Bandista

This is not a competition, this is each of us saving our own lives. We are getting in touch with our bodies and our behaviors, learning to stop beating ourselves up and to make healthy choices. If people create stumbling blocks to our happiness we need to really look at that. Why? Because finally, finally it's time to choose ourselves first and foremost. Choosing health and happiness means putting your own feelings at the top.

I used food to quell a whirring of anxiety inside and I was nervous about not having that available anymore -- taking the plunge. And I had never been an overnight patient in a hospital before, so there was that. Getting ready for surgery gave me the opportunity to really work on the eating issues -- identifying the why, when and where -- the noticing everything, acknowledging. And for the latter, the whole surgical process was so much easier than I had imagined. I kept a very positive attitude throughout and I think that really helped. I was really glad I upped my exercise beforehand so I had something to step right into -- I didn't want to but I did it anyway. As soon as I woke up from surgery I started walking and I think it helped me recovery very quickly. Best wishes to you and congratulations on making this decision to choose yourself and a happy healthy future!

I think it is great that you are examining that dieter's mentality which is so front and center -- the old I'm either on or off. This is my focus right now, ditching that thinking. For food, for exercise and, well, for lots of other things, too. I am labeled as a restrictor at my surgeon's office -- I saw the nutritionist write it up and had to laugh because there was so much I felt she didn't get but she sure nailed that one. On today, or off? I've already blown it so...... Etc. We know that old thinking and you are so right that it applies to other things, too. Like exercise. It's the thin end of the wedge. But please, please know this. You have made the choice -- you are choosing yourself and your healthy future front and center. You are not going to go into OFF mode because there is no on or off anymore, there is just this healthy new you making excellent choices. You're not going to fall off the wagon. There is just each new day and you're showing up for yourself. You're doing beautifully! Happy, happy birthday!

That is a beautiful number! Way to go on the 75 down. Such a great success story to start off my Saturday morning.

What about freezing some coffee in ice cube trays then using a few of those to get the shake consistency? Have not tried this; just an idea!

Sometimes the scale doesn't move as quickly as we would like -- important to know that it's all happening, bit by bit. So happy to be losing my Mrs. Winnie-the-Pooh physique: I did some number comparisons this morning at four months out: Waist -- down 5.5 inches (wow! that accounts from going from size 18 to 14 in pants) Bust -- down 4.0 in inches (bra shopping needed; getting desperate) Hips -- down 4.4 inches Thigh -- down 3.5 inches Arm -- down 3 inches (very happy about this one! That's a lot on one arm!) Neck -- down 1 inch

Goal for March 31st - 202 Weight on March 1st - 216 Weight on March 8th - 212 I have seen 210 on the scale this week but today I'm at 212. Not worried. I seem to get to a new number then dance up and down it for a while before another new low finally appears. Ten pounds in the three weeks left of March is a little ambitious but I think I can do it if I exercise like crazy.

Goal for March 31st - 202 Weight on March 1st - 216 Weight on March 8th - 212 I have seen 210 on the scale this week but today I'm at 212. Not worried. I seem to get to a new number then dance up and down it for a while before another new low finally appears. Ten pounds in the three weeks left of March is a little ambitious but I think I can do it if I exercise like crazy.

I'm pretty tall already so I'd have to be like eight feet. Great cartoon! Happy Friday.......

I wondered about positioning, too -- how about getting a physical therapist to have a look? Is it outside of the thigh? IT Band area can be very tight for some people and cause pain, and there's always good old referred pain, trigger points, etc. Hope you feel better soon!

Sounds like you're doing great! I was not hungry following surgery for quite a while but then it did return and I started the process of fills. I love fish and think you're on the right track there with soft fish, not overcooked. Talk about a beautiful Protein source! Good luck to you and congratulations on getting your band.

Hi Megan, congratulations! For the full liquids stage I really enjoyed a potato leek Soup made by a company called Imagine. It comes in a carton and we found it in the natural foods section of the regular grocery store. Creamy and delicious but no-dairy. I added some chili as I enjoy savory foods. I also really liked Miso soup a lot. Homemade applesauce. My surgeon described full liquids as those which would slide off a plate turned on its side. Thinned out cooked Cereal with maple syrup. Yogurt, etc. Hopefully they will have a whole list for you when you go in for your checkup! Good luck with everything and enjoy a nice quiet weekend with plenty of walking.

