Bandista

Hi Mel, I am right there with you. My appointment is Wednesday and I will be just over four weeks from surgery. Have not felt a return of hunger until very recently -- have noticed in last week to ten days that I am hungry again sooner, although I'm still satisfied on a small portion. My weight loss has stalled. Could be a small plateau or I am taking in too many calories. I look forward to discussing all this with the doctor. A bit nervous about a fill as I've been doing so well and don't want to rock the boat. Good luck to you Tuesday -- let's compare notes!

Name, real or screen~ Bandista Goal weight for December 31st~ 218 Weight on December 1st~ 227 Age~ 52 City/State~ New Hampshire Dietary goal for December~ figure out some go-to staples for this new life Exercise goal for December~ exercise every day -- 31 days of December Personal goal for December~ mindfulness, noticing where I am in the moment, reducing stress through breathing Date banded~ 11/05/2013 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 21 pounds Favorite Holiday Activity~ Stockings in front of the fire on Christmas morning

Candace, what a great post -- the thought of being able to do 45 miles! We are more amazing than we know. You are very inspiring! Enjoy your new boots, new chair, new life!

Hi Angi, my surgeon mentioned there are long-handled small utensils available on-line. I haven't ordered them because we already have small forks and spoons which I really like -- an oyster fork, for example, leftover baby spoons or demitasse. And while out I just ask for a teaspoon. I agree those soup spoons are enormous and it is too easy to lap up too much food at once. Know that people are not really scrutinizing you -- they are either busy eating themselves or in the case of the wait-staff they don't care.

Okay that's a weird bug -- I give up!

Sorry I didn't proofread -- all those asterisks should read "chink" -- put a chink into the habit that needs to be broken. Weaken it by taking a minute, not responding. Our brains are wired a certain way but we can change that, like getting water first or just not giving in immediately.

Hi Snoops, sounds like the correct fill is just a little harder to get to this time around but you will get there. And it sounds like you have good medical professionals to work with you to get back on track. I don't know if this would be helpful to you or not, but while I was waiting to get banded I started seeing a therapist. Like you I'm in my fifties so it's not like I hadn't read a lot of books about food and emotional issues, etc., but I felt like I needed that objective person to track with me for a while. I was able to identify some very specific patterns of overeating and get at those reasons I was seeking out food. I hate conference calls, for example, so prior to a call I would get myself some food to anchor me. And I used food as a reward for doing something I didn't want to do -- either as a distraction, a delaying technique or just carrot and stick. Emotional eating is difficult to break down into specifics sometimes, but it really helped me. Now if I have the impulse I take a minute to go a little deeper into why -- puts a chink into the habit so it is easier to break. Don't beat yourself up about all that has happened. You have today -- how can you be good to yourself in ways that don't involve food and how can you get a little exercise.....we are all in this together. I'm talking g to myself right now, which is what is so great about this forum. Glad you're here!

Interesting article, Terry -- thanks.

We have been going out or having people in more than usual due to the holidays, plus had a little getaway. I drank both nights on our vacation and here and there for about a week or so. Have not gained but I haven't lost either. I'm pretty sure the alcohol is stalling out my weight loss. Not worth it! I just need to remember that when some one offers me a glass. No thank you! I may need a rule for myself to take me through the season -- one night per week or something like that. As for transference, I am very happy to be planning exercise the way I used to plan eating. Instead of wondering about stopping off somewhere for a treat or thinking about that cheese in the fridge, I find myself worrying over getting another walk in before it's dark. This amazes me.

Like CG, I didn't expect to feel so happy -- relieved perhaps but also really, really excited. That took me sailing right through the temporary discomfort post-surgery. Incisional pain and even that dreaded left shoulder pain were tolerable because it was all for something. And not as bad as other pain I've had -- and not feeling ill at all, just uncomfortable. And the walking is so important. Did not expect to suddenly switch from exercising out of need to doing it out of want. Self-esteem increased so fast -- proud of myself for seeing this through and feeling very independent. Never expected a half cup of food to fill me up or to still love food but just in very small amounts. So happy about that!

Hey Bandista.. can i just say one word for your troubles.... "IPAD"... lol sorry so not a fan of apple and all the hype that company generates.. i feel like we should just chant we are Borg you will be assimilated.... I totally agree, and I have an iMac - lol! I switched from a PC three years ago, and now run a virtual PC on the Mac to run my business (accounting). I do have to say that I've never gotten a virus, spyware or malware, but when this computer dies, I'm going back to a PC. Even if I have to replace the PC every three years, it's still so much cheaper than getting another Mac. I always say……Apple people are drinking some sort of Kool-Aid. Their products aren't crap, but they certainly don't fulfill all the hype. And now, with Steve Jobs out of the picture, it will be interesting to see if they keep up. Just MHO. I love my iPad -- please love me anyway. Shall I confess to having Apple TV and an iPhone? Love my Apple products but who the hell cares what you use?

