Bandista

@@PSRS520 good luck with all! I so recall those feelings of pre-op excitement and nervousness. Terry Simpson's article, "The Lapband is not about Restriction" -- I must have read that hundreds of times as I had kind of a long wait -- June 2013 started research, banded in November. That and O'Brien's Eight Golden Rules. Sorry I don't have those links handy (I'm on my iPad), but you are probably all plugged in already as it looks like Simpson has great patient education. Regarding calling, I didn't want to be too much of a pain but I did call and something had been missed so that was good. I went through a hospital and there was a general number for clearing surgeries. Plus I was in touch with my insurance company -- didn't mind being a PITA with them.

@@loulou29 glad you found this site. I learned so much reading through post after post and asking questions. It felt like it took forever to get my surgery date but in hindsight I think it was good for me to have that time to get myself ready. You seem like a very organized and procedural person -- good for you choosing yourself and your healthy future first. I love my band and would not want it out, that's for sure. And I can't feel it in me -- it's like it's on my brain instead because that appetite monster is off of my back. Very happy to be out of food jail.

Big cooking day yesterday -- I have a chef's jacket and threw it on to protect my clothes. It is huge on me. Ridiculous. I had to stuff myself into that thing before, with big gaps around the frog buttons. Cooks generally come in two sizes -- scrawny or roly-poly. Maybe I can be right in-between!

Shapewear is a new term but women have been stuffing themselves into undergarments forever. Last week, prompted by this thread, I tried on a variety of options. Oh my god, it was hysterical. But I did come away with a corset -- the wear your own bra kind of thing that flattens the belly. It has about fifty hooks and eyes on the front and, while there is no whalebone, it sure feels like it. I was definitely sitting and standing up straighter! Wore it out to a concert and had a blast dancing in the aisles to salsa music. Couldn't wait to get it off again later, but it sure did feel great to a) not have a Winnie-the-Pooh belly anymore and not even a sign of the old paunch. I don't hate my soft belly but do plan to do more core work this winter to tone up the abdominal area. http://media1.onsugar.com/files/2012/02/07/1/301/3019466/cover.xxxlarge/i/Vintage-Corset-Ads.jpg

@@JustWatchMe don't let the wrinkles get you down! You are at the gates of Onederland and doing beautifully -- nearly 100 pounds gone, gone, gone. Whole new life. I just had my 53rd birthday over the weekend. There are things about my body that are only going in one direction, lol, but the spirit is boundless and I'm so grateful for that -- the having myself back part. I was there all along but I know you know what that feels like, to have recovered a true sense of self. Don't let that anniversary date throw you for a loop. Yesterday was a Monday, the weather has turned and there are lots of reasons for the blahs, but step back for a sec and give yourself three cheers. Actually the cheering thing is interesting. I watched a Ted Talk a while back about faking it 'til making it -- i.e. pretending to love exercise until one day, oh my god, it's not pretend anymore. Anyway, the example given for rewiring that part of the brain is to raise up the arms like some one crossing a finish line. Yippee! Opens up the chest, head is picked up -- yippee! Maybe you need these to help you Celebrate yourself and all you've done. You are amazing -- yay, you!

Hi there, I love losing weight that I know, for once, is not coming back. Yippee!

Hi there and congratulations all -- exciting times. Most of us look at the forum as one big place for joint mentors hip, support, etc. I joined in June 2013, had my surgery in November and am coming up on my first anniversary. Throughout the process I've been so grateful for this place where I can read posts and get a better understanding, ask a question, share successes, concerns. I made a point of following positive people who were having success and noting what makes them that way (commitment, humor, patience, willingness, etc.). Good luck -- by choosing WLS I was choosing myself and my healthy future first and that was a big change for me. Every one else benefits, of course, but putting myself at the top of the list made a huge difference.

@@gin765 no such thing as a silly question! I asked a zillion when I was researching and getting my head ready for banded life. We have fun here...

I think menopause is delayed for me now because I'm healthier. I have skipped cycles and thought I was done done, but no. The beat goes on...... I did want to lose the weight prior to menopause because I think it's more difficult after, but now I'm more relaxed with all that. The weight is coming off regardless. Speaking of hormones, though, the benefits of increased sexual energy are pretty amazing. Loving that.... The heavy periods, not so much.

Hi Rose! First of all, congratulations -- you are doing great. Don't worry if the scale doesn't move all the time. It will! Look for non-scale victories, like clothes fitting differently, feeling more physically fit, how the mind games might be changing, etc. And speaking of brains and human behavior, I am some one who had to really work at my pacing -- how fast I was eating. And if I eat too fast I am not chewing properly. It helped to train myself to put the utensil down between bites. I resisted this which gave me some information right there -- I didn't want that implement out of my hand, so I looked at that behavior and did practice sessions on the clock. That also gave me a chance to listen for the signals of satiety. For me I might just kind of get bored, like I'm not as invested. Then I know I'm done. Just know you're well on your way and you'll get this figured out. Don't hesitate to call your surgeon's office as they may have a nurse or nutritionist who is there to help patients sort through post-op issues.

