Had Lap Band in 10/07, lost 90 pounds but gained60 back, need help

I am trying to restart again and find my way with the lap band. I had a baby on 9/21/11 and while I was pregnant I had my band empited. Yesterday I went in for a fill and got as much as I could. I went to the support group last night trying to refamilmize myself with what I should be doing. After the fill I only had water and a Lean 1 Smoothie Kind Protien shake. Today I am planning oatmeal for Breakfast, Tuna ( no bread or Crackers) for Lunch and a lean cusine for dinner. that's about as far as I have planned. Any advice would help! Newbies, please remind me of the basics because I know they are fresh on your mind. Those who have had success, please tell me how. What do you eat? Foods? Amounts? How do you turn your brain off when it wants cookies and pizza? I know I was not successful before because I did not really change my eating habits. I remember going for a fill in 2008 and getting pizza for dinner! I know now that you can't keep doing that and be sucessful for a long time. For myself and my son, I need to be successful for a long time! I want he to grow up with healthly habits so he doesn't have the probelms I do.

Thanks for any help you can provide!!

Christian's mom

 Shyfly:

I want to give you a detailed response but I am heading out the door to the gym. I've been dedicating the new  year to trying to get my OWN butt back on track. So, you're not the only one who has lost focus.

I do want to say one thing before I go: be very careful with that "as much as I could" fill. The last thing you want to do is get so filled that you can't eat or drink and find yourself having to get unfilled again. Keep a CLOSE eye on how you and your band are getting along and at the first sign of any trouble, get a little fill removed.

When I get back in a couple of hours, I will try to compose a longer response to you. But in the meantime, you've taken a huge step in the right direction! 

With a fill just yesterday, you may want to do a more liquid diet for today. Turning the brain off and re routing it to band mode is the HARDEST part of the journey. I am almost 4 yrs post op and I still have to re think my choices daily! You are on the right path, maybe journal your food to keep you on track. You can do this! :) 

 You need to get aggressive and start a plan and you can still to it! You lost weight before and you CAN do it again. You need to throw out all the junk from your house and replace them with healthy foods, pizza will not get you back down to where you want to be.

You need to concentrate on water, lean proteins, like chicken and fish and protein drinks, I like Unjury, and yogurt, and green veggies, those things will get you back down with your band and exercise, I usually take long walks or do zumba.

Good luck

Okay, I'm back from the gym and properly caffeinated, so let's begin . . .

You've taken the most important step (not to go all AA on you) by admitting you're having problems, wanting to address it, and asking for help. First, you need to give yourself some kindness by remembering that you JUST had a baby. Between gaining "baby weight" and now most likely not having the time to focus on yourself, you've lost track. Coming back on and asking for help is a good starting point.

Before I forget, what post-fill diet does your doc recommend? Mine, and  a lot of others, suggest 2 or more days of full liquids post-fill to give your tighter band some time to recuperate. So, be careful of what you're eating for the next couple of days.

Eating is going to be much harder for you now that you have a little one to focus on. I DON'T have kids and it's hard for me to remember what I need to do (or NOT do) when it comes to food. Your best bet might be to take 5 or 10 minutes when you can grab them and plan out what you will be eating for the upcoming 1 or 2 days, so you don't have to figure it out when mealtime comes and end up grabbing something that you shouldn't eat.

If you can get someone to watch the youngun' get yourself to the gym or, at the very least, bundle him up, plop him in the stroller and take both of you for a lengthy walk. Exercise will get you out of the house and away from temptation and, of course, provide you with the obvious physical benefits.

And if you can manage it, try getting yourself to a support group, if your doc makes them available. I've found that when I STOPPED going to groups, I lost my focus and drifted away from all the things that were making me a band success. At the very least, try to get to an Overeaters Anonymous meeting, or something that will give you an outlet to discuss your emotions. It can't be easy to have to do all the day-to-day baby things AND focus on your weight loss.

I hope this gives you SOME ideas on what may help. Just remember that every day can be a new beginning, and that you are not alone. 

