Bandista

So glad you're doing well at two months out. I am right behind you with my eight week mark on New Year's Eve. Here's to all the success 2014 will bring!

You describe the dieter's mindset so well -- that is something for me to look out for as I try to assess where I am. I have definitely glimpsed the world of disinterest in foods that usually call my name, so I have an idea of what it will be like to have a properly adjusted band. And now I understand this can be a moving target over time as weight is lost (yippee for that and for adjustability of the band). I will ask my surgeon about fluoroscopy -- this has not been presented as an option so far but I will definitely inquire. What an advantage to be able to see what's going on!

Nice blog Debbie -- I have no doubt you will get to just the right fill. Thanks for posting -- and so glad to find this old thread. What great information! I am also at three fills now. Going back after the first of the year to assess. Best wishes -- we are on our way and just think what 2014 is going to bring!

Good for you! Feels so good to be moving, doesn't it? I still have to kind of talk myself into exercise and then I'm so happy I did it -- goal for 2014 is to want to do it up-front. Congratulations on grabbing hold of your health! The scooter sounds like a great plan for both of you.

Congratulations -- your big day is here at last! I was so excited and of course a bit nervous -- you will be great and this time tomorrow you'll be walking around. Best wishes and keep us posted on your progres!

A pair of lime green and yellow exercise pants that are weirdly see-through. And tight beyond belief. This is not the body for form-fitting see-through pants!

Tonya, you look fabulous! What an amazing transformation -- and now healthy and happy for that beautiful child. Way to go! Thanks for this inspiration today. I am at seven weeks which I know can be a little slump. No time for a slump, though, when there's success like this out there to be achieved! Best wishes to you.

Hi Donna, the determination comes through every line of your post -- I love that fierceness. I need that, too -- the absolute commitment to success. Here's to 2014 and conquering any old underlying addictions around food and being free from that. Sugar is sneaky. Be sure to check things like toothpaste, etc. for sugars -- it's amazing how for some the slightest bit can trigger a desire for more. And artificial sweeteners tell the brain food sweets are coming.....very hard to fight that off.

Wow, amazing transformation! You are beaming, so happy and healthy. Yippee! Thanks for sharing the inspiration......

Yippee! So happy for you. The listening is so great -- that feeling of being in sync with the body again. Best wishes for the best holiday season ever!

Hi Drea, you're just recovering from the surgery and there's a lot of fluid retention -- don't worry about it!

Thanks, Rose, really enjoyed that......you are doing beautifully!

I'm resetting today as well after overdoing it a bit the last several days. That's the thing -- it isn't just one day but a whole series of events. I know I am having so much less than I would have without my band, but still it is too much grazing and not enough stopping. So today I am back to clocking my food. Just had first intake, a 20g. Protein bar and I won't have anything else until four hours have elapsed. No cruising the fridge or pantry! Also we are going to yet another gathering this evening. Boxing Day. I am going to have a Protein shake before we go and plan not to have anything but Water at the party. The wine cellar is closed! Not to mention the cheese shoppe. Good grief! I have managed to exercise and really worked out hard this morning. That felt good. And yesterday I called a friend to go for a walk on Christmas afternoon between events. That was good -- to be that person who actually gets some exercise in on a holiday. There are things still in the house that I'd rather not have in my zone right now. An enormous jar of almond butter given to our son yesterday along with some other goodies. Something about nut butters I find hard to resist. I think I may just sneak that right out of the house. Regift! There is chocolate, etc. that I can stay clear of but the leftover cheese and that one remaining piece of gluten-free apple pie -- yikes! As soon as my family gets back from errands I will make sure those items are gobbled up by some one so I don't have that chatter in my head. I am still so new -- seven weeks and two days. I really appreciate what the band is doing for me but I know I need to forgo certain things if I'm going to make my goals. Best wishes, all, as we regroup. We can do this!

Turkish, Greek, Indian...I am so jealous! Love it that we can enjoy all the cuisine we want, just in small amounts. Happy holidays to you!

Hi Sarah, you're doing great -- don't worry about any one else but YOU! The pre-op diet has a lot to do with water weight and you'll probably drop a few suddenly. But if not, don't worry! And the band has nothing to do with whatever we do pre-op -- it's designed to help shrink the liver prior to surgery. The band will help dim your appetite but it may take filling to gett here, so be prepared for a couple of months of adjustments. You are going to do great!

Happy Christmas! Blue, I so know what you mean about being disgusted by the gluttony and then the knowing we were once right there -- ouch! Not anymore! I am enjoying the holiday spread in teeny tiny amounts. I'm sure I'm not setting any records for weight loss but it's very important to me that I am not depriving myself. This is why I got the band. Right now I'm trying to line up a walk around the lake before dark -- that's a mindset I sure didn't have before!

