Bandista

People can be very clumsy and they are nearly always self-absorbed. She was probably thinking about herself at that moment and her own issues. I think your comeback was perfect. Oh, and lucky lucky 4th/5th graders to have you as a teacher!

Nice! I recently plotted out through the end of May as a way of meeting specific goals by June 1st. That is 103 days from now, LOL. I have set a goal of 2 lbs. down every ten days, hoping to exceed that of course. Keeping myself accountable in a separate journal for that purpose, marking off the days. Going for a small fill tomorrow and looking forward to better weather for increased outdoor exercise. Here's to Onderland and beyond!

Congratulations on choosing yourself and your healthy future. I was the same weight as you are now, 248, and I am at 214 this morning -- starting to dream of what we call Onederland, that far off land of not being in the two hundreds anymore. The thing about the band is it is designed to dim your appetite. I was such a good dieter, excellent at restricting for long periods of time, etc., but eventually I couldn't do it anymore and I'd gain it all back. It's an amazing thing to have the appetite monster off my back and to be out of food jail. I chose the band because it's less invasive and could be removed if ever necessary. I love my band and am loving myself all the more now that I am in control of my life and losing the weight I've been carrying for so long. Fire away with any questions -- that's what we are here for!

While my husband is very loving and supportive, there are times when he's pretty clueless and may even be sabotaging a bit without realizing it. This probably comes from all of the ups an downs of my dieting over the last twenty years and his not really knowing what to do. Am I on or am I off? Am I doing dairy? Wheat? Drinking or not drinking? Etc. In every diet there would come a time when I wasn't doing it anymore and he always wanted to be supportive then as well. We have a new mode now but it took a little trial and error. I have to be clear on what is in the house and what might still present a dilemma for me. I know that my husband wants to let me know that he loves me no matter what and yours is probably the same -- plus they don't want us to drop a lot of weight and run off with the postman. Okay, bad example. No one would run off with our postmen, that's for sure. Good luck with the rest of your pre-op -- you are clearing out the old and getting ready for a brand new life! Best wishes to you -- and he'll get it. Eventually.

Congratulations -- big day is finally here! Here are my 10 tips for your day: 1) Know that you are in good hands. 2) This is a good time for that marvelous sense of humor. 3) As soon as you wake up, starting thinking about getting up and walking around. The nurses will be happy to help you get started. 4) Take every opportunity to go up and down the hallway -- hopefully you have a robe for this purpose so no one needs to see your behind. If you have an IV pole, the robe drapes around that shoulder and you pull it along with you. Back to #2, the sense of humor. 5) Thank yourself for this amazing gift of a healthy future and having the strength and focus to do everything it has taken to get to this place. 6) If you experience discomfort, breathe into it and know it's not as bad as it could be. I found it helpful to compare to going to the dentist, for example. I have only had one root canal in my life and hardly any cavities, no braces, etc., but I'd rather get another lapband than go to the dentist. 7) Drink liquids as you can. Some people are more swollen and this is not easy and for others it's possible to just drink right down. Good way to flush out the anesthesia, etc. So drink up when you can. 8) Think through the steps involved in getting into the car or down on to the couch before you make the move. This will help you figure out ways to do it with less pain. Go slow, remember about rolling if needed. Back to #2, humor. 9) Enjoy all the Popsicles you want -- you won't be having much in the way of calories so it doesn't really matter. 10) Take it easy and recover fully even if you start getting bored.

Hi there, I am curious whether the weather is a factor in band tightness -- it's been very cold here and I'm wondering if that might make for more restriction or less? And now I'm wondering if this is a ridiculous question but I will go ahead and post anyway. I'm getting close, I think (hope) and wonder if spring will be a whole new ball game as far as how my band behaves.

I can't believe I lost track as I was so obsessed with every detail -- it's either four or five. I am about to schedule another but of course I want to be careful not to have too much restriction. No throwing up or reflux, etc. would be okay with me. My surgeon doesn't share the amount as it is irrelevant.

Thinking of you -- do you have a date for that yet? I have read of others with flipped ports. Ouch on the multiple attempts to find it -- hope you have an ice pack on there! And congratulations on your loss to date. Best wishes for all to come -- a minor setback and you will be on your way to the 40 lost, the 50......eyes on the prize!

I like a curvy strong body, too. Versus the linebacker feeling! I will know when I get there -- I am 5'6" (used to be 5'7") and have 148 as a goal because that's exactly 100 pounds from where I started at 248. I'm in fourteens now and than will be a twelve -- cannot really imagine less than ten as I think that would be way too scrawny for me. Like you say, Sandy, I'm trying to focus on exercise and a healthy lifestyle. And I want great legs back if possible, and arms that don't scare me in the mirror. Even when I was thin my arms never measured up. Trying to remember to love myself just as I am while I'm working to improve -- that's a balance, to be sure. So I will take this opportunity to thank myself for who I am and what I've done so far.

