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

The binge thing is a hard thing - it's my main reason for being here. For me, it always went hand in hand with the All or None thing - either I was being incredibly disciplined about controlling my eating, or else I'd commit some trivial sin - eat a stick of a Kit Kat bar or something - and the next thing you know, I'd be slamming down whatever I could find, since "I'd already broken my diet anyway".

As Jack says, the band is a tool to help us relearn how to eat right. The fact is, I've had my abdomen cut open and my plumbing altered. I can't let myself mess up - that was a BIG deal.

So I find myself looking at what I'm eating, and asking myself if it was OK. I've had some higher calorie days, but what has worried me more were the higher volume days - I had two beef short rib enchiladas the other evening. The calorie count was, I think, 460, but they seemd large, and I felt overfull and worried that I'd stretched my pouch. And then the next day I felt hungry, which is why I'm back on liquids too.

The thing is, it's hard. It's a hard process, and, for me, a very long one. We have no choice but to keep on going. And temptation isn't going to stop me, even if I yield to it. That was one day, every day is a battle, but the war will take years, and I'm NOT going to lose that.

So, what I'm saying is:

NO REGRETS!!!

If you screw up, you screw up. Just get back up on the damn horse...

So, what I'm saying is:

NO REGRETS!!!

If you screw up, you screw up. Just get back up on the damn horse...

Can I get an AMEN for Fenton??!!??

As much as we'd like to have a rewind button.....there just isn't such a thing....all we can do is move forward.

I've tended to be one of those "F*ck it, I've already blown it" kind of people as well.....but like you say, that just isn't an option anymore....esp for me as a self-pay.....I've got pain, hardware and seriousl cash tied up in my guts......I have no choice but to go forward!

AMEN!!

Moving forward, forgetting the dang baked apples I overloaded on last night. Moving right along.

Christine

Diva, I'm doing the happy dance for your and calling it additional exercise. Congrats on seeing the 2's!!

NYCM00, careful with those incisions. Are they red because you are scratching or because they are inflamed? If they itch can you use Benadryl? If they are inflamed call your doctor!!

Kerri, you can really see the loss in your neck and face!! You look great!!

Amanda, wow Bermuda, so when do you go?? My DH scheduled Hawaii for May 17th and I am trying to drop 20 lbs b4 the date. I am not excited about the flight but I am excited about the trip!

Hi Shamrocks!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. I had my first post op dr visit and it went well. I have lost 8 pounds since my surgery. Yeah! I'm not setting any records, but that is OK. I'm not that far from my first minigoal.

My doc is keeping me on mostly liquids. I fessed up that I had eaten some light yogurt and he said that was OK. I'm glad because the hunger is coming back. Bad hunger - go away.

So how is everyone else doing? Any fill stories?

I came off my liquid diet today - one day and I knew I was fine, not hungry at all. I'm supposed to be on solid food now, but I'm sticking with shakes for Breakfast. Today I mixed 1/2 cup of Morello cherries into a French vanilla SFO, and added a little almond syrup. It was good, but I could still taste the Protein powder. My favourite is still Vanilla SFO + Peanut Butter + banana - I think the peanut butter conceals the powder.

For lunch I had a lamb burger with zucchini pickles and spicy tomato sauce; skipped the roll, stole a french fry or two, it all evened out in the end. And I don't know what I'll have tonight - something, that's for sure.

But, I feel good, not really hungry. Productive, weight loose-y. A good day.

Also, I gave more thought to my longstanding desire and secondary goal: I want to learn to snowboard. I've always thought it looks like fun. At the moment, I'd feel absurd trying to do it, just the notion of myself, like an orange sitting on top of a popsicle stick, schussing down the mountainside. But it's something I'm determined to do.

So I've been reading about snowboarding, and preconditioning. You have to strengthen your "core"; my "core" is actually pretty strong, just very, very well insulated. But I'm going to be doing "core" exercises. I'm going to get a Bosu Ball, and maybe a balance beam, once I can understand what they do.

I guess I should explore the exercise forums.

Fenton - learn what you can and then concetrate on those "core" muscles, by next winter we'll be looking for you on the slopes.

I found today my work has exercise classes as well as the free gym. I am gonna start the core exercise class next week and maybe the one for leg/lower body and the one for arms/upperbody. Have to wait and see how I do, gonna work up slowly since next week is 4 weeks post op. But just staying after work for an extra hour will be worth it to get thig body into shape.

I also agree, one slip of choices does not make a failure. WE are all bound to have slip ups, but have the tool to get ourself back on the path.

My son worked at Mountain Creek in NJ this pasted winter. He was a snowbording instructer .I think he might work there next winter also.

Thanks for talking me down guys. I was in a bad way last night. I think that I really felt like I had let myself down. I have been doing so good for so long, last night felt like a crash. Oh well, today is another day, I am back on the wagon!!!!

Fenton, my DH is trying to talk me into parasailing next month. I can just see the sharks circling down below thinking "LUNCH". I think snowboarding would be a better choice!

amen to FEnton.....and the burrito I had 10 days post op!!! I know I know!!!! and I'm fine.....I was scared but went past that and just started complying...my first fill is 4/16...hey we're human....

I was invited out to dinner tonight and was thinking I can do it. Even though on mushies I was sure I could find something on the menu to work. We went to a Mexican restaurant. I ended up with some eggplant and crabmeat. It was delicious. I only ate about 1/3 cup of it. Since beginning this stage I have felt some restriction and have been trying not to eat too much. So far so good. But it is really tough. WE are so used to eating the entire amount put on out plate. Now I have 3 meals of leftovers to savor......

The only problem with what I ate is that it was not high in protein and now finding myself playing catch up to reach my 60 gms of protein for the day and do not think I'll make it.

Tomorroe I will do better with my amounts, but was glad to be able to go out and enjoy the evening.:thumbup: