I was banded in Mississauga (Toronto) on December 18th, 2014. I am 11 weeks post-op and down 37 pounds.

It may not be a ton of weight lost, but its all gone, gone gone forever, and I am losing slow and steady. As I lay in bed last night, I touched my ribs (I have ribs?!) and reflected on how things have changed for me since being banded two and a half months ago.

I realized last night that I am totally, completely, madly in love with my band. Here's why:

• My size 22 pants fall down to my ankles if I don't wear a belt.
• Even when I do wear a belt, my size 22 pants look like I'm wearing a parachute.
• I can put on my "old" jeans without unzipping/unbuttoning the fly.
• My tummy scars are a proud (and only slightly scary) red/purple, and serve to remind me every day of the commitment I've made to myself.
• My College students talk about me when they think I have my back turned/can't hear them and say things like "Damn, she's looking GOOD".
• I no longer have to use a "bath sheet" sized towel. A regular sized one wraps around my bod, thanks very much.
• I am no longer winded when I climb a set of stairs.
• People at work tell me hair looks AMAZING. What they are actually saying doing is choosing my hair as the way to give me a "YOU LOOK AMAZING!" compliment without verbalizing my obvious weight loss. This gives me JOY.
• I can no longer feel my thighs pressing against the sides of my office chair.
• Truth: In the shower, I no longer have to lift stuff up to wash other stuff. Seriously.
• When I get up to pee in the middle of the night there is no pain in my body. Anywhere. The aches are gone.
• My favourite LL Bean down jacket from before I chubbed out FITS ME and I can zip it up easily.
• I proctored an exam the other day sitting cross-legged on a desk.
• My herniated disc (due to obesity) has resolved. I can now roll over in bed pain-free.
• I can sleep on my stomach again. This is also something that gives me JOY.
• I sat on the floor with a group of students the other day, and realized I had gotten up again with absolutely NO EFFORT.
• I can chug water! I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do this after being banded. (It's the little things...)
• I have been watching my cheekbones emerge. Wow.
• Our grocery bill has gone down dramatically. I eat 1/3 (if that) of what I used to eat. My husband says with the grocery money saved since being banded we could buy a cottage in Muskoka. (lol!)
• Speaking of my husband, I weigh less than him for the first time in a decade.
• And more about my husband: I've noticed him touching my bum. A lot. And smooching me up. And hugging me close. He's proud, I can tell.
• My band gently (and sometimes not-so-gently) reminds me to slow down when I eat. Thank you, dear band.
• I have learned what freedom from the hunger monster feels like, and MAN OH MAN is that ever sa-weet.
• I have a constant backdrop of satiety. I no longer think about, or worry about, my next meal. Love those band adjustments!
• I am looking forward to getting into my MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op - the Canadian version of "REI") 'Rad Pants' I've kept from 1994. They are red, they are a size 10. The summer is almost here and with it comes a canoe-trip. I will be wearing those pants.
• I feel like a I have a new lease on life. Woo hoo!

It's okay to stall. It's ok to have the occasional chocolate banana fritter. (Whoops - damn it was good). I am in a love affair with my band, but more importantly, with myself.

THIS is why I am in love with my band.

Happy happy!

I started on liquid Vitamins yesterday thats what the dietician told me to do actually its banana mango and orange flavors!

My gas pain is still radiating through my shoulders which is horrid hopefully it goes soon.

Havent used my bowels yet and have taken bowel aids that the hospital sent me home with.

I have received the list already

So good to hear from you! It sounds like you are doing everything right. The gas pains are the worst! It just feels like your body is on edge and you can't do anything to fix it. My left shoulder bothered me the worst but don't worry it all goes away soon. So let's talk about exiting stuff. What do you want your goal weight to be? How much do you weigh now and how tall are you? What do you want your clothes size to be! I know we all do it to be healthy but looking better is part of the fun too!

Havent even thought about any goal weight just yet? As long as i feel comfy and healthy that's my main goal.

How long ago were you banded? Did you set goals for yourself?

I was 96kg when the pre op diet started and am now 89kg.

Me too my goal was as long as I felt healthy and my body didn't hurt. I was banded a little over a year and a half. My doctor originally said my goal should be 100 pounds and that would be my final goal of 175. However I've already lost more than that already. I just take it one day at a time. Now I don't know what my goal will be I think I'll be good at 155 but a tone 155. Now I just need to hit the gym and build muscle.

Woo - I love reading these posts. It's such an amazing thing to be able to monitor our own bodies and know when we can and cannot lose weight... when I've had a week in which I've eaten more than I should, I know exactly what I need to do in order to kick-start the weight loss again.

I bow down to the band - she is my great teacher!

Love these replies!!!!

hi there

Am off to dietician next week to move onto mushie food stage. in all honesty i feel like i havent had surgery which is great! All medical gas pain has gone and i have had no problems. wish i was having my first fill sooner

Patience, dear Bel1995, patience!

I know you are eager to make things happen... trust in the process. I recommend you take it one day at a time, and let your band 'settle'. I didn't have my first fill until 7 weeks after my surgery. I had loads of time to heal up and let my band settle in.

Since then I have had 7 fills. I reached the green zone in October (4 months ago) and have not needed a fill since.

JOY!

Am taking it day by day - Have my dietician appointment and follow up specialist appt this week

Hi everyone

Is it normal to feel like i havent been banded at all? Am 2 days away from solids. Havent had any problems at all with food or drinks Actually i am hungry! First fill is in two weeks.

Yes indeed - perfectly normal. When you were banded, your surgeon started you out by placing only the tiniest amount of Fluid in the band to accommodate the swelling at the placement site (at the bottom of your esophagus/top of your stomach).

In a few weeks you will have your first adjustment (for many Bandsters its about 6 weeks post-surgery). By then the majority of the swelling has disappeared, your band has settled into it's new home, and you are ready for some fluid!

To place the band already filled would not allow you to eat, drink or heal properly.

CONGRATULATIONS @@bel1995 - you are on your way! Be patient and trust the process. It took me 7 fills to reach the "green zone" and was worth every bit of my patience. Not rushing the process along bolsters your success!

Thank you so much for your reply!

I am.abit worried if i have stretched my pouch as i have eaten a cup at a time instead of half a cup.

Other than that all is feeling well

If you're not on solids yet, what could you have stretched your pouch with?

I suspect your nutritionist or surgeon would suggest it's a better idea to have a few 1/2 cup servings spaced apart than one bigger 1-cup serving.

Some advice from someone who was where you are just over a year ago - start getting into those new Band-friendly eating habits NOW (ie; the half cup portion size, small bites, eating sloooooowly, stopping eating before you become 'full') ... so that you can really get them ingrained.

Glad to hear you are feeling well!

Thanks for your reply. With eati g one cup of mushie food instead of half a cup. I ate very slowly and chewed very well