Bandista

Today is my two-week Bandaversary and I'm so happy. The process has gone very well for me. I did a lot of planning, including making an appointment for a haircut today. A little present to myself! Along with stress and emotional eating, eating from boredom, etc., I used food as a reward system for myself. Time to come up with some good alternatives, ones that involve taking good care of myself. Getting the band was such a gift -- a way of choosing myself and my healthy future. That has done wonders for my self-esteem already. I'm happy to report that I still love food. I'm a good cook and I'm "in" food all the time -- nothing has changed there. The thing that has changed is that I am not really hungry. I have no cravings whatsoever and I am satisfied on very little food. It's only been two weeks and I'm fully prepared for a return of hunger; it just hasn't happened yet. Right now I'm transitioning into smooth and soft foods that are a little less mushy. I really want some veggies and have steamed beets on hand for my next meal. A half cup of those and a half cup of cottage cheese will make a splendid lunch. This is something that would have only been an appetizer before -- the beginning of a much larger meal and/or an afternoon of grazing. Later there is salmon on the menu. I have had turkey chile and all kinds of Soups. Sunday we went to a potluck with people who don't know I'm banded and that was fine. I brought a pureed squash Soup and had some Indian pudding for dessert. And we have eaten out a few times. This is something I was worried about but it was so easy. There may be foods that don't work for me and beef may be one. I had a bite of a Mexican dish I was making and I chewed and chewed and chewed until I spit out the little piece of spicy ground beef. Beef may be off my menu. My only concern right now is that I'm not having enough calories. The doctor told me not to worry about calorie or Protein goals at this time, so I'm trying to relax about the notion that I'm putting my body into starvation mode. On Thursday I meet with the nutritionist at the hospital but I know I am the one who has to figure out what's going to be best for me going forward, including a calorie goal to meet each day. Any thoughts on this are very welcome. The incisions are healing up nicely and I've resisted the temptation to overstretch or do any lifting. I started walking in the hospital and have become a walker. This is something I really wanted to accomplish -- pulling that switch in my brain to want to exercise. I still have a little ways to go. There are those old voices that tell me I can do it later, or I already had one walk so this isn't needed, etc. But I've started talking back and overriding. I have more will power now not only for resisting food temptation (have not really encountered any yet so that's easy) but also the will power to get moving. I really want to thank all the people here who have been cheering me on; you are wonderful! Best wishes for a fine Tuesday. And I got to create a post today, something I haven't been able to do since the changeover. Yippee!

Guy, your name comes up as "Cannot Delete Profile" with "His Excellency" underneath -- so weird! I'm getting frustrated with the changeover -- hope those techies haven't given up because this site is not there yet! If I try to create a post the letters are all transparent. When I click the link to report this it is broken. Ok, just had to vent. CG--YOU LOOK FABULOUS!

Way to go catching yourself! And now setting yourself up for success with a case of protein shakes on hand. Way to go on the liquids and this reboot!

Hi Barb -- glad you're here...on the right track back to accountability, wanting to be healthy.....I am new at this so don't have much to offer except I've been reading a lot of posts. Some people use the five day pouch test to regroup or a few days on liquids, etc. A reboot.

I've been doing a an amended workout -- just recumbent bike and treadmill, no BowFlex or core stuff. Today I really wanted that BowFlex -- love that stretch-out feeling. First thing I thought of was the pictures of that incision popped open (thanks for sharing that, Josh!). So no stretching out like that for me or weights, etc. Just going to have to weight. Here's the thing, this is not the old me talking. Pre-band I would take any excuse not to exercise. I did it because I'm 52, have arthritis and have to move or I freeze up, but now I want to exercise. What a great thing! I feel like a switch got pulled. I don't overeat and I look forward to a walk. Who is this?

Hey, congratulations -- the way the clothes fit says it all! I reached the magic number of 20 pounds lost then the next morning naturally I was up two pounds! Next day down a pound, etc. There is so much fluctuation. I should probably put the scale out in the barn for a while and just go by the weekly weigh-ins I'll have when I start going in for the weeks 4,5,6,7 etc. appointments with the surgeon. Nice to have that affirmation from your son's visit. Wait til the holidays!

Hi there, glad you're doing so well! I am two weeks post-op tomorrow and don't feel hungry. Well I get a little hungry but then have something -- small amounts -- and am satisfied. Makes me want to weep, I am so happy! Have read about some bands being "primed" -- asked my doctor and no fluid in my band as yet.

The irony of having to be fat enough for weight loss! Glad you made weight, though. Do you know that this is the weight which will be submitted to the insurance company and you can now stop worrying? Nice to slim down a little prior to surgery. Weight that won't be coming back!

The band is a gift to myself and a way of choosing myself first. After years of taking care of others and not putting myself first, I'm finally doing it. Yippee! Thanks for a great post, Millie Kay. It's good to know what you're up against. There may be people in your life who try to sabotage. Sometimes we fit into a box -- the fat one, the quiet one, the helpful one, etc. -- and when we change something people's worlds get rocked a little bit. People are defensive about their own health and addictions, the potential for losing an eating partner, etc. Take it easy on the pre-op diet -- be gentle with yourself if things come up to the surface remember you're doing this for YOU! I love that.

