Need encouragement and accountability! Pleeease :) (surgery in 2007)

Hello, 

Thank you for taking the time to read my post :) As the subject states, I had lapband surgery in 2007, the first year I lost 100lbs, since then (within the last year) have gain 50 back :(. A lot having to do with emotional eating and using food to try and help my depression subside. This has to change and I am taking the steps as far as my mental health in trying to work on my emotional eating issue but now its time to get back on track. The first year or so I would login to this forum daily and helped keep me motivated and focused on my goal, it helped me tremendously, I am not sure what was going on back then that made me stop. (2007 seems forever ago and my memory is horrible) 

Anywhoo, im back asking for support and encouragement again hopefully I can provide the same for some of you here

Well, I will try to do what I can!

You're doing the right thing by being upfront and admitting you're struggling, rather than hiding in the shadows and suffering along. We've all struggled; some more than others. I am assuming that your band is working fine but your head is just not in the game anymore. Oh, I've been there! But every day gives us the opportunity to start again, and use our band buddies to help us get back on track. 

I noticed that I started losing focus when I reached my goal and was in maintenance mode. That "gold star" i had been getting every day by watching the numbers drop and having people commend me on my weight loss was gone. That element of fun, of "woo-hoo!" wasn't there anymore. About that same time, I developed a big hiatal hernia, was vomiting all the time because of it and - get this - GAINING weight while not keeping any food down. My surgeon went in and fixed the hernia and, while he was there, replaced my 2003-era band with the "new and improved one." I have to say that while it was great having the HH fixed, life with the new band is not a good as it was with the old one. Don't get me wrong - I'm still glad that I have it. But finding the "sweet spot" has been a lot harder than with the first one. 

Add to that the stress of losing my 16-year job and being out of full-time work for 4 years, and you're got a recipe for disaster. But like I said, we've got the ability to have a do-over and get our minds reset.

Go back to your early post-op behaviors and use the ones that kept you focused back then. If you can, keep a food journal to see what you're eating, how much and how often. (I confess that *I* cannot keep a food journal going for more than one day.) Put exercise back in your routine. It'll keep out out of the house and away from food and, come on - it's good for you.

"Friend" the people on here whose personalities and posts make you feel GOOD, not depressed. There are a large number of people who have been having problems with their bands, and some days, the forum is nothing but sad news. Try to read the positive things.

Most of all, be kind to yourself. 

Thank you so much for the tips and encouraging words, im sorry you went through such a tough period. I truly believe that such challenges really test our strength and even though we falter sometimes, with the right mindset we are able to recooparate! 

I have started a food journal and journaling in general its been good so far but agree that sitting down and writing down what you eat even on :bad: days can be hard hehe. 

I did notice many having band issues which is unfortunate. Thankfully I have not had issues, its more of a psychological thing and going back to not :cheating: the band. Its such a great tool if you use it :)

Thanks again for taking time to reply :) 

I'm in the same boat some what. I had my surgery in 2008. I lost 100 pounds very slowly and I was completely ok with that but it just stopped. I watched as friends who had the surgery lost massive amounts of weight very quickly AND ate all the wrong things (candy bars, tons of pancakes, drinking soda, you name it). Then I've slowly gained 15 pounds. To top it off I struggle more now with the restriction feling tighter and things getting stuck, foods I didn't have problems with in the past. I take small bites, chew, chew, chew but stuck, stuck, stuck. It's more work than its worth so I know I'm not getting all the nutrients I need. Even my tiny Thyroid pill is a challenge. I applaud you for coming where you can get the help/support you need. Hang in there and stay focused! Maybe we can help each other.

Thanks for the reply! Im sorry you are having such a hard time with restriction, have you called up the doc to see whats going on in there? I completely understand what you mean by seeing other WLP that have other procedures lose a lot quicker with what seems to be less work. Thats one thing I learned pretty early on is that lapband surgery does require a good amount of effort seeing as its not too hard to :cheat the band". 

We can get back on track! im determined and if theres anything I can do since ive been in a similar boat let me know :D 

*hugs* thanks again