Bandista

What I miss: not much! Like others, there are times when I'd like to chow down on just the right kind of sandwich or a big, fat cheeseburger -- munching on a baguette, etc. What I don't miss: being so damn self-conscious every where I went. It's been so great going out into the world these last two years and holding my head up high, having a good time. I no longer look around to see if I am the heaviest person in the room and I don't worry about what people might think about what I'm eating/not eating. I just do my thing and I sure don't miss questioning every aspect of my eating all the day long (should I have this, should I be "on" or "off" a diet, etc. -- happy to not be on a diet!). Thanks for a great thread and Happy New Year all! (Oh, I kind of miss champagne -- cannot do the bubbly unless it's in a mimosa or something that flattens out some of the carbonation....)

Thanks, Debbie -- Happy New Year to you, too, and to all my friends on this site. I am currently in bed and trying to rