Bandista

Hi there, I have no advice as far as procedure but congratulations on deciding to grab hold of your health issues now. Your kids are young and what a difference weight loss surgery will make to the coming decades. One thought reading your post is that you will want to check with your insurance company to be sure what they cover and whether there are any restrictions. I only had one -- my BMI had to be over 40. Also, I don't use my real name on the forum as it's all here on the Internet for the world to see and we share such private things.....

Great post, Liz. I was raised not to ever get carried away with myself -- it was considered unseemly for a little girl in that era of being seen and not heard, etc. Shut up, look pretty and by all means don't feel successful. What a world! When some one compliments me I panic, and since I have one of those faces that registers every single emotion for every one to see, people close to me have stopped mentioning how much slimmer I am. Lately. I've been wearing fun clothes -- bright tights, shorter skirts and boots, dresses, retro sweaters, etc. Sometimes no one says anything as they don't want to make me feel uncomfortable and I find I'd like a little input. This tells me I'm changing. And I do like being noticed by strangers now. There is no former fat me for them to compare me with -- just the happy person in front of them now. As far as monitoring intake, I was so restrictive for so many years that I don't think I could ever really let go. I have to be mindful about "allowing" myself or otherwise I am a dieter again and that did not work for me. I was a little worried about going the other way -- being "against" food and eating. Happy to report I still love food. It is an important part of my life and I want this healthy relationship to continue. For me that means not denying myself. Nor beating myself up.

Just back from a little urban getaway -- such a contrast to my life here in the boonies! Two nights of hotel life to see a concert (fantastic). Had a great time dressing up and feeling good. We were with friends and food is always a focus -- where to eat, etc. I indulged in little bits of everything I wanted, which didn't turn out to be much, really. Big desire for chocolate for example -- completely satisfied with a tiny piece. Crab cakes (a favorite food) and the appetizer version was perfect. Cheeses, just a small piece of each was fine. Loving this life! No on a plan/off a plan, just being. This is my new normal. I do like my home routine and am glad to be back in that groove -- our water is so delicious here and I feel a little dehydrated. And even though we walked quite a bit I am missing being really well exercised. Just so much harder to achieve that in the winter months. Come on spring!

Congratulations -- thanks so much for being here. Love your posts and am so motivated by the success of long-term banders. I gave myself a year and now I'm giving myself another year. Love, love, love my band. wonderful to see your picture -- you are adorable. And a hot ticket!

Hi there and congratulations! I love my band and feel this was one of the best decisions of my life. Being out of food jail is amazing. Glad you stumbled on the forum; you will get a lot of support here. The links below in my signature helped me understand how the band works and how to work the band. I was not hungry after surgery but my hunger returned in time for my first fill. We are all different -- I required several fills to reach the green zone. My appetite is dimmed so I can make good choices. I do not diet -- that didn't work for me but the band works beautifully. My advice is to follow your plan and keep all your appointments. I gave myself a year, the year of me. Feeling great! You will, too.

Hi there and congratulations on deciding to get healthy. I am so happy to have chosen weight loss surgery. I am 53 and had never been an overnight patient in a hospital before. I chose the band because it is less drastic and, if necessary I could always go to something else later if needed. I did not want part of my stomach cut out. LapBand requires a lot of followup in the first year and many surgeons are not up for that kind of patient contact. I love my band. It is all about dimming the appetite (some links below in my signature). I can and do eat whatever I want, just in small quantities at appropriate intervals. Cooking is a big part of my life. We have a lot of dinner parties and go out to eat frequently. And I drink. Wine but also cocktails. Tonight I made chicken with a spicy peanut sauce, cilantro, etc. and a goat cheese Asian pear tart for dessert. I make my own stock and love sauces. It is an amazing thing to have the appetite monster off of my back and to be able to really enjoy whatever I'm having without just wanting more, more, more. Satiety is a beautiful thing. Sorry, rambling here (woken by snow plow and can't get back to sleep). Good luck as you research all your options.

A wise woman, who turned out to be my birth mother, once told me, "sex is all In the brain." I think that's true. Love the body part, the physical, but it's our brains that are signalling all that happiness. For me confidence goes a long way, and my band has provided a lot of that. I am so happy to be happy in my body. I am in my fifties and recognize that imperfections are par for the course. My focus is on feeling good -- in my body and also in my brain.

Happy for you -- you're diing great!

Hi Lori, absolutely.......you are doing beautifully! Pat yourself on the back and keep every single appointment for follow-up. Glad you're here on the forum!

Oh, I meant to mention the links in my signature below really helped me; maybe you, too.

Hi there and congraduations on getting your surgery! You, too, Lolo.... My surgeon described a goal of being satisfied with a tennis-ball sized portion (his lingo) for 4-5 hours. I am some one who needed several fills to get there.....in retrospect the time it took was good as I had to adjust my eating habits. I was such a shoveler, etc. Sounds to me Ike you are doing beautifully!

I gained a chunk of weight quite suddenly at age thirty -- a prednisone incident followed by severe dieting only to gain more, then more over the years. If I could roll back the clock and have my band then I would do it in a heartbeat. Of course it wasnt available then and I feel like the technology now, laparoscopic surgery, the support I get from a web-based forum -- all of this is a product of the here and now. But oh, if I could have avoided the pain and embarrassment of my weight issues and all the struggles that ensued, I would have done it at the onset. I am 53 now and loving getting dressed in fun clothes and having the energy to really live.

