arkansasbandster

This is called "Bandster Hell" and is the time after the euphoria of banding wears off and before restriction begins. Don't worry about it -- this will pass. Just be patient with yourself, and use this time to try to begin making good food choices and practicing a bit of your own self-control. Begin an exercise program if you haven't. Doesn't matter how little, just get consistent with it. The band is a tool and doesn't do it all for you, so by the time it does start doing what it's intended to do, with multiple fills, you will be doing your part. Hang in there - it's all in the process.

Hi August Bandsters -- I was banded August 11, 2009 and have lost 52 pounds so far (started at 228, now at 176). I didn't go in for scheduled fills in December, January, and part of February, and had a pause in my weight loss. I was fine with that - I didn't gain anything (lost a few pounds), but we were travelling a lot and I was happy to be not too tight. I absolutely LOVE my band, and my most conscious thought is that I don't want to strangulate myself so that I won't be able to eat properly. So far, so good. I can't believe the difference in my mobility, and it's just so much easier to navigate my body around throughout the day. Keep on truckin'!

My doctor doesn't discourage us from having soda pop from time to time, after the initial healing from the surgery is complete. Some people can tolerate it better than others. For myself, I really enjoy a diet pepsi every now and then, so about every couple of weeks when it pops into my mind, I'll have one and enjoy every sip! I've never had any problems with it at all. My doctor is geared more towards balance rather than the whole good food / bad food perspective. This is working the best for me and my past relationship with food (either all or nothing). Talk to your doctor to see what his/her take on it is.

CONGRATULATIONS!! It feels so good to enter through the gates of onederland! Yay for you! : )

How inspiring!! And how FUN for you to let that ship sail! Congratulations! : )

I'm lovin' your blog - we can all so relate with your issues, and you make them so entertaining! Thanks!!

I went through the exact same thing, as I'm sure most did. I'm right with you about the pain vs. the nausea. I only took one pill after being home, and I was done. I can deal with pain, but absolutely cannot stand the way pain meds make me feel. So I walked ... and walked ... and walked. I ended up not sleeping that whole first night, and walked over eight miles in small increments. It was weird -- I was just walking like a zombie, but it helped with the pain. And I really believe that it helped me get over it all way faster than normal. My doctor strongly encouraged me to keep moving, and I took him literally! Keep your chin up -- it will all keep getting better from here out!

So sorry you're feeling down. This part of it will pass very quickly. Just remember that it really WILL be worth it in the long run, and in just a couple of days, you'll be feeling way better. Take it really easy, and you'll be fine and this will all be a distant memory. : )

Thank you so much for sharing this with us. It's so important that we "newbies" (I got my band in August) hear from people who've had the band as long as you have, and beyond. It's great to hear it's all been worth it for you. And great job on the exercise!! : )

That is too funny - I swear that I just read another post on this site just this morning, I think it was, where they'd dreamt about pizza and donuts. What a combo!

Happy handfasting day!! : ) (And I think "mainstream attractive" is way over-rated - in my opinion, interesting looks trump cute looks every day of the week.)

Here's my doctor's recommendations for "soft food" stage: low fat yogurt, sugar free pudding, lean deli sliced lunch meats, canned tuna or chicken, soft non-fried fish, low fat turkey chili, meatloaf, ravioli, swedish meatballs, scrambled eggs, omelettes, cottage cheese, fat free refried beans with a slice of low-fat cheese (yum - this was my favorite!!). Lots of stuff to choose from!

I felt so nervous the first time I went out to eat with people, too. You know what I discovered? None of them were at all interested in what I was eating or not eating, and nobody noticed anything! I took smaller bites, chewed my food really well (like you, I certainly didn't want to have to make a scene by running to the bathroom!!), and made the whole meal more about conversation and laughter with my friends. I think a soft steamed or grilled fish would be perfect. Take your time, enjoy your friends, and don't be self-conscious. If you don't make a big thing of it, chances are nobody will notice a thing. Good luck, and have fun!!

Hi Cherie - I sent you an e-mail and would be happy to talk to you about Dr. Wellborn. I'm so pleased with him and his approach to lap band surgery and the aftercare.

Hiya Shonette - I accidentally deleted your message to me, but not before just glimpsing your name. Sometimes my fingers get carried away! Would you please resend your message? I promise I'll read it this time! : )

Big hearts feel the weight of the world sometimes. We are reminded of all our blessings during times like this. Thank you for posting about Haiti, and the sorrow that so many feel right now -- it puts our lives in perspective, that's for sure.

You're so close, you can see Onederland on the next street over!! Good for you! It always seems that I stall out a little right at the even ten-pound markers. Maybe it's just because I watch my weight more closely around that time because I'm excited. LOL - that's probably it - I never really thought about that before. ANYWAY, Big congratulations on loose clothes, feeling younger ... and good luck on self-image! That's one I imagine most of us have to continue to work on -- shedding the fat girl image in our heads! I definitely don't want to get down to my goal weight and still feel like I'm still carrying all that extra weight!!

