Bandista

Sharpie I'm going to try that black bean burger with an egg on top, yum! I have a fried egg as a go-to protein source when i am suddenly hungry. My husband likes to make if for me. And I often have black beans if I'm out for lunch somewhere -- little side dish. So the combo, perfect! Thanks. I still like thinking about food and preparing it, etc. even when not hungry. The cook in me.

I have worked out for years --not because I wanted to but because I couldnt move otherwise (arthritis). Turns out I was just shy of getting the full benefit of an "all the way" workout -- now I finally know what the high is about. Love it! Does that mean I want to do it next time? You'd think, but I have to fake it frequently. I pretend I'm all thrilled to do it and that leverages into a good exercise session.

Oh for crying out loud, I love my band! Whatever weight loss surgery you get, the main thing is you are choosing your own health and happiness. You are showing up for yourself. Way to go! And keep us posted as things unfold. Wild! PS I had a two week liquid pre-op -- loved it that FOR ONCE every pound lost was one I wouldn't be seeing again. True that.

Thinking of you, Julie. We have a joke in our house, Ice is our friend." Have no idea what plastics protocol involves but boy do I love ice packs for joint pain. You should see our freezer, lol. Did a little retail therapy today, at the local job lots. Coldwater Creek and JJill for ten bucks per. I now have three pair of pants as next NSVs -- two nice linen pants in a purple and a red. Fancy! And another pair of red dress pants. All size ten a and all too. I can zip 'em but that's it. Need to lose some more gut. But then my my, the pants I will have. So much fun to buy off the rack. It's been twenty years for me to be able to enjoy shopping again. Said goodbye to a loved one today -- I am so glad he got to see me lose weight, choose myself and get healthy. He was a doctor. My godfather. Never said a word but I watched his delight this last year as I slimmed down. He had some dementia but was always so delighted to see me. I will miss him but 90 years is a long time. Dying is hard. Glad to have extended my life by choosing to work on my physical body.

Lisa, Lisa, love your post and that you are taking care of yourself. And the race to the theater seats -- being able to do it and laugh about it -- big NSV! Such a New Yorky one from my point of view here in the sticks, lol. I've been dealing with addiction of a loved one as well. My best friend -- had no idea (depression and alcohol but I think the prescribed medication is playing a huge role). I am doing what I can (her husband has ALS...Who wouldn't want escape through whatever means but it DOESNT WORK). Anyway, two beautiful children and I am in a position where I have to draw the line and take care of myself and my own family -- feels like a lot of prioritizing going on 24 x 7 and I imagine that's what your life is. Choose Lisa first. Choose Lisa first. Come on, Let me hear it -- choose Lisa first. Every one else will benefit. Sing it, chant it behind the steering wheel, say it in the shower......at least that's worked for me.

Great point, Cowgirl Jane! Rattling Walls, make sure this is for you, about you, not your mother. Weight Loss Surgery for me is a great assist as I could not achieve success dieting and exercise. Now, with the appetite monster off my back I can make good choices for myself. But it's on me to do that.

Hi there, so glad you found this forum -- a good place to get information. No surgery is better than another. Do your research and don't be swayed by people who promote a particular path. Only you and your doctor know what's best for you. While I was waiting for surgery I decided to get some therapy. It's not like I hadn't worked on my issues before (I'm 53) but this time I was in brutal self-honesty mode. I realized that if I was considering surgery that meant I was really admitting I had a problem with food. we worked to identify my triggers. It was tedious but I'm glad I did it. The therapist kept me at it, going deeper. For instance I just wanted to say I'm an emotional eater. We took that so much further, finding specific incidents. Quelling anxiety, rewarding, "prepping" with food for something I didn't want to do (conference calls for work, meetings, etc.). Or procrastinating - a little cruise for something yummy prior to working on a project, etc. Sorry, going on here but you get the idea. It was helpful for me to have a notebook to write down everything -- all the appointments, phone numbers, etc. I also wrote down my goals and reasons for having surgery. Fun to review those now! Pre-op varies by surgeon -- I had two weeks liquid diet. Purpose of that is to reduce fat around the liver to make the surgery easier. I love my band and it has been great for me. But the main thing is that in choosing weight loss surgery of any kind we are choosing ourselves and our healthy futures. Way to go!

Thanks for this. When our child was growing up we were very careful about sugar. I was always amazed at how people would try to give him just one cookie, etc., as though we were depriving him. Today he is an adult with a good sense of his own nutritional needs. He loves protein and is not addicted to caffeine, etc. Our treat beverage was seltzer water. People give kids sugar to try to make them like them. What children want is a little bit of time and attention, to know that some one is listening. Here's to healthy kids who know how to read labels so they understand how to make good choices -- if you can't pronounce it, don't eat it! Thanks for a great piece.

Sorry for multiple postings. Have been thinking about my one thing I'm especially proud of for today. Here it is: I have my feelings fully now. I don't tamp them down with food at the first sign. I say hello to them, welcome them. They are a part of who I am. Not only do I not try to shove them down anymore but I also don't try to reward myself myself with food. I don't use food to quell anxiety, to check out or to try to make myself feel better.

