starting over AGAIN!! and needs HELP

Okay I have been at this now since January of 2009......  I had lost 20lbs PRE-OP  thats it...  i am still down 1 lb..  I am so disgusted with myself.  My Dr. won't tighten me because he thinks Im not trying hard enough.. I'm not....  I guess I thought that the band would do most of the work for me.  I ALWAYS feel hungry and I want to eat more. My stomach GROWLS constantly How do you stop that.  I drink water but it still growls.  When I feel satified  I have eating too much and then I feel like crap.  The only time I throw up is if I eat too fast, but once I get rid of it...  bring it on..  I can eat 3 slices of Pizza...  WHY???  I thought we wouldnt be able to?????  

I need some encouragement from my fellow Bander PLEASE!!  I can't even go back to my nutrionist.. she will YELL and I am not in the mood for that!  lol


HELP ANYONE PLEASE  :) 

I don't have any good advice, only that you are not alone.  I am having the same issue.  I drink so much water and follow the 1/2 hour before and after rule.  There is nothing else I can say because you are describing my situation to a tee.  I was feeling very ashamed of myself because I thought I was the only one.

:(  well hopefully there will be someone out there who will have some advise..  But it is good to know that we aren't ALONE      :)

The band is a tool. It's also the tool that STILL requires YOU to do MOST of the work. You can have all the lumber, hammers, and nails in the world sitting at your feet but that house won't get built til someone actually picks up the tools and starts using them the way they are designed to be used. Same as your band.

Start by low carbing it. Just beause you can eat 3 slices of pizza doesn't mean you should be. If amount of food is not an issue, you need to be filling up on healthy low fat food.  Time to start eating low fat/high protein. Also, protein shakes are a great snack. I know you aren't supposed to be drinking your meals, but protein shakes are a heck of lot better then carbs.  Also, you need to exercise. Try walking. Working out. Treadmill. Gym. Whatever floats your boad and gets you sweating do it. Hell, have sex a few times a day everyday. SOMETHING is better then nothing.  

Chart your progress daily. Keep a HONEST food journal. Track it on any of the online sites. Most of them will give your protein/calorie/fat/carb counts too.

After 30 days, print a copy of it and take it to your surgeon and weigh in. Ask once again for a fill. If he still won't tighten you, then you need to accept that fact you are stuck with a tool that will not work and either learn to live with it or consider a revision.

Best of luck to you. 

Tammy

p.s. I am a band to DS revision. So I feel your pain.

You said you are not trying " hard enough" so I would go back to basics and start over. Sounds like some emotional eating also. See if your doctor or NUT has a support group that you could attend. You may want to post on the lap band forum for more assistance.

I have to agree with Babyblue. it is only a toll not a magic pill.go back to basices high protein low carb hit the shakes. I am 3 weeks and I am down almost 25 pounds.

I know it seems counterintuitive, but having the band tight is really dangerous. You're much better off using it as a restrictive tool in a very moderate way. I hate to say it, but the band allows you to "diet" and that's about it. It's all on you. I know, the manufacturers make it seem like it's a magical product... but that's pretty much a lie.

Are you sure your stomach is actually growling from hunger? When I had my band, my stomach made sounds ALL the time.

I guess it all boils down to being mindful of what you're eating... something I've always sucked at! 

Good luck. I hope you can make it work for you. I think asking for support is probably a really good first step, anyway!

Your doctor is an ass. You don't 'earn' fills. If you could do this without restriction you would have. NEVER forget, your doctor works for you, not the other way around.

I totally disagree with the low fat/low carb advice. Fat gives you a full feeling and it lasts longer with fat in your diet. You need fat to burn fat, it's just the way it is. Eat a full fat (notice I did not write HIGH fat) diet and verrrrry low carbs. If it has flour or sugar in it, don't eat it.

I agree that fats do help you feel full longer and i personally eat a HIGH fat diet due to malabsorbtion of fat but the OP did not specify her cholesterol levels and without knowing that specifically I won't tell anyone to eat full fat. Inspite of MY needs for fat, I don't allow my family to eat like that.  Obviously you should consume healthier fats (olive oil, avoacado, olives, etc) but unless you have a fat malabsorbtion component, eating full  fats should be limited while dieting and trying to lose weight. 

 
I disagree.  New studies are showing that (good) fats are not causing cholesterol problems and we don't get fat from dietary fat, we usually get fat from white carbs.

I eat a full fat diet, I am in maintenance, I did it when I was losing, and my cholesterol is fine.

Keep in mind, cows eat a full veggie diet and very low fat and they have very high cholesterol. ;o)