Bandista

March 31st 208 I have seen 206, however, so I'm pretty excited about that! And 208 was my original goal which I altered to 202. That will teach me. Anyway, very happy with my slowish but steady weight loss. Loving my band. Happy end of March every one.

The last few years were rough on my immune system -- an episode of Lyme on top of already-flaring arthritis. I am so glad to be out of the woods with all of that and completely off of medication. I feel so good, and now that I'm losing weight I know I will feel much better than I did even prior to all of that. Before gaining fifty pounds overnight when I took steroids for a severe poison ivy episode at age 29 and then gaining another fifty or so over twenty years of dieting (losing but then gaining back plus a little, round and round I went on that carousel!), I was extremely healthy. Yoga, dance, very healthy eating. There was such a betrayal in there and now that I'm banded I'm feeling a reconnection with my body that feels so good -- like we're friends again. I know I will never have the kind of health I had in my twenties (I'm in my fifties now), but I'm sure a lot better off now than I would be if I hadn't made this decision. And ask me a year from now -- I may surprise us both. Maybe I can get back to that kind of flexibility and vibrant health. Shiny.

I second the Steevia mention above -- I don't do artificial sweeteners and love Steevia because it's plant-based. If you go this route, make sure you get 100% Steevia because some manufacturers are mixing it with things like Maltodextrine or other chemicals, which to me is the opposite of the whole idea. Hello!

Hi Jesse, congratulations -- you've made it to the other side! I am almost five months out now and can't recall those early days at all. It's kind of a blur! I did love my Popsicles, though, that part I remember. Best wishes to you for an easy week ahead......

Hi Rose, the varied protocols for pre-op and immediate post-op are so confusing. Who knows that the reasoning is? Personally, the pre-op diet for me was not that hard as I am a "restricter" and felt like I was doing something to get ready. But it can be a difficult time with a lot of emotional issues coming up. The purpose of the pre-op is to reduce the fat around your liver to make it easier to get the band placed properly. I was glad I upped my exercise prior to surgery so if you're feeling like you can prepare then that is a great way to do it. A few more steps each day! This could help with the mental leap, too, letting yourself know that you are investing in your body and your life in a new way. Good luck to you!

I have my eye on Onederland, too, though I'm not quite as close to you. I have seen 206 on the scale -- so exciting! I have decided I need to be at 198 before I will really believe it, so that's eight pounds away, which could be.....eeeek!.....a month and a half or so. I figure it doesn't matter, I'm getting there. Also I go up and down quite a bit. I saw that 206 but then, boom, it's 209, then 207, then 209. You get the idea. I think some of us retain more Water than others. I have a high inflammatory profile (arthritis, etc.) and I think that may account for it. But you know what, we're doing it -- we WILL see that under two hundred number. I say just keep doing what you're doing, pat yourself on the back, keep trying to get a little extra exercise in here and there, drink tons of water -- all the great stuff you already to -- and you will so nail this Onederland number any day now. Good luck to you!

Hi there, good to know that sensation and your body's signals. If you had one more bite of food it may have become a true "stuck" episode. For me, that will only resolve when I spit-up whatever was in there. This has happened five times now since banding in November. Maybe I'm a slow learner! Most recent was just this weekend when I got stuck on chicken. A lot of people report difficulty with chewing white meat chicken well enough. Usually I cook with chicken thighs but this time it was chicken breast done in a nice sauce, etc. It took a couple of hours to get to the point where I spit up the food which had not even entered the stomach. For me, this is pretty violent and all-around miserable while I wait for the outcome. I sipped tea to make it happen as I could tell it just was not going to go through. Afterwards I feel fine but am "tight" for a day or two.

I started my research in June and had to attend a mandatory info session that didn't take place until August -- a meeting with the program coordinator, nutritionist, psych eval, then finally the surgeon. Then one more meeting with the nutritionist to go over pre-op diet and I had my surgery in November. Will be different for every program but that may give you an idea. I felt very impatient but ultimately I think the extra time was good for me to read every post here, do some therapy, step up my exercise, etc. Good luck to you!

I think it takes a while post-surgery for everything to settle in. I still have way more gas than I used to have -- impressive booty trumpeting, for sure. Some people talk about burping, which I don't really have unless, sigh, I have overdone it. It took time for my digestion to work itself into a new pattern, too. I'd say that's fairly recent and it's been four months. Sounds like you're doing great. So happy for you! First months banded not easy as you progress toward right fill, etc. Wishing you a wonderful spring season of weight loss and increased health!

