Catherine55

Hi, Curlicue! Here are my answers to your questions. . . Also, feel free to take a look at my blog -- it's got a year's worth of entries about what it's like to be banded. The change really isn't that extreme -- you just eat less and get full faster, and you have to chew your food well and pick foods that aren't going to get you stuck (e.g. no gummy breads). The main thing I wish I knew was that "Bandster Hell" exists so that I wouldn't have been frustrated by feeling hungry and not losing between the time I got on solid foods and had my first decent fill. I also wish I would have taken more "before" pictures, and am really glad that I took my measurements before I started this process. The thing your nutritionist told you to do has nothing to do with how bandsters eat. She's probably trying to get you to learn to pace yourself and get full as you are eating. It's not a bad thing to do right now, but it's not at all how you'll eat when you're banded and at good restriction. I hope that helps! Catherine

It sounds like you need a wee bit of an un-fill. You should be able to eat normal food at restriction. Definitely call your doctor about this -- you don't want to damage your band! Catherine

It really sounds like all of the things you are p-d about are just the things we all experience during Bandster Hell. Based on my own experience, you are going to be surprised by how much easier this is once you get a good fill and have some restriction going! I'm coming up on my 1 year Bandiversary, am down 63 pounds, and have really been happy with my experience. I hope that you will find the same is true when you are farther out! Best, Catherine

Hey -- and if you haven't taken before photos and your measurements, be sure to do that soon! You'll want them later on!

Welcome -- and congratulations!! Your throat should heal pretty quickly -- should be fine in a day or too. Just be sure to get up and walk around to get the gas from surgery moving out! Best wishes, Catherine

Just 2 pounds to go to get to my 10/31/09 goal! Go October Bandsters!

Congratulations on your surgery! That pain should get better pretty quickly -- but it took a while for mine to go away completely. Don't worry too much on the drinking front. Just take small sips and you'll be fine! BTW, Isopure makes a Protein drink that tastes more like Gatoraid. I hated the shakes and that drink really helped me to get through the liquids phase. They sell it at stores like GNC. Welcome! And, best wishes for your success! Catherine

I agree -- you don't have to say anything at all until it's more serious! You can do things like. . order Soup as a starter; order a starter as your main course; suggest that you share a bunch of starters as your meal (he'll never notice what you eat); order one of the lighter and smaller Entrees on the menu; etc. Plenty of skinny girls barely eat on dates. As long as you don't make a big deal about it, he may not even notice. One thing I make sure to do is tell the waiter how much I enjoyed the meal. That way at least he or she won't call attention to how little I ate by asking if there was anything wrong with the meal. Works like a charm! Best of luck to you! Catherine

What I can tolerate varies now and then. I have the hardest time with beef. Fish is a breeze. chicken is fine as long as it is tender & juicy. Same goes for pork. I had braised oxtail a week or so ago, and it was just fine (but it was slow cooked and amazing. . at a Mario Battali restaurant)! :wink2: I actually haven't had a steak or a burger in ages because I don't cook them at home and am wary of ordering them in restaurants because I don't want to get stuck and have that ruin the meal. Hope that helps! Catherine

Therapy is great -- but have you thought about taking regular photos of yourself? It might help to be able to see your picture in the context of photos from weeks past. If you can see the changes in the pictures, that may help you to recognize them when you look in the mirror and to remember the ways that you have improved when you picture yourself in your mind. Congratulations on your success!! At some point the fact that you are much thinner is bound to sink in! Catherine

Also. . don't forget that you can eat all the things you had on full liquids. Think about making some butternut squash soup -- it's so easy and delicious! I put a bunch of good recipes for soups (with photos, etc.) on my blog -- check them out if you are interested. Actually, you can go to this link -- http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/office-workers-whats-lunch-103295/ -- I gave another bandster links to the recipes so that they would be easier to find. Catherine

I totally agree about the. . poached salmon; refried Beans with cheese; and chili (but I put mine in the blender to make it smootherand ate it with Greek yogurt, which tastes like sour cream). Also, don't forget . . mashed potatoes. . yum! sweet potatoes . . also yum! guacamole (without chips, of course!); and hummus There are TONS of good things to eat on mushies! Just get a little creative and you will sail through this phase! :wink2: Catherine

Hi! I had my surgery almost a year ago with Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey, MX. Had a great experience, am now only 14 pounds from my goal, and feel amazing! There is a link to my blog below. If you go to the beginning, you can see photos of the hospital, my description of what it was like, etc. I was very impressed with the quality of care. Also, Dr. Rumbaut is banded, so I felt like he could relate to me on that level in a way a non-banded dr. might not. He was able to do my surgery with just two incisions, which also made for an easier recovery and, obviously, less scars! Good luck with your decision! Catherine