@@MarieMarie yikes, sorry about your fall. Such an icy winter. Take it easy and enjoy the pace of physical therapy, new ways to exercise that can be incorporated into your regular working out once you are back on track. Im doing PT, too, and noticing how it is changing my daily life -- how I stand, sit, walk, etc. @@Sharpie you are going to look like a million bucks at that wedding! I can't eat Chinese food either. MSG in all of those prepared sauces (even if many places no longer sprinkle on prior to serving and say "No MSG") but also the reheating factor. If we go to an Asian place I usually opt for a Bento box with salmon, no sauce. It's the perfect little portion and I mix up the veggies and rice to take home for our kid and pawn off the shumai on some one. Hope every one has a great Monday. I'm going to say goodbye to my godfather having just learned is in hospice. Loved him so much and he lived a wonderful life for ninety years. I'm not shutting down my feelings, not turning to food in some kind of automatic gesture, just letting myself be. I'm also not going to go get my mother and have her with me for the event -- keeping the crazy makers and drama queens at bay these days and letting myself have my own experiences. I don't need to take care of every one else.

@@bacon glad to hear about the temps as we often get Ohio weather here a few days later. Way to go pulling two boys in a wagon, geesh. Glad you are adjusting your calories for being an active male -- what does your bariatric doctor say? Is there a nutritionist who can help? Don't forget you are building muscle. @@s_suther good luck with all -- love Mondays for new start of week. Happy walking this eve!

@@JustWatchMe Two gallons, okay, oh my god, I'm getting hysterical. Be careful, Miss In For A Penny In For A Pound -- aloe has cleansing properties! Do not drink two gallons! Work your way up slowly and see what your body likes. Oh dear.

Call your doctor! You just have a followup visit, yes? Let them know what's going on -- some surgeons "prime" the band so there is immediate restriction. Maybe too much for you too soon? Or you may be having something that doesn't agree with you? Either way, you should not be nauseous!

JWM, I get the cranberry at Trader Joe's and the aloe at Vitamin Shoppe (their brand) -- and sometimes if I'm Jones-ing for sweet (PMS, etc.), I add some steevia. The brand I like is liquid from TJ''s also....

Have had two of my water bottoes already and it's only 10:30 AM! Here's to achievable goals. I am going to add my PT exercises and weights today and hold myself accountabLe for those as well.

I need to be here building community with people working with their bands -- the doing. Guess I have been thinking about what I'm feeling a lot lately; need to think about what I'm DOING about the feelings. I need to take care of myself more and others less. So here I am doing that, but baby steps lest I trip myself up. My comfort drink is cranberry aloe Water. I fill a 32 oz glass bottle with 1/2 unsweetened cranberry and 1/4 aloe vera -- the rest is our beautiful water. When I drink a lot of this I feel really good. Hydrated and less likely to overdo caffeine (tea fiend) and/or evening cocktails. So today, Sunday, I'm going to drink three, count 'em, three, bottles of my cranberry water and promise myself to report back. Baby steps. I really, really want to drop down into the seventies. High time. It will happen.

Congratulations! I love my band. It's been an amazing 16 months and I feel great. You are on your way to good health. Welcome to our little community.

Congratulations on your decision to choose yourself and your healthy future! When I started researching I got a notebook so I could write everything down in one place -- so much info! It's fun to look back at that now. Good luck with all!

The melt is on! Yes the trees are iced over this morning and there's plenty of snow on the ground, but it is GOING AWAY! Yippee! So happy for spring. And hoping to melt this last thirty pounds as well. PS I love my foreign object. Cannot let myself become disheartened by the band bashers and their hyperbole. Some days it's harder than others and I sure do miss the days of Lapband Talk. Glad it was there for me when I was researching or I may not have gone through with this amazing decision. Because I certainly wasn't prepared do anything more drastic. Jumping For Joy! Hey, I like that. Maybe I'll change my name -- Jumping4Joy

I love eating out but have to order just the right thing -- often an appetizer. I am adept at moving food around my plate, doling out samples ("yum, you've got to try this!") and even taking little pretend bites. If it's dinner out, I will say to the server that I'm saving up for dessert. Every one gets that immediately -- oh, she's watching her weight. When dessert time comes I decline or offer to split something with some one and just have a bite. More likely to have an after dinner drink instead of dessert but that's rare (so high calories). If I'm with my family it's easy -- I just take food off my plate and out it on my husband or son's plate. Win-win. Sometimes at a dinner party my husband will switch plates with me quickly mid-way through -- no one really notices. I may have hardly touched my food or just be done, while he is ready for seconds. There are people I feel up-tight with as dining companions -- hardly any one knows about my band. I occasionally have to conceal something under a lettuce leaf, etc. Sometimes if it's lunchtime (I'm tighter earlier in the day), I will tell a little white lie like, "I had my Protein shake so late this morning; I'm not sure how hungry I will be." I don't even really do Protein shakes anymore and in any case never have anything in the morning because I'm just not hungry. Mostly I get it that people are involved in their own food and not really focused on me me. They are thinking about what to eat next, just like I used to be.

Hi there, my third attempt to post -- troubles with my iPad. Just want to say congratulations, friend. SO happy for you and proud of all you are doing to reclaim your life. And grateful you are here with your self-honesty, humor and commitment.

Hi there, congratulations on regrouping. A quick thought -- for me yogurt is a slider unless I chunk it up with a a little gluten-free cereal, seeds, etc. In order to feel satiety I need to chew the food. The links below in my signature are things that have helped me --- maybe reviewing them will give you a boost or some new tips. And here's to spring after a heck of a long winter! Best wishes.

Way to go! Isn't it great? You look fantastic and you even have an aura, lol.

Nope. I can feel the port, of course, but nothing else.....

So Happy for you! Way to go -- you are doing beautifully.