donali

This morning I am .5 pounds away from my century mark!!! My band is giving 150% in these final days... lol There is a teeny tiny glimmer, a shimmering gossamer dream, that... dare I say it? I could even... break into ONEDERLAND by the time the band is relieved of it duties! I don't know how psychosomatic this is, but my tummy seems very tender. I'm almost afraid to eat anything, hence the sudden downward trend. Plus, I have been getting my fill of distraction from food (THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!! ). I even did my 20 minute walk yesterday, instead of putting it off until "after". Stay tuned for more exciting details.... lol Hey, do you think the band has been there long enough that I will have a "ghost" band? You know, like those people who've had to lose an arm or a leg, sometimes they still feel it... I don't think my band really wants to give up, so maybe, just maybe... Should I call it Casper? Door prize for the winning name of my ghost band!!!

Dating sucks... Aw, honey, I'm sorry. But hey!! Good vibes being sent towards the condo sale!!!

Not enough can be said about peer support in this regard. I am not denying that my behaviours may have caused or contributed to my erosion, but KNOWING that erosion is a possible complication for ANY implantable device does help me to be at peace with what has happened. I wish there was a way to know for sure, but in a way maybe it's better that I don't... I just think it's important to not perpetuate speculation as fact. Speculation is valuable and has it place, but is not the same as FACT.

I wasn't told that by my doc, but that seems to be the accepted advice from other boards by people who've been banded a long time. It makes sense, and doesn't hurt, so I pass that recommendation on as well.

Bobby - Congrats on your wonderful success so far!!! And congrats on rededicating yourself to your journey. I posted a reply to your seperate thread. I'll just recap here that if physical hunger is driving you to eat more than you'd like a fill is in order - but only if you're not vomiting or having reflux. This is a long journey. It has twists and turns. Sometimes we take the scenic route. This is not a diet, so you have not failed. You've been resting...

Alexandra - you are right. That's why I read Smartbandsters as well. I just rarely post anywhere but here. If you are not already a member of graduatebandsters you may want to join there as well. Jessie posts there too, and you get the wonderful insight of Patricia, and Sarina, and a couple of other really thoughtful people that aren't coming to mind right off hand (it's only 4:45am... lol It appears I have successfully replaced my food addiction with lapbandtalk addiction, at least for the moment!!! . Everyone else - as always, your support means everything to me. Even something as inane as a little argument on a support board, and you guys come out of the woodwork to bolster my spirits. Amazing... Have I mentioned lately that "YOU GUYS ROCK!!"???

Hi Bobby - I think it is unlikely that you have stretched your pouch. Are you eating to the point of vomiting because you are overfull? Are you eating to the point of feeling like the bottom of your esophagus is expanded (very uncomfortabl)? It is not uncommon for people to lose a sense of restriction as they lose weight. Even though you have put on 5 pounds, your weightloss may account for your feeling less restriction. It sounds to be like a fill would not be out of order if you are not vomiting or having reflux. Being able to eat a whole toasted turkey sandwich - is that like on sandwich bread? Or is this like a large toasted Subway sub? A normal person can eat a whole sandwich. It's what a person eats in addition to the whole sandwich that contributes to their obesity. You know, the bag of chips, the cookie (that would have been ONE, but they sell them as 3 for $1, so you get three and eat them all... ) It is always good to modify your behaviour first, if possible. But if hunger is driving you to eat more than you want, a fill will help with that. If it's just the desire to eat... Well, that's a challenge I think we all face, and sometimes requires the help of a professional therapist/counselor to help us find ways to turn down that kind of hunger. Hang in there, Bobby!

Metamorphasis is a wonderful thing. Remember that it is not always comfortable - change is leaving the familiar and heading into the unknown. But the rewards are great. I'm proud of both of you for taking this step and letting it transform how you think of yourselves. That is the most important part of the journey... The weightloss part is the gravy.

Kuri used the word "kotex"? lol I can't believe he made you wait 2 HOURS!!!! Just kidding - Kuri is my new hero, because he saved DeLarla's life. I feel like sending him money with a thank you card. DeLarla, STOP leaking!!! Have you seen Lisa? Louie's looking for her.... He has some pills for her to take...

I liked it when he talked about getting so small he crawled up into the vacuum cleaner.... lol DeLarla - you're getting sleeeeeepy.... lol

Jeanie - thanks for the kind words. I am but a lowly computer-type person doing work inbetween wordprocessing and lowlowlowlevel programming. Lowlowlowlevel programming is a step above macros. I've just been one of those people who always seems to be searching on an emotional/spiritual level with a lot to learn. My soul feels good if I feel like I'm "spreading the love." My posts are much more level headed than my gut reactions, thank goodness. Birdee - adding positive things is a good way to make changes, as Robin a.k.a. CoffeeWench so eloquently puts it. Instead of focusing on what we DON'T want to do, we focus on what we DO want to do. Spin can make all the difference. A couple of my items are phrased a negatives - I need to reword them... Alexandra - you know you rock. Michelle - you too. Anybody I have missed, please know how much I appreciate each and every one of you. The outpouring of love and care I have received from this group has exceeded my wildest imaginations.

