Bandista

This made me laugh, the deadpan "Congratulations." I remember in my youth how much I loved my documents with all the stamps, the photo, etc. But these days a glimpse of my driver's license picture makes me wince. Looking forward to needing new everything!

Wow, you look GREAT! Congratulations on getting to this place. And on being tuned into your body so you recognize needing another fill, etc. I'm just at the beginning of that and it feels a little tricky to determine. On the 66 pounds, some one posted a list of what things weigh a while back and somehow I latched on to a cinder block weighs 33 pounds. So you've lost two cinder blocks -- imagine the relief of not carrying those around anymore! Best wishes and thanks for the inspiration this morning.

Hi there, how about going for walks with your friend. We all need exercise and it would be a nice way to support her.

Hi there, hoping you're feeling better today and that your body has shrugged off the anesthesia, etc. Are you taking narcotic medication? I can't tolerate that personally but then the Tylenol and Ibuprofen liquids did not sit well on my empty stomach either. Not sure what your post op diet is. I was on full liquids and found potato leek soup very soothing. Also ginger is great for an upset stomach. Have fun with your beautiful baby. What a great decision to be healthy for when you start chasing him/her around and all the fun times you have ahead of you. Best wishes!

Hi PJ, thanks for the inspiration -- you are rocking this thing! So happy for you. I am a couple of months behind you and love knowing what is possible. Best wishes!

So happy for you! Back on track and feeling great -- way to go.

Hope it all goes well today and you are relieved of any worries -- referred pain can be hard to figure out sometimes. Best wishes!

Hi there and congratulations on this decision for a healthy future! I was not hungry for protein shakes at first -- every one is different but you may not have much of an appetite following surgery. Just follow your doctor's instructions, walk all you can and stay positive. Your body will thank you for the good care you are taking. Give yourself time to heal up fully -- wishing you a restful few days and speedy recovery.

Lovely! You look so happy and healthy. Congratulations on turning your life around for a healthy future. So inspiring for those of us just beginning!

My husband read an article recently about nuts and how they curb the appetite. He now has a jar of almonds at his desk and we have another on the kitchen counter. There is stuff in our house right now that I can't wait to get rid of -- some sugary popcorn crack cocaine that arrived by mail as a gift (thanks a lot!), etc. I am letting myself have four almonds if I'm in a place where the mental hunger is getting to me. I chew them and chew them and think about how good they are for my body, the Protein, etc. Totally know what you mean about grazing then not being hungry for when it's time for the real thing, etc. You are definitely not alone! I'm with Missy on the Snacks for the family being ones I don't crave myself. Corn chips, NO! Potato chips, fine. They can have 'em. If there were brownies around I doubt I could keep away from them. Congratulations on the 35 pounds -- you are doing beautifully!

I had a two-week liquid pre-op diet, too -- got so much easier after first days. Good luck to you. The 27th will be here soon. What a great gift you are giving yourself. Here's to all our dreams realized in 2014!

So sorry you have to have your band removed but it sounds like you have a good handle on your diet and exercise......good luck with your move and all that lies ahead. Even if you're on the other side of the world the forum is here and you're not alone. Best wishes!

Congratulations all you January bandits to be -- I am six weeks out and so happy with my new life. What a great way to begin 2014! Here's to health and happiness.

Great success -- way to go! If you want this last ten off maybe the addition of exercise is the ticket. I am far from my goal but like the idea of a buffer. Congratulations on all the hard work and perseverance and thank you for the inspiration this morning. It can be done!

Thanks for the inspiration, Lisa! It's amazing how once the body gets off track it's so hard to get back to ourselves again. I am newly banded but already starting to feel that return to self.

What a great post! Onederland, yippee! Congratulations on all the hard work and perseverance that brought you this success -- and here's to 2014 and achieving your goal.

My surgeon describes portion size as the size of a tennis ball. I think it's about 3/4 of a cup -- that's when I start asking myself if I'm full and should stop. No more finishing and no last bites......

Wow! That's great -- so happy for you!

