Bandista

@SwanRose. When is your surgery?

When the scale isn't moving that's when I often notice my clothing getting looser and I realize I am losing inches. This is a good time to look for NSVS, non-scale victories, and just to keep doing what you're doing. Fills differ so much -- I had six prior to achieving the green zone but I was glad for the small incremental approach my surgeon uses as it gave me time to work on slowing down, chewing more and general behavior modification. My surgeon was looking for a tennis-ball sized portion and not hungry again for 4-5 hours. I had the portion part but not the duration -- I was hungry again after a couple of hours. So we kept going. I am not super tight but just right -- can still enjoy dense protein, apples, broccoli, etc. You are doing beautifully -- on your way! It just takes some time.

@drae. You may still be a little swollen or you may have a primed band....many people have difficulties with chicken for some reason. These early weeks are really about learning to chew, chew, chew and listen for any feedback from the band. Sounds like you got some!

Hey, congratulations on your surgery @Writerjennifer. -- I notice that weight loss advice often begins with just, if you would just.... Well, if they would just.....shut up! Good luck with your recovery and this beginning if a whole new chapter in your life! @@The Icy One. Not sure who is creepier, chess guy or cotton ball advisor -- good grief!

"Real butter and heavy cream do not make you fat!" -- my mother, with contributions from all the diet specialists out there who have obviously not figured it out.....

I figure by the time anything made need replacing, science will have new amazing solutions. Look at laparoscopic surgery and what an advance that is. Pretty amazing. I saw this in Facebook today: worrying is like praying for bad things to happen. I can be a bit of a worrier -- not about my band, I feel great about that -- but kids, family, etc. I am going to try not to worry. Let's be on vacation from fear and worrying and just enjoy.

Hi there, can you have a cup of broth -- I'll bet you make some beautiful stocks and maybe something savory would do it. Just think how happy your liver is going to be and how much easier for the surgeon to place your band properly because of what you're doing right now. And congratulations on choosing yourself and your healthy future. I am seven months out and so happy. It's not just the weight loss but having that appetite monster off of my back. I am able to have the foods I want, just in very small portions at appropriate intervals. You are going to do beautifully -- almost there!

That is a great motto -- makes me smile. Could use some uncontrollable laughter but it's early in the week. We will see! Roo, this is such a beautiful picture of you and your daughter -- something for both of you and others who love you to treasure. I am also in the no-photo club and need to remedy that. My husband jokes that our son won't know what his mother looked like and deep down inside I always thought, well, that's the idea, that's why I'm hiding! I was ashamed of myself and now I'm so very grateful to be dropping that cloak of shame and showing up in my life. And in a few photos. More to come. Thank you for this.

I'm seeing a new version of myself -- not just thinner, but happier, more empowered and at peace with who I am, my life, etc. I feel accomplished and able. I'm in my fifties and have arthritis so that is motivating in itself -- how we will be in our elder years starts now. Plus I love being toned -- that long, lithe and strong feeling in my limbs is pretty addicting. Oh, and hello collarbones, nice to see you again!

Mary, congratulations on your amazing success -- I am so happy for you! 100 pounds is my goal as well, though is won't really know until I'm closer if that's the right number for my body. But I'm very hopeful that I can get there. And at seven months out and fifty some down, I am thrilled with my band. Even more then the weight loss is the great relief and feeling of freedom -- out of food jail.

Congratulations! Feels so good, doesn't it? I find that when the scale isn't moving the way I think it should (you know, light speed), that's often when I drop a size. Way to go! Here's to a wonderful summer ahead.

This is hilarious!

Hi there, I had a hiatal hernia repair as well. I didn't have a return if hunger for a while -- maybe that's why. It was a taste of what the green zone is like. Also I wonder how the hernia was making me feel and how much better it is to have that done.....whatever it is, I sure feel great. Seven months out and so happy!

Yippee! So happy for you....

Hi there and welcome -- so glad you're here. I've gotten so much out of being in this forum. Congratulations on your success! Seven months out and loving my banded life.......

News flash, I'm doing a 5K in September. Our son who is graduating form high school received a scholarship from a family who holds an annual race in memory of their brother. I am signed on -- eeek. I think I can walk it. I probably walk that much already on a near-daily basis, but this is different. It's out in the world. I want to rock it. And this is silly, but I want an outfit.

I hope you find the good doctor you deserve......that connection is so important. You may have been spoiled by the previous relationship but you can at least get some one better than this one who may not be empathetic enough or may have issues with WLS as a solution. Any medical professional who doesn't get how amazing this is, how you have recovered your potential for a really healthy happy life, is not worth your co-pay.

