blacktxbelle

You've done a great job! All those years without maintenance to you band, that is truly impressive. With a will like that I'm sure you will get to goal. Congrats on the new insurance. It's amazing the differences from one to the other.

I am still pre-op but with all the research and googling and browsing I have done, it seems like some people feel their band is tighter in the morning and at certain times on other days. I found this tid bit of information as I listened to various segments of a vlog by bandedwendy on youtube. She describes times when she feels tighter than others. You might take a look at some of her segments. http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY7CuDd3xtv5i9S2X7w8rzg

Appreciate Your Body!
Spend some time this week remembering what a miracle your body
really is.





It is through your body that you experience your life.



It is through your body that you get to smell the roses, play with children, taste great food,



connect with friends and family, learn new things, work, play,



listen to beautiful music, sing, dance, cry, Celebrate, make love, create, read, etc., etc., etc...



Thank your body for being there for you.



Remember that no matter



what toxins you've put in your body or how much you stuffed it,



starved it, exercised it or not, it keeps showing up for you every



day. No matter how unkindly you've spoken to or about your body it



has never left you.



The next time you take a shower try this:



As you wash each part of your body bless it and send it love. Speak



to your body as if you were speaking to a child or friend whom you



love unconditionally.



Bless and love your head, your eyes, your ears, your nose, your



mouth, your chin, your neck, your shoulders, your arms, and your



hands. Bless and love your back, your chest, your abdomen, your



hips, your genitals, your thighs, your calves, your ankles and your



feet. Bless and love your all your internal organs including your



heart, your lungs, your liver and your kidneys.



If you have what you believe to be excess fat on your body love it and bless it.



Thank it for having been there for you. Know that you created it to serve as a protective shield for you



to keep you centered, grounded and safe.



Now visualize yourself standing before a gateway on a beautiful hill or on the crest of a wave. Your entire life lies behind you and below you. See that every experience of your past is tied to you by silver and golden threads. Pause and review these experiences... all the joys and all the sorrows... all the adventures it took to bring you to this point... remember all your struggles with your body and your weight. Observe it all, bless it all, thank it all...especially the struggles.



Now untie the threads attaching you to the past, and with all the love you can muster, let your excess weight know that it is safe for it to go now.



Tell it that you are releasing it with love and gratitude, and you are now ready to learn new ways to love and nurture yourself. Release it all and bless it all.



In releasing your attachment to the past, you claim your power in the present.



Step through the gateway now!!



Make a vow that from this moment on you will treat your body with love and respect,



and that you



will speak only kind and loving words to and about your body!



Affirmations:



I am in awe of the miracle that is my body!



I love and respect my body!



My body is amazing!



I speak only kind and loving words to and



about my body!



My body rocks!



Live in Love,



Louisa


www.liveyourhighestgood.com
www.louisalatela.com
856.429.9799

OK, just an FYI...
I thought it would be a good idea to use the Isopure ready to drink Protein in my green smoothie. I had kale, strawberries and the Isopure. The Isopure will whip up like egg whites, making the smoothie fluffy, but not sip able. You have to use a spoon. I'm thinking this may work well as a high protein dessert if made with sugar free pudding.

Congrats on your pending surgery. I'm not an Aug bander. I go in a week before you but I will keep you in my prayers.

I've been watching a vlog by an individual by the name of bandedwendy. She apparently moved to a location with that is located in a higher altitude and seems to have experienced so issues with the higher altitude and trouble with flying. Please see the following tube link about 2:55 into the video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeYJtaifoQA&list=UUY7CuDd3xtv5i9S2X7w8rzg

I too did a lot of research and have been watching a number of vlogs via YouTube. I asked my surgeon, Dr. Esquivel about it. I was told this depends on the port placement, the amount of weight that is lost and which type of port is used. There used to be only a standard port but there is now a low profile port as well. I was actually given the opportunity to see it in the office with the lapband model. It's pretty flat maybe as thick as 3 quarters. It is slightly wider in circumference. To answer you other question, yes it can be felt. I have a friend who currently has the band and has for the past 8 years. She never got to goal but she is pleased with her loss. You can feel her port. It feels a little like a small marble.

I too did a lot of research and have been watching a number of vlogs via YouTube. I asked my surgeon, Dr. Esquivel about it. I was told this depends on the port placement, the amount of weight that is lost and which type of port is used. There used to be only a standard port but there is now a low profile port as well. I was actually given the opportunity to see it in the office with the lapband model. It's pretty flat maybe as thick as 3 quarters. It is slightly wider in circumference. To answer you other question, yes it can be felt. I have a friend who currently has the band and has for the past 8 years. She never got to goal but she is pleased with her loss. You can feel her port. It feels a little like a small marble.

I too did a lot of research and have been watching a number of vlogs via YouTube. I asked my surgeon, Dr. Esquivel about it. I was told this depends on the port placement, the amount of weight that is lost and which type of port is used. There used to be only a standard port but there is now a low profile port as well. I was actually given the opportunity to see it in the office with the lapband model. It's pretty flat maybe as thick as 3 quarters. It is slightly wider in circumference. To answer you other question, yes it can be felt. I have a friend who currently has the band and has for the past 8 years. She never got to goal but she is pleased with her loss. You can feel her port. It feels a little like a small marble.