Going to a holiday party tonight at our next door neighbors. Taking a lot of food I have no interest in eating. Planning to have a protein shake before we go so I am covered -- and also I don't want to be thirsty. Then I can choose to have a drink or not, or an hors d'oeuvres or two, or not. I know to be careful at a party where there is lots of eating while talking and laughing. I don't want to forget and swallow something too large or not chewed thoroughly enough. I still need to really be tuned in and listening to my band -- hard to do that when things are very Merry. One thing that's great is I have no anxiety about eating.....the peace of that is a marvelous thing. Hurray for the band and ending the chatter in my head, the obsession with food!

Same as Sandy -- walking immediately after surgery outdoors, etc. Then on the treadmill. Resumed recumbent bike at about a week. My surgeon asked for six weeks before resuming core exercises, weights, etc. I am able to do them now and happy to have those back. I want strong arms and a lean body!

So far raw apples are okay for me if I chew carefully -- so glad as we have a small orchard and I love apples. Peanut butter, however, terrifies me. It's one of my old outlaw foods and I'm still not ready to have it in the house. Afraid I might go wild with my itty bitty spoon. But probably not -- the day will come. I am amazed I can have cheese in the fridge and not keep going for it. I had it as part of a meal last night and did not trigger a grazing event. Major progress. I could not do that before -- it's the band. Love this thing!

I am newly banded and learning how it works for me. There's a point when I ask my body if I've had enough and it tells me (usually yes). But I have to inquire. Sounds a little crazy but if I stop and listen in like that I am able to get a signal to stop. I recognize my one more bite or finish the bowl days are over. Then I try to clock it so I know roughly when my next time eating should be -- trying for the tennis ball size of food every 4-5 hours, not eating if I'm not hungry and eating earlier if I am hungry. Noticing. Two resources from others here on the forum have helped me -- Dr. Simpson's article, The Lapband is Not About Restriction. I can't get a link here on my device easily but Google can help, and then Dr. O'Brien, the Australian bariatric specialist, has a series of videos called Eight Golden Rules for Lapband (make sure you get the most up to date ones). This summer while waiting for a surgery date and going to all the various appointments I got a therapist to help me go through the process and to get to the bottom of food issues as much as possible. I'm 52 so it's not like I hadn't thought about this a lot, read many books, journaled, etc., but this time I really broke it down. The when and why of my hunger usually comes down to anxiety. I have been tamping down my anxiety with food for twenty years. And being fat makes me anxious, so round and round I went. I still get the impulse to eat, like prior to a meeting or as a reward after, from habit, too, like in the evenings. But I have to ask myself what is really going on. I'm using mindfulness techniques like breathing and visualization to calm that inner whir of tension and when I give it that attention it dissipates. Good luck sorting out your fills and hunger. There's not one of us here who doesn't sympathize with what you're going through and of course it's so frustrating that you haven't yet reached a peaceful balance. You will! Stay with it -- and keep at the medical professionals to help you. I've removed certain phrases from my vocabulary, like "I have to eat," or "I need to eat." Truth is my body has plenty of reserves to burn off when I let it.

Hi Daisy, what a great post -- thank you so much! Sixty pounds in a year is fantastic. I am just six weeks out and loving the feeling of being released from that obsession over food. What a gift. Wishing you happy holidays and a wonderful new year of health.

Hi there, glad you found the site! I've learned a lot here from lots of amazing people and fun, too -- I'm almost six weeks banded now and I'm sooooooo happy with my new life. For hydration I fill up 32oz. glass juice bottles nearly to the top with Water then add a splash of unsweetened cranberry -- makes a nice light pink drink. If I need sweet I put in a little Steevia (I can't tolerate artificial sweeteners -- this one is a plant) and I also add a few capfuls of aloe for better digestion. This is my signature drink and when I open the fridge the bottles are there waiting. I like to drink one after exercising -- am tighter in the mornings so I can't chug it down like I used to -- and I like it around five o'clock when my brain thinks it's time for the old wine and cheese party.

Mine started a few days after surgery -- not sure why the delay. Walking will help with the worrying, too! Best wishes for a nice relaxing weekend.