Bandista

Hi there, I am pretty excited about pea protein. I am on my pre-op diet and have four different canisters going for variety. Amazing how much you can go through in this stage! Just picked up a new one at Vitamin Shoppe over the weekend and I think it's the best deal so far: Olympian Labs Lean and Healthy Pea Protein 26 grams protein for 160 calories. Chocolate. I sometimes put a half a frozen banana in for a smoother shake along with ice. Pretty yummy! I order stuff on-line from Vitamin Shoppe. Just got Alive brand pea protein vanilla but have not tried it yet. Other ones I have are Thorne Mediclear. Designed for detox so good for this pre-op focus of liver cleanse, etc. 145 calories, 23 grams protein. This is a lot of protein for a shake and the pea is hypoallergenic so no dairy, soy, etc. Sometimes I use almond milk but the water is actually just fine. Good luck to you!

Hi there, hang in there. I am still pre-band (one more week!) but I've been reading posts for a few months now to prepare and it seems like this is a difficult time for so many people. Take good care of yourself. It's just two and a half weeks since your surgery. I'm not sure where you live but here in New England the light is changing so much right now and there's that feeling of impending winter. Is there something fun you can do for the next couple of weeks to help distract yourself while you wait to see the surgeon and have your first fill? I just bought strings of twinkly lights to hang up to try to get at the light deficit. That always makes me feel better in these winter months. How is your exercise life? Oh, and will you come back and tell me this when it's my turn? Best wishes!

Hi there, there are definitely some Chicago peeps on here and I've heard your facility mentioned -- you may want to check the November Bandster's thread. Good luck with all. I started in June and learned so much here over the summer, etc. Asking questions and reading threads. And now I'm getting banded next week. Very excited! I felt so impatient at first but now this feels like the right time. Look forward to chatting with you on the forum!

Happy Birthday (almost) -- have fun out on the town!

Hi there, thinking of you and I will be there next week -- you will have recovered by then, dancing a jig. Best wishes!

Hi Rosemary, I know what you mean about getting this show on the road! My date is a week from tomorrow. Fingers crossed for you to get your date firmed up and on your way. As the time grows closer I find myself anxious over various small things but not the surgery itself. That I am excited about. Now off to hospital for one last pre-op hoop -- a blood test to make sure I haven't wasted away after one week of liquids only. Next visit the real one!

Didn't want to work out today. Monday, ugh. 6am got son breakfast, lunch and out the door. Husband begged off PT exercises and my exercise partner was late so I climbed under the covers to snooze. Then she arrived. By then I really really did not want to work out, but we did it anyway and it felt great. I am a different woman at the end of 40 on the treadmill, 20 recumbent bike. Then this afternoon we did the PT exercises, too -- weights. All good!

Thanks so much every one -- worried about the silliest things just now. I do love a good restaurant experience once in a while. For me that's a beautiful piece of fish some one else prepared and yummy veggies. Or a hamburger no bun. Don't really eat bread much now so I'm figuring that will be probably off my list a good long while. And I'm already terrified of rice and I don't even have my band yet! It is so far in the future -- this is called banking anxiety. And anxiety is a bad investment. Ack. Off to the hospital for last pre-op crap. More blood tests in case I have wasted away after one week on shakes. Hello? I could live on just my fat for a year.

Hi Bradley, 25 pounds down is awesome! Congratulations on that -- that's a nice chunk in the right direction. I am not banded yet but I know there is that time after surgery and prior to a fill that can be "bandster hell" -- a time of hunger that we thought we were not going to have again. Just know it's not going to last -- you are going to keep working with your surgeon on the right fill to make your band work perfectly for you so you are eating good food in small portions and losing weight. Stay away from the temptation and see if you can get in sooner for a fill. You'll get there!

Hi Ann, I hope it goes well tomorrow and you are able to get back on track. I am just back from a therapy appointment. Still pre-band (one more week!) but have been seeing a therapist while going through this process. Trying to sort out those issues of what food has meant for me, the overeating, feeling like my body betrayed me at some point (the initial big gain and subsequent failed attempts to lose weight), etc. I am a stress-eater (who isn't?!) and use food to tamp down anxiety. You must be anxious about your band right now. Things will be so much better when you know what's going on with this and the fact that you are coming here and checking in means you are aware. That is important, don't you think -- the awareness of what we are doing. Just know you're not alone -- please don't feel embarrassed or disgusted with yourself. We've all been there and we're all here now. Keep us posted!

