Alexandra

One of the reasons I posted this story was to help process the fear in my head. I'm sorry to say it didn't really work, and I spent a mostly sleepless night reliving the incident last night. That should do it, though, and tonight I'll catch up on my sleep. It is nice to look better in pants, sure, but it's much more important to be able to keep my girls close. Sue, your sister is living with her head in a barrel, but you know you can't drag her out of there. My grandmother was shaped something like your sister, at her heaviest probably topping 300 (at 5'6" or so). She finally came out of denial in her 70s. The defining incident was a very embarrassing bout with some EMS personnel. She had fallen and badly sprained an ankle, and it took four ambulance attendants to get her in and out of the ambulance. She was mortified and very apologetic to the volunteers, and swore that the NEXT time she needed an ambulance it wouldn't take so many of them. (And it didn't--she was able to lose a lot of weight pretty effectively on her own.) Maybe it will take something like that to turn your sister's attention to the matter.

Some of you may remember that my weight-loss "goal" was to be able to chase my kids. The reason is that before banding at 340 lbs I literally couldn't chase them down the street. On one frightening occasion I was lumbering after a wayward toddler heading toward traffic when my husband came tearing down from the front porch behind me--more than twice the distance I had to go--past me to get her. He had been watching, and we both knew that even if I'd HAD to I couldn't reach her in time. The immensity of that realization changed everything for me. After a lifetime of obesity and failed attempts to control it, I started looking into serious intervention which led to my being banded 10 months ago. Today I found out, the hard way, that I CAN chase my kids. We were in a playground in Brooklyn with some friends and I stopped to talk with a former friend I hadn't seen in years. We were in a semi-enclosed area and I assumed, wrongly, that I wasn't the only adult with her eyes on my adventurous 3-year-old. When my conversation was done and I turned to find Catie, she was gone. Within a few terrifying minutes I'd covered lots of ground, and located her half a city block away wandering among the crowds of people enjoying the weather. She wasn't in immediate danger but she was far enough away that I couldn't call to her, so I ran. I closed the distance in just a few seconds and was barely winded when I got to her. A year ago it could have been a very different story--I hate to think of how long it would have taken me first to locate her and then chase her down. This banded journey is one I'm profoundly thankful to be on.

Wow, Shelly, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! As of yet I can only imagine how you must feel, but we're enjoying it right along with you. What a kick that must have been getting on the scale this morning!! I'm so happy for you!!! :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana

Hi Sassy, welcome! We're glad you found us and I hope you find the answers you seek. Frankly, I think you are banding's next audience. People with BMIs under 35 who can improve their health by permanent weight loss can really benefit from banding. You might have a problem with insurance but it sounds like you're already working on that aspect. Good luck, and please let us know how it is working out.

Hi Deb, and welcome! I applaud your outlook of cautious optimism...it makes much more sense than the all-or-nothing point of view I see so often. You'll do great! :D

I hope any of you who are reading this plan to attend the meeting at the surgeons' offices on Wednesday, May 26. I'm so happy they're serious about following up on these meetings--I received TWO phone calls to remind me about it and I'm so encouraged!! They also have added another day to their fill schedule, folks, so it's TWO days a month rather than one. That's a HUGE step in the right direction, doncha think? I want to support their admirable efforts to reach out to their banded patients so PLEASE, if you know of anyone eligible to attend let them know about it. I look forward to seeing you there!!

Alexis, you are beautiful!! I say that not only after looking at your pics, but reading the last couple of days of your blog. I absolutely LOVE your attitude, and as a 5'10" woman myself know EXACTLY where you are coming from. You GO, girlfriend!! Oh, and about that big hair, forget it honey. You a Joisey girl! (I wasn't born here, so I escaped that particular curse.) :D

Hi Mom!! I remember you... a name like yours is hard to forget! Congratulations on being on your way. It's hard to predict exactly, because preparations vary from person to person, but in general you can expect a range of tests to establish your readiness for surgery. Usually that involves a physical, blood work, a psychological evaluation, and a nutrional consultation. Depending on your medical situation there may be others, but those are the basics. Good luck, and please don't hesitate to come back to ask questions along the way. Welcome back! :D

We have sweet stuff in the house, which scared me for a while. As a chronic dieter I'd prefer to just not have it around at all. But my husband, who doesn't have a weight problem, is capable of eating just one or two Cookies and putting the bag back. I think that's a VERY important skill to learn. So I continue my abstemious ways (most of the time) and let him handle dessert. I used to obsess over this issue, and deeply feared having kids with a weight problem. When I was pregnant with my first I used to watch children at the pool and wonder at their varying shapes, and yes, I admit that I felt really sorry for the ones already dealing with excess weight. As far as our habits go, I can't say we're especially this, that, or the other thing. Families with two working parents have to deal with that reality first and foremost. So yes, we eat out often and even go to McDonald's a couple of times a month. The girls love the wrong kinds of food, to different degrees, but each of them seems to have an inner meter that just turns them off after having enough. Whatever they're eating, however delicious and bad for them, they STOP when they're no longer hungry and go on to something else. That's something I was born without and I'm very thankful they have it. Both of them are very tall for their ages and weigh appropriate amounts. My sense is that the whole family MUST be involved when there are food issues. As the lone fatty in my immediate family, my whole childhood was about watching what I ate, making sure I didn't get another serving, keeping me away from Desserts. It was horrible and I'm absolutely convinced it contributed to my problem, not helped it. So while I'm glad my family hasn't faced this yet, it could easily happen and when it does I will be taking a different approach than my parents did.

