Hey all.

So there's a bunch of us in this group, all split up into our different banding days. I was thinking that it might be a good idea to have one master thread as we move through the month, in which all of us could post as we go, from the pioneers going on March 1st to the finalists on March 31st.

I'd love to talk about our anticipation and any worries as we approach our banding date, for people to talk about exactly what happened from the moment they walked into the hospital door until the second they walked out, about how recovery is going, about weight loss and plateaus, about non-scale victories and challenges.

I was thinking that if we all contribute to one thread, it'll form a more substantial channel for information and support. At the moment, I was thinking that we might be too spread out into individual date, and that a central thread would be a really good backbone for the group, in addition to the date-specific threads.

What do you think?

Fenton

I feel alot better today, (no work) and Christine maybe you are right and my shoulder/neck pain might be tension, so far so good today. Took the grandsons to the movie today to see "Horton Hears a Who" and was surrounded by hundreds of three thru nine year olds all with popcorn and drinks. I did good, drank my protein water and watched the movie. Afterwards we went to McDonald's for Happy Meals, I came home and had a FF pudding cup. Tonight for dinner DH, DS, and I went to a Chinese rest. and I had a cup of Hot and Spicy (strained) soup. I'm not hungry but would love to taste.....

Went out to dinner tonight with DH. My mom was babysitting while we had our taxes done and I could not resist taking advantage...we never get out without kids. We went to a resturaunt that I really enjoy. It was hard passing on the bread bowl filled with tasty treats.

I ordered a chicken tortellini soup and had them blend it so there were no lumps and it was thin. I just explained that I recently had surgery. (Did not say what kind of surgery) I loved having the flavors of the soup, but definatly missed the textures. It was great to have something a little different.

I ate less than half of it and was full. I also had a half a cup of unsweetened ice tea. It's the first time I realised that when I am past this first month, I won't be really ordering drinks when I go out to eat. What's the point if you have to stop 20min before eating and stall for 1 hour after.

This really is just a short healing phase and in a few months we will hardly remember all these liquids. DH has been pretty amazed at how little intake I have had since surgery. I think we'll definatly be saving money on food!

Christine

Oh, GREAT, Amanda! NOW you tell us about liquid bandage!!!

Yes, me too, I was scrubbing the steri strips glue gunk with alcohol and not having much luck getting it off --- I was even tempted to get my all time favorite product out "Goo Gone" and use it but I didn't want to put chemicals near my incision...just kidding I know not to do this really.

I'll be heading to CVS tomorrow for liquid bandage. Thanks.

So I checked my weight again today, and was down another 3 lbs - the bump and plateau seems to have finished for the time being. Yay. I wonder when it'll come back again.

I feel like I'm really in the groove of weight loss, now. I know that much of it is the residual restriction caused by my banding, but that's three weeks ago now, and I'm making decisions like NOT to have a mini hot chocolate, or NOT to have a dessert. Because I'm in the weight loss groove.

Why can't it always be like this?

Last week, I had to do a photo shoot. I should explain that I have a bizarre mix of different careers, one of which is writing. My first novel came out in the US in November, and next month, it comes out in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Italy and Holland (and, eventually, Bulgaria). I'm being profiled in a British magazine, and they sent a photographer, and I spent the afternoon with him striking poses.

Now, every second of every day, I'm acutely aware of my size; to have to be posing for this guy, and knowing that his photos would be broadcast across the United Kingdom (and be seen by some people who knew me when I was thinner - second confession: I'm English) was kind of excruciating.

I wish that there was some way to slow time down on some things (book tours, photo shoots, TV appearances) and speed them up on others (the whole weight loss journey), so that I could present a better self to the world.

I know there's nothing intrinsically wrong with me - or with being overweight - but I doubt that I'm the only person here who feels acutely self-conscious, and who'd rather hide until it all goes away. When my next book comes out in 2009, I'm going to be a lot slimmer, with more energy and more self-confidence; I'm really looking forward to selling the hell out of that book!

