Hey, If i could diet......

[BgB9 9]

The band is just a tool. It can help control quantity, but if you don't put the right foods through, you won't lose weight. I'm at a low right now myself. I'm not eating what I should or the way I should. Part of that is that I need a little more restriction (appointment Friday) and part of it is that I'm just being a knucklehead and eating garbage. Being conscious of it is half way to solving the problem. It isn't easy. No one promised easy. But it can be done and there is a lot of support here.

[luchay 0]

Every one has encouraged me and it has really helped. I know it was radicle and a little obnoxious to put my post out there but I am glad I did. Havent had any sugar today and it is looking like I am gonna make it for today. One day at a time, make small changes, keep moving, dont beat myself up but begin again. Yea, I get it...thanks to you!

ps- I am feelin pretty good!!! second fill- May 9th....

[OverBeingFat 0]

Hello Luchay! I was totally in your boat. I was banded 12/16/08. Since I was self-pay (took money from my 401k since my insurance wouldn't cover it -- a rant for another thread), I wasn't required to do the pre-op diet, or go through the psych eval.

I did have to do the 1 hour diet consulting, but honestly, I just agreed with whatever they said, didn't really listen and just tossed all the papers into a drawer somewhere.

1 month post-op, I hadn't gained any, but I hadn't lost any either. I wasn't feeling any restriction and was pretty much eating whatever I wanted, including sweets. Feb. same deal, more fills, but no weight loss.

March's appointment rolled around. Hadn't really lost any weight. My doctor pulled me aside and told me how sad it was that I just blew 15K for nothing, because as long as I refused to change my eating habits, I was going to fail even with the band. That was a wake-up call.

He also informed me that there a two types of people. Those who can simply restrict their food intake and others, like me, who had to also restrict the carbs, because my body simply can't process the sugar.

He gave me a super tight fill and asked for a commitment for just two weeks, of strictly 30 carbs a day. I WON'T LIE, the first week was horrible. I seriously felt like I was withdrawing from drugs. I was sick, I felt terrible, no energy, I had the shakes, I could only equate it to what I'd seen on drug rehab shows. IT SUCKED!!!!

However, the second week was better. I started feeling normal again and was really determined to finish my two week goal. When I went back to the dr., I had dropped 6 pounds. He asked for another two week commitment. The next time I went back, I was down a total of 10 pounds. Two weeks after that, I'm down almost 20 total. The sugar craving is completely gone. Easter came and went, candy everywhere, and for the first time, I could have it in front of me and not need a bite.

However, I didn't start out like this. I too thought the band would not let me eat more than I should and help with hunger. It does now, but it took 5 fills (yeppers, 5 since my surgery, approx. every 3 weeks), but it also involves me really making an effort to eat the right things and most importanty, I HAVE TO STAY AWAY FROM THE SUGAR!

Another little trick. I'm not going to tell you you can't have a small piece of chocolate or a cookie. But if you let that be the very last thing you eat in the day, and limit it to ONE, you'll do much better. The earlier you start off in the day eating sugar, the more you are going to crave it during that day. However, I'm going to issue to you the same challenge my doctor issued to me. Just for two weeks, really try to stick to the 30 carbs. I promise once you get through the initial first few days, it's going to get much easier. Don't think of it as giving it up for ever, just try to get through that period. Email me anytime. Another thing that has really helped is I've started going to support groups and being more active on the boards. It really has made a difference.

Good Luck!!!! :wub: