Bandista

First of all, that is the cutest baby in your profile picture! And great your Mom is cooking healthy food for your Dad and for you. Maybe she'd be able to help you break down her recipes for your on-line tool to track your intake. Tuesdays are my day with my parents and that always puts me in a delegating mode!

Congratulations and best wishes to you for a speedy recovery!

Hi there, I just met with my surgeon (I am pre-band) and I asked bout this. He said they have no idea until they are there. So there may be a repair in my future, or not. We will see! I'm not going to worry about it. (Trying not to bank anxiety in advance, which is so my mode. Old mode. New mode is Health and Happiness!).

Excellent post! Ewwww, gross! Bye, bye, one pound at a time. It takes the time it takes.

Congratulations! Hope that gas escapes ASAP and you get some good healing sleep -- you are on your way....here's to new beginnings, new chapters opening. And here's to a speedy recovery!

Hi Allie, you are going to do beautifully! I hear you on the 6:30 AM part but in a way it's great because you'll be the very first surgery of the day. Just think, by this time tomorrow you'll be doing your little walks and taking sips of water. What are you up to tonight? Can you distract yourself somehow -- go out with friends or watch favorite movies, etc.? I will be thinking of you and can't wait to hear how you are doing! Best wishes from your band buddy in New Hampshire!

If you go up to the top of this screen there is a tab in the blue bar called "Community." Blogs are there. You can also see them if you go to the very bottom of the screen, on the right (below the magazine stuff). You can have a blog very easily -- maybe a great way for you to check in with yourself and others -- to keep on track.

You are on your way! Look for a thread by Sunnyside who has a thread going for encouragement and accountability. Congratulations on your retirement -- great to opt out of a lifestyle that wasn't good for you. Here's to showing up for the kind of life you WANT. A healthy one! PS I wrote a blog today for myself as a way to keep track of my goals, etc. That might work for you, too. A kind of on-line journal of challenges and successes. Best wishes!

Yay! My date is November 5th. I feel so ready, too. Big day is five weeks from today so I am trying to get a chunk off and practice some of the new habits for banded life. Looking forward to health and happiness -- and a lot of work over the winter and next spring, summer, etc. to make my goal. It's going to take a while but I am so committed.

That's great, Sunnyside! I had a good morning workout as well. Upping my game. Convinced my exercise partner as well so I have that support in place. Just finished a blog detailing my five-week plan for myself. Yikes! I know I can do it, though -- just need that commitment to myself and my health to be foremost. Have a great day!

Way to go -- so happy for your success. Kevin looks like a very special person and I'm so sorry for your loss. Best wishes to you and I'm glad you have a great support system in place. Have a good week and take good care of yourself.

Hi Lioness, I am having a band -- could not consider anything as drastic as a sleeve. I know it will take time and I will have to work hard, but I've always been able to work hard at weight loss it's just that the weight would come bouncing back. The band will help me not be hungry so I can make good choices. Can't wait!

Ice packs? Hope you feel better soon. Our dog is outside, probably looking for the porcupine she got into last night. Oy!

Wow! Very motivating story. Congratulations on all the hard work that got you to this place -- what a great thing to really take back your health like that. I can't wait to be banded and look forward to more ease with exercising. Can't picture running five miles a day but I'd sure like to be able to climb the mountain we live near, go bicycling, dance the night away. Thanks for the inspiration.

What great news that you don't have MS and those symptoms can disappear by not having gluten. Wow! A gluten-free diet is so much healthier. I agree about watching out for GF items that may have a lot of sugar and calories. Also beware of gravy and soups -- you will need to check ingredients carefully and ask at restaurants if they don't have a GF menu. It's a lifestyle -- protein and veggies are really where it's at. This sure beats having those symptoms and being ill. I'm so happy for you.

So happy for you!

Hi Lisa, hope you can take it easy and get some real rest. Hot bath and early to bed tonight? Best wishes for a quiet week -- no kids in the ER, no out of town company, no nothing!

Congratulations -- the big day is finally here. So happy for you! Take good care of yourself and let us know how you're doing. Best wishes for smooth sailing and easy recovery........

Oh dear. I am so sorry -- sending you a big hug. My grandmother used to say that animals are a river of tears. They make the best friends of all but live such a short time compared to their humans. It's such a difficult thing making that decision of when it's time. Just know that it's the quality of love that matters, not the quantity of time. You will always have this dog in your heart. Best wishes and take good care during this difficult period of seeing off an old friend.

Take good care of yourself -- that exercise will definitely help with the stress. And just think, you'll have a baby to push around in a carriage pretty soon! So happy for you. I think I mentioned on another thread that I am adopted myself and we have an adopted child. Best wishes for the beautiful new family you are making!

Lentils are legumes and they are high in Protein -- and delicious! There are black lentils (French), red lentils, brown, green, etc. A great staple to have in the house. Yummy cooked in chicken stock, which also ups the protein. Saute an onion and some garlic, carrots, etc. -- whatever you like -- and then add the lentils and the Water or stock. Can use salt & pepper or many people love them with curry spices like cumin. Put the lid on and simmer until they are done -- maybe 20 minutes or so. The Progresso lentil soup is quite delicious also. Other ideas -- steam a head of cauliflower then cut it up and smoosh thoroughly (yes, great culinary term!) while adding chicken stock to get the consistency you like. Delicious -- like pudding. I like coriander in this.

Hi there, I am also trying to step up my routine and hopefully once I get a good chunk of weight off exercise will be easier. I'm 52 with arthritis, so gentle exercise like walking or peddling is best for me. We have a treadmill and a recumbent bike in our basement. I have a cousin who comes over to work out in the mornings. We aim for Mon-Fri and usually make four of those days. I'd like to be more accountable, too, plus I know I need to work a bit harder and add in other walks. We live in the country and it's gorgeous at this time of year. Adding in a good long walk with a friend twice a week is a worthy goal for me -- something I can fit into my day. My husband does PT exercises and this morning for the very first time I did one of them -- a core building exercise we call "swimming in bed." You hang off the end of the bed face-down on a pillow and use weights, picking up the opposite arm and leg then switching off. Like swimming. My core is, well....just think of Winnie the Pooh.

Yippee! That is great success -- you are doing beautifully!

I'm not banded yet but I make a delicious meatloaf with no bread -- I use eggs as a binder, which of course adds protein, and a bit of oatmeal which works really well. I use small muffin tins as well. Our son used to call them "meat cookies." They freeze beautifully. It occurs to me that protein powder could also be added.

Sending you best wishes -- so happy for you beginning your journey with the band. I am right behind you -- November 5th. I know I'll be nervous, too, but it's all so exciting. Love your on-line handle: Breathless. Sort of sums it up! Hope you can get some good deep breaths in and lots of relaxation before and after -- take good care of yourself this week!