2 and 3+ yrs out. Need to hear from you.

Did you get your unfill?

Got 1/4cc fill. Doing better than I was. I just have to stop eating the crap and slow down on the foods that I should eat and am having issues with.

Just get all the bad foods out of your house.  Out of sight, out of mind.  If you have to get in the car to go buy bad food you really think long and hard about it.  

I'm anti band and don't care who knows it. It has done nothing for me and I never should have had this type of surgery. After months of screwing around with fills and un fills all on my dime to the tume of $225 for each one I had mine emptied and guess what I haven't gained hardly anything so obviously my issue wasn't over eating, I gained because I can't move around due to lung issues. I think you will do better with a small unfill because if you can't eat solid protein you won't feel full and so you will continue to eat. I was too tight for awhile and actually gained because all I could eat was pureed soup and of course plenty of it since it went right thru. I lost it once I got a bit of fill out and could eat real food. That's the one thing I so love about being empty is that I can eat real food but there is still enough restriction to keep me from eating buckets full. I can guarentee you the longer you keep it too tight the more problems you will have in the future.

Thank you EVERYONE *****sponded with EVERY story and suggestion. You have all been a great help.

While I'm not pro band I want YOU to find success in your journey.  So whatever you do STOP shying away from asking questions (and be ready for some negative answers) and SEEK help from whatever source you deem necessary.  We are ALL in this together.

Much success.

Ms Shell

Ms Shell,

My humble opinion, your first post was great and very spot on.

I am a "successful" bandster, having lost 75% of my excess weight in 1 year and maintaining that loss for my 2nd year... however, I could easily regain every bit of weight I lost if I didn't choose the right foods and keep my portion sizes small. At this point it has very little to do with what I "can" eat, it's all about what I choose to eat.  I was too tight for a couple of months and sure, I kept my weight steady, but I did it by eating way too little all day and gorging on slider foods at night and over-exercising.  That is not the way the band is supposed to work and long term it will not work if you use it like that. So I for one, appreciate your input and don't see why anyone should blast you for your advice even though you're not banded.

 I've had my band almost 4years now.  I'm maintaining 100% excess weight loss, BMI 18.2,  and have had relatively few problems with the band its self.  I did a rough 2 year battle with transfer adiction and I still struggle with an eating disorder.  I was also diagnosed with BiPolar Disorder and have been struggling with depression.  I have had a ton of trouble with recognizing the weight loss.  I still look in the mirror and see fat :(  Some days are better than others.  Funny how when I was heavy I always thought everything would be perfect if I was just skinny, lol!!  

Kari

Update
Ok, I decided to STOP slider foods. For the past 4 days, I have been able to eat 2 eggs with some cheese for breakfast. I have had a large baked potato with broccoli and cheese for lunch or 2 turkey hot dogs. I have had a hamburger with some bbq sauce. I made chili for dinner with ground beef and salsa with cheese and beans. Had 2 cups of that one night. NOT all the same day, just a sample of lunches. Dinner last night I was able to eat 3 slices of pork roast, 2 red potatoes and about a cup of broccoli. Out of the 4 days, my one major screw up was pop tarts. This may sound bad but it's better than what I have been the past 6 months. I had been devouring pasta, cereal, ice cream, cake, chips cookies and all that. Seeing the surgeon on the 16th.

I am glad you are going to see your surgeon.  I was wondering if you are eating your protein first?  My band is completely unfilled and I don't think I could eat the amounts that you listed (except chili might be a slider food, the baked potato too) but the hamburger and pork roast surprised me. Everyone is different though.

Looking at the volume of foods you listed I'm not sure if an unfill will help. If you are able to get those proteins down without getting stuck then you probably are not too tight.

Maybe try to be very conscious of eating your protein first, and then following with veggies/other stuff only if there is still room in there?  For me the solid protein is like a plug, goes in sits there the longest and doesn't allow for me to put much else in there.

Hopefully your surgeon has some thoughts/suggestions for you. Good luck!