I have been working with a personal trainer now for two full months. I have a question that maybe someone else out there would know because they are not well versed on the Band.

Yes, I have excess skin and trying to measure Fat percentage is almost ridiculous. In fact, My fat percentage went from 23% t 24% in 2 months. They have to pinch skin or use a hand held machine that they personally say isn't a guarantee it is correct.

I started at 136 and I am now 143. I can only keep on thinking that it is muscle gain and that is it. I am watching to see if my clothes are getting tighter and I am not noticing that but when I look at myself in the mirror it feels as though my hips are getting wider or just myself in general. My mind is my enemy because I am terrified to gain weight and I am not knowledgable enough to understand that muscle gain is a good thing.

My husband says he isn't noticing any difference in me except that my chest is looking tighter. He used to see my rib cage a bit on my chest.

I am an extremely healthy eater and if I have gained fat weight I do see that I just eat a bit more during dinner and that is it. I eat a salad though for dinner with Protein and other veggies on it. I have not layed 1 piece of fried food in my mouth since Nov. 2005.

Is there any reassurance from anyone out there? Does anyone know the extent of pounds gained for muscle weight?

Help Me Please

Josephine

Have you tried one of those body fat scales? They sell for around $100 and are made by Tanita... I don't know if the loose skin factor affects the results though....

Good Luck.

I was thinking of getting a personal trainer too. Did you tell your trainer that you have a band ?

Crazycat

That's a very tricky matter for me. I go to the gym 3 or 4 times a week and I know I'm doing the right food choices, therefore I would expect to loose a lot and notice a dramatic change on the scale, but against all expectations I'm loosing at a VERY SLOW pace and I hardly notice it on the scale. My PT keeps telling me that's only natural because my fat mass is being replaced by muscle, which evidently is good, but muscle weighs more than fat and that's why the scale doesn't show much of a difference. On my clothes I don't notice much either, but when I carefully look at myself in the mirror (I always have to focus first saying to myself I can't let myself go with disappointment...) I do notice that my body seems to be getting a different shape and looking more firm than it used to be.

It's really hard, I know. It takes a tremendous effort. I have to remind myself everyday that maybe some people loose weight much faster than I but still, that shouldn't affect me to the point of wanting to give up going to the gym or eating correctly. This has been a slow process for me and I still have a long way to go.

Keep up the courage!

niki

Hi Josephine,

I have perosnall trainer as well.Truly said my weight loss stopped after one month but I can see my body is more firm and Im finally getting to that womanly shape. I see it on my clothes also my friends and family sees it. My weight havent moved down in like a month but hang in there.

I have that scale that measures fat and water but truly said Im still getting the same numbers although at my doc office the fat % is dropping down, so unless you can weight yourself on medical and professional scale I woudlnt care what it says at home or in the gym. My doc has some hardcore scale and it was specially designed to show BMI and fat and water %

You can probably find it somewhere but they usually want you to pay for it.

Why dont you start measuring yourself instead of weighting? I know its easier said than done because Im addicted to the scale:-) lol

I must say that hiring the perosnal trainer has been the best decision I have made since getting my lap band.

hang in there you will see the results in no time:-)

xx Eva

I had a personal trainer a few years back , befor the band. I did'nt notice any big change at first. I'm a very slow loser also , even with working out. Muscle does weight alot more then fat. I was able to use the trainer for about six months befor I moved to another state. When I was saying by to all my friends at the gym is when I relized how much my body really had changed. One the them said, "look at how different you look now then when you first started the gym." You have come a long way.

Now I have to start the gym and a new trainer all over again. I wish I would have started befor I gained all this weight.

Josephine: I have been exercising alot and haven't lost any weight in 6 weeks. I also find that exercise increases my appetite. With that said, I feel much better and think that I may be losing inches. I think that the suggestion to start measuring yourself is a good one. Keep us informed and good luck with your trainer.

I have also been using a personal trainer for about 2 months now. I have not seen scale loss but I sure do see a difference in my body. My friends and family all see it. I am sure any day now the pounds will start coming off as it seems like my fat is re-arranging itself. I really wish I would have got him long ago as I think he is really helping me. Good luck to you!