Bandista

Hi there and welcome -- congratulations on getting to the other side. I am pre-band and waiting to get there! Hope you have a speedy recovery. Best wishes!

Well it's going to be a very happy New Year Birthday this year -- whole new deck of cards at 52. Congratulations! I will follow your progress -- so exciting!

I've been getting pumped to Red Barrat. Caught them on one of NPR's "Tiny DeskConcerts" -- it's wild music, don't know how to describe exactly: New Orleans meets Indian wedding, lots of horns, drums. Impossible not to move -- really changes it up for me when their tunes come on. Burning Down The House always works for me, too, and Annie Lennox doing Take Me To The River.

Yippee! So happy for you. Very inspiring -- I can't wait! Ugh, still waiting for surgery date but it will happen. It will all happen. Next up the eighties. Imagine!

Congratulations AMW -- hope you are doing well. Liquid diet? Mushies? You are on your way!

I wish! Still waiting for my date. I am, however, about to turn 52 in Sept. and look forward to being a Slim Diva myself. Can't wait to get started! How is it going for you? I love DC, grew up in Annapolis, now live in New England. Interested to see you had surgery in Providence. How will you handle after-care? If my hospital program staff doesn't hurry up I may go elsewhere. Getting a bit impatient!

Congratulations, Lia! Take good care and let us know how you're doing. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Congratulations! I am pre-band and can't wait to be on the other side. Hope you are able to rest and take good care of yourself. You're on your way! Best wishes.....

I am not banded yet but I love cauliflower smush, as we call it. I make organic chicken stock and use that to get it to the right consistency -- sometimes with added things like fresh cilantro, garlic, etc. Also it freezes beautifully -- I'm a gardener and when they come in we have to process them somehow. This is a great way. Any kind of winter squash or pumpkin can be steamed and whirred up (I use a stick blender or food processor) with stock -- veggie stock, chicken stock, etc. Also check out the Indonesian Squash Soup recipes -- coconut milk, lime, etc. some have a few almonds ground in to add nutty flavor. Not sure what's best on Mushy diet -- whether nuts are okay. Do you like eggplant? Half them and roast face-down (I use parchment paper). Scoop out and mix with garlic, a little olive oil, salt and pepper, oregano if you like and feta cheese. If you can get sheep's milk feta where you live it is worth it. Absolutely delicious. You can put the smush back in the eggplant "boat" to serve if you like.

So exciting......I am pre-band and love reading stories like yours. Congratulations on everything -- won't it be wonderful to show up for all the future happiness with good health!

This is great for those of us who are pre-band -- lots of info on stages to expect plus you are such an inspiration. Congratulations! Keep us posted on how it is going for you! I can't wait to get banded -- ready to do the work and find peace with food and success on the scale. Here's to good health!

It's hard not to get obsessed with the number on the scale but my guess is your body is doing this just right -- lose, level off, lose. Maybe pick another number to work on right now -- like beating current treadmill time or adding one more time around the block, something like that? I think you're doing great -- congratulations on the 20!

I have a very keen sense of smell, too -- we should open a perfumerie or a bloodhound detective agency! Maybe you can wash everything in baking soda or something like that.....?

WOW! Congratulations! So happy for you. I am pre-band and you are making me want to get out the measuring tape --- and, EEEK, the camera -- to do some documentation ahead of time. So exciting to hear news like this. Rock on!

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! And good for you for resisting the temptation to try to calculate where I'll be by thus and such date -- it's such a trap. It takes the time it takes but it's going to be so worth it! And you will be gorgeous at your October event no matter what......have fun!

Could it be that maybe your fill is not right yet? As for food addiction -- the head hunger -- this is something you can conquer. It's going to take your all, though, and you need to be sure everything is lined up, including the band adjustment, right foods in the house, etc. You deserve the good health coming your way. You can do this!

Hi there, congratulations on the band. It will all get easier as you heal up and then get a fill. Thanks so much for keeping us posted! Best wishes for a speedy recovery.......

Great non-scale victory -- Being able to vacation comfortably, to be physical -- yippee! Thanks for the inspiration, much needed as I wait, wait, wait for a surgery date. Can't wait for feeling better in my body. I want that so much. Best wishes!

Have fun brassiere shopping -- it's going to be great to find the right fit and feel well-supported and looking good in your clothes, etc. You've achieved so much success -- I wish you a drawer full of gorgeous lingerie!

I'm really examining the reasons I eat as I wait to get my surgery date so that I'll be able to make the right choices. It helps me to be able to label the behavior. Boredom, for example -- I want to eat because I'm not caught up in what I'm doing, it's dull and I want food. Or anxiety (my biggest one). I feel anxious about something and use food to settle myself down. I feel stressed and am looking for an anchor in the form of food. Reward -- thinking I deserve something. Etc. Sorting this out is helpful to me as I do not want to do any of this anymore. I want the band to give me time to think things through not driven by appetite so I can choose something like walking instead, or getting out my art supplies, writing in my journal. Something that is not food. Good luck -- you can do this!

So happy for you!

Yippee!

So happy for you! Hope you have a good restful weekend.

Every one is so different, these human bodies. Just take good care of yourself and every day a little better. It's rough not having enough sleep -- hope that comes your way soon. Deep, healing sleep -- there's nothing quite like it! Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Thanks for keeping us posted!

Great choice-making -- you are going to do beautifully and reach your goal. Congratulations!