Nyt

I have been thinking about how I got to where I am now. How I got to be so unhealthy. I love food and food is a big part of socializing in American society. I was talking to a college friend of mine and they are big too. We came up with the following explanation. It doesn't fit EVERY situation but I think it is possible to sum it up for most bandsters.
 
We are "Food Aholics" (FAs).We love food and like to socialize with others. The main difference between FAs and alcoholics and drug addicts is that you have to eat in order to live. We can't just abstain from alcohol or illicit substances. It's not possible for us to step away from our "drug" and continue to live life.
 
We have made the conscious choice to make changes in ourselves and our lives by getting banded. We want to live our lives and be happier than we were. I think that some of us are "wired" for tastes of food. I love the taste of some foods. I love it so much that it goes to excess. That's how I got to where I am, I know it.
 
I read a lot in the forums and my heart goes out to those that are chastised for getting the band or making choices that they are being judged for. I would advise that you focus on you and to hell with the nay-sayers. At the risk of sounding uneducated, "Haters gotta/gonna hate." There are some people that want you to stay bigger so they can feel better about themselves. You don't need those types of idiots in your life. If someone asks you how you are doing, and you told them about getting banded then educate them on how it works.
 
The best remedy for ignorance is education.
 
Good Luck!

After my surgery on the 12th, I was pretty weak and in some pain for a few days. I took my pain meds the day of and the day after surgery only. I was a little less sore the next few days and have had little to no pain since. Woo hoo for a fast immune system and for vitamins!
 
I have been taking my One a Day Gummy vitamins with Immunity Support to help me out. (hint hint, awesome for the immune system). I was on to eating soft foods within a few days after surgery and I wanted to start walking the day after surgery. I rush things, I admit it. The moving on to soft foods was due to I was so tired of feeling hungry all the time and there was only so many sweet things I could handle consuming. No I'm not the model patient. I've learned how to make an omelet and that's what I have for breakfast. I've had to learn that I can't eat a 2 egg omelet anymore, so I moved down to a 1 egg omelet. Then I know I'm getting a protein packed start to my day. Tuna salad and Chicken salad have been helpful for lunch or dinner.
 
The walking I think has been the hardest part. Not because I'm lazy but because I was still pretty easily tired. My husband and I went on a walk Tuesday afternoon at a nearby park. We walked over a mile in 30 minutes and I was pushing hard the last about 10 minutes. I had to slow down a little too but I kept pushing myself to finish. Sadly, when we got home and were cooling off, I fell asleep for about an hour. Just tells me that I'm still getting used to what my body has to do. I went to the gym Saturday for nothing more than to walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I got that done and was not as tired afterwards. I'm really into being healthy and fit, just frustrated that it's taking time to get back to my 100%.
 
Went to my post-op appointment on Thursday. I went dressed in what I would normally wear to work, slacks and a comfortable shirt. (I quit my job on July 5th and have been looking for other employment). My pants fit a little loose at the waist. That made me feel good. At the appointment, I found out I'd lost another pound since surgery. A small victory is still a victory. My nutritionist and I discussed the "soft foods" phase of the diet and I admitted to starting soft foods early but I've stuck with protein packed foods instead of not. Eggs, tuna, chicken, yogurt, and V8 V-fusion juice were helping me. I can now have anything that I can get through the tines of a fork. What's upseting to me is the lack of fruit that I can have. I really want fruit, especially cherries. The nurse was a bit disappointed that I wasn't feeling more active yet; I was disappointed too.
 
Since the appointment, I have been walking a few times and have had my cherries. A friend threatened to come hurt me because she explained to me, the skins of my cherries are not easily digested. So I gave the rest of the cherries to my friends.
 
Something I'm noticing is that I am unable to digest breads or carbs yet. Yes I've tried and I've gotten sick a few times. This is overly frustrating. I hate the feeling of pain that comes with it. I wish I could get myself under control. I feel hungry sometimes and I try to focus on if it's head hunger or real hunger. I'm still trying to figure out how to deal with it.
 
I have been dealing with multiple life changes all at once and it's tough. I have depression. I am medicated for it. Yeah, I quit my job a few weeks ago. It was best for me to do so to take care of myself and heal properly. I have been pseudo-actively looking for work this past week. Last week I was more focused on healing and getting back to feeling like my old, energetic, motivated self. It didn't work out that well. I'm trying to keep myself in check and positive right now regarding all the feelings from my depression and the surgery and lack of success with it. I'm glad I've done the surgery and I'm making some mini-goals for myself.
 
I think I will make my first goal of 25 lbs lost, I will get a new tattoo. Found out recently that a family member has throat cancer. I'm okay with it seeing as how they asked me to help them. I do crochet and they asked me to make them some hats. Fair enough. Now cancer is no stranger to my family. This member now makes at least the 4th person in my life that has been diagnosed with cancer. The awareness ribbon for cancer in general is the color purple, one of my favorite colors. I think my tattoo reward will be a tribal butterfly with a purple cancer ribbon.
 
Lots of things in my world, lots of small changes. The good thing, the nutrition is not that difficult for me. I was eating pretty healthy prior to surgery and my band is just going to help me be my ultimate, thinner, fitter self.

What a long strange trip it's been! In less than 24 hours the slicing and dicing will begin! I thought I'd be more nervous, but with all of information I've received from the True Results people, all of the posts in the forums, and all the other random reading I've been doing I really feel like I have a pretty good handle of what's in store for me. I'm sure when I wake up tomorrow morning I'll be singing a different tune, but for now, I'm just excited and anxious to get this part over with so I can get started on the rest of the journey. Well, I hope today goes by fast so I can get to the big day tomorrow!