Welcome to the "Slow Loser" thread on LBT.

A few orders of business to begin.

First, we need to elect a leader. Someone who will voice our opinion clearly and with wisdom and humor. Our Leader will support us in our efforts and remind us of our NSV's and to not be discouraged.

I nominate - Vinesqueen. I can think of no on here on the board more eloquent and positive in her day to day outlook. (she has no idea about this, by the way - this is my own little invention - but I still think she should be our leader)

Second - we need to define "slow loser". I would propose that a slow loser is someone who is losing (or lost) less than 1 pound per week (average) during the first year of banding.

Third - Our Mission. Our Mission will be to stick together as a group. There is always strength in numbers. As we see newly banded people losing more in a month or six weeks than we have lost in 6 months to a year, we will join together and remind each other of how well we're doing. We'll chant the LBTSL ( that LapBand Talk Slow Loser) mantra of "It's not a race, it's not a race" over and over again.

Will you join me? Will you, a slow loser, a turtle in the weight loss race, make your voice heard amongst all these rabbits? Mostly will you let me know that I am not alone out here in bandland?

Looking forward to hearing from all of you.

Hi Bella, welcome to LBT.

Turtles, Turtles, Turtles... You have asked a very good question. But unfortunately, we don't have the answers. I don't know that anyone really knows if they are going to be a Turtle until they are one.

I have been diagnosed with Cushing's, a condition where I produce way too much cortisol. Right now I'm in the middle of tests to verify the diagnosis. One of the symptoms of Cushing's is the inability to lose weight, and another is unexplained and rapid weight gain.

I have to wonder how many other Turtles are also Cushing's folk.

But the think is Bella, I have a very strong suspicion that Turtles will be Turtles even if they are converted to a malaborptive technique, like the DS or one of the other bypass flavors like RNY.

But we make up a very small percentage of the banded population, if LBT is any indication.

Can I be in your club - Banded June 20 2005 and have lost 51 pounds since being banded - actually I should be the yo-yo queen. I bet in the last month or 2 I have lost and gained the same 8 to 10 pounds!!! I know my problems but I just can't seem to get through them - Poor no bad food choices and very little exercise. I go and go and go. I live in a small rural town so it's either walking or not much else. No that is an excuse I have a small gym right across the street from where I work - It is owned by my company - nothing to fancy weights and treadmill and a stepper eliptic edge thing but heck when I leave work I just drive on by. I just can't get there always something else after work I want or need to do so I do it instead. I have an appt with band dr on Friday and I have lost the 6 pounds I had gained at my last appt but I wanted more!!! I want 100 off by June 20th 2006 I need help!!

Jacqie

418/367/250ish hopefully one day

I've finally found the perfect spot for me. I was banded 2/4 and have only lost 4 pounds. I had my first fill on 3/9 (1.7) and I thought I was going to start dropping weight. Of course I haven't and I'm still hungry between meals. I need to be part of the slow losers club.

Jacqie,

This group is really designed for folks who've lost less than 50 lbs in one year... you're at 50 lbs in less than a year! you are doing great! There is however a thread for "Winded Rabbits", folks like you that have lost a goodly amount, but aren't happen with their current weight loss rate.

can I join your slowww losers club? I was banded on 1/4/05. I've lost 35lbs. I haven't made the best food choices nor have I exercized the way I should. Sorry it's so late after the thread but I haven't had time to come on the site lately I have to come on more I love reading the threads I find them very helpful. I was also hoping to be further along with the numbers by now but I guess slow loss is better than being heavyier.My best NSV is I don't get out of breath so easily anymore. That feels great!!!!!!!

Yup, 35 pounds in 15 months is definatly a Turtle

I am so in! haha I am 15 and have lost about 3 lbs since March 3 (1st fill). Any other teenage slow losers out there?

I'm doing great now, but I only began doing well when I started with an excellent therapist who helped me identify the reasons I was overeating and fighting my band. I was trying to meet emotional needs with calories, and that clearly didn't work.

My therapist also turned me on to these wonderful Bandster Success CD's by a very successful Bandster who is also a Nurse Practitioner and teaches and counsels other bandsters, both formally for our Band surgeon, and also for all others on a couple different online sites.

If anyone wants more information, see this site:

www.BandsterME.com

I found the Guided Imagery simply INVALUABLE, and a great many others are too. I have used Guided Imagery on several ways in my own medical practice, so I have read all the studies and srticles in major medical journals about how effective it is. I can tell you IT WORKS. Renee

I'd like to join the slow loss club. I've lost about 63 lbs. in 15 months. I thought I'd be done after 12 months. But I still have about 40 lbs. to go. Do I qualify?

An interesting note:

I think I sabbatoge my own weight loss. I eat foods I shouldn't. I found out, through experimentation, that some bad foods that I shouldn't eat go down. I drink while I eat, which helps the food go through the band. I drink liquids containing (a lot) calories. And I don't exercise.

So for me, I feel I can only hold myself responsible for my destiny. When will I learn?

Plus, I'm afraid of how I'll look when I do lose all the weight. Will people look at me? Will they be attracted to my shape? I have spent 40 years putting on layers upon layers to protect myself from unwanted lookers. How will things change once all the protective layers are gone?! Then I'll have to deal with the real me that is underneath. That scares me.

Until then, if then, I continue to sabbatoge my band and subsequent weight loss.

Any ideas, suggestions, comments? I welcome them.

drj

I was banded 11-9-05. My high weight a week prior to banding was 218, 213 the day of surgery and I'm 203. I just got my third fill however and I think this will be "the one" hopefully.

Laura

I guess you can count me in on this too. I had surgery in Augest. Lost 17 pounds on the post op liquid diet for what? 4 weeks or so and since then I have lost another 9. I am self pay at 17,000. Friday I will have my 7th fill in my VG with right now 6.3 at $150 a pop. You do the math. I may cry if I find out how much each pound has cost me...Hey-at least I have ost and not gained!

Fawn

I got teary-eyed to see someone started a slow-losers club!! I have no doubt that I qualify! I have only lost about 30 pounds in one year. I am happy to have lost it, but I see and hear about people who have lost like 3 times that much in a year. It makes me feel sad and .... kind of a failure. I keep a picture of myself on my frig from about 1 month before my surgery. I can really see a difference. Anyway, thanks so darn much for starting this club.

Slow loser? You don't know what slow loser is! It has been a year since my banding and I am depressed because now I am gaining weight instead of losing. I did have some issues with my stomach coming up through the band (not the band slipping though) because of reflux (after a fill) so they took it all out and now I only have a little bit in. My husband lost his job and the insurance we have now does not cover anything associated with the banding, so I can't go for fills now. Bummer. I've now only lost 15 lbs in one year with the banding. Can someone give me some encouragement?!

I am new to this (any online chatting) I was banded at 248 and I am 205 that was November 21 2005 I last 80% before the new year. I was told to find an online support group. Do I qualify?

pezmom-here is some encouragement...How about can you save some money to go and get a fill? How much is a fill in your neckof the woods?

Fawn