When it is slow sometimes I think about how much I would have gained if I hadn't done this. I was packing it on bit by bit, slow but steady gain gain gain. And of course there's all the benefit of not having loose skin from rapid loss. I'm finding exercise to be a big factor in my health and happiness -- more so than the scale which can be pokey. Jeans size ten, OMG. But I'm still hovering around 190. (I record lowest number, which so far is 187.).

Of course you are! But know that there are many people who had to figure out another way, like changing insurance or self-pay, etc. The main thing is you have decided to do something about your health and your future. You deserve to get the assistance you need so don't give up!

No! Can't feel the band in that way at all. What we feel is the effects of the band but not the band itself.

Just saw this now and I'll bet those pants are getting loose! Amazing the way a new size feels -- way to go!

Call your surgeon's office -- they will want to know what is going on!

So happy for you -- way to go rebooting your band and your renewed commitment to your healthy lifestyle! Makes perfect sense about the protein bars. Understanding what our sliders are is such an important thing. Great that you got yourself back in there to talk it through. You are on your way!

Yippie! So happy for you.

Isn't it great to be able to really enjoy the food? And everything about it. I am a sucker for presentation but of course it has to be delicious, too. Before WLS I don't think I was ever in the moment of eating -- I was thinking about what's next, what foods were in the fridge, what to make, etc. Now my few bites are savored. So glad to be at peace with food. What a gift.

Expect to get really excited! My first appointment was an overview of what the program at my hospital requires, some basic procedural stuff like weighing in, BP, etc., and a list of future appointments. My insurance required a BMI of 40 and I was nervous about being under that -- wished I had slouched when we did the height. Good luck with all! I got a notebook to track everything.

This is out of my area but I just wanted to chime in and say way to go -- ten pounds from goal, happy and healthy at 25, you will make a great career choice!

There's a good health food store in Asheville and I'm sure they have single pack protein powders if you want to try something. Or just a healthy salad bar that will have good options for healthy foods to choose from. Our coop here is expensive but I have so little that it works out. Have a safe trip -- so sorry about your Mom. Sending best wishes. And don't forget that you have to take are if YOU, too. Sometimes it's hard to choose ourselves first but that's the healthy thing to do. Like the oxygen mask first on you then the one you're with. If you need a beautiful place to walk around there are many to choose from there.

Great post -- makes my day. And I had a good laugh over your location listing, "in a state of constant flux." Your ferocity is coming through loud and strong. I feel, it, too -- this new courage; I'm showing up in my life in a whole new way. It feels great! Yes the weight loss, the health and vitality, etc., but for me I think it's about the appetite monster finally being shut up. All that mental chatter about food was making me second-guess myself and the things in my life. Not anymore!

I was a professional dieter for decades -- some one recently said something about being a walking talking calculator of calories, WW points, fats, carbs, etc. I really identified with that and, for me, it's been a year of unlearning that behavior as it was messing too much with my head. Now I am eating to satiety and listening to my body rather than counting, but that's only because I still have that deprivation reflex going on and I have a good nutritional base -- the food I love is wholesome, "good" food. My only rule is to eat when I'm hungry and not eat when I'm not hungry. I did have extra food this weekend as it was my birthday. I stay away from breads, Pasta, rice, etc. but I did have a small piece of tart two days in a row and a bite of flour less chocolate cake. And cheese, my weakness. One of my birthday cards said, "what a friend we have in cheeses." Cracks me up! So even though I overdid it a bit I know there was a part of my brain tallying it all up. Just Watch Me, I loved what you said about the forty almonds -- so easy to get carried away with nuts. To answer your original question, juice. I was adding a splash of lemonade or limeade into my cocktail rather than the Water with unsweetened cranberry and aloe that I usually drink. We bought several cartons of limeade for a BBQ we canceled and I started in on it a bit at a time. No HFCS but, still, sugar. I was pretty surprised by how many totally useless calories I was introducing that way. No more of that. And no more of the using stuff up mentality.....I was such a finisher. Do not need to finish what's taking up room in the fridge! Don't need to finish anything. Sorry for the long post -- just wanted to chime in as a bander who is not counting anything.......left that behind in the operating room. But you who are, good for you! We all have our own histories with food and how we got where we are. Point is there are many ways of doing what we are doing -- choosing ourselves and our healthy futures first!

My surgeon doesn't share the amount so I have no idea, but he is of the small frequent fills school. My band was not primed at surgery and I had my first fill four weeks out, second the fifth week, then sixth week another. This lasted me a while -- goal was satiety after a tennis-ball sized portion and not hungry again for 4-5 hours. I had one but not the other. Each time I've had a fill it takes a while for it to settle in, for me to feel the difference. I have gone back for subsequent fills after feeling a return of appetite, and I have had one small unfill when I felt like I might have crossed over into the red zone. Don't want that!

@@jfc193 You have been inspiring me from day one; thanks so much! I wrote a letter to myself last year and can't wait to open it. @@chasingadream love everything you said -- so true! Have missed you here......have a great week!