Zoe

Let me guess -- before you were banded, if you had one bite of a piece of cake, you thought you had blown your diet. I'm laughing as I write this because I suspect, Kathy, that you're like me: if you can't do it perfectly you'd rather not do it at all. It's taken me nearly 50 years to get past this attitude of mine. Adequacy is OK! Mistakes are allowed! Repeat that several times until you get it right... (just kidding) Tammy, I'm so sorry about your losses. What a horrible fortnight you've had. I think all of us at Camp Maggot will forgive you if you need some time off from the challenge, but if you'd prefer to walk off some of your troubles and grief, please join whenever you can.

I broke 10,000 yesterday: 10,394! About 7000 of that came from my usual three-mile dog walk. The rest was puttering: walking around the office, walking from the parking lot to Quizno's (parked very far away for a change), back and forth at home cleaning. I have a class tonight so I'm not expecting to get much walking in today. Crystal, I broke my old pedometer when it was still new. It happens. Get another one and get moving. Paula, you go get one too! OK, enough drill-sergeant mode. Great job, everyone! We're off to a good start.

I didn't have much appetite for the first week or so, and had some restriction (from gas and post-op swelling) for the first month. Like Alex, I often felt that I was pigging out, but I was still eating less than pre-band. Same thing now, eight months after banding: I had one square of my mother's lasagna and four cookies last weekend and felt I was going to burst. But then I'm on my second fill.

I have coarse, thick hair, and it hasn't changed at all since banding. And I had two previous surgeries, both serious, and didn't lose any hair then either... except for what the pre-op team shaved off! Each person reacts differently.

Congratulations, Trish! It sounds as if you're doing great. Yeah, the gas pains can be nasty for a few days. Some of us found that a heating pad helps with that; I also liked to hold it against the worst of my incisions. And get someone to buy you a few funky straws so you can sip in style! Hang in there -- you'll feel better in a couple of days. Welcome to Bandland!

Christina, your insurance company sucks. I hope you don't have to self-pay, but if you do, welcome to the club. Eight months after my surgery, I say it was worth every cent.

Hi Options -- you've received some great answers. Bear in mind, of course, that our web site is frequented by a lot of people who reached their own conclusions and chose the band, so you won't hear many pro-RNY opinions here. True or False? --- banding is better for large eaters, by-pass for those who eat normal amounts of junk food or sweet tooths. I don't know. Both surgeries affect how much you can eat, and I know bypass patients often have trouble with sugar in any amount. True or False? --- banding has a higher long-term success due to the ability to re-fill versus a weight loss window. True, from what I've read and heard. True or False? ---- you do not lose your hair with banding. I haven't lost any hair, but to judge from the other responses here, other women have. I think fewer of us lose hair than with the RNY. True or false? --- banding requires much more will power and ability to avoid fattening high calory foods like chips, sweets, carbs. which could prevent any weight loss. Willpower? Good question. The band can't make food choices for us, so people who are looking for a quick fix for food issues may be disappointed in the band. But one of the reasons I chose the band was so that I could get out of "diet mind." Yes, high-calorie foods can slow or prevent weight loss. They're also one of life's pleasures! With the band, you can enjoy most foods; you don't have to feel like you're sentenced to a restricted diet for your whole life. True or False? --- many people with banding only lose a small amout of weight in the first two years and often require up to four years to lose 100 or more pounds? I don't know. That 1-2 lbs. a week answer sounds right to me. I hope to lose 80-100 lbs. in 16 months. People who were heavier to begin with tend to lose more weight early on -- but that's true of any weight-loss surgery or diet program. From checking everyone's statistics in our signatures you can get a pretty good idea of how we are doing. Good luck in your search for information. Check out the "sticky" posts in our many forums, where you'll find answers to many FAQ.

Good idea to check about the fill, Bigmom. How long ago was your surgery? If you haven't had your first fill yet, you may be in the dreaded bandster no-man's-land: well past the loss of appetite and swelling that helps some of us lose a lot of weight right after banding, but without any real help from the band, because it's loose and flaccid (i.e., unfilled). It's not that you "fell off the wagon"; you've been forced to rely on sheer willpower recently, and trust me, all of us know exactly how that usually goes. Good luck with the doctor. Meanwhile, know that what you're going through is totally normal.

Well, I promised to check in Monday, so here I am, reporting for duty. I went out of town this weekend and forgot to bring my pedometer! My best guess is that I fell short of my target by about 1/2 mile, or 1000 steps, yesterday, so I'll try to make it up this week. How's everybody doing with the walking on Day 2 of the challenge?

Finally lost something -- 202.5 today, as I inch my way below 200.

Tanya, Estela, Kathy, Penni, Michelle, Paula: Thanks, ladies! Tanya, Penni's right about Wal-Mart; Target carries pedometers too, as do most places that sell athletic shoes. I got a Timex model for about $15. I'm so glad you are going to be my walking buddies! Anyone else is welcome to join at any time. Penni, if you're training for the marathon, you will probably leave the rest of us in the dust -- but that's fine by me. I'm competing against my lazy-ass self. Today I've walked 6,286 steps so far just running errands and taking the dog to the beach; by the time I walk to a friend's house for dinner, I should have at least 7,500. And it's not even May yet! Have a good weekend, everyone -- see you at the starting line on Monday.

