Bandista

Happy New Year all! I want to thank every one for their input and support. When I landed on this site last June I was just beginning my research and had never participated in an on-line forum. Nor did I know much about the LapBand or the process I was beginning that would ultimately take five months. That was time-to-surgery, and of course that process is continuing each day as I now learn what banded life will mean for me. I'm very glad to have the voices of so many people here who share their insights and experiences. I'm tempted to single out some who have really contributed to my success so far, but then I'd be afraid of leaving some one out. A community is about the whole. I have been in something of a slump during the holidays. Not a mental slump (well, perhaps a bit), but band-wise. I am in the process of working with my surgeon to get small fills toward the goal we all desire, the Green Zone. Meanwhile, of course, it is basically just a matter of working hard to keep from gaining. And that's not easy during the holidays. I am a good dieter. An expert! Well, of course if I was that great at it I wouldn't need a band. As with all diets, somewhere at two to three months I just can't do it anymore and I feel so hungry. This is where I am now. The elation of pre-surgery preparations and the surgery itself, the initial loss, etc. have all worn off and now I am hovering around the same few pounds going up, up, and down, down. I am holding strong -- exercising all I can and making good choices -- but there's a part of me that worries that the band won't work, that I'll be stuck in this mode forever. Well, I won't. I will get to the Green Zone and experience what I had just out of surgery. I was one of the lucky people who felt no hunger in the beginning, but then of course came the return of appetite. Having glimpsed that feeling of no appetite, however, I really look forward to getting there again when my band is adjusted properly. To all of you out there who are in the same place, we will get there! And again, happy new year and many thanks to each of you for your part in this forum.

How about trying it with Quinoa -- finally something yummy to do with all that Quinoa in the pantry. I love black Beans, garlic, etc. Thanks for this little inspiration. One thing I've noticed in these early days of being banded -- I love beans now. Crave them. Throughout the holidays at every party there has been some kind of bean something and that has become my go-to food at an event like that. Happy New Year all you cooks out there! Now if we could just get Terry to deliver the Kale smoothies and Cheryl this casserole we'd be all set.

Name, real or screen~ Bandista Goal weight for January 31st~ 219 Weight on January 1st~ 225.5 Age~ 52 City/State~ New Hampshire Dietary goal for January~ Find the Green Zone Exercise goal for January~ 80 minutes four days per week, add in one to two walks, three days PT exercises with husband and four "stretches" on the floor per week (could lead to yoga).... Personal goal for January~ Get rid of all the projects I have for other people and get busy with my own new work. Date banded~ 11/5/2013 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 24 pounds New Year's Resolution~ Be Resolute. Keep Choosing Myself First. See this through!

I've been trying to figure out my morning mode -- happy to be a little tight and definitely not hungry. I drink tea, work out, etc. and recently I've been doing protein shakes with frozen fruit. Yummy! And I like the idea of already being ahead protein-wise.

This is a difficult time -- we have had our bands installed and healed up from our surgeries and now we are in the process of getting fills in order to get to the green zone. Until then we are basically just dieting, and if we had been successful dieters we wouldn't need the bands. The beauty of the band is the adjustability but getting to the proper adjustment is a process. Ugh. We will get there, however!

Happy new year!

Got my 80 minutes in this morning; that feels good. It's very sunny here today with freezing temps. True Winter Wonderland. Considering getting a friend to walk with me at a nearby lake. My goal is to seek out additional exercise on days I have worked out -- not to just feel like I've done it already and that's enough.

It's difficult to convey that after getting a band people may not be able to tolerate certain foods but also that they may not even want them -- that their desires may change or what seems like will really matter does not anymore....I think as people consider their futures they are nervous about potentially having to forfeit something, whether bread or meat or however it may shake down -- when in fact the idea is that our appetites will be dimmed and we won't be ruled by food desires the way we once were. Or that our bodies are rejecting something as it won't go down well, and that's why we are doing this, to be well. The difficulty is in finding out what those things are for our own bodies. Last night I had sushi and was nervous as I have not even tried rice. It's so glutinous and I don't need those carbs but the sushi was there and, well, no problems at all. But I'm not at the green zone yet so I know I may need sashimi next time -- fish pieces with no rice -- and I'm okay with that. And I am avoiding shrimp. Nervous about that one.

Hi khelm, congratulations on your surgery date -- coming right up! I was banded 11/05 and I am very happy with my decision. What a great way for you to begin the new year! Best wishes...

Happy first day of the new year! Looking forward to celebrating our successes together and offering support and encouragement......let's have fun!

I'm in! Four 80-minute workouts per week (20 recumbent bike, 20 treadmill, 20 BowFlex, 20 more treadmill) Four stretching sessions per week -- Somatics, floor work.... One to two impromptu walks at lake or elsewhere with a friend. Three days per week doing my husband's PT exercises with him. Work on Mindful Meditation and breathing.

Hi Heccat, glad you're back! I have had to get some things out of the house to reduce temptation while I'm still in the process of first fills to get to green zone. Look forward to having the appetite monster off my back! So glad you have your appointment. Mine is next Monday so this week my focus is exercise and protein, Ra Ra Ra! And loving/forgiving myself, not depriving but making good choices. Here's to the new year.

Hi Lovebug, Nov 5 for me so we are two weeks apart....the Bandster Hell we have heard all about! But we have got this -- timing for New Year is pretty nice. BlueGirly, too! Let's be fierce.