Hi Susan, I can't tell from your profile -- have you been banded?

OMG so funny. Icy One, you are hilarious -- thank you from the bottom of my 52 year old heart. Hell, I'm just getting started!

You are ushering in the right satiety.....great we can work with our medical professionals to get the adjustment that's right for us individually......you are getting there!

I am so new at all this but I want to offer support. I've been reading so many posts the last six months or so. What about the five day pouch test? I think the liquids for two weeks might really help your band and tell you more about what's going on. Let us know how you're doing!

Hi Wigg, you are nearly there! I am less than a month out and so happy I did this. My weight is going down but there are also all sorts of other ways that I am feeling so happy -- did not anticipate this getting out of food jail feeling. The release. I highly recommend exercise -- for me it started with walking that night in the hospital and I have not stopped. Now I'm amazing myself, truly. Who is this person? Well I started out dragging an IV pole up and down the hallway and then continuing at home around the driving circle. A year ago I could never have done this but now I'm a real exerciser. I'm pretty sure that is what helped me heal so fast -- that and not doing narcotic pain medication. Now it's helping me she'd. Good luck to you. Keep us posted!

I hear you, Band Sister. Still don't have this figured out. Drinking Smooth Move tea is helping (by Celestial Seasonings -- sold in our regular grocery store in the Wild Harvest section) but I don't want to have to rely on laxative tea. I am less than a month out and I think I'm still adjusting. Have had beets, steamed -- good food for me even though no protein. Tricky, this one! Not having much food by comparison. Colon is wondering what the heck is going on. Well, we are getting thin, that's what. I have Milk of Mag but yuck. And too violent. I will be watching this thread for sure!

Hi there, ports are placed in different places so we don't know. I can feel mine just above and to the lest of my belly button. I am three and a half weeks and for me walking has helped with everything -- it kicked my body into healing mode to begin with and now we are shedding. Love this! Even ten minutes walking a few times a day and you are there. Best wishes!

How exciting! A new baby and a whole new chapter in your life. So happy for you. I think you will want some help, particularly for picking up or if the baby is one who needs to be walked around a lot. You can do the cuddling and sleeping part with the baby and maybe some one can do the rest for a bit? Walking is great if some one can get the baby into a stroller for you and out again. Talk to your doctor about the incisions and lifting, just to be on the safe side. Best wishes -- you're almost there!

I'm taking Biotin as a preventative measure......don't know what the scientific studies show but I figure it can't hurt. I noticed in another thread that a dermatologist can give advice and I think there are some special shampoos out there. Also I have read that the hair comes back so if it does happen don't panic.

Sounds like everything is moving along nicely! Congratulations on your hard work getting to this place. What a way to start 2014! Fingers crossed for a quick and positive response. I had a five month wait. Really dragged at times but in the end I was glad for that time to prepare mentally. I'm really glad I upped my exercise so after I was banded I could move right into that mode. Something switched in my head and now I actually want to exercise. The band did that for me -- I never had the willpower before. Good luck to you -- you will be there soon!

Desk jobs can be so hard on the body. How about getting up and out for ten minutes? No one will even miss you. Walk for ten minutes and when you have that down as a daily practice add another ten. If you have four of these breaks a day you will be a 40 minute a day walker. It really does add up. So good for managing stress and increased activity may be just what you need. Some one already mentioned My Fitness Pal. I like plugging in my exercise, though I don't pay attention to the increase in calories MFP assigns for exercise. It's a great way to track food intake as well. I am sometimes surprised by how those calories add up. Good luck to you -- glad you're here on the forum.

Hi there and welcome! Congratulations on your success -- very inspiring for those of us just starting out.

Surgery 11/5/2013 -- I started at 248 and lost 10 pre-op diet, down 11 more since. Current weight 227 with a goal of 148 (will see when I get down there what feels right).

Friday check-in 227. This is my first month banded -- down 11 pounds. Met my exercise goal and have really become a walker, an every single day kind of walker. There was only one day in this time period that I didn't do it, so I'm very proud of that. It's helping me in every way. And I got the twinkly lights up so our little cottage in the woods is not so dark now as we approach Solstice. Lisa, thank you for organizing this challenge. It really helped me and was fun!