bandiva

Hi Cloe! Just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you! Hope all is well.

Hi Laura, I live in Victoria as well. I was just banded in Dec. There are a couple links for support for weight loss surgery patients that I will send you if you private message me. As far as good 'professional' counsellors I don't know. Maybe ask your GP. There are a few community based counselling centres depending on what area of town you live it. Good luck on your journey...I am happy to meet someone else from Victoria.

Thanks Audree, and congrats on your clothes feeling looser. I used to feel like a slob because my clothes were too tight, now I feel like a slob cause my clothes are too loose! But I'm lovin it! I had trouble getting my calories in for the first couple weeks as well. Just make sure you are taking Vitamins and getting enough liquids so you don't get sick! (Nag Nag). I can't wait till you weigh yourself...it will be very exciting. I got Tom today so I am going to try not to weigh for a week. I usually weigh daily. I leave on Sunday for my fill! Yippee! Shopping AND restriction...sounds like heaven to me.

Yasmina, good for you. Best of luck breaking the news. Just remember that ultimately it WAS your decision and you have the right to keep it as private or as public as you chose to.

First of all, you are right, you are not a freak, you are going through what we all go through at one point. I think the only advice I have on how to deal with stress is counselling and exercise. Maybe talking to a friend who has been there, or allowing yourself to really FEEL your feelings and be mad, sad, angry, etc if that is what you are feeling. I don't for a minute think that you are a suck or that you should get over yourself. That is so far from the truth. You are having to deal with huge issues without your 'coping' factor of food. It sounds to me line you are very insightful and caring. I loved what you said about being a junkie getting a fix...I was there yesterday as well. What you said really brings me clarity on that issue. As for your daughter, I don't know what to say. You must be heartbroken. It is so hard to let go and let them live thier lives and make their own mistakes. I feel like I am failing my kids if I see a train coming but can't pull them off the tracks in time. My only advice is that we all do things in our own unique way, and that includes out kids. My oldest quit school and made some self destructive decisions even though I begged him not to. I realized that the tradition of going to school, finishing in 12 years, going to college, getting married etc is just a big checklist society has imposed on us. Some of us will do it all, but in a different order, and others will stop and start a few times. In the end, we all get to where we were intended to get. (By the way, my son is doing awesome now)With my son, I tried to always give him support and tell him that he was loved, and that even though I don't agree with his decisions I still love and support him. But you know all this. I am sure your daughter knows she is loved. She is just going through her 'thing' right now. We don't know why things happen the way they do. Learning to let go is the hardest part for me. I hope this encourages you. BTW, I moved out at 15, I dropped out of school 3 times before I finished, got pregnant at 18, married a DIFFERENT guy 6 months later after only knowing him for 14 weeks, got divorced 8 months later at the ripe old age of 20. I then finished school, worked in the days, went to college/university at night, remarried, had my second son, divorced again, raised my children alone. Now they are grown and when I look back I wouldn't change a thing. It must have broken my parents hearts to see me choose such a difficult path for myself, but the blessings have been huge. It probably doesn't sound like it, but really they have been. My family is very proud of me. My life is something I am proud of, and I value my relationships becuase I know how precious they really are. You just never know how things are intended to work out. Huge hugs to you. I hope this helps.

I ate a bit too much and didn't exercise yesterday...can anyone say sabatoge...Anyways, I am not beating myself up, today is a new day and I am feeling a lot better mentally than I was a few days ago. I have been thinking about all the things in my life that I am thankful for and it has really been an eye-opener for me. Sometimes I get stuck in the long hours, and watching what I eat, and cleaning the house etc blues, but in the big picture I am really blessed. My parents and children are happy and healthy and loved. I am so thankful for that. I want to see if I can stay the whole day in this mode...just thinking about what I am thankful for, and not what I want of wish I had. Have a fantastic day everyone. I am thankful for all of you!

Hi Heather. Yoda was right, we don't bite, although I don't guarentee sanity...but if you have been lurking you know this already. You must be getting so excited. I hope you and astrotoes get a chance to meet. Congrats on your date.

:sickYoda, I hope today is a better day! :kiss2:

Congrats everyone. You inspire me so much. Whenever I read this thread it makes me believe I can do it too! Thanks for that!

