Three things that are driving me absolutely BATTY in these forums!!

[Fanny Adams 7]

1. People who have only been banded for 4 months and are calling themselves a failure because they've "only" lost 50lb!

HELLO, people!! We did not have the gastric bypass, what did you expect?? This surgery is not designed to have you drop 30lb a month - that's one of the main reasons, people choose it - because it is a far safer procedure and gives a safer and slower loss rate. 4 calendar months is only 17 weeks and a loss of 50lb is almost 3lb per week, which is WELL ABOVE the average and is a fantastic weight loss. If you've lost 50lb in 26 weeks (6 months), you are losing at 2lb per week and that is a GREAT loss rate. If you have lost 25lb in 6 months, you are STILL in the average of 1-2lb per week, which is a perfectly healthy and sustainable rate! Yes, some people lose faster but even if you've only lost 20lb in 6 months, I'd bet a week's wages that that's better than the six months you had BEFORE banding. Stop thinking negatively and calling yourselves failures! Those numbers are a great success and should be celebrated.

2. People who say "oh I have no restriction but I'm PB'ing and sliming every time I try to eat solid food".

HELLO!! You DO have restriction! What do you think is causing you to PB/slime?? If you are feeling hungry between meals, it is probably because you are drinking your food instead of eating it! Try eating solid foods very very slowly and well chewed - you'll feel much fuller for much longer. If the first meal of the day is troublesome, try having a hot drink (tea, coffee, ff chocolate, whatever you like) 30 minutes before the meal to prepare your stomach. If you're not hungry in the mornings and are starving at night - don't eat in the mornings!! Save your daily calorie allowance for when you ARE hungry and EAT it in solid food, not soft easy foods (unless of course, you are still in the post-op healing phase). If you can't eat solid food (slowly and well-chewed), you don't need another fill - you are too tight!

3. People who obsess about getting "enough protein" and drinking Protein shakes

HELLO AGAIN!! Let me repeat, we did NOT have the gastric bypass. Our bodies are still perfectly capable of absorbing all the nutrients that we eat and there is no need to increase protein intake to compensate. You should be able to get in all the protein you need by EATING, not by drinking supplements. Eat lean hard Proteins if you can, choose tuna or crab meat if you have trouble with hard protein and you will get all you need. Eat good fresh vegetables and you won't need Vitamin supplements. You will also feel much more full doing this and won't be complaining about being hungry all the time!

Whew!! That feels good to get that off my chest! I know my loss rate isn't the fastest out there. It is currently running at 1.7lb per week and that is the rate I'm aiming for. I could make it go faster if I exercised more, but I do an average of 30 mins x 4 days a week (sometimes more, sometimes less) and I am losing at the speed I had planned upon and I'm thrilled with the results so far. My fitness level is noticeably improving, I'm not hungry except at meal times, I'm satisfied after my meals, I only have problems with getting stuck or PB'ing when I stop paying attention when eating and don't chew well enough or eat too quickly (still working on that), and I AM NOT A FAILURE!

[Chris_NJ 9]

AMEN !!! Great post !

[steph_co 9]

Fanny? I think you're my hero. LOL I've always enjoyed your posts. And I think a woman that can get a guy in his undies is A-OK in my book.

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

I agree 100%!

Jean

[*susan* 1,709]

Fannie, I so agree with you woman!!!!

[green 6]

Bravo! Excellent post!!

[Pix 4]

Fanny you forgot the is this normal questions. Well how do we know if it is normal or not?! We aren't doctors (most of us) and even if we were we aren't your personal physician/surgeon so we can't tell you if it is or not. We can only tell you our personal experiances. Which in the greater scheme of things might be reassuring for a bit, it does NOT equate to your doctor or surgeon. CALL YOUR DOCTOR.

And the Help please, this hurts so bad ones. Eesh get your tushy to your doctor and or emergency room and get checked out if it is that bad!! I mean really, you are having major pain in your chest, or abdomen (or where ever) that wasn't there a few days ago, and this is killing you you are in so much pain. GO TO YOUR ER NOW don't post, don't wait to see if someone (who has never met you, isn't able to diagnose you cause they can't examine you) says it is bad or ok. JUST GO TO THE ER or make a same day appointment with your doctor, do not waste valuable time waiting to see what some person millions of miles away might say.

There are a few more that get on my nerves but those two are the big ones. I can post the rest of you want to see me rant more

[Fanny Adams 7]

LOL! Yes, those drive me batty too!

[Mergatroy 0]

thanks - good reading

[Stay_Tuned 0]

Duly noted.....

I pledge to not ask foolish question of those who have gone before me on this "Lapband support board".....

Signed,

A not yet banded newbie full of questions

[MrsFlipFlops 2]

Fanny- thank you... that actually made me feel better!

Stay Tuned- I don't think there's anything wrong with asking questions... just not ones like "There a tube sticking out my side, is this normal?" Those are better to just ask a doctor. lol. Welcome to the forum! :sad:

[Mergatroy 0]

Questions are fine. I think the objection was to people needing medical help and expecting us lay people to act as medical professionals.

[MacMadame 81]

I'm always kind of amazed at what kinds of questions people ask on the internet. Not just medical questions, but all kinds. One board I'm on is big on people asking for legal advise. No matter how many times people tell them to contact a lawyer, they feel more comfortable asking a bunch of lay people they don't even know for legal advice about how to run their businesses! It's just mind-blowing!

[TommyO 5]

I have participated in this forum for about 3 years and this probably about the 5th time I have seen threads very similar to this one. Most members of this forum have a lifecycle. I won't go into detial but,the join and begin their participation by asking questions. They soon become active members and start to get involved in many ways. At some point they become annoyed at the new members that are asking questions that now seem simple to them. Eventually they no longer have much interset in the board and they move on.

Usually this type of thread creates a controversy because it can offend new members. It is important to note that individuals learn and process information differently. Some people love to do volumes of research and others want to know what they need to know and they want to know it right now. Many people fall in the middle somewhere but it is unfair to condem anyone just because their learning style different or the knowledge of the topic is minimul.

Honestly I have grown to dislike threads that discuss how other people should approach their journey or what types of questions are stupid and which ones are not.

Conversley I probably took part in a similar thread as an agreable participant about 2 1/2 years ago.

Just my thoughts

TommyO

[plain 12]

I can kind of see your point, Tommy O, except that this is in the Rants and Raves area. Basically, everything posted here is opinion only. And there are a ton of banners, warnings and subtitles that state that very thing. It would be like me walking into a library and starting to play a trumpet, and then getting my feelings hurt when I got shushed by the patrons.

At the risk of alienating Stay Tuned, he / she skipped a whole forum neatly organized in various sub catagories to express dismay at the attitude of somebody in the "Rants and Raves" section. Would have been easier to pick the most appropriate catagory and just ask the question, no?