One year out.. Not doing well.

[MHawthorne 0]

I am one year out this month and i have only lost 45 pounds. I throw up a lot. When I took Fluid out I knew it was too loose and now having it back up to that amount I am so sick again. I don't have a lot of diversity with my food. Anyone have any suggestions that work for them, excluding meat, I love it, but it grosses me out to have to chew it to mush. I also think my version of chewing to mush is not good enough. Please help with suggestions.

Excersise is hard right now because I have such a bad back. Not related to weight, but worse because of it. I am just so lost and need help.

[nomorejellybelly 77]

Have you tried walking? Have you had any check-ups to make sure the band is placed correctly? Hang in there and at least try to walk. I don't know what to tell you about the food. Good luck to you.

[cruzlady 0]

Find an indoor pool and start Water walking .. easy on the body but great exercise. As for the meat thing ,, I have a problem with meat . I can eat very small quantities, and for the first 5 or 6 months , I put it in a small food processor.. Didn't look great , but I was able to keep it down. aT A YEAR OUT ,I cannot eat bread, bacon, or beef-- well, I guess I can eat beef- ground sirloin that I make my chili with, but it is broken down into very fine texture in the chili.

[BetsyB 9]

It sounds like your band needs some fine-tuning---and that you need to get moving!

My back is horrible I have 5 herniated disks from neck to tail, as well as sacroiliac joint disease. I am in pain almost all the time--sometimes severe, even with meds.

I exercise every.single.day--usually twice.

It does not make my pain worse--it promotes weight loss (which helps the back enormously), and the movement is good for the body.

Unless your doctor is telling you that walking will cause you permanent nerve damage, please don't use back pain as an excuse to keep you from doing the one thing that is most apt to give you relief.

If you don't have one already, find a good pain specialist. Periodic epidural injections help me tremendously. Appropriate medication can help you engage in life productively, as well. Even simple measures such as ice or heat can make a huge difference.

Re: "chewing to mush." That would gross me out, too. My doctor's rule of thumb is "no bigger than a pencil eraser." If I had to chew to mush, I wouldn't eat!

[tommygunn49 0]

think of it this way that's your're 45 pound ligther,than last year to keep your hope up. as for as mush campbell Soup work for me .their cream products are great

[Alycopp 0]

There is a cookbook call Eating Well After Weightloss Surgery by Patt Levine and Michelle Bontmpo-Saray that has some really great recipes for Soups and veggie dishes. There are meat dishes too for maybe later if u get more comforttable with it. Also I use the free calorie counter on about.com and it helps keep track of everything. Good luck and hope you feel better.

[MHawthorne 0]

Thank you everyone. I do excersise it just hasn't happened in the last month because I don't want to get stuck out on the sidewalk with a spasm. I am doing daily streching to get it loose. I think I am going to give up on meat for now and make sure to have one shake a day for sure to get that Protein in. I think I have realized also that I let myself get too hungary and then I eat too fast. I am used to a busy life style with my daughter and I need to retrain myself to pay more attention to good eating and on a schedule.

Mornings are horrible for me to eat because my chest is so tight from the band so I am going to drink only the shake because I can't drink coffee in the morning to make it less tight. I will keep trying all the suggestions. Thank you.

[Phranp 46]

I, like BetsyB, have severe back problems. I had back surgery in 2004 (running is NOT an option for me) and have since been diagnosed with spinal stenosis (arthritis of the spine). My doc says that it is so widespread that surgery is not an option. But, I have had the epidural injections and BetsyB is right, they can help. It's been a while since my last injecttion and I lately suffer from spasms in my legs and pain in my back. The spasms (with the accompanying leg cramps) can come during the day or wake me at night. BUT, and this is a big but (no pun intended, lol), I walk as often as possible because I know that it will help my weight loss AND the less I weigh the better my back feels. Also, the less you weigh the more successful the epidural injections are apt to be. Please know that I understand that the pain you (and I) experience from our back problems can be crippling, but we have to make every effort to keep our bodies moving. My ortho used to tell me that walking was good for my back pain, that it would help it get better. I thought he was crazy because in my mind I couldn't imagine standing when in such pain let alone walking! But, I've decided that if I don't try something different I am going to get the same results -- slow weight loss and still in pain. So, I took an extremely long walk last week and while I did have some pain the next day, and I have had spasms since, I was thrilled to be able to make the walk! And, yeah, I had trouble this week with leg pain and spasms but I have been walking it off.

