Bandista

Sending best wishes your way! The walking was so important for me. I pushed myself and then my body kind of took over, like it knew what to do to heal. Get plenty of sleep and walk, walk, walk -- know that you're not alone. Now is the time to remember all the good reasons you are on this path -- what you WANT. Health and happiness! Know also you will be able to have whatever you want to eat....later. In smaller amounts and appropriate intervals but this lifestyle is not about deprivation.

You are fabulous! Let me say that again -- fabulous! What a great post. You have a wonderful attitude and this is such an inspiration for those of us just beginning. I can't wait to post a year from now...I want to be right there with you!

Hi there, so happy for you! I am six weeks post-op and thrilled. Not just with the weight loss (yippee!) but the release from obsessing about food. I feel free and like it's all so much easier now. Love my band! Cannot emphasize enough the importance of walking post-op. I had a one night hospital stay and every time I felt like I had to pee, which was fairly frequent, I'd get my IV pole and cruise the hallways, a little further each time. Then back to bed, nap, pee and walk, walk, walk. Same at home, round and round the driving circle. This helped shrug off the anesthesia and kick my body into healing mode -- it was like my body knew what to do: walk! I went without the prescription pain meds as I didn't want the side effects of narcotics. Tylenol and Ibuprofen worked well for me but every one is different. If you take pain meds be sure to take something for constipation. You have such a positive attitude -- that's the real healer right there!

Hi Molly, I love my life with the band -- so happy! Good luck to you and feel free to ask any questions at all. So many people here willing to help.

Congratulations! Very inspiring for those of us at the beginning. You are doing beautifully!

These are so inspiring -- I just called a friend to go for a walk as apparently I wasn't going to get it done on my own. Plows have come through and it's a sunny day so the world is sparkling. Initiating exercise can be hard for me to do -- I have a mental battle. But reading these NSVs, I'm doing it! Seize the day. And I think new workout clothes are a fabulous idea. Maybe when I hit my 33 pounds off mark. That's the weight of a cinder block I won't be carrying around anymore.

Hi there, one hundred pounds is my goal -- I started at 248 and think 148 will probably be a good weight for me. I will have to see as I get closer. My goal is to be as strong and as flexible as possible -- I have a lot of joint pain and want to reduce stress on my body. I was never a size ten type even when thin. I think probably a 12 will be good but, again, I'll just have to see. Of course I want to look better but mainly I want to feel great. And have a healthy, peaceful relationship with food.

Hi there and welcome! I have learned so much here -- there are a lot of knowledgable and compassionate people willing to answer questions or chime in about their own experiences. I have been banded six weeks so am new as well. It's the best thing I've done in I don't know how long and I only wish I had gotten it sooner as the last two decades have been one long struggle with weight issues. I am 52, live in NH where we have a lot of snow right now. This time last year I had never even heard of LapBand! I'm learning what it means to have a band -- have had two fills so far and go back Monday to assess for another. I think my surgeon is fairly aggressive. Right now I'm not hungry in the mornings so my first meal is "brunch" and I am enjoying good food in small quantities. We had a dinner party last night (my band is a secret) and I did fine -- delicious chicken curry and I just skipped the rice. Was not looking for more food or snacking later while we were cleaning up -- loving that release from food jail and having that appetite monster off my back. Best wishes to you -- look forward to seeing you on-line!

Glad you found your password -- very funny about the scale! Congratulations on everything. You are doing beautifully!

Yippee! Have a wonderful time -- you look great!

Glad you are here! What a time of it -- you have such a great attitude and you are on your way to health. Thank goodness you addressed these serious medical issues and have a band now so you will be looking at a healthy happy future!

Hi Slinkie, so happy for you -- what a way to begin the new year! Here's to health and happiness!

Great post -- thanks so much for sharing. For me tracking calories (which I do on and off) can feel like dieting and that old WW mentality of wanting to finish up my allotment for the day -- which is exactly what I don't want to be doing. I want to eat good food in small amounts when and only when I'm hungry -- and be able to recognize hunger and satiety. Trying to shift my tracker mentality over to exercise world -- increasing time on treadmill, etc.

