BillyTheBear

Hello everyone. I was banded in November of 2008, and almost 3 years later I am just about back up to my pre-op weight. There's a million things I guess I could blame this on, but the main reason I suppose is me and being non-compliant with the system. I've only had 4 fills. . the last one being the most discouraging when they said they couldn't put much more in as it was already filled to about the size of a pencil (the opening). It still seems however I consistently sabotage myself. I'll get in "health" mode here and there and lose 10-15 to maybe 20 pounds but then find myself eating around the band. . drinking with meals. . even having burgers and fries (I know right). I am never satisfied. . I have never been able to not drink with my meals since week 1. I feel like I'm just another failed statistic. .. another failed lapbander who has taken the gift of the surgery for granted. I have an appointment with my doctor Friday. . I haven't seen him since January of this year. . . I know I know. . it's probably one of the reasons I'm failing. But I also never feel restricted. . I have never puked or had my band too "full". . and I'm kind of jealous of those who have had the experience in a way. . I almost feel like there is no hope for me in this system, but perhaps I am wrong. . perhaps I just need that re-motivation. .. the accountability to do better? I'm considering trying to plead with my doctor to do a lapband revision to gastric roux en y. But I'd really like to give this one more serious go before completely cutting my stomach out to where I have no other choice as to the amount I eat. Is there anyone out there who could help me? -Billy the Bear

Congrats on all your success Humming Bird! =) That is most awesome and you're a true inspiration. . . it's stories like that which made me want to go this whole route. . . but it's stories like mine that kept me skeptical. . and I'm really hoping I can get back on track. I'm very disappointed to not have got a fill. . . I also think if I could get into that "green" zone that I would be able to control what I'm eating better. My doctor is kind of an unsocial unfriendly nut job tho, so perhaps I will seek a different doctor who can help me stay motivated. Anyone know how I would go about switching lapband doctors? I'll probably have to do it within the same facility. Another reason I don't frequent his office is because he is not a very personable doc and it's almost as if he looks at you in disgust. . so it's just a lose/lose situation with him.

Thanks for all your replies! Update: Went in to see my doctor today and he said he wasn't going to fill me any more until I got on track with a solid diet plan (proper portions and such) because apparently no matter how full it is it "won't change the way you eat, you have to make good choices with what you're eating or the band is no good to you". Well to me it was very disappointing because if I was able to maintain a stable diet and control my portions, then why the hell would I have got the lapband done? He wants me back in 6 weeks and he says if I have my diet under control then we can add some more to the band. He also said I had 6 cc's in a 14 cc band and the last time he gave me 1 cc that with 3 cc's I was totally closed. . so there's only 2 cc's of room to play with. My adjustments are made under the xray machine with radio active liquid so I don't think there is a leak. I suppose I still feel some restriction, but not really enough to be satisfied with. So all in all I'm just on my own here and hopefully can find the motivation through the forums and others to get on track with it and utilize this tool. Wish me luck, cause I'm gonna need it!

Thank you for the reply Sage, I am hoping that I just haven't allowed it to work. I really am praying I can keep up with it and feel the restriction and let the good times roll. I suppose one thing I am thankful for is I haven't really gained anything from pre-op. . . but maintaining for 3 years is still quite depressing, lol.

I agree you should in theory be losing weight, but definitely up your activity level if you've plateaued. This is an interesting factual piece of info for ya: Starvation Mode is a state in which the body is responding to prolonged periods of low caloric intake levels. During short periods of caloric abstinence, the human body will burn primarily free fatty acids from body fat stores. After prolonged periods of starvation the body has depleted its body fat and begins to burn lean tissue and muscle as a fuel source.[1] Ordinarily, the body responds to reduced caloric intake by burning fat reserves first, and only consumes muscle and other tissues when those reserves are exhausted.[2] Specifically, the body burns fat after first exhausting the contents of the digestive tract along with glycogen reserves stored in muscle and liver cells.[3] After prolonged periods of starvation, the body will utilize the Proteins within muscle tissue as a fuel source. People who practice fasting on a regular basis, such as those adhering to caloric restricted diets, can prime their bodies to abstain from food without burning lean tissue.[4]. Resistance training (such as weight lifting) can also prevent the loss of muscle mass while a person is caloric restricted.

Kinda tired of everything in my fridge. I had 3 scrambled eggs this morning cause I was extremely hungry. . . and that's all I've had today other than my Water and multi-Vitamin =/ Gonna have to go to the grocery store this afternoon and figure something new out ^^

Sounds quite delicious. . how do you prepare your eggs in the morning? I find myself doing 2 eggs scrambled more frequently than not. . and I like to dab a little salsa and low fat sour cream on them. . it's quite yummo! lunch I had about 1/2 cup refried Beans (Nutritionist says I need to get more carbs/calories in diet and suggested this. . . I let it happen cause it was good) dinner I'm probably going to grill up a 3oz salmon filet with some lemon herb spice, with a small salad if I can handle it. I must try your taco salad tho, that sounds quite good! Also, it's inspiring to know you're sticking this out even unfilled. . you should be proud of yourself! You're doing awesome!

You basically answered your plateau problem. . maintaining your diet only takes you so far if you're not pushing yourself and burning those calories off. I know just getting back into this this past couple weeks by exercising 5 times a week for 45 minutes to an hour . . and all I do is walk, has allowed me to maintain a steady weight loss. Also, what's a common daily menu for you? Are you getting enough Water? Wish you the best in your journey!

Elcee is definitely correct. . the band acts differently in all our bodies. . . I know a close friend of mine had the lapband, she had great success with it. . but within 6 months it had slipped and was causing her a lot of problems, and also erosion was occurring. She ended up having to have the whole system removed. We had the same surgeon so I am a firm believer it's just how our body accepts the band, as some of us seem to just reject it.

Sorry your husband seems so negative lately regarding your success with weight loss and just in general. Commenting on your last post I will say I can relate to your husband, as a man. . . I have a sarcastic sense of humor with my wife altho I would never let it get to the point to where she walked out. We kinda feed off each others sense of humors and sometimes mine comes off as assholish but really that's just my personality and she knows that. If I push it too far tho I generally tell her I am sorry and we make up. Are you perhaps over-analyzing everything now sense the intimacy of your relationship has become what you feel flawed to him? I know when my wife lost weight I can honestly admit I felt like I was going to lose her, at the same time I didn't attack her and just praised her for her efforts and hard work. . . but I can somehow relate with how he may be feeling deep within the sarcasm. As suggested perhaps some good ol fashion therapy is what you both need. You both need to lay out your feelings on the table and see what direction you both want to take your relationship. The last thing you want is to change for anyone but yourself. . . you only live once, make it as happy of a life as YOU can. . ya know? I wish you the best in all of this, and hope if it was meant to be. . that your marriage also heals over time and you both become one with the new you! As far as drinking goes, that's a bit of a personal opinion thing. . no one can tell you to stop drinking if it's something you enjoy, at the same time most of us can say when stressed it may lead to more obsessive drinking, and maybe he sees that you're stressed right now and perhaps feels you're turning to alcohol because of it? Once again, I wish you the best. . . if you need a man's perspective on anything or wish to ask me any question feel free to shoot me a message. I've been through a lot with my wife and if anything it has made us the incredibly strong union we are today. . very happy and blessed with two beautiful children!

Are you drinking while you eat? I know for me this is a pure demon that I have slowly overcome. Also it seems like you can eat breads and bagels which if I tried to eat at this time (6cc in a 10cc band right now) I would choke to death. I'd definitely also comment on your quality and quantity of foods, but as mentioned . . they certainly need to be better if you want to notice weight coming off. I can sympathize with the hunger tho, cause I get full on very little food (1/2 - 3/4 cup) but am not satisfied. I'm hoping more fills and sticking it out is what it takes. . . . but just remember you went through the surgery to not only lose weight but to change your life with a new tool, and as any tool . . it takes some work from us as well! Good luck and I wish you the best in your journey!!!!

Mine is to the left of my navel and up about 3 inches.

Did they put anything into your band during the operation? If not then you currently should be mostly empty post-op. . . or atleast that's how it worked for me. I also had sharp pains around my port area and incision areas when drinking but that faded after a couple weeks. I just kept dosed up on my pain meds and it was tolerable, did you get pain meds? Try utilizing them and all should be well I also had some gassy issues post ops but nothing a tums didn't cure. Grats to your decision to be banded and I wish you the best with it!

Ohio sure does ask for it, altho as a man I guess we don't lie about our weight to the BMV, lol. . good times.

