Bandista

Months ago some one posted "What Things Weigh" and on the list was the weight of a cinder block: 33 pounds. For some reason I latched on to that as a goal. I know how heavy a cinder block is because I have to move them around from time to time. We have a small farmstead and I despise those cinder blocks that are out behind our garden shed. Well now, as of today, I am down two of those babies (plus one pound). Sixty-seven pounds down!! Honestly I cannot even imagine carrying around two cinder blocks all day every day and yet that's what I have done for years. That and more. No wonder I feel so good -- I'm free of those anchors. Along with shedding weight, I am also still letting go of my old dieting mentality. I was an epic dieter -- on or off a diet for twenty years plus -- and so I still sometimes think in terms of being "good" or "bad." Yesterday might have been what I would have called a bad day. We ate out and I had a lot of guacamole, a few chips, a little chili, but kind of a lot of guacamole. And a cocktail! That was lunchtime. Then we went to a friend's house for a little dinner party and there were cheese and crackers. Yummy blue cheese. I had a loaded cracker and then another bite of cheese at some point, and wine was flowing. A Soup and salad for dinner; I didn't have bread. Then dessert! I even had a little bit of ice cream. This is very unlike me. BAD GIRL, right? Well, there is no good girl/bad girl anymore. There's just me and my band. I have been stuck at 187 for ages and this morning I jumped on the scale hoping, hoping, hoping yesterday hadn't taken me back over the top and into the nineties again (yikes). Nope, down two pounds to 185. This is the way it has gone for me the whole time. I think I'm not getting anywhere and then when I least expect it, there goes the scale down, down, down. Yes, I want to put down one more cinder block -- I'd like to lose another thirty-three pounds. I'm not sure what my body's ideal weight will be and whether that is even the right goal, but I'm just going to keep doing what I've been doing and let it take the time it takes. What do I do? I eat when I'm hungry and I don't eat when I'm not hungry. I'm keeping it as simple as possible, having overcomplicated everything to do with food and eating for such a long time. Best wishes to all, wherever you are on your journey. The day-by-day can seem like a bit of a slog sometimes (especially when the scale isn't moving like a speedometer), but over the course of a year? WOW!

YIPPEE! What an amazing moment......WOW! So happy for you. And China for the holidays -- what a trip you are going to have.

Hi there, you are doing wonderfully -- don't forget to pat yourself on the back for how far you have come. And if your body is taking a little time to balance out before next drop, so be it. Just know your metabolism is changing, your whole body composition is changing. Way to go on forgoing the popcorn and night out -- and listening to your body. Thanks both you and Sandy for the apple and carrot tips; had not heard that before. I am just catching up on this thread and didn't know about your shoulder. Pain can really get in the way. Hope that is resolved now! I have one Shapewear item and one night I wore it fine but another I had to go back home and get out of it -- I knew I wouldn't be comfortable. Sending best wishes your way -- a brand new week ahead! PS what are you going to be for Halloween?

Great posts -- congratulations all. It took me a little while to get cruising but this has been an amazing year. And not hard. I feel like the band has made it easy for me to make good choices -- something I wasn't able to do consistently before.

We keep dark chocolate in the house and it astounding to me that I'm able to ignore it or, if I want some, have a small piece. The dimmed appetite is an amazing thing. As for Halloween, we live too far in the boonies for trick-or-treaters so I haven't been confronted with that for a while. I hate the commercialism and all the crappy candy. The high fructose corn syrup and sugar industries sure love Halloween. They tell us to buy more more more and we do. Kids can't pay attention in school but hey, they've got a big bag of candy under the bed.

I've only been banded a year but this would be too tight for me. I don't eat in the morning because I'm not hungry and do feel more "restriction" (tricky word -- see Dr. simpson link in my signature below) but I don't feel comfortable with any sliming or bringing back up of food (unless it's my own fault eating too fast). Hope this helps and that you find your sweet spot. My body fluctuates a lot - inflammation (arthritis), etc. I don't keep a tight band because I need a little extra room for those times I'm going to be more inflamed. This also occurs with a cold or sinus issues, etc. Even just hormones.

