Back and looking for encouragement

Hi Everyone!

I'm almost 5 years post-op with the LapBand. I have had, generally speaking, a great experince with the Band. Post-op I lost over 90 pounds and kept it off for over a year. Then I got pregnant with my son and had the saline removed from my Band. I gained a bunch of weight while pregnant but lost most of it again after my son was born and the saline was put back in.

My trouble is that I'm still 15-20 pounds (depending on the day!) over where I was and want to be.

I've spent two years struggling to get back into the mind set of working the Band. I know it only works for me when I control what goes into my mouth. If I make healthy choices the Band keeps the amount that I eat small. But, when I eat junk and sweets they just slide right through and the Band can't do what it's designed to do.

I know I'm stuck due to my own bad choices.

I exercise regularly, and even do triathlons. From a health standpoint, I'm in great shape, it's just that I'm having such a hard time sticking to the right food plan.

I'm going to an OA meeting tomorrow. It saved my life 10 years ago so I'm hoping it can help me again now.

I also know I need this board and I need to check in.

I'm hoping I can get some connections going here with people again so that I have a reason to feel accountable here again.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Best,
Elizabeth

Ooh, another triathlete! What races are you training for?

The NJ State Triathlon in July. I'm doing the Olympic Distance for the first time which has me a little freaked out (I have done sprints up until this point). I 'm only doing two races this summer due to travel and the fact that I'm doing an Oly for the first time. And I should be training harder!

Oh, you'll be fine! I did my first Olympic when I hadn't even run more than 5 miles. (I had signed up for it somewhat on a whim in order to support a friend.)

Do you know Tom "TCASOLA" He is from the NJ area and tries to get individuals together once a month in New Jersey. I actually met him in Minnesota at one of our Saturday coffees. He has been a very successful lap-band loser. He would be an excellent person to be on your support team. If you send me a request I could forward it to him.

Paul

Well, you know the problem, you know the solution, and are taking steps to help yourself implement the solution... so you are already well on your way to losing those 15-20 pounds!  I struggle every single week with keeping certain items out of my diet ... mostly sweets... (I don't dump... well, I *do* but it takes a lot to make it happen), but I am determined that I will NOT be one of the ones who gains a significant amount of weight back.

Let us know if you need a kick in the butt or some encouragement... we can provide both! 

Lora