Bandista

I am on a little "back to basics" beginning today, as a matter of fact. August was a slew of special occasions and I feel like I need to do all-liquids for a few days as a way to get myself back on track. And, like you, I've been experiencing some allergy issues. I fast to clear out my system and jump start a new period of weight loss. Making some ginger tea right now; that works well for me. Also cranberry and aloe. I will be doing a lot of noticing in my body so I can get back to listening to my band and not just eating when food is in front of me. Even though I was only having very small portions, the social eating is an old pattern. What I'm looking for is my body telling me when it's hungry and then having an appropriate portion of food and getting the signal for satiety. I know I can get that back in a day or two, which is just great.

Hi there and congratulations on starting the process. Six months will fly by before you know it. I joined this forum in June of 2013 and had my surgery in November so even though it wasn't an insurance requirement it still took me that long to move through the bureaucracy, have all my appointments, etc. The only thing my insurance company was adamant about was a minimum BMI of 40. I was borderline and could not lose weight until the insurance company signed off on the surgery. This was very frustrating to me, needless to say, as I really wanted to start taking off pounds prior to getting banded. In hindsight it has not mattered at all. I am glad that I kicked up my exercising -- didn't want to do it but am so glad I did. This gave me something to step into right after surgery and now I am a real walker (not a pretend one, lol, but some one who wakes up wanting to do it, and always doing a bit more, etc.). I also used the time to do some interior work with a therapist to nail down my food issues. It was good to really examine my triggers. Electing weight loss surgery meant that I was being brutally honest with myself about not being able to lose weight otherwise and that it was because I was addicted to food -- not blaming it on outside circumstances, etc. but taking personally responsibility. It feels so good to be out of food jail now. I also benefited from a journal. I tracked all my appointments, made lists of why I wanted to lose weight, what I'd be able to do again, etc. Putting it all down on paper was good for me. And mostly I used the time to hang out on this forum reading post after post after post. It got to be so I could spot the successful people easily and I followed them, asked questions, noticed what mindset I wanted for myself. So glad you're here! Best wishes for a lovely fall and all that is ahead.

Hi there every one and happy Labor Day! I have always loved the energy of autumn -- full of possibility. A time to buckle down. And this year having September start off with a Monday is giving me the framework I need get back on track with a little more organization and discipline. I have been a little lackadaisical lately. Too much socializing, too much grazing. I'm happy where I am size-wise for the first time in so many years, but I'm not settling for this. I think I needed to just be with my last loss for a while, to stabilize emotionally, but now I'm ready for the next drop. So here's to a new week, a new month, a fun summer in the rear view mirror and now committing to the next step. I made it into the eighties and now need to get into the seventies. Onward!

Hi there and congratulations! I am feeling so much healthier and happier -- loads of energy. I will be 53 in a few weeks and am grateful every day that I had the courage to get WLS. It felt like a drastic step but I knew dieting didn't ever work for me and that this was my chance at a healthy future I never considered anything except for the band and I love this lifestyle. If any one had told me I'd be a willing exerciser -- that I'd wake up wanting to do it -- I would have laughed in their face. But somehow that is what happened. I walked and walked even if I didn't want to and now I want to. Magic! And as for food, it's so simple: I eat when I'm hungry and I don't eat when I'm not hungry. The first part is harder than the second because I was so restrictive, always on a diet, now I'm not in a diet and I've lost sixty pounds. I still have a ways to go but I feel normal now. I'm unfurling my wings, speaking my mind and having a lot of fun being myself. Before I was so self-conscious -- now that I'm out of food jail I feel so free. Good luck with everything. Be are here for you!

There is no right weight loss surgery for every one -- We are all different. I went with the band because it is minimally invasive and can be adjusted, even removed if it ever came to that. I'm almost ten months out and love my band. The weight loss is great but more than anything I feel so much more in sync with my body. The important thing is that you are choosing yourself and your healthy future. Do all your research and don't listen to people telling you about a surgery they know nothing about. We all make our choices for different reasons. Oh, lots of us had hiatal hernias, too -- very common. Hope all goes well for you, that your other medical issues are addressed and you are on course for a healthy energetic future. You deserve that!

Hi there, I have needed many small fill adjustments and, like you, had to have a teeny bit taken out. I'm glad that's available -- the adjustability part of the adjustable Lapband system -- as I don't ever want to be too tight. My surgeon describes being satisfied with a tennis ball sized portion of food and not hungry again for 4-5 hours. I'd have the portion part but hungry again too soon, so we kept going. Then once in green I might be good for six weeks or so then feeling that obsession with food return, looking for food, etc. That's my tip-off. That and feeling "diet-y" because I was such a restrictor for so long with, of course, the inevitable bounce-backs. I agree it makes sense that since I don't have a Winnie-the-Pooh belly anymore the band would need to be cinched up a little here and there. You are doing so well. The only other thing that comes to mind is the travel caveat. I think if it were me I'd be cautious about using another doctor -- can yours advise you of a colleague in whatever country you're in for the next month? And are you sure your hunger is real hunger and not "I'm in a hotel and want to eat" hunger? Cause that's me! But it sure sounds like a drop out of the green zone and you don't want to slow your loss. I get that. Hope this helps!

