liquids will help to shrink pouch back down..

I figured out where the gain came from, at least I think. When I had surgery I was given pineapple juice and mango juice. Well to make the story short I didn't even look at the label and I've been on a pineapple juice kick, :yikes:OMG never noticed it had 30 grams of carbs in each glass. I've even been putting some in my Water just for taste. For a person that stays away from carbs this is a lot for me. I figured it out, with the juice I've consumed, its like 150 carbs in 1 day. I promised myself I will always try to look at labels...

Scarlett, Welcome Aboard. :tongue2:

Thanks so much for the welcome!!

Lisa..I can feel your pain. I was like you filled tight but my dr. took everything out. I had to wait 6 weeks then try to refill. I was up to 2 then had to have everything taken out again because of the same tightness. They are slowly filling it again but in the mean time I have found my bad habits due to no restriction, christmas holidays and just plan depression.I am an intelligent person who knows what to do to control these eating emotions so it is baby steps and a big thank you for any support you can throw my way.

Welcome AMALTHA!!!!! We can do this and we can support each other through this process!!!!!

Question for you (I ask this of all newbies.. :wub: ) What are your specific goals for the month of January?

Mine, as an example, are:

a) Eat within 1500 calories a day

:thumbdown: Track everything I eat on fitday.com

c) Excercise at least 3 days a week - failing miserably at this one but still gang-ho to do it

d) post on this forum at least 4 times a week.

oooh those are great!

mine would be to track on livestrong (very similar to fitday)

exercise more

sleep more regular hours

And you are correct support is the best way!