Mental Health

[Kynekke 0]

Since I got banded I've been a basket case. I was a VERY happy 300 pounder, I stopped dieting in 1999 and was enjoying life. My kids prompted the band, keeping up with them that is but my mental health has taken a digger.

Since getting banded I stress over everything I eat.. it's like being stuck on a diet that I can't quit. I find myself snappy with my kids too =(

I know that I've lost 60 lbs already... but nothing since Oct 1st has me even more stressing about everything. Nothing I can do will break this 60lb mark!! I track everything I eat, I count carbs and Protein and Water... I walk... nothing!!! Someone always asks... I'm not losing inches either.

I havent been on anti-depressants in ages.. well.. since I swore off dieting. If you were me what would you do?? Would you seek out some anti-depressants, some Phentermine? Maybe get the band out... shorter life but at least I was happy you know?

Is anyone else healthier but mentally worse since getting the band??

[lisah25 3]

I've noticed I'm a lot more emotional, good and bad, then I was before. In my case, I think I was medicating with food. Feeling mad? Have a piece of chocolate. Something to Celebrate? Have a big meal. Now, I can't do that, so I have to finally deal with my emotions, and it's tricky at times. I also wonder about what effect losing weight is having on my hormones. But, I figure I'll figure it out, and end up with better health all around.

I've been on Celexa for about a year now, and in my pych eval she suggested I stay on it for at least a year post-band. I plan to.

So, if I were you I'd look into some counseling and perhaps medication to help you work through the emotional stuff.

[Kat817 19]

The only thing I can think of is to take a break, from all the counting. Try not to lose all your Protein etc, but bump up your caloric intake, take on some quick burning sugar. I know it goes against everything we have been doing, but when I hit those inevitable plateaus---and I am told with plateaus, it is not IF you will hit them it is WHEN you will. Anyway, I bump up my intake for a few days, a week...whatever, and it makes my metabolism kick back up a notch I guess. It may be the old body thinks you are starving it thing---who knows. I don't! I have no idea why it works for me, but it does---or has so far!! Even if it doesn't "work" in a weight loss sense, it may give you a break from journaling everything you eat, and give you a break from worrying about it for awhile. Which should help with the stress. Take a vacation! Not in the literal sense, although that too would be fun! But take the kids and get some ice cream, fix your favorite meal, you don' have to eat the entire thing, but do some things that make you feel like your old life is still yours.

That is why I chose the band, so I could live as normally as possible. I choose not to diet with the band, and it very well may take me longer to get to goal, but I do not feel deprived. Even eating that way, I do find myself watching it closer than before, so when I stop losing I used to really cut down---it did not help at all. Now I bump up a couple of days, and I get going again.

Take a break--you have done a great job!

Another thing to think of, is it may be a little bit of SAD--seasonal affective disorder. Triggered by the winter days, and less sunlight. It is not something you choose to have or not have---it is a form of depression, but luckily one that will right itself as the seasons roll around. I know I am sick to death of snow already, and want to be outside, where we can DO things----come on Spring!!!

Good Luck---if it doesn't improve by all means see your Dr.!!!

Kat

[annieM 2]

Maybe your excess weight was protecting you in some way and now that you have been losing it, you are losing your protection too. Fat can insulate us from other peoples expectations, men, our own ambitions, you name it. Take a breather and think about how you really want your ideal life to be, and how you want to feel in that ideal life (out of breath or energetic). Losing weight is so much more than just losing weight.

God bless

[Wheetsin 714]

If I were you I'd find a good therapist. You're dealing with a major life change - more than one of them - and getting help finding ways to cope with that change will do wonders for you. Perhaps prescriptions are the answer, but perhaps they're not.

As for the weightloss - this to shall pass. I've been plateaued for about 3 months now. On past diet efforts I've plateaued for more than 6 months. Eventually it ends, but it's hard to stay motivated to lose weight when you're doing everything right and not losing any.

When were you banded? Sounds like you might still be in a mourning phase.

[babsintx3 0]

Hi,

I dont want to sound ungrateful that I am banded, but I understand where you are coming from. I will be banded 4 years in June 07 and sometimes I feel like I am no better off than I was before banding at least where I am mentally regarding food obsession. Everything I eat is associated with calories, Protein, taste, fat, unsaturated fats. I can never just eat something without worrying about consequences. I did go to therapy, but for a while, I really thrived on the obsession because it kept me in check and helped me to get to goal initially. The minute I stopped weighing myself daily and stopped tracking my intake is when I started to gain and had pouch dilation from pouch packing. So I am not back to the basics again. Phewwww, it is tiring, but I think that we are lucky we have bands to help us with satiety though. This would be a lot harder if I did not have my band. When I feel this way, I try to think of all the folks that dont have a band to aid them in maintaining and losing weight.

NOT answers, I know, but I wanted to commiserate!!! LOL

Babs in TX

334/190 ish

[JDru 0]

I agree with Wheetsin, you should think about finding a good therapist. I started therapy in December and it has helped me tremendously. I have been on anti-depressants before in the past and they did help, but therapy has helped me cope with life. I've been exploring my triggers for emotional eating and binging and why I want to eat until I feel nothing. It's very hard, but very worth it. Just something to think about...I hope you feel better!

[Kynekke 0]

My insurance doesn't cover therapy. My regular Dr. put me on Imeprimine (sp?) and banned me from counting carbs or weighing for a week hehe. So today I'm going to do nothing weight wise. For 7 days I'm going to eat when I'm hungry... I'm going to enjoy a baked potato with cheese and sour cream.. I may even have a few M&Ms!

[JDru 0]

Kynekke I hope that the medication and a break from your "diet" helps. I've found that I do better if I don't deprive myslef things like chocolate, cheese and butter. But I have to be careful not to over do it...I still do sometimes. It's a learning process...

[Betsyjane 2]

It's a funny thing.... I've only lost 20 pounds, but I think I may find I was a Bored Housewife. In anticipation of better energy, etc., I want to go and do, and I don't like to be at home! It is probably also that now that I'm not spending my days eating, I just need to get a life! Not enough to do...big open times to be filled! I used to think of all the things I want to do in life. Now I have all that time that I used to be out of energy and only able to waltch TV or eat more! I imagine hubby will begin to get nercous about the change soon. He comes home from working long hours and wants to veg out and recouperate. He may be doing that by himself sometimes now. Funny how things evolve.....

[Kynekke 0]

I'm eating and eating and eating and guess what! I started losing again... soooo confusing but I'm excited!!!

[Marimaru 7]

Your body was probably just too used to what you were doing. It's wierd, but it happens. Congrats on getting passed your plateau!