Bandista

@@BigGirlPanties thanks for this. I am really trying to get back into Yoga, too. I have OA and trouble with my wrists and hands. So much Yoga seems to be about the wrists that I steered away, but I realize I just need to know how to accommodate that. On another thread I am so excited to find out about planking and some one tipped me off about the Dolphin Pose. Also, here's a bit of western medicine ridiculousness for you. The rheumotologist I went to advised against yoga. Apparently there's a theory floating around that children who were hyperflexible who have arthritis as an adult have excessive joint movement and shouldn't encourage that. So let the joints freeze up instead? What doctor in their right mind would tell a fifty-something year old obese woman not to exercise? @@Pookeyism -- what you said is beautiful and so true: "as long as you have breath you can have Yoga...."

Hi there, I'm glad you're feeling better and enjoying that recliner. Very happy you were able to spend the night in the hospital -- we really do have to advocate for ourselves sometimes. The walking can't be emphasized enough. I think it really helped kick my body into healing mode. I found I needed to get up to pee a lot and since I was up anyway that's when I did laps around the driving circle or even just up and down the hall. This will help everything go back into place and with the releasing of any trapped gas. I really enjoyed my Popsicles during this time, and I'm a tea drinker so I had a lot of warm tea. As others have said, each day is better. If you are taking narcotic pain medication be sure that any constipation issues are addressed. And know that a few months out you won't even really be able to recall this discomfort. Sending best wishes your way!

Me, too -- I had never heard of Plication when I was researching my surgery and would have considered that (I think). There are Plication Banders and also a few Plication-only people. Interesting! One guy is participating in a study about Plication. I wish I could remember who that is -- Canadian?

Dolphin Pose! Wow -- thanks so much. I am looking at the "how to" right now. I miss being able to do Downward Dog, etc. This hand/wrist thing is such a deterrent for yoga and now that I'm thinner I really want to be able to stretch like I used to. Love that feeling.

Hi there @@bajagal101 -- you will find lots of good company here. I am 52 and was banded last November. So very happy with the surgery and all the changes in my life. Have you had your surgery yet? I joined this forum in June and felt very prepared for everything when I finally got my surgery date. I read so many posts and asked a lot of questions. People are very supportive and happy to share information. If there was anything negative I just skipped right over it -- power of positive thinking! I wish California could get some of this rain we are having here on the east coast; geesh. Sending best wishes your way...........

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery date! So natural to have jitters beforehand. What you say about weight holding you back really resonates with me. I don't think I had any idea just how far that had gone for me -- the low self-esteem, less energy, self-consciousness about my weight and everything else. I wish this had been available to me sooner in my life (I am twice your age). Meanwhile, banded life is great. I have loved dropping weight of course, but I wasn't really prepared for how much confidence I have now. I think that has to do not only with my physique being trimmer but the thinking and obsessing about food all the time was wearing me down. So wonderful to have the appetite monster off my back and all that chatter gone. My life is so much simpler and I am so much happier. And happy to report that I still love food, just in small amounts at appropriate intervals. Best wishes to you -- glad you found the forum. It's a great place to get ideas and information. I learned more here than I did from my hospital.

@InfiniteButterfly this seems so much less stress on other joints -- the forearms take the brunt. I am so happy to discover this (arthritis, eeek). @@SillyAuntDi do it now -- twenty seconds! Don't even need sneakers or fitness clothes, though high heels may need to come off. Still, I can picture doing this almost anywhere. OMG, I am going to become a planking freak. I can feel it. Now to feel the muscles in my abdominal region. That would be good!

I love flax seeds and chia seeds! Flax has such a nice nutty flavor. It needs to be ground in order to get the full benefit, whereas Chia does not. I mix Chia seeds into my Greek yogurt to thicken it up so it's not a slider food. The band works through esophageal squeezes up to the brain that will signal satiety, so it's good to have something to chew. I also add a few walnuts and gluten-free Cereal flakes, etc. for this reason. And for another six grams of Protein I also put some collagen in (very low in calories). I'm a bander so not sure about sleeves and seeds -- be sure to check on this as chia does indeed get gelatinous and swell up. Here's a great piece comparing the two -- Superseed Throwdown: http://www.easy-vegetarian-diet.com/chia-seeds-vs-flaxseeds.html#.U8Z6ZKhvtNY

You did it! And that is one lucky guy to have you in his life. Enjoy every moment of Onederland -- you deserve it! I really hovered at that gate, too, and what a wonderful feeling to have it happen all of the sudden. Yippee!

