Bandista

Hi there and welcome! I'm glad you found this forum. I joined in June and was banded in November. I learned so much here just reading people's stories and I felt fully prepared when my surgery date finally arrived. Today is my three-week anniversary and I am so happy. Not just the weight loss, which is great, but for me I feel like I have been released from food jail. I'm not thinking about food, planning for it, wondering what there is to eat, etc. And I am exercising every day and enjoying it. Amazing! In addition to reading lots of posts and asking questions, etc., I am glad I took the time to step up my exercise prior to being banded just so I'd have that in place. I just increased a little as I was my resistant self, unable to get it together, etc. But I'm glad I tried as post-band that has been a major life change for me. Being a walker. I also started a journal so I could track all my many appointments and I made a calendar in the journal, wrote out my goals -- what I look forward to being able to do, etc. And I got a therapist to help me with the process and to identify the weaknesses for food, when I was eating and why. Just so I could be aware of all that "head hunger." Now that I'm banded I have not had the return of hunger yet -- differs for every one -- so I do notice if my thoughts are turning to eating just out of habit. Best wishes to you! 2014 is going to be a great year!

Hi Ilene and welcome back. Thanks for sharing your success -- very inspiring for those of us just starting out! Look forward to seeing you on the forum! It's being redesigned so is a bit confusing right now -- glad you found us. Best wishes for this next reboot and the ten pounds - and I hope you are recovering well from all the surgery. Mobility is so important. My husband has ambulatory issues so we are very familiar with that world. He is recovering from another foot surgery, no longer using a leg brace but still difficult to walk much without severe nerve pain. Biking seems like the future path for him as far as exercise. Just got to strap the foot to the pedal!

Hi there and welcome -- glad you found us! The forum is being redesigned so everything is a little confusing right now. I was banded 11/5 and am three weeks out today. I'm 52 and weighed in at 248. My goal is 148, so an even 100 pounds. I know what you mean about telling some one the weight. The nutritionist announced it when my husband was in the room. I wanted to kill her. He is a bright guy but I had managed to conceal the number for many years. ACK! Well, anyway, it's going down. Good luck to you on this new adventure.

How is every one doing? Today is my three week anniversary. I feel great. Have walked every single day. That is definitely a new me -- the old me would have squirmed out of it at least half the time, especially because it's so cold! The eating is going well. I find I am craving smoked salmon. Probably need the fish oils as well as the protein. And just had some Quinoa flakes for breakfast. Delicious and protein-filled. I am so happy with my decision. Feeling so much healthier already! The mental part of this process is really wonderful, the release from all the food obsession, etc.

How is every one doing? Today is my three week anniversary. I feel great. Have walked every single day. That is definitely a new me -- the old me would have squirmed out of it at least half the time, especially because it's so cold! The eating is going well. I find I am craving smoked salmon. Probably need the fish oils as well as the protein. And just had some Quinoa flakes for breakfast. Delicious and protein-filled. I am so happy with my decision. Feeling so much healthier already! The mental part of this process is really wonderful, the release from all the food obsession, etc.

When were you banded? I am looking forward to exercising but have three weeks more to wait as my post-op protocol was no strength exercise like stretching, etc. Just the cardio. So it's walk, walk, walk for me. I did try to do some stretching and could tell it was too soon. I think you should call it in, too -- just for peace of mind and maybe some suggestions. Let us know! Best wishes to you.........

Congratulations -- so happy for you! The walking really helped me. I had to make myself do it but it just got easier and easier. Hope you have a nice restful few days and that you get to watch all the movies you want!

I've always had the loudest and most painful hiccups -- just once now since being banded and that was from eating too much too fast. Sound resembles what I think those flying dinosaurs may have made. It all settles down and then suddenly there's another one. Hope that's not my body's signal that I'm nearing full and should stop. I'd like something a little more subtle!

Thanks for this -- still sorting this out. Like whether I'm hungry at the end of the day because there's a true calorie deficit and I need food or if I'm just so accustomed to grazing.

Oh, that is brilliant! I like tracking my exercise -- it's the main reason I'm on there as I'm trying to break from calorie counting right now to see if I can keep losing without "dieting" -- but I like the accountability of MFP so much. So just change it all to a 1! Makes sense....

Hell yeah!

Wow, I'm filing away the funky chicken just in case! Had my first event a few days ago. Violent hiccups followed by throwing it all up.

So happy for you -- I am three weeks banded tomorrow and already feel better than I have in years. Having my appetite in check is such a relief.

Yippee! So happy for you!

Hi there, I'm three weeks post-op tomorrow and have exercised every day in the form of walking. Cardio all good but looking forward to strength training in another three weeks. Incisions are nothing but not taking any chances, just following the doctors' protocol. I'm pretty sure exercise is the secret to success. No muscle mass loss with this surgery to answer. Cannot speak to other questions as I'm so new. My first fill is scheduled for 12/4 but I may not need a fill as I've had no return of hunger as yet. I think this is a very individualized surgery and every one is so different -- but a positive attitude and sense of humor combined with the will you already have.....beautiful formula.

