11 months post op lost 100+ pounds!

captnchris · August 5, 2008

My wife and I both were banded in Sept. 07 and have lost over 100 pounds each! We are thrilled with the new us but my wife is having concerns. She now has trouble making herself eat. She gets hungry but just nibbles on small stuff thinking that she is still too heavy when she looks in the mirror. All of our friends who haven't seen us for a while don't even recognize us! She has tried to explain how she feels but I just don't know how to help her. Any suggestions? She is now just about 20 pounds heavier than she wants to be.

hopeful93 · August 5, 2008

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR WIFE ON THE WEIGHT LOSS!!!!! I ALSO HAVE BEEN BANDED IN SEPT O7. I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT I HAVENT EXPERIENCED THE SAME LUCK. I HAVE ONLY LOST 18 LBS. 7 OF THEM ARE FROM 5 DAYS POST OP.THE REST HAVE BEEN FROM OCT-DEC 2007. NOTHING SINCE. I HAVE A 4CC BAND AND AM FILLED TO 4CC PRESENTLY. STILL NO RESTRICTION . I AM AN X-RAY TECH AND HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF MY ABDOMEN OFTEN. IF I HAVE NOT SEEN THE PICTURES OR FELT THE PORT THEN I WOULD OF BELIEVED I DIDN'T HAVE SURGERY. I HAVE KEPT A food JOURNAL AS PER MY NUTRITIONALIST WHICH SHE SAIN THAT QUALITY OF FOOD WAS GOOD BUT THE QUANITY IS TOO MUCH . I SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EAT THAT MUCH AT ONE SITTING (I DON'T EAT AND DRINK).I ALSO HAD AN UGI ( upper gi/ fluoro) AND THE NURSE PRACTIONER SAW THE DVD AND SAID IT LOOK FINE, THE DOC WASN'T THERE HE GOT STUCK IN SURGERY. I HAVE AN APPT. TODAY AUG 5 SO WISH ME LUCK I HOPE TO GET ANSWERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

KD8888 · August 5, 2008

I was banded 9/07 as well. You didn't say what the small stuff she is nibbling on is. If it is healthy food including Protein and vegtables, I'm not sure there is a problem. My desire for food has changed. I don't want large portions like I used to. I'd rather nibble on something small as opposed to going to a restaurant and getting a meal that is way too much food for one person. I do make good choices for the most part though. Sometimes I nibble because I know I need to eat, but nothing sounds good.

Unless your wife seems obsessed with not eating or is eating junk, I don't think I'd be too concerned.

Congratulations on your weight loss.

captnchris · August 5, 2008

Congrats to you as well! She is nibbling on melba toast and a few peanuts but only eats one meal a day. I am concerned that she will have troubles like anorexia.

captnchris · August 5, 2008

Make sure that you take the second important step - exercise! We joined a health club immediately after surgery and that was the trick for us. The other important point for us was teamwork and support! Keep at it - you will make it!

kyakdreamer · August 5, 2008

When I read your post I had the same concern you expressed in your later post. I read somewhere on this website about a women who also got couseling during her weight loss. She said it helped tremendously and suggested others do the same. Has your wife or yourself thought of that? She needs to see her worth. She has accomplished a lot and hopefully she can see what she accomplished. You sound like a very loving husband and you are blessed to have each other. I was banded 7-25 and have lost 13 pounds. I appreciate your post because it is something for me to look for as I get further along.

Good luck.

linksmom · August 5, 2008

You may want to consider going to a nutrionist or dieatician. Either single or as a couple.She could give you or your wife pointers on how to eat and what is considered a nutrious meal. What fats are acceptable and needed to maintain a healthy body. Or a psychiatrist or someone to talk to to help your wife realize that that thin person in the mirror really is her. She has worked hard for it and the body image that she thinks she is, is not who she is now. I can also understand her reluctance to eat because of the fear of regaining the weight. I wish you good luck!:thumbup:

kirafiki · August 5, 2008

I agree with the last poster. I think maybe some therapy would help your wife. I had some group therapy years ago for people with food and body image issues, and I found that as a compulsive over-eater, I had EXACTLY the same issues as those in the room who were bullimic or anorexic. Society just doesn't accept that overweight people have the same medically/psychologically based illness as the bullimics and anorexics, since ours is a "self control" issue, not medical. (note, sarcasm) Find a therapist who deals with body image. I would bet it would do your wife a world of good. You are a great husband, I wish all husbands could be as supportive and proactive as you are.

HeatherO · August 5, 2008

It is great that you are there to support her. You should express your concerns to her, and perhaps remind her that too few calories can prevent weight loss as well. Keeping the calorie intake in an appropriate range and getting exercise might get her to her final goal faster than not really eating.

I can kind of understand her side as well. The majority of the time, I just don't really care to eat anymore. It has become easy not to eat, but then I feel bad after and get a headache if I skip a meal.

skinnyoneday · August 5, 2008

That's wonderful - Congratulations!

ETA: Okay I actually read through your whole post this time. I initially saw each lost 100 lbs and got overly excited. You give us all hope. However, it is troubling to here about your wife's eating habits. She is setting herself up for failure IMHO. She needs a well balanced diet or she will end up with unnecessary medical problems - not to mention malnourished. I agree with linksmom as well.

Edited August 5, 2008 by skinnyoneday

barbara9460 · August 5, 2008

Chris, I would say that it's time to see someone regarding your wife's feeling too big still. Sounds like a little counseling is in order. It's very possible to become anerexic. Don't let it get too much out of hand. And then again, it may be that your wife just isn't yet satisfied with how her new body looks. There's so much that we can't know about your situation. I would definitely see someone for an evaluation... maybe it's something very simple.

I wish you both the best of luck and say congratulations to both of you. One thing another poster said is that they didn't have the same luck... well, luck has nothing to do with it. This takes hard, very dedicated work.

Peace,

Barbara

Angelsma · August 12, 2008

First, congratulations on meeting your individual goals together! Secondly, it does sound like your wife is still having food issues but in the opposite to over eating - now under eating. Melba toast and peanuts don't sound healthy at all. Maybe you should contact your surgeon's office and speak to the nutrionist. It may be as simple as having your wife meet with the nutrionist for meal planning or it could be that she needs a complete check up. I just wouldn't act like there isn't something going on that needs a doctor's attention.

flowers · August 12, 2008

I HAVE A 4CC BAND AND AM FILLED TO 4CC PRESENTLY. STILL NO RESTRICTION . !!

I have read on another message board that you can be filled more than 4 CC with that band. That the tubing holds extra, so that they can actually fill you past the 4 cc mark. (someone else had no restriction at 4 CC). It seems to be a misconception that you can only put in 4CC.