Your bitching and moaning is not only hurting you, you're hurting others

[kellyodoran 12]

I do understand that this forum is a great place to vent. Especially with those that are in the same boat and as everyone know; misery loves company.

This is a lifestyle change and changing your attitude is a very important part of the over all lifestyle change.

Negative attitudes are like a cancer and spread quickly as do positive attitudes.

Instead of posting about how hungry you are during the pre-op and/or post-op diet:

• take that time to ask yourself if you are really hungry
  
• remind yourself that it is only for a short time
  
• find something to do to take your mind off of the hunger
  
• reassure yourself that it will all be worth it in the long run
  
• smile!
  

I am a bit on the opinionated side but I don't think Bandster Hell exists outside of your own head.

• Talk to your surgeon if you aren't satisfied on the prescribed diet.
  
• If you are gaining weight; keep track of what you are eating and drinking. If you don't see the cause, bring this log to a nutritionist.
  
• If you are plateauing less than 2 weeks, shut up!
  
• If the plateau lasts longer than a few weeks, once again, log your intake and bring it to a nutritionist if you don't see the cause.
  

More importantly, post your positive feelings as well!

Yes, I do recognize the irony in my posting negatively to tell people to be positive. Oh well.

I am soooooo on the same page as you well know!

[kellyodoran 12]

I am soooooo on the same page as you well know!

plus I am logging every single thing I do or eat or drink or think! I have successfully lost 34 pounds in 9 weeks, I have not gone hungry(because I'm eating the right things) I went through bandster hell and bitched about it in Aug. rush 2010, but in retrospect I think the big thing here is that people expect the pounds to just roll off.......that ain't gonna happen....you ARE going to have to work for it: It Is going to take time (which is what you will have now that you have taken a step to prolong it). You WILL have to learn new eating skills (which has been a pleasure for me)!

That's pretty much all I have to say right now, I have a major thunder and lightening storm , with tons of rain and I am damn glad I am here to enjoy this!

[RaSCal 0]

Like others mentioned above, I tend to avoid threads where people are complaining.

I know I'm a band newbie (7/2/10), but I have yet to throw up and have only been stuck for a few minutes a couple of time.

Now, I did gain weight this week for the first time since surgery, but I know why. I got shingles all in my eye and on my forehead and the pain was so severe that I could not bring myself to exercise for the past few weeks, plus my wife had a birthday on Friday. We went out to eat twice and had three cakes in the house. (Hey, I'm not superman!) However, I have started exercising again the past two days and got myself back on my eating routine and I expect to be back down next week.

[Brooklyn732 7]

:thumbup:LOVE the thread. Speak ON Brother!! LOL.

[outside*looking*in 0]

So love your post and reply's!

[Rsilversea 2]

Kinda reminds me of all the posts where people were complaining that they had just had surgery xx days ago and hadn't lost any weight. I'd tell my hubby and we'd laugh. Right after I got out of surgery, the first thing my hubby said to me was "You just had surgery a few minutes ago. How come you haven't lost any weight?"

[Cleo's Mom 257]

Here's my 2 cents about this issue:

We have the right to expect the following:

-That our surgeons be competent and experienced and knowledgable about the LAP-BAND®, how it works, the complexities of obesity and realistic weight loss goals.

-That the band perform as it was promoted to us: by creating a small pouch at the top of our stomach it would create a satisfying sensation and keep us from being hungry for several hours with only small amounts of healthy foods.

-That we be told how to properly eat, what foods might cause problems, not to drink with meals and to exercise.

-That BEFORE a fill your capacity for food and YES, HUNGER, will be similar to before surgery. This is not head hunger. You are eating a lot less than before, so naturally you will feel hunger. BANDSTER HELL is a recognized condition by those experienced in LAP-BAND® surgery.

-That the band is promoted as helping you to lose about 50% of your EXCESS weight. If you have 100 lbs to lose, the band will help with about 50 lbs. It you doctor expects you to lose the other 50lbs, you need to be told that you will have to work very hard to do this.

-That heartburn, reflux, pain, vomiting are not acceptable as the price to pay for losing weight. You are probably too tight.

-That you might get pain in the left shoulder that might not resolve itself.

Your responsibilities as a patient are:

-Eat healthy foods. Avoid those that cause problems.

-Don't drink with meals

-Exercise daily

-Get enough Protein daily

If you do these things, you have the right to expect the band to work as it has been promoted. If it doesn't - IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT.

