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

AMEN to ridding temptation!

I made my daughter stash everything in her room......it scares me to go in there so I know I won't forage for it!

Today is day 12 since surgery. Feeling really really great, BUT oh has bandster hell hit me too. Last night, supper was 10 mexican chips with hot sauce and small bowl of pinto Beans, then an hour later a handful of mm's. I know - I have beat myself of terribly this morning. Gonna do the right thing. It is hard though because I am not feeling a lot of restriction. First fill will be April 30th. No more cheating - back on right path today!!!

sheez.........no one said this is gonna be easy......

(I guess one positive - at least I didnt eat a pound of mm's and the whole basket of chips!!!!)

Exactly Karen, I think it is a big accomplishment to not eat the whole bag! I had one Cadburry chocolate egg yesterday. I look forward to those eggs all year. I've had one or two before yesterday but I finally loaded all the candy up and took it to work. I'm amazed that I do feel guilty about eating it now. I had gotten to the point that I never even thought about what I was eating. The office had birthday cake yesterday and I passed that up. Before the band it would have been a piece in the morning, a piece at lunch and one in the afternoon! I guess what I'm trying to say is that the band didn't magically change my habits, but it has made me acutely aware of them so that I can work to change them. I'm down 21 lbs today!!!!

Christine! Speak to us! Tell us how you're doing!

I'm imagining you sitting under a tree, gazing off wistfully over the ocean towards the horizon, twisting your damp lace handkerchief distractedly...

Edited April 5, 200818 yr by Fenton

Why thank you!!! You just made my day. :frown::tt1:

Lise - your blog is FANTASTIC! I'm going to refer anyone who asks about the band to it. Upbeat, very active, lots to look at and think about. And CONGRATS on the weight loss!

Hi Everyone!

About the body bugg.. I'm getting one to Celebrate my 40 lbs weight loss (when I get there!) If you watch biggest losers you will see the contestants all wear one on their arm. I'm excited because the watch has a pedometer and I'm dying to know how many steps I take at work.

Something I found out today....and i think everyone should reward themselves the same way! I get a monthly hot stone massage, and my appointment was today. I had thought about rescheduling since my surgery was only last week, but went anyway. My girl is amazing she has an oil for everything!! She knew I was getting the surgery, so she asked if I was in pain anywhere. I told her about that dang port site being a bit of a kick in the side especially when sitting. She said it sounds like the gas is lingering over there.

So she got her special oils out and included a bit of a stomach massage in with my regular massage. She said to do this at home as well to really get that gas moving around. On the ride home not a single stich of pain!! I'm feeling as good as I did before the surgery. If anyone lives in Utah and wants her number send me a PM. She's amazing!!!!

HEY....what part of Utah are you from?

I'm up north, by Ogden......

I found some info on the AP band which I found I have and I have read others also have. Thought this might be helpful.

Allergan/Inamed has a new band in the US called the AP band.

AP stands for Advanced Platform.

There are a couple of differences in this band and the previous ones:

1. Cuff - the cuff on the AP band is 360 degrees around, as opposed to about 300 degrees on the prior bands (there was no cuff around the buckle on the old ones)

2. Cuff length - the cuff on the AP band is 18mm longer/taller than on the previous bands, so the surface area in contact with the stomach is much greater, hopefully increasing the speed of weight loss and maybe reducing the risk of slips

3. Cuff volume - the AP small holds 10cc, the AP large holds 14cc

Note that we do not believe that AP patients will lose MORE weight, just possibly faster. So those of you with the older models, it would definitely not be to your benefit to think about having your band swapped out!

· They are either APS (small, 10cc) or APL (large, 14cc).

· They are considered by some to be "the next generation in AGBs".

· They are considered less likely to cause blockage or obstruction than other AGP types.

· They are considered less likely to slip than other AGP types.

· They are considered to be less likely to cause band erosion than other AGP types.

· Like the VG band it is "Omniform" technology - i.e. the balloon has ribs or baffles and the band itself is curved.

· The AP has more of a 360 inflation around the stomach as opposed to the 10cm or 9.75cm (4cc) bands, which have more like 260 or 280 degrees inflation (the rest being the buckle), and the VG which has more like 280 or 300. It is understood that this was simply an upgrade to the existing band to make it easier and less traumatic to remove.

· The silicone material is much softer than other AGP types.

· They are more concentric (rounded) when inflated than other AGB types.