I LOVE this!!! :D We're always talking about drugs at my job, what with prescription costs rising and coverage harder to come by. This was hilarious. Thanks!!

Wow, Francesca, 28 lbs in two weeks! That's amazing, and I hope you realize now that it will not continue at that pace. Now that you're on to thicker foods be creative...look in the specialty sections of the store for cool spreads and dips. I love tzatziki, babaghanoush, hummus, and refried Beans. Your energy will return as you increase the amount of Protein you're taking in. Not to worry! Take it slow and listen to your body. You'll be fine!!

Good luck, Nancy, and please do let us know what happens!! I'm very interested to know why a dilated pouch could cause heartburn and stuckage. (I know that's not a word, but hey, whatever works!) And what causes dilation? If drinking after eating would tend to wash food through the band, what's the relationship to expanding the pouch? Anyway, all the best to you Nancy and my fingers are crossed for a very quick and simple resolution.

Hi Blondee!! Welcome to LBT! :D Congratulations on your 55-lb loss; that's wonderful! I'm still holding steady at 49 lbs, hoping that each morning I'll see that amazing 50th lb gone (for real).

Hi Shaneal! If you were banded on May 12 you should NOT be eating like a horse. Unless that horse is limited to mashed hay and oatmeal, that is. What do you mean, exactly? Aren't you still on a liquid/soft regimen at this point? The gas pains vary a lot from person to person, and the weird thing is they don't feel at all like "gas" as we are familiar with it. I felt it as sharp pains from place to place in my torso, which went away after a couple of days. Then I'd be surprised two weeks later with a new one, seemingly out of nowhere. Anyway, let us know what you're really eating. What you think is a lot may not be, or you might in fact be doing something unwise. You don't want to hurt yourself or do anything to lessen your chances for success!

You've discovered the importance of taking it slow!! I've had several unpleasant experiences where I just didn't let my stomach feel one bite before taking the next. I'm so used to bolting bite after bite after bite that slowing down long enough to feel what's happening is really hard for me!! Take no more than two bites of something and then put your fork down, fold your arms, take a deep breath, even get up and walk around. I've had to learn this lesson again after each fill--it's really astonishing how little food it takes to feel full, as long as you let it hit the pouch before chasing it with more. You're a bandster now, baby!! :banana

OK, slow down. You're not seeing any weight loss THIS WEEK. You've already lost enough weight so that if you don't lose another ounce for three months you'll be smack in the middle of the average weight loss! What's your hurry??? What's going to happen in the next four weeks is that your appetite will return in force, and you will not feel any restriction. You might even, dare I say it?, gain a few pounds back. This is perfectly normal! Yes, the whole point of adjustments is to create restriction that will limit your calorie intake and let you be satisfied with less. Once you reach that point you will indeed lose weight unless you try hard to sabotage the process. BE AWARE that this might not happen after your first fill, and that there is no way anyone can predict precisely when it will happen for you--everyone has different experiences. But it will happen, and you're off to a FLYING start!! Stay calm, don't panic when the hungries return, and just take it easy on yourself. You're banded, and now you have the help you need to take control of your weight. Don't expect it to happen immediately. But have faith, it will happen!! :D

Deep breaths, deep breaths, and then try to think about something else. I HATE waiting for things, so I've gotten really good at distracting myself. There's always plenty to fill the time. Good luck, and PLEASE remember to think of yourself first for the next few days. Now is your turn to be selfish and take every opportunity to rest and heal. This is a big step!! You'll be fine. EGBOK, indeed!!

Hi Miss Pat! Welcome, and congratulations on your surgery! I'm a little surprised that your first fill is scheduled for so soon after your liquid diet ends. Usually doctors like to see how the person tolerates solid food before scheduling a fill. If I were you I'd want to see that too, since every person is different. Have you been having hunger? Any trouble with soft foods? If your doctor is going to do an incremental fill there's nothing to worry about, except finding someone to keep up your aftercare once this doctor leaves town. I hope there will be another doctor stepping in to fill the void! Because while we can certainly provide support, we are no good at doing fills... Nice to meet you!!

That's just a smilie that doesn't work. People are trying to create the picture associated with the code ": phanvan" which is a sort of puzzled look, but the combination of the colon : and the letter p in succession create the stick-out-tongue smilie instead. So what we see instead of the puzzled face we want is this :phanvan Which is not what the person wanted, clearly. I don't know how to fix or program the smilies, only the owner can do that.

Hi Francesca, welcome!! Donali is right, it is perfectly normal to feel hungry at this stage of the game. As you heal your normal body processes will kick back in and you might even feel perfectly able to eat whatever you want. But follow your doctors' orders!! Don't challenge your healing tummy. Take it easy and slow. Nice to meet you!

Briht, wow, how wonderful you look!! (And sound, too!) It's wonderful to see such success. Yahooooo!!

Jennye please know I'm thinking of you too. My mom had a stroke and I know how hard and bewildering and trying it is. Good luck, and all the best wishes to your mom, too. Take care of yourself, please.

You look terrific, Jennye! I'm so jealous of those nice *young* upper arms.

Hi Janie, We all heal in our own good time. I remember trying black bean soup about 10 days after surgery, and realizing I just wasn't ready. Nothing to be worried about, as long as you're not feeling unusual pain. I guarantee you that in a couple of weeks you'll be back here, wondering if it's OK that you're eating almost normally! As your swelling goes down and healing proceeds, your appetite will return and so will your capacity. Don't worry, it's all normal. Restriction will disappear and won't return until your first or maybe second fill. Congratulations, and welcome to bandland!!

Congratulations, Karen!! Nice to see such smiling faces!!