Hi Ya Ya, so happy for you! Hope you have a good rest -- kind of hard with all the machines beeping and people checking on you.....

Put those medical professionals to work for you!

Hi there, I am newly-banded -- it will be two weeks tomorrow. I am 52 and spent two decades seriously struggling with weight issues. So debilitating in every way! I was 248 and am down 20 pounds, some from the pre-op diet. A pound or so a week is not slow to me, that seems very healthy. I'm in this for the long run. Chose the band because I need assistance I dimming my appetite. Did not want something as drastic as a sleeve, etc. -- I like the idea that if it is ever necessary my band can be removed. And it's adjustable so I can keep working with my surgeon to get it tweaked so it's just right for me at a given time. Very happy! Good luck on your journey. I learned so much here reading posts, asking questions, etc. Best wishes for your healthy future!

Yippee! It's like putting down two big bags of dog food, or a small bale of hay. Must feel great -- can't wait to stop carrying all this weight around!

Thinking of you! Best wishes for smooth sailing and a speedy recovery. I found I needed to get up and pee fairly frequently afterwards and when I did I put my robe on and walked as much as I could, a little more each time. Figured I was up anyway! This really started me on the road to being a walker. Now I look forward to exercise and that is not the old me, that's the banded me. Plus I think it really helps with releasing any trapped gas from the surgery and just helps the healing process in general. Good luck today -- very exciting!

Hi Carole, glad you're here -- that's a big step in the right direction! And seeing your doc soon is excellent. Good for you for making that appointment and reeling in the carbs. Don't forget that you are coming off of a back surgery and probably a lot of pain leading up to that. Maybe even drugs. Your body is shrugging all of that off now, which makes this a perfect time to get healthy. Pain does such a number on the brain, and for those of us who have wiring for food as a reward or escape, it is very hard not to turn to that. Which is why the band. Dim that hunger and you'll be feeling great through the holidays -- in control of your appetite but enjoying food, just in very small amounts. Talk about the ultimate Christmas gift. Best wishes to you!

What a nice waitress! Happy birthday! For me the Lapband is my gift to myself. I'm so excited to have started this new chapter in my life. Tomorrow is two weeks since my surgery. You'll be there in no time! Best wishes to you.

So happy for you!

Hi Essence, there is another recent thread about this -- the Lapband is adjustable which means there is a lot of followup with the surgeon in the first year to get the fill just right for the individual patient. This is, of course, is costly for the hospital. I believe money is a big factor in why some hospitals are switching to the other surgeries -- it's just less time-consuming for them.

I am fascinated by the whole soft stop thing.......looking forward to getting my body's signals straight.

Hi there, I'm on day twelve and have been out to eat twice. First time was a few days ago. There's a little bookstore cafe we love. My husband got a huge melted Reuben kind of thing and I had a cup of carrot ginger soup (puréed). Then yesterday we took off for the shore -- a beautiful sunny Saturday and we live in snow country so this felt like a last chance before winter. We found a Mexican Bistro. My husband had a Margarita and big bowl of chili. I had a cup of tortilla soup with the tortillas on the side. This was another blended soup -- white beans, etc. It was yummy and it was just great to feel like I'm able to go out without a problem -- even while still on post-op diet. Must confess I look forward to a Margarita one of these days. But since no eating/drinking at the same time I guess it's sort of one or the other and I need food!

Hi there, there a couple of November threads so be sure to look for them -- there are so many of us! I am on day 12 and feeling great. Overdid one day and had to lay low the next, but all in all it's been a very smooth recovery. Best wishes to all!

Yikes! Thanks for the warning. Hope you get medical care for that ASAP. Can you be knighted for this? Definitely looks like a sword fight wound. I really wanted to be banded late summer -- started process in June and felt like it dragged on -- but it's probably a good thing I got an early November date as I am a serious gardener and can imagine getting caught up in a task and overdoing it. This is a good cautionary tale but I'm sorry you have to go through it. Best wishes!

Every program is different -- I'm sure you're fine! Main thing is post-op care. That's what's really important, the regular followup visits for assessing need for a fill, how it's going, etc. Best wishes to you!

Hi Bobbie, congratulations on your date! Excited and nervous pretty much sums it up. It will be here before you know it. Best wishes!

Congratulations -- coming right up! Wishing you smooth sailing and a speedy recovery. For me it was much easier than I thought it would be. I started walking right away (had an overnight stay in the hospital) -- the walking is really important. I had a prescription filled for pain medication but didn't use it -- did fine on Tylenol and Ibuprofen. There is discomfort -- all those belly incisions -- but they heal up quick. Laparoscopy is a marvelous invention. The walking helps with the lung capacity following the anesthesia and moving any trapped gas. And Popsicles, yum! Will be thinking of you on Tuesday. That's my two-week anniversary so we'll be on our weight loss journey together. Best wishes!