MelAnne

Please also know that the RNY group support meetings are probably doing you more harm than good. This is like going to a motorcycle intrest group when your drive a sports car. Sure, they are both motor vehicle, and they both get us places, but they have little else in common. What works for the bike is useless for the car, and vise versa. No matter how hard you work that car, you will never get it to do a wheelie. THANKS VINESQUEEN!!!!! I needed that laugh more then anything. Then I had to go on and read another nasty gram and be told I need therapy b/c I expect results for hard work. I DO and WILL compare myself to others, others who get up off their duff and WORK this program. Watch what they eat, make good food choices and exercise. You know why? B/c reports and doctors tell you - you can loose an average of up to 2 pounds a week. If you exercise you will be on the top of they looser's percentages...... yada yada yada So you know what? I went at this full head in the game, full force with success in mind. And I am NOT successful. Readers/lurkers and people looking to have this surgery - need to know what to expect. GOOD and BAD Because I choose to post about the big fat elephant in the room, and some do not - that means I need therapy. Nice. If anything, perhaps my posts can help someone else see this is more then a journey you sit back and exerience. I also read more of TellyMelly's journal and discovered she does not eat anywhere near the amount of calories or substantial food I have been eating. She wears a suana suit when exercising. Those were interesting facts, and today I am looking for a suana suit!!! So I will compare, as I want the same type of results, I therefore will continue to post, and perhaps some successful loosers will be more forthcoming with their success secrets. You never know what little thing you are doing to be a success, will help launch someone else's progess along for them. I thought this was a support board. Support comes in many forms. When someone asks for information/advice - they don't always mean tell me I am nuts. I already know that for crying out loud. That's why I am fat. I have posted my diet, my work out routine and asked for suggestions to see the scale move a pound or two in a freaking week. So please no more telling people they need therapy. Why be so ugly and mean? I certainly hope it made you feel better about yourselves for a few mins. to make someone else feel horrible about themselves. Then we know some 'good' came of your posting it. I also noticed the same individuals continue to post the same information. "Your nuts, get therapy." Did yu ever think maybe I am attempting to reach out to successful loosers when I ask the same information? That perhaps they did not see my other posts as days/weeks had gone by? Some people are busy, and I certainly am one, that can not read all the threads, and all the posts. I search for information and the search takes me to endless threads I have to com b through in order ti find what I am in search of. You all know how this works, I need not to explain it to you. So again, to the same people who just think I am crazy. Yeah, what of it? I expect results for hard work. You should too.

There is no such thing as "average weight loss". It is a myth. It makes the medical reports look good. The purpose of the band is to limit your intake. To slow you down and make you relize you are over eating. That's it. Plain and simple. You want to loose weight? You gotta exercise, and make better food choices. Then you are not even garrenteed to loose weight at any steady rate. There is no super diet pill. No super diet surgery. No super diet plan. I lost 19 pounds the first two weeks post op. Since then I have fought tooth and nail, diet harder and exercise even harder. I lost 9 more pounds in two months. This is a battle. The band is not some secret weapon that will exterminate your enemy - fat. It's only a tool to help you with the battle against the bulge.

Donna, Have you read any of the posts from the consistant loosers? I read TellyMelly's and about sat here and cried myself sick. I am taking this head on, full force and full throttle. So yes, I expect a little more consistant weight loss and wonder what I am doing wrong. I pay my doctor and my nutrionist for their advice and get seriously conflicting information. I am now considering a trainer, but the cost is jaw dropping. I am not sure I can talk DH into dropping more money into my chase for success. I believe my expectations are realistic. Only because of the amount of successful loosers that post. 19 pounds the frst two weeks from surgery do not count. That was sheer starvation of and to my body. So since that first two weeks post op, I have lost 9 pounds in two months. I guess I am not getting the 'average' out of it. I see it as things that happen to your body that caused drastic weight loss. Steady dieting, steady exercise -- I expect weight loss. I have a bottle of diet pills I am considering - just to kick start a weight loss. But alas, know better. Yes, the support groups I attend are for RNY patients. I do not know ANYONE in my personal life that have had the LapBand surgery. -- and I have searched. Honestly. If i tell you I have done something - it is full throttle as that is who and what I am. If I do it, I do it 100+ percent. So I am crazy and need to find a shrink to tell me to be happy with the 'average' of 3 pounds a week in 9 weeks. Even though I know I did not loose an average, I starved myself for 19 of those pounds and fought tooth and nail for 9 more pounds - only to watch myself sit for weeks with no loss at all. I am not whineing, I am not looking for pity. I am looking for sound advice as to what I am doing wrong. When you see weeks on end where there is no loss, and possibly even a gain, I think you might understand the pain I am going through. Yes pain. This is upsetting and makes me feel like a failure at this diet too.