I'm one-half pound from being overweight! Most people wouldn't understand why I'm doing the happy dance over that one, eh? Making the move from the "Obese" BMI to "Overweight" BMI is a great milestone I'm looking forward to passing. Come on, ol' girl - keep moving! Holy cow - I'm so excited about this move that I can't imagine moving from "Overweight" to "Normal" BMI. Really? Normal? That just doesn't even seem a reality for me. Need to do a little "head band" work in the meantime, I can see! Thank you guys for all the supportive posts, and sharing your stories. I love this forum! ArkansasBandster 180.4

I'm one-half pound from being overweight! Most people wouldn't understand why I'm doing the happy dance over that one, eh? Making the move from the "Obese" BMI to "Overweight" BMI is a great milestone I'm looking forward to passing. Come on, ol' girl - keep moving! Holy cow - I'm so excited about this move that I can't imagine moving from "Overweight" to "Normal" BMI. Really? Normal? That just doesn't even seem a reality for me. Need to do a little "head band" work in the meantime, I can see! Thank you guys for all the supportive posts, and sharing your stories. I love this forum! ArkansasBandster 180.4

I LOVE IT! The whole head-band work is just crucial. Like you, I've been up and down in weight so many times, every change feels like a very familiar, and temporary stage. Your blog reminds me to enjoy this weight, and start to know in my heart that it'll be the last time I see it - so thanks!!

My doctor takes it very slow, too -- and I'm really GRATEFUL!! It does suck about the driving time (mine is exactly the same as yours) -- but in the long run, it will be way better. Imagine having to make that same trip to go get an unfill because you're stuck. What my small fills are doing for me is helping me realize that my band doesn't do all the work for me -- I have a responsibility to exercise and try to make good food choices, but I'm surprised that it does jump up and remind me not to WAY overdo it! I learned a good lesson on that last week. Even though I thought I didn't have restriction -- surprise, surprise -- I did! Had my first slime episode, and learned that it IS definitely down there working for me even though I thought I was wide open (my fill was scheduled for the first of December, I could not make that one, and now the doctor is gone for the whole month of December - ack!! Larning good lessons this month.) Anyway, sorry you're so frustrated (and big bummer about your doctor's bedside manner - that sux), but just keep putting one foot in front of the other and doing your best. You can do this! Try to see that you're much better off being filled slowly than getting into the puking / eating slider foods / relying on protein shakes thing that so many bandsters have to go through. This is for life - hang in there. You'll soon be feeling plenty of restriction.

I LOVE my ab circle thingy! It's a good addition to a more overall cardio workout. I do it at the end of my workout, and do 5 minutes on it right now (I just got it a few weeks ago). The reason I'm only doing 5 minutes on it is only because it REALLY stretches my lower back. I've gotten very stiff over the past couple of years, and I feel this is just a great exercise for that, if nothing else! So I'm taking it easy on working up my minutes, though - because of the back soreness the day after. I'm not sure what fitness level you're at. If you have been pretty sedentary, it may actually be a good aerobic workout for you. For me, I've worked out all through my life, so I really have to get after it for quite a while for it to "make me sweat". But I love it for what it is - you may, too!

I was banded August 11, and vacationed at Playa del Carmen at an all-inclusive resort the first part of November. I actually ended up losing weight that week - 1/2 pound! The food was like being on a cruise -- all you could ever want all the time. I did what your plan is -- I tried to first grab the good protein (which, for me, was the shrimp -- LOVED it!!), and then really just ate a little bit of anything else I wanted. I was so surprised when what I wanted wasn't plateful after plateful! I ate reasonably, I didn't ration myself or feel deprived, I focused on my friends and the great fun we were having, and walked the beaches a lot! It was the first time I ever ate like what I think a normal personal would eat, and it was just awesome to feel that way. I didn't think of it as a "slip" when I enjoyed what I wanted. That kind of thinking has always gotten me into a heap of trouble - good food vs. bad food = good person vs. bad person. Nothing was off-limits, but I just took my time and enjoyed every bite. If something wasn't as good as I thought it would be, I didn't finish it. I went back and found something else that I really loved, so I didn't spend calories on things that didn't thrill me. : ) You'll do great - and enjoy yourself in Cozumel!! I'm jealous, and I'm ready to go back!! : )

I had something like that with one of my other incisions, and I was sure I'd ripped them out -- like you, I felt it rip and pull from inside. It hurt like heck for a few days, and when I talked to my doctor about it, he had said the scar tissue underneath kind of tears apart and aligns more "crosshatch" than lined up in a straight row. Everything was fine after that - so glad I didn't tear anything (I was exercising very strenuously when that happened). BUT, it wasn't at my port site. Weird that your nurse said she could feel something run up your stomach, but then said you could wait until the 28th. Hmmm... Please let us know what the doctor says when you go in. In the meantime, I'm sure you're going to be taking it extra easy with the stretching and bending. Good luck to you!

Thanks, girls - the whole thing is we just all gotta find something that we love. GREAT about the music, dancing, singing (too funny, Kathy - I'll bet Simon Cowell would love ya'!)