LBT has been a huge help to me and I don't know what I would have done without it. It has helped me see that my feelings are normal. Having said that, I have also had times when I felt bad becuase I didn't feel like I belonged or fit in with the people on my 'monthly' chat, and I wish to God that I had never read that the band isn't really working until you have had your first fill. Whether or not the above things are true, they really got me down. I also started eating soft foods a week early because 'everyone else' was eating soft foods way before me. (However, I did listen to my Dr. and wait 3 weeks before exercising. lol) Good question.

he he he he:heh:

13-3 miiles in 50 min 14-30 min 15-nothing 16-10 min walk outside 17-10 min walk on treadmill

13-3 miiles in 50 min 14-30 min 15-nothing 16-10 min walk outside 17-10 min walk on treadmill

My scale went down one pound! Yippee! By the way, I stumbled onto something I think is quite clever...I went to have some Cereal this morning and there were no clean bowls. (Kids!) So I put my cereal in my measuring cup and I could actually measure how much I was getting. Then when I added the milk and ate it, most of the milk stayed in the cup because I couldn't scoop it up, thus making my liquidy Breakfast more of a solid. I may be on to something here, because I will be the first to admit the whole portion thing is a little screwy in my head. Enjoy your day everyone!

Wll here we are...the next day...and guess what song was in my head when I jwoke up. I think I may have to boycott this thread! Maybe that 'hands in my pocket' commercial will come on and wipe out dear delta. Have a great day everyone!

Hi Yoda...gurgling...mine did it quite often post op...sounded like a big empty echo...a little embarassing, but it went away. I do still get it sometimes when I first lie down. Glad to hear (on my thread) that you are doing better and losing losing losing! Good for you!

Audree-I think my original restriction was swelling. I went out for dinner tonight. I had a reuben sandwich. Ate 1/2 and felt full so I stopped. Then i was talking to my friend and i looked down and I had eaten most of the other half without even knowing it. I definately need to re-learn to eat and to start listening to my body and being conscious of what is going in my mouth. BTW, saw your scar pictures. Mine are doing great...I have cat scratches bigger than them! xox

I went to the coffee meeting! Yippee for me. I was a little out of my comfort zone, but it worked out fine. There was a baby there so I was able to keep myself from feeling uncomfortable by adoring his cute little face! One of the ladies had lost 100 pounds as of today...she had bypass surgery in May. Wow. I was the only bandster there (there was just 4 people there...not counting baby!) I am happy to have the band as it was the best decision for me...no regrets. I am very proud of myself for going. I think it is important for me to build a support system here. At work I am very outgoing and warm and fuzzy, but outside of my uniform social situations freak me out a little. Thanks Yoda for all the advice for both myself and baby got back...I adore you! MMMwwwwaaaa. Thanks so much. Experience really is the best teacher.

Just wanted to say a THANKS YOU GUYS! (Grrr.) I have had that song stuck in my head all day! And just so you know, people look at you weird when you just start randomly singing or humming it. All the folks around town were definately saying I was crazy....you all make me smile...

In was that child/teenager too. And I tried suicide. It is so hard to be different at that age. I felt like a freak and that I didn't fit in anywhere. The day I had my surgery Dr. Ortiz was banding a teenager. Both parents were there with her, and they all seemed very happy with the decision. Maybe by having something positive to look forward to, and starting to lose weight and feeling better about herself physically, it will give her the strength, courage, and self confidence to deal with the mental issues she is going through. My heart goes out to you. I am glad she has a mom who is so willing to be part of the solution, and that you are not focussing on the negative or ignoring that there is an issue. God Bless.

Oh Ya! I forgot to mention that I am going to an unofficial support group get together this morning. It is for people in the area who have had WLS. I am posting this here, because the devil on my shoulder is telling me to stay home (I have become a little anti-social) but I am trying to make myself go. So, now that I have told you about it, I better go!

Hi Yoda, thanks for the encouragement. I know I am just going through a 'thing' right now, but it doesn't make it any easier. I feel like I am doing my part of the 'work' by excercising almost daily and eating well. Maybe I need to food journal to make sure I am not eating more than I think I am. I won't let it get me down for long though, I know this is just a stage...part of the process...and I am sure it will happen a few more times on this journey. It's just hard to be positive when you are in the middle of a stall! I just keep telling myself to keep doing things right, and this too shall pass. Oh ya, on the China trip...I think I am going Jan 30th. Hubby is coming as well. I am about 85% sure it will happen, I just have to wait on my friend getting his work schedule, and we will be flying stand-by so there are no guarentees. I am not getting my hopes up yet, just going to take it one day at a time...in the mean time I have been reading up on shopping in Shanghia...sounds like a unique experience! I leave Sunday for my fill. I am very happy about that. I am going to email them to see if I can meet with the nutritionist at that time as well. Have a fabulous day everyone! Thanks for checking in on me! Victoria

Still stuck. I was bad today and ate some icecream. Starting to get a little down, but trying not to let my head get to me. I get my fill on Monday, so I will just count on that working and helping me get unstuck. I haven't lost anything since Jan 2...gained a couple and lost a couple...so still the same.

30 min treadmill. Had too much food for supper for staff party. Lots of resptriciton in the am.

30 min treadmill. Had too much food for supper for staff party. Lots of resptriciton in the am.