This happens to me - when I Jazzercised for two years, and when I started working out again after surgery in April. When I am on the eliptical, if I focus and shift my weight to my heels like you are supposed too, it doesn't happen. When I walk on the treadmill, it happens too. So - this is what I discovered and it sounds WEIRD - there is a little pad of toe fat on my baby toe and my toe next to my pinly toe. Those little pads tend to naturally fold under the toes to the inside of the foot next to them. I am thinking I am cutting my circulation off and this is what is causing my numbness/tingeling. I could be WAY off, but for it to be happening on both machines, treadmill and Eliptical - not to mention the days I have rode the bike in Spin class.... and I shift my feet as I have been told too. (the trainer and the Spin class instructor told me to move my feet, and shift weight to heels) On the eliptical you want your foot in the middle of the peddle, and I tend to move my forwards, and then work out on my toes. I could only do 5 mins on the eliptical - now I do an hour and think I am going to die the days I do not get to work out on it, as I am supposed to change up my workout to keep my body challeneged and not hit platues. I am working up to being able to run on the treadmill, and can not wait until I can run one day, eliptical another day and Spin class another day, and rotate.

Thank you for the feed back. How about advice? What makes your journey a success for you? What makes your loss happen? -Mel

Ok, I hear you all, loud and clear. Put away the scales, and I have a significant weight loss. But let's be realistic here. The major weight loss came immediately after surgery. I have lost and regained the same few pounds through out the month of May. June I dropped 4.5 pounds by changing things up per my nutrionist and trainer. Since then, nothing - not a budge. I have maintained. I think I am getting tired of this dieting and no results. The up and down and craziness. This is why I went after surgery to begin with. Because I was tired of the yo yo crazy dieting, and here I am doing it all over again. I am eating a strict diet, and then I read where someone else eats what they want, just smaller portions, and looses weight. Then I read where someone eats smaller portions, and doesn't exercise, then looses weight. All of our bodies are very different. Perhaps mine is tired of dieting and I have ruined it. I post here because: 1. For lurkers/non lurkers considering this surgery. 2. In case others are going thru the same issues. 3. For ideas or suggestions to help me kick myself back into loosing. (there are ways to kick off a loss, upping calories/exercise etc.. who knows what else!?) 4. If I knew all the answers, I wouldn't be a fat pig. Thank you for the advise and encouragement. I certainly hope and wish only the best for each and everyone. This is a challenge, and for some well worth the experience, as they are able to turn their lives around and into something so much more then what they wanted for themselves. For others, and myself being one of them; this is much harder. No matter how much you exercise or diet - your loss may or may not come. I have journalized every bite of food I have put into my mouth since surgery. I have exercised religiously - daily - since the first week out of surgery. Someone's body will respond to things so vastly differently then someone elses. Please bare that in mind when evaluating yourself for this surgery. I feel deeply for the woman who posted the 'ugly' email from someone looking into having this surgery. On the other hand, I completely understand why the lurker/newbie wanted to know how not to become a 'failure' We all want to succeed. Well, there is no sure fire answer. There is no sure fire solution/surgery!!! I am a failure on my own level. Why? Surely not because of a lack of trying. 28 pounds 9 weeks Monday morning. Hhmm... thats 3 pounds a week. Too bad that is NOT accurate. (bright side to this? in another couple months of this, I guess I can join the Slow Looser's Club right?) There were things that caused major drops, (right after surgery) and there is the month of May that I battled the same freaking 4 to 5 pounds the WHOLE month. The month of June, I have dropped 4-5 pounds, and otherwise, I am not up and down like May was. I have learned how to maintain. (again, the change in upping calories and changing my work out routine is responsible for the quick loss) So I apologize for being a little crazy, a little frustrated, a little hurt and a little dissappointed. I am human.