 Thanks for all the responses! I am going to track what I eat and myfitnesspal. Today I have just had one cup of patmeal. My doctor says you only have to do liquids the day of the fill but I will stick to soft foods for the next few days. I am going to the store for some slim fast shakes, kashi cereal, produce and smart ones meals. I have plenty of tuna and water at home. That's my plan for the next couple weeks!

I will also be focusing on not drinking before , during or after meals and taking my vitamins!

Thanks for the  Overeaters Anonymous suggestion. I think I will go. That is really me problem!

Thanks to you all again and I wish you much continued sucess!

www.therecoverygroup.org has on-line OA meetings, and links to email loops

Good luck!

Remember you do have to eat, but it's the choice that's important.  Protein being number 1, I'll do chicken, fish, ham or turkey.  If you want pizza, make your own...I've found these wonderful little flat round breads that I make a little pizza on only one open half.  It's just 50 calories...I then add a few ounces of protein to each piece, a little onion, spices and fat free cheese...then broil till melted.  Awesome!

I also got into roasting vegetables and using them for soup.  Lots of protein, especially chicken added to fat-free broth and a variety of veggies...YUM!  I do yogurt, Unjury shakes...oh and I found these chips by Special K that are 27 little chips for 100 calories...great with a small sandwich.

I do admit...I do cheat once and a while when I feel I've earned it....but I found that a reward of a new shirt or pants is much more excitng than a piece of cake!

Good Luck!
Lisa Powers

LAP Banded 12/1/11
down 34 pounds

shyfly, newbie here
focus on protein, protein & protein. Atleast 2 days on liquids and start on mushies for atleast a day then introduce food little by little . Remember to chew, chew  and drink, drink & drink. atleast 50 oz a day of liquids-stay away from sugary drinks. Remember to get atleast 3 days of exercise in a week.  try and stay away from pizza and junk - but also do have a cheat day but be sure to exercise to make up for the extra calories, i try no to deprive myself from anything because i know i would feel bad after so the key is to have it once in a while and enjoy it!!! Plan your meals ahead of time and if you are like me grab some sugar free candie and some protein bars they come in handy in between meals if you feel hungry.
Remember to drink water 30 mins before meal and 1-1 1/2 hour after a meal

Meal plan when im at work 
8-9am 10 oz water
9:30 am 1 boiled egg
10:30am to 12:30pm- water
1: 6 oz fat free yogurt or sugar free jello/pudding 4oz
2-3pm skinny water
3:30pm  4 oz oatmeal with raisins- instant bout 200 calories
4:30-7pm water
7:30pm lean protein-usually have chicken breast with some veggies bout 8-10oz all 
then water water water till 12

 

So, I have some 'food' tips and some 'non-food' tips

Food --- I plan to have protein as the center of each meal
B -- greek yogurt (Chobani is my favorite)
snack -- small piece of fruit or a piece of string cheese

L -- tuna, or chicken or ham or egg salad --- usually with a few whole-grain crackers broken into tiny bits (I scoop the salad up wiht 1/4 of a low-fat wheat thin to eat it)
produce -- sliced cucumbers, grape tomatoes, baby carrots -- whatever the band will tolerate

S -- low fat pudding, or 1/2 a protein bar or a piece of string cheese

D -- protein/produce/grain (I like 1/2 a small baked sweet potato and some meat)

S -- low fat pudding or 1/2 a protein bar or a piece of string cheese

for the NON-food stuff
I made a list of '25 things to do besides eat' -- and plastered it around my pantry, fridge, office.
If it is not meal time -- I don't eat until I do at least one thing on that list ---- period.  That is the rule.

I also cleaned out my cupboards/pantry/fridge and I got rid of the sweets that I don't eat anymore.
It took about 3 days of going cold turkey from the sweets to stop craving them, but I got to a place where they are simply not an optiion for me anymore.

I do eat pudding and yogurt that is sweet -- and protein bars --- but have not had a cookie/candy/cake/ice cream/donut, etc since March of 2009.