jennreed

Hi, everyone! I was banded January 2007 (almost 5 years ago!!!) I wasn't "verbally" active on the site, but I checked in quite often to read whjat others were going through. Today, this thread has honestly been a God-send. I have been feeling frustrated because I can't get past my current weight. I wanted advice from people who had the lapband for a great deal of time and wondered about their experiences and so I came back. I started my joiurney weighing 406.6 and now I weigh 241.6. I am currently filled to the max in my band and I'm comfortable with my restriction level. However, I want to lose about 65 additional pounds. Yet, I am currently at a standstill at 241. (I gain up to about 245 and then lose to about 241.) If I could go and get a little more of a fill, I probably would. When I stop and think about my progress, I am so blessed to have had the lapband surgery. I don't know what weight I would be at now, if I hadn't. Over the years, the band has always allowed me consistenly lose or maintain my current weight. For me, to move beyond maintaining my weight at the time, I had to do something different. This may have meant, lowering my calorie intake, seriously addressing and working on my emotional eating problems (such as in OA), or beginning an exercise regimen (I hate exercising!). I will admit when I have committed to all three of these at the same time, I definitely saw results. Yet, I am horrible at working on all 3 at one time! Thank you for listening. I guess I just needed to see that for some the band is still working. And like many of you used to say in the past, "It's not a Magical Cure. It's a tool." So, to get beyond my current weight, I am going to have to do my part!

Hi! My name is Jenn and I’ve been “watching” the board for about 2 months now. I’ve been looking for a place where the people may understand some of the things I’m going through. I’ve been looking for a place of support. I feel that I’ve found that placed based on the comments that I’ve seen posted by you guys. I was banded on January 15, 2007 and I’ve lost 51 lbs (depending on the day). This is a bittersweet victory to me. The reason I say its bittersweet is because on some days, I know if I hadn’t been banded, I would have been gaining instead of losing. However, on most days, I wish it was a bigger loss and I feel disappointed in myself—like a failure. I feel disappointed because I know that I could be doing so much more to make the band work. I know the band works, but it’s me. I feel that I still engage in the same old habits that I used to before I was banded. I still eat emotionally. I still don’t control myself and I feel frustrated and tired. I feel tired of battling these same ole’ demons. I feel like a failure—that I can’t even “diet well” with having weight loss surgery. Before I was banded, I knew that I had to do something because I was killing myself. I weighed 407 lbs. and I was getting bigger. I was depressed and my body ached. I knew I had to have weight loss surgery. I chose the lapband, but part of me felt like I needed to have the gastric bypass. I thought if I had the bypass, then it would decrease the chances of me “messing up.” I knew that it wasn’t going to be easy, yet I thought it was going to be easier than what I was experiencing then. I hoped that the band would fix my emotional eating and boredom eating problems because it would restrict the amount I could eat. It hasn’t. To be honest, it’s only been about 3 months ago, that the light bulb came on for me and I realized, “Oh, I have to still work at this. This isn’t a magic pill where the weight loss is going to fall off by itself.” So, sometimes I wish I had had the bypass because I wonder if it would have been easier for me, than the band. Yet, on other days, I know in my heart that the band was the right one for me. This is hard and I’m struggling. Sometimes, I cry because I feel so frustrated with myself and wonder why I can’t do better with this. “I’ve had weight loss surgery and look at me!” I’ve just recently started journaling what I eat and how many calories I take in (by using the Weight Watchers system). I’ve just recently started working out by going to Curves. Yet, I’m still not perfect at doing either one. I need help. What have you guys done to work through some of your old demons? What have you done to help you be successful with the band? Also, do you guys see counselors or nutritionsits or what to give you extra push? Thank you! :help:

Thank you all for your support! I needed it. You offered so much great advice! So much of the advice that was offered, I would say to a friend and I know deep down, yet it's sometimes hard to not be so hard on yourself. Sometimes, you need that friend telling you to keep going. Keep pushing and don't think about giving up. You guys were that friend for me. Again, thank you!