· The balloon is pleated to 'grip' the stomach better.

· The balloon goes all the way around the inner surface of the band, rather than missing a piece at the locking mechanism.

· The balloon is wider.

· They have an easier release mechanism to remove the band if need be.

· They have the locking mechanism isolated from the stomach.

· AP type bands have been FDA approved for the US, but will not be available until the summer at the earliest.

· We understand that there are NO plans at this time to discontinue any of the bands Allergan already makes. They still plan to manufacture and offer the 10cm and the 9.75cm (the 4cc) bands as well as the VG band.

· new : AP ( Advanced Platform )

· APS ( small)

· APL ( large )

down in Sandy..... my massage girl is in Salt Lake....

down in Sandy..... my massage girl is in Salt Lake....

cool, cool!

Where did you have your surgery?

We have a couple of really nice spas that I go to on occasion....actually went the night before my surgery for a nice massage.....but certainly another one after wouldn't be out of line......perhaps my 20 pound reward?

Thank you guys so much for your support. I am so relieved to have posted about my "hidden eating". This used to be a huge problem for me. In fact, I failed the psychological testing part of the pre-op procedure and had to take time to get help with what they feared might be an eating disorder. I worked hard and got it under control. My biggest issue was I did not like to eat around people. I would "sneak" everything. I would not eat anything and then eat everything in secret. I felt I was fat and therefore did not deserve to eat anything.

I have gotten out my program and started re-reading a book that really helped. Posting my cheats here was HUGE for me because I was feeling really horrible about it.

It's done. Just because I stumbled on the path does not mean I have to throw myself down and give up.

Thanks for the support!

Christine

Thank you guys so much for your support. I am so relieved to have posted about my "hidden eating". This used to be a huge problem for me. In fact, I failed the psychological testing part of the pre-op procedure and had to take time to get help with what they feared might be an eating disorder. I worked hard and got it under control. My biggest issue was I did not like to eat around people. I would "sneak" everything. I felt I was fat and therefore did not deserve to eat anything.

I have gotten out my program and started re-reading a book that really helped. Posting my cheats here was HUGE for me because I was feeling really horrible about it.

It's done. Just because I stumbled on the path does not mean I have to throw myself down and give up.

Thanks for the support!

Christine

That is so good to hear, Christine! You are on your way! Don't forget to lean on the Shamrockers when you need it. We're here for one another and we will see this through together. :tt1:

Thanks for being so honest with us, Christine! It takes a lot of courage to step up like that. Just remember, we're all here for you anytime... :tt1:

Well shamrocks, I need some help. I'm 17 days post op and it feels like longer. I'm still on mushies and want to eat regular food so bad. I've done my fair share of cheating. Mine isn't candy, but it's a fench fry here and a chip there. Yesterday, I stopped and got 2 white castle cheeseburgers, but only ate a half of one, because I started to feel bad.

As far as restriction, I dont think I have any. I think I'm to the point to where I just stop eating because I know I'm not supposed to eat a lot. I'm not a cooker, so the only thing I've been eating for mushies other than Soup is mashed potatoes. I eat them once a day, then I snack on 2% cheese and saltine crackers. This is probably why I've gained 5 pounds.

I've finally gotten my Vitamin intake and Protein intake down. Still eating under 900 calories a day. Since I've been walking for my workout, that makes me net any where from 300-500 calories. I'm trying not to get depressed. I think once I'm able to eat regular food...like meat and salad, I will be able to loose weight again. I am really looking into buying the body bugg. I'm gonna try to get it off ebay.

Christine! You're hardly the only person here who's eaten in secret! I used to drop my girlfriend home early after a nice dinner out so that I could stop by the store and buy Twixes and ice cream to scarf down. And one of the cleanest signs of real alcoholism is the habit of drinking by yourself in secret, and hiding bottles.

So don't hold back: NO SHAME! You're among equals.

We're all of us in the same boat - you, me, any number of the women in here. And we're all going down together!

Well, uh, that's not EXACTLY what I meant to say, but you know what I mean: NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND!

Keep posting, and we'll keep checking in on you.

It might be an idea for you to start a food journal, if you're not doing it already. Really track your intake, so it doesn't start to sneak away from you. And be brutally honest. Perhaps watching yourself write down "1 pint of Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia, 1400 calories, 30 g Protein, 8,000 g fat" will help underline what we do to ourselves when we "cheat".