Also, it is my strong opinion that when the band doesn't work, many surgeons blame the patient. Many surgeons have invented the term head hunger to dismiss real hunger by patients for whom the band is not working properly. THAT IS THE JOB OF THE SURGEON - TO GET THE BAND TO WORK PROPERLY.

I don't have a problem with people complaining on these boards if they are following the guidelines. But there are just too many mediocre surgeons who are all over the place about follow up care and what to do - just read the many posts about this - that I am not going to judge too quickly.

So, there, that's my 2 cents.

A couple of other points I left out:

-You should be able to eat solid foods at each meal. If you can only drink your Breakfast the band is not working as it should or as it is promoted and

most important of all:

-Surgeons need to be honest that not every patient can achieve the sweet spot and the lapband does not work for everyone.

Edited October 9, 2010 by Cleo's Mom

[kellyodoran 12]

Here's my 2 cents about this issue:

We have the right to expect the following:

-That our surgeons be competent and experienced and knowledgable about the LAP-BAND®, how it works, the complexities of obesity and realistic weight loss goals.

-That the band perform as it was promoted to us: by creating a small pouch at the top of our stomach it would create a satisfying sensation and keep us from being hungry for several hours with only small amounts of healthy foods.

-That we be told how to properly eat, what foods might cause problems, not to drink with meals and to exercise.

-That BEFORE a fill your capacity for food and YES, HUNGER, will be similar to before surgery. This is not head hunger. You are eating a lot less than before, so naturally you will feel hunger. BANDSTER HELL is a recognized condition by those experienced in LAP-BAND® surgery.

-That the band is promoted as helping you to lose about 50% of your EXCESS weight. If you have 100 lbs to lose, the band will help with about 50 lbs. It you doctor expects you to lose the other 50lbs, you need to be told that you will have to work very hard to do this.

-That heartburn, reflux, pain, vomiting are not acceptable as the price to pay for losing weight. You are probably too tight.

-That you might get pain in the left shoulder that might not resolve itself.

Your responsibilities as a patient are:

-Eat healthy foods. Avoid those that cause problems.

-Don't drink with meals

-Exercise daily

-Get enough Protein daily

If you do these things, you have the right to expect the band to work as it has been promoted. If it doesn't - IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT.

Also, it is my strong opinion that when the band doesn't work, many surgeons blame the patient. Many surgeons have invented the term head hunger to dismiss real hunger by patients for whom the band is not working properly. THAT IS THE JOB OF THE SURGEON - TO GET THE BAND TO WORK PROPERLY.

I don't have a problem with people complaining on these boards if they are following the guidelines. But there are just too many mediocre surgeons who are all over the place about follow up care and what to do - just read the many posts about this - that I am not going to judge too quickly.

So, there, that's my 2 cents.

I think there are a lot of mediocer patients too!

[Apples2 19]

Here's my 2 cents about this issue:

We have the right to expect the following:

-That our surgeons be competent and experienced and knowledgable about the LAP-BAND®®®, how it works, the complexities of obesity and realistic weight loss goals.

-That the band perform as it was promoted to us: by creating a small pouch at the top of our stomach it would create a satisfying sensation and keep us from being hungry for several hours with only small amounts of healthy foods.

-That we be told how to properly eat, what foods might cause problems, not to drink with meals and to exercise.

-That BEFORE a fill your capacity for food and YES, HUNGER, will be similar to before surgery. This is not head hunger. You are eating a lot less than before, so naturally you will feel hunger. BANDSTER HELL is a recognized condition by those experienced in LAP-BAND®®® surgery.

-That the band is promoted as helping you to lose about 50% of your EXCESS weight. If you have 100 lbs to lose, the band will help with about 50 lbs. It you doctor expects you to lose the other 50lbs, you need to be told that you will have to work very hard to do this.

-That heartburn, reflux, pain, vomiting are not acceptable as the price to pay for losing weight. You are probably too tight.

-That you might get pain in the left shoulder that might not resolve itself.

Your responsibilities as a patient are:

-Eat healthy foods. Avoid those that cause problems.

-Don't drink with meals

-Exercise daily

-Get enough Protein daily

If you do these things, you have the right to expect the band to work as it has been promoted. If it doesn't - IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT.

Also, it is my strong opinion that when the band doesn't work, many surgeons blame the patient. Many surgeons have invented the term head hunger to dismiss real hunger by patients for whom the band is not working properly. THAT IS THE JOB OF THE SURGEON - TO GET THE BAND TO WORK PROPERLY.

