Bandista

Congratulations -- the big day is finally here. So happy for you! Take good care of yourself and let us know how you're doing. Best wishes for smooth sailing and easy recovery........

Oh dear. I am so sorry -- sending you a big hug. My grandmother used to say that animals are a river of tears. They make the best friends of all but live such a short time compared to their humans. It's such a difficult thing making that decision of when it's time. Just know that it's the quality of love that matters, not the quantity of time. You will always have this dog in your heart. Best wishes and take good care during this difficult period of seeing off an old friend.

Take good care of yourself -- that exercise will definitely help with the stress. And just think, you'll have a baby to push around in a carriage pretty soon! So happy for you. I think I mentioned on another thread that I am adopted myself and we have an adopted child. Best wishes for the beautiful new family you are making!

Lentils are legumes and they are high in Protein -- and delicious! There are black lentils (French), red lentils, brown, green, etc. A great staple to have in the house. Yummy cooked in chicken stock, which also ups the protein. Saute an onion and some garlic, carrots, etc. -- whatever you like -- and then add the lentils and the Water or stock. Can use salt & pepper or many people love them with curry spices like cumin. Put the lid on and simmer until they are done -- maybe 20 minutes or so. The Progresso lentil soup is quite delicious also. Other ideas -- steam a head of cauliflower then cut it up and smoosh thoroughly (yes, great culinary term!) while adding chicken stock to get the consistency you like. Delicious -- like pudding. I like coriander in this.

Hi there, I am also trying to step up my routine and hopefully once I get a good chunk of weight off exercise will be easier. I'm 52 with arthritis, so gentle exercise like walking or peddling is best for me. We have a treadmill and a recumbent bike in our basement. I have a cousin who comes over to work out in the mornings. We aim for Mon-Fri and usually make four of those days. I'd like to be more accountable, too, plus I know I need to work a bit harder and add in other walks. We live in the country and it's gorgeous at this time of year. Adding in a good long walk with a friend twice a week is a worthy goal for me -- something I can fit into my day. My husband does PT exercises and this morning for the very first time I did one of them -- a core building exercise we call "swimming in bed." You hang off the end of the bed face-down on a pillow and use weights, picking up the opposite arm and leg then switching off. Like swimming. My core is, well....just think of Winnie the Pooh.

Yippee! That is great success -- you are doing beautifully!

I'm not banded yet but I make a delicious meatloaf with no bread -- I use eggs as a binder, which of course adds protein, and a bit of oatmeal which works really well. I use small muffin tins as well. Our son used to call them "meat cookies." They freeze beautifully. It occurs to me that protein powder could also be added.

Sending you best wishes -- so happy for you beginning your journey with the band. I am right behind you -- November 5th. I know I'll be nervous, too, but it's all so exciting. Love your on-line handle: Breathless. Sort of sums it up! Hope you can get some good deep breaths in and lots of relaxation before and after -- take good care of yourself this week!

Hong Kong -- Wow! I have traveled quite a bit but never to Asia. Sounds like the trip of a lifetime. I am pre-band and have no advice but I do know many people fast for long flights as a way of preventing jet lag. The airline will probably have some kind of Miso soup or salty broth option. So happy for you to have this opportunity. It is really exciting to see people getting their lives back and new doors opening. Yippee!

I have United PPO but every policy is different depending on the state and what the employer has negotiated with the insurance company. My surgery is covered at 90% but a few months ago it was 100% (grrr....), follow up visits are a $25 co-pay. I would call United to see if your doctor and facility are in-network and find out about the out of network co-pay if not. If the doctor and facility are not listed ask what it takes for them to become an in-network provider. Maybe your doctor would like to do that if he/she is not listed as there are such big changes in insurance coverage everywhere now. Good luck!

Hi Lainie, congratulations on getting the ball rolling. I went to my mandatory info session August 6th and am scheduled for surgery November 5th. Every process is different but once I got in the pipeline things moved pretty quickly. Good luck to you! I have learned so much on this forum -- great input from people who have all been there.

Hi Donna, Is it possible for you to have a thorough face-to-face review of all your medications with your medical professionals? Perhaps there are dosage issues that can be adjusted, etc., especially as you have lost a lot of weight. You definitely want to have a doctor who is very well-versed in pharmaceuticals monitoring your cocktail closely. Hopefully the band will help keep you from overeating or turning to food. Maybe they can tell you more about the side effects and ease your concerns. Sending you best wishes!

