Getting back on Track

[pamajama]

:Cry:I was banded 04-23-08 Start weight 335 now 265. The first year I lost 55 lbs. Then towards the end of 2008 I was laid off and lost no weight for the next 8 months (did not gain). I have finally since lost another 15 lbs. I have had so many distractions for the last year that I have not followed program and lost hope. I have not had any carbonated beverages but I was drinking with my meals and eating to much and the wrong things. I have a new job but I hate it and I am earning $15,000 less per year. I was also visting my doctor once per month but have had to stop because my boss has a fit if I take an extra hour out of the day once a month (even if I make it up). I have also been worrying about my husband getting laid off and things are very unstable at his job. I finally came to the conclusion that I can not control any of these things but I can control how I respond. I need to get back in touch with those who can support me (thus my thread). I am working on following program and have made a goal to post at least once a week for moral support. I also need to start getting more excercise. I plan to make a doctors appointment for April for my 2 year anniversary an hope to have another 20 lbs off by then. It is hard enough to have eating issues but you throw in some extra stress and it can really pull you down. I really need this surgery to have been a success and feel once I have lost 100 lbs I will have reached that goal. Anyone else out there struggling???

[want 2 be a loser]

I use to worry so much about everything but don't anymore. That is good that you have came to realize you cant control things and it doesnt do any good to worry! You know what you are doing wrong so you just need to get turned in the right direction and get focused and started again. (Easy for me to say :-) ) Time to put yourself first and focus on you. We all struggle everyday so you aren't alone in that! Just take one step at a time.

Lana

[Mloukas143]

I am struggling now, stress in my life right now is at a stand still but I deal with the stress of not eating the right foods, eating too much, and also not waiting long enough to drink before and after my meals. it is a hard battle, no one ever said it would be easy..but just wanted to let u know that u are not in this alone. =)

[gregken77]

You know if I let myself I will just stress over everything. Ive always been like this. I have a solution I think. Well it works for me. When I get off work everyday I will walk quietly to my truck and get in and start it up. Then at the top of my lungs I will scream just as loud and as long as I can. ha ha I also will go in the bathroom and make funny faces at myself sometimes. The wife caught me doing this one time and swears I have mental problems. I told her sometimes I just need a good laugh and I can always crack myself up doing that. Anyway sometimes you just got to step off the deep end for a few seconds and when you come back you can realize that life really could be alot worse than it is. It could always be worse I think.

[Tryingsohard]

I'm so glad you posted this thread. I am right there with you! I got banded Dec.2008, lost 75 pounds and have stalled! Stalled because I've eaten the wrong things, etc...not just a stall like your car stalls and you don't know why! I KNOW WHY! It freaks me out, because I DO NOT want to go back to being the old person...the out of control with eating person...SOOOO I have to find a way to get back on track. I'm reading a fantastic book right now that is putting my head in the right spot...title is: Facing your Giants by Max Lucado. AWESOME book! You may find it helpful too.
I have question, you said in your post that you havent gone to the doctor once a month...are you supposed to go once a month? I ask because after I hit my sweet spot (in October of 2009), I haven't gone back yet. I do have an appointment for April, but honestly didn't know I was supposed to go every month...my thinking was that I wouldn't have anything for the doctor to do since I'm at my sweet spot...?

[Mloukas143]

hey, if you are at your sweet spot then you should be losing weight...so if your weight loss has stalled, then yes it is time for a fill...after the first year my surgeon allows me to get my fills to my discretion..but i know how important my fills are so i will keep up with it as much as i need. maybe it is time for another fill!

[Tryingsohard]

Melissa, now I'm confused. I think I'm at my sweet spot because I get stuck...maybe that's not how you're supposed to judge whether or not your at your sweet spot. Hmmm now you've got me thinking! I get stuck because I don't chew enough...I was thinking that if I get more of a fill, I'll get stuck more often (no thanks)...but maybe I'm wrong. Probably a good thing that I'm going back to my doctor in April! Oh...another thing that goes through my head is that if I have a 10cc band, and I'm at 9cc's already...I guess in my head I thought that it's getting close to being full...agh, I don't know...help with the opinions people <smile>

[Mloukas143]

Tryingsohard; I was getting things stuck and I also had discomfort and pain with many foods that i ate when i was at 8.25cc's. I thought, if this is what i am supposed to feel than how come i am not losing weight? It was because i was still eating too much food, and not the right choices. So i went in for a fill 3 days ago and I am now at 9.25cc's in a 10cc band....and now i definitely have the restriction i have been looking for. I can't say how long it will last, but it is exactly what i needed, and i thought wow if i get another fill i am really going to be tight. the getting stuck part is only about how well you are chewing your food and what foods you choose to eat. So now i try to cut back on some of the carbs because it is harder for me to get down...and if i do feel discomfort i just walk away from the food and i stop eating, because now the pain is much more obvious if i want to even get that last bite in. Before this last fill i was able to squeeze in more food even after the pain. so i think there is a big difference from 8.25cc's to 9.25cc's and it was just what i needed...which is why i think you need a fill asap.

[Teeli]

OMG! The penny has just dropped! I have only had one fill so far..and I was waiting for the restrction.
Which didn't come.
OK..so..I figured, maybe I need more than one fill for that to happen. Now, after reading your post, I realise that funny pain I feel at food times, IS the restriction.

duh.

I just thought it was how I was eating, not chewing enough or whatever- but I could eat past it., DOUBLE DUH.

So, thanks for that post Mloukas! NOW I think I have a handle on it...:elephant:

[dolchanmom]

ha ha I also will go in the bathroom and make funny faces at myself sometimes. The wife caught me doing this one time and swears I have mental problems. I told her sometimes I just need a good laugh and I can always crack myself up doing that. Anyway sometimes you just got to step off the deep end for a few seconds and when you come back you can realize that life really could be alot worse than it is. It could always be worse I think.

Ha ha Greg. Im going to go to the bathroom and picture you making faces in the mirror. Im sure I will get a good laugh. You always crack me up.

Brandy

[PhotoNut]

Hey everyone. Great conversation going on about restriction. I thought I'd share a check list with you that has helped me get back on track so many times. I have had a couple of setbacks in my weight loss but it has always been because I was eating foods that could easily pass through the band... soft or crunchy foods that were very high in simple carbs (sugar and flour), fat, and salt. During times like that, it can be dangerous to think you simply need more fill to keep losing weight. Getting that band so tight that you can't eat a good portion of lean protein and fresh veggies will only cost you more time and can even lead to weight gain because you will rely on those high calorie foods when you're hungry. Also, since those types of food don't really provide any true nutrition you will think you are constantly hungry because your body will be nagging at you because it really is hungry.. but hungry for protein, good fats, and good carbs. You can see how that cycle can easily lead to trouble, right?

Anyway, click on the link below to see that list I was telling you about. Go through it objectively and answer the questions honestly. There are many aspects to achieving proper restriction, and this guide will help you examine all of them.

How to tell if you are perfectly filled (http://band2gether.net/showthread.php?t=34)