For me it's always watching my clothes get looser. I also keep clothes from when I was thinner (clothes mind you that are maybe 7 or 8 years old, LoL) that I try on occasionally to test my progress. Good times.

Breakfast, I had about 3oz of tilapia filet, prepared with some lemon juice/spices in a foreman grill and 1/4 cup cottage cheese, altho I could only take a bite or two of that. lunch will probably be an unjury Protein shake and I'll try to eat some vegetables with that. dinner I'm going to do 3oz grilled chicken with some sauteed squash if I can fit it all in there. I miss prime rib LoL I'm hangin in there tho! Gotta do this for me and my girls!

Stories like this keep us all inspired! Grats to your success and continued happiness with the new you!!!!

I'm certainly glad I'm not alone in this. I don't feel that it's a psychological hunger, as my stomach physically growls for more food and it's just very unsatisfying. Lord knows I don't want to eat more food, I just want to be satisfied, I don't even really want to be "stuffed" ya know? Just able to go about my day and forget about food for awhile. I'm going to work it tho and give it a few more fills to see where I'm at with it. I'm gonna work the willpower train as well and lose it no matter what but may seek revision in the end. . . and while it's a permanent change to the stomach, isn't that what we want? Permanent changes in our lives and bodies! I just don't want to die of a heart attack before I've even had the chance to live my life. I thank you all again for the replies and helping me understand I'm not alone in all this. Warm holiday wishes to you and yours and God bless! -Bear

Hey all, just looking for some advice or pointers or some things. I just went in last week for my 2nd fill since I've had my band, to try to give it another real shot as I failed miserably before and just went back to my old habits. ANYWAY, I had my 2nd fill last week, my 10cc band already had 5cc in it, they added another full 1cc. I waited about a day and a half before I tried solids, and as long as I don't drink ANYTHING while eating my solid Protein (chicken/tuna/etc) I am getting "full" on approx 3oz. But feeling full and satisfied are two different things to me. I feel like I can't eat anymore, like it's backing up my throat and what not, but I'm not satisfied. . . does that make sense at all? So I'm struggling pretty hard with everything. I wanted the band to allow me to have portion control but also wanted it to make me go "god i'm so full" after I was done with said portion. I've been reading a lot lately and I feel like I'm not the only one who feels this way. Even at this good restrictive level I'm at, it's not keeping me satisfied or filling me up. Any advice/pointers/tips for this? I do my best not to drink anything for 30-40 minutes after eating, and this is the HARDEST thing for me. . . but even not doing that I'm still getting hungry rather quickly and am never satisfied. Really hoping I just haven't hit that "sweet" spot or perhaps it's all mind over matter and I'm not accepting the gift I've been given, dunno.

Thanks for the replies. I am low carbing and always eating my proteins first. Im barely reaching my advised 1200 calories tho. I keep carbs under 30 daily. And to answer you wren its not really literal its just how I describe it. It doesn't make me want to eat more but yet I am still hungry and wish I could. I want that feeling gone.

Elfie, sorry I haven't been following the forums for some time but I definitely wanted to say great job on your progress so far and continuing your journey to a healthier you. I haven't even worked the band but it's stories like this that make me live in fear with it all. I just got my 2nd fill and I'm feeling exactly as you have described Anywho, good luck to you in all your future endeavors with weight loss and beyond! =) -Billy

Pretty much do what your Dr. tells you to do up to the first fill, all phases are important. I personally did great and then after the first fill I wasn't getting the restriction or fullness . . . and it took me 2 years to go back and get another fill, as I fell off the wagon hard. But I'm back now and lost 6 pounds since last week, with great restriction!

That is awesome, great job! What part of Ohio you in? It has been real chilly lately here :thumbup:

Very inspirational post from a fellow Ohioan :thumbup: Congrats with your progressive success so far and heres to your continued success!!! You're doing AWESOME!

Hey all. . . got my first fill in 2 years a couple days ago. . happy to say I'm back on the wagon! I am now at 6.5cc in my 10cc band and it seems I have an amazing amount of restriction. It only takes 3oz of meat to make me completely full til I can't bare it. .. although I hear some people have 8+ cc in their 10cc band and was wondering, is that just a difference in anatomy or will I eventually need to get more in mind to have this type of restriction? All in all I'm happy to have went back and happy to finally have this restriction!