Please forgive me beforehand as I have had a terrible week at work, a terrible week at home and it just happens to be that time of the month so my motivation and positive thinking skills are greatly lacking.

OK, I know that 2-3 pounds a week is the average weight loss for lapband and that it is a tool and so on and so forth but don't you just feel discouraged sometimes? I am not saying that I regret having had this procedure versus the bypass but I have an acquaintance who just had the bypass the first week of January and she has lost more weight in the last 7 weeks than I have since my surgery in October. I really have nothing to complain about. I have greatly enjoyed buying some new clothes and discovering that not only do I not need to wear my size 32 stretchy pants and big tunic sweaters but that I am slowly enjoying showing off the goods every now and then in a low cut wrap shirt 3 sizes smaller than I was wearing. It's great to be "forced" to go out and buy some size 26 pants because my old ones are dragging at my feet and I'm afraid that one of these days, I'm going to get up from my desk chair and my pants aren't going to follow!

I guess my problem right now is that since my last fill, I really haven't been able to eat anything without PBing or just feeling uncomfortable. Now I know the PBing is not good and I have an appt with my Dr. next week to address this but for all my suffering and lack of food, I haven't lost any more weight on average than I did before the fill.

My other problem is the big 3-0-0. Ever since I hit that number after I had my baby, I've been downhill ever since. I think I just gave up, decided that I was not just "grossly obese" as one doctor told me but now I was morbidly obese. I mean, what more can be said to depress a person? But now I'm within an arms length of that number and yet it feels a million miles away. I feel as though it has taken me a million years to lose the last 15# when it only took a minute to lose the first 35. Because I'm still stuck here on the wrong side of that number, I feel like I'll be stuck here forever and it almost invalidates everything I've done otherwise.

I know this sounds self indulgent and pathetic but I cannot tell you how really very depressed I am and I begin to feel like it's never going to happen to me and I'll be stuck in this 300 pound nightmare forever.

Is there anyone else out there that has had these phases of ridiculous doubt?

You bet!!! I was banded on Nov. 5 and my weightloss has only just now gotten started. It's been an emotional rollercoaster for sure!

Melissa I can soooooooooooo relate. I feel like I have been stuck in the 240ish range for the last 10 years. When in fact it has only been for the last month. But it seems like a lifetime. One thing to remember is that yes your friend lost boat loads of weight fast but the key word there is FAST. This slow sometimes agonizingly slow process is the safest way to lose. It doesn't make the lack of scale movement any less tolerable.

Take this time to look at the victories that don't require we measue the successes with a scale.

You already mentioned the decrease in clothing size.

What about walking without getting out of breath.

More energy.

Fitting into a chair without feeling like you are squeezed into it.

Feeling sexier.

Looking healthier and feeling healthier.

Go get a manicure or pedicure and pamper yourself. Take a day or at least 15 min for YOU. Give yourself the praise that you deserve. We are all special and we will succeed at this journey. It will come Melissa. I have faith in all of us to accomplish our goals. It will come.

Melissa - I too have been stuck for quite a while. The one thing I noticed though is that I lost some inches even when the scale didn't move. It's hard not to get depressed when that number just won't go down. I have to keep reminding myself that I didn't gain it in a week or month, and it is harder to lose than gain. Make sure you are following the Protein first, then veggie, then starch. Make sure you are getting in some exercise and drinkinging your Water except with meals and an hour after.

One other thing is that while your friend is losing faster right now, you will catch up with her in the end. Also remember she can gain hers back easier than you can with the band.

Smile, you have done an excellent job so far, and you will reach your goal if you work with it.

Maybe you are not losing weight because you are eating too little? That can happen. If fact, sometimes if I'm on a plateau and I know I'm doing everything I can (eating right, exercising), I cheat. And often (but not always) I will drop two or more pounds the next day. I'm sure you've heard that our bodies tend to hold on to fat when they feel they are in "starvation mode." The body feels threatened and wants to hold on to all the fat it can for the lean times to come when we consume too few calories.

Also, while I can certainly see why it upset you, doctors don't mean "gross" as in "yucky" when they say grossly obese, grossly intact, grossly debilitated. They mean something like "generally" or "what the eye can see" vs. what might be seen with a microscope. They mean it is their overall impression that you are obese.

I hope you start seeing the scale move soon. Even if you don't I hope you feel better. I know we've all been there.

Nancy

Melissa,girl, you're doing great! Look at how much you've lost! We're losing the weight slower, but we're also giving our bodies and minds time to adjust to the changes going on. Go try a pair of those 32s back on and see how far you've come! (((Hugs)))

You might see your friend losing weight much more quickly-but look at how many additional risks she took to get that? Not putting anyone down here-but I don't want anyone cutting into my guts and rerouting anything.

Every hear the saying, "Slow and easy wins the race."

Think about it. You have already come very far-358 to 311. WOW! You lost a whole 3 or 4 year old person!!!

It might take longer-but look at Babs. She is such a role model, and so inspirational to me because I have a whole lotta weight to lose. We all can do it. You can do it!

http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/3;10401;95;0;0/c/-22/t/-71/k/55c4/weight.png

Melissa, do not let the numbers on the scale discourage you. I too have been stuck and I know I have been doing great with me eating and exercise. I know I have lost inches regardless of what the scale says. Sometimes our bodies just need a break, when I stop and think about it, my body has lost weight every week for 10 months...thats a long time , the scale is just taking a vacation right now and Iam ok with it....the last few lbs are always the hardest to lose..you will get there, remember this is a journey not a race. You have been successful so far and Iam sure you will continue to be, your body is probably just taking a time out right now too .What you are feeling, just know you are not alone we have all benn there or in my case Im right there with you