I wanted to have the kind of blog where I only report the good things that come with being banded - at least in a perfect world. I wanted lots of triumphs and less whinging about the negatives. My feelings still are there are no real negatives but just lots of little bumps along the way. This is definitely a bump time and because I also aim to be truthful and I want to record how I feeling on any given day I will just get this over with.
I went back through my diary trying to figure out when I had my last fill. For a bit there I thought it had been almost three months - scrap that - I found an entry when I saw Dr Couch on the 19th of October. So that means by the time I see this new Doctor next week it will have been about 7 weeks between visits. For the first four I had the most fantastic restriction - I hit my 20 kilo loss, and I was just a little over the 90 kg target the good Doc has set for me.
Well, since this last fill (also doing a little working out with the aid of weight loss charting) I was faced with a horrible fact. I have only lost 2.6 kilos in just over six weeks. I guess if I want to look at it glass half-full I can also say I haven't gained any weight from that point on.. but come on!! 2.6 kilos in six weeks? That's fairly pitiful by anyone's standards. And the worst thing is, I don't know what else I could have done to change things. I am walking. I don't drink while I eat and I always wait the time out before I do drink. I eat protein first, vegetables second, and starch last. I am still measuring my portions (at least most of the time) and I don't have more than my little bandit one cup bowl full.. the list goes on. Frustrated doesn't begin to cover it and I feel like I'm dragging my bum along the ground more each day.
I guess I will have to see if this next fill starts to fix things. And next time: I won't be leaving it so long between visits - though again, this couldn't be helped this time around as the new Doc has been on hols for weeks so I couldn't have seen him even if I wanted to.
Ok chin up (me, not you) I've had my vent. I hope you all have a lovely weekend. And I will report on how this next appointment goes with the new Doc. I'm a little stressed over this too... I hope he's on the ball and really listens to my concerns.
Cara xx
Ok there is a footnote here: I have since calmed down.. ha! And after the 'Voice of Reason' AKA MOTH stepped in and we had a chat - I feel better. At least a bit. When you've lost as much weight as I have in such a short amount of time I guess your body fights those last kilos to the death (though I would have thought it was more the last five - not fifteen )... and losing at a slower rate now means I don't have saggy skin. That's a definite plus. Even at my age, I find everything is snapping back into place - but that's not to say the old body is perfect by any means. But these things I can work on. And I will. Ever the optimist I feel silly now for my rant lol. Sorry folks.
I imagine the smaller you get the slower the weight comes off. So the good news is you're small enough to be at that point!! :) Do you count calories? That works for me. Can you amp up the workouts to get past the plateau? Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI think in regards with your fill it is always like that at the beginning so what I figured is you are looking for it to be a tad too tight in the beginning and then after a few weeks it settles??? I don't know - just a theory.
ReplyDeleteYou will feel much better after your fill :-)
I love that you talk about the good and the challenging. It's good to see both sides. BUT, I bet even though you've only lost a couple kg in the past 6 weeks you've lost a ton of inches. And isn't that truly the point? We don't walk around with a scale number on our heads but it's how our clothes fit and feel that we're going after. You're new dress is divine. Put it on and strut your stuff!!
ReplyDelete- Shannon
I'm sorry for your frustrations, Cara. I'm glad you had a chat with your husband. And hopefully this next fill will do it for you (and for me). Here's to the 30th!!!
ReplyDeleteCara - You have the right to feel frustrated and vent. It all can't be sunshine and lollipops, but you are doing so well and you are going to slow down. I'm sure that the fill will help you out a lot. Have a good weeknight!!
ReplyDeleteSometimes a girl just needs to vent. I can totally realate to the mentality of just blowing it, I've done that many times before. I'm glad MOTH was able to remind you that although the last month or so may have sucked, in the big picture you're doing awesome.
ReplyDeleteCara, I empathize with you. Do not feel bad for ranting. Getting your frustrations out by talking about them, releases them and allows you to do something about them rather than punish yourself with ongoing negative thoughts.
ReplyDeleteAs you get closer to goal, your body will have carefully adjusted itself to conserve as many calories as possible. This is just the body's way of fine tuning itself to be able to maintain your goal weight later on. To push past these "plateaus" (though you have been losing and aren't really stagnating here) one needs to challenge their body in a different way. That can come by altering your exercise strategy and thereby challenging your body which will cause it to burn more calories. Interval training is a great way to do this and you may want to do it with the walking you do. Adding steep inclines, altering your speed up and down, etc.
Hope this helps a bit. You really are doing great and as long as you're headed in the right direction, that's all that matters in long run.
I totally agree with everyone Cara! Especially Elliana. As your body gets lower in weight, it fights the weight loss even more! Just hang in there, it will come off. And like you said, since it is coming off slow, it isn't causing major sagging problems which is always a plus!! :)
ReplyDeleteJust know that we are here for the good and bad! Your next fill will clamp it down and you'll be losing again. I'd certainly take comfort in the 'I haven't gained' part of things also. Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteNever feel silly about the rants. Regardless of how out of place they may feel after you've gotten it out of your system, the feelings were valid at the time. I love that you're ever-the-optimist..because truth be told, I am not. As always, your post are inspiring even when you may think your weight loss isn't. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteKeep the rants coming.
ReplyDeleteIt helps so much to know I'm not the only one who tests the band, who has days where it's just like, "fuck it", or who wants to murder their scale. Those posts keep me going. They remind me I'm not a total weirdo!
Sides, I have noticed that a good rant session on a blog tends to lead to a little downward movement on the scale :-)
Rant away, Girl! We totally get it. And it makes me feel I'm not alone - just like Brooke said. Your losses so far are just fab, and I know you will get back on track right away!
ReplyDeleteWe both have around the same amount of weight left to lose and yep, it's slowed down for me too! I keep losing the same 2 pounds over and over again so I know how you feel. We will get through this!!
ReplyDeleteRants are fine? A perfect blog would be boring!! Sorry you were feeling frustrated and that I missed this post until now!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate all of the lovely encouragement on my blog.
I'll be joining you in bandland in just a few weeks!
You're doing TOTALLY GREAT! Don't knock yourself for the temporary difficulties, it's all coming together!!!
I meant RANTS ARE FINE-- no question mark!!!
ReplyDelete:-)
wow you have done so well!! This is a bump and ranting is what we all do! Be patient for that fill and you will be off and running again.
ReplyDeleteDoes slow weightloss really mean the skin will shrink :) I guess I am too old because I have some serious sagging in places that are seriously not pretty sagged! Your pics look great so my guess is time is unsagifying you.
Tina
Cara-HUGS! Rant away girlfriend, blogs are for support and a place to be able to put everything out there and not give two shits what other people think. I hope you are feeling even better today.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to my world! Try being basically the same weight for 5months! Frustrating to say the least. It sucks but I have to believe if I keep plugging away, the weight will eventually come off. And it will for you too! Don't worry about negative posts. The truth is the truth, if that's the way you're feeling, tell the world!
ReplyDeleteEm :)