Bandista

Same as Sandy -- walking immediately after surgery outdoors, etc. Then on the treadmill. Resumed recumbent bike at about a week. My surgeon asked for six weeks before resuming core exercises, weights, etc. I am able to do them now and happy to have those back. I want strong arms and a lean body!

So far raw apples are okay for me if I chew carefully -- so glad as we have a small orchard and I love apples. Peanut butter, however, terrifies me. It's one of my old outlaw foods and I'm still not ready to have it in the house. Afraid I might go wild with my itty bitty spoon. But probably not -- the day will come. I am amazed I can have cheese in the fridge and not keep going for it. I had it as part of a meal last night and did not trigger a grazing event. Major progress. I could not do that before -- it's the band. Love this thing!

I am newly banded and learning how it works for me. There's a point when I ask my body if I've had enough and it tells me (usually yes). But I have to inquire. Sounds a little crazy but if I stop and listen in like that I am able to get a signal to stop. I recognize my one more bite or finish the bowl days are over. Then I try to clock it so I know roughly when my next time eating should be -- trying for the tennis ball size of food every 4-5 hours, not eating if I'm not hungry and eating earlier if I am hungry. Noticing. Two resources from others here on the forum have helped me -- Dr. Simpson's article, The Lapband is Not About Restriction. I can't get a link here on my device easily but Google can help, and then Dr. O'Brien, the Australian bariatric specialist, has a series of videos called Eight Golden Rules for Lapband (make sure you get the most up to date ones). This summer while waiting for a surgery date and going to all the various appointments I got a therapist to help me go through the process and to get to the bottom of food issues as much as possible. I'm 52 so it's not like I hadn't thought about this a lot, read many books, journaled, etc., but this time I really broke it down. The when and why of my hunger usually comes down to anxiety. I have been tamping down my anxiety with food for twenty years. And being fat makes me anxious, so round and round I went. I still get the impulse to eat, like prior to a meeting or as a reward after, from habit, too, like in the evenings. But I have to ask myself what is really going on. I'm using mindfulness techniques like breathing and visualization to calm that inner whir of tension and when I give it that attention it dissipates. Good luck sorting out your fills and hunger. There's not one of us here who doesn't sympathize with what you're going through and of course it's so frustrating that you haven't yet reached a peaceful balance. You will! Stay with it -- and keep at the medical professionals to help you. I've removed certain phrases from my vocabulary, like "I have to eat," or "I need to eat." Truth is my body has plenty of reserves to burn off when I let it.

Hi Daisy, what a great post -- thank you so much! Sixty pounds in a year is fantastic. I am just six weeks out and loving the feeling of being released from that obsession over food. What a gift. Wishing you happy holidays and a wonderful new year of health.

Hi there, glad you found the site! I've learned a lot here from lots of amazing people and fun, too -- I'm almost six weeks banded now and I'm sooooooo happy with my new life. For hydration I fill up 32oz. glass juice bottles nearly to the top with Water then add a splash of unsweetened cranberry -- makes a nice light pink drink. If I need sweet I put in a little Steevia (I can't tolerate artificial sweeteners -- this one is a plant) and I also add a few capfuls of aloe for better digestion. This is my signature drink and when I open the fridge the bottles are there waiting. I like to drink one after exercising -- am tighter in the mornings so I can't chug it down like I used to -- and I like it around five o'clock when my brain thinks it's time for the old wine and cheese party.

Mine started a few days after surgery -- not sure why the delay. Walking will help with the worrying, too! Best wishes for a nice relaxing weekend.

Sorry you are having this pain -- many of us got the left shoulder/chest pain but it does get better. Mine hurt most getting out of bed -- I sleep on the left side. I was able to just ride through it, did do the heating pad thing and even ice, which helped a lot. My husband thought maybe the pain was positional from the surgery as well as the gas -- who knows. I did not want to take narcotics so just had ibuprofen and Tylenol. The thing that absolutely helps the most is walking. It's not easy sometimes to motivate but the twinges sure are motivating. My body needed me to walk -- a lot. I started in the hospital corridor then at home around our driving circle. One day I walked 40 times around the circle. It really really helps.

Sure sounds like perimenopause to me.....I skipped two periods prior to being banded but have had two since. Thought I might be done (I'm 52) but apparently not -- and I really wanted to lose the weight first anyway because I think it's harder after menopause.

