annjones

Retraining yourself and getting back in touch with your pre-baby weight loss enthusiasm would definately help. I have just completed the 5 Day Pouch Test and had a small fill. I strayed way off path and went back to some very bad habits. Depression and loss are hard. I had lost 70 lbs and have gained back 40 I'm back on the forums, tracking my meals and attending support groups. I see the nutrisionist on Monday. Good luck to you and know that you are not alone in starting over.

I so can relate. I was banded in 2009 and was a model patient. I lost 70 lbs and was feeling wonderful. Life thru out major stumbling blocks and a few tornados. My son was killed in Afganistan, some friends I had helped out big time financially went Bat Sh*t crazy and sadly to say are no longer our friends. I learned I could eat things that weren't in my diet. I was having major reflux at night and pouch pain (due to be overfull, I found out later). Went through unfill, refill and lots of self beating up. I have gained 40 lbs and feel like a total failure. I have often said to myself that I waisted all this money and time for something that I am not getting to work. I'm trying to pick myself out of that depression hole and get back on track. I attended my first support ground in 3 years and just completed the 5 day pouch test. I'm back here to find support and encouragement. Your not alone. We have the tool we just need to find that determination we had in the beginning and get back on track. Luck to you.

My 1 year Bandanniversary was in December. Life has been crazy, sad and I'm stalled. I'm working to get back into the groove of recording everything I eat and making better choices in foods. My son was killed in Afganistan in October of 09, My brother in law passed away from cancer in October 09, I've gained around 20 lbs since then and have added candy bars and cheetos to my diet... Yes I know bad bad bad. I went through a period of being too tight...or maybe it was grief and my pouch was topsy turvy and I couldn't get good things in and resorted to liquids for my lunch and dinner. (Soups mostly) There were times I couldn't even get yogurt down. I wanted to come back and see how everyone was doing and be a bit whinny cause I know everyone will understand.

Well I have an appointment next week and I will ask about checking how much is really in my band. I've been working hard on taming the hunger until then. I think I'm doing ok but the scale isn't moving. At least it isn't moving up :biggrin: I love my band!

That does sound high, but I would say it all depends on your location and what kinds of costs the doc is having to pay over and above what insurance is paying. My doctor's office has recently gone to charging 375.00 for an admin fee (before it was 0) But then I know that he also takes Medicare and Medicade<sp> patients and the reimbursement to his business from those places don't cover even half his COSTS. So the fee is instituted to help defer his costs in having quality medical care available for those in need. Paying something does help sometimes with people to feel more vested in what they are doing. I'd talk to the office and see if they will work with you on payments or something, if you can't afford the whole amount up front. Or check around and see what your options are.

Ok guys and gals, I need to vent some. For the past two months I've hovered inside the same darn 10 lb range. In August I got a fill of .25cc (didn't feel much difference) but kept on track. Went camping did great and went to 239 lbs. Went to weigh in at the doc's office and get another fill. 245 and .25cc of a fill (felt no difference and continued to be hungry between meals) I gave it some time and I tell you this weekend all I had was food on my mind. I was HUNGRY. It seems pretty obvious that the last two fills weren't enough. My doc is trying to be conservative and take things slowly but I'm feeling a bit frustrated at this point in time. I have 6.25 in a 10cc band. I've done great with my diet and my water intake. I'm getting my supplements and my protein in with no problem at all. I am making sure the food I eat between meals is very high in protein and healthy filling stuff. I guess I'm just looking for some feedback and words of wisdom. Thanks for letting me vent

Stalled....gaining and loosing the same couple of pounds. Going in for a fill Monday hope that kicks it back in gear. I'm still working out and eating as I'm suppose to. I guess a goal for September would be 235.

Really weird. I'm a little over 5.5 ccs in a 10 band and I don't think I've hit that green zone solid. I've skirted around it. But I eat 3 meals per day (small ones) and snack on good protein filled stuff in the middle. Of course it is nothing like I ate before surgery but there are times I just feel HUNGRY. I've not really found anything I can't eat yet *knock on wood* and have only had one PB/slimming incident since surgery in December. I've also lost 65 lbs so I guess I'm doing all things right. What I have been able to guess at is once my weight loss starts to level my stomach won't be shrinking anymore and when I hit that green zone it will be solid and won't flutter around.

