I realize I was just banded on Jan. 25th 2008. But I am freaking out. I just have so much to lose. I need to lose over a 100lbs. Glad I found this group. It helps to keep me focused. Anyone else out there overwhelmed?:thumbdown:

As my daughter says, "I'm not on a diet; I'm in a new phase of my life that is going to last for the next 70 years."

She realizes (even better than her mother) that the calendar isn't what makes you a success or a failure on this journey. The time it takes is immaterial; you become a healthier, and probably happier, person as soon as you take the first few steps.

She was banded in October 2006 and had lost 100 lb by July 2007. She is now down 124 lb and continuing on her path.

Snowbird, I just read this thread and want to say thanks for adding your message.

I don't know if "overwhelmed" is how I'm feeling. I'm feeling a bit depressed. At least 5-7 people (friends and family) asked me for a progress report this week. I felt ashamed to say that there hasn't been any change in the past few weeks. I'm finding it very difficult to get motivated to exercise. I was on three different antibiotics during January for my sinuses, and I just felt lousy. I'm also struggling with my sweet tooth. I just bought a book called Love Hunger for food addiction. I don't know if it will help. I think it's crappy that I even felt like I needed to buy a self-help book, when I have the Lap-Band inside of me.

I find myself looking at everyone's weight loss trackers, and I'm glad when I see people who are having similar progress. Then I feel bad when I see those who are excelling. I wish I had the self-discipline that they must have!

Is anyone here struggling with an area of weakness?

I also thought that the total amount I needed to lose was mind boggling. I started out at 435 (BMI of 59) in April of 2007

I was on a diet from April to Sept. last year. Total weight lost was 22 lbs. When I started my Lap-Band Seminar in mid Sept I was down to 413 (BMI of 56). What concerned me was I could not do any cardio exercise due to heart problems. I thought without the cardio work I would not be successful. Dr. prescribed physical therapy and I lost 42 more pounds by early Feb. when my surgery was finally scheduled for 2-25-08.

My point is, I started out needing to loose approx. 245 lbs and have lost 64 without having the surgery yet. The total to lose doesn't worry me as much as it once did.

100# can come off in"no time"... just kiddin'

But, I was banded April 2 -2007 and have lost 115# so far....

200# to lose is/was overwhelming for me....

but as time goes on, and pounds drop off...

it is much less overwhelming...

and seems to feel quite realistic.

bigunc - Congratulations on your weight loss. Impressive! What did they have you doing in physical therapy? Best of luck to you for surgery day! I'll say a prayer.

mazie - Your weight loss is AWESOME!! Any secrets to share, or are you simply able to follow orders and practice self-discipline?

The past few days have been better for me, and I'm feeling more positive. I'm getting back on track with exercise. Last night, I made myself an awesome workout CD.

bigunc - Congratulations on your weight loss. Impressive! What did they have you doing in physical therapy? Best of luck to you for surgery day! I'll say a prayer.

mazie - Your weight loss is AWESOME!! Any secrets to share, or are you simply able to follow orders and practice self-discipline?

The past few days have been better for me, and I'm feeling more positive. I'm getting back on track with exercise. Last night, I made myself an awesome workout CD.

hahahaha- self disi... what?

No -no self discipline here, or would not have been starring 400# in the face. lol

Restriction is key, and some exercise. I am able to eat tons less than before, and be way more active.

I do not follow all the rules, all the time. But I follow all the rules some of the time, and try to do better every day.

I am a success one day, one choice, at a time. Before, I was always a failure -all day- everyday.

Kimberly... will you just send me emails from time to time telling me again and again all about your weight loss success... I love hearing that and it's so motivating! :tt2:

Congratulations!

I was just banded on tuesday February 19th. And I am so overwhelmed. It hasn't even been a week and everyone is asking me how much weight I've lost. Gees, it's like they think it is all suppose to fall off over night. Now I am regretting telling so many people. I just have to keep thinking of my own goals and not worry about it.