My weight was mainly in my belly -- Mrs. Winnie-the-Pooh. I'm happy that my skin is not saggy. Exercising/toning really helps but also skin elasticity is, I believe, genetic. Good luck with your process -- exciting times! Choosing yourself and your healthy future is an amazing thing.

Hi there and congratulations! Whole new chapter beginning....choosing yourself and your healthy future first is such a powerful thing. I love having the appetite monster of my back and being able to make good choices. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Walking really helped kick my body into healing mode. Every time I had to get up to pee I would cruise up and down the hallway, a little further each time. Impress yourself and the nurses!

It can be difficult in the beginning -- it's all about those followup appointments and making sure the band is doing its job so you can do yours. Wel all mentir one another here -- welcome to the party! Make sure you see your medical professionals. I had eleven visits with my surgeon the first year and I'm some one who needed several fills to achieve the green zone. We are all different. For me in the first months it was all about behavior modification -- learning to slow down and listen, recognize appetite and satiety. Best wishes -- you will get there!

I used a pea Protein shake by Thorne (Mediclear) for my pre-op because there was no way I was going to take the product doled out by the hospital -- dairy based and full of artificial sweeteners and other crap. shakes are sliders, though -- it really takes chewing and swallowing for the brain to give the satiety message. I do a shake once in a while for a treat or to give the Band a rest for a few days and reboot, but for regular life with the band it's all about real food and proper fills to achieve the green zone and a dimmed appetite, which allows for choosing the right foods, stopping when satisfied, etc.

I love the Simpson articles, too, and have a link below in my signature as well as one for the Eight Golden Rules. Both of these sources helped me understand how the band works and how to work the band. Sorry about your leg (ouch!) and your father's stroke. Life can sure deal it out sometimes. Just know that this is the right time, that you are choosing yourself and your healthy future. Way to go dealing with all the medical records and finding a new doc. You are on your way. Keep us posted!

Exercise togs on, shoes laced up and awaiting my workout partner's arrival so we can head to the basement for ninety minutes trading off on treadmill, bike and Bowflex. So many excuses over the last few weeks -- sickness, bitter cold weather, sloth, lol. My body has missed the exercise and I am doing the arms up overhead finish line thing for my fake it til I make it brain response. I want endorphins. I want my back and hip to or feel better. I want the stress release. Ergo I want exercise. Today eldercare, tax prep and hopefully progress on my two for-pay jobs -- the procrastination is stressing me out. I need a good exercise day and a hyper-productive multi-taskimg family and work kind of day. Going to map out what I need to do for one client today instead of feeling overwhelmed by two. Plus the parents, the kid, the house, the tax paperwork, the photo albums I want to finish, letters I'd like to write, cooking....this is what sends me diving for the covers. Fortunately I know food won't help.

Squeezed myself on to the couch the other day between two friends and a doggie -- didn't have to think twice about whether I'd fit.....and didn't feel embarrassed. That's the main thing for me these days -- not feeling shy and humiliated about my body size.

@@Band Aid mom how are you all doing? So excited for you. It is clear from your posts that you are so ready for this......exciting times.

Thanks for this, B-52. I have been a little lame in the exercises department and I need to GET BACK. I love it when I am "worked out." I need that. For pain management, for feeling flabby, etc. The heck with weight loss (love that, too), I need exercise for every reason. Have had a difficult month -- bloody cold came back, blah, blah, blah, can't walk or even BE outside and last spring, summer, fall I really owned a particular four-mile fast walk around a gorgeous lake. Meanwhile our basement with treadmill, etc. is cold (that is actually good, just got to get my lazy you know what in motion for ten minutes and temp is perfect). Need to get my act together. Exercise partner should be able to get here tomorrow (we are BURIED in snow) and I'm going to work on motivation whether that is new music, etc. Miss my working out. Thank you.

Oh Just Watch, wrote a lengthy comment this AM and got booted off the system....Bariatric Pal does not always love my iPad, lol. Just wanted to say, basically, that you are amazing. You broke your huge task down into pieces and got it done. You're bringing mindfulness to your whole life. Small portions. Chewing well. Being finished when you're finished. I have to say, I'm getting so much more out of this whole process than weight loss -- which I love, and needed, but that was my purpose and now the larger purpose, the scope, is just so much more amazing. I like to think my original post this morning was more coherent. I can blame the snow. Good grief, this is something.

You are Ah-mazing! Seriously..... Thanks for such a great post. I know what you mean and feel lucky, lucky, lucky!

That is very poignant, Julie, about the sink. I am so sorry for your loss but glad you are finding your way and choosing health -- freedom from food jail makes us all so much stronger. Happy Friday all! I am going flower shopping for a party I'm hosting tomorrow. Each guest is bringing one bunch of flowers to share and a vase or two to make arrangements to take home. I'm serving tea and there will be goodies. I'm not too tempted by that stuff these days.

So happy for you -- great to have the surgery in the rear view mirror and to have this new chapter in your life. Best wishes!