Bandista

Congratulations on Friday -- and on being open. I admire that and am looking at my own issues of why I feel so embarrassed. Obviously because it is so embarrassing being overweight and feeling judged, etc. but maybe theres more and a way to ditch decades of low self esteem behavior. My family, though, beyond the immediate (great spouse and son) are not what you would all a support system. Keep us posted on your progress -- so happy for you!

Yippee! Imagine carrying around a bale of hay all the time. Oh, wait -- I have two. Good grief, going to have some ENERGY when I put those thi go down! Congratulations on all the hard work that got you to this place. Yippee!

Congratulations! So happy for you -- and glad you found this site. I sure am glad -- pre-band but I've learned so much, way more than through the hospital program, etc. good luck walking and ice chipping and check in when you can!

Let us know how it went -- did you get your date? Laughed aloud over the one hour early part. I so get that. Let's go already!

Thanks -- will do. Top of tomorrow's list! Best wishes!

Loved the Flame comment, too -- and I've heard "Tiger Stripes" before. The coordinator of the LB program at our local hospital (who is banded herself) said something that cracked every one up at the seminar when some one asked about stretch marks: " all the important stuff happens in the dark anyway so who cares?" She is pretty irreverent. My husband had a major abdominal scar from a back surgery (they went in through the front). He did Vitamin E oil every day and it's hard to see that scar now. Totally different, of course, as that was fresh and different than stretch marks. I'm white but have a boy of color who is one scar after another -- sometimes I rub Vitamin E oil on the worst spots but honestly I can't tell whether it does anything. Trader Joe's makes a good one that is not too expensive or sticky. I've wondered about starting to grease up my beach ball in advance of the band and whether that would do anything -- the way pregnant women do. Oh my, do I look forward to getting rid of this belly! If there are stretch marks it will be better than what I have now, that's for sure.

Yippee! I hope it goes well. I can't wait for that call! Where are they? I don't want to start nudging the woman who makes the appointments quite yet as I don't want to appear to be a PITA from the get-go -- but I wish they'd call. Need to see psych and nutritionist then the surgeon. LET'S GO!

Hi JBT, thanks for posting -- exciting to be back on BandWagon. I am still waiting to get banded and find stories like yours very inspiring. Best wishes!

Come on, Joanne -- the get up and go time is here! The oomph is yours! We're all behind you......

Hi Cherrili, welcome and congratulations on a great year of weight loss and new health. I am waiting for a surgery date. Sizes are so funny, aren't they? Every manufacturer is different. Let's not even get started on how awful the clothes are, too. What is slub, for example? Meant to be disposable t-shirts? I think Land's End has an on-line modeling tool to help figure out their sizes -- that might be fun. They are the company that sells swimwear separates for tops and bottoms of different sizes. I don't know what I'll be at goal weight. I am 5'6" and declaring 150 as goal for now (I am 52) -- don't want to be a stick. In the old days 8 or 10 were not healthy sizes for me -- I think probably a classic size 12 is more like it. But I'll have to see when I get there. In the S, M, L world I should be an M (not a 2x).

Yes, indeed! Congratulations on all the hard work that brought you to this place. So worth it!

Best wishes!

Love this post -- thought you might need to read it again.

Please know that you are worthy of all good things. It's so easy to get down on ourselves when we're exhausted. Please be gentle with yourself and take good care -- you are worth it. Thank you for posting. It really helps me to read what others are going through. Life can be so stressful. When I'm able to step back and view things from a distance, sometimes I gain insight.

I'd call it in -- put those nurses to work!

I am really struggling with this. I have a list called "People Who Know" in a LapBand journal I started a month or so ago. Husband, local friend, far away friend, another friend who has weight issues -- she has been most skeptical -- and that's it so far. Hospital peeps, obviously. NOT telling my mother. She is elderly and a source of body/weight issues. I don't want to have to deal with her. We have a son turning 18 and I want to tell him at the right time (near to date), but otherwise I feel like I need my privacy. Except for here -- you guys are awesome.

This is so encouraging!

Love/hate my machine -- bit of a hassle but the way everything else is drowned out and I can really sleep is better than a grilled cheese sandwich. No surgery date yet -- hoping, hoping for Sept. but I have no real data on that. Kind of like when we adopted a baby -- where it's easy to move all the dates up in my head because I want it so much.....

Love/hate my machine -- bit of a hassle but the way everything else is drowned out and I can really sleep is better than a grilled cheese sandwich. No surgery date yet -- hoping, hoping for Sept. but I have no real data on that. Kind of like when we adopted a baby -- where it's easy to move all the dates up in my head because I want it so much.....

I am pre-band but I make a mean cauliflower mush. Steam whole head and then use stick blender (love that thing!) or food processor to whir it up, adding organic chicken stock to achieve desired consistency. Salt, pepper and cayenne. If you like veggies, this is delicious -- very dense and filling. Need to figure protein quotient for this as of course that's the band goal -- protein. Like I said, I'm pre-band so I don't know if this is helpful or not!

I made a list of all the positive things I want from getting the band -- losing the CPAP machine is on there twice! That said, I love the deep sleep I can achieve (sometimes, sigh) with my machine. Since I had poor sleep prior to the big weight it may not be possible, but I am hoping..... My husband calls me Aqua Girl, which helped dispel some of the awkwardness of the snorkel arrangement which is in any case less awkward than being a snorer and of course chronically fatigued. I thought I'd drop weight with the machine, that surely getting proper sleep would help with metabolism, intake of calories, etc. But no. I need the band.

You are the picture of health! Congratulations on all the hard work that brought you this success -- you are amazing.

Congratulations! What a great health decision this was....I can't wait to begin. What's your work out routine like?

Hi Donna, I'll be 52 in September -- happily married, one son who is a senior in high school. This year will be Project Me. Good luck with everything -- exciting times, these. Yes, lots of hard work ahead but this time with results!

I need you to be my personal pre-op chef! Good to get organized, that's for sure -- I am trying to work on head hunger and habits, the lifestyle changes I need to make with the help of that yet to be installed band. Not too far off now, I hope. .