Please know that I would not begin to tell you that I know how much pain you are experiencing. I only know that we have similar ills and want to share some of the ways that I get past my pain. Talk to your ortho about the injections and that Water walking is pretty cool too. I tried it and liked it. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of using the Water weights which awoke my spinal stenosis and left me in excruciating shoulder/arm pain :thumbup:, BUT the walking in the water part was a success :thumbup:.

I guess what I'm really saying is that I know that it's sometimes difficult to consider doing something that we know is going to cause us pain and discomfort, but we have to continue to look for answers that will help us succeed on our journey to lose the weight. Research your condition beyond what your ortho has told you (if you haven't already), the internet (including this forum) can be a wellspring of information. When we have "special" problems that keep you from doing what everyone else can do, we have to learn to think outside the box. Don't give up, we can do this!

All the best to you.

[gbakerc 2]

I am facing a similar situation but it has mainly been at my own hand. I was ultramotivated and lost about 45 pounds and have not lost much of anything since. I knew I needed a fill but waited months. I finally got a fill about 2 weeks ago and it has been bitter sweet. I am losing again but many foods are no longer on the table. bread for one, and my portions are tiny. My big foe has been exercise. I kid myself into believing that I don't have time and I belong to a stinking 24 hour 7 day a week gym. It is however a 3 minute drive from my house. I just need to pick myself up, dust myself off and get back in the game. Also, I realized long ago that no matter how restricted you are, chocolate and ice cream will go down so I have sworn them off. Best of luck,

Greg

[hiltoncats 0]

I am in the same place both of you are. I completely can understand this quote...I am 1 year out today and have only lost 60 pounds...I have sabotaged myself since May telling myself that the partial unfill was to keep from having issues while my husband was deployed. I stopped working out and let myself go down a dark and ugly path, eating whatever and actually drank a few sodas too...Before May I was on the ball with watching everything and exercising at least 3 times a week. I have a fill appointment scheduled for Wednesday and know that I'm going to hate being back to liquids but know that it is necessary to retrain myself. I just remember how excited I was last year at the prospect of finally beating this thing...as my doctor said...the band is a tool to help you but you still have to do it.

Thank you for your post because it has helped me a lot today to know that I'm not the only one.

Laura

I am facing a similar situation but it has mainly been at my own hand. I was ultramotivated and lost about 45 pounds and have not lost much of anything since. I knew I needed a fill but waited months. I finally got a fill about 2 weeks ago and it has been bitter sweet. I am losing again but many foods are no longer on the table. bread for one, and my portions are tiny. My big foe has been exercise. I kid myself into believing that I don't have time and I belong to a stinking 24 hour 7 day a week gym. It is however a 3 minute drive from my house. I just need to pick myself up, dust myself off and get back in the game. Also, I realized long ago that no matter how restricted you are, chocolate and ice cream will go down so I have sworn them off. Best of luck,

Greg

[MHawthorne 0]

Phranp- Thank you for your post. I did get out and walk last night and it did hurt and I was sore this morning, but it will hurt whether I get out and walk or don't. My physical therapist has always told me to make my back feel better I need to stregthen it. Mine is muscle so it will get better in time. I am glad to know others have the same problem at this year out phase. I am stuck in a big rut and am trying to get out of it.

[Phranp 46]

Phranp- Thank you for your post. I did get out and walk last night and it did hurt and I was sore this morning, but it will hurt whether I get out and walk or don't. My physical therapist has always told me to make my back feel better I need to stregthen it. Mine is muscle so it will get better in time. I am glad to know others have the same problem at this year out phase. I am stuck in a big rut and am trying to get out of it.

Glad to hear you are up and out. You know my doc has talked about that "strengthening the muscle" thing too. What I want to know is, how long will it take and how much walking do I have to do to get to that point. LOL Yeah, it's hard but I'm going to keep trying. My plan tomorrow morning is to park about a mile from my therapist's office and walk to my session then walk back. Wish me luck! :biggrin:

[ElfiePoo 109]

I am one year out this month and i have only lost 45 pounds. I throw up a lot.

Why are you throwing up? When I told my care providers that I was getting stuck at least once, sometimes more at every meal and that I was having trouble eating solid Proteins (meat, chicken, etc.), they told me I had too much fill. Getting that unfill was the best thing I ever did.

.

[MHawthorne 0]

I made an appointment today to talk to the nutritionist at my dosctors office, she alaso does the fills or unfills so maybe asking 100 or so questions with her and her giving pointers will get me over the plateau.

Good for you to park and walk like that.