Has any lap banders stretched their pouch (stomach)?

    I go see Dr. Eldridge on Wednesday, Oct 01.   I might have stretched my pouch, not sure yet.  How can you tell if you did?   What can be done to fix it?  The only reason why I think I did is because I gained some weight about 6 lbs.  My surgery was in April 08.  I lost 10 lbs before surgery.  Lost 6 more pounds according to my first appointment with the doc.  I have had two fills so far.  I know that I'm to blame for eating too much.  No sense in dwelling on the past.   I do want to start over and eat only 1/2 cup of food.   I will see what the doctor recommends.  I do plan to start exercising walking, from what I hear from almost all of you is that exercise is one of the important things to do to see results.   Please respond.    Thanks.     

I dont know about the stretched pouch issue , but you are right , you cant beat yourself up.  If you add exercisr into the mix you will begin to see weight loss again , we all make mistakes and getting down on yourself will only make things worse .  I believe we should be eating about 1 cup at a time , which is hard sometimes even for me almost a year out.  Also make sure you are getting your protein , that will also help you lose.  Dont dwell just move on from this point.  You can do it!!!

Thanks Luanne,

I appreciate the encouragement.  I will keep you all posted on my journey.  Thanks for being there.

With the band it's two things (probably with the other restrictive surgeries too, but I don't know for sure some I'm not going to say).

1. WHAT you eat-solid protein will fill you up faster and stay with you longer.....

then

2.HOW MUCH.   

Now, I know, I know, at the end of the day it's calories in/calories out-but trust me, if I could stay full on 1000 calories of MM's a day I'd be a happy camper.....but I can't.

 

My criteria for every pound I lose is "sustainable"....in other words, I'm not going to do something I can't maintain to lose the pound.....so yes, I lose a bit slower, but when it's gone, it stays off.  Honestly, I started losing more weight when I quit "trying to lose weight" and just started aiming for a healthy lifestyle.  We ladies of a certain age were hardest hit by the whole body image thing because we got zapped with it before they even knew it existed-so yes, it takes a lot work to reset your mind.

The greatest gift I have received from the band is the ability to mess up a bit without staying messed up and having to reset my entire mind....a bump is just that-a bump and no more.  But, you have to fall down a few times to get in the practice to move on.  So, what has happened up to now has just been practice.

Blame is such an icky word.  I also hate accountability.....eeeeeeeeew and I used to be an accountant.  It's MY body, and MY body reflects the level of eating/exercise I am at right now-no more, no less.   it can get better, it can get much worse or stay the same....it's all up to me, but in any case it's not a moral failing, in spite of what your momma or your neighbor may tell you.  

 

My TV is dusty right now, and when I get tired of looking at the dust, I'll dust it (or rub the cat on it).  My butt is bigger than I want it to be, and when I get tired of THAT, I'll make it smaller.  Letting anyone but yourself control how you feel about your own personal body is such a scary thing.

So much of weight loss is about control issues.  Learning that there is no question about who controls my body has been a great thing.  I am not completely free of the tyranny of the scale, but I am soooooo much further along than I was and I wish the same thing for you too.

I hope you can come to our dinner (and dancing) because it's so important to be around other WLS patients.  I think that is something that we are all just starting to realize-and the sooner you get in with a group, the happier you will be.  But of course, the happiest people hang with us. 

 

I just want to thank for your advice and honesty.  It makes me feel good to know that there are  people out there that are concern about me.  You made me feel real good with your pep talk that is what I needed.  When is the dinner and where?  If I can't make that I would love to meet you and the other ladies at another time.  Thank you so much. 



PS:   I just love your picture of the Lion.  I tried to post a picture on my profile but it would not take on the avatar.


I really appreciate you!!!   

The dinner is October 10 at Charlestons on I240 and Penn.  6:00.

I love that little lion too-it was just one of those lucky shots at the Tiger Refuge near Ardmore.   It really wasn't a sad moment though-it was looking longingly at a chicken outside the fence-LOL.  Reminds me that things are seldom what they appear to be!

I'm not a dr and I don't play one on TV, but my best guess is that you haven't gotten good restriction yet, and you've been eating slider foods which the band will not limit at all or very well.  Hit the chicken and tuna and you'll start seeing results.  Beware liquid calories. and things that go "crunch".