All right, WHO WOKE UP DELARLA?!?!?!?!?!?!?! lol Aw, honey, he's not worth it. I'm still feeling bristly, but I'm not taking his bait to "let you have the final word." Even though my quoting him word for word as an example to him was purposefully interpreted as agreeing with what he said... sigh... DOWN girl!! You're feeling sleeeeepy..... sleeeepy.... your eyes are getting heavier..... sleeeeepppyyy................... lol You guys are so right. I never post there for the same reason. Thanks again for being the place and the people I really turn to when the going gets rough. This is the best board ever.

Nanny, congrats on your approval!! I am so sorry that your news was not met with the support you needed. I find it hard to believe the horror stories they were passing on to you were about the band - undoubtedly they were about the bypass. You will find many people don't realize all WLS is NOT the same. Hang in there, girl!!

Psssst.... Louie.... ya 'der? :bandit

Most definitely. You have to ask? lol I was doing a cleanse. I had a book. I was so totally sold. But... I let it be about WEIGHT and not HEALTH, so was relying on the scale to judge my success. Hence the mind games, and then the early demise of my cleanse. A two week basic fast, plus a day for each year of life to repair all the damage done to my cells with preservative and free radicals, etc. Another pitfall to avoid that I forgot to put on my list. 21. I will not give the scale power over my journey.

Penni - Thanks for the suggestion. I do absolutely mean to have a fast day occasionally, but hadn't seriously commited to a day every week yet. I did a couple of juice fasts prior to my compulsive eating therapy, and loved them once I could get myself psyched into it. I think one day a week is much more reasonable (I was trying for a 40 day fast, and made it to 17 before I mind-gamed myself into eating.) I will definitely put that on my list.

Welcome, Suzy!! Congrats on your success!

Thanks, Guamtab. I will definitely keep this info in mind if I choose to be rebanded.

Lisa, some NSAIDs are more irritating than others. I would not worry about this short course of NSAIDs at the beginning of your journey.

Thanks, Sultana. I appreciate it!

Congrats, Janie!! Will miss you! Enjoy!!

Since I am facing losing my band next week, I have to find a way to do it on my own. I would MUCH MUCH MUCH rather do it with the band, but that's just too bad. So, I'm going to have to suck it up, and be brutally honest with myself and my pre-band eating habits. 1. Being constantly hungry is NOT a license to eat a whole large deep dish pizza. Or a whole bucket of fried chicken. Or a whole casserole of lasagna. 2. Occasionally having a piece of pizza, or fried chicken, or lasagna is NOT the problem. However, if that doesn't satisfy my hunger, I will have to fill up on less calorically dense foods, like fruits, vegetables and lean Proteins if I want to maintain my weight loss. 3. I will NOT drink WITH my meals. 4. I will eat regularly, and not wait until I am STARVING and in a panic about food. 5. I will PLAN. I will PLAN. I will PLAN.. That means I will have nutritious food available for every meal. I will not fall into my prior bad habits of hitting fast food places and super-sizing because I never got around to making a lunch to take to work. 6. I will CHEW my food. 7. I will eat SLOWLY. 8. I will stop eating after 20 minutes. 9. I will find ways to distract myself from thoughts of food when I am not physically hungry. 10. I will NEVER DIET. 11. I will make nutritious choices 70% of the time. 12. When I have a bout of unstoppable hunger/cravings, I will satisfy my craving for any kind of food with ONE normal person serving. If I am still hungry I have permission from myself to eat as much vegetables, fruit and lean proteins as I can cram in there. 13. I will Water load before meals. 14. I will drink my gallon of water a day. 15. I will do a minimum of 20 minutes walking each day. 16. I will faithfully and frequently check-in with my beloved bandster buddies to receive the support, love and understanding that I will need, particularly when things are not going as well as planned. 17. I will practice using my emotional hunger tools, and revisit my eating addiction therapy tools often. 18. I will concentrate on HEALTH, not weight. 19. I will open myself to inspiration. 20. I will be gentle and loving with myself every step of the way. Feel free to add things I may have missed!!

RIGHT now. TODAY. "Diets" in the traditional sense DO NOT WORK. "Diets" in the traditional sense create feelings of deprivation, which lead to bingeing, guilt, and low self-esteem. "Diets" in the traditional sense are temporary fixes for a permanent problem. You need a permanent solution. You either need to find a way to make better choices so you can consume the volume you need to feel full, or you need to eat less of the less nutritious choices and go hungry. Being banded allows you to feel full on a smaller amount of food, so it is easier to eat less. At first, that is probably all you need to do - eat less. As you lose weight, and get closer to your goal, you will have to start making more nutritious choices to keep losing weight. The band helps with that too, as certain less nutritious foods are usually more difficult to eat with good restriction, like breads, rice, potatoes and Pasta. Banded or not, you will have to change your eating behaviours to lose weight. Banding makes it much easier, once that constant hunger is under control. Best of luck with your decision.

Thanks for the book title, Bright. I will definitely have to look it up. And thanks for working your Irish magic for me and Indiana... I know you didn't forget, you wonderful thing you. ***hugs***

Francesca - Elizabeth has the best advice. I think you really do need to see your doc. I know it is hard to make enough time to have a meal, but you are worth it, and you HAVE to make enough time. You HAVE to find a way not to be rushed. You may be one of those who needs to be on liquids even longer. If you cannot tolerate solids, can you stay full and satisfied on thick liquids? You're probably not getting in enough calories at the moment. Try doing Protein shakes for a few days. Good luck!