Walking! Even if it's just a bit more each day, little by little, this will help your body get ready for surgery. Drink a lot of Water to hydrate and cleanse your system. I wrote myself a letter to be opened at 150 lbs. That felt good. I took flip-flops and a robe with me to the hospital. Didn't open the book I brought but I did like having ear plugs and an eye mask. Good to have my own pillow in the hospital and then I used it in the car on the way home. As far as telling people, that is so individual. I told a few more people than I would have liked to know now, but that's just me. All has been very positive but I just feel so private about it. I don't want people talking about me or monitoring how I'm doing, even if it's all well-meant. I elected not to tell my parents because they are elderly and I didn't want them to worry -- plus my mother has handed me every diet book on the market for the last 25 years and I don't need her "help" with this. This is my project, Project Me.

I'm with TMF, get in sooner!

As WatchMe says, the pre-op diets vary so much it's hard to say. I like to put frozen fruit in a protein shake -- vanilla and peaches, yummy. Know that the first couple days are the hardest and then it gets so much easier. Congratulations on your upcoming surgery!

Hi JPC, many people are hungry post surgery -- normal, normal, normal! Just keep following your doctors' post-op protocol and healing up from the surgery. Once you start getting fills you will experience the dimming of appetite. Some people call this time Bandster Hell because they feel able to eat anything and it's basically just a diet until you get the right fill. You are not alone. Take it easy, be patient, listen to your body and get some walking in -- don't forget to congratulate yourself on this big step for your healthy future. Some people enjoy egg drop soup if that's allowed at this phase - filling, savory, yummy.

Hey Ginger Girl, congratulations on your surgery this morning! I hope you're doing well and have an easy weekend ahead of you. Best wishes! For the upcoming Banders, I had never been an overnight patient in a hospital before and for me it was so much better than I thought it would be. Every one there made it as smooth and pleasant as possible and because I had chosen the surgery and it was for something so positive (my healthy future!) I didn't mind the discomfort, etc. But yes signing those forms is a little eyebrow raising!

Hi there, so happy for you! Making this choice for myself and my healthy future has been wonderful in so many unexpected ways. I am really happy that I still like food but it's so different now that I can be satisfied by it -- before I would have something but felt I wanted/needed more. This feeling of satiety is such a great thing. A relief. I feel like I'm out of food jail. And I don't really feel like I've given anything up, even though I am making such good choices now and there are foods I don't have. But I don't miss them. At all. If there's something I want I can generally have it -- just in a small, healthy amount. And then magically I am satisfied. Note this doesn't happen right away -- all those followup appointments are so important to work to get the right fill. It can take a while but once there it is amazing. You are doing the hard part right now -- detoxing, cleansing and getting ready mentally. I was glad during this time to have upped my exercise so I had something to step into post surgery. Good luck with all -- so glad you're here!

Choose yourself first and every one around you will benefit! I have to tell myself this every single day and it is finally working. Think of it this way, only we can save our own lives. Let's show up for ourselves and feel that balance of health and happiness. Best wishes, and thank you for the reminder. It's easy to spin off course so I just have to keep reminding myself....I'm choosing me.

Hope you feel better soon! I love ginger tea and find that very soothing -- and clearing. Also zinc lozenges. We are definitely moving into post nasal drip season here -- a winter of the wood stove going hard and soon the trees will start leafing out. Oh boy. I have been feeling "tighter" and suspect it is the same kind of thing going on -- thanks for bringing this up!

Hi there,be strong -- you have do ran amazing thing choosing your healthy future and that makes you AMAZING! Be true to the process as much as possible and be gentle with yourself. You're doing great.

Hi Nat, sounds like you have a good medical group to work with.....glad you got that little bit removed. Twenty pounds down! Way to go!

Cheryl, of course, duh! She's got some great recipes, too (hi Cheryl). I so get the not wanting to tip off the surgeon to anything "alternative" -- you'll get through this process but I so remember all those worries. Best wishes!

Hi Christy, congratulations on your band! If you can't get water down you need to let your surgeon know ASAP but for many if us that initial tightness is from inflammation that will go down soon. Hope that's helpful! I definitely enjoyed my Popsicles those first few days, as well as warm tea.

Congratulations on choosing a healthy happy future! And best wishes tomorrow -- wishing you a speedy recovery.

As a Vegan you may know more about nutrition than most people. I am not Vegan but I eat a lot of nuts (almonds, walnuts especially) and beans as part of my banded life. Every one is different. Have you searched "Vegan" on the forum -- I imagine there are some good threads out there for you. Good luck!

Most of the time I'm so glad to be a dainty eater now -- never thought that would be possible! Also I love it that I'm not thinking about food and at times have to inquire as to whether I should have something because it's been a long time since I had sustenance. It still doesn't feel real to me. But there's another part of me that misses sitting down to a great big bowl of salad and veggies and really chomping. I probably had more calories in one of those salads than I have all day now. When I've got the need to chomp I have some plain popcorn and that satisfies that occasional desire to give my jaws a workout.

Wow, this is a big one! Way to go, Terry -- congratulations.