Bandista

Yippee! You are doing beautifully!

These twelves are falling off me. I started at eighteens and they were tight! Same old brand.

Agreed. It shows how different we all are -- I can't stand Quest bars and so many people are crazy about them! I went for bars in the beginning but now I mostly do "real" food. Occasionally I have a shake, when I pretend it is sorbet, etc.

I'm down another pants size. It's hard for me to believe it -- same brand of Lee long jeans. I was tight in 18s at the time if surgery, thrilled to go dow to 16 then 14 then 12 and now.....wait for it....10! Ten? Who is this? Meanwhile, scale is not budging. Who cares -- I wear size ten jeans?!!!!

Thanks so much for posting -- so inspiring!

Hi there, you're doing beautifully -- you've had the surgery and are going through the healing process. Next will come assessing with your surgeon for fills. I have had seven (my surgeon is of the small frequent fills school -- they are all different) and then you will be on your way. Know that these early months are not necessarily easy but it is all happening. I am still elated almost nine months later and sixty pounds down.

Hi Sandy, you so walk the walk already -- you are amazing! Thanks so much for all your wonderful posts. I'm so happy for you to have reached your goal. This is a new part of your process and we are here for you. I imagine you are looking for just the right balance now. And what a great stage to be at! Way to go...you have so much to celebrate....

You look fantastic! Congratulations -- how wonderful to have this vacation. I am so happy for you. You are a star!

Hi there and congratulations on your upcoming surgery! We are all different. It I believe the 1-2 pounds per week is a good guide. I was banded last November and am 60 down and that is five a month but some of that was on pre-op. Also I am not on a diet, not "perfect" etc.

Turmeric can be mixed with honey -- great for inflammation.

The twelves are starting to fall off -- these are Lee long jeans and in the same brand I've gone from 18 to 16 to 14 to 12 since November. Ten? Come on, is this possible?

Hi there, way to go! So happy for you. Isn't it great?

I wish I had known about the karate chops -- that is awesome! Congratulations on your surgery and way to go on the walking. You are going to do beautifully. I had no protein goals post-surgery and even today I'm not that worried about it. Protein first is obvious --I listen to my body and it tells me what I need. What does it need? Protein! Lol.....I don't try to get stuff in, though. I just eat when I'm hungry and don't eat when I'm not hungry,

We really have to be our own advocates, that's for sure.

Way to go finding a new doctor and getting the band checked out and now the fills to get you where you need to be. I love it that the band is adjustable. You are so ready to do this -- very happy for you! We have similar stats but you're much closer to goal. I am 5'6" and started at my all-time high of 250 and am now at 190. Feeling the pants loosen which is usually a sign I'm about to drop a little chunk. My goal is 148 -- I think. I actually have no idea what will feel right. But I'm sure happy to have this sixty pounds off! And now I'm an exerciser -- just back from my daily one-hour walk and can't believe how good I feel. Yippee!

Hi KAB, I'm just a month behind you (banded early November) and also find that my days really vary as far as what I can or feel like eating. One thing is steady -- I don't do breakfast as I'm just not hungry in the mornings and, like many, I feel more restriction then. I don't do very many protein shakes but when I do there is a lot of variation there -- it can be harder for me to swallow cold full liquids than to eat something. (I put a lot of frozen fruit in my shakes and chia seeds, etc.). I can always chug waterm tea, etc. If I'm stressed, like at a business lunch or feeling social pressure, I can't eat. I should just order soup for those occasions. At home I eat a small portion of whatever the family is having, minus the rice, etc. On days when I'm thinking about food in a certain way or feel hungry a couple of hours after eating I wonder if I'm ready for another fill. Still sort of assessing that all the time. I love my band and am getting used to the new lifestyle and the new energy I have -- I guess part of that will be about the listening on a day to day basis. If I'm hungry I eat, if I'm not I don't. My life is so much simpler now!

I'm trying not to have any "shoulds" but instead to recognize that I have a whole new lifestyle, a new life now. Please be gentle with yourself and enjoy who and where you are right now -- today. You will get there but don't miss smelling the roses along the way!

Hi there and congratulations on your band! These early days are a bit nerve-racking and of course you're still healing up, but there will be a time when you can hardly even see the scars anymore and everything won't feel so new and vulnerable. Good luck with everything -- you are doing beautifully!

I took yesterday off and planked today. I am a planker......feeling like this is so easy. Not the actual doing of it -- that is hard -- but no special clothes, certain shoes, big time commitment, etc. It's just down on the floor and DO IT. Love that.

I'm so sorry you're going through this! I gained an unbelievable amount of weight at one time when I was given Prednisone at the ER for a very bad case of poison ivy. It was, as you say, practically overnight. Put those medical professionals to work -- they need to figure this out!

My grandmother and mother refer to "Hangsie-Downsie" and now at 52 I'm afraid I'm going to find out what that is! And right now I'm at about sixty pounds down and still have more to go -- but very glad to be diminishing that back fat -- hate that under a sweater, blouse, etc. Bye-Bye!

PS -- you may need an appointment with your surgeon to assess for a fill. Be sure to keep all your appointments. You are getting on track!

Lemon water is a great way to detox. I also drink water with a splash of cranberry and aloe vera. I read labels like crazy and I don't do any artificial sweeteners. Those chemicals make some people just want more. Shakes and bars can be full of them, diet soda, diet foods, etc. If it says sugar-free it's probably packed with chemicals. Steevia is a natural sweetener that has no calories -- be sure to get 100% Steevia if you try this as there are some out there mixed with maltodextrine, etc. You only need the tiniest bit. If you mix that into your lemon or cranberry water it might take the edge off of the cravings. In a few days you will have the junk out of your system. Remember all the reasons why you did the surgery. Keep the long view, which is your healthy beautiful future. Best wishes to you!

Hi there and welcome! I am a November 2013 bander. Just wait until this time next year -- it's an amazing thing to take back your health. Congratulations on choosing yourself. So glad you're here! The site is great because of people like you.

I get a pain in my solar plexus and there's no mistaking what it is. Or why -- for me the why is eating too fast, not listening in to my body. I haven't been stuck in a long time but I had several episodes. Some had to do with rubbery foods. My band doesn't like that. I got too hungry once and had leftover fish right out if the fridge. And another time I got stuck on cooked cold mushrooms. I've had to learn what's right for me.