Bandista

I can eat bread! Getting on the horn first thing tomorrow for a fill appointment, good grief, why am I even trying to eat baguette (with butter, ugh, my old self, no!). I realize I've been nibbly and hungry and grazing, etc. Duh! I so know better than this. But bread, good grief. For me that is just crazy. It's been building up and suddenly makes sense -- slipped out of the green zone without being fully aware (or not wanting to -- lazy, don't want to be too tight so cautious, or just enjoying the extra calories and the feeling of rewarding/indulging at my least favorite time of year?). Whatever it is, I'm not going down this road.

Best = the size ten red pants or any number of happy moments. Feeling my hip and clavicle bones, dressing up, dancing, fitting in anywhere......literally.
Worst = "I don't know what you did..." a comment from a guy I don't even know very well but it haunts me (I keep my WLS private.)....wish I had said something like it's not what I did but what I don't do anymore: stress eat, etc.

Yippee, so happy for you!

With a nod to Super Bowl Sunday...
Today, Sunday, February 7, one day shy of 6 months post-surgery, I have reached the halfway point.
130 pounds down, 130 pounds to go.

Best definitely the big change in my apnea, etc going away i used to spend the day half asleep and on amphetamine salts or adderal etc or both, and provigil just to stay somewhat awake. but now im on no drugs and im wide awake.
Worst probably the constantly staying on top of my weight itd be nice to just relax and let go. but i know i cant do that. Small price to pay.

There are too many great ones but this is my favorite:
Best - trying on clothes in regular stores just because I can. Many times being surprised and in shock at my new normal size.
Honestly had a hard time thinking of the worst but I guess this would be it for me:
people who say stupid things like WLS is cheating or the easy way out.

Best. Walking through the world as an "average" person, and not drawing attention to myself based on my size.
Worst. Getting stuck on food when eating with other people. That has really taught me to slow down and chew.

That's the pointy ball thing, right?

NOT!!!!!!

I can eat bread! Getting on the horn first thing tomorrow for a fill appointment, good grief, why am I even trying to eat baguette (with butter, ugh, my old self, no!). I realize I've been nibbly and hungry and grazing, etc. Duh! I so know better than this. But bread, good grief. For me that is just crazy. It's been building up and suddenly makes sense -- slipped out of the green zone without being fully aware (or not wanting to -- lazy, don't want to be too tight so cautious, or just enjoying the extra calories and the feeling of rewarding/indulging at my least favorite time of year?). Whatever it is, I'm not going down this road.

I can eat bread! Getting on the horn first thing tomorrow for a fill appointment, good grief, why am I even trying to eat baguette (with butter, ugh, my old self, no!). I realize I've been nibbly and hungry and grazing, etc. Duh! I so know better than this. But bread, good grief. For me that is just crazy. It's been building up and suddenly makes sense -- slipped out of the green zone without being fully aware (or not wanting to -- lazy, don't want to be too tight so cautious, or just enjoying the extra calories and the feeling of rewarding/indulging at my least favorite time of year?). Whatever it is, I'm not going down this road.

That's the pointy ball thing, right?

That's the pointy ball thing, right?

JustWatchMe
I know what you're talking about. I can't speak for everyone but for me the band makes dieting easier. I never wanted to call this banded lifestyle a diet but for the most part it is. Dieting before the band was painfully impossible. Not anymore.
The band makes it so much easier to stop when I feel satisfied. The band makes me more aware of when to stop. I love it. I've lost 7 lbs since Jan 3rd on my way to losing 20 more just to get to my lowest from a year ago.

I've had a month and a half of very clean eating and my band is really doing its job. Slowly the weight I gained over the past six months has come off. I know without my band, this restart wouldn't have happened. It's such a gift to have this tool that helps with the hunger if I only do my part. After three or four weeks of no fried food (!!! me!?!?!) and no Thai noodles and no crapcorn, I no longer missed or daydreamed about them. Nothing short of a miracle.

@@gowalking Thanks Liz. All good here. I went for the echo today and saw the cardio Dr. he gave me some extra meds to take that are going to make me tired...OK as if I wasn't that already but in the long run it should slow the heart rate and balance out. Here's to hoping it all works out according to plan and I can get back to doing some light exercise like walking.
Dad is all settled into his new place, about half a mile from my house so the days of having to drive to Queens at 5 am are over
Today I am actually feeling a little better and that's a plus. I'm still tired but not as bad as it's been. Maybe because the sun is shining today and I'm not fighting the weather....I don't know but I'll take it!

Hi there, I am some one who needed several fills to reach the Green Zone. For me the time in-between fills was really important because I had to address the behavior modification -- was such a fast eater, big bites, etc. I had to learn (sometimes the hard way) to eat slowly and chew, chew, chew. The scale turned out not to be the best measurement for me -- it was the pants falling off, over and over again. I went from a size 18 Lee long jeans to the very same brand in a size 10. I could still stand to lose some weight but I'm pretty fine where I am. Good luck -- you're doing great!

I am noticing that hormonal changes effect the band, as does the weather. And stress, of course. I have a test for myself, salmon and broccoli (eaten slowly, of course, chewed thoroughly). I need to be able to swallow those foods comfortably. A friend on here always makes sure she can swallow a couple of Tylenol before leaving her surgeon's office after a fill. So I guess we all develop our own little systems for gauging where we are with our bands. Good luck to you -- and don't be afraid to go talk it over with your doctor. The green zone is a range, of course. A zone. You can have a little put in or taken out while still remaining in that range. Like many others, it takes a while for my fills to settle in but I would know right away if I needed to go back for a tiny unfill: any kind of reflux or swallowing difficulties with liquids.

