Bandista

Hi there, maybe watch the Golden Rules (in link below)? And the Dr. Simpson site really helped me understand how the band works to dim the appetite. Good luck with all -- you will get there!

Hi there, what's going on? Hope you are able to get Fluid put back in and that all goes well -- keep us posted!

@@Nyelaah the Dr. Simpson link is below in my signature. I am a bander but you'll see on the left-hand side of the site there is a category for Gastric Sleeve. I don't know much about the sleeve or whether this is the best site for that, but I love the way this doctor explains everything so well. I got a lot out of it and maybe you will, too. I needed to read things over and over again to help me change my thinking. That's something we all have in common no matter what the surgery -- the head game. I still have old habits that come up here and there and now I tell myself, "oh, I don't do that anymore." Makes me so proud and happy but really it's the surgery that is allowing me to respond that way, to be able to override the tendencies to turn to food that were so urgent before.

When you say liquids, are you talking about all liquids or shakes? I ask because sometimes I cannot swallow a shake for some reason. I am not tight and I can always drink tea, Water, etc., but there's something about that shake consistency (or possibly the colder temperature) that can be difficult for me sometimes. Also there's a time of day thing for me. I drink tea, etc., all morning but don't eat until mid-day because I'm not hungry until then, but also I'm tighter in the mornings and it would be more difficult for me. If you can't drink liquids I would call the surgeon's office right away as you don't want to get dehydrated. I am a person who required several fills to get to the green zone. I have also had two small unfills in this process -- I consider it a part of the nuancing of the band. You will get a feeling for what is the right fill for you and what is too tight. Also you can be at the green zone then drop out due to weight loss, weather changes, etc. I am currently riding out a little wave of wondering if I need another fill and I think it may have to do with the change of seasons. I don't want to be too tight but I love it that I have this tool to dim my appetite if and when needed. Best wishes to you -- sorry for the rambling here.

Way to go on the stairs; that's so great. And probably nice psychologically, too -- a way to be "away" in your head on your own for a little break during the workplace day. You are doing beautifully and we always have these lulls in the scale number. Meanwhile you are beefing up your beefcake and that's fantastic. Don't worry -- you are getting there! I so know what you mean about the belly. I was Mrs. Winnie-the-Pooh and am glad to be able to see straight down now. It's flubby, though, and it's a difficult area to tone. I'm working on it but I also suspect I will always look like a woman who carried a few babies, even though we adopted, lol!. Oh the pregnancy weight you can put on while waiting for a baby. I'm now at the point of trying to get off my last chunk as well. I love being a woman who could stand to lose 20-30 pounds versus one who needed to lose 80-100. Hallelujah.

I was so clueless when I was starting out and thankfully I never felt judged. There are so many people who really helped me by answering questions that I'm sure they had answered over and over again. I had never been in an on-line forum before and I'm not a very geeky computer user, so I didn't even know how to search the archives or anything like that. I miss some of the old-timers who have moved on and am always grateful to see a post or comment from one of who I consider the old-timers. @@Jim1967 you helped me so much as I was making my way through the process and figuring it all out. You had the link to the Dr. Simpson info in your signature and you'll see I've done the same. Nine times out of ten when I read one of your posts I'd go and peruse his links to get basic protocol into my thinking (it's not about restriction, it's not about restriction). So helpful to me. Also the humor and camaraderie. I really need that as I am private about my weight loss and consider you all here to be my community for that. Thank you all. Whatever the method of surgery, we are all in this together. And a year or two out has not made me an expert on anything, that's for sure, but I can have compassion and enthusiasm for any one who is facing their weight issues and wanting to make a healthy change. Here's to our lives that we've gotten back!

Hi there and congratulations on your surgery date. I loved it that unlike every diet I had ever been on, the pounds I lost during pre-op were ones I would never see again. I chose Lapband because I did not want to have something more drastic. I was 52 and had never been an overnight patient in the hospital before. I like the idea that unlike other surgeries it is reversible (not that I'd ever want to have it taken out -- I love my band!). The band requires a lot of followup in the first year. I liked that because of the accountability. I think this is one of the reasons that other surgeries are more prevalent now -- most surgeons do not want to see their patient 11 times in that first year. That's a lot of face-to-face time and I'm sure it's not encouraged by the bean-counters, either. The last 16 months have been so great for me. I wish you every success! The links below in my signature are ones that helped me early on; maybe they will help you, too. Best wishes and keep us posted!

Gardening, stargazing, cooking, writing in my journal, being completely absorbed in reading a book, making art or writing. Watching ocean waves, exploring new places, speaking another language. Dancing, having parties, cooking with friends, going to outdoor venues for music performances or picnics. Paper -- I love paper. And scissors, cutting up paper. Beautiful fabric. Tiles. Italy. Europe in general. Trains, ferry boats, art museums. Babies, children and old people, plus some of the ones in-between those ages. But also being alone -- having the house to myself. Quietude. And flowers of all kinds, flowering shrubs and blooming fruit trees, perennial borders, raised garden beds and fields of plantings -- agricultural and landscape design, patterns in nature and having the time and mindset to see them.

I think it's the self-confidence that comes through -- whether for ourselves or others -- rather than the perfect body thing. I feel free from a burden of low self esteem and am enjoying the experience. It's not necessarily sexual (in fact that is uncomfortable for me) but more like magnetism.

Thanks, Alex....

I keep almonds handy......

I am not hungry in the mornings and am definitely tighter. I wait until midday when I get a signal that it's time for me to have something to eat. We are all different but maybe that's helpful to you. And congratulations on upping your physical activity and the 5K.....way to go.

