Band_Groupie

Woot! Restriction is great after Bandster Hell! My doc says the same thing about carbonation...says it's one of those LB rumors that gets started and takes on a life of its own. Hope the hunger goes! -BG

WHAT?!! Haven't you seen the pictures of Bandlandia?!! Sorry, I couldn't resisit... You're going to do great! I'm sure it will move fast for you and you do have NO HUNGER to look forward to...can't tell you how many diets I've been on...starving the entire time! Good luck next week! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS Bander! Sounds like you're doing perfectly!!! Send some of that warm weather over here! -BG

I tried to tackle this description when I got to what I considered my Sweet Spot (blog HERE). My preference is to have my band tight enough that I can still eat everything, but I'm not hungry between meals of about 1C (sometimes 3/4, sometimes 1.5C). I COULD eat 1.5 C at each meal, maybe more, but I don't need to in order to be satisfied. If I got another fill right now, even a little bit, I know I'd be PBing a lot, or would be resorting to sliders...not what I want, so...I'm in the zone. I DO have the morning tightness and sometimes it lasts until the afternoon if I'm drinking something cold (exactly as you described...it 'backs up' and I can feel it gurgling slowly through...my doc makes us drink a cup of water after each fill and that's always my restriction test-the last two I've gotten more slow down and gurgling with the water). I drink hot coffee first in the morning and it helps so I can get my oatmeal down as long as I eat slowly. I generally don't have any problem with later meals and can usually chug at night, although probably not as fast as I could pre-band. I do have a problem getting in all my liquids, but I just need to work harder at it. Like I said, I can eat anything including bread (which I try to avoid, but have had some). There's nothing on my can't eat list. I've always said if I get so tight that I can't eat things or have to drink my protein that I'm too tight (my doc's philosophy too), but I know some like having that control of only being able to drink some meals. I have had my stuck episodes, but it's operator error and not chewing or eating too fast and it doesn't happen often. I've had problems getting in all the fruit and vegetables too and don't often make the nutritional requirements, but I'm working that back in and I probably need to track things more often than I do. I'll be interested to see what you find out...the sweet spot is certainly a personal decision for everyone. Great question!

We had a great weekend! OK, I gained 5 pounds in TWO days…sigh…not sure how that is even possible, not the best choices, but 5 pounds? I listed what I ate below, but I also drank some wine/beer-plenty, but not in excess. We got to PSU around 4:30pm and picked up DS1 at his dorm. I was SO happy to see him again. You talk to your kids when they're away, but there's something about seeing them that really helps to know they're alright; especially their first semester. I looked him up and down just to make sure…he'd gotten a haircut and hasn't gained the Freshman 15 yet-could probably used it (not sure what I expected…disheveled hair, signs of depression or severe homesickness?). He looked…happy…I was breathing easy again. We went over to see the fraternity house (where he wants to live next year). They'd had a Social (party) the night before…let's just say it looked like a house where thirty some college boys live (feet sticking to the floor...think 'Animal House'). DH's house was the same in college. The 'brothers' were really nice…they were all painting the upstairs hall and they're in the process of refinishing the downstairs oak floors so they were really proud of their work. We found out DS1's pledge name is 'Twilight' because he looks like the lead (Robert Pattinson). We met my SIL and her family (and my PSU Goddaughter) for dinner at The Corner (1 crab cake and 1 rib) and then we went back to the rental house. We left for the tailgate Saturday about 9:30am (coffee and ¼ bagel w/cream cheese). One of SIL's neighbors and several of the neighbors PSU Alumni friends joined us, so we had 5 cars tailgating. It was a great tailgate…lots of great food and some games to play (ate mostly dips/chips and a small piece of steak, probably more than a cup since it was over 4.5 hours). It was a beautiful football day…over 60 degrees and sunny (unusually warm for November). We had one problem with a large group of students (and about 8 parents who stood by and did absolutely nothing) throwing food and a football at us and an OSU/PSU mixed group between us (in our OSU gear with our mainly PSU tailgate) and them (they'd had too much to drink). It started when one of the group next to us was waving an OSU flag so that someone coming to the tailgate could find them. One PSU young Alumni told me he went over and tried to talk to the students and get them to stop as they'd hit his wife in the face with a football…they just jeered at him. DD was really upset that someone stole two small OSU flags off one of our games…I tried to calm her down and let her know that you get out of control people at every school. That put a damper on things for a little while, but we still had a great tailgate with our OSU/PSU mixed group…we just ignored them. They gave out this button everywhere DS1 and his friends came over to tailgate for awhile…it didn't surprise me a bit that he came in full face paint (paw print logo he drew on his face and even his hair was painted white. He was thrilled that he was going to sit in the 'Seniors Section' and got to be in row 4 (students all in one section in the end zone and around one corner by class-best seats for Seniors and Paternoville) since he'd done the campout at Paternoville with 10 of his friends. The game started at 3:30pm and it was a perfect night. The PSU stadium is really nice and the 'Whiteout' the students had was really impressive (voted best student section in the nation-ESPN). They give out white 'shaker poms' to each student and it's cool to watch all the synchronized things they do to music and chants. It got really cold soon as the sun went down, but I'd outfitted all of us with hats, gloves and scarves and had extra chemical hand-warmers to pass out to the group. OSU won. We had a late dinner (few chips/dip-PB'd them up eating too fast, and few bites of a hotdog) back at the house (some family drama, but I'll save that for tomorrow). (you tube- student section at the game) We picked up DS1 early (don't think he had even 4 hours of sleep that night LOL) and we all went to breakfast (1 scrambled egg and about ½C of oatmeal) with SIL's family and said our goodbyes. We picked up all our camping gear (Paternoville) back at DS1's dorm and walked over to the Creamery (Food Sciences run shop) for an ice cream (I did have a chocolate shake) and to finally have a chance to just talk to DS1...he'd made an appointment with a counselor this week to discuss switching majors, so we'll see what comes out of that meeting…it's reassuring to see he's being proactive and handling things well. He's having a blast at school, making lots of friends, and getting involved…it's as much a part of the college experience and becoming an adult as getting a degree is and we're happy he's adjusting to college so well! Creamery Attached Pics: - My family spelling O-H-I-O - Student Section at PSU

