Bandista

Keep your chin up, you're doing beautifully! Those early months for me were about learning to eat when I'm hungry and not eat when I'm not hungry. Once my appetite was really dimmed, it was much easier to determine hunger. In the beginning I worked mostly with portion sizes and working on eating slowly. I did some practicing with the clock, etc. It was so hard for me to put my little fork down -- didn't want to let go of the shovel, lol. In the long run, the rewiring of those kinds of habits are what make the difference to the lifetime changes we are making. I gave myself a year when I started, and when I felt frustrated I'd remind myself that it was going to take a year. It didn't take nearly that long for me to get my momentum, and now that I'm more than a year out and could still stand to lose twenty or thirty pounds I'm giving myself another year to get there. I need that permission, somehow, to put myself first, to be gentle with myself and to recognize that it's all about the long game. Best wishes -- you will get there soon!

Positive self-talk is so important. Sometimes I catch myself saying (maybe not aloud, but in my head), "you idiot," or some such. NOT OKAY! So now I try to remedy that with positive remarks even when it feels silly. The mantra of choosing myself first changed my life. The car was a good place for that -- I'd repeat over and over again.

Liz!!!! What a fantastic photo! Something to show that grandchild. Debbie, I know what you mean. Without really changing what I'm doing or not doing, there are times when I'm losing and others when I seem to have leveled off for a bit. I figure that's a good thing -- that my body needs to catch up or regroup. And Arlene, 80 pounds is amazing. I have never been a very disciplined person unless I really want to do something -- then, whoosh, I am off to the races. That WANT power that CG talks about. I really didn't want to exercise but had to fake it until one day when I actually did want to exercise -- shocking! The last month or so I have not been working out and I miss it -- yet I can't seem to march myself down to the basement right now. It's too bloody cold! I am now a person who could stand to lose twenty or thirty pounds rather than a large woman with an even bigger appetite. I have to make sure I don't fall into complacency mode. So here's what I want: Strong supple arms that I don't mind showing in public A muscular belly with good core strength to take me through my older years Long neck, big smile Shower myself with the kind of patience and kindness I find it easier to give others Get high off of exercise I WANT THOSE! So here's to the next ten; I so want to get into the seventies. It will happen!

Best wishes and congratulations on your band! I remember the discomfort being less each day. And how hard it was to get up out of bed, etc., those first few days. The walking really helped me a lot. Even though I didn't take pain medication, I still had to deal with constipation around day five or so. That was something I hadn't anticipated. Hope you are feeling good today. You are on your way!

So true! And like others I despised seeing pictures of myself. Now I have one up on the wall beside my desk as a reminder of how happy I am to have collar bones again.

The band is a process and every one is different. I am some one who needed several fills to get to the green zone. In retrospect that was a good thing because I really had to learn how to be more mindful and SLOW down. So for me the incremental stages were valuable. As for hunger, I had to learn that, too, as it had been so long since I had really felt hungry. At the first sensation of anything, I'd put food in my mouth. So that was a learning process as well. And now I welcome hunger and see it as a positive thing. Good luck to you -- you're on your way. The links in my signature below really helped me understand how the band works and how to work the band.

Wow! You are doing beautifully. So happy for you!

Oh my goodness, so happy for you. I don't eat much nowadays and sort of can't believe it.

Many reasons not to exercise last two+ weeks -- sickness in household, severe cold weather, etc. It's all blah, blah, blah. My body is missing that worked out and toned feeling. So tomorrow the jig is up. I am holding myself accountable for EXERCISE. Will report back.

It is nearly impossible for me to comprehend what it's like to have NO desire for a pizza. And not to miss it, either. Call. Having the appetite monster off of my back is the best thing ever. You will get there.

Oh Dakota, so sorry. Been there, done that. I have to take my supplements later in the day.

YES! Yes, and yes and yes. So happy for you.

Hi there, we kind of all mentor and support each other here. I found the forum to be so helpful. I read through post after post and figured out the patterns of success. Personally I skipped any negative info but that's just me. Decided on a wall of positivity and that has served me well. Best wishes with your process -- it's pretty amazing to choose yourself and your healthy future. I am so happy to have the appetite monster off of my back. The links in my signature below are sites that were helpful to me as I was learning about the band.

My program called for 11 visits with the surgeon in the first year (one week, four weeks, five weeks then as needed). A six month and twelve month check in with LB coordinator at the hospital. Surgeon does the fills but I would feel fine with a nurse practitioner, etc.

Hi there, I would follow up with my surgeon. I have no idea how much is in my band but it took me several fills to get to the green zone. In retrospect the time was good because I needed to modify behaviors. Having my appetite dimmed allowed me to do that. Maybe the links in my signature below will help you -- I learned a lot from both of these sources. Best wishes and keep us posted!

Congratulations to both of you -- on your way. Keeping all the appointments for me was key. I love my banded life!