238! Just back from a week long camping trip. I endulged a bit with some foods that are not ok, but I didn't over do it and keep things in moderation. All in all a great trip and great news from the scale!!

Sounds like you are all atwitter! I think we all have been there. Excited and scared. The more excersize you do prior will only be that much better for you after surgery. I started "exercising" the day after surgery (I slept most the the day of). I walked 10 min at a time on the treadmill and paced/lapped the house. Nothing strenuous but I wanted to get my body moving. Talk to your doc. Don't push yourself hard and heavy at first. This is surgery and your body will need to heal. The weight will come off...and maybe faster than you think at first.

Just had a small fill yesterday. I'm down to 239!!!! woo hooo Haven't seen this weight in 10 years.

I've lost 63 lbs so far and things are loose. I exercise on a regular schedule and work the problem areas, but my tummy is drooping. But then I've had a hysterictomy and my scar is from my belly button down, so my tummy muscles are a bit weakened. I've also had 3 kids, years ago, so life and children have taken their toll. I've been contemplating PS once my weight loss levels, but right now there is nothing I can't live with.

Surgery and pain meds can cause some serious problems with pooping. Drink tons of water, Mirlax is a nice non addictive laxitive that is very easy on your new pouch. Also, dried apricots and plums on a regular basis throughout the day will help tremendously. Lots and lots of water is a must as well. Good Luck

I just had my first PB, Sliming and threw up yesterday. I can tell you that is not something I want to do again. It was totally my fault. I didn't pay attention to how fast I was eating....working and eating..isn't a good combination. Had to take a whole day off and went to Water for a long while, then cycled SLOWLY through the soft mush foods. Not back to solids totally yet.

From what I've read here, this is a very normal and common fear. I know I had it. "What if I fail at this too?" I've lost 63 lbs so far. Your weight loss will individual. But I would say if you follow the rules and do what your doc recommends...read all you can from the boards. You'll be fine and you will be a success. Right now, focus on the finish line not the many steps it takes to get there.

The Deloce is wonderful, as is the Rasberry and Peach. Gingerbread is good in oatmeal and coffee ditto for the chocolate. Pepermint Patty is very peperminty not bad just intense. Besides putting in Protein shakes to enchance the flavor I also have been known to put a squirt or two in my Water to make flavored water.

I found that I had great restriction after surgery (my tummy was still swolen) The sign that you need another fill is if you are hungry between meals. Go to your doc and chat with them...let them decide. You might only get a small fill each time you go in.

After surgery I would set a timer after I ate and was really strict about the 30 min before and 1 hour after. But now I've loosed up some. It is really hard, especially when you feel like your dying of thirst. My doc told me to listen to my body. A little Water won't hurt. Just be careful. Talk to your doc and ask him what he thinks. One thing I try to do to satisfy that "no drinking during a meal thing" is to eat something very wet....watermelon, yogurt, etc. I think in the long run, once you have wiped out old bad habbits and start to replace them with healthier, lapband friendly habits...things can be eased up on some.

Great advise from everyone already but I wanted to say "Congrats on your loss!!!"

Ok mine will probably sound pretty silly...but I did have 1 chocolate chip cookie :thumbdown: I promised myself I wouldn't tempt myself or even try something so not right for my diet until at least a year out. I also have a tendancy to mindlessly eat Edamame seeds and boy does my band wake me up when I do *ouch*

Hey there! 4 weeks to go and we will be on the land!!!! I've been thinking long and hard about what kinds of Protein foods to bring. I'm probably obsessing over nothing. I definately want to do the breast casting this year and compair it to my one from 2 years ago. We will be in Dart Downtown (Ann and Rose) We are also doing a Fairy House workshop. Should be fun. I'd love to be in a gathering of all banded women and share stories and chat. Support groups are great, I can only imagine a MWMF support group would be out of this world!!! See you there

I'm at 241! Can you update me? Also, my July goal is 238.