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.

Know how you feel. I am down for 1 year around 35-40 lbs. I know I have not made good choices, except without the band I would have bee n up probably another 20 lbs. Not that I advocate making bad choices, but at least with the band you can without physically getting sick like you would with the gastric and at least there are adjustments you can get. I in fact am having a fill this wed. Since my surgeons do fills without charge for the first 13 months after surgery. I figure one last one for awhile. Anyway I would have liked to have lost more weight than I have this first year, but I wouldn't give the band up for anything and I know I will continue to loose. I have about 65 more to go. A friend of mine had the gastric about 4 years ago and her "new" stomach has stretched out so they are recommending the lapband. She just about died during her gastric and now they are suggesting this, too bad it wasn't more avaiable back then. Anyway good luck and keep it up I know exactly how you are feeling but hang in there.

Linda51

hello,

I had my lap band surgery in May . I initially lost 24 lbs and have gone up 4 and now down 1. I admittedly have not followed the program. From the get go I was very excited and motivated, however after the year of waiting and a bout of Lupus my enthusiasm decreased to the point of discouragement I am facing now. The Doctor continues to adjust the band so now I either have an extreme increase in appetite or cannot eat anythigh without vomiting. I am currently living on MMs. they are the only thing that stays down. I have recently begged my doctor for a referral to a psychologist to see where my motivation has gone.

Has anyone else gone to a psychologist for these reasons? The reasons being lack of motivation,disinterest infollowing the guidelines ,in general giving up. If so , did it help? Can you give me any words of wisdom to get me back on track. There is no doubt I do want the outcome of the hardwork,however cannot seem to reenthuse myself into doing the hardwork. I am very disappointed in myself.

any support any one can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of my request and dilema.

Kirsten:help:

To the woman who could eat 3 slices of pizza. Keep going back until you can only eat 1/2 a slice. You have no restriction.

Kirsten,

Your issues with motivation likely stem from things like fear of success you know? I went to therapy for 2 years and found out a lot about myself. I just moved states, so I'm not in therapy anymore, and I still have a lot of work to do, but I have a place to start now that I didn't have before.

If you are living off M&M's, you need to get an unfill so you can eat some real food. I'm sure you've guessed by now that super restriction isn't helping you lose weight either.

i am so frustrated too. I haven't been writing on this at all lately.

I was banded Dec 18th 2006. I went through christmas eating soup and in pain, i hid it from friends and family. I was 19. I am only 20 now. It seems like months are flying by and i don't lose weight. I have lost almost 30 lbs. I break down in tears every now and then because I have never jsut been a "normal teenager" i never had a young hot body and since i was 13, all people say is how gorgeous i am and if i lost weight i coudl be a model. they think its a compliment. im in college, i try so hard to not drink a lot on the weekends or over eat at night during study hours.. i exercise a lot. I AM EVEN ON WEIGHT WATCHERS! thats what bugs me the most.. i feel no restriction until i eat really fast by accident and then i am in pain and throw up. I just want to eat small portions! they give me aggressive fills liek once a month

if anyone has any advice, please let me know. I feel like no one is going through this my age. i feel so alone in thisand its embarassing that i have scars and stretchmarks

volleyballover, it sound like you don't have enough restriction. How many ccs do you have and what size band? It wouldn't surprise me if you need a few more fills. It took me 5 fills to finally get restriction. How many have you had?

Since last Oct.24, I have only lost 44 lbs. But only had around 80 or so to lose. I have dropped from a size 22 to a 14. More inches than pounds. I am happy with that. But I just thought the weight would come off faster. I would have the surgery again in a heartbeat.

I Started out at 224 and now 180. 5'4" Medium frame, but pretty muscular, as the Dr. says. I am a Heavy Equipment Operator, so pretty solid built.

I walk 1 to 2 miles 5 times a week on my treadmill. I try to make the 20 minute mile for the 1st mile.

I am so glad I'm not alone at this so process.

I Would really like to be a member!!!

Saltlick

I can relate to your post saltlick.

Since last Nov. 24, I have lost 59 lbs. I had around 80 lbs or so to lose.

And I have dropped from a size 22 to a 14 also.

I started out at 230, and now 171 @ 5'4".

I am 48.

I follow all the rules in eating, and I (nordic) walk 7 days a week, every morning, 5 miles, outside.

I am just a slow loser as well.

