oreo4972

Got a follow up appointment with my surgeon tomorrow. I'm praying he puts at least MOST of the fluid he took out 6 weeks ago. I was already struggling to meet my goal with only 20 lbs. to go, but 6 weeks with an almost completely unfilled band has been tough...not to mention the few lbs. I gained in the process.

Don't beat yourself up...everyone is different and this journey is different for each one of us. I'm almost 4 years out and still have 20 lbs. to go until I reach my goal. It took me 1 1/2 yrs. before I reached my "sweet spot" and was well on my way. But with life's ups and downs, I too, had ups and downs with my band. I yo-yo'd a few lbs., got off track, got back on track, exercised like crazy, and slacked like crazy. All while struggling with my food addiction! Maybe you just haven't reached your "sweet spot" yet. You mentioned that you recently got a fill and lost 5 lbs? Be proud of that! Every lb. lost brings you closer to your goal. Keep up the good work! Maybe that's what you needed to jump start your weight loss again. I wish you much success in your weight loss journey.

Wow! You look absolutely amazing!!!

I was also told that it's okay to drink all the way up to mealtime, then nothing for 30-60 minutes after. However, it's not difficult for me because I had a strict mom that forbid us to drink during our meals when we were kids (because we got full off of our drink then wasted our food), and that habit stuck with me into adulthood...even before the band!

I agree with you completely! I have definitely become too comfortable with my band. And now that I've recently had a partial unfill, I now realize how much I took my band for granted in preventing me from overeating and keeping me in check with certain foods. Now that I have way less restriction, I've quickly lapsed back into my old habits of overeating and making poor food choices. Four weeks of this has shamefully and regretfully resulted in me gaining 8 lbs! Now I have to work that much harder reach my goal, but I'm determined to do it!

Yes it does, Sandy. Because I don't stay on my "work" sleep schedule when I'm off. Otherwise, I'd never see my husband and sons! If I workout after work, before I go to bed, then I'm too wound up to go to sleep. If I wake up earlier to fit in a workout before work, then I get sleepy during my shift...then I'm MISERABLE fighting to stay awake! And let me NOT get started on my meal schedule!!! Smh...

I think my biggest problem is my work and sleep schedule. I work nights 7p-7a and am having a difficult time working out an eating and workout schedule. Frustrated, but not giving up!

Thank you catfish87 and Mikee57. I was terrified of the skating but I've always taught my two sons not to let fear prevent them from trying new things, so when I was placed in the hot seat, I had to eat my words and lead by example. My sons learned how to skate about 6 years ago at summer camp and always went with the other campers or friends, so I've been able to avoid the whole skating thing with them, until this past weekend when we were visiting my dad and he wanted to take the boys to this entertainment complex near where he lives and, well, the rest is history! It was scary and fun at the same time! Lol

I went roller skating for the first time in over 25 years yesterday afternoon! It took a while getting the hang of it again but once I got my balance under control, I had a blast and skated over an hour with my two teenage sons!

Congratulations! Keep up the awesome job!!!!

I don't feel so alone now. Started at 245, the lowest I got was 170, goal is 150. About 9 months ago, I TOTALLY stopped losing weight. Then about 6 months ago, I noticed my band was feeling kinda tight and I was getting full fast...and staying full for a loooong time! I knew something was "different", but the pounds started moving again, so I was excited! But over the past 6 months, it became more difficult to eat and keep foods down. It seemed at least 2 out of my 3 meals I ended up in the bathroom. So, I started getting by on slider foods...and put 5 lbs. back on. About 3 weeks ago, my band became so tight that NOTHING would go down - not even my saliva! For 3 days, I suffered and finally went to my surgeon fearing the worst (a slip), but praying that it wasn't. Apparently, at some point, my stomach became irritated (probably from vomiting), causing swelling and resulting in my band becoming super tight, so he removed most of the fluid to allow my stomach to heal (thank God, no slip). Since my unfill, I've gained 5 lbs!!! I'm hungry all the time and my appetite is insatiable!!! I upped my exercise last week and STILL gained 2 lbs! I'm frustrated and feel defeated. Up to 179 and I was already struggling to get the last 20 lbs. off. Seems the harder I try, the more obstacles I face, but I refuse to give up! Gonna try adding an extra workout day, increase my time, and up my water consumption a little more. I go back to my surgeon on 5/16 and PRAYING for my fluid back!

Thanks for the support and suggestions everyone. I guess I wasn't clear on the subject of exercise. I used to exercise regularly when I was working days. It's when I switched to nights that my entire life turned upside down. I've tried waking up an hour early to exercise before I have to start getting ready for work and paid for it during my shift when I nearly fell asleep when I was with a dying patient. When I've worked out in the morning before going to bed, I'm so wired that I can't fall asleep and I have to fight to stay awake when I'm with my patient. As far as asking the families if they mind me working out when I should be keeping their dying loved one comfortable...I just don't think that would be appropriate. Guess it's back to the drawing board...I'll figure something out.

I'm a hospice nurse and have recently gone from day shift to nights and my whole world has been turned upside down! I work 12 hour shifts 3-4 days a week and I sit (literally - for the majority of my shift) with patients who are terminally ill. The extent of my "work" is administering medications, turning and repositioning my patients, providing incontinent care, and giving bed baths. However, we all know that doesn't take 12 hours to do. Everyone else's day is my night, so I sleep during the day and then I'm up all night. I've noticed that I'm not losing any more weight (thank God I haven't started gaining) as I rarely have time for exercise anymore. I feel sluggish like my metabolism has up and left me. I'm super frustrated, especially since I'm 25 lbs. from my goal. If I work out after work in the morning, I can't sleep, and if I work out before work, I have to cut into my sleep time and I'm supposed to be watching my patient rest, not the other way around - lol. Does anyone have any REALISTIC advice that won't interfere with me getting adequate rest to pull 12 hour all nighters? Thanks.

I just read your blog and finished in tears! I'm so sorry for you. I would be devastated. Hopefully you'll be able to get the surgery done to "unkink" your band one day so you'll have a lifelong "tool" rather than a foreign object in your body for the rest of your life. I wish you much success and admire you for your perseverance.

Don't feel bad - I, too, avoid coming on the site like I used to. It took me nearly 2 years and 7 fills before I got to my "sweet spot". With good restriction, a healthy diet, and regular exercise, I finally started losing consistently and was starting to notice change in the way my body was beginning to look and feel. Things were going great until I was hit with a medical dilemma - an unplanned hysterectomy...as my husband and I were planning to try to get pregnant. I was devastated and became depressed and withdrawn. I stopped working out, wasn't mindful of what I ate, and began gaining the weight I worked so hard to lose. Three weeks ago, after my birthday, I realized what I was doing to myself and decided to get back in gear. I started being mindful of what I eat and drink, and am trying to get myself motivated to work out regularly like I used to. I've lost 8 lbs so far, but am still frustrated. I really want to be at my goal weight by the end of summer (I've got 30 lbs to go).