Thanks again GF's (still here)! -BG

Congrats! 45 is great! -BG

Call your doc...if you're vomiting a lot and have heartburn you're too tight. This can be dangerous if it goes on too long. Best wishes! -BG

15 is awesome. Bandster Hell is one great big BLAH! -BG

Copy and paste the actual picture of the ticker, not the code (and don't forget to save) -BG

You're normal if you're nervous...no matter how excited we were to finally get our band, we were all nervous too. I've lost 50 pounds, and 30-40 more times than I can count. It's not about dieting anymore...it's a lifestyle you can live with...without hunger! You're going to do great and your smart doing this at a young age! Best Wishes -BG

I already 'doctor' up the oatmeal with lots of soy protein powder, which really changes the texture so I wouldn't necessarily notice the Benefiber, but it dissolves so completely when I mix it first into the water...do you notice it in the coffee? Funny you should ask about how often...just last week I was looking at this and started today to add it twice a day. I couldn't even eat raisin bran cereal pre-band without having diarrhea...now I can take a fiber supplement with no problems LOL. I don't 'go' very often, but no diarrhea/constipation either (probably just because we eat so much less), sorry TMI.

WELCOME to LBT! It does take forever. Every doc is different on giving a date (mine only did this after they submitted everything for approval). Good luck! -BG

5 more lbs...awesome!

Great job...awareness is half the battle! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS on your banding! And what an extra 'plus' for you finding the hernia! Best wishes! -BG

Welcome to 'Bandster Hell'! The hunger will go away with fills and as you get restriction. It's all up to you until then (many gain back weight during this period, so try hard to at least maintain). It WILL end! -BG

Be really well hydrated, don't eat before a fill, and don't drink anything cold. It's a tiny sting and that's all I feel; it's over in seconds. Good luck! -BG

WELCOME to LBT! It's a normal thing to worry about...you're changing the outside, the inside is all up to you. -BG

I'm struggling here with not wanting to make you nervous, but no way would I be going back to a surgeon who couldn't complete this surgery (I'd be looking for a new surgeon). My doc doesn't have a pre-op diet, operates on some of the heaviest people that other hospitals won't take and has never not been able to complete a surgery (not even for a fatty liver). -BG

Well, if you're me...lots of flowy, empire waist, long to cover my hips (boardering on wearing a dress over pants), loose sleeved (never sleeveless), untailored (never fitted), boxy, multi-layered upon layer upon layer, mostly-black or dark clothing (and the prints I had from the women's section always look like I'm wearing tablecloths or shower curtains). Maybe the butterfly jacket can be tailored to work too...or maybe you can alter it into a bolero...or a bikini