I put ice and a chocolate shake in my blender with some instant coffee, and a little bit of International Delight SF french vanilla coffee.. MMMM.. It was the best.. It tasted like a Dunkin' Donuts coffee coolatta:)

Oh no! I will have to try this. I lived on Coffee Coolatta's for the better part of a year until someone pointed out that I was not addicted to the coffee -- it was the sugar! :thumbup: Oh, but how I loved them. :w00t:

My first novel came out in the US in November, and next month, it comes out in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Italy and Holland (and, eventually, Bulgaria).

Okay, dish now, Fenton. What's the name of your book?!

Hello all - I got banded on March 21st and I am doing really well. My only complaint is being tired.... I hope I don't fall asleep at work on Monday because I have become a supreme napper. I am doing good with my walking and Protein and Water and feel no restriction of any kind.... but I am still following the rules because I want to heal properly. I hope all of you March banders are doing good. I am down 11 pounds since surgery. I see it in my face and shoulder area - I bet at work they think I will come in skinny LOL

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Banded March 21,2008

Doctor Burritt Haag III :thumbup:

Where Baystate Medical Center Springfield MA USA

Edited March 30, 200818 yr by sueangel
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So I checked my weight again today, and was down another 3 lbs - the bump and plateau seems to have finished for the time being. Yay. I wonder when it'll come back again.

I feel like I'm really in the groove of weight loss, now. I know that much of it is the residual restriction caused by my banding, but that's three weeks ago now, and I'm making decisions like NOT to have a mini hot chocolate, or NOT to have a dessert. Because I'm in the weight loss groove.

Why can't it always be like this?

Last week, I had to do a photo shoot. I should explain that I have a bizarre mix of different careers, one of which is writing. My first novel came out in the US in November, and next month, it comes out in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Italy and Holland (and, eventually, Bulgaria). I'm being profiled in a British magazine, and they sent a photographer, and I spent the afternoon with him striking poses.

Now, every second of every day, I'm acutely aware of my size; to have to be posing for this guy, and knowing that his photos would be broadcast across the United Kingdom (and be seen by some people who knew me when I was thinner - second confession: I'm English) was kind of excruciating.

I wish that there was some way to slow time down on some things (book tours, photo shoots, TV appearances) and speed them up on others (the whole weight loss journey), so that I could present a better self to the world.

I know there's nothing intrinsically wrong with me - or with being overweight - but I doubt that I'm the only person here who feels acutely self-conscious, and who'd rather hide until it all goes away. When my next book comes out in 2009, I'm going to be a lot slimmer, with more energy and more self-confidence; I'm really looking forward to selling the hell out of that book!

Congrats on the book!

We all are very proud of you. Your publisher will just have to redo your picture on the second printing. We love you just the way you are and so will they.

Donna

My first novel came out in the US in November, and next month, it comes out in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Italy and Holland (and, eventually, Bulgaria).

Fenton, you have been holding back on us!! I thought you were a food critic or something on that level. I love a good book so give us a title!!

Wait! I SO don't want to derail the thread!

Thanks for your interest, guys. I'm happy to talk about my book in private messages, but it's not part of our weight loss thread!

sueangel - I know what you mean about colleague's expectations! They want to see weight loss, and FAST, dammit!

I think you'll find you have more restriction than you think - that you won't feel as hungry as you used to. And that healing stuff is KEY: if you play loose with the rules, you run a much higher risk of having your band slip, and needing to have surgery again.

Busy - yes, I've been a food writer for more than a decade. But, as I said, I have a weird mix of careers.

Fenton - I truly am not hungry - which is shocking my children... they are used to their mother falling off into the potato chip bag after trying to diet for just a couple of days. I am so glad that I am not hungry!

Oh, GREAT, Amanda! NOW you tell us about liquid bandage!!!

I did post it on another thread I guess I forgot it here.