Catherine55

That is the best!! I've done the same thing a few times and have sent packages of clothing to a bunch of other bandsters who need transition sizes. It's such a great feeling to be able to do that. . . And, of course, to make room for new clothes! Catherine

I didn't go out the very next day, but I did the day after. I was banded in Monterrey, Mexico, and arranged a car and driver/tour guide to take my mother and myself around town. I didn't overdo it, but I was able to walk around a bit and enjoy myself. Plus, it is good for gas pain to walk around, and being occupied helped keep my mind off of the pain in my shoulder! (I felt pretty good though -- the surgery wasn't that bad.) Catherine

I was banded October 23, 2008 -- am down 58.6 pounds as of this morning! Only 16.4 pounds to go until I hit my goal! I'm hoping to be at least half way from here to there by my bandiversary! :frown: Catherine

You should check out a post I put up on the Post-Op board. Everyone posted their recent NSVs (non-scale victories). There are so many that are just like the things you are looking forward to happening! So, you have a lot to look forward to! :frown: Best wishes, Catherine

Congratulations!! This is such a major milestone!!! :biggrin: Catherine

Samantha -- I did my surgery in Mexico because my insurance would not cover it. It wound up costing under $10K, including plane tickets for myself and my mother -- the best money I ever spent. My doctor is Dr. Rumbaut, and there is a bunch of information about my surgery, photo of the hospital, etc. at the beginning of my blog. Please feel free to send a link to your friend if she is interested. She can also message me through this site if she has questions. Best wishes, Catherine

I haven't stuck with the no drinking during meals rule at all. That's really the only one I have a hard time with -- otherwise, I'm pretty good. Catherine

I didn't work out for the first several months after I was banded, but for the past 3 months, I have been doing an insanely difficult Boot Camp workout 3x a week. Take a look . . www.purepowerbootcamp.com I love it, and it has made a big difference in how I look! Catherine

Awesome! That is so great. You totally can do it! :biggrin: Catherine

Hi, JLray -- I read through the responses and wanted to suggest a different approach to you. Based on what you said, both food and exercise are problems for you right now. Rather than try to be perfect on all fronts at the same time, why not focus on diet for the moment? My recommendation for you is this: Give yourself a break on the exercise front for the next month. If you work out, great -- if you don't, you'll get to that next month. (Honestly, I was terrible about exercising for the first several months -- then, suddenly, I was really motivated and have come to really enjoy my workouts.) Make the next month about figuring out how to work your band, diet-wise. Take 20 minutes today to plan out what you are going to eat for the next week. Be sure to plan for things that you like to eat. Then, later today, force yourself to go to the grocery store and buy the food you will need to do this. See how those meals work out for you, and over next weekend, plan out the following week's meals. Breakfast Suggestions: Do you like yogurt? If so, buy enough so that you can have one every day for breakfast. Or, if you have time to make an egg, that's great, too. Sometimes I have a SlimFast shake for breakfast -- they are yummy and surprisingly filling (I only like Cappuccino and vanilla right now). lunch: Do you have time to make some Soup and freeze it? If not, how about buying some different Soups (preferably with a decent amount of Protein and not cream-based) to get you through the week? I don't have that many great ideas for lunch -- I generally do soup or get a sandwich and eat the filling, or sometimes I'll order sushi. What do you usually eat, and will those things fit in with the program for the week? dinner: Do you like fish? How about poaching some salmon or frying up some catfish or some scallops? What are the things that you and your family like to eat? Could you do a shrimp boil with corn on the cob, or have a taco night where you eat just the ingredients (not the tortilla)? These are just suggestions, but my point is that the best way to overcome a big goal is often with baby steps. Once you get a handle on the food part and it becomes easy for you, then start working more seriously on the exercise part. I hope this is helpful! Best wishes for your success. Catherine

