Glass is Half Full Girl

I never, ever thought I would utter these words but in this one aspect of my life..."I'm a failure". I was banded in late April of this year and have lost a whopping 10 lbs - woo hoo!?! And it took me $16k to figure this one out. Yes, it is a tool but so was Weight Watchers, Optifast, Herbal One and all of the other diets I went on. I don't know why I thought this would be different - good sales pitch I guess. I have no restriction after 3 fills, going for my 4th tomorrow and am so disappointed I could cry. There is no real follow up other than the fill appts. The support groups are driven solely by individuals who meet for coffee - no doctor feedback - he's too buy making tons of money. Just another cash grab I allowed myself to get suckered in to.

Ok, six months into this and no further weight loss. I have even put back 3 lbs from the original 10 or so lost. I definately feel I didn't research this enough (personality flaw, just jump into things). I have no restriction in food amount. The only thing I do have is recurring difficulty getting things down due mostly to not chewing enough - bad habits take a while to change. I'm miserable, my husband truly thinks I've flipped my lid and nothing fits. My ownership over the last 6 months is in not watching my food types enough and not moving my body enough so I picked up a couple of workout tapes and get exercise when/wherever it presents itself like raking leaves etc. I just feel like an ultimate failure...and 16k poorer. I have had 3 fills and was rejected for my 4th because I was having to spit food back out all the time. I am going for my 4th fill in a couple of days come hell or hi-water. If liquids are the only thing I can get down after that so be it. I'll make sure they are as healthy as possible because my psyche is in deep trouble with my lack of success. This is no ones fault but my own but I do feel the procedure was misrepresented, or at least not presented as "truly" as it should have been. It's all a sales pitch I guess...buyer beware.:smile2:

Well, I am afraid to step on the scale again as I know I haven't lost any more. After my second fill I have had quite a few instances of food getting stuck. Usually associated with white bread and not chewing enough. I knew that slowing my eating (chewing well) would be one of the biggest challenges. It is but I'm having a really stressful summer and you know what happens then. I am almost ready for my third fill. I have been thinking about and trying to wrap my head around when the need for smaller portions will kick in. If the band is already on there, isn't the size of my stomach already reduced? I don't notice any difference and even if they top up my band, the stomach pouch will still be the same size won't it. Won't the opening into the stomach (band size) just be smaller. I guess my concern is, will it just be more difficult to eat normally because the opening to the stomach is smaller? Or, will my stomach actually be smaller with the next fill? I really don't want to get too many fills so I have to eat like a mouse. I guess this is where "my work" comes in. Time to face the music and stop relying 100% on the band and more on my self restraint huh?

Hi ! I had my first fill 7 weeks after surgery and second fill exactly 30 days after that. It is almost 30 days again and ready for my 3rd fill. I think your timing is just right. They wouldn't give you a fill if they thought it was too soon. Good luck

Well, neither of us made it into the 180 somethings and now holidays start so the goal is to NOT gain any weight - hope this is aggressive enough for a couple of weeks! Got my second fill yesterday. Very difficult handling any type of bread and I really notice that I have to chew smaller amounts and chew really well. This is what I have been waiting for. It is going to be a real challenge because I have always been a quick eater. Will probably stay away from bread all together. Hopefully this will work and the scale will begin to move. No boot camp for two weeks - yikes!

Hello Bigbipper Oh honey you are so not alone in the way you are feeling. I even got to the application phase for mini-gastric but chickened out because it was too restricting (and expensive). About a year later an acquaintance of mine had this done. I haven't spoken to him since that point but investigated it further and went for a consult. I just didn't have the willpower - or whatever you want to call it- to do it permanently on my own so here I am, 2 months post op and 15 lbs slimmer. It hasn't come off as quickly as I thought it might but no ones fault but my own. This is a tool and it takes a little trial and error to find out how to use it to your advantage. I know my weight will come off steadily, more steadily if I behave and when I get a couple more "fills". I now know it is not a magic pill but helps me deal directly with my inability to stop eating so much - I simply can't! I struggled with it psychologically for the first month or so but don't even notice it anymore. I have joined a boot camp class to ensure I get heavy duty exercise in to help me lose and I focus on my good meals/days and kiss the others off. I also don't weigh myself daily. I can only speak for myself but I am happy I did this and I know I will only get happier as the pounds come off. Good luck with your decision. I'm always available to bounce ideas off of if you like. Cheers

Wow, that's one I haven't heard before. Nothing surprises me. A neighbouring group in my area actually meets at an all you can eat Chinese restaurant once a month! Sort of like taking an alcoholic to a bar for a mtg. Oh well, I just don't go to those mtg's. Good luck!

Loooooove a good challenge! I'm in.

Good Luck Chantelle! It could be the single best decision you make in your life. Surgery was a breeze for me, as was post surgery. Hope yours is too!

Thanks! She is ahead of me a couple of lbs. but the fun continues. The prize is a manicure! No food prizes anymore - there are so many other "fun", non-food things to do.

So my girlfriend and I have a bet to see who can lose more weight by June 30th. We are exactly the same size. Loving a good challenge I set to work and am managing to see some numbers I haven't seen in a long time! She is doing well too so who knows who is going to win but I love the challenge. A bit of a stumble tonight (night time is my most challenging time of the day) but back at it tomorrow. My goal is to get into the 180's, even 189 would do. Fingers are crossed.:smile:

I attended my second coffee mtg. Friday night. I really connect with one of the ladies there and after describing my insatiable eating from 7-9 pm, she suggested I set a behavioral goal for myself - just one mind you so it is not too overwhelming and I can truly focus on it. So my behavioral goal for this month is not to eat after 7pm every night! I can have tea, water etc. but no food. This will be interesting. The weight goal I have for myself is to lose 8 lbs by the end of June. I have an 8 day business trip coming up so not sure if that will help or hinder but here goes...wish me luck!