Aussie40

Unfortunately I find it a bit stringy and hard to get down.

When I have my band in the sweet spot, I can lose weight without feeling 'real' hunger all the time. However, the band doesnt help with head hunger. Like you, I'm always looking for something between dinner and bed time - usually something sweet. I have found that lollipops and fruit juice icypoles can often satisfy that urge. They take a while to eat and dont have too many calories.

Hi Lynnae I am really sorry to hear that you are struggling but I think there are some issues that you could consider before you give up on the band and replace it with a sleeve. Many people (including me) find that the band feels tighter in the mornings and it is harder to get food down then. My surgeon says its is perfectly OK to skip Breakfast altogether. I just drink a skim milk cafe latte (the milk has protein) and then wait until late morning before I try to eat anything. The band will also feel tighter if you have been getting food stuck and vomiting. I'm guessing that process inflames the area around the band. For me, it can take a day or two to get back to normal after that so I need to be really careful. If you have been vomiting frequently, then you might be permanently inflamed which would have the same effect as having your band too tight. Everybody goes for the crunchy & slider foods when the band is too tight because that is all we can get down & we have to eat something. Please don't be too hard on yourself. It might even be that you need a big UNfill to give your body a rest and a chance to heal, before you experiment with refilling in very small increments. Then you could find out more about band-friendly foods from this site, so that you can give yourself the best chance of avoiding any more vomiting. I really hope things get better for you soon.

I think a tattoo done in stages to mark progress on the journey is a wonderful idea. But as Terry pointed out, you would need to pick a body part where the skin isnt likely to sag, or to be affected by any later plastic surgery. I have been thinking about getting a tattoo after the weight is all lost and the plastic surgery has been done, to hide the scars. To see some examples, just google 'tattoo to cover tummy tuck scars' & then click on images.

Congratulations on your amazing achievement!

I've been struggling with reflux (banded 7 years ago) and I notice that some other veteran bandsters have too. I've been wondering if it is something that just happens when the band has been in for a while. Did your doctor explain why? Did you have any damage to your esophagus caused by the acid? I'm really paranoid about that. I hope you are doing OK with your weight while waiting for your sleeve.

Congratulations, I am so happy for you! I just love that feeling when you make a big effort and it actually pays off. It makes it so much easier to keep going when you feel successful. I recently had a fill which was both good and bad. The good part is that the band is now giving me that strong signal of fullness which helps me to stop eating after a small amount of food, and I am continuing to lose weight. The bad part is that Ive had a little bit of acid reflux again and I am quite paranoid about the possibility that the acid might damage my esophagus. So I think I might ask the doctor to unfill me a tiny bit next time and see if I can get the best of both worlds.

Interesting thread. I was wondering about this too because my iphone diet diary app automatically gives me extra calories on days when I log exercise.

I just discovered Greek yoghurt a few weeks ago and its a fantastic substitute for sour cream. Just as yummy but so much healthier!

I am really sorry to hear about your Mum. My life also went downhill for similar reasons and I regained 30 kg (66lb) while I was struggling emotionally for a couple of years. As others have said, I think it is important to acknowledge responsibility for what has happened but also to be compassionate towards ourselves. A week before Christmas I recommitted myself to 'working with' my band. I finally went back to the doctor after a long absence and got a small unfill initially and a script for acid reflux medication. I started tracking my calories on an iphone app, which helped me make better food choices. I increased my dog walks by an extra 20 minutes per day and joined a gentle aquarobics class once per week. So far I have lost 5.9 kg (13lbs) in 7 weeks. I am feeling optomistic for the first time in ages.

I got my band done in September 2005 by Miss Wendy Brown at the Avenue Hospital in Melbourne. I lost 35kg (two thirds of my excess weight) fairly easily within 10 months. I stayed at that weight without much trouble until October 2007, when I copped some serious stress at both work and home. True to form, I turned to comfort food to get me through. Unfortunately, icecream, chocolate and cheesecake go through the band just fine. To my horror, I've regained almost 13kg. I'm keen to know if it is common to backslide after living with the band for a couple of years and how other people manage to get back on track afterwards.

Hi Bel I would really love you to be my mentor. You were kind enough to reply to my 30 May 08 post 'have any aussies had a band for 2+ years'. Quick recap: I was banded Sept 05, lost 35 kgs in 10 months but have regained 13 kg since October 07. You might also be interested to know that my son (age 17) also has a band. He is doing quite well lately after a very rocky period. Anyway, you made the very sensible suggestion of getting regular fills. I havent quite got the courage up to go back yet but I have lost 3.9 kgs over the past couple of weeks by cutting right down on carbs. I'm very encouraged by your story and impressed by your generosity in offering to help others. I think being able to email you would really help me get back on track.

Wow Nigel, you have done so well - congratulations!

Hi TaraJane I have also cancelled several appointments recently. Its just so humiliating having to get on those scales and have the nurse record the weight gain. I actually gathered up my courage and went back for a fill in April. Unfortunately, I got too much put in and I basically couldnt eat any solids. I lost 4 kilos in two weeks but it was so horrible, I had to get the band loosened again. Of course, I've regained the 4 kilos and now I'm nervous about getting a refill as well as embarrased about the weight gain. Do you want to support each other in making a commitment to go back for a fill within the next month (no matter what the scales say)? I'm game, if you are.

Thanks for your replies Bel and Fee. It is really encouraging to hear that you have both managed to keep your weight off for so long. I must admit I have been pretty erratic with the fills over the past year, so the advice about regular appointments makes a lot of sense.

Hi Molly Molly I got my band in September 2005 in Melbourne, Australia. I lost 35kg (the targetted 66% of my excess weight) fairly easily within 10 months. I remained stable at that weight without much trouble and thought that the band had 'cured' my overeating until.... In October 2007, I got stuck in a really stressful work situation, my teenage son was going off the rails and I was about to turn 40. True to form, I turned to food as an emotional crutch. Unfortunately, icecream, chocolate and cheesecake go through the band just fine. To my horror, I regained almost 13kg over the past 6 months. I've now come to accept that even with the band, I'm just a 'recovering' overeater. 10 days ago, I made a real committment to myself to get back on the wagon, so I found this website, cleared out my fridge/pantry and had my band tightened. Much to my relief, I've lost 3 kg since then and am feeling more confident that I can get back to my target weight. I would be interested to know if it is common for people to backslide after a living with the band for a couple of years and how they deal with it.