Hello All,

I need your help getting back on track. I had lapband surgery a year ago [9.23.2008] and have only lost 20 pounds. I have all of my bad habits - eating 'easy' foods, drinking while and after eating, eating too much and grazing most of the day. All bad - I know. I have a stressful job and food is my comfort. Yes, the band helps me from eating too much but I easily get around that by eating more often - usually in response to stress. Just like many of us, I know everything I am doing wrong but how do I stop it? I'm a reasonably intelligent, professional adult and yet I can't say no to a Reese's Peanut Butter cup? How can that be? So I'm making a committment to login use this site everyday to try to get motivated by all of the terrific people who post here.

Anyone else have this challenge? Any comments, recommendations, insights are very much appreciated! Many, many thanks!

Cheryl

You can do it. You just have to work it. Go back to the beginning and act like you just got your band. Do liquids for a short time, followed by mushies, then solids. Plan out what you'll eat for the day. I track my foods on thedailyplate.com and I can see exactly what I'm eating. Get lots of Protein and Water. I eat a lot of low-fat cottage cheese, non-fat Greek yogurt, tuna, and Beans. For example, the Campbell's Chunky Bean & Ham Soup I had for lunch has 11g of protein and lots of Fiber, so it fills me up until dinner. Sometimes dinner is 1/2 cup of non-fat refried beans with a couple of scrambled eggs, salsa, and low-fat cheese. Feels like cheating. Get full on nutritious meals and you might be less likely to snack. And remember, you can eat everything in moderation (unless it gets stuck!), so you'll occasionally be able to have a Reese's cup.

Good luck!

Can I ask you how much of a fill you have? Right now I am pretty tight--and I have to be honest...although I can eat SOME things in large quantities (like ice cream)--I really can only eat a small amount of most foods!! This helps so much for me, because if I am having a bad day and want to eat candy, I can have some....but one reeces Peanut Butter cup and that's it for me!!

Good luck!

Hi All,

Thanks for replying! Right now I'm at about 6.5 in a 10cc band. When I eat real food, there is definate restriction ~ a few bites and I'm done. But I really want to eat more. I mean, I may slime, spit it up and then go right back to eating. I know it's gross but I really want to continue to eat. I'm not really aware that I'm doing it until it's too late. I'm trying to stay more focused during meals. I know that the band is a tool and not a solution by itself. Now I need to change my behavior to reflect that. Thats what I am having such a hard time doing. :thumbup: Any hints and recommendations are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Well I would recomend keeping a food journal and then rate why you ate. Were you very hungry? Hungry? Or not hungry. I started getting back into my old habits and then I told my self no way. Next day I went back to the gym.

Food diary seems like the best idea ~ I even bought a little notebook. But I haven't taken the next step to actually write something down. Fitday.com has a terrific online food diary that does all of the calorie counting for you. I sit in front of a computer all day long so I have no excuse. I guess I just need to make the committment to myself. Every day - every hour - every minute... until it becomes a habit.

Hi Cheryl. You can get back on track. Get back to bandster basics. eat your protein first then veggies and then if you are still hungry your carbs. Pack your lunch everyday. Lean cuisine and fruit is a good healthy lunch. Make sure you make dinner everynight. I love stirfry. it's easy to make and you have leftovers for days and it's healthy! Make sure in between you get in all your water. That's very important and also make sure to start walking. Good luck with getting back on track. You can do it! Remember you didn't go through this process to not do your part.

Hi LibbyJane,

Thanks for your encouragement and I said I wouldn't make any excuses but I have a few other challenges. I travel for work which means I eat out every meal five days a week... with co-workers. I just need to be more aware of what I order and then go back and follow the basics - just like you said. Back to basics. Thanks for your help!

don't order a drink with dinner and eat from the kids menu if possible.

I have also been strugling with getting back on track, i have been eating all the wrong food and in huge quantities and have not been to the gym,its so easy to go back to the old habbits. I have lost 50lbs since 4/23/2009. I dont know if this is within range but i do need to get my head together. Weekends are the worst for me.

Hello All,

I need your help getting back on track. I had lapband surgery a year ago [9.23.2008] and have only lost 20 pounds. I have all of my bad habits - eating 'easy' foods, drinking while and after eating, eating too much and grazing most of the day. All bad - I know. I have a stressful job and food is my comfort. Yes, the band helps me from eating too much but I easily get around that by eating more often - usually in response to stress. Just like many of us, I know everything I am doing wrong but how do I stop it? I'm a reasonably intelligent, professional adult and yet I can't say no to a Reese's Peanut Butter cup? How can that be? So I'm making a committment to login use this site everyday to try to get motivated by all of the terrific people who post here.

Anyone else have this challenge? Any comments, recommendations, insights are very much appreciated! Many, many thanks!

Cheryl

Cheryl, you'll probably not like what I have to say because it's the truth. It's sounds like you may have some underlying issues other than food. Have you though about counseling? That was a lot of money to spend on the band wasn't it? But all the advise and encouragement in the world won't help you ONLY you can make the right decisions. Not one single person on this website can change how you are right now. Only you can and only you can say NO to things you put into your mouth. No one else can control that, just you. Sorry to sound so brash, but I think you know I'm right.

Erykah,

Thanks for your kind words and encouragement.

Hi Ready,

I also thank that latest poster for her "kind" words.

Sorry you are going through a bad patch right now. It happens. We just have to pick ourselves up and try to dig deep to see what's eating us! I have the same problem lately and am trying to really analyze what is really going on.

I am stuck at the computer a lot also and am over 50. I find the snacking worse when I am not keeping my hands busy or if I go into "relaxation mode" I feel I want to enhance that good feeling with food.

It's a constant battle, but others suggested a food diary. I think that is a good idea.

I read an article by Suzie Orman (not a fan), but she was commenting on credit card dept and I thought about this long and hard and I am applyingthis to my eat habits. Before you buy this (in my case "eat this") ask yourself 3 questions.

1. Do I need it. (it is time for a meal)

2. Is it kind to me. (this takes some thought, but empty snacking is hurtful to our plan)

3. Is it good for me. (An apple is OK any time)

If you can answer 3 to all qestions then buy (eat) it.

This has worked for me lately.

Hi MaryRose,

Your recommendation is spot on. I'm not looking for anyone else to solve my problems ~ just possibly offer some hints and techniques that may have worked for someone in the past. I really like the credit card analogy. Makes sense and is very relateable. Thank-you for sharing.

Cheers,

Cheryl

I am not making any suggestions or recommendations about counseling since you seem opposed to it BUT let me just say that even though my degree is in industrial and occupational pyschology, I had my share of the "other" side of it in college. Counseling is designed to do many things. One very important thing, regardless of the problem, is helping to identify the problem and to develop coping skills for that problem. So don't write off counseling for good .... a counselor who works with eating disorders could offer a lot of assistance.

I WILL recommend journaling. Do it this way.... write down every bite you eat and WHEN you eat it/what you're doing. After a week or so, you may learn that there is a discernable pattern to your eating, that certain activities (or lack thereof) can trigger idle grazing/snacking. If you do find a pattern, you can change things around to not create the situation and reduce the bat eating habits.

I too am starting over. I got a fill today. I had not been since May, and some of the fluid in my band had dissipated, and I had gained 9 pounds...ugh

I have to get back on the wagon, follow the rules, and lose this weight.

Next month will be my 2 yr bandiversary. I have lost a total of 33 pounds, however, that total was at 58 pounds lost, but I've gained 25 back. This is unacceptable. I have to start over. I'm in.