rivergirl14

Good to hear from both of you gals. Short on time but will happily write more later. I love the support and connection here. Together we do get better. And we are not alone on this journey. Good suggestions. I'm going to pick up miralax today and give it a try. I was not regular before surgery either. And have def had more difficulties since surgery. Maybe I should add more fruit. Does anyone find V8 juice helps ? I like it. Trying to decide if it's worth the calories.

I like Atkins. A little too much sometimes. :-) But they work, taste good and are filling. So many choices too. I have to be careful. Some taste just like candy bars.

Good for you! I am 52. I was banded in 2008. I really feel like I am getting a do-over right now. I have not followed the guidelines at all. And have gained some weight back. That too is bc I am an emotional eater. Lapband won't fix that. But, I did not realize when I got banded that I would still eat so much (emotionally). I have used slider foods for a LONG time now, so I could eat when I "needed" to emotionally. Mostly when I am scared, angry, frustrated, you get it. And stress...the biggy. I did not change my lifestyle or eating habits. The band is a tool if one chooses to use it. I did not. In fact, I fought it "using" (like a drug) slider foods. I discovered OA in 2011. I attend meetings and have a sponsor, and I have begun the journey of knowing myself. Which also means learning about trigger foods and what makes me eat (or what's eating me as some say). I had forgotten how we are supposed to eat with a lapband, and felt like a failure. I was in denial (and not the river) about it. And just acted as if I could eat like anyone else. I can't. My sponsor, after trying to help me come up with a food plan for months now, finally suggested I see a nut. I thought a great deal about it. Then I did some online research last week and found this site. Gosh, it has all the info I need it seems. I am thankful. I wasn't ready to do the work before and try to eat right or according to what my lapband would like for me too. I've wallowed in a lot of self pity this last year. Done with that. I have joined MFP like many on here and am logging my food and exercise. Which is proven to be the key to weight loss success. Being aware of what you eat, when you eat and why you eat. It is a good tool for me now as well. But I had to come to the place to want it...I used to log my food and exercise on another site, but resented it. And just tried to cheat it. Difference now I suppose is being in the right frame of mind, wanting to be successful and finding support on here. I am enjoying have buddies on MFP that are lapbanders. That understand food addiction and how hard it is to do the next right thing sometimes. It didn't work for me to before to have a few buddies that were just on a diet. They didn't understand how certain foods have a voice in my head. Certain foods are triggers, and one is not enough, and one is too much. Some foods cause me to eat compulsively. That will never change. So, I have to give them up. I've prolly had enough ice cream for my entire life. I can live w/o it. So, with the support found here and thru other groups, like OA; I can give it up one day at a time. But I was really struggling before finding this site a few days ago. I'd throw my hands up in frustration and say, "I don't know what to eat!" And just eat the carbs or sliders. And feel sorry for myself. I had digestion issues. Constipation. I'd try so many things. But, I just figured out from reading a forum post on here, while I take Fiber pills, I don't drink enough Water, which can just make things worse. How in the world did I not know that? I drink a lot of caffeine all day. DUh. So, getting in my water the last few days (8 glasses, and logging it thank ya very much), bathroom problems solved. Mostly. And my stomach is feeling so much better, just eating right. Eating cleaner, drinking the required water. Looking at my nutrients on MFP and making better choices. Education and support go such a long way on this journey. If anyone wants to add me on MFP, my username is dbradley2010. I welcome the support and will gladly offer you mine. :-)

I'm fine with it. My surgeon said some ppl can tolerate it, some cannot. I was banded in 2008. I have had diet soda everyday since then. Does not seem to cause me problems at all. Some days I have less, some more. Sometimes it feels too bubbly. Most of the time not. I do feel it works better over ice and a little of the fizz reduced by it being poured over ice. But I drink it from the can some too.

great suggestions, and very motivational, thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so glad to have found this. I have been having problems. This gives me some good ideas about things I can try. Thanks.