1-Is it worth it? Definitely! I am 11 months out and only 14 pounds from my goal. I feel and look a million times better than I have in years. I know that I could not have done this without the help of the band. 2-What can you no longer eat As the people above mentioned, it varies from person to person. I have trouble with steak and doughy bread. I can eat crackers, toast, the crust of hard rolls, etc. I do not ever feel deprived by not being able to eat those things -- I honestly don't care. If I really wanted steak, I'd just eat it at home so that if I got stuck, I could be more comfortable dealing with it than at a restaurant. How do you get all of your nutrients and eat healthy? I take Vitamins and generally pick healthy foods when I eat. The band has been a really wonderful tool for me and for most of us on this site. It has helped me to change the thing that bothered me the most -- being overweight -- and to feel good about myself. I hope that helps! Welcome to the site -- this is a great source of information and support. Best wishes, Catherine

I mix it up a bit. I get on kicks where I'll make a big batch of soup and freeze it in individual ziplock containers and bring one for lunch each day. I put my favorite recipes on my blog -- my favorites are butternut squash (with pears and a little blue cheese - YUM!), chicken and cheese soup with green chiles, and spicy chicken and vegetable soup. The soups are all easy to make, and you can puree them to whatever consistency you want. Sometimes, I order salmon, mashed potatoes and grilled veggies from Guy and Gallard -- that lunch lasts me 2 days (and is only $13 -- I am in NYC, so that is a great price for 2 lunches). Other times, I'll order a salad and pick out all of the good fixings and eat only a little lettuce. And, once in a while, I'll get a fruit smoothie with a Protein shot. Hope that helps! The soups are great though -- you'll save a ton on lunch, and they are super delicious and easy to make! Best, Catherine

Dana -- don't worry. If you are committed to working your band, it is going to work for you. Honestly, it requires effort, but it's not that hard. In fact, it's a zillion times easier than staying on a diet for months and months, then trying to maintain. I'm 11 months out and 14 pounds from goal. I could not have done this on my own, but here I am anyway. Yes, I've worked to plan meals, to make good choices and to get myself working out like never before in my life. But, having this little thing that stops me from overeating every single day works like a charm. I wish you the very best in your band journey! Take your measurements and before/after photos now!! You're going to want them later. Best wishes, Catherine

Definitely check out other bandster's blogs -- I found that really helpful when I was starting this process. I'm including a link to mine below (our stats aren't too different -- 11 months ago, I started at 5'6, 230 lbs and 37 years old. I'm now 14 lbs from goal - woo-hoo!). I have a bunch of links to other blogs on my main page -- I bet that you will find some that you like! Best wishes for your success! Catherine

Congratulations, Linda! Welcome to band land! You are in for so many wonderful changes! Best wishes, Catherine

- My compartmental syndrome that prevented me from running; - The desire to berate myself every single day for being fat and not controlling my diet enough; - The need for plus size clothes (and I am loving all the great things I can wear now!); - That middle aged, fat lady who looked like a less attractive version of my own mother (but was really me at 230 lbs); - The question in my mind when an attractive guy speaks to me about whether he is actually interested in me or being nice; - The feeling of intense pain at loading a 230 lb version of myself onto high heels (they feel just fine now); - The regret about not being able to take a subway seat because I'm just a wee bit too big for the space (b/c now I fit just fine); - The intense panic when I travel last minute due to concern that I might get stuck in the middle seat (b/c now I fit there just fine); and - The feeling of dispair about my weight and wondering how in the world I could ever get back to normal when I'd let it get so far out of control. (I am now 14.4 lbs from goal.) THANK YOU, BAND!!! And, thank you LBT friends. I couldn't have had all these great losses without you! xoxoxo, Catherine

Wow -- after 11 months of being banded, I have to disagree. The band is not a gimmick -- for me, it has been a salvation. 47 lbs is great though -- it sounds like you either are building a lot of muscle right now b/c of your workouts, or that you need a fill. I will say that when I started working out seriously (through a Boot Camp 3x per week), I didn't lose any significant weight for 6 weeks. BUT, I did lose inches during that time, and after the 6th week, the weight came off faster than it had before. Hang in there. This absolutely DOES work. It's not a quick solution like the bypass (in terms of losing weight rapidly), but it works over time and your likelihood of keeping the weight off forever is substantially increased. Best wishes for your success, Catherine

This is great!! Be sure and take your measurements and some "before" photos too -- you will want them later on! Best wishes, Catherine

Congratulations!! I was banded exactly a year to the day before you! This past year has been fantastic -- you have a lot of good things in store for you. Wanted to recommend that you take your measurements and a few "before" photos now. You will want them later! To answer your questions: Tip for not chickening out: Write out a pro/con list about why you are getting banded. It should make the decision very clear -- and you can look at it when you are having doubts. 2 Week liquid Diet: You'll be fine -- just do it. If you don't, your liver may be fatty and they may not do your surgery. Also, the better you are on your diet, the less your liver will slide around and need to be manipulated during surgery -- and the less pain you will have afterwards. Best wishes for your success! Catherine

I loved this post -- so great!! I'm 11 months post-op, and so many of my "never agains" have already come true. It's such a great feeling! Catherine

Corrinne -- I just saw your question about going back to work. You are going to want to take that Monday off too. I have a desk job also (here in NYC) and that would have worked out just fine. Catherine

That is wonderful!! Congratulations on getting approved -- and Lennox Hill is a great hospital! Best wishes, Catherine