Calling all walkers . . . I am starting a May walking challenge in a new thread on the Support forum. Interested? Check it out: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=6606

OK, maggots, get out your pedometers! I have been sorta sluggish over the last couple of months, still recovering from back pain and sciatica. But I'm tired of sitting around. So I got new walking shoes and a new pedometer, and even though I'm still on the slow side, I am ready to rumble. I'm thinking: let's try to walk 7500 steps a day for the month of May. Anyone with me? Check in at this thread any time. I will check in each Monday. If you're looking for a low-tech way to get some exercise, this might work for you. And if 7500 steps seems too much -- that's a little over three miles a day with my stride -- do whatever you can. If you haven't used a pedometer, consider getting one; you'll be surprised at how much ground you can cover just by expanding your usual routine a little bit: walking up stairs instead of taking the elevator, for example. I'm ready to break that 200-lb. barrier, and you undoubtedly have milestones of your own. So let's get a move on!

Wow, Nick, what a wild time you've been through. Congratulations on the great news!

1. What is your first name? Oh, guess. 2. How long have you been banded? Eight months. 3. How much weight have you lost? 60 lbs. 4. What was your favorite food pre-banding? Deep-dish pizza. 5. What is your favorite food now? chocolate ice cream. 6. Are there any foods you can't or don't eat? Dry white chicken and, alas, most beef. 7. What is your favorite snack food? Guacamole & chips. 8. Has your SO changed towards you in any way since you were banded? She still wags her tail when she sees me, and is happy to get more leftovers on the floor. 9. What are some of the things you can do now that you couldn't do before? Walk a few miles without getting winded; fit into airplane and theater seats comfortably. And my blood pressure is almost normal now. 10. Do you have any pets? What kind? Big crazy black Lab mix. See #8. 11. Wht would your dream vacation be if you could go anywhere you wanted? I've been lucky & travelled a lot when I was younger. Now I'd love to travel the whole length of Chile, and see Peru, Ecuador, Easter Island, & the Galapagos. 12. If you won a million dollars, what would be the first thing you would do with it? "Call in rich" at work the next morning! 13. What are your favorite books to read? Literary fiction 14. What is your favorite TV program? Deadwood. Also love What Not to Wear (BBC version), Sopranos, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Hi Nick -- I second what Kendra said. And I'm wondering: Is your other half a thin guy? Has he ever had any weight issues? Some people who haven't ever had to count a calorie just don't get what it's like for the rest of us, even if they've been happily paired with a big person for years. It sounds as if you're making the right decision for you. Now if the other half can just see all the good that will come from the band... including the ability to go to more great restaurants, because your bills will be smaller than pre-band!

Congratulations, Alex! Sounds as if you're finally seeing your new self.

This is such a great story, Megan; thanks for telling us. What a wonderful NSV -- a V over fear and rejection, among other things. Congratulations! Ride 'em, cowgirl!

Congratulations, Tina! The 27th will be here before you know it. Pack light. . .

Hi Joe. I'm probably older than your mother, but believe me I (like most of the people here) remember exactly what it's like to be a fat teenager, and if the band were available when I was your age I would have gone for it without hesitation. You're doing the right thing by learning as much as you can. Keep reading and going to seminars. You're a smart guy who realizes how his weight is affecting his life, and if you want to make a change, you can do it -- and we'll be here to support you. BTW, by any chance does the 60618 in your e-mail address refer to your zip code? If so, you should know there are a lot of Chicagoans on this site, including me; we're at all different stages of banding, but I know any of us would be happy to answer further questions.

Thanks, everyone! I'm glad to know I'm not alone. And Tina, I will try your Protein shake suggestion. I consumed a lot of shakes during the first few months I was banded, but I've gotten out of the habit now. Protein Shakes may be just what I need. I've been wondering about Greg too. I'll send him a PM and see if he's around. Greg, if you're out there, we miss you!

Where's our cop Greg when you need him? I have been on an ice-cream kick for the last several weeks, and I'm afraid it's getting out of control. I'm not talking about one treat every month or every week anymore. I'm talking about craving ice cream every day. I was able to hold this urge at bay with diet Fudgsicles for a long time, but I've had a serious sugar jones for over a month now. It started when I took steroids (not the anabolic ones a la Jose Conseco), but that was back in February, and now what's my excuse? Any one else go through this? What's the best way to get over it, other than give into it? I'm really not beating myself up for being a bad bandster -- yet. But I don't want my weight loss to slow down even further, or worse, reverse. All suggestions welcome! Thanks.

Yeah, when I wear clingy stuff on my bottom half I look like a walking tub of mascarpone. (I thought that sounded sexier than cottage cheese.) I don't want to be thin, just healthy looking. Curves, yes. Bony ass, no. Like I'm in any danger of that...

Great job, Dawn! Please post your pictures on the "Before and After" thread so you can join the gallery.

Congrats, Big Daddy! Which doctor did your surgery, and where? (Monterrey, Tijuana...)