Thanks so much for this. I have been in a slump and really struggling with food. I know from reading posts for so long that this period is the hard time -- I go next week for my fourth fill and I'm hoping that will get me there. Really working on listening to my body so I can listen to the band but until there's real restriction I am not hearing much back. Unless I totally screw up, which is not really my mode. My problem is the grazing and going back for more because I deprived myself earlier on -- round and round I go. That said, I managed to lose three pounds in the month of December so I am doing alright. But he's this is the hard part. I have a lot of enthusiasm and energy but bootstraps are needed right now. Pulling myself up, up, up.....and grateful to every one here for the support.

Hi Breanne and Jennifer -- we are all picking ourselves up wherever we are -- don't worry about the past because you're catching this now. So happy you're here! Bye bye sliders, hello slimness.

Hi Christine, I'm sabinadublin -- come find me! There is a group of LB MFP-ers very motivated. Great place to track easily, encourage one another, etc. I'd add you but can't from iPad without your email, etc.

Hi Terry, read this aloud to my husband this AM while he was doing his PT exercises. I already worked out earlier. Did I want to? Well, no, not really, but I am doing it and pretending I love it. Hopefully this faking it 'til I make it is going to take hold one of these days but until then I'm doing it anyway. Thanks for the article!

December 1 - 227 December 7 - 230 December 14 - 224 December 22 - 223.5 December 31 - 224 Well, I did not make my goal but that's okay -- looking forward to January. Plus I think I may be in one of those places where my body is about to let go of a few pounds. I seem to hold then drop, with a little up and down on the scale in-between to keep things interesting. Overall a three pound loss in a month when I might have seriously gained is pretty great. Also I am in the process of getting fills to find restriction and I know in this two-month post-op phase prior to green zone I am basically just dieting. I did not exercise every single day of December as I hoped, but I'm doing pretty well with that.

Hi there, so glad you found the forum. Welcome aboard! You will find people at all stages -- and what a great time to recommit for getting the next chunk off. I am two months in and trying to get to the green zone. It's a process but I know I can do this. Best wishes to you!

The Shirataki noodles are made from a kind of Japanese yam. Because they are watery after washing they do well in a soup -- lots of ginger, shallots or scallions, in broth or miso along with the noodles. I haven't used them since WW days. Nice winter food -- hot noodle soup. There are dried Shirataki in Asian markets that don't have the odor from the water but I haven't tried those yet. The tofu Shirataki noodles have tofu in them but are still very low calorie, low carb and gluten free.

Here's to 2014, a year of health and happiness! Congratulations on your date.

Great thread, thanks so much! I am just two months out and trying to figure out what my food mode should look like. I've had three fills and go back a week from today for another then two weeks hence we will reassess. I am not in the green zone and still hungry, a bit preoccupied with food and feeling restrictive -- as in I find myself setting rules, outlawing things, saving up for later, etc. And I know that's not healthy for me and not the point of the band. So, working on getting to the green zone! I'm not hungry in the morning and have enjoyed Protein shakes to get started late AM, so that may be early lunch for me. I know those are liquid not food but it may work for me. I love fish, too -- and I grew up in Maryland and am also a complete crab cake snob. We should start a club! I love to cook and I'm glad I can still enjoy that even though I may not be eating much. We have a lot of stews, curries and thick Soups at this time of year. I've been enjoying Beans and lentils. Every holiday party and event had foods I wanted that worked well for me and I'm happy not to be limited. Yesterday I had lentils and a yummy Soup at a party, thick with winter veggies. Did not even look at the dessert table or long for the lasagna. That is progress. I am very wary of bread as I've had that chest tightness as a result -- swollen stoma? Even gluten free. I made stuffing with GF bread and loads of veggies but I had trouble with that, too. So I'm learning. Last night we played board games and had popcorn. I was shocked at how easily that went down. I had no idea! But I didn't deny myself. We don't have sweets much so that's good, and I can forgo the chips. Nuts are tough for me, too, but four almonds go a long way if I don't try to go back for more (unsalted so I don't trigger salt cravings). cheese was troublesome as it went down so easily. I have it out of the house for now. I have to be careful of Greek yogurt, etc. as that can qualify as comfort/boredom food for me. Looking forward to figuring it all out in the coming weeks/months, the green zone and how to get enough protein in, how to stop denying foods and the whole dieter mentality, being happy with my success and focusing on the fitness aspect.....it's a process but I certainly feel ahead of the game. I recall in my research phase that people often had a slump about now and that is happening to me. Losing and gaining back same few pounds, still quite nibbly and feeling impatient with myself, etc. I think this is common post-band and pre-green zone. I want to get there and not stop short -- no orbiting around these same old issues for months because I just wasn't quite filled yet!

Way to go -- sounds like a good prep and re-org time plus making a yummy recipe. My husband is definitely losing weight since MY weight loss surgery. I'm happy about that but it's so easy for him to drop pounds just by having a little less food here and there. Not me. But that's why I got a band.

Hi Shelly, good for you for writing out all your thoughts and collecting as much information as possible. I chose the band because I wanted the least-invasive surgery possible and I liked the idea that if ever necessary it can be removed easily. The band requires quite a bit of followup in the first year but I like that -- it keeps me accountable and we are getting the band to the right adjustment for me as an individual. It's a partnership with the surgeon. Some hospitals are no longer offering Lapband because they want their surgeons in the operating room, not doing extensive patient followup. Let's face it, it's the insurance companies that are making our health decisions for us these days. Whatever you and your doctor decide is the best surgery for you, know that you are making a big life change -- you are choosing a healthy future for yourself. Yippee!

So glad you are walking! I feel like that really kicked my body into healing mode, releasing any trapped gas but also the incisional healing, etc. Other animals do this naturally but we humans have to force ourselves.