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!

LBT Rants and Raves *** Off-Topic DEBATE AREA *** Want debate? Get it here. Gripe, complain, moan, fight, rant and rave. Enter at your own risk!

Key words in this header are "want debate?"

I assume that means anyone who chooses to can disagree with a rant found here.... and post their own opinion....bringing on a debate....

This "rant" did not alienate me at all as some earlier posters suggested it could possibly do ... However I would like to respond that I did NOT bypass a whole neatly organized forum to express dismay to this rant instead of going to the correct forum to ask a question I may have as suggested to me... In fact this post was right in my face when I signed on in the "latest forum threads section" on the home page.... When I opened it I felt the need to pledge to not ask such questions of those who had gone through this process before me with attitude..yes.....truthfully I am person who could ask a question that might drive someone batty....BUT I am still going to ask it....New people come on here daily... they may have different experiences and offer something that truely helps me rather then using the search button... I will "pledge" to use that function also...but I may also still go ahead and ask a question that is repetitive.....

I firmly believe that you can gain knowledge from a group of those who have gone before you....all the newbies here will sooner or later be the "elders" of board and when I get to that point I hope that I can share my experiences and maybe alleviate a fear or answer a question of a new person on here who most likely has so many questions stirring away in their brains...whether they be repetitive or not to this board or to myself....

Sometimes the answer may be staring a person in their face but asking it in their own words and getting personal responses is what works for them.....

I want to clarify my own position on this.

I don't care about the repetitive posts, I have to admit that I don't respond to "what is a PB?" anymore, but I also know newbies will be happy to respond.

My idea of a STUPID question is what I posted earlier:

"I'm having horrible chest pain, difficulty breathing, and it feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest. What should I do?"

THAT is my idea of stupidity. How about... 911??? Is that a possibility? I question why I need to even tell them to get off the computer and dial 911. If they are having heart attack symptoms why are they posting on a message board instead of asking their fellow obese peers what they should do.

That is what annoys me the most.

When I read Tommy O's comments, it made me laugh. Tommy, you are 110% libertarian!! Or are you an anarchist? I only thought I had a libertarian streak until I read some of your posts. If it's not too personal, is that your political party of choice (if you are even politically-minded at all)? :wink2:

Plain, I am a left leaning Liberal who believes strongly in a socialist agenda. I have always had a huge problem with authority and that is why I may appear Libertarian. My issue with authority is based on my belief that respect is earned not a birthright. This may have something to do with my Irish heritage. I believe in government although I also believe that government must work for the people and because, in a democratic country, governance is earned through election I have no problem with that authority.

My issue is when one individual believes they have the right to make decisions for another without being asked. So it doesn't matter if it's the bossy kid in the school yard who takes the ball unless everyone follows their rules or if it's some tryannical dictator I stand opposed.

I was the kid in the school yard who said "take you ball and shove it up your a*s, we'll just play with this rock" :wink2:

Hi Im New, Thank God For Fannys Post. I Was Just Going Batty With All The Negitivity. Everyones Very Uplifting. Sceduling For End Of July Surgery This Week.