Maybe I am swimming against the tide, not easy with menopausal symptoms.But I do not make any excuses.

I will win this battle some day.

Wow, our thread is really moving today.

It's such a fine line between having the correct fill and not being hungry, and having too tight of a fill and throwing up all the time.

I just got a little bit taken out today. I didn't want to, but I can't live on protein drinks any longer. They say to go on liquids for 24 hours if you throw up, and I was on liquids more than I wasn't.

Exercise is extremely important. I am getting a heart rate monitor.

I finally got a trainer and he said that if you are exercising and not in the target heart rate, you'll be doing your heart a world of good, but not burning fat.

Menopause truly does suck. That's why I got the band. I was exercising and dieting for 3 years and only gaining weight. Now even with the band, I can't lose unless I am exercising and only eating 800 calories per day.

Marimaru (sarah)

What is your secret to success, I loved your stats, It helps to see them, I am sure you agree with that.

To the young girl who is having trouble loosing,

My heart goes out to you, by the time I was 22 I had two big babies, 2 large scars from c-sections and millions of stretch marks, Yes I was married to the same man I am today, but I still had to face my fat marred body everyday. But you know what, you and I both have those marks for a reason. We are not bad or ugly, we are who we are, you will have success, just take one day at a time, relax, don't give up, don't you think I wish I had done this before my 41 year old body started to give up from the obesity, in the last 3 months before I was banded, I found that I developed (from my obesity) diabetes, cholesterol, sleep apnea, gallstones, ulcers, anemia. I was banded 2 weeks ago today and even if I lose 50 pounds, I may be able to get off the c-pap machine and not die in my sleep from sleep apnea, make the diabetes and cholesterol numbers disapear, etc.... Ok, and then if a year goes by and NOTHING is happening, I need to look at what I am doing wrong, question the heck out of the doctors and then ultimately the band can be removed if it is doing nothing for you. But.....is it really doing NOTHING for you. Lots of questions to ask.

I am going to utilize the support groups at the hospital, go to FREE overeaters annonymous for support and see a psychologist so that I will have success, because I did not have surgery and have something implanted into my body to not succeed, and I can't leave it up to me to blow it again this time, I have to pull out all the stops!!!!

Janet

Lost 8 before surgery and between 8 & 10 since surgery on Oct 4th 2(wks. now):clap2:

Wow, thanks!

I don't really have a secret... 80 lbs in 3 years is probably patience more than anything. I just know I'll get there eventually, and some days I'll work harder than others, but the band is there to keep me from back tracking... I can pick up where I left off. Mini goals are a big help. There are some threads about mini goals, and I have most of my in my sig I think... my next mini goal that isn't in my sig is to be in a size 12. The last time I actually remember knowing what my size was, is when I was in a size 14, (I think I WAS 14 at the time). I'm also within about 20 lbs of the century club (losing 100 lbs). Keeping things like that in mind helps alot.

Marimaru,

Your right, having patience is probably the key to this from what I can tell from others posts, but the important thing is that we eat healthier, excercise and Not gaining!!!

Again, thanks for the stats, and for the tip about mini goals, that is great advice.

I am at the point right now that I am still eating "mushies" and feeling a little hugry and wanted my family's foods, I have to leave the room when they are eating good stuff,(like right now), that is why these postings are so helpful, I need to get out of the situation. I just need this to work.

My other problem right now, is I am still uncomfortable, Not lots of pain, but I just want all of the pain to be GONE, rolling in bed, getting up and down from lower chairs or banding over can be a bit uncomfotable.

I bought some books today on banding, One is about Khaliah Ali called Fighting Weight, how she was banded, we will see how it is.

keep writing, thank you,

Janet

(Banded 2 weeks ago today)

Hello all,

Count me in. Although I am only two and a half weeks post-op I have only lost 8 pounds. As I read other banders' progress I can't help but feel a little jealous. Some have lost as much a 15 pounds in two weeks-geez what the deal with me?

Thenume,

That's 4 lbs a week. You really need to keep in mind that everyone loses differently, especially in the first month. It's not going to disappear overnight, you know?

Marimaru

I know it's not going to disappear overnight, it seems like it was overnight putting it on. I realize it's 4 pounds a week, and I know I shouldn't compare, but it just seems easier for others to lose quickly.

Thanks

I'm not trying to say you shouldn't be frustrated. I'm just try to say it's not as slow as it seems to be.