I have only lost 12 lbs in 7 months

I am becoming more and more discouraged.   It has been 7 months since my surgery, I had the Adjustable Lap Band Surgery.  I have only lost 12 lbs since my surgery in Oct 2009.
When I first started the process (looking into Dr.s) Dec 2008 I weighed 247 lbs. (my highest ever even after having kids)
I lost 3 lbs by the time I started the actual 9 month nutrition classes for Insurance purposes.   I lost 10lbs during the summer of 2009 - due to modifying eating habits.   By the time I had surgery I weighed 233 lbs.     It is now June 2010 and I have only lost 12 lbs.   I have been fluctuating between 12-15 lbs of weight loss over the last month.   For some reason I am gaining and loosing.
I can't really eat very much, food gets stuck, I try to choose my food wisely, but if I get too hungry I don't chew and throw up.   I seem to throw up a lot, but I don't keep my weight off.    I am dissapointed when I read about other Lap Banders who had surgery in my group and they have already lost 40 lbs to 60 lbs.   I feel like I have failed.   I will keep trying though, the good thing is that I had Type II diabetes and now it is almost gone.   I don't have to take my meds anymore (or very often) and I do feel better and have more energy than before.    I just need some encouragement  - anyone else out there experience the same very slowwww... weight loss?
I will try to exercise more and see if I can boost my metabolism.  I have been to my doctor and things still look okay with the band and I have restriction.    I have also been tested for hypothyroid which I had prior to surgery, but this year I flipped the opposite direction to hyperthyroid.   My body just won't give up the weight.

Success stories used to drive me crazy too - BUT you are your own person - you've got to be focused on YOUR success story!

What if you started your program from scratch - set a day when you're 110% ready to comit and "re-boot" your band.  Liquids, Mooshies, Semi-solids, Solids...  Slow down and chew-chew-chew then chew a little more!!!  I'm sure you've read/heard it all before, take smaller bites, perhaps eat a little more often so you're not so desparately hungry when it is time for a meal

I believe I failed my lap-band.  I had it for 8 months, I felt like I was working my butt off for very minimal results, I got better results doing weigh****chers!!!   I lost 40+ lbs and made horrible choices along the way - anything I could sneak past my band the only person I was fooling was myself. If only I knew then what I know now.  I had it removed and am pre-op for revision - I can't get another band becuase of my anatomy change after band removal so I have to go a different route.  You've gotta get on track - you do NOT want to suffer a slipped band (from throwing up so much)  I'll spare you the details (unless you want them) but it was a horrific experience!!

Best of luck to you - you know your band can work, you just have to work your band!  

It sounds like you may be too tight or are taking too big a bite or not chewing enough. You shouldn't be throwing up that often. Do you go to liquids for 24 hrs. when you throw up? That's a must to let things settle down. Then for a week or 2 try really taking tiny bites the size of a green pea, then chew until liquidy before swallowing, be sure to wait a few seconds between bites to make sure they went down Ok and don't pile up on top of each other. If this doesn't work then seee your doc about a tiny unfill.When we are too tight we tend to eat whatever will go down and they aren't always the best foods for us. Have you visited the band board for info? Sometimes just a small change will make a big difference.