I'm just getting myself figured out now at six weeks banded -- early days but here's what's working for me: When I eat I sit and listen to my body. I enjoy my food and try to stay present. I ask myself if I'm full and if I get a yes I stop eating, leaving food in my little bowl. I don't finish or take a last bite. I exercise even if I think I don't want to, and I try to convince myself I do want to -- and afterwards I'm really glad.

I'm just six weeks out (today!) and trying to find a pattern for myself. I'm not hungry in the mornings so I'm not eating. I did think I'd do a shake mornings to get the Protein in, etc., but right now I'm not hungry so I'm not eating. This feels like my first basic tenet: don't eat if I'm not hungry. I have my first meal mid-day and that seems to be about 3/4 cup of food. Then I mark the time to see when I'm hungry again. There's no way I can make it until dinner time from here, plus evenings are tricky for me craving-wise and I don't want to set myself up with any deprivation mentality. You know, as I write this I'm thinking 4PM ish (whenever four hours have elapsed from lunch) would be a great time for a Protein Shake. That's what I love about this forum -- in trying to help other people we get to sort through our own issues and reaffirm what is working, why we do what we do, what we want (health!).....anyway, I am going to try that. Then dinner can be with family or friends, etc. And my focus is the 3/4 cup food protein first, veggies. And the big trick is not to graze afterwards, going back for another wee bit......maybe the protein shake will help me do that or it may make it so I'm not hungry at dinner. So it could backfire. Still, I'm going to try that today. Maybe 11am "lunch", 3PM shake, 7PM dinner would work well for me.

Boxing Day!

Ginger tea, ginger tea! And zinc lozenges. Rest up!

Hi Debbi, you are doing beautifully -- that's an amazing loss and what fun to be able to shop in real stores, etc. And getting rid of all those old clothes that you will never need again. Yippee! Holiday time can be stressful and you may just be pausing to catch your breath. Don't forget to pat yourself on the back for all you've done so far. And then pick yourself up and get to that gym. I really do think exercise is the magic ingredient. I am still working on wanting to do it but I do it nonetheless and then am so happy that I did do it -- even if my whole day goes haywire if I've gotten my exercise in I feel like a success. Call the gym and see if they are running and Christmas or New Year's membership specials. And get over there for the grand tour, etc. You might really have fun, meet some cool people or get the time to yourself that every busy mother needs. How is your doctor on fills? If you were there December 2nd how long do you have to wait for the next appointment? Best wishes to you!

Hi O, I would call the doctor immediately just to make sure everything is fine with your heart and so on.....put those medical professionals to work!

Hi Rayne, sending very best wishes your way. Sounds like you are all set! Here's to a quiet weekend of healing and lots of pampering. Keep us posted on how you're doing.....

I have heard of a heightened sense of smell after WLS -- was a little worried as I already have such an acute sense of smell already and that is not always a good thing. Cologne can send me right off the deep end, for example.

So happy for you -- isn't it great?

Being an every day exerciser and a person who really wants to go for a walk. I've had glimpses of this in the last six weeks of banded life and I am always really happy after exercising. But as far as getting myself to do it, I'm still faking it 'till I make it most days. I also know as I lose weight I will be in less pain and it will feel easier to workout. That will be good!

So glad you're back on track, Christine. Put those medical professionals to work for you -- no need to be embarrassed. You'll get that 35 off again in no time and will be feeling great again. Guess this is such a reminder of how important it is to have the right fill. Good luck with all!

Hi there, I am sabinadublin on My Fitness Pal -- Find me or if you send me your handle there I will go friend you. Wish I had the same name for both sites as it's confusing who is who. Great tracking exercise, etc. there. Very motivating and easy - except new format now displays bread and cheese on opening page like a food magazine. A skinny person must have thought that idea up!