Wow! July? That is amazing -- you are rocking this banded life! Thanks for the reminder about pictures. I came across a recent one that somehow I didn't delete. It's from my birthday and certainly demonstrates how fat I am. Instead of trashing it as I usually would, I am holding on to it. Will be something to compare this year's birthday pic with one next year. Best wishes for your continued success. You are doing BEAUTIFULLY!

Hi there, thanks for this -- I am taking notes for next week! And memorizing your last line above..... we all need to remember those weeks following the surgery are NOT about weight loss. That is happening now (pre-op diet) and will come later after things settle. I am okay with that but just reminding myself again now!

Hi Faithful, love the cow! Glad you are coming out of a few rough days -- I hope today is stellar. I know what you mean about the scrambled egg and cottage cheese cravings. When do you go on mushies? Isn't it great to have such healthy cravings -- that relationship with the body back into place, able to listen to signals for the right foods, etc. Next Tuesday is my big day then those weeks of clear to full liquids to soft foods and mushies.......I am so excited about everything. Good luck to you! PS when can you exercise?

Congratulations on that -- awesome. AND, I just looked at your ticker! Wow! You have done such an amazing job of recovering your health. Truly amazing. Hat's off to you!

Fabulous! Very, very inspiring......thank you!

Thanks so much -- one half cup did not really seem like much!

Thanks so much. Finally an explanation of how the band really works with the brain. Even if it is still unknown whether hormonal or neural I love understanding more of how the process occurs. It will certainly slow me down..... Half cup is a smaller than the cup I have been picturing. Tiny! I am going to print this out and reread, especially those eight words.

Yippee! This is just the kind of perseverance that is going to take you to your goal. So happy for you!

I am on a CPAP machine now -- love/hate relationship. Sounds like you need one quick, regardless of whether it's only temporary. Could change -- or save -- your life. I hope to get off mine once banded and weight comes off but I had sleep issues as a thinner person so I don't know if that will be possible. All I know is my machine allows me to get into a deep sleep. There's nothing like it.

I can picture this -- and your face at that moment! She must be quite the cutie-pie and smart as a whip, too.

Donna, be sure to get unsweetened cranberry -- you will only need a splash so a bottle goes a long way. I really like the cleansing properties of aloe but can't drink it plain -- it is masked in the cranberry water. If you like a sweeter drink, you could try adding Steevia to it (Truvia is a brand of Steevia -- there are others, too -- Steevia is a plant and very, very sweet so a little bit will do). Hope you feel better soon. Hydration is so important!

Hi Nancy, glad you are recovering well. I am going in 11/5 and it will be overnight -- just the way they do it at the hospital I'm going to (barium swallow next AM before leaving). Can't answer your cough drop question -- don't swallow by mistake! Congrats on having this behind you and now new chapter beginning. Here's to health and happiness!

Not at all......and how are you doing today?

Just finished my first week of two-week liquid pre-op -- didn't want to do the HMR 800 my hospital uses (dairy-based would not be good for me, plus other stuff I didn't want in my body) -- using pea protein which is working well. No appetite so that's good. I'm drinking other liquids -- water w/unsweetened cranberry splash and aloe, tea, have had broth a few times, etc. It's going well and I'm glad to get a bit off prior to surgery. Have been doing liver detox herbs as well but will finish tomorrow as no herbs, supplements, ibuprofen, etc. one week prior to surgery.

Hope you are able to get to the bottom of these health issues. We have to be such advocates for ourselves and navigate so much. I had Lyme and co infections of Lyme two years ago and t was really something trying to figure out what on earth was wrong and then what to do. On water, I fill up a 32oz juice bottle nearly to the top and then add a splash of unsweetened cranberry juice and a capful of aloe Vera. It is delicious and cleansing -- sometimes I knock back three bottles of this a day. Also I drink a lot of ginger tea, cold or hot. Keeps well in fridge and has a nice mouth kick, like a cocktail.