Welcome!! I wish you the best in your LB journey! Catherine

Welcome!! This site is a really great place to get support and answers to band-related questions. I had my surgery on October 23, 2008, so I'm about a year ahead of you in the process. A year ago, I was filled with hope about being banded and how that would let me get control over my weight, but I don't think I fully understood how positive, amazing and great it would really be! I've lost 73% of my extra weight already and am on track to be in my "ideal" weight range by Christmas. Earlier today, I bought a pair of size 12 jeans from The Gap and I'm wearing them now! A year ago, it was hard for me to believe that it would be possible to get to this point. You have an exciting year ahead! I am very happy for you! Welcome to band land! Catherine

My OBGYN was the same way when I told her. But, I researched my doctor and also talked to two of his patients, so I did not have the same concerns. I had my surgery on 10/23/08 with Dr. Roberto Rumbaut. He is also banded, so I felt like he had a great perspective. He has also done more than 6,000 of these procedures and is well respected in the field, and I found that very reassuring. Dr. Rumbaut was able to hook me up with the doctors at NYU who wrote Fighting Weight with Mohammed Ali's daughter. I arranged my first post-op appointments before I even had surgery, which made me feel much better. The hospital he uses (Ortiz probably goes here as well, though I'm not 100% on that) is amazing -- brand spanking new and state of the art. I was really impressed. Also, since their business thrives on private pay patients, the level of care was OUTSTANDING. I never had to wait even a whole 60 seconds after pushing the nurse call button to have someone there to help me. They also made up a bed in my (private, brand new, gorgeous) hospital room so that my mother could spend the night there with me. I can't speak highly enough about Dr. Rumbaut or the care I received. If you aren't set on Ortiz, you might consider him as well. BTW, I put photos of the hospital on my blog (at the very beginning), so feel free to take a look if you are interested! Catherine

I agree with the other posters. I'm 10 months post-op and have already lost 73% of my extra weight. In fact, today I went to The Gap and bought a pair of jeans in size 12! I was wearing a tight 20 when I started this process. If you are willing to follow the rules of being banded (within reason -- you don't have to be perfect all the time), you are going to lose weight and you are going to keep it off. Funny -- I just put up a video on my blog about this (how mind-boggling it is for me to realize that the weight isn't coming back). Feel free to check it out if you want! Good luck with your decision! Catherine

These are so great!!! I love it that so many people had so many different ones to share so far! Kdub -- I'm doing the Susan G. Komen Race for The Cure (raising money for breast cancer research). ThereItGoes, I bet this will cure your compartmental syndrome! I can't wait to see that in your NSV list! :biggrin: Catherine

I can't help it. . I love hearing about everyone's NSVs (non-scale victories). They are just plain inspiring. If you have some to share, please post away! :sad: Here are a few recent ones I have had: - Being able to shop in the regular department and finding out that I am finally back in a size 12 (OMG!!!); - I can wear heels all day without my feet killing me; - I can run without my compartmental syndrome (a co-morbidity) cutting off my circulation and pinching my nerves! In fact, I am going to run the Komen Race for The Cure in September! I could go on, but I really want to hear other people's! Catherine

I also wanted to suggest that you go on-line to look at the restaurant's menu (or call the restaurant and have them e-mail or fax it to you) before the lunch. There may be something on there that will work with your diet. Even if you go with the plan to treat that lunch as your dinner, I find that it made me much less anxious (and much less likely to screw up) if I planned what I was going to order in advance. Good luck with the meetings! These sacrifices are going to be SO WORTH IT! :sad: Catherine

I'm glad to hear you say that you are getting back on the wagon right away! Your post made me afraid for you! Still on liquids and eating candy bars and milk shakes? Leaving aside the risk of causing your band to slip, you don't want to be putting on weight during this early phase! Anyway, I'm not going to flame you. But, you should give a lot of thought to what made you want to sabotage yourself like that and what you can do to stop from doing it again next time. I wish you all the best in your lap band journey and look forward to seeing you do very well after this little blip! Catherine

Welcome! Well, you're in the right place to start out! There is a ton of great information on the boards every day, and this site is a great source for support. BTW, there is a board with success stories, and I like reading that every once in a while. It's very inspirational! You might want to read up on "Bandster Hell" if you haven't yet -- you'll be going through that short period before too long (i.e. the time when you are hungry between post-op and your first fill). Welcome aboard! Best wishes for your success! Catherine