I don't have a problem with people complaining on these boards if they are following the guidelines. But there are just too many mediocre surgeons who are all over the place about follow up care and what to do - just read the many posts about this - that I am not going to judge too quickly.

So, there, that's my 2 cents.

Cleo's Mom....this has to be one of my all time favorite posts in the last almost three years I have been on LBT. You put it all in a nutshell.

I cannot tell you how many lapbanders I have visited with that are so NOT informed. Some due to tunnel vision but truly believe there are a lot of ppl out there with a plastic ring around their gut that left that hospital with that ring and no guidlines provided by their surgeon.

Edited October 9, 2010 by Apples2

[Cleo's Mom 257]

Cleo's Mom....this has to be one of my all time favorite posts in the last almost three years I have been on LBT. You put it all in a nutshell.

I cannot tell you how many lapbanders I have visited with that are so NOT informed. Some due to tunnel vision but truly believe there are a lot of ppl out there with a plastic ring around their gut that left that hospital with that ring and no guidlines provided by their surgeon.

Thank you.

[Nanook 2]

Cleo's Mom....this has to be one of my all time favorite posts in the last almost three years I have been on LBT. You put it all in a nutshell.

I cannot tell you how many lapbanders I have visited with that are so NOT informed. Some due to tunnel vision but truly believe there are a lot of ppl out there with a plastic ring around their gut that left that hospital with that ring and no guidlines provided by their surgeon.

Ditto that!!!! Cleo's Mom, Nancy:thumbup:

[NC Dave 1]

Thank you so much for posting this. I deleted this forum from my bookmarks and rarely look at it anymore becasue I got so tired of all the whiners.

The Lap Band is not a replacement for common sense and you HAVE to do your part in changing your diet and following post op instructions.

Myself, I've lost 41 pounds and 18 of those pounds were pre -op because I did what I was expected to do. Was it easy, no. Did I do it anyway, YES.

I now walk 1 mile per day where pre-op I never walked. This week I will increase that that to 1.5 miles a day. and in a few more weeks, 2 miles a day.

You have to do your part, it's that simple. I'm now 6 weeks post op.

dave

[Humming Bird 275]

I get tired of the bitching and moaning too. I still love the site and pop in pretty much daily. I figure maybe people aren't getting enough attention at home and need to whine here a little. Maybe these are just people who whine, bitch and moan about everything in their life and it has become the norm for them .... who knows.

I get tired of all the "tool" talk and the talk about how this is the hardest thing someone has ever done in their life. I figure they have not lived much life at all if they think this is so hard. I think it has been pretty easy, but I try not to flame those who make it harder on themselves. just my 2 cents worth.

[Brooklyn732 7]

This probably isn't the place for it but I want to rant about something else... I'm tired of people posting the same questions over and over and over! How many different Protein shake threads are there going to be?? Just hit the search button!!

And about the bitching and moaning...I can't begin to understand the pain because I still haven't been banded but I would be willing to bet that a large percentage of those bitching and moaning about being banded aren't doing so due to lack of comprehension or information. They're doing it because they want to eat and can't. Well guess what?? We all need to stop eating the way we have been and whether we have a band or not we owe it to ourselves to change. Without the band yet I've lost 39lbs. I'm proud of that. I want to keep losing and creating a sustainable lifestyle for myself so that band or no band, I am committed to losing.

That's just my $.02!

[Cocoabean 430]

Comment qbout NJSizzla's last. I think part of the newly started theads is lack of experience on LBT. I think some do not know there IS a search feature, and sometimes the search can be overwhelming. How many times have we seen a first post in the middle if a thread asking for advice that isn't at all related to the topic at hand?

I will admit to being a newly banded person who posted, "why am I not losing?" (please note proper use of "losing" vs. "loosing"). The veterans helped me out a.k.a. Set me straight. I already knew the answer, but in the moment of post-op rush, pain, hunger, joy, and excitement, I had forgotten. It was nice to get a kind respnse from the vets.

So, to the long-timers, it seems to be repeated, but to those posting, it might be a first ever post. I try (don't always succeed) to be cognizant of how my respnse might be received.

My pet-peeve? Using PB when slime is meant. PB or Productuve Burp, meaning you burp and something comes up, like a baby burps up milk. Sliming and then yakking the stuck something up is NOT a PB in my mind.