Hi there, glad you're here -- if it were me I would make an appointment ASAP with your medical professionals. They want you to succeed. You are showing up for yourself and your health -- whatever you do, don't beat yourself up. We've all done enough of that. The links in my signature below might help -- they helped me understand better about how the band works by dimming the appetite. For this the fill has to be right, and to get the right fill you have to go to your appointments. For me this process provided accountability -- I would weigh-in, etc. and discuss any issues that were coming up. Plus the stages getting there gave me time to address behavior modification issues. Good luck -- you know you can do this!

Well here you are -- sometimes timing is everything and maybe you weren't really ready to fully commit to yourself and your healthy future. The first year of LapBand is really about keeping all those appointments with the surgeon. So now it's time to touch base. Get yourself in for an assessment. Your medical professionals are there for you and they want you to succeed. If the band is not at the right fill then your appetite is not dimmed and you're just fighting the same old battle, the one we can all identify with. I have a couple of links in my signature below that really helped me. Maybe they will help you, too. Best wishes!

Hi Julie, soak up that sunshine and laughter, JOY! A new chapter, indeed, and as you say we never know what's around the bend. I'm sorry for all you've been through. This trip must be so healing. Here's to feeling all our feelings and not trying to quash them with food. It never really worked for me anyway -- I just got fat! I'm struggling a bit with my last fill. That was a couple of weeks ago and it may be a bit tight. I'm gurgly in my esophagus and that is embarrassing (plus, duh, not good). And I've had sliming and stuck episodes. It seems obvious that I should go get a little unfill. The thing is, I've been sick and i know that's a contributing factor. I kept waiting for it to pass but this cold is long-running. I know I can't really assess the band accurately when I have these sinus issues. Mucous, yuck! Then I got my period (first since September -- can't I be done done?) and the hormones are also a factor. Plus it's damn cold and I think my band is tighter in the cold as well. So I keep waiting it out but this is going on too long. Now it's snowing cats and dogs so I couldn't go for an unfill for a few days anyway. I know no one can decide but me, however any thoughts are welcome.

Hi there, the links below in my signature really helped me understand the difference between being full and being satisfied. Especially for volume eaters, it's important to know the band isn't there for capacity limitations -- it's really about dimming the appetite. My signals for satiety vary and I have to listen. I have to be in a noticing place -- mindful. Sometimes it's boredom for me. I find I am keeping that bite of food in my mouth a long time and feeling sort of ambivalent. That's my signal that I'm done. Sometimes I will have a sigh. A hiccup for me is a danger signal -- I've eaten too fast and/or too much.

We be dainty!

Thanks for these Costco tips -- I'm a new member there. We live far away but go down for a haul once in a while. It's a bit overwhelming -- I have to be in the right head space just to walk in the door, lol. I was happy to find organic roasting chickens and thighs -- we cook with thighs frequently. I can't wait to find those salmon patties, Jane -- thanks for that. I'm a salmon snob, too! I always buy avocados there -- don't know how they source them but they are so much better than the grocery store variety. And cheese, I am a sucker for cheese. Thanks whoever mentioned hemp hearts. I'm always looking for stuff to put in my greek yogurt so I have to chew it a little -- otherwise for me its a slider food. Friday I'm going down there because I assume they will have flowers. Having a Valentine's party and people will bring a vase and some flowers to share. Fun! I will buy some crapoy heart-shaped cookies to serve but thanks to WLS will not be tempted. If I am, I will have one, but I doubt it. But chocolate, that's another story!

Started my research in June, missed the every other month mandatory information session required by my hospital, did that in August and was banded early November. Hospitals have their own program requirements as do insurance companies. I felt impatient to get things rolling but in retrospect the extra time was valuable in terms of mental preparedness. I got a therapist for a while, to go through the process with me objectively and help me break down my eating habits, triggers, etc. And I didn't want to, but I upped my exercise as I was getting closer to surgery and that made a big difference. Best wishes to you! Know that whatever surgery you have, wherever you have it, the important thing is you are choosing yourself and your healthy future. You are showing up for YOU and that is a powerful thing. So exciting!

Just lost my post -- so irritating to tap it out again. I am happy to report that I still love food. I am so much less eating-disordered now that I know what hunger and satiety feel like -- having the band gives me the ability to make good choices because I'm not in a place of desperation. My appetite is not controlling me. Tonight as we anticipate yet another storm I felt like baking. I turned out three little gluten free beauties -- small vanilla loaves with cacao nibs. They are cooling and I honestly have no desire for a piece (if I do, I'll have a little!). It was enough for me to make them. And I am a sucker for presentation so serving them will be a pleasure as well. Here's to a healthy relationship with food!

Hi there and congratulations on having the surgery behind you. I had the hernia repair, too, and sometimes I wonder if I feel so good -- or if it's just the weight loss and feeling in control of my appetite, etc. Anyway, here's to choosing yourself and your healthy future first. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!