Bandista

Glad you're feeling better today! Don't know if you're on narcotic pain medication but that can do a number on some people, not just in bowel world (usually constipation but not always) and sleep cycles, etc. Just thought I'd put that out there. Great if you can get shut-eye and do the walking -- that will help right your body. Congratulations on getting your band and getting through these first fee days. Sorry you've been having a tough time!

Yikes, time to exercise! Great post; thanks so much. This visual will keep me going......I want to be lean, not lumpy!

Some people do carb cycling to break through a plateau.....mixing it up. Just know you WILL break this plateau and be in those two hundreds soon. It may be that you are shedding inches you don't even know about. Keep up the good work!

Call your doctor's office and let them know how you're doing -- they are there for you. You just want to be sure there's not something else going on I. It old and flu season. Hope you feel lots better today. The walking really helped me clear out the lungs, shrug off the anesthesia, etc. Congratulations on your recent banding!

Hi there, I had this as well.....the tenderness dissipated each day and then disappeared completely. You are healing up and starting this whole new chapter in your life! Don't forget it may take a little time to get started as the band will likely need adjustments. Be patient with yourself, follow the protocol your doctor has provided and you will soon be on your way. Best wishes!

So funny! Did you give him a good tip? Maybe a quick ESL social graces lesson......

I got myself stuck today. I'm rarely hungry in the mornings and today I think I waited too long and was really hungry -- it was 12:30 or so. I went for some leftover fish, thinking that Protein was such a good choice. It was a bit over cooked and I didn't even heat it up -- cold out of the fridge. And I probably ate it too fast. I knew when I got that solar plexus pain that I was in for it. This had only happened once before but, boy, there it was. As with that time, today I progressed I to rather violent hiccups and then finally after about 20-30 minutes up it came. There is the saliva needing to be spit out beforehand. I certainly couldn't do this out in the world or at some one else's house. These hiccups are something -- loud! So then guess what I did? After I was settled back down I decided I'd have a Popsicle. I figured that would make me feel better. There, there, Little Bunny! Well that turned out to be an idiotic move as I started the whole cycle and it had to be seen through -- the solar plexus pain, saliva, violent hiccups and then the spitting up. Good grief. Learned my lesson there! I hope, I hope. No cold protein first thing, have something softer, don't over cook anything, and don't reach for something cold after an episode. Later I had some warm tea and that went down well, then much later some yogurt and applesauce. Didn't even entertain the idea of eating anything more substantial, no way.

Summer in New Zealand! Now that sounds lovely. It is decidedly not summer here, sigh..... Enjoy some warm breezes for me!

Isn't it great to be free from thinking about food all the time?! So happy for you. I am noticing more and more that I am not hungry or that I'm disinterested in the food I thought I was going to eat. Not that I still don't love food -- i do. But I'm not living for it and more and more often I can leave it instead of take it.

Hi Billie, I hope you feel better today and that you're able to get some sleep. Walking can really help. If you have any one come over, get them to walk with you. Or when you get up to lee do some laps around the house....keep us posted!

The respiratory therapist or sleep center staff need to help you find the right mask, the right fit -- sometimes you can change up head gear, etc. I just have nose pillows which are much less intrusive. Keep at it until you get it right -- it's not one size fits all! Sleep is so important.......

The five bite trick sounds good -- had not heard that. My surgeon describes a tennis ball sized portion. Once you've eye-balled for a while it becomes second nature. What we are looking for is our bodies indicating we've had enough. Good luck to you!

Such a love/hate with my CPAP. I think I had apnea prior to being so heavy but it could have been another disorder -- I sure look forward to losing enough to consider not needing it anymore. But for now, I am so grateful for sleep!

Congratulations -- what a great way to start the new year! Good luck with this next stage.

Yippee! Congratulations -- that is quite the milestone!

I've been braising a lot for the falling apart meats with rich broth and veggies. Just did a standing rib roast in the Le Creuset -- amazing.

Hi there, I'm with Joanne and Karen -- put those medical professionals to work! The after-care is very important. Meanwhile you wan to eat protein first then veggies. Practice chewing very well and eating slowly. This is a time when were learning new behaviors but also your band has to be adjusted properly. That's the whole idea. Best wishes!

Sounds like you're ready for that appointment! Congratulations on your surgery and healing phase which is now followed by working to get the band adjusted properly for you. Here's to a new year of healthy weight loss!

So glad you are feeling better -- and that immediate relief, phew. It's great that you have that connection to your band and know the esophageal pain is an indicator of too much restriction. No need for that! Great post -- words of wisdom for those of us new to our bands, getting fills, listening to our bands and seeking that green zone. It's a zone and it's got to be right, not too tight.

Yippee! What a great moment to have the doctor do a double-take. You have turned your life around -- so happy for you!

Pixie, you may be surprised at how little it takes to fill you up!

Claireabelle, I was banded on November 5th, too! Do you have little forks and spoons? I think those have helped me take smaller bites -- and using a very small bowl so I am not taking too much food in the first place (being a finisher is not a good thing -- I need to stop when I'm feeling I should stop, not when food is gone as in the past). I have practiced some eating with the clock. A sixty second wait is excellent mind training. Mindfulness has to be learned but then it becomes subconscious. The hardest thing for me is putting the utensil down and waiting to pick it up again. I want to load my fork again right away. That's a no-no. I try to notice what my hands and mind are doing when I'm in-between bites and the way the food changes in taste the longer it is being chewed. There are several factors -- how big the bite is, how well it is chewed and how long between bites. The esophagus sends the signal to the brain that it's getting full. We need to give the esophagus time to do it's little squeezes to accomplish that so the feeling of satiety takes place. And we need to stay aware so we can listen and watch for the signal to stop. If you're overriding that and having a little too much then you will bring it back up. I have a horror of throwing up so that is working in my favor, I think. I don't want to get sick so I'm on guard. Still loving food, which is good, just in small amounts. It's the intervals I'm working on now as I don't need to eat again for 4-5 hours but of course can go back much sooner. Good luck to you, and don't get too tight if you're still having difficulty at the stage you're in! Jim, I'm going to go find that app!

Hi Pretty Thick, your life is coming together in all sorts of ways and I'm so happy for you. I think you are tapping into flow. Your self-esteem is higher and you're exuding happiness. Other people like to have those people around them. When we are in that place of flow we find ourselves receiving all sorts of unexpected rewards. It's about energy and connection. I'm sorry some others felt the need to rain on your parade in the name of society's tendency to overlook heavier people when it comes to promotion, etc. You earned every penny of that and you know it. You are smart, talented and you've put in your time. Because we still have a society where men are paid more, receive the better jobs, etc., we need women like you to be making it up the ladder into places of power and decision so you can help equalize the playing field and create a better society. Here's to asking for something. I think that's what this NSV is all about. You held up your head, marched in and made a request -- and it worked! Congratulations on that. You are advocating for yourself and for what you want, which is to create a new life in the same geographic region with some one you love. I think you are saying that having your band and losing the weight gave you that confidence. That is a tremendous NSV. Maybe it's good to be aware that not every one will be happy for you and you will need to protect yourself from others sometimes. Maybe this forum is a little microcosm of that. You don't need to make any excuses for the industry you're in or the man's world we still all find ourselves in despite years of feminists working so hard. We are not going to get there by dropping out or saying no because existing conditions aren't yet what they should be. Here's to saying YES and to asking for what we want and need. I am really proud of you.

Hi Billie, your big day finally here! Congratulations and best wishes.