I think as humans we are looking for radical acceptance of who we are, without judgement. Inner beauty is so often overlooked and society is obsessed with supposed physical perfection. Sometimes there is so much focus on the container rather than what is inside. This makes me sad and mad. When I first gained weight it was a result of Prednisone -- fifty pounds practically overnight. I was 29, getting married and already alarmed at the bride-to-be attention. Now I had the attention of all the people who couldn't understand how I could have gained so much weight so suddenly. I felt a deep shame and anguish. After that initial fifty pounds, I went on every possible diet to try to rebalance my body and shed, but we all know how that story ends. Pretty soon that fifty went up to eighty pounds. Then one-hundred. I just couldn't shift it no matter what I did. Along the way -- and it's been a long way from age 29 to 52 -- I have had to contend with people wondering how I let myself go like that, why I didn't just do this or that to lose the weight, what happened to her, etc. Being the subject of this kind of attention has been very painful, and we all share that here. Weight is so visible; every one notices. I found myself craving invisibility. I wonder what it will feel like to be at an "acceptable" weight and how I will handle people remarking on that. It's all so personal. That's why I'm really glad to have all of you here. I can identify so deeply with this post and with all the comments here. I want to be able to hold my head up high and thank people when they offer me a compliment, but I don't know how to receive graciously. A friend was over yesterday and said that I looked great; I just went silent for a moment then moved the conversation along without even acknowledging it. I think this is how I've lived for a long time -- just not acknowledging my worth. The gift I am. So that's all part of this big project of reinventing myself and securing my healthy future. There's a reclaiming that's happening and it's a bit daunting. Sorry to ramble on so long. I guess this has all been on my mind, too. Transformation and what that means not only to myself -- that part I'm very excited about -- but also to the people around me. Thankfully my husband loves all of me and sees ME, my light, my wholeness, and he has all along. But my extended family, not so much. Choosing myself first now is bound to cause a few ripples, but I'm up for this. I'm up for ME.

Love chia seeds! Who knew the Chia Pet would turn out to be a Superfood? There is an article on-line called something like "the great chia versus flax seed throw-down." I love flax seeds, too, but chia wins hands-down. For one thing, they don't have to be ground up for the nutrients to be available to the body. Lower in calories, too. The longer they sit in yogurt, for example, the more gelatinous they become -- providing some texture. Sometimes I use both flax and chia seeds. Yummy.

Hi there, congratulations on your surgery and best wishes for a speedy recovery. I enjoyed hot tea quite a bit, as well as popsicles.

Keep in mind it all depends on what policy you have, not just the carrier. I have United Healthcare and the version my husband's employer purchased has a strict requirement of 40 BMI with no exceptions for co-morbidities. Skin of my teeth on that one. So glad all that's behind me!

It's so true that no one is really paying attention -- I've been pretty amazed by that. If you are ordering only a small thing, like a soup or just an appetizer, you can say, "I'm saving room for dessert!" Then at dessert time share with some one and only have a bite or none at all if you are on a strict regime. Every one loves sharing with me now because I hardly have any!

Hope you feel better, Tara. Sorry I don't know anything about the BRAT diet -- one diet I've never heard of! Doesn't sound very band-friendly, though. Ginger tea is pretty great for upper respiratory issues -- can some one grab a few boxes for you? Best wishes!

Hi new banders, so happy for you! Have a nice healing weekend. I'm so glad I chose myself and my health in this way. It's been four months and I still feel very excited about this process of transformation. Here's to spring, renewal and healthy futures!

Every one is different -- some people have Fluid in their bands at placement. Your surgeon will have a schedule for you. My first fill was four weeks out, then at the fifth week I had another, then at the seventh week another. The post-surgical "restriction" you describe is about the inflammation which goes down and then there is almost always a return of hunger prior to when the band starts being adjusted through fills. But that is a nice taste of what it's like later to have that appetite dimmed. Because restriction is a word that can be confusing, this is a really great article to read: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

Hi Nancy, congratulations on getting your band! Yippee! Hope you have a nice long weekend of rest and relaxation.

Excellent! So happy for you. I am four months out as of yesterday. It was definitely a process -- started in June last year and had my surgery in November. But so worth every single one of those hoops! Best wishes. And spring, what a great time for renewal. By the way, I was really happy I upped my exercise regime so I had something to step into right after banding. I think all the walking helped make me a better patient and helped me heal up quickly. Good luck on the Sugar Busters. You're going to do beautifully!

I have so much more energy now! I used to think I needed to eat but now I realize that was just a head-game. I do just fine on very little food because my body has plenty of fuel to burn. All that stored fat! Bye bye.

Congratulations on reaching Onederland -- and 55 down in 7 months is great. You are getting there, bit by bit! Pat yourself on the back for this success and get ready to lose the next chunk. Of course every one is different so it's impossible to say what's right in terms of restriction. I have had six fills. My surgeon describes a tennis ball sized portion and feeling satisfied 4-5 hours. I had the portion part (would feel full) but not the duration -- was hungry again in 2-3 hours until this last fill. I find I am now able to walk away from Snacks that I was indulging in here and there. And I am exercising -- I'm pretty sure that's a big secret to weight loss success. Good luck to you -- you're doing beautifully!

My son does this -- he has a pullup bar in his doorway and whenever he leaves his room he does a certain number of pullups. Pretty amazing how it all adds up! I am going to make a sign for myself, "EIGHT MINUTES." So I go down to our basement and jump on the treadmill for another eight here and there throughout the day. In fact I think I"ll put the sign on the fridge. Right now! I'm not hungry these days (thank you, Band!) and I'm doing well with not eating if I'm not hungry, but even if I'm not indulging I still find myself at the fridge a ridiculous number of times per day. My feet take me there. I'll make 'em take me right down to that treadmill instead! Good luck with all your working out -- you are very inspiring.