So the jitters have for the most part passed. I thought it through, and stopped watching procedures on YouTube. I've got the general jist by now. Thanks for the reassurance.

I love lean body on the go for her shakes. The chocolate is very tasty. Not the least bit chalky

So the first night of my pre-op diet, I must have drank so much. The second day, I did much better. I drank when I was thirsty and sipped my Protein Drink at mealtime. I still tend to let myself get a little too hungry but I tend to think more in the past week about what and why I am eating and drinking. I'm determined to build a new relationship with my body. #Learning to recognize my hunger cues.

About two years ago, I went from working 8a-5p to 8p-5a. This was and still is so confusing for my body. It became really difficult to determine when I should be eating so I just ate....possibly cause I wanted to. Today, this light bulb came on. I woke up famished. I'm doing the pre-op diet of course but...had I had a little something before going to bed and then the rest after waking up...I could have avoided this very uncomfortable empty feeling. I really didn't make it better by getting up, getting ready for work and still refusing to feed my poor belly. If I listen to my body more and respond appropriately to it's hunger just as I do for true pain...maybe we can quite fighting each other. #working on my relationship with my stomach

Congrats. I almost wanna make a little dance to go along with the green zone. I've heard about read about it. I look forward to being there in the coming months.

About two years ago, I went from working 8a-5p to 8p-5a. This was and still is so confusing for my body. It became really difficult to determine when I should be eating so I just ate....possibly cause I wanted to. Today, this light bulb came on. I woke up famished. I'm doing the pre-op diet of course but...had I had a little something before going to bed and then the rest after waking up...I could have avoided this very uncomfortable empty feeling. I really didn't make it better by getting up, getting ready for work and still refusing to feed my poor belly. If I listen to my body more and respond appropriately to it's hunger just as I do for true pain...maybe we can quite fighting each other. #working on my relationship with my stomach

True Results actually provides us with a book written by Mr. O'Brien, the gentleman in the videos. It's title is The Lap-Band Solution A Partnership for Weight Loss. He covers a lot of the principle information there. If you have access to the book, the rules are in chapter 11 pg 219-233.

Congrats. You're in the "happy zone"!

True Results actually provides us with a book written by Mr. O'Brien, the gentleman in the videos. It's title is The Lap-Band Solution A Partnership for Weight Loss. He covers a lot of the principle information there. If you have access to the book, the rules are in chapter 11 pg 219-233.

Congrats. You're in the "happy zone"!

As with anything we do in life, knowing why you are doing something is pivotal to your success. I know you will do great as you grow into you new healthy lifestyle. I can speak from experience when I say children are some of the most powerful motivators we have sometimes. Even when we forget to love ourselves they remind us what true love really looks like. Here's to love, health, and happiness.
Good luck and sweet dreams!

So, I am a little over two weeks out from my surgery dated July 29th. I've discovered and documented a wealth of information. This board has become my best friend my "google" if you will. So there are some things that are pretty standard like initial pain, swelling, diets, etc. I would love to know what is something you wish you had know before you started your journey. I know it's kind of corny but for the newbies here these nuggets of wisdom are valuable. Thanks in advance.

Knowing that you have tendency to overeat is a major step. From there you figure out what you want to do about it. Are you going to give in or are you going to take control. I myself, I want to be healthy and I am not going to lie I want to look good and feel good. Are you willing to make yourself miserable to continue overeating? We all know from everything we have read and been told the band is going to let you know when you aren't complying with the program. It's okay to be afraid but don't let that fear move you away from the confidence it took to make such and important decision.

Knowing that you have tendency to overeat is a major step. From there you figure out what you want to do about it. Are you going to give in or are you going to take control. I myself, I want to be healthy and I am not going to lie I want to look good and feel good. Are you willing to make yourself miserable to continue overeating? We all know from everything we have read and been told the band is going to let you know when you aren't complying with the program. It's okay to be afraid but don't let that fear move you away from the confidence it took to make such and important decision.

Tear Bear, I just started this journey so I can't speak about the other side. I do have some of the same worries...in fact Monday was my first nutrition session and she asked...so what are your triggers....for me being tired, happy, sad, celebratory, bored...I could go on and on...I don't need a reason to eat! I Just.Like.Food.
For me, I'm using the 3 month supervised diet period to work on my triggers and begin my new relationship with food. I look at surgery as an opportunity to develop a Brand New Relationship with food. It's not lost on me that the diet after surgery is very similar to a baby....liquids, mushies, soft food and then real food.
I can tell you that I was surprised by how freeing having the nutritionist give me specific targets for calories, carbs and Protein...I don't have to wing it anymore!
So, I kinda rambled in this one....I think worries are natural, healthy and will occur all along the way. For me, I'm more worried about having a healthy life with my grandkids and my husband...just sayin You can do it!

The nutritionist I see says we should not use straws for at least 6 months. This gives you time to heal and prevents excess trapped gas (and pain). I think different Dr.s have different opinions about this as well.
Personally I have an in-law that has had the lap-band and she drinks from a straw all the time. She is a number of years post op though.