Hi there @@butterfly40, way to go showing up for yourself and your healthy future. Getting that appetite monstor off of my back is the best thing I ever did. I also don't miss anything but if some one had told me that prior to my surgery I never would have believed it. I still love food -- I just have smaller portions at appropriate intervals. To me that is something of a miracle.
Like you, I hate artificial sweeteners. My pre-op liquid diet was two weeks and those first couple of days were definitely the hardest. The product my surgeon's office doled out did not agree with me (full of crap) so I used another. And I did not have to give up caffeine; I am a tea drinker and occasionally have some decaffeinated coffee. If you call the office and tell them you are having a difficult time, there may be some leniency on that score -- but do follow your doctor's instructrions to the letter. I think that is key.
I was very excited about the surgery and used that to ride through the stages afterward. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner (my baby is about to turn 20). Post-op I focused on walking, a little further each time. The protocol for me was one day clear and then full liquids. I loved my popsicles and went ahead and had ones with real sugar because I was having so little. I liked the Soups sold in cartons in the natural foods section of the regular grocery store -- like potato leek, etc. And warm tea felt good to me. I was allowed egg drop Soup and that was very satisfying.
You are going to do well because you are thinking it all out ahead of time and confronting your worries head-on -- way to go! Pre-op SUCKS but you will get through this. You need help, though. Whoever can help you needs to be tapped so that you are able to get the sleep you need and focus on yourself for this time. Every one will benefit in the long run. I wish I had understood earlier that in choosing myself first that's what happens -- every one wins. I had never been at the top of the list before and now I am and we are all very happy.
Oh, one thing about pre-op is that for the first time in my life, after so many diets and regaining, I knew the pounds I was losing were NEVER coming back. I had never been an overnight patient in a hospital before and was nervous but it all was so much easier than I thought it would be. A sense of humor definitely helped, and the power of positivity. Best wishes, and keep us posted!

Hi there, congratulations on deciding to pursue weight loss surgery. My only regret is that I did not do it sooner. Like you I tried so many diets. I'd lose weight but then gain it back plus a bit more each time. My band has enabled me to get that appetite monster off of my back. I eat when I'm hungry and don't eat when I'm not hungry -- small portions at appropriate intervals. I don't know what that "metabolic support" comment above is about. My opinion is that insurance companies and hospital administrators prefer other surgeries over the band because of all the followup and they would rather have their surgeons in the operating room. In the first year I had 11 visits with my surgeon to be sure I was on track (including pre-op and the surgery itself). This kept me accountable. Be sure to talk about this at your appointment. I'm so happy for you deciding to take hold of your health. Your boyfriend may be reluctant to have you change the way you are but he will come around and understand that you have to take care of yourself so you don't incur long-term damage to your health. My self-esteem is so much higher now that I am not heavy. The people who love me are happy for me.

Sorry to hear of tomander's passing
He was regular poster. Thank you for telling us.

Just saw this on another thread -- don't know how to get the link so am pasting it in. I've wondered about Joanne and just typed her name this morning on a list of those people who helped me so much in the beginning.
Hi,
I am Joanne Holl's eldest granddaughter. I inherited her computer (and cat) and decided I need to clean the desktop, so I don't get so sad everytime I log on with my Gram's icons on the screen. Anyways, my grandma had a link to this site on her desktop and the first thing I clicked on brought me to her picture along with her post. Especially because I think my grandma was one of the oldest patients to have the Lap-Band surgery and because I just feel my grandma would want me to leave an update to inform you of her passing...
Joanne M. Holl, 84, passed away at her home as a result of metastatic breast cancer on Saturday, March 21, 2015. My grandma was truly an inspiring woman and one of the best grandmothothers a girl could wish for. Thank you for listening and I wish you all success.
Sincerely,
Stephanie

Whatever you do, you have learned to make great choices for yourself. Way to go! How about another trip to Europe for starters?

@@2muchfun nice to "see" you -- hope you're having a good winter. @@gowalking LOVE seeing that picture of the two of you. So great -- what a lucky guy and I'll bet he knows it, too. @@lisacaron please take good care of yourself -- Choose Lisa First! Your body is telling you something; so much stress for so long.
Speaking of which, I'm waiting to hear news of a friend's surgery. It's not a good scenario (ALS) and there are kids involved, etc. I want to stress eat. The thing is, my idea of stress eating now is ridiculously different. Yes, I've had some chocolate, so that hasn't changed. But the amounts, OMG. And I had cheese on a rice cake a little while ago. Usually I don't eat so early in the day and this made me worry. But one rice cake with a little cheddar? Come on! I'm doing fine. But yes, always on guard.
Sharpie, I can't believe you got snow in FL and we had nothing here.

@@2muchfun nice to "see" you -- hope you're having a good winter. @@gowalking LOVE seeing that picture of the two of you. So great -- what a lucky guy and I'll bet he knows it, too. @@lisacaron please take good care of yourself -- Choose Lisa First! Your body is telling you something; so much stress for so long.
Speaking of which, I'm waiting to hear news of a friend's surgery. It's not a good scenario (ALS) and there are kids involved, etc. I want to stress eat. The thing is, my idea of stress eating now is ridiculously different. Yes, I've had some chocolate, so that hasn't changed. But the amounts, OMG. And I had cheese on a rice cake a little while ago. Usually I don't eat so early in the day and this made me worry. But one rice cake with a little cheddar? Come on! I'm doing fine. But yes, always on guard.
Sharpie, I can't believe you got snow in FL and we had nothing here.