You will surprise and delight yourself with your success.....and you deserve every moment of the happiness coming your way. Be prepared for tremendous relief because your battles with appetite will be over. And you will love exercising. You'll be in sync with your body again and the feelings of betrayal will be a thing of the past.

Right now, if I have to pick, I love my smile and the way it makes my face feel when I have that wide happy smile going -- and boy is that more frequently lately. I have a lot to be happy about -- so grateful for my band. And my smile.

Exercise, believe it not -- grateful to be putting on those exercise togs and getting a good workout in........who is this new woman? She looks just like me but thinner, and she thinks crazy thoughts like let's exercise!

I don't think we should ever force ourselves to eat. One thought occurs -- maybe it's the eggs. Sometimes our bands are finicky that way. For example I can only eat fried eggs, not scrambled, and I would have thought it would be the opposite. Omelet no problem. But I don't eat until midday because I'm not hungry and if I am not hungry, I do not eat. That's my one rule. And I work out 60+ in the mornings without any feelings of low blood sugar, etc. But my body has plenty of fuel, that's for sure -- I've been storing up fat for twenty years. Let it burn that!

I cook a lot for others, enjoy production cooking, etc. So I do think about food a lot but without eating much. Also I like growing food. At this time of year gardening energy is very consuming and then we will be making sauces etc., for the freezer, big salads for get-togethers, etc. I think it's good to love food but of course just in small amounts at appropriate intervals. I have found that if I tell myself it's okay, I'll be eating again in 4-5 hours, that helps me shake off an occasional panic of wanting to eat more but can't, shouldn't, etc. It's okay, I can have some more later. This is very different from my years of highly-restrictive behavior where I'd always be thinking it was now or never because surely there would only be hunger and starvation later. Don't have to tell you where that got me!

Nice! You're such a good friend to help shepherd her through an early dining out experience. I am so happy to be able to eat out anywhere, really. It was one of my concerns pre-surgery, you know, when we're all worried about what we will have to give up. I was happy to figure out that a Japanese Bento box lunch or dinner is an easy thing to find in most any Asian place. I order mine with salmon without the teriyaki sauce. It's a small portion but pretty much perfect. It's served with veggies that I cut up and eat some of, rice that I skip along with the sushi and shumai. I take a long time fussing with everything and end up taking home the rice and veggies for a meal for some one else in the family another day. The sushi and shumai get gobbled up by the table and every one wins. I think I could eat sushi but I choose not to have any rice. Sometimes I'll have a bite of sashimi but I love grilled salmon so much that's what I'm enjoying most these days. Tomorrow we have a special occasion, my son's graduation, and we will be going to lunch with a group. I have scoped out the menu in advance and will probably have a salad with chicken or fish on top. May go the Soup route if there's a good thick one. If it was dinner I'd splurge and get the filet mignon. Loving banded life!

Thanks, I will! Quinoa is so high in protein. I had not heard the expression "a carry in" before. Love regional expressions and the English language, how it varies.

I recently saw my nurse practitioner -- actually I think she is a PA now -- who I love. I hadn't told her about the band, even though I started research a year ago and have had it seven months now. I used a surgeon at the same hospital but didn't need to run it by the family medicine department so I didn't. Had enough appointments through general surgery as it was! My reason for not tellimg her is that I wanted to lose a ton of weight and surprise her. Silly, huh? We never discussed WLS but she has been privy to my struggles with dieting, etc., for years and years. Recently I went in to talk about arthritis flare-ups and she was thrilled to see me down 50 pounds and so happy (except for the arthritic pain!). She kept shaking her head and smiling. I told her I would highly recommend lapband to others, that it's been such a great experience for me. She was surprised I went for surgery because I'm an alternative type, health-food-ish, etc., but she is so happy for me. I'm sure your nurse practitioner will be, too. The relationship is so important, and they need to know everything so they can make the right recommendations for next steps, etc. Speaking of arthritis, surgeons differ on NSAIDS -- mine has no prohibition but I am still nervous about taking them for arthritis pain. I discussed it with my nurse practitioner/PA and she agrees with me, not my surgeon, so it was very important to have her in the loop. She out me on a new non-NSAID medication which I am hoping will alleviate the arthritic pain. So far I think I am noticing less pain, even on a rainy changeable day like this one. Don't forget you're the patient, you're the customer. It's your body and they are there to help you keep it well. Best wishes!