OK - I'm going to say it I HATE MY LAPBAND!!!!!!! (LONG)

Jewels....I know too well how you are feeling.  We are both on the "slow train" pulling up the rear of this fast moving weight loss train.  My story is so much like yours as far as the weight loss is concerned.  I am also ready to throw in the towel!  I was banded on July 1 of last year.  I started off weighing 273 lbs...went on the pre-op liquid diet...lost about 10 lbs.  I had the surgery, then went on the liquid diet again, losing another 10 lbs.  That brought me down to 253 lbs.  That was over 8 months ago.  What do I weigh now???   I teeter between 254-549.5 lbs!  So at my lowest weight, I have only lost about 23 lbs total since July 1, 2008.  It just makes me so damn mad, because I have given up so many foods since then, but still I see no results.  My main problem is that I don't do cardio or strength exercising like I'm supposed to do (that's another story). But I don't sit on my ass all day, either.  I do housework and fix meals from scratch daily for us.

Since my surgery, I completely stopped baking anything...something I loved to do!  I also gave up all pastas, white breads, sugar, white potatoes, all rice, soft drinks, and caffeine.  I eat 1/2 to 3/4 less of what I used to eat pre-surgery, but can not lose anymore weight.

I was recently diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, which my PCP is trying to stabilize with medications.  I take many medications (8 prescriptions) per day, have Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.  I sleep just fine, drink my allotted amount of water daily, don't drink with my meals or 30 min after.  Do I cheat sometimes....sure, I'm human, too.  I don't journal what I eat because I've done that with all the other "diets" I"ve been on all my adult life.  I have obsessed about my extra weight all of my life....and have come to the conclusion that my body just will not give up the fat!  I feel that I am destined to be fat until the day I die.

So, Jewels, you are not the only one who feels this way.  I wish now that I had never told anyone, except my husband, about the surgery.  I can almost read their minds when they see that I"m still the same size I was 8 months ago.  God, I hate that!!  Do I want to get rid of the band??..NO.  I can not have any other surgeries because of my blood clot issues....will be on blood thinners the rest of my life.

Take care and hang in there with me.

Susie

Susie,

I can so relate to look you get when people are wondering why you haven't lost any weight since surgery.  It is awful.  I shouldn't have been such a loud mouth pre-op - now it lead to nothing but embarassment.

Hang in there.

Well you have me puddling up.  I know exactly how you feel.  I also feel like a failure at this thing.  What is happening with me is that I'll lose some weight then I'll just stay right there and toggle 3 lbs up and down.  I have only lost a total of 32 lbs since the surgery and a lot of that was from December to now.  Please please please keep exercising.  I'm not losing weight but my body is shrinking.  In the book I'm reading  she specifically states that when you're exercising do not be surprised if the scale refuses to budge.  Your body WILL change though and it seems like it just happens all at once.  I started hitting it hard in December and people noticed the end of last month.  I keep telling myself the weight will follow but I get really upset. 

Please just keep in mind that you're 27 lbs lighter than you were before and without the band you'd be at least where you were if not more.  I'm sure your metabolism sucks, just like mine.  Please don't give up.  I'm happy to help in any way I can.  I know it's terribly frustrating but we had the surgery and I for one will make it work.  I know you can too we just have to figure out what's going to kick our metabolism into gear. 

As for the I've only lost 30 lbs in a month what am I doing wrong posts, I've stopped reading  those.  I look at the weight and the date of surgery first thing then the first couple of words and if it sounds like one of those I move on to the next.  I used to try to support everyone but quite frankly I refuse to upset myself with those anymore. 

Thanks so much!!!!  You were one of the people *****ally encouraged me to start exercising (I don't think I ever told you that).  I have been doing it religiously since early/mid january and I do feel better with the exercising.  I just wish the damn scale would move!!!  Is that so much to ask when I'm trying so hard.  Even if I could get to 299.9 and be out of these 300's I'd be re-energized!!! 

Well, I'll tell you I won't stop moving now.  I'm addicted and feel crappy if I don't get my exercise in.  I never in a million years thought I would be one to say that - but I am!!

It will move.  You're building muscle and it weighs more than fat.  At some point you'll level out and the weight will start moving.  Don't fret.  Keep it up and change it up.  I am trying to figure out how to change up my routine right now.  Even now I would be willing to bet that if you stood next to someone who weighed that same amount you'd look better because of your exercise.  Hang in there and don't lose faith.  It will work, just at a slower pace.

I do the same thing with those posts!!!  If your losing more than 5 pounds a month I don't feel sorry for you!!  LOL

Hi Jewels-
I have missed seeing your posts recently! I don't really have any advice for you... i just wanted to say that i am so sorry that this has happened to you. I don't really understand how you could do all the right things and still not have it work. I know you probably can't either. Maybe a second opinion from a different doctor would be a good idea! Keep your head up! I hope things get better for you!

Thanks Amanda -

By the way - you are doing fabulous!!

Thank you for being so open and honest with us today.  I appreciate your candor and wish I was there to hug you in person! 
Is your family supportive of your efforts?  Do you have to cook "regular" meals every night for your family.  That would be really difficult for me.  My DH either eats what I eat or fends for himself.  I'm really lucky that he's willing to do that.
I'm just switching my anitdepressants after 4 years on Prozac primarily due to work related stress and anxiety.  I'm just starting to take Effexor.  My PCP thinks it will be a better match and I think one of the side effects is suppressed appetite, though it's too early for me to tell.  Maybe if you consult another surgeon he won't make you wait four years for a revision.  If my insurance covered it I was going to have the VSG.  You might check into that option too.
Hang in there and please keep us posted.

Lisa O.

My top choice would have been the VSG - unfortunatley my insurance only covers RNY and LapBand and I didn't fight them on it (kinda wish I did).  I know several people who have converted from LB to VSG and are doing really well now!