Some shakes don't agree with me -- for instance a lot of dairy or soy can be binding. Not sure what your pre-op consists of......good to check in with your doctor. Post-surgery constipation can be an issue, too, so good to sort this out. Even though I didn't use pain medication (notoriously constipating, those narcotics) I still had difficulties just from the anasthesia and ended up having to take Milk of Magnesia day four or so. Love the prune juice idea. I chew up a prune here and there to help keep regular, plus chia seeds in my yogurt, etc.

One. Year. Out. Yippee! All of that in the rear view mirror. Congratulations on a spectacular year. I'm sure that surgeon was blown away to learn the backstory -- what you had to do to get the surgery. You are courageous and indomitable.

You all have GOT this! Pre-op isn't easy but for me the rest.....well I hate to say it because I know there can be arcs of frustration.....but for me the rest (including surgery and recovery and waiting for fills).....a breeze. That's hind-sight for you but there it is.

Love, love, love these! My NSV? I like me like this. I feel GOOD! Thanks, CG.........

@@Penoto hi there! I have no background in this area but just wanted to say, wow, you are doing beautifully. Congratulations! You've really caught the exercise fever. I am a 53 female, walk four miles/day (fast, but nothing compared to the burn of running) and consume a lot more calories than you. I believe in listening to the body -- if yours is telling you to up the calories, find what you need with regard to protein, healthy fats, "good" carbs, etc. Keep burning that fat while keeping the muscle. Awesome.

Definitely call your doctor -- could be a reaction to anesthesia or pain medication.......Hope you feel better soon! What kind of surgery did you have? Your medical professionals will be glad to hear from you; they want a happy healthy patient recovering well. Best wishes!

Isn't it grand! Moral of the story is where what you love while you can because it's a small window of opportunity. And a great problem to have.

Wow, way to go! So happy for you! Doesn't it feel great?

I had no Protein goals during my post-op phase. To me the whole notion of trying to get something in or get something down feels counter-intuitive to the whole process of learning to listen to the body and give it what it needs. Of course you need to follow your doctor's instructions but maybe you should call and tell them you are having difficulty -- they may say not to force anything, not to worry so much. Meanwhile congratulations on your surgery and welcome to the other side. It's an exciting time.

@@briefs199 I used a product called Thorne Mediclea for liver cleansing -- and also Garden of Life shakes, but I have always been an alternative medicine type.....

Glad you made your a appointment; let us know how it goes. The band is all about followup --11 or so appointments with the surgeon in my first year.

Hi there and congratulations on your success to date. I am with you on wanting to get the final pounds off. We are faced with winter approaching and I'm pretty sure I need to have a really aggressive plan in place for getting exercise. If you're not currently working out, that might out you at goal before you know it.

@@SteinLaFemme doesn't sound weird at all -- the fill is where it's at as far as I'm concerned. I hoped I'd be some one who never needed one but those are rare (and mostly band plus Plication peeps). I had my first fill at four weeks, the second at five, third at six then I was good for a while, dropped a bunch and needed another fill. My surgeon did small fills but was aggressive with them.

@@JustWatchMe work it, baby! I have found making walking dates really works for me....have a great day, not sure where you are but here in NH it is pouring rain. Deluge. Reminds me that winter is coming and I need a solid mode -- structure and strategy for exercise on snow or rain days.

Unfortunately it's hard to find 100% Stevia -- it's being marketed with maltodextrine and other additives and labeling makes it difficult to sleuth it out. I use the liquid version from Trader Joe's and just a drop or two, and the Greek yogurt I use has Stevia in it as well as real sugar. I can't tolerate artificial sweeteners.

My HH was discovered and repaired during my LB surgery -- another plus. The surgeon had indicated that this might occur so I wasn't caught off guard. Sometimes I wonder if this repair is part of why I feel so great or if it's just my new banded life.

Agreed there is a lot of subconscious chatter at the brink of a goal....mine is to get out of the eighties into the seventies. Perseverance will win the day!

Stop that! You are in charge -- you're the patient, the customer -- put those medical professionals to work. Partner up! They are there for you!

Thanks, Paris Shel, needed an upper!