Bandista

Yippee! So happy for you. I am five months out as of yesterday and feel like I'm in the honeymoon phase, too. It's very exciting and now with spring here there is much more opportunity for exercise, etc.

Bandista, I'm going to the Big Apple April 23-28. I already told GoWalking I'd like to meet her there for coffee. You are another person I'd live to have coffee with! Me, too; one of these days we'll pull that off!

Turns out window washing is pretty good exercise. We have a greenhouse and doing the glass inside and out is quite the workout -- and so rewarding to have a clear view afterward. Spring is here! Patchy snow on the ground but little signs here and there -- peonies starting to poke their heads up along with the daffodils. I think I'm going to make it.

I've definitely gotten way more information and support here than through my hospital, that's for sure. I'm used to having to advocate for myself because my husband has had a lot of medical issues resulting from a car accident. It is no surprise that it had been more difficult to advocate for myself, but I am learning to do that. I realize it is my body, my responsibility to know everything there is to know. I respect my surgeon but I'm the one with the band. It's my project.

Yippee!

I also took six fills and accompanying time to get to a place of satiety. I've enjoyed this time -- almost five months -- just figuring it out, getting back in touch with my body and learning my way into this new banded life. I've lost 40 pounds and need to lose another 60 but I'm happy to go somewhat slowly. I knew that when I went into this. I figure it will take the time it takes.

Great post! I have benefitted from choosing myself -- that has been really big for me. But now I am going to work the Support Myself angle. I am a supportive person, by nature. What does it take to support myself, each and every day?

Tomika, so happy for you! Congratulations on your surgery. I hope you have a speedy recovery. I was so excited that the discomfort was pretty tolerable but this is the time to pamper yourself. I loved my Popsicles, lol. This is a little out there but when I had gas pains or difficulty getting up and down, etc. I just kept thinking this is so much better than dentistry, for example. And it was all FOR something, for me. My healthy future. Here's to your health -- you're on your way. Be patient these coming weeks and just keep thanking yourself for this gift. You deserve it!

Hi there, so happy for you to be making this big decision to choose yourself and your healthy future! I am almost five months out and so happy with my new banded life. The weight loss is great but it's more than that -- I feel like I'm out of food jail. I'm not obsessed with what's next all the time because now I have a feeling of satisfaction that I just couldn't achieve before. I didn't mind the pre-op as I have always been a bit too restrictive (with the inevitable bounce-backs) but I was glad to feel like, for me, this was the last time I'd be doing something like that. After a couple of days of detox I felt great. Clear. Eliminating toxins and addictive foods definitely brought stuff up for me so I journaled like crazy and was also seeing a therapist during that time. I found all the ways I was using food to quell anxiety, reward myself, etc. I really got into the nitty gritty of just where how and when I was turning to food so I could see the why. Going without showed me those places when I was automatically soothing myself and now I know what to look out for -- and also now I am not worried about hunger, it's not my enemy. Honestly I hadn't been hungry in a long time and I wasn't sure how to recognize it! Good luck to you -- you are going to do beautifully and I'm so glad you're here on the forum.

New goal for me: trip to NY to see three of my favorite on-line peeps. One of these days!

Hi there, you're going to have a great time at this reunion -- isn't it marvelous to look forward to events now rather than that dread of stuffing into clothes that don't look or feel right and then watching what you're eating the whole time, etc. And Carol, I know just what you mean when I look back at twenty years of struggling but I guess we're lucky for the modern technology that has enabled us to get our procedures safely, etc. So there's that -- and there's the now, where we're all living much more happily and at peace with food.

Hi there, hope you're feeling better today -- the post-op phase can be tough emotionally. All the hoopla of the surgery is over and now it's a time of waiting for the body to heal up so you can take the next steps. I'm happy to report that nearly five months out I still really enjoy my food. I just have it in much smaller amounts which (miraculously) I am satisfied with. I really wondered whether it would work for me -- if I would be the one person whose appetite could not be satisfied, etc. Well, it's working great and the more weight I lose the better I feel. I still love to cook and I have fun with my little meals but I am also discovering that there is so much else to life besides eating. Best wishes to you! Spring is such a great time for renewal and healing.