Why is this happening to me? Can someone please help me? I upped my calories, and re-arranged my workout routine. I dropped 4.5 pounds in a week. Another week has gone by and the scale has not moved an ounce. Not an ounce. Successful Bandsters, who loose steadily - please tell me what I am doing wrong. I eat 1100 to 1300 calories a day. 40% or more Protein. 40% Carbs. Less then 30% fat. My doctor is still telling me no calories - down your calories.... My nutritionist is telling me to eat more calories and more carbs. To avoid fat, and not to worry about sugar. (I am still avoiding sugar as I know it is a sneaky devil on the lapband) I did the crazy machine yesterday (Eliptic) and burned 500 calories. :heh: I am eating right, I think. I want to see a steady loss. What can I do? I am approaching the crazies again, as I woke this morning thinking about the diet pills and to just start taking them. I get 'stuck' when I eat something too fast. Otherwise I eat slowly and am fine. I was already being careful and therefore I stop eating when I feel full. The 'stuck' hurts. So I know I have a band, and I know it has restriction. I am tired of this whining, and really want to get on the progressive train and see some steady loss. Up to now I have done all of this myself, and feel good about that. Surely I have not hit a platue already?!?! Any suggestions or ideas on how to kick off a steady weight loss? On diet pills I saw a steady loss. Thank you for any ideas or suggestions of what you think I am doing wrong.

I was on the aggresive side requesting restriction. I got it. We did not sneak up to it. There are good and bad things that can be said about that. I am loosing because I am dieting and exercising. But I know my band is there to help me stay within my limits and on track. I have a 10cc band, and am not interested in playing the .5cc until we find some restriction... I have 3cc's now, and think that it can be too much sometimes. But I am working with it, and learning the lessons I need to learn. Hang in there. Getting the restriction is frustrating, and while I decided to take the fast track to it, I am still glad I did.

Barbara - your in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery!!! Welcome to the Loosing Side !!!

Is there an exercise forum? Maybe I am not looking hard enough? -Melanie

Since my fill (good fill) June 8th, I have gotten stuck twice now. The second time being RIGHT NOW! I am at work, snacking on my lunch, and sho'nuff, turkey lunch meat and I am not going to be friends. I tried turkey right when I got home from my fill, and figured it was stuck b/c I was dumb! This time I think I am dumb again as I don't think I chewed it really well. So, for the next hour or so, I will sit here and ride this out. I feel like I swollowed a blowfrog and it's stuck in my chest and keeps puffing it's self up with air. It passes, and I get this sense that it might be over soon, then nooooo - I feel pressure all over again. I want a nap now!

I work in IT, helpdesk - for an Engineering firm. LOVE IT !!!!! My other job is LOOSING WEIGHT - I am obsessed with it. I watch what I eat, and I exercise daily. I am trying to squeeze a little time in to tan, as my husband thinks I am as white as a sheet of paper. :)

Today I am taking a detour from my normal workout routine. (I am scared! my routine is WORKING!!!) I am meeting my mom at the gym and we are taking the Water Aerobic's class together. Gosh I hope it is a great workout. I love to leave knowing I worked my behind off!!! Tomorrow - I get to get back on that CRAZY machine!!!! :) The cross country ski thingy, the eliptic machine... it burns a CRAZY amount of calories!!!! 300 in 30 mins!!!!!

I doubled my Water, and started watching my Calories, Carbs and FAT! Man did it make the world of difference. I am also working out. I am now loosing at a stead pace. I refuse to think about a platue.

Thanks DOC I remember how stressed I was, and after reading the posters who are posting questions/doubts/fears... it certainly helped me to read about someone recently out who felt the same and made some progress. I know others are progressing much better/faster along then I am, but we all gained it at different rates, and I suppose it will come off at the rate my body wants to release it as well. Thanks again DOC!

Are you drinking your Protein? It will help sustain the hunger. Hang in there/ I honestly had VERY BAD thoughts about my band for a while after I had it and it gets better. I promise you it will be better. Drink your protein. If you need help finding some you can tolerate, let us know, we all have advise/suggestions on which ones to try.

