How Do You Overcome Feelings of Disappointment?

mikesforevergirl · 10-02-2008, 01:10 PM

Greetings Fellow Bandsters!

I am Lisa, I weighed 333 at my consult on 7/2. I began my preop diet on 7/15 and I had surgery on 7/29 weighing in at 322. I had my 3rd fill yesterday, I weighed 298.6. In the past for weeks I have lost ONLY 6 POUNDS!!!! GGGRRRRR I have somewhere close to 6 cc's in a 10 cc band. Food gets stuck intermittently.

I am walking, following directions and feeling like my loss is not commensurate with my effort.

I lost about 100 lbs low carbing 6 yrs ago and I've yo yo'ed all the way up to where I was before surgery. I am a former TOPS leader. I know the drill, know how to diet and exercise, drink the water, etc. I'm am doing all of the above.

I have only got 1/2 of my thyroid, I am on NO medication as labs seem ok, but hair is thin, always has been.

I suppose my question to those of you that are a couple months in, with a similar amount of weight to lose saw any slow down.

I am open to suggestions.

I have had a cold this past week and I came home after my fill and ate too many 100 calorie packs of cookies. I'm back at it today.

It's just difficult to wake up at 6 am to walk for a month solid and do what you are supposed to and see such minimal results over a 4 week span (6 LBS!!!!). I know 35 lbs is a sizeable amount since beginning pre op diet but you still cannot help but feel deflated when you still weight almost 300 lbs and are eating this little and exercising and seeing a slow down. Or will it pick back up?

Thanks for listening to me WHINE! lol

Best of luck to all of you!

Lisa

ReadySteadyGo · 10-02-2008, 01:34 PM

Hi. I have been banded for 7 months now and I have lost almost the same about as you. Ten more lbs more as a matter of fact.

I've had some problems getting restriction. It could be a lot worse, remember that. You are doing great, just keep going.

You have to take deep breathes, realize that all the weight you have lost these few months you could have gained instead without the band. And keep going.

That's really it, keep going. Just keep walking, and soon enough the weight will come off because it has no choice.

Also don't weigh yourself too much, it can be discouraging.

Good luck.

Twilight · 10-02-2008, 03:02 PM

Lisa,

When I started this process I had so many of those feelings. I read of those losing twice as much as I did on the pre-op diet. At one month my weight loss was on the lower end of everyone in my month group. I kept reading and reading and feeling very deflated. When I mentioned that I was frustrated there were always those people telling me what a great job I was doing and trying to pep me up. The problem was that no matter how much they tried to prop me up, the voices in my head kept me down.

In light of all of that I don't want you to think I'm not wowing over your loss so far. It is very amazing. You ARE right on track. 6 lbs a month is the AVERAGE loss.

Very frustrating when you think how much less you are eating and how much more you are moving. However, there IS a set limit for our time of surgery. We can't compare to other surgeries or diets. It is MEANT to take time. 5-10 pounds a month means it will take time.

Don't give up. Keep plugging along. As the months pass, so will your weight. Slow and steady wins the race. Just keep going.

As far as fill level, I was right there with you. I had 3 at placing, then she added 2 and then she added .5 and I was beginning to panic because I felt NOTHING so then she added .5 more and all of a sudden I was HORRIBLE tight. I went and had .2 taken out....still tight. Just had .4 taken out on Tuesday. Still feeling miserable a lot of the time. So the difference between 5 and feeling nothing and 5.4 and REALLY tight....night and day. You will find your sweet spot. It WILL happen. Don't let those voices in your head tell you that YOU will be the one it doesn't happen for. They are DEADLY to your weightloss. Ignore them.

Hope that helps.

myturn0421 · 10-02-2008, 03:38 PM

Stephanie - that was very encouraging!

I just want to add that weight loss comes off a lot differently for people. Have you measured yourself? A lady I work with had surgery almost 2 years ago, she's lost 70 lbs. She hasn't lost anything in the past 3-4 months and just this morning she measured and realized she's done from a 20-22 to a loose 18. Keep trucking - you're right on track.

CrimsonDawn · 10-02-2008, 03:48 PM

Lisa,

I'm not banded yet so I may be speaking out of turn. You mentioned you lost a lot low carbing. Have you adopted that since you got your band? I used a lot of the 100 calorie packs when I was on Weight Watchers and they completely stalled my weight loss; they are highly processed and just not good for you. They taste yummy, but if you remember from low carb sometimes just a little sweet taste can blow it and you can't get enough.

My aftercare doctor really pushes the low GI diet which is more like South Beach than Atkins; it emphasis good carbs and tries to have you focus on whole foods rather than processed. I know I didn't really answer you question about how to handle the disappointment other than to say maybe try eating a little different and see if it makes a change in your weightloss. Stay strong!

mikesforevergirl · 10-02-2008, 04:16 PM

Actually I am following a low carb regime for the most part. I only hit the 100 calorie packs when I have to! lol

TerriDoodle · 10-02-2008, 10:11 PM

Maybe you've forgotten that weight loss does not happen in a straight line! You should see my WL chart! It's crazy! Up, down, up down....then level for 6 weeks, then down, then up....blah blah blah.

6# in four weeks IS RIGHT ON TARGET!! 1-2#/week!! Be gentle with yourself and focus on other things. It's all good!

CrimsonDawn · 10-05-2008, 11:15 AM

It really sounds like you are doing the right things. Patience was never a virtue for me either. Just hang in there~ Our bodies are so fickle sometimes; I sure wish mine would listen to me! Sometimes I have to measure the little success with weight loss, like being able to walk further than I could a month ago or my swimming suit almost falling off in the pool :) Did you measure yourself before surgery wit h a tape measure? Maybe tracking inches lost instead of just pounds would be another reinforcer.