What a great post -- thank you so much. You are amazing! So happy or you. And you too, Brittany. Wow!

Hi there, so glad you are here! I am fairly new but it sounds like a fill appointment is essential. Call them -- get that on the calendar. Watch out for slider foods and know that you are on your way to getting the next 30 off. We will be joining each other in One-der-land, which is what we call that sought after place of finally being less than 200 pounds. And we will keep going from there down to our goal weights -- because we are choosing health and happiness. Do this for yourself! When the band is adjusted properly your appetite will be dimmed and you'll have that monster off your back. It will be so much easier then to eat right, exercise and take care of yourself the way you want to. Here's to that!

Yippee! So happy for you!

Hi Weevie, I had a hiatal hernia, too -- found when they went in to do the band. Surgeon had suggested beforehand that this is often the case. I didn't realize I was having symptoms -- some discomfort, a pain spot size of quarter on left breast -- think that was referred pain from HH. Anyway, it was nothing surgery-wise -- I think all the walking really helped recovery all-around. So happy for you plowing through all the pre-op paperwork, etc. What a way to begin 2014! Glad you're here on the forum.....

Great post and what a lovely photograph -- your happiness is shining through. Lucky granddaughters to have you back and showing up for all the fun!

My surgeon does not have alcohol as a no-no but suggested hard liquor vs. wine due to the calories. I think transference can be a problem for some -- food addicts turning to alcohol instead as a tool for numbing. I am five weeks out and enjoyed wine at a party last weekend and will again tomorrow night. Each time I have what I consider a splash out my weight actually drops. And I agree about the cheap date -- we are definitely saving money. One little appetizer, please! I have noticed that at restaurants it's easier to order a water and just not drink it than to say nothing to drink. Waiters can't seem to process that.

December 1 - 227 December 7 - 230 December 14 - 224 Checking in from the North Pole, or at least NH where I looks like Winter Wonderland out there today. Have a great weekend every one!

Weight loss going well but know that it can take time to get the band working for you -- you may be ravenous after surgery or not interested in food. I was the latter but hunger did return and then I had a fill, and a second fill recently. Currently I am not hungry and 25 pounds down, which is one quarter of my goal. I started at 248, lost 10 on pre-op diet and 15 more since surgery. You will do great -- it's so amazing to be at peace with food.

Hi Jenn, what a wonderful gift to choose your healthy future -- here's to 2014!

Is your band primed? As in do you have some fill already? Would not hurt to touch base with your physician -- tomorrow is Friday. Put those medical professionals to work (while you walk, walk, walk)!

Hi there, are you walking a lot? This helped me so much with everything -- did some major walking in those first days and thereafter, too (as in who is this person?). Maybe you need to shake off all that anesthesia and everything else, release any trapped gas and kick the body into healing mode.....

The jean size says it all -- way to go! I am one size down and very happy. Looking for the next on sale so I can have them as an incentive. Or is that a form of torture? This time I know it will work, however -- don't know when but know I'm getting there a bit at a time no matter what.

Well this is a story with a happy ending, whatever you decide. I think at 52 I'm fairly philosophical about my body in terms of what my mother and grandmother called, "Hangsie-Downsie." Let's just say the fruit is going to hang low at some point no matter what.

Hi BoyMom, no worries you are doing great! You've had the surgery so the band is installed but now you are healing up. Don't worry about your appetite or calories -- just follow your doctor's instructions and you will get to the next step. It will work -- just doesn't happen immediately for most people. Main thing is to listen to your body. Hunger signals are not the enemy anymore -- and when the band is tightened the appetite will diminish. Don't worry, you're going to do beautifully!

Hi there, here's to another clean day and do you suppose they'd move that fill appointment up a bit for you? I personally cannot have a display of chocolate on my wall or a cheese shop in my fridge; just not ready. I know we will be in a place where we can have little bits of everything we like but until that appetite is dimmed through proper adjustment of the band I think it might be better to go get a PlayMobil calendar and say no thank you to all the sugar that gets pushed on us at this time of year. And fake sugar sets up cravings, too. Next year will be so different! Here's to a life without outlawed foods -- it's coming. But maybe not for 2013?