Appeal! What about co-morbidities such as high BP, diabetes, sleep apnea, etc.? Be the squeaky wheel. There are three parties -- you, the provider and the insurance company. Going to have to work all three angles. Saddle up!

Hi there, loved reading your introduction as I can identify with all of it. Have not lived in the UAE but know that world a bit. And events. But mostly the long struggle with weight and all the self-restricting with no real result. I am only three weeks out but can say that I am so incredibly happy to be out of food jail. And exercising! That is something of a miracle, the way I now have the willpower to exercise and most of all I am enjoying it. Who is this person? Here's what I did when I started my process in June (banded 11/5): - started in on hospital requirements (mandatory info session, mtg with program Coord, psych eval and nutritionist then finally the surgeon -- no idea what your process will be in UK) - stepped up my exercise program to tone and build muscle as much as possible prior to the surgery - got a therapist to go through the process with me and work on food issues. Not that I haven't done that at age 52 but this time was different because there was a real solution on the horizon and specific things to address -- slow eating, small amounts, really listening to my body. I identified all the weak points in my overeating -- when, why, how, etc. Eating to prep before meetings, conf calls, eating from boredom or as reward. - started a separate journal to keep track go into, my appointments and my feelings. One composition book with everything I need to remember.

My post op protocol was one day clear then on to full liquids. Egg drop soup was on the list -- a hand-written note from the surgeon. I made a spicy egg drop soup that was really yummy. Now I'm three weeks out and enjoying hot ginger, garlic, etc. Made black bean soup with chiles and an Indonesian squash soup. There is yumminess in your future! Just follow doctor's orders, heal up well and then enjoy all the foods you love, just in very small amounts that, miraculously, fill you up.

This is so great! Happy, happy!

Hi there, I had never spent a night in the hospital before -- guess this was the perfect thing to break my record for because I am so happy to be banded! I'm glad I did a lot of walking. I think that was my body shrugging off the anesthesia and starting the healing process. Also glad I didn't do the prescription medication but that's just me. Good luck to you tomorrow! That is my three week anniversary and I have not felt this good in years. Yes, initial discomfort following surgery but having been in real pain the incisional stuff and even that shoulder pain from the gas felt so temporary and worthwhile. You'll do great!

Congratulations! I wish I was in Mexico right now -- it's freezing here in NH! Enjoyed looking through your blog. Great to be able to look back and measure your progress on so many levels -- not just the number on the scale but all those other ways we are changing our lives for the better. Icy One, we lived in Prescott briefly. My husband refers to it as the time we were abducted by aliens. Hope every one is doing well. I am three weeks out tomorrow and feeling GREAT! Better than in years.....

Ciao Rosetta! So glad you found this forum. There is a thread called "Hey Banders" in the 100+ to lose category -- a lot of long time banders posting on there. We are all a little mixed up because the site has recently been redesigned and they are still getting the kinks out. I am newly-banded and very excited to be out of food jail. I'm 52 and live in the north (an hour and a half from Boston) where it is very cold this morning. Troppo freddo! My Italian is terrible these days but I love Italy and lived there for a year a very long time ago. Sending you best wishes......

We are going to a retirement center for Thanksgiving then taking off immediately after for a couple of days in the city. Most of these elders already eat so little -- I will be in good company. People will hopefully be focused on the amount our teenaged son can put away! I will be three weeks out and having first fill 12/4.....I am mostly concerned about eating slowly and stopping. I just had my first event of throwing up my food and I never want that to happen again. The idea of this taking place in a large dining room or restaurant, etc. is horrifying. I was just eating too fast and then too much. Easy to do. Steamed beets and a little bit of tuna, a small spoon but I was going at it the way I used to eat. Not sure why it turned into a throwing up episode vs. spitting up, except I have always been gaggy. Sorry to bring this up here but a cautionary tale for those who may be new and tempted to have too much? If it doesn't have anywhere to go, it's going to come up. I had fifteen minutes of very loud somewhat painful hiccups prior to the event. Main goal for that day is exercising. If it's nice I will see if I can get every one to take a walk before lunch. If it's not I will go myself or be sure to get treadmill time in. This will be my first Thanksgivimg when I, thinking more about exercise than food. Feel ambivalent about the latter.....

Congratulations! That's a small bale of hay (picked that up from another thread, What Things Weigh). I can't wait to put down this bale of hay or two (!) I carry around 24 x 7. You must feel great! The pix are wonderful....waist, neck appearing -- and your beautiful smile.

Congratulations -- sounds like things are moving right along! I started in June and was banded in November. So happy! While I was waiting I kicked the exercise up and I'm glad I did that. Made me healthier for surgery and also able to step right into increased activity after banding. I'm pretty sure exercise is a key to success but I had trouble getting motivated pre-band. It has given me willpower. Keep us posted on your progress!