1. People who have only been banded for 4 months and are calling themselves a failure because they've "only" lost 50lb!

HELLO, people!! We did not have the gastric bypass, what did you expect?? This surgery is not designed to have you drop 30lb a month - that's one of the main reasons, people choose it - because it is a far safer procedure and gives a safer and slower loss rate. 4 calendar months is only 17 weeks and a loss of 50lb is almost 3lb per week, which is WELL ABOVE the average and is a fantastic weight loss. If you've lost 50lb in 26 weeks (6 months), you are losing at 2lb per week and that is a GREAT loss rate. If you have lost 25lb in 6 months, you are STILL in the average of 1-2lb per week, which is a perfectly healthy and sustainable rate! Yes, some people lose faster but even if you've only lost 20lb in 6 months, I'd bet a week's wages that that's better than the six months you had BEFORE banding. Stop thinking negatively and calling yourselves failures! Those numbers are a great success and should be celebrated.

2. People who say "oh I have no restriction but I'm PB'ing and sliming every time I try to eat solid food".

HELLO!! You DO have restriction! What do you think is causing you to PB/slime?? If you are feeling hungry between meals, it is probably because you are drinking your food instead of eating it! Try eating solid foods very very slowly and well chewed - you'll feel much fuller for much longer. If the first meal of the day is troublesome, try having a hot drink (tea, coffee, ff chocolate, whatever you like) 30 minutes before the meal to prepare your stomach. If you're not hungry in the mornings and are starving at night - don't eat in the mornings!! Save your daily calorie allowance for when you ARE hungry and EAT it in solid food, not soft easy foods (unless of course, you are still in the post-op healing phase). If you can't eat solid food (slowly and well-chewed), you don't need another fill - you are too tight!

3. People who obsess about getting "enough protein" and drinking Protein shakes

HELLO AGAIN!! Let me repeat, we did NOT have the gastric bypass. Our bodies are still perfectly capable of absorbing all the nutrients that we eat and there is no need to increase protein intake to compensate. You should be able to get in all the protein you need by EATING, not by drinking supplements. Eat lean hard Proteins if you can, choose tuna or crab meat if you have trouble with hard protein and you will get all you need. Eat good fresh vegetables and you won't need Vitamin supplements. You will also feel much more full doing this and won't be complaining about being hungry all the time!

Whew!! That feels good to get that off my chest! I know my loss rate isn't the fastest out there. It is currently running at 1.7lb per week and that is the rate I'm aiming for. I could make it go faster if I exercised more, but I do an average of 30 mins x 4 days a week (sometimes more, sometimes less) and I am losing at the speed I had planned upon and I'm thrilled with the results so far. My fitness level is noticeably improving, I'm not hungry except at meal times, I'm satisfied after my meals, I only have problems with getting stuck or PB'ing when I stop paying attention when eating and don't chew well enough or eat too quickly (still working on that), and I AM NOT A FAILURE!

Nobody better say anything negative about unicorns!! Or I'm going home!!

(sorry for the hijack)

Nobody better say anything negative about unicorns!! Or I'm going home!!

Unicorns are fugly... neener neener!

Stupidity is genetic, you can't blame someone for their stupidity. In my life I have met a lot of smart people who have done dumb things (Myself included)and I would agree that it can be irritating although most often it's just funny. Knowledge is learned but we are born with inteligence so you can't fault stupid.

I think the questions that bother me the most are the ones that could easily be answered simply by reading the FAQ threads.

I can honestly say I don't think I posted any "stupid questions" when I first began posting here and was considered a "newbie". I waited on someone else to do it.:smile2:

Tommy-O? Go back and read my original post again. I said nothing about questions from newbies. Of course someone new to this procedure is going to ask a lot of questions and mostly they're the questions we've all heard at least a dozen times over. That is perfectly normal, doesn't bother me and wasn't what I was ranting about. I was ranting about people who have been here for several months and should know better about some things by now. To summarise:

* People who label themselves as failures when they have lost weight at faster than or equal to the average rate. Negative thinking annoys me, especially when it is unjustified.

* People who are wanting their fourth, fifth or more fill (i.e. have been banded for at least several months), and say they are hungry yet in the same post demonstrate that they DO have restriction but are eating around the band. Those are the ones that are going to end up with slippage or erosion from keeping the band too tight and will say the band is a failure, when it is their own bad eating patterns.

* People who get caught up in the Protein, protein, protein craze, as though they have had a bypass operation and suddenly need massive protein supplements. Actually - it is the doctors who push this that annoy me, can't blame people for following their doctor's advice.

Tommy-O? Go back and read my original post again. I said nothing about questions from newbies. Of course someone new to this procedure is going to ask a lot of questions and mostly they're the questions we've all heard at least a dozen times over. That is perfectly normal, doesn't bother me and wasn't what I was ranting about. I was ranting about people who have been here for several months and should know better about some things by now. To summarise:

* People who label themselves as failures when they have lost weight at faster than or equal to the average rate. Negative thinking annoys me, especially when it is unjustified.