Great thread, thank you! And let me know about the Relay for Life as maybe, just maybe that could be a goal for me, too (I am in NH too). 2013 - after twenty+ years of unsuccessful dieting and putting myself through a lot of misery, I decided to get a Lapband and grab hold of my health at age 52. Band installed on 11/5. This has been an act of choosing myself and my health above everything else. 2014 - in the coming year I look forward to letting go of the weight I've been carrying for such a long time. I started at 248 and think 148 may be the right weight for me, so I am looking to lose a total of 100 pounds or so. I want to be strong and flexible. I have arthritis and I am hoping to change my inflammation profile. I can't wait to get off my BP medication and I am hoping perhaps to be able to ditch the sleep machine. What a great thing that would be! We live very near a mountain. I want to climb it -- it's been quite a while. I want to love exercising. Right now I do it, I tolerate it, but I want to look forward to it and embrace exercise as a lifestyle. I used to go to a lot of dance classes and I'd like to do that again, as well as yoga. I used to have fu clothes and I'm really looking forward to being able to find clothes I like to wear -- ones that are a reasonable size and fit me well. I look forward to 12 long jeans, maybe even 10 depending on how sizes run these days. I am a good cook and I look forward to continuing to prepare food and even enjoy some myself, only in very small amounts at appropriate intervals. I look forward to not going back for more. I know there are big changes ahead of me and I want to meet them with courage and joy. I don't want to be afraid of being thin. I don't want to hide anymore. I want to have fun and enjoy being out in the world. I wNt to make a difference. Happy New Year all -- here's to choosing our health!

Yippee! So happy for you....happy holidays and here's to 2014 and health!

Brag on! We are all proud of you -- and of ourselves (is that bragging?). Oh for crying out loud I have been living in a shadow of my joy because of being overweight. Time to start bragging! I am very proud of myself for making the decision for a band, going through with surgery and now figuring out my new mode. I am quite wonderful.

So happy for both of you! Very exciting and of course a little nerve-wracking, especially at this time of year when things are a bit dialed up for every one anyway. Just think what next Christmas is going to be like. Talk about the best gift ever, to yourselves as well as to your families -- a healthy YOU! Here's to 2014 and all of the progress we will be making together.

Thanks so much for this great post! Despite extensive research and following so many posts ahead of my surgery, I did not really know about the whole primed band thing until after my surgery. I had to ask my surgeon in my first follow-up visit whether there was any Fluid in my band at the time of surgery (in my case, no). It's a very important point to clarify! I am three fills in and could so easily wonder why it is that I'm not "getting there yet."

Chili works well for me -- I like ground turkey and black bean chili with a little grated cheddar. Broiled fish, smoked salmon, tuna. Chicken thighs cooked with veggies. Eggs. Greek yogurt, of course, homemade applesauce. Prunes. Lentil soup. Almonds -- I eat four only and chew each of them a long time. Very satisfying. I have protein shakes and vars but haven't quite figured out whether these are part of my daily routine or just a once in a while thing. Have some bars in the glove compartment just in case but really I don't have any food emergencies as I'm not that hungry and can just wait.

Hi Brown Eyes, sounds like you're doing great! I was banded 11/5 and today I'm going for a third fill. I'm doing well but finding this season of holiday festivity a little hard as there's so much going on, food and alcohol everywhere, etc. I'm still looking for a pattern to my daily life as far as when to eat. I'm not hungry in the mornings so I may be a two meal a day person. Have enjoyed shakes sometimes in the AM but not sure whether to incorporate that into my regular routine or if it's better to not "drink" my food. I am liking chicken and fish -- smoked salmon is a good food for me. Veggies can be a little tough but I just need to chew a lot. I had one stuck episode weeks ago and hope to avoid that. Eating beets too fast, went into an epic 20 minute hiccup fest followed by throwing up. I also want to bump my exercise up as I have slacked off a little due to very cold weather and busy holiday season. I am a bit stressed and want to keep my determination turned up high as I know that this time -- six weeks out or so -- can be difficult for some and it is coinciding with Christmas, etc. Need to stay relaxed and continue to choose myself first. Best wishes to all and thanks so much for creating a place for us to check in!

Wow! So happy for you! Here's to continued health and happiness for 2014 -- this is very inspiring.

My surgeon put a hand-written note on my list for the full liquid phase, "egg drop soup." I made that and it was delicious. Also I really liked broth with ginger, garlic and Tamari in it -- something salty and savory. Potato leek soup was very satisfying. There's a brand called Imagine that comes in cartons ----where I live it's in the natural foods section of the regular grocery store. Best wishes. You will get to a place where you are not feeling deprived.