Sojourner

Diane, this is the best blog post ever! That list has relevancy to all of us who are on this journey.

You are an inspiration and a treasured friend. Even through the difficult days you manage to see the silver lining in the challenges found in each day.

Thank you for sharing your wisdom! <3

A great topic Cheryl...so many on the forum seem to have forgotten the rules for the forum, and common courtesy in interpersonal communication.

I can agree to disagree with the best of us, and sometimes the need to be right for others makes the forum too devisive to be an effective tool for sharing best practices and information.

If members feel the need to rant, it is a better choice to type their frustrations out to externalize their feelings, and then delete their message before posting. You still have the therapeutic benefits without all of the resulting turbulence.

A nebulous caste system does not exist on an open forum...J/S

Thank you for addressing the "white elephant" in the room on our forum.

There is nothing wrong with sharing best practices and first hand experiences which have led to learning and understanding with regards to band related issues.

I cringe when I read medical advice being given by individuals who do not hold the professional credentials to be dispensing medical advice.

This forum is not a replacement for consulting with your surgeon or their medical team.

Thank you Cheryl, for pointing out what should be obvious to all, yet does not seem to be.

We are paying our money to our surgeon for their expertise in the field of Bariatric surgery. We should follow the instructions each of us were given for our pre and post op diets.

Get your best value for your healthcare dollars...follow your instructions!

Awesome progress Jim!

I enjoyed reading your blog, and I agree, as far as our mobility goes, we should never take anything for granted. Going for a brisk walk is something I enjoyed for years, and after my car accident, the road back made me realize that it is often the simple things which mean the most.

One thought which struck me as I was reading was perhaps starting out with a more reasonable exercise goal could help. I am determined to get in 5-6 hours of cardio per week. That's just about the max of what my joints can manage. I'm retired now, but if I were still working, 10 hours of cardio would be impossible for me.

If you adjusted your goal, you might not admonish yourself if you did not reach your weekly goal. That mindset is so important to keep us focused and motivated to continue with meeting our exercise goal.

Also, reassigning exercise to a habit instead of a task does take away some of the interpretation that exercise is just another form of work. Looking forward to exercise because it helps you achieve your weight loss goals is a healthier approach IMO.

Keep up your great progress!

An excellent blog...thank you for sharing so much relevant information with us. You look amazing, and I am happy that you are able to enjoy your well earned success with your journey! Hugs to you!

I can relate, and feel the same way. It sometimes feels that I am reliving the years when our sons were adolescents, and they refused to consider that someone else may have some wisdom forged from living through the experiences.

I particularly become concerned when there are posts which give medical advice to others, and the poster possess no professional credentials to do so.

Some things will never change. And like you, I ignore most of the posts which ask for medical advice and the responses of those forum members who are unqualified to render them.

I rarely post anything on the main forum any longer for those reasons. Thank you for sharing these most valuable insights with others.

That sounds refreshing...I will have to try that.

At present, my favorite is red grapefruit infused water...also refreshing on a hot summer day.

Good information Cheryl. Thank you for sharing it...and for effectively outlining the processes of what risks over eating creates. As stated so often, "Listen to your band!"

Great post AJ!

I chose not to give up my 1 glass of morning iced coffee...my surgeon knows, and does not approve. If I changed everything in my life I would have been feeling resentful. Coffee helps me stay dedicated and focused with the rest of my meals. I allow for it in my plan. End of story!

Enjoy your wine!

It can be difficult to accept that some of those entrenched behaviors are still with us, even with all of the hard work and success you have experienced.

Old habits die hard...and being honest with yourself and others is a huge step forward in the stages of change. We always need to be vigilant with our triggers and lapses. It happened, and you learned from the experience. You are moving forward again, and today is another opportunity to make better choices.

You are a brave and inspirational woman...now onward!

Big hugs to you!

Love,

You are an amazing woman, and the inner strengths you have tapped into will take you to the finish line of everything you set off to do...

Thank you for this eloquent post...it serves to center one's thoughts on the choices we have every day.

Our success in every journey will be determined by the choices we make every day. For success, we will all come to enjoy SF lemonade...

Thank you for sharing this...and for being the positive inspiration you are every day!

Big hugs to you...

What a wonderful way to share your success! Congratulations...an inspiration for all of us...

Count this as a life lesson learned...you can't eat 2 cups of food at a meal with out risking stretching your pouch, which can contribute to still feeling hungry after a meal.

We are not supposed to eat until we feel "full", only until our hunger is satiated. Some people never find their"green zone", as per what my surgeon has told me. Throughout this weight loss journey, we need to accept responsibility for our weight loss success. That means we comply with the diet prescribed to us from our surgeon.