* People who are wanting their fourth, fifth or more fill (i.e. have been banded for at least several months), and say they are hungry yet in the same post demonstrate that they DO have restriction but are eating around the band. Those are the ones that are going to end up with slippage or erosion from keeping the band too tight and will say the band is a failure, when it is their own bad eating patterns.

* People who get caught up in the Protein, protein, protein craze, as though they have had a bypass operation and suddenly need massive protein supplements. Actually - it is the doctors who push this that annoy me, can't blame people for following their doctor's advice.

What do you consider "massive" to mean in the number of grams of protein consumed daily?

I believe the recommended intake of protein for a woman is around 60-70g a day, and there is no reason why we can't get that intake from solid food once the healing phase is over. We are FAR better off eating this protein rather than drinking it - I see no need for protein shakes after the liquid/mushie phase.

I believe the recommended intake of Protein for a woman is around 60-70g a day, and there is no reason why we can't get that intake from solid food once the healing phase is over. We are FAR better off eating this protein rather than drinking it - I see no need for protein shakes after the liquid/mushie phase.

I agree with the quantity of protein you list but protein shakes work quite well for some. If it doesn't work for you, kewl Beans. But I love them!

It's easy to grab a Protein shake when I'm in a hurry. I don't always have the time to chew the bandster way and when I don't want to deal with it, I use a shake in place of a meal.

Ahhh but you see, you're not one of those that says "I drank my three Protein shakes today (and ate nothing) but I'm still hungry! I think I need another fill!" :smile2: Nor have I seen you recommending people try for 100g or more of protein a day.

To be honest though, I really disagree with the high protein/low carb diet. I think the balanced approach is far healthier.

Ahhh but you see, you're not one of those that says "I drank my three Protein shakes today (and ate nothing) but I'm still hungry! I think I need another fill!" :smile2: Nor have I seen you recommending people try for 100g or more of protein a day.

To be honest though, I really disagree with the high protein/low carb diet. I think the balanced approach is far healthier.

We agree. HIGH protein holds no value and can actually cause harm long term.

I am not sure I could have had a protein shake in the beginning and been satisfied, not when I was dealing with head hunger issues, but I can do it now.

It used to be I had to feel "full" and now I'm good to go at "not hungry".

I don't disagree with low carb, to each his own and all that good stuff. Personally, I don't eat low carb, I eat no white carbs. But typically I have eaten all the veggie carbs I wanted within reason. Thing is, if you cut out all white carbs and eat unlimited veggie carbs, for the most part you are eating low carb in comparison to those that eat flour, rice, Pasta, etc.

Actually - it is the doctors who push this that annoy me, can't blame people for following their doctor's advice.

Speaking of things that doctors do that annoy me when I read about it here....

What is the deal suddenly with all these people whose doctors tell them to eat solid food as soon as possible? When I was in my intensive research phase, I constantly saw recommendations that would have you at the mushy stage at the 4-6 week period. Not one of the doctors who made my short list recommends doing it any fast. But now I see all these posts where people are completely skipping the mushy phase and are on solid food as early as the 1st week and it's their doctor's recommendation!

Did some new research I'm not aware of come out saying that eating food early doesn't cause slippage or erosion or are these doctors just pandering and selling their clients up the river when it comes to the long-term life of the band?

I agree with the quantity of Protein you list but protein shakes work quite well for some. If it doesn't work for you, kewl Beans. But I love them!

It's easy to grab a protein shake when I'm in a hurry. I don't always have the time to chew the bandster way and when I don't want to deal with it, I use a shake in place of a meal.

Hi WASa, don't see you much! How are you? Good I hope. :biggrin2:

I agree with this post, I do drink a protein shake first thing in the morning after my decaff. It hits the spot and I always like to make sure I'm getting something for Breakfast. I get a bit hungry very early in the morning and there isn't alot of time for me to sit down and eat properly. Besides, this might sound weird, but I just LOVE the taste.

That being said, I don't really concentrate too much on all high protein, all low carbs. I just try to eat like a normal person, small portions and well balanced and staying mindful of your healthier options. Also, the shake does hold me for quite awhile. I'll usually drink it about 5:30 am and won't eat again until about 8:00, a banana - and then sometimes I don't even want that. Gotta have it though, I never miss my daily banana. :thumbup:

Also, I've been banded for about 3.5 months. I've lost ONLY 35.5 lbs. Woe is me! :thumbup:

Can we also add:

* People who are all excited when they are so tight they can "only eat 1-2 bites of food and their done" and the people who congratulate them?! lol. I see this a lot and it irritates the hell out of me. This isn't what the band is about and I can't believe some folks think its okay to starve themselves. They aren't learning to properly eat. Does their doctor okay this?

Fanny this board is way more fun since you arrived. I can let you say all the blunt things and get caned for it instead of me, roflmao!

But...but...but I'm known far and wide for my tactfulness and subtlety!! *bats eyelashes innocently*