Congratulations on doing so well! I was banded around the same time as you (10/23/08) and am down 55+ pounds. As far as what it should feel like when you eat, for me, that varies depending on what I am eating and how tight my band is at that particular moment. Sometimes, certain foods seem to sit heavily in my pouch, which I find uncomfortable and don't like. Other times things go down just fine. I definitely get full on much less than I used to, and overeating has lost its appeal for me (I guess I must have found it appealing on some levels in the past, since I certainly did it often enough)! Welcome to LBT! This is a great site and a really good source for support. Best, Catherine

A few people say to bring a pillow to the hospital for the ride home (to hold against yourself). I didn't need that, but I did bring my favorite down pillow with me -- I just sleep a lot better with it! Best wishes for Thursday and a speedy recovery! You're just about on your way! :sad: Catherine

Hi, Jojo! I go to Dr. Ren (Dr. Fielding's partner and wife -- though my surgery was in MX with Dr. Rumbaut) and they are OK with alcohol in moderation. Definitely check with them on timing though. The shakes are pretty gross -- I hated them, so I got Isopure Protein drinks (taste/look like Gatoraid) from GNC, which was SO much better (42 grams of protein, zero carbs). That did the trick. As for good mushies, you can still have everything you had during liquids (Soups really carried me through liquids & mushies), and other things I enjoyed were mashed potatoes, refried Beans with cheese, pureed turkey chili, cottage cheese, and yogurt. Best wishes for your success! Catherine

Here is a way to reframe that. You are 55 and have the self-awareness to know that you need some help getting your weight under control, based on your past experience. Next year, you are going to be 56 years old. You have three choices. Either you can: 1. Accept yourself as you are (and the possible health problems that will go along with the extra weight); 2. Try to lose on your own (statistically speaking, most people will regain that weight, though you could be in the 5% that does not); or 3. Have the surgery, commit to making your band work and hit 56 looking and feeling better than you have in years. I would recommend making a pro/con list and really putting a lot of thought into it. For me, that was very helpful and made my decision an easy one. I have been banded now for about 10 months, am down more than 55 pounds and am probably in the best shape of my life. I needed help to get my weight under control -- that is for certain. But, I got that help and feel so positive and successful with every step that I have made toward my goal during this process. This is the first time in my post-adolescent life that I can remember feeling good about my weight every day and not beating myself up inside my head about not sticking to my diet, getting heavier, etc. This is a big decision, and you are right to think about it carefully. If you are worried about how others perceive your decision, just remember -- you don't have to tell anyone you don't want to tell. I wish you the very best in your decision. Hang in there! Catherine

I got banded with a 37 BMI in Monterrey as well. Are you going to Dr. Rumbaut? I had such a good experience and was VERY impressed with the hospital and hospital staff. This is the best decision I ever made for my personal health. So far (knock wood), I have not had any problems or complications, and the surgery was so much less of a big deal than I thought it would. I can't remember if we've corresponded before, but there are photos of the hospital and some before & after (well, current!) pics on my blog. If you are feeling nervous, it might make you feel better to take a look. Best wishes for a successful trip, surgery and beyond, Catherine

First of all, the only way you are going to fail at this is if you self-sabotage by drinking milkshakes or something crazy like that. It is TOTALLY NORMAL not to lose until after you get to good restriction. Hang in there!! And, stop with the negativity!! :biggrin: I felt frustration during Bandster Hell too -- and when I've plateaued in the past. But, why don't you take a look at my blog -- I just put up some photos that will give you an idea of the kind of progress you are going to make in the future. This IS going to work!! Start believing in it -- and I totally agree with AbingdonGirl -- some group (or private . . I'm a big proponent of it!) therapy would really help you to get through this! Can't wait to see what you are posting 1-2 months from now when you see what your band will help you accomplish! Best wishes, Catherine