I'm pretty excited about planking. The Mrs. Winnie-the-Pooh belly is much smaller now, but I really need to tone my core for every reason. Unlike a lot of exercises, this one is easy to do in a very short amount of time. Also I have wrist and hand problems and since this is on the forearms there is no impact at all. There are challenges that suggest twenty seconds to start on first and second days, then moving up to thirty, etc. These images helped me a lot:

Me, too -- I have definitely experienced this. Keeping at it has been key to me. My fills are small but frequent. I've had seven and I'm a November bander. Every surgeon has their own approach. I have felt "there" only to return three weeks later. My tip-off is feeling restrictive, diet-y, etc. I am not on a diet so if I'm feeling like that I know something is up. Dieting did not work for me -- well, obviously.

Raspberry ketones, anyone? And I don't even have a TV!

Congratulations -- so happy for you. The green zone is where it's at, for sure. Here's to health!

Hi there and congratulations on your surgery date. I had a hiatal hernia and wonder if that repair is part of why I feel so great -- who knows? I love my band, that's for sure. Good luck on your pre-op. I loved it that when I lost weight on the pre-op it was weight I knew would not be coming back. For the first time. It's going great and you're going to do beautifully, too!

50 pounds down is amazing -- way to go! I think about what would have happened to me over the long cold winter we had if I had not had my band. Fifty is great. Pat yourself in the back and figure out where you want to go from here. It's not a race, it's a lifestyle. You are doing great!

Best wishes -- you will do beautifully!

So happy not to be counting any of this......

Five years and one fill? One thing about the green zone is all of the sudden it's all so easy.....I hope you are getting there. Best wishes for all!

I read the title and thought, "this was me." Best wishes to you -- keep that enthusiasm. You are going to do beautifully.........

I hope you feel better. There are others here who have had trouble with ibuprofen. My surgeon has no prohibition on NSAIDS (others do). I have decided independently that it's not a good idea for me to take them. Let us know how you're doing! Hopefully things will calm down. Another thing that occurred to me is allergies -- sometimes when I have that going on I feel much tighter. I use warm tea a lot but have also had relief from cold -- and I suppose an ice pack on the chest area could possibly help (or is that ridiculous?). Sending best wishes!

Hi there and congratulations both of you for tomorrow. It's so natural to be nervous and I think the pre-op diet adds to that. I had never been an overnight patient in a hospital before and it was all so much better than I imagined. Be sure to take a sense of humor -- the gown and booties, paperwork, being rolled around on a gurney, etc. I'm a tea drinker and also stayed overnight, so I was glad for the tea bags I brought. Walking cannot be overemphasized -- the more you walk afterwards the better you'll feel. Every time I had to pee (or felt like it) I walked up and down the hallways then once home around the driving circle. I started with one lap and got up to thirty. I was over the moon with excitement -- so happy to be choosing myself and my health -- and I think that got me through the discomfort. Keep taking deep breaths and enjoy the ride!

I just wrote a check for my first 5K. It's in September and I am ridiculously excited. I will probably be walking much of it and that's fine with me (there are other walkers) but just the whole idea of being able to participate in something like this has me walking on air. I keep thinking, who is this woman who wakes up planning exercise instead of thinking about food? It's me! The new healthy me. So happy! Oh, and I got a bicycle. We are putting a basket on it now. It's one of those upright old-lady style bikes and I love it.

My family likes to steer me toward what they want to eat because they know they are going to be getting plenty of whatever it is I do finally order. Lately I've been partial to crab cakes, usually in the form of an appetizer. Yummy! I'm going to learn to make salmon cakes with no breading. Oh, and last night we were at a birthday party. Gluten-free chocolate cake made with Quinoa. I had the teeniest bite just to try it (great to be able to resist if I'm not really hungry!) and it was delicious. If I had been hungry I would have had more. Quinoa has a lot of Protein and for chocolate lovers this could be an amazing thing. Steevia, chocolate, quinoa.....oh my.

These videos really helped me understand about the esophageal signals to the brain through -- the squeezes. I sort of picture that now when I'm eating and that helps me "listen" in to my body. And also I find I am chewing and savoring a lot longer in my mouth and I know that this is an important part of digestive health that I've probably been missing since I was such a fast eater there was never time for anything to mix with saliva. And TMF I just want to echo what others have said -- I'm so glad you're here!

You'll be snuggling again in no time.....just be careful picking her up as you have stitches and don't want to prolong recovery. Glad to hear you are doing well!