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.

Vines, you always have the best advice and insight!! I printed your post from last

week about your struggles with losing and keep reading and re-reading it

to encourage me! I can comiserate with all the "50 pounds lost in 2 months"

posts, I too was getting depressed just logging onto the website for awhile.

I kept thinking "what's wrong with me??". It got to the point where I just

went in "lounge" section to avoid the whole issue.

To top it all off, my friend in Fl that I'm going to the Tampa Bash with

had her surgery in July and has lost 44 pounds. Wah! While I am very happy

for her, I'm also jealous. I told her about my struggles and she says "well

maybe it's harder since I'm close to goal than it was at first" I don't think

so since goal is 50+ pounds away.

Anyhoo, I am happy that Kim started this thread so I feel that I have some

compadres.

Rhonda

I agree with everyone! Vines is a must! She always knows just what to say! I love you Vines! ((((HUGS))))

How is everyone doing with their list of NSVs? It doesn't matter if you post them or not, I just think it is important for us to create and REVIEW those lists. I think that we've seen how powerful they are, so ladies and gents, LET'S BE POWERFUL!

I know it is so easy to be focused on the damn scale. Espeically when the only measure socity has for us is the scale. I say it's time to redefine our definition of success, to expand and widen that definition to include us, the slow losers.

I won't apply for membership today because I know all you hoity-toity turtles would boot my fluffy ass--but I'LL BE BACK. And you all better not get all comfy over here because Inertia has a way of ertia-ing--or whatever the hell it does.

Kare you crack me up - hell yea I'd be the first to boot out a rabbit! But we'll be here waiting if you run out of steam.

VINES - thank you so much for being so honest with not only us but also with yourself. Stop countin those calories girl and get off the scales!! I don't count and I don't own scales maybe that could contribute to my slow weight loss, but I refuse to become obsessed by my diet. I try to make healthy choices most of the time and practice moderation.

I too have pb'd on Peanut Butter...........ahh the one true love of my life makes me soooo sad and I miss him soooooo. I can usually eat a teaspoon of it plain - but on toast or a loving PB & Jelly???? FORGET IT! It just ends up wasted. You are not alone and here we are all together squishy arms and big butts to boot UNITE! HEAR US ROAR! We're going to do this all together everyone!

I added an NSV to my list last night and I actually thought of another! I'll update again. The NSV list is working better than I thought it would for me. I thought I wasn't paying attention but I am. I just wasn't postng them! Now I have a spot, so go see!!!

I know Kathy, I saw your update This is one of the reasons I bumped this thread. It's too important to let it slide away, hide out of sight. Iwas seriously feeling like I was the only one who wasn't having the results I expected.

I was angry and frustrated, depressed and mad at my self. Turns out I think I was just the most vocal about my slow loss I think it is so very important to let others out there that they are not alone.

Thank you again Kim for starting this thread.

How about a fast gainers thread??

I finally put away my scale, so I can't say for sure my average weekly gain, but I've gone from a tight 18 to a tight "Just My Size" strechy 24 jean since 9/04...

:sob:

Funny (NOT!) how the things that were motivating NSVs on the way down are now milestones for depression on the way back up... I think those are "-NSVs"... lol

I only post this to remind everyone that there's always someone else worse off than you, somewhere...

Now it's time for me to re-read my motivational speeches... lol

Donali - thank you for sharing with us - I know it is not easy for you to post about it. What causes erosion?

Thanks Ms Smooch... It is awful to put in writing the fact that I'm climbing back up the scale, particularly after everything I've learned. I'd have to say that my biggest faults are failure to exercise, overly generous portions, and the occasional sweet/carb attacks.

As far as what causes erosion, no one knows for sure. There are certain things that increase the risk (they think), but I don't know that anyone can say for sure in most cases what the true cause was.

All implanted devices carry the risk of surrounding tissue erosion, however - this is not unique to the band itself.

Here's an old thread with some more info:

http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=2725&highlight=erosion

Hi everyone...I'd like to join...I've had two fills and still no restriction and I keep gaining and losing the same 3 pounds...I'm stuck.

Deb

Slow losers??? Gee, does I've come to a screeching halt count? OMG, I haven't lost any weight in so long, but the darn gaining muscle keeps happening. I figured out where that muscle was going, it's growing upside down under my arms, ERRRR.

VQ, if I lose two lbs between now and Christmas, I'll be happy.

What???? WHAT?????

but the darn gaining muscle keeps happening. I figured out where that muscle was going, it's growing upside down under my arms, ERRRR.

WOOOOOTTT!!!!! (That's a big HUZZAH!)

Okay, not sure what the "growing upside down under my arms, ERRRR." means, other than you are getting stronger arms. And who doesn't want stronger arms???

but the darn gaining muscle keeps happening.

This is EXACTLY what you should be wanting!!!!! I don't know how to empasise this any more! You are one of my heros here at LBT. You have gained now what, 30 pounds of muscle mass??? If the

darn gaining muscle keeps happening

then you have that much less fat to lose!

Gaining a pound of muscle means that you don't have 2 pounds (or more) of fat to lose!

Gaining a pound of muscle means that you are more efficient with your body!

Gaining a pound of muscle means that you are stronger now, and will be stronger longer as you age!

Gaining a pound of muscle means that you will need to eat more food to keep the same weight, since your metabolic rate will be increased!

Gaining a pound of muscle means that when you are 70, or 90, you will be less fall prone!

Gaining a pound of muscle means that your body looks better than if you lost 5 pounds of fat.

Since you know that you are still gaining muscle (Woot!) you must know your FFM, your fat free mass. This means that you know closer what your personal ideal goal weight should be, not some arbitrary number on a chart. It could mean that your goal weight needs to be adjusted to relect your new reality of a stronger, more compact body.

Please post or PM your FFM, or your body fat % if that is what you have.

If I put on even half of the muscles mass you have gained HarlyNana, I, personally, would only be about 20 pounds over weight, not the 50 pounds I currently need to lose. If I had put on all the muscle mass you have gained, I would be at goal, right now, at 240-ish pounds. My goal would be in the 220 to 240 pound range, since that would put me in the 25-35% body fat percentage, which is the healthy range for women my age.

I'm sorry, what does FFM stand for?

FFM stands for fat free mass.

It is what you weigh without any fat, just as it says. We, of course, require a certian percentage of body fat to maintain a healthy body. For women my age, and for Pat's, we need to be between 25-35% fat. (not like the 41% I currently am )

Because Pat (Harlynana) is currently putting on muscles mass, she is reducing the amount of fat on her body, and changing the number of fat pounds she can and should carry. She's actually increasing the number of fat pounds she should have!

Zoe -

The 'Ex-Rabbit Auxillary' is brilliant. I've seen alot of posts on this thread from 'ex-rabbits' who are frustrated now that they are nearing goal, or have at least lost a significant amount, and the remaining weight is clinging stubbornly.

.

I need to join this group! I sincerely hope you start it!!!!