Hi there, I'm 52 and if there's one thing I wish it's that I hadn't had the weight struggles of these last twenty years. Of course we didn't have the band back then and I'm glad I waited until now as far as new technology, but you are so right to deal with this now. You have the opportunity to get really healthy and enjoy the coming years without the effects of overweight not only on your physical body but also your self-esteem. And meanwhile you'll always have compassion for those who struggle because you have been there. Good luck to you in the coming months -- very exciting times. I am just three months out and feel so at peace with food and appetite now. Be patient, though, as it can take time after the procedure to get to the right fill. That is the name of the game right there. Be sure to choose a place that is really committed to the followup as it's all about those regular visits.

So happy for you! The jeans say it all, don't they? And I love it about your grandparent's scale -- I can picture that.

Just know you're in good hands. There may be an issue with the amount of belly fat we lose and having the port in the more traditional above belly button left side is no longer being practiced in some places. Good luck to you on your upcoming surgery -- very exciting!

I was happy for my flip-flops and a lightweight robe to slip on -- I started walking as soon as I could and got a lot of mileage in on those hallways. I'm a tea drinker and was glad for my own teabags -- wished I had a real cup as styrofoam is icky. Did not write in the journal I brought or read the book, etc., but I did appreciate the eye mask so I could get little naps in while shaking off the anesthesia. I had never been an overnight patient in a hospital before and it was all so much easier and more pleasant than I thought it would be. The pillow for the ride home gave me something to nap with. All in all it was all so exciting that I didn't mind the discomfort of laparoscopic surgery or the gas pains which I didn't really get until a few days later (left shoulder). So much better than the dentist, for example! And all for a purpose -- life-changing future-enhancing health! Good luck to you and keep us posted. I was really glad I started to walk before the surgery -- didn't want to but forced myself and this gave me something to step into afterwards and helped the healing process a lot.

Do you like sashimi? My son makes a lot of sushi and I'm having to say no now -- time for us to up our culinary game (and fish sourcing) to make sashimi instead as that rice is just too sticky. Hope you feel better today!

Congratulations on getting to this place -- so happy for you. I'd love to hear more about the eating plan you were on, with the weighing of food, etc. I picked up a food scale recently but haven't put the batteries in yet. Do you shoot for 4oz protein 4oz veg? Two or three times a day? I have no plan and feel like I'm floundering a bit. Also probably in need of a fill as I'm feeling restrictive and hungry, able to eat more all of the sudden, etc.

Congratulations on your band and the sixteen down -- that is a great start all right! I am three months out and still learning but so happy with my new life and the peace around food. Best wishes for a nice week and all that lies ahead!

Hi there, thanks so much for the inspiration on this Sunday morning. You look so happy and healthy!

Sending very best wishes your way! Hope you can stay grounded and present -- keep breathing and know that all good things lie ahead.

Do you like Lentils? I like the black ones or French lentils better than the orange but they are all yummy. Sauté an onion if you like, and/or diced celery, bits of carrot, add spices, like a curry powder or just cumin, and if you like a few raisins and even nuts. Stir around then add rinsed lentils, keep sautéing so they pick up all that flavor, then add veggie stock or Water to cover, let it come to quick boil then turn all the way down, put a lid on and they will be done in no time. Quinoa with chunks of apple or pear? If you cook in veggie stock you'll have that extra flavor. Has excellent Protein for a grain.

Whoops -- I am sabinadublin not dublinsabina. Would have made a terrible spy if multiple aliases were needed. So, find me on My Fitness Pal: sabinadublin

Me, too! I am dublinsabina on My Fitness Pal. Friend me! Great way to track everything. I use it mostly for exercise but sometimes for the food diary. There is a setting for sharing the food diary with others if you like.

Congratulations -- What a great Valentine! And great loss, too. You are off and running now. So happy for you. Take it easy and have a nice quiet few days healing up.

I'm a gardener, too -- can't wait for spring but I'm going to have to as we have so much snow out there and spring is months away. This is when we can start planning, though, and I get a lot of mental exercise from that. But the physical exercise is what I need! Have fun -- put in some extra time for me! For berries we removed six 4 x 4 boxes of red and golden raspberries last year, relocating some to a wild path -- just couldn't deal with them all and the Japanese Beetles were driving me crazy. We have a small orchard of apple trees with some pears, peaches, cherry, and mulberry trees mixed in, and an allée of 12 Asian pear trees in front of the house. I can't wait to see those in bloom again this spring. And blueberries -- we just put those in last year and that's what threw me over the edge for the raspberry dilemma. And yes, a few blackberries. Crazy! My goal this winter is to make a couple of garden maps with the names of everything, when planted, etc. I wish I had better technical drawing skills!

Hi Quamina, you might want to start a new topic so more people will see your thread and respond....wish I had something to offer but I'm new at this banded life. I am definitely tighter in the mornings and then just sometimes it feels different. People talk about being tight for hormonal reasons, weather, altitude, etc. If you ever can't get liquids through I'd say get to the doctor immediately. Personally I really worry about too tight of a band.

Hi Shel, isn't it great being on the other side! Glad you are healing up well and very exciting about this new chapter in your life. I was banded in November -- like you not hungry at first then my hunger returned. Funny thing, though, it is not my enemy now. I feel like hunger is a signal from my body that I can interpret now and before I just wanted food all the time regardless. So that feels straightened out inside me -- the conversation between brain and stomach. You got a fill already -- that's great. Good luck with coming weeks. Glad you are here!