Way to go! You are choosing your health and happiness, and I can hear it in every word of your posts. Very exciting times, these. So glad for you! Do you know the H-A-L-T -- it's the never letting yourself get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired. Take good care -- you are beating this addiction and getting your whole life back!

You are hilarious!

I am realizing how careful I have to be of caffeine. For years I used food to anchor myself, to get grounded if I was flying a little too high on stress, adrenaline, etc. Now that I can't do that I am realizing what a go-to that instinct for food always was for me. This morning a little too much black tea and a little too much anxiety as I get ready for a meeting. I am pausing now to examine my feelings because in the old days this would be exactly when I'd go for something like a big fat muffin to counteract that uncomfortable "too high on caffeine" feeling. The old sugar and caffeine combo. Instead I'm here on the forum, writing it all down so maybe next time I'll use exercise instead of tea. Much better idea.

Hi there, UK terminology is a little different for me, but it sounds like maybe you're trying to settle in from a fill and wondering of was a tiny bit too much? If you are too tight, you're too tight. You need to be able to swallow well, eat real food chewed very well and not be relying on sliders like shakes, etc. As for the weight, it will budge if you are paying attention like you are, exercising, etc. You will be dropping soon but that's not the point if you're too tight -- don't risk it, have good dialogue with your medical professionals. They are there for you! And so are we, for support. Glad you're here.

I love almonds and keep the 100 cal packs in my glove compartment. And I use the 100 cal Greek yogurts as well, if you have a little cooler in the car. Honestly I would just take whatever you usually eat -- some chili or beef stew? If the family has to have junk food (ew, gross) you could use that time to take laps around the parking lot and visit the rest room. Your joints will thank you!

Hi there and welcome -- please feel very welcome as we are all at various places in our weight loss journeys and not judging each other here. Pat yourself on the back for not having gained weight in this time! Followup is so important with the band. If you're not at the right fill then you are just struggling along -- I hope your medical professionals will work to get you to the right place. That is why it's called an Adjustable lapband.....we have to listen to our bands and bodies to know whether it's working for us to dim the appetite and then we have to make good decisions. You are not alone in your struggle -- let us know how you're doing!

Vermont is quirky and beautiful if you like small towns and beautiful scenery, biking, hiking, etc.

Spring is such a great time for renewal -- here's to showing up for ourselves.

There's another company -- Vionics -- that makes stylish shoes with a built-in orthotic footbed. They used to be called Orthoheel and Dr. Weil but were bought out by Vionics. I got a pair for a New Years's Eve dance and they are wonderful. Also a pair of snazzy sandals with a sassy little heel. This built in "prooper" footbed is the wave of the future. I think we'll be seeing more and more of this as people have so many foot problems, plantar faceitis, etc. Here's to happy feet that still look glamorous! My custom orthotics were over $300 and the Sole inserts are just as good if not better. They fit that high arch and hit just right, preventing rolling, etc. Sole has their own line of shoes but I don't like the styling (the corkbed flip-flops are great, though -- I wear them around the house as I can't really be barefoot anymore, sigh).

I think cheese may be a slider food for me.

Get Sole inserts -- they are life-changing. Sole also makes sandals but I have their inserts, too, and can't be without them. Arch support makes the knees and hips line up right.....

Nice post, thanks! Keeping me going is the realization that I am succeeding at losing weight and if I just keep doing what I'm doing I will be able to put behind me years of being overweight. I am looking forward to being healthy and comfortable in my body. It's such a pleasure getting away from the food-centered life and focusing on other things, like exercise and just having fun.

Hi Josie -- congratulations on your long-term band success as well as figuring out the sugar issue. That's a big one! Best wishes to you and thanks for the update. So inspiring for those of us who are new!