@@proudgrammy I think I love you!

For me it's the arms and I'm committing to toning that upper arm area this fall and winter. I am 53 this month and would not have plastic surgery but that's just me. Do what makes you feel happy. Isn't it great that we live in a time when body types of all kinds are acceptable? Let's be those people. I would like to be the fifties lady with imperfect arms that wears sleeveless at a BBQ whether it's how I am today or how I hope it will be next year.....

Love these! So I'll go again....got my sassy short haircut, yippee! And now, you know you've had WLS when you take those teeny tiny jars of preserves from hotel breakfasts so you can fill them with chopped almonds and walnuts to keep in your purse. You're obsessed with protein. You're happy with yourself. Oh, this is from today.......you wake up at 2am and just get up to get work done (freelancer) and you work 16 hours to get totally, incredibly on top of everything. Like month of. September is set and we are not even ther yet! Where is this energy coming from? It is incredible! I don't have to work the rest of the week! Guess I'll exercise. You know you've had WLS when your found time is about moving your body........

I was caught off guard the other day and actually lied. Now that's screwed up. "Thirty something!" Um, double that. But please, don't do the math on me -- I don't like it! As for the number of pounds, I'm with you on how it's just a number. What I want is a strong toned body.

Hi Belle, you're juggling a lot and it's hard in the in-between time post surgery but no fills yet. During the mushies phase I had a couple of go-to things that worked well for me. Steam a head of cauliflower and use a stick blender or food processor to turn it into smush -- add in chicken stock and whatever spices you might like. For me, this was like a savory pudding. Delicious. I also like Beans a lot and those were very satisfying. Potato, etc. Good luck -- you will get through this! And in the coming months when the weather cools that is going to be such a nice walk for you. Your son can be your coach! Sending best wishes your way......

Way to go, John -- exciting times! So happy for you.

So happy -- best decision I ever made. I love my band!

Hi Crissy, I so recall that feeling of excitement and nervousness. I had never been an overnight patient in the hospital before and it was all so much better than I thought it would be. I did not have a lot of pain and even though I filled the prescription for pain medication I didn't need to use it. Post-surgery when I got up to pee I went for a little walk with my IV pole up and down the hallway, adding a bit more each time. By morning I was doing a lot of laps. Pretty sure this helped tremendously with releasing any trapped gas and kicking the body into healing mode. To any woman with three kids I would say be sure not to overdo on those first days at home. Even though I didn't have a lot of pain I did tire easily. Congratulations on everything!

You get that short sassy haircut you've wanted (that's me, today!)...... You say things to yourself like, "hey, I'm pretty amazing." (We are!)..... You wake up planning exercise.........

Many people are sensitive to artificial sweeteners so look out for the "skinny" syrups if you're in that category -- don't want to get set off. I like a decaf cappuccino -- the foamed milk is festive and yummy and I feel like I'm getting a real treat. I can really linger over it, too. Pink Dahlia, I'm going to try the steamer -- fun!

Yippee, you are on your way! What great success you have had. We have similar stats (I am 5'6" also) and I have loved, loved, loved going down in sizes. It's so rewarding -- makes it all real, doesn't it?

Hi Sooz -- you are in good company here; I think most if not all of us have had to deal with that whole issue of head hunger vs. real hunger. I saw a therapist and we worked to break down the triggers. It was tedious but I'm really glad I did it. I am older (fifties) and thought I already knew everything about my food issues -- emotional eater, stress eater, etc. -- but this time I went very deeply into the specifics of my behavior. Phone rings, walk to kitchen, get something. Have to go to a business meeting, stop somewhere on the way for a treat -- to ground myself, reward myself, stop somewhere on the way back, too, heck. You get the idea. So now I am super aware of the things that set me off. It's different now because I can override my immediate cravings because of the band. Now I'm not dealing with the "want" plus having hunger at the same time -- if I'm not really hungry and am just craving something I try to figure out why. Today, for example, son's first day of college, we are just off of ten days of major events with family, hosting dinners, people here, etc. I am exhausted. So what do I want to do? Well, eat. It's anxiety. So this tells me I need to take good care of myself. I use the HALT -- do you know that one? Never get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired.