I was there, too. And it was debilitating.

But, honestly, once I lost the first 20, it didn't seem so impossible. And once I got under 70 to go, I was like "well, ok, I can do this..."

Just focus on the first few. Even 5lbs is on the way to 100.

I try not to look at the big picture... because it is too overwhelming.

I just set my goal at TWO pounds a week, and it doesn't seem too difficult to attain.

And, in reality, those little two pound losses each week add up to OVER 100 lbs in a year.

You will get there before you know it

When people ask me how much I have lost, I tell them that my goal is two pounds a week... and so far I have dropped 4 pants sizes.

Steer them away from the big numbers they are wanting to hear.

This is not an overnight miracle cure... it is just a tool. I think a lot of non-band people assume that the weight just falls off when you get the band... and they expect HUGE results overnight.

I'm feeling a bit depressed. At least 5-7 people (friends and family) asked me for a progress report this week. I felt ashamed to say that there hasn't been any change in the past few weeks.

Someone posted a thread that IMO has the perfect comeback answers for the "diet police".

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/ive-lost-leg-brain-what-about-you-53548/#post734736

My new answer to these people who want to ask about my progress is:

So far I have lost a mid-size microwave, a human head, and a Chihuahua.

This should make them stop and think... I already cannot wait to see the confused looks on their faces... lol

QuasiTova, That is hilarious! I love your animated clip art, too!!

QuasiTova, That is hilarious! I love your animated clip art, too!!

Thanks

The wonderful thing about using these responses is that we can switch up the items we have lost simply by using our math skills. there are many ways to add up to our total

My 49 lbs lost so far can be described as:

1. a mid-size microwave, a human head, and a Chihuahua

2. a human leg, a human head, and a guinea pig

3. two automobile tires, an average newborn, and a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts

and many many more combinations...

So, even if we do not lose any weight in a week, we can change our items lost, and the "diet police" will still be impressed.

If nothing else, we are improving our math skills... lol

Sorry, but as a homeschooling mom, I tend to think this way :laugh:

Crazy, PT they had me stretching and weight training. I was strictly prohibited from doing any type of cardio work by my Arrhythimia Specialist. I have a lower back condition (Lumbar Stenosis) so the Therapist geared the therapy to help my back. It helped the back tremendously but it also helped my weight loss. Aetna had no issues with this as my supervised exercise requirement.

I am not banded, but have been looking into it for quite some time, as I also need to lose over 100 pounds. I just was wondering if you could explain more to me about how the band actually helps with the weight loss? I know it cuts down on hunger pains... but I don't eat because I'm hungry to begin with. I eat beause I'm sad, board, alone, depressed, happy, celebrating, grieving, etc...

If it is possible to "cheat" on the band the same way one might "cheat" on a diet, how does it have such good results? I would just think that because the band requires discipline to make it effective, it would be just as possible for someone with discipline to do it without the band... and I don't know that I have that kind of discipline either way!

I guess I am just curious...

Hi Staindgal,

Although the band is an aid you still have to work with it. When you do loose control you cannot do the damage you used to. I find I cannot eat things like cake and donuts since I get stuck. I can still eat ice cream and potatoe chips but even if I get into these things I cannot eat as much as before. I am litterally eating about 1/8 of the amount I previously did. You just hit a point of being full and stop. You learn quickly not to overeat since you will just throw up if you do and it is not fun.

the way i looked at it is why do I need to have willpower and starve. I got psycologically healthy and it allowed me to see the band was the best present I could give myself. I now have a took that is making it easy for me to eat healthy and not overindulge. It is a new midset for me. I even got a personal trainer to come to my house 3 times per week.

As to those who find the large sums of weight we have to loose overwhelming, just think of it in small increments. Since you are getting great health benefits each time you loose 10% of your weight I loose this 10% difference (a weight watcher term) as my mini goals. it makes it more manageable but at my weight each goal seems far away.