I experience hunger every day...but instead of eating, I start drinking water and get focused on a project or go for a walk. When you make poor choices to eat when you are not supposed to, you only end up hurting yourself.

Our bands are only a tool to help with weight loss, we have to work the program if we want results. I believe it would help to have a good and honest discussion with your surgeon, and get back on track.

We have to ask ourselves how badly do we want to regain our health...if you want it enough, you can make it happen. Additional fills are not always the answer.

Though a bit tardy with my comment...I want to say that there are so many people who take for granted having the ability to have children, that they are thoughtless when they speak with others.

It's a heartbreaking situation...but perhaps you and your wife should look into alternative paths towards parenthood. When you take steps to realize fruition of a goal, it is much more of an emotionally healthy place to be in, than stuck and feeling helpless.

{{{Hugs to you}}}

Thank you Cheryl for sharing these most valuable "pearls of wisdom"...we can all benefit from learning!

Yes, my band is definitely tighter in the morning...and sometimes I have to be out of bed and active for an hour before I can contemplate breakfast. Sipping a hot/warm drink does seem to help me.

This is a learning curve, and I've discovered that essentially my band has a mind of it's own. Some days I can tolerate cool water in the morning, other days I can't. A food well tolerated for months will suddenly create issues for me and goes off my list of tolerated foods.

Be careful with dry foods such as crackers...they are notorious for causing stuck episodes. After any event, such as a stuck episode or fill, it is best to follow your medical team's instructions...my surgeon advises me to stay on liquids for 2 days, and only soft foods for an additional day.

I agree that no one, unless they have the proper credentials, should be giving medical advice to others on this forum, or any other venue. We all have been on the "learning curve" at some point on our journey to become a healthier individual, however there is a difference between general advice and questions which a qualified professional needs to answer.

I'm unclear as to which individuals you are referring to that "bash" others...I don't condone that. However if you have been on this forum for some time and read some of the posts it does make me wonder if the poster has had any pre-op education. Sometimes when people ask for advice, if you respond in an honest way they get offended. If you don't want an answer, then don't ask the question. I don't know of anyone I have encountered on this site that has malicious intent to be negative towards others.

I am a licensed therapist and a certified addictions professional. I understand that there are immense differences between instructions a surgeon would give their patients and I respect that. I encourage posters to follow the instructions they have been given by their medical team, and if they don't understand them, ask their team of medical professionals for clarification...that's why you are paying them.

I understand that the motivation for success has to come from within the individual. I also understand that even a professional within the scope of their practice cannot "save" everyone. Sometimes it is appropriate to tell it like it is and not coddle an individual, but always in an appropriate way.

Ultimately we owe it to ourselves to be informed, to be motivated, and feel that we can reach out for support, as well as be successful on our journey.

It's really not necessary to have an attitude if your interpretation of a post is different from the intent in which it was offered. And because interpretation is a "subjective" measurement, it helps to clarify the intent before you "cop the attitude"...

Best wishes for your continued success...

I'm a strong advocate for each of us to be proactive to address our health concerns...that said, it is really your right to know the answers to legitimate questions you pose to your surgeon about your LB status.

I may be different from others, but I have seen too many examples of how inexact a science medicine can be. My knowledge and understanding of my personal medical history has adverted more than one potentially serious medical error. Even doctors can make mistakes.

If a patient asks a question, you deserve an honest and prompt response.

IMHO...

Well said...I recall a post from someone who was complaining that people constantly were referring to the "Adkins diet" when it really is the "Atkins diet".

I suggested at the time that they seek an authentic life for themselves...

Jim,

You're not just trying, you're making your weight loss a reality and doing an inspiring job of it!

Best wishes on your "bandiversary"...and to you continued success on your journey!

So happy to read of your insights and progress! It's also a reward to be able to see your horizons get wider as your mobility increases.

Enjoy your trip...

You are supposed to stop smoking pre op...my surgeon requires 1 month no smoking pre op. If he finds out you have been smoking, he will cancel your surgery. No exceptions.

There are blood tests to check for nicotine metabolites, and I know my surgeon uses that test for pre op lab work.

Smoking interferes with the body's healing process...never a good idea. Why not use this surgery as an opportunity to kick the habit?

Learning the psychology behind the reasons for your loss of control with food will be helpful and add to the success of your weight loss journey. Your journey will present challenges every day...and emotionally if you are strong enough to meet them it will enhance your success with weight loss.

Best wishes as you begin your journey...

I don't think you are odd...I believe you had an exceptionally positive family and upbringing.

I agree that so much emphasis on food in life events does tend to make it central to one's thoughts. You are now aware of this, and are successfully striving to make positive and healthy changes...

That's a recipe for a successful weight loss journey...best wishes...