Bandista

Congratulations to both of you -- a beautiful day to begin Banded Life. Best wishes and all good thoughts for an easy time of it over the weekend. Me next, me next -- I so want this. You are both in my thoughts.

Congratulations on a fresh start. I am pre-band so don't have any words of wisdom, but as for being in the same boat -- here we all are. Sorting out the head hunger is key as of course it's possible to override the band. I am working on identifying my triggers. Conference calls, for example, send me right to the refrigerator five minutes ahead of time to somehow "prep" myself for something I don't want to do. Then there's boredom, of course, and reward. I know I need to give up these behaviors and I know I have to want to be thinner and healthy more than I want whatever it is I think I'm craving. I want to get to the place where I can trust my body, where I'm in sync. And craving exercise instead of a nibble of something yummy. I sought professional help as well, and I think it's been good for me to talk all of this over with some one. And tracking, that is key. Good for you! Keep us posted -- I will go friend you so your stuff comes up on my notifications. Best wishes for this new phase!

Congratulations! So happy for you. Fall seems like such a perfect time for a whole new chapter of life to begin. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

My figure resembles more of a Winnie-the-Pooh figurine right now. The hourglass, you GO! So happy for you!

Yippee!

Congratulations and best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Thanks -- I'm going to get my little photo opp together. My husband always says there won't be any pictures of ME in the family albums as I usually have the camera and then I am so brutal with destroying the evidence. When people try to take my picture I often joke, "I don't want to be documented at this weight." That shuts them up fast and of course it is not funny at all, it's painful. I want the embarrassment to be over!

So inspiring! That settles it, I'm going to figure out how to get some decent Before pix so ill be able to look back and mark the success. You look fantastic and I love it that you are hooked on exercise now. I am really hoping for that. Good luck going forward -- you have given yourself a wonderful gift of health in this last year. Wow!

You are doing so well -- congratulations on all the hard work that got those pounds off. You must feel great. I can't wait to get banded, even though I know there will be ups and downs. Thanks for that reminder......

Hi Journey, I know just what you mean -- I feel so ready and the hospital bureaucracy is knocking the stuffing out of me. Yesterday I got irritated and started looking around at potential other places to go but we live in a very rural area and this is my best option for getting to fills during snowy weather, etc. And I like the staff but cannot understand how they are so bogged down. Keep your chin up! Is there something you can do in these few months leading up to January?

Yippee! That's a great result but don't worry too much about the number in the coming weeks as your body adjusts -- you will be down another twenty before you know it!

Hi there, September 19th is the date I meet with the nutritionist and psych eval -- two more steps toward getting the surgery date. I will think of you that day, wishing you a speedy recovery. Wonderful to have the job you want, back near your family and now taking hold of your health issues. Exciting times ahead!

Hi Smiley -- you will get there! Congratulations on the surgery, recovery and now on to getting the fill right. It's all happening.........

That is great news! Makes sense the whole digestive track would be so much happier with the healthy changes and being able to pay attention to the body's signals, not forcing it to deal with more than it should do, etc. One thing about this long wait to a surgery date is that I'm actually really looking forward to the pre-op diet for all those cleansing properties.

Congratulations! So happy for you. It's really exciting to watch people's progress here.

Hi there, so many good people here to help......I am pre-band so I don't have advice but please know you are not alone. It's a lifestyle adjustment and a lot of stuff can come up, plus you are healing and your body is acclimating. Get your medical team on board, too, whatever is going on.....best wishes!

I am not banded yet but researching like crazy -- what is five-day pouch test?

A proper outing -- congratulations. Geesh, wait 'til next year you'll be running up and down the bleachers!

I think the body really needs to adjust -- first to the pre-op diet then recovering from surgery and now this whole new way of eating. it's like it to believe it is okay to start dropping and then boy oh boy will you start to lose. Hang on! Good for you on the golf and doing what you can -- you have made his big step and it is all happening. Wait til Christmas -- you're not going to believe what you've accomplished!

Congratulations on your surgery! I'm a bit envious (still waiting for a date) -- can you believe I'm looking forward to the pre-op diet? I just want to get started! You are beginning a whole new chapter -- so happy for you!

Life after LapBand....Yippee. its like hearing about a far off land but maybe not as far away as I think. Thanks so much for posting - so inspiring as I wait for a date. Congratulations on all the great work and good choices that have brought you this success. Best wishes....

Hi there, I am pre-band and have learned so much on this forum. All these posts have helped me to understand what LB surgery is about. I need my appetite to subside so I can make good decisions long-term, which will allow me to lose the weight. Otherwise I can only go so long before I am back to where I started (plus some), only hungrier than ever. I look forward to the surgery and getting out of food jail. I plan to continue to enjoy good food (I love Protein and veggies), just in very small quantities. I realize there may be some things that don't agree with me post-band (cheese addict). I am especially looking forward to being able to interpret my body's signals and responding properly, which I know will be a learning process. This means giving up eating as a response to boredom or stress but not giving up eating for nutrition. Goal is to enjoy that nutrition in a healthy way. Good luck to you! You are really in the right place for information and compassionate support. i am so impressed by the people who have been through the procedure who are willing to answer any and all questions. They are amazing. And if you need more time I'll bet you could move the date up a few weeks easily enough -- just report that it would be more convenient for you in October....then perhaps armed with information from those who have gone before us you might feel more ready?

Hi there, hope your appointment went well and that you're feeling better today and recovering. Best wishes!

I am still pre-band and love reading posts like these. Sounds like you are really doing beautifully and you're right on track. Your body is undergoing a tremendous adjustment -- not just recovery from the surgery but settling into this new mode of lower calorie intake. And it's so great that you can implement will power knowing that it is temporary. That's been the thing, really, an inability to sustain will power over appetite for long enough to lose the weight then maintain the loss. I could always make it a while on a new regime but without the band just couldn't keep it going. One failed attempt after another. So looking forward to this new tool to dim that appetite and allow me to lose weight and home in on my body's signals for hunger. The knowing how to stop. Best wishes to you and thanks for blogging!

Congratulations -- so happy for you. What do you do for an exercise routine? I am really looking forward to gettig banded and losing enough weight to be able to increase the exercise -- hoping to get hooked on that (instead of food!) -- then keep up the weight loss and toning. Longing for that healthy place!