I am in awe! I read some amazing posts 2nite, as I prepare to tuck myself in for a long Tuesday. I have to tell you guys Thank You All for sticking by me when I am crazed with frustration and annoyance. It has meant so very much to know I can come here and get the truth, the advice, the kind words of encouragement as well as the mental note that I am not alone in all these feelings!!! I am 8 weeks out today, and have lost 28 pounds. That is nothing to scoff at. It's something to be proud about !!!! I am 18 pounds away from being less then 200 pounds!!!!!!!! I can do this. As much as I want to put a time line on those 18 pounds, I am not doing it. No No No. Too many of my Banded Buddies have told me NOT to put a time line on this. It is a journey. Journey's take time. You learn along the way, and are rewarded in the end. OMGosh, I think this band and I just might have somethin goin on here!!!!!

OMGosh!!!! You have lost soooo much more then me!!! And you only had surgery one month earlier then I did! What are you doing? How are you making the band work for you? I work out and watch my Calories, Carbs, Fat and Sugar, and drink all my water. What are you doing?!

Could I be on to something?! Do I have the restriction I need to get me thru the next 20 pounds??? I have 3cc's and I FEEEEL it !!!!!!! I can do this, I know I can!!! I work out daily. I eat almost a 1000 calories and make sure it is HIGH protein, moderate carbs, LOW LOW LOW fat, and No sugar. 20 more pounds, and I am in ONEDERLAND !!!! I CAN NOT BELIEVE I JUST TYPED THAT!!!!!! I have not even allowed myself to THINK about that. I want to dream it, I want to beleive it and achieve it. But I am so scared. I am so worried I will fail and let myself down. By then end of July, could I be in Onederland?! Is it in the realm of my possibilities?! Abilities?

I have lost another pound!!!!! I think I MIGHT be on to somthing here!!!??? Iziksmom - I totally got what you were saying in your post. I still watch my calories, carbs and fat. I think I am going to need too in order to feel like I am being honest and giving a 100% of myself to this. I had a high Protein breakfast square and was able to eat it (slowly and chewing!!) with little to no discomfort. I had a piece of lightly fried catfish for lunch 3/4th done I was done!!!! PAIN BURPING PAIN BURPING I pushed it and had that one more bite - as I wanted to get in the protein and calories that I feel this pressure to get in everyday. I am going to be snacking all day long to get this done and done right! I worked out today, burned 350+ calories. I did not work out last night as I came home and crashed after I posted and man did I need it!!! My day starts at 4:15am and I don't crawl in bed until after 10:30 and thats on the early side!! So I was worn out and took the excuse from having seen the doctor and had a fill, as a great one and went to bed at 7pm. Could I be on to something?! Do I have the restriction I need to get me thru the next 20 pounds???

The fill went well. He has a hard time getting the needle in the port as he said my port was a little crooked. I came home, and I know I know I know.. don't flame me. I ate two slices of deli turkey lunch meat. I am feeling rather full, a little pain, and I generally do not fill good. Guess I went from no restriction to too much. He said I had just under 3cc's. There is a tightness in the top of my stomach and I just don't feel good. Now, the question is this: How do I get in all the calories with restriction to where I can eat without such discomfort? I am not "pb'ing" and was able to drink and take gulps of Water in the doctor's office just fine.

I had 1cc put in 3 weeks ago, and no restriction. I had a talk with my doctor two weeks ago, and he told me to come in last week for a fill. I decided to keep my appt. and go in today. I am exercising. (see additional thread as I have a question about it) I am dieting. Eating at least 1000 calories a day. 30% carbs, 40% Protein and LESS then 30% fat. (nutrionist wants my Calories UP my Carbs UP and my fat DOWN - so I shoot for that goal every day, which is a choar in it'self) I saw the doctor on May 18th. and today is June 8th - three weeks ago. May 18th - 227 June 8th - 220 I have worked my butt of. I work harder at this everyday then I do anything else. It is a focus and a driving factor of my life. I do not have a problem working this. I have a problem with how freaking consuming it is. AND - I have done this before. This is the pattern of Yo Yo dieting. I am NOT interested in fighting for this like this for much longer. I see burn out and most definetly when I hit a platue. Keeping in mind I do not have restriction - and worry that when I get decent restriction, I will not be able to eat what I eat now to make the numbers my nutrisionist wants to see me get. Now I have only been shooting for the numbers she wants since Saturday - June 3rd. The entire month of May was a loss as far as my weight loss goals are concerned as a I spent the month yo-yo'ing on the scale and fighting to loose, maintain, then loose the 3 to 4 pounds I managed to find back on my behind. Is anyone else fighting for their weight loss like this? This is nutz. Then I spoke with a another patient of my doctors - she said when she was discussing the band vrs RNY with him, he said that more then the majority of his patients he bands come back requesting it be removed and he complete the RNY on them. So she is having RNY. When I spoke with him and made my decision, I wanted the RNY - he pushed me towards the band. I know it was ultimately my decision, but with his advise and information, not to mention his pressure, I went with the band. Now I have regretted it for a very long time. The band is great. Once someone gets restriction. The band is also for someone who over eats. (my husband - who can eat a huge pile of food on his plate, go back for seconds, then clean my plate and the kids plates) He also has a great metabolism and works in a high active position at his job. His weight gain is slow and he is just now in need of doing something about it. The band will do wonders for him. I was a small eater before. I am one now. My metabolism is shot due to this crash I caused. I would like other's opinion, and most importantly, is anyone else having to work this hard as well? Today I will discuss starting the procedure for RNY. I do not think I can take a year or so of this, and then with Ins, have to fight for the surgery like I did the past two years.

