nolongerafraid

I am 2 years post-banded. Great experience, great surgeon, poor staff. Moved to different city with great staff. Start weight 207, day of surgery 197, today 175, all time low 170, goal weight is 135. When I get to 170, I get scared. Why? I know this is incredibly personal and I don't expect you each to know me, my life experiences and such. BUT, I would like to know if anyone has ever felt that same, and if so, what did you do to move forward? My band is perfectly adjusted and I have a good support staff. It's ME. I choose easy slide foods at night and over eat and sabotage! I am very blessed; healthy happy family, great job, no complaints. Just really upset and embarrassed with my serious lack of control and with a band for 2 YEARS no less! Also, I have chosen to be rather private about this so very few family and friends know. I inadvertently made this a very lonely place for myself and my few friends who do know have a hard time relating to me. Any advice for me fellow banders? Thank you in advance.

Thank you for all your comments. it has been so helpful to talk to people who understand. Boobun06, it is time for us to stand up for ourselves. I have decided to work on an unfinished quilt i found from my grandmother when I am tempted to eat. I bought some 100 cal snack bags for movie night. I am walking 30 minutes every day (are you allowed to ride a bike?). i'm checking my weight once weekly and giving myself one month before i return to my clinic for evaluation. I have to be accountable. I read in my lap band book that most patients don't go back because they are ashamed. I called my clinic and told them what was going on with me and they were super supportive. They encouraged me to take this month to get my feet grounded. they also told me that after 6 months some fluid can leave the band and it needs to be adjusted for continued weight loss. this helped me. boobun06, we've got to restart somewhere, baby steps, and go slowly, don't be ashamed and do the very best we can do. nahnawray, thank you and yes I agree with you. my image of myself has always been so poor, so I struggle with seeing myself "thin". I am going to look in the mirror every morning just as you suggested and tell myself compliments. this is my step toward loving me. And jojobanana, I don't know why I am so private about my band, it just feels personal and I only want close friends and family to know about it. do you think your band is too tight? i only have a problem with slime (i call it a mucus plug) when eat too fast. but you did make me think for the first time in a long time that maybe my band isnt tight enough. Also, I can eat a few bites of steak but it must be juicy and not overcooked/dry. I really wish you could enjoy a few bites yourself. Thank you all again. This has been like therapy for me. All the best to each of you.

I have only known FAT. I was made fun of as a child, picked on by my family and bullied in high school. Tearful now just typing this. I lost a lot of weight on my own after college because I was so active. Two years after my daughters birth, I ballooned to 217 (I weighed 204 the day she was born). That's when I knew I needed help. I do feel great at 175, more active and I workout daily so I figure I have just let myself settle here. I do so well during the day, it's the evening when my family wants to watch a movie and snack. I guess it comes down to good old fashioned self control. And i'm so hard on myself when i don't eat like i should. I can wake up and my first thought is the regret of what I ate the night before With my weight loss, I have noticed some attention from men, nothing inappropriate but compliments that seem genuine but I noticed I struggle with that greatly! I am very uncomfortable with that attention. My husband says he will help me at night. We are going shopping for 100 cal weight watcher snacks and i get one per night and I'm going to kick up my exercising. We both feel if I can get below 170 I will have proven to myself there is nothing to be afraid of. I am blessed with an understanding husband/friend. Thanks for your comments. Sometimes, I do feel all alone with these crazy thoughts.

oh, one day post op. I had a lot of left upper shoulder pain. I could move around my house okay. I don't usually take pain meds but I did take the Lortab elixir several times for 2-3 days following my band. I was banded at 6am and home by 11am. The next day I was pooped!

3-4 hours post-op? I was sleeping

There is no way I could have done that. I was way too sore and enjoyed resting in my cool quiet bed. It takes awhile for the anesthesia to leave your body and they gas up your stomach so they can properly place the band so most people feel swollen and groggy for at least a day or two. I love SeaWorld too, better to use your money on a day you can really enjoy it. Best wishes to you.