Note: I thought I had this cued up to post automatically Saturday on my Blogiversary while I was away, but apparently I’m still very tech-challenged… Today is my first Blogiversary (to think a year ago I didn‘t even know what a blog was). Before I started this I made a point to read a few blogs (not on LBT) that I came across while I was researching the LB the summer before I joined LBT. I found that, while some of them were well written, I got quickly bored with the ones who didn’t have much depth-didn’t give me the ’real deal’. While I work hard to surround myself with positive people, like I strive to be, I also got bored with the ones whose lives were a bed of roses everyday…I don’t like negativity, but again, I like to get the ’real deal’…my life isn’t perfect…I’m not a perfect Bandster. So I made a conscious decision just to be myself and put it all out there…I figured if I wasn’t true to who I really am that I wouldn’t be able to attract people who had similar thinking that I needed for support. It’s my moment to be a little narcissistic so I’ll apologize now. I decided to start this blog primarily for support as I didn’t feel like going to my hospital’s support group, which has more RNYers. I quickly found support (shout-out to Julie Ann for my first comment on my first blog) and I found out that I was learning so much from everyone here. I also found that as I finished each phase of my journey that I felt a strong need to ‘Pay It Forward’ through spending extra time with more research/details on subjects of my blog and by supporting others in theirs. I decided to take a look back at my blog and see what others thought was helpful. WOW, some interesting realizations came out of that: - 41,598 Views of my blog - Almost 500 Comments from others - Someone gave me ‘stars’ on one blog…I didn’t even notice that there was a rating system for blogs! Wow, that was cool… And then I looked at the top viewed blogs (you can use the calendar to your left to click on to get to any of these by the date): - I’m a Bunny (4/3/09) - My Wii Hates Mii (5/12/09) - My Heart’s in the Right Place (8/12/09) - Head Hunger and Bandster Hell…or maybe it‘s just Hell (5/2/09) - I Peed My Pants! (11/10/09) - LB Picasso (3/4/09) - Steeler’s Nation and a Funny Song (1/31/09) - Restriction…Finding the Balance (6/18/09) - The Buzz about Coffee (3/12/09) - Scale ***** (2/22/09) - Dorm Décor (6/29/09) - Hospital Packing List (2/24/09) - Off with her head! (4/15/09) - Dear Abby’s Daughter (2/5/09) - Band Firsts (5/26/09) - Scale Whores Anonymous- Semi-Annual Meeting (8/12/09) The only one I’ve directed people to, more often than you’d think, is my second blog as I run across a lot of people here who are right on the cusp of either a 35 or a 40 BMI when they’re starting out (‘I Peed My Pants!). Ahh well, I’m still going to believe that I helped someone somewhere along the line…at least I know I helped their site with their ‘hits’ with getting sponsors LOL. As I’ve progressed in my journey here I feel like I’m starting to have less to talk about regarding my Lap Band. I often feel a little guilty about just journaling for myself about my life and not about the LB. I feel like I’m misusing the site blogs and that those looking for LB info. might be disappointed some days. I’ve had a lot of messages all along over the year suggesting I take my blog to a more universal site, but I‘ve always felt that while I‘m still blogging mainly about my LB journey that this spot was the best way for me to ‘Pay it Forward‘ and for me to continue learning. I’m not sure where the next year will take me, or how much I’ll continue blogging, but like the rest of this journey, I’ll take it as it comes. *Portion of Post Deleted For Lap Band Book I know one thing, this blog has given me everything I’ve wanted from it and many more things I’ve never even expected. I’ve enjoyed it much more than I ever thought possible. I’ve gotten so much support and made so many great friends here (if you’re ever near Pittsburgh, let me know)! I’m constantly surprised by what I end up writing about and by what I learn through this process. Most of all on this Blogiversary I want to say I love you all and want to say THANK YOU for your support and friendship! This past year would have been such a lonely journey and I would have struggled so much more without you all. It would have felt like I have on every other ‘diet’ I’ve been on constantly for the past 20 years. Even surrounded with great friends and family, the WL piece of my life, even with all the temporary ’successes’ was always a very lonely, frustrating and even shameful piece of my life. I’ve never gone through a WL process where I’ve felt so positive even at moments where things weren’t going perfectly. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for always being there for me.

I just add the powder to my oatmeal every morning...it dissolves completely so you wouldn't even notice it even in a drink (DH drinks that orange Metamucil every morning...it's like a glass of slime yuck!).

5 incisions; stitches inside, glue on outside and a clear waterproof adhesive patch put over each one to help healing. Worked great.

JT- So glad to hear that everything went well!! Hope everything heals fast and you're back to normal soon! Hopeful- I take Benefiber every morning (and I didn't before the band). I found I wasn't getting in nearly enough fiber compared to the recommended amounts with the small amounts of food we eat.