I had serious gas - for MONTHS - after I had hernia repair surgery, then I had the LapBand surgery and it seems to have gone away. Now when I had my hernia repair surgery they also repaired a hiatal type hernia, that resolved my gastric reflux - and severe heartburn. They took my stomach and wrapped it like a hotdog bun around my espoghus. Not sure it that movement alone caused the gas, but it never was stinky, and I sure was C A R E F U L when I moved around cause sometimes I would not have ANY warning. Talk about bad!! So, the one good thing about the lapband surgery so far for me is that it stopped the air exhaust problem I had!!! LOL

Meeting with the nutritionist went like this: Melanie: Eat more. I didn't cry, tho I wanted too. I didn't argue, tho I wanted too. I am going to try to ease up to her way of thinking. She did show me that while I am doing great on my protein and water consumption, I am getting too many fats in. Fat is determined to be a part of my life. Well, NOT ANYMORE!! So these are the numbers my nutrionist stands behind; for a 1500 calorie a day diet: Water 84oz Calories: 1500 grams Carbs: 180 grams Fat: Less then 30 grams Protein: 60 to 80 grams Your body can handle 2400 mgs of sodium a day - unless you suffer from water retention - however you body will wash out the sodium and I am drinking plenty of water so she said the beef jerky was OK - but I am still going to lay off of it as I was seeing the weight flunctuation on the scale due to the beef jerky and thus sodium. And we all know what that did to me. CRAZIES settled in !!!! She said my working out (an hour a day, burning 300 plus calories -- is starving my body as my only eating 700 to 1000 calories a day is as well) She told me to drink gatorade before a work out, and to eat a high caloric snack before a workout. (gatorade and a pear as an idea, b/c anything more would send me into mental break down at this time) I think I should be seeing a steady 1 to 2 pound weight loss a week, and so far have been fighting to maintain a 24 pound weight loss. Which is what is causing me the crazies. I do want to say this and be heard loudly: I AM DOING THIS ON MY OWN >>>> NO RESTRICTION. I meet with my doctor June 8th for a second fill, and the first fill was supposedly 1cc. He had trouble as the needle kept slipping off the head of the port, and he had to ask the nurse for the saline so he could re-fill the needle. So I question if any even made it into my band. We'll see how this one goes, as most have read in the past week, I called and spoke to him on the phone and he said he would see me last week for a fill and I decided to wait until my scedualed appt and continue to get my workout and diet on track. Let's pray this fill is more aggresive and successfull. I do find myself filling up on water when I am hungry. AND guess what!?!?!?! She said I could have a Starbuck's NON-FAT Caramel Frapp - and they are WONDERFUL!!! She said ti have it right before my work out as a high caloric snack. (Brain freeze as the Starbucks is right beside 24 hour fitness and I am usually in a hurry to get in there and work out and get home to do dinner!!!!) Meet with the trainer Monday pm - make sure I am doing the right workout, as of this time I am over doing it. BTW - let me tell you what damage I have done to myself in the past month. My metabolism was a +11 and I slowed it down to a -7. That ain't good folks. I just want to make it to Onderland. 22 pounds to Onderland, and I will settle down a little. A little. -Melanie