Nice! What a great moment that must have been to look in the mirror -- you look terrific! Congratulations on all your hard work.

Hi Kassi, welcome -- you will find excellent support here. I live in the country, too. It's beautiful here on these crisp New England mornings. We are trying to get all the wood in before the snow flies. How are you doing? Surgery was last Thursday so you are just a few days out. Hope you're healing well and able to rest, walk off any trapped gas, sipping water, etc. I plan to be banded on November 5. Very excited about taking charge of my health in this way. Best wishes to you!

Congratulations on all the hard work that brought you this success. So wonderful to think of actually enjoying shopping. I am sorry for the loss of your friend -- it is lovely that you have found these ways of celebrating her life.

Hi Natasha, Good luck with everything on the 4th. So great to get the ball rolling again! Hoping it all goes smoothly.....fall is such a good time for new beginnings.

So happy for you -- big day at last. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Way to go fitting into those jeans! That must feel so satisfying. I grew up on Warner Bros. and especially love the music. Maybe cartoons would be good for the treadmill.....hmmmm. Have fun!

Congratulations on this big decision. I just got my surgery date: 11/05 -- maybe we will be November Bandsters together. Actually I am hoping they will call and move me up -- I feel so ready! Sounds like you are quite the cook. I love to cook for our family, gatherings, the freezer -- you name it. Volume cooking -- the kind that takes hours and messes up the entire kitchen. Our son is turning into quite the cook, too. I plan to just keep at it as for me it's not really about me eating it in the end, it's the act of cooking itself that I really love. And I'll still be able to have my cup of whatever. Meanwhile, I've also been wondering a bit about Thanksgiving. If I am banded 11/5 with a week of liquids and a week of mushies I will just be back to "regular" food for that holiday. Could be a good lesson in what the future will be like for me. Very small portions, chewing, chewing, chewing -- making sure everything is cut up into teeny-tiny pieces. Since I'm not telling every one about band it will be a social challenge as well. May as well get it over with! Good luck to you!

Hi Shazam, you sure have your head in the right place -- pre-band here and loved reading your post. Transference is the term for trading in one addiction for another. Those seeking escape through food and unwilling to really look at that are prone to finding another way. Alcohol, for example, or just straight-up sugar. Something to stay in a fog rather than really showing up for life, which it's easy to see you are doing. Congratulations on all -- you are navigating some difficult people around you. Stay strong and stay away from any one who is toxic for you. We all know chips, ice cream, etc. are excluded -- why go through all this not to be successful on the band? We want health, vitality -- beautiful futures full of promise!

Congratulations on being on the other side! I can't wait to get there but I can see that this is the hardest time with the tool installed but not adjusted yet and lots to learn. My surgeon suggested that early post-op should be about listening to the body and getting in touch with hunger. I have been looking forward to making friends with my body again. I know it's not going to be easy but once the body is healed and the adjustment is correct (may take a while!), then those signals are going to be really important. Plus they will go away with very little food and won't come back again for 4-6 hours. Sigh. Wish I could fast forward past the surgery and into the green zone but I can see it's going to be an expedition. We will all get there, however -- dedication and perseverance!

Congratulations on your date!

Yippee! Way to go. So happy for you. The exercise is really key to success, isn't it? Can't wait to get my band -- thanks for the inspiration this morning.

Good luck to you -- best gift you are giving to your kids will be having a healthy Mom! Be sure to resist the temptation to jump right back into the fray. Let yourself heal up really well -- fortunately kids so easily distracted at those ages. As for food, great chance to get every one eating really healthy food, too. Only in this country do we make separate food for kids -- usually stuff like mac and cheese, chicken fingers, pizza, hot dogs -- foods that are a setup for problems later.

DAY 11 -- WAY TO GO, ALLIE! So happy for you -- and out of the threes. That is a great headstart. You are doing beautifully! Since I have five weeks 'til surgery I am planning to do much the same as you -- start eating "clean" and weaning off of trigger foods, lower caffeine, eliminate sugar, etc. Then I'll be ready for whatever pre-op I'm going to do and I hope to have the same kind of success -- getting that initial chunk off before surgery is a great thing to do. First time I will have lost weight that I know for sure won't be coming back again. Hurray for you to have done so well the last couple of weeks! Remind me what kind of shakes you are using or what your pre-op diet consists of......Happy Saturday!