NancyD

I had a lap band procedure about 10 years ago. It slipped and it had to be removed. Lost only 50 lbs and threw up everything. Didn't work for me at all. I had a bypass done 6 weeks ago. No real problems. My surgeon won't even do the lap band any more and I totally concur. Too many problems and not enough weight lost with that procedure. No real issues with the bypass. I hope you consider a different surgery. Read about the lap band failures on line and you will see a lot of issues that were not known back when I had mine inserted.

What is normal? You are an individual. Think how great it is not to be lugging around those 55 lbs. and CELEBRATE!

Just like there are good doctors out there.... there are good psychologists out there. It sounds like you got one that falls short of being supportive to your efforts to change and progress. You gave up smoking which is a BIG ONE and it shows you can do something once you set your mind to it. I have had the bypass as well and part of the learning process is to visually know what portion size is right and stop there instead of continuing to eat. I have found that if I don't do this, I end up eating too much and it doesn't hit me that I have overeaten until I am very uncomfortable. By any chance do you have a bicycle. You can go quite a ways with one and get out of the house, plus you get exercise doing so. I like to go to stores and look at clothes, actually look for deals. If you lock the bike, you will have a ride home. LOL.
From an emotional standpoint, you must not let the behavior of others dictate how you feel about yourself. This is probably the hardest thing to overcome, both as an overweight person and as we lose the weight. It is about respecting yourself, standing up for yourself, and when a psychologist (or anyone else for that matter) disrespects you or treats you poorly, tell them how it made you feel. If they don't acknowledge their shortfall, walk away. They have a problem. Promise me.....you will get back on track and begin to value YOU. It is the key to living.