You too! And how do I find my friends on here. Or add them? I can't find it. :-[ well st least not from the app. My lap top is acting up.

(Karen)!!!!! Hugs!! Thank you for your honesty. I feel so high right now. There is do much support here I never knew about. I plan to come here often and chat often. I don't feel alone and confused anymore. I feel like trying again. Everyone is super supportive. ????

Add me! dbradley2010. Just joined this site. Was banded in 2008. But I've gained a lot of weight back. Looking forward to the buddy system on MFP.

BTW, I just rejoined myfitnesspal. If any of you are on, my name is dbradley2010. Please friend me! Thanks

ooooo, the 5 day pouch test! I had not idea. I just googled the site. I am going to do it. I had never heard of that. Thanks for posting, I feel like I KNOW NOTHING about the lap band. Yet I was banded in 2008. Ack! My head is spinning. So much help out there. Thanks!

How nice your reply is Bandista. I appreciate it. Perhaps you are right. I will "act as if" you are right. I was not ready before. I thought it was a magic pill. I had a friend who went to Mexico and got her band 2 years before me. She dropped weight fast and hardly ever ate. I made up my mind to pursue it once our ins. started covering it. I thought my path would be the same. In fact, ppl were amazed I was going to have it done....b/c I thought, and they thought thru my explanations, that I was essentially giving up eating more than like a 1/4 cup of food 3 times a day. I somehow really believed that was my future when I went in the day of surgery, had wrapped my head around it and embraced it. I was gonna be skinny for once in my life! Well, that has not been my story. I never expected to get hungry. I also didn't realize I was such an emotional eater before. So, do believe in the changes I need to make now, and am willing to start those ODAT. I guess I should look at my band as a tool. I honestly never wanted to tell anyone before I have one. I'm very guarded still at who knows. BC I feel like a lapband failure. I have all along. I have resisted it and denied it, and thought it just didn't work for me. Maybe it will work for me now. I am thankful to have found support here. I think that also, is a big part of it. I don't know anyone else near me or even personally, who has a lapband. So, support has been lacking. I think it works just fine. I do not think I need a fill. I had tohave some taken out a few years ago, bc I could not swallow meat, and other solids. I think if I will use it and eat like I am supposed to, it might just work. Thanks for the support!

Thanks fun! I will definitely look at those.

Sandy, I just downloaded it from Amazon on my kindle. And I really like it so far. I think it is just what I need. I also just sent you a PM. :-)

And I am gonna do that. I have had a bad week. Really bad eating wise. So thankful I discovered this site yesterday. So much info and support here. I just downloaded the ebook, the Big Book of Lapband, which I found out about reading on here. Looks like it will be a great source of support. I feel much better already. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Sandy. Nice to not feel alone. Once I figure the site out a little better I would love to pm you. I used to use my fitness pal. Don't know what my log in is. Maybe we can be buddies when I find it.

Still figuring the site out. I prolly posted too soon. Now I've read the whole thread. Very glad for the posts I see on here. There are similarities in our stories. I did not expect to get hungry either. I didn't know what a sweet spot is. Or green spot. Never had those. I was too tight for the first 3 years and couldn't eat meat or burgers or fries. True enough, the candy bars and cookies and chips always went down. I went back in around June 2010 and got the surgeon to take some out. Was so tired of getting stuck constantly. So, since then I have been slowly putting the weight back on, as I found I could eat burgers and fries again. And not just mushy foods. Which was what I had been living on. I can't keep gaining weight. I look like I'm 9 months pregnant. Feel like it too. I just don't know what to eat anymore. I overeat on carbs. If I do low carb. And mainly high protein, I have trouble getting it all to move thru and out. You get the idea. ACK! Insights anyone? All are welcomed.

I relate. I just found this site but I'm here for the same reasons. Gaining weight. Powerless over food. I don't want any judgments either. Thanks.

I'm here!

Looking for support on the gulf coast. Anyone nearby? Any groups that meet? I could use some guidance. Thanks!