Hi there and congratulations! Hopefully your doctor gave you a list of specific post-op instructions. They vary by doctor and patient -- if you have any questions you should definitely give them a call. I was one day clear then one week "full" liquids -- others have longer on clear, etc. Full liquids were described to me as ones which would drip off a plate if it was held sideways in the air. I enjoyed potato leek Soup and things like that. After full liquids I had a week of mushies and then a week of "slippery" foods. These stages helped me learn how to eat in a new way -- slowly, intentionally, and chewing very well. Good luck to you -- you're going to do great. So nice to have your brother in your court. Be sure to find those instructions and follow them to a 'T' -- when I saw what the surgery bill looked like (even though insurance covered quite a bit) I decided then and there I'd never hesitate to call with a question. That's what they are there for!

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I didn't have a primed band but I wondered at first if I had because I wasn't hungry for a few weeks following surgery. My hunger just took a while to return but I think that's because I am an inflammation type and I was just swollen from the surgery. There are lots of people who have primed bands -- will make it easier to get to the Green Zone, I imagine, but also you will need to be careful about all those behavior changes like chewing, chewing, chewing and not shoveling in food. I was such a shoveler! Good luck to all -- you are doing great!

Mostly I just listen to my body and make good choices but don't count calories or Protein grams, etc. This is because I was so restrictive in my dieting life. I am not on a diet now; that's why I got the band. I eat small amounts of good food at appropriate intervals and then stop when I get the signal that I've had enough (note that "enough" is not the old sensation of "full" -- we don't really eat to fullness, we stop when we are satisfied). And fortunately I already love "real" food so I didn't have to address addictions to junk foods, artificial sweeteners, etc.

I hope others will chime in because I may not have the "right" answers, but I'll tell you what I think. Sliming is when we have eaten too fast or not chewed up food enough and the esophagus starts producing extra saliva. For some this can be a lot, or it can be foamy. Have to spit it out. For me this is a signal that I'm probably going to have to "blap" up whatever it is in my pouch -- that it's not going to go through, which is what being stuck is. A PB is that act of blapping (my term). It's food that hasn't been in the stomach so it's not like throw-up and it's not really vomiting. Sort of like when babies have a bottle too quickly or it's too much and they blap it up. I have had PB episodes that resulted in vomiting -- one leading to the other. For me this happens if I am really stuck. I was a very fast eater and had to learn the hard way not only about slowing down but also chewing everything a long time. And of course listening to the band when it signals that I've had enough. Good luck -- you will get this!

So happy for you -- glad the surgery went well and you are walking a bit more each day. If any one had told me I'd be walking this much now and actually wanting to do it, looking forward to exercise, I would have laughed in their face. Now I am so happy with my body, myself. My only advice is to be patient and gentle with yourself. Start noticing how you're feeling when you have your Jello or your Water -- train the mind to be present and in the moment. And don't forget to pat yourself on the back. You've chosen yourself and your health -- a big decision like that is so empowering in itself. You will do beautifully.

I'm struggling with this right now and appreciate the insights above. We live in the country, I work at home there can be a lot of time (and now change in my appearance) before I see some people. I think what I've liked best is the fact that our guy friends didn't seem to notice anything at all for ages. This told me they were not hyper-focusing on my size in the first place. The occasional compliment is nice and I have to repeat "receive graciously, receive graciously" in my head to get through it, or if it's a good friend I'll say it aloud as a joke so they know that, eek, it's a little uncomfortable for me but thank you for noticing. It's August and we get inundated with family at this time of year. I am interested that a few old friends and cousins have not said a word even though I'm size 10 now, no Winnie-the-pooh belly anymore and also just unleashed energy wise. Try haven't seen me in a year, and what a year it's been. I am an exercise maniac now. I wear snazzier clothes and hold my head up high. But not a word. They didn't have my back before and don't have it now that I'm not the heavy one. So there's that to process, but now I don't translate my disappointment with other humans as some fault of my own. As my husband says, screw 'em. Finally I am getting to that place a but myself. One more and I'll stop....I have an aunt who is a painter. Years ago we were looking at a portrait she did of her daughter-in-law and my spouse said, "oh you should do one of "________" (me). He was just being enthusiastic. She came up and chucked me on the throat, right at the jaw line where the extra chins were having a get-together, and said "oh I don't think she'd want me to do that now." I burst into tears. This was years ago, but now this aunt is 85 and in failing health. I've been trying to help get her out for walks at the lake (I am a walker, yippee -- can't get enough!) and she will not stop about the changes in my size. Is it because she is a painter, that she's analyzing that all the time. Or just screwed up like the rest of her sisters. Including my mother, who handed me every diet book ever and did not say a word about my weight loss until recently. And that was, "you're losing weight, good." Guess I won't be so embarrassing now! Geez, thanks for the Sunday morning therapy, friends. I'm going on my walk.