I would not want my band unfilled for ten weeks, yikes. What's up with that? And are you going to be in or near a hospital or weight loss center with a band doctor in case you should need an unfill for some reason. But what woukd be the reason -- are you really tight? How about contacting @@parisshel

I was glad I kept working closely with the surgeon for band adjustments -- as we lose weight things change. Also winter is tighter for me, etc. You are doing great and you're listening to your body. Way to go! To me the band is all about dimming the appetite. I don't keep a tight band but I need that appetite monster off of my back. That's what the band does for me and then I am in charge of making good choices.

Call your insurance company and find out exactly what they cover. My insurance had only one requirement -- a BMI of 40+. They do not account for co-morbidities like high blood pressure, sleep apnea, etc., but most of them do. I was so worried about which weigh-in number would be used, etc., as I was borderline. I made sure I weighed in heavy just in case (they don't ask you to empty your pockets).

We have a gluten-free household and I find that lifestyle very easy as pasta, bread, etc. are not a good choice for me -- I try to eat protein first. We do occasionally have GF pasta, etc. and I might have a bite. Not bread, though -- doesn't work for me. I do not miss anything. The choice of what kind of surgery to get is very personal and there are so many factors to discuss with your medical professionals. No one surgery is better than another -- we are all different. I have arthritis and while it's great to be seventy pounds down and feeling so much better, the arthritis is still a part of my life. I have tried many dietary changes (pre-band) such as going off of dairy, wheat and the nightshade family (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplant), rotation of foods, etc. Some people benefit from this. Personally I have not hit on a food-related contributor to the inflammation but do know that exercise helps me a lot and that is so much easier for me now. Congratulations on deciding to take care of your healthy future. Best wishes with all that is ahead. It's an exciting time and so powerful to choose yourself. Way to go!

Hi there, hard to explain but it's not like throwing up -- it's more like a baby blapping up something it just had. It's not from the stomach. Of course it should not happen, that's the goal. I got stuck plenty learning how to slow down and be with my band and I have to say while it is undesirable it is not that bad. It's all about learning to tune in and really listen. Our bands stay stop and some of us are not quite wanting to yet -- then comes stuck. It's a behavior modification that comes over time. You will do fine,

Hi every one -- love catching up on the news. Sharpie, love it that you have your horse life, and Debbie, San Diego is going to be a blast. You look fantastic. Just Watch so happy for your one daughter home -- relax and enjoy. Lisa, take it easy! Hope you feel better -- you need some You time. Let's all try to do that Having a "do" on Sunday -- an egg hunt and brunch party for 20+ people. Looks like we are going to have lousy weather but that's okay, we still have our boots by the door. Not worried about the food as far as overeating but I worry about overdoing in general. A lot of elder care going on right now. Trying to pay attention to the HALT thing -- never get too Hungry Angry Lonely Tired. HALT. Lonely is not an option -- I could use a little of that. I need to do a little more tuning in and paying attention to myself.

I went to the Pain Clinic to meet with a physiatrist to discuss hip pain and other issues (extremity arthritis). Voltaren Gel is my friend but mostly I have benefited from physical therapy. It can be hard to diagnose what's going on. I thought going in it might be arthritis in the hip but it's not (yippee!). It's a periformis issue and now I'm doing PT exercises to strengthen. And core, core, it's all about the core...... Good luck to you!

Hi there, pre-op was hard but for the first time I knew that the weight lost would be gone forever. Before my band I could take it off but it would come back plus some. Good luck all with your upcoming surgeries. I love my band!

@@CTJohn way to go! Nice to hear from you -- 100 will be quite a milestone.

@@bkchick88 I am also some one who needed several fills to get to the green zone. My surgeon took it slow and ultimately I was glad for that as I needed the time in-between to modify behaviors -- eating too fast, etc. Learning to notice everything is where it's at -- tuning in. That's what you're doing now and that's great. Congratulations on all you are doing to take care of yourself. Big year of changes!

Buddha walks up to a hot dog stand and says, "make me one with everything."

We are a household of specialty eaters -- not by design, but here we are. When I was first married I had been a vegetarian for many years (not anymore) while my husband ate meat. I just didn't cook it for him, etc. And then I was such a major dieter (not anymore), constantly abstaining, restricting and depriving myself. When our son came into our lives I tried to be sure he was not influenced in any way by that and I think I succeeded. We have always had a very healthy dietary household -- my issue was not the kind of foods but the volume. I gained and gained. Meanwhile, about five years ago my husband discovered he is Celiac. Gluten-free is not a fad for him -- he has to be very careful or otherwise three days of absolute misery. So there is that vigilance -- inquiry at restaurants (embarrassing for him), etc. Our son is Asian and he does not tolerate dairy. I'm sure you're getting the picture by now! We all have such different dietary needs. I think this is the take-away not only for our kid but for all of his friends, etc. -- we need to tune into our own bodies and eat what is good for us as individuals. We all love food and we all love to cook. My new way of being with food feels so natural to me and I think that my son and his friends just think I'm taking good care of myself. None of them know that I'm banded but they all have noticed me working out like crazy the last year and a half. They see me making up bottles of my special drink (Water, aloe, splash of cranberry). They see me (old lady) trying to do the PT regime with the weights, etc. Many of these kids have their own issues -- we have a few other gluten-free teens come here loving it that they can have so many things (we have all the GF breads, pastas, Cookies, etc.). They are all trying to learn what they should be doing to be strong and healthy. We have kids who bring stuff into the house that I would never have here -- canned iced tea beverages full of chemicals. What do I do? I read them the ingredients. First up: this can says it is three servings, OMG, I could drink this right down. OMG, how many calories? I don't think I'm creating a generation of food-disordered kids -- I think I'm helping them develop skills for coping with the toxic society they are growing up in. Fast food, what? We would never eat that. But some of our kids' friends do and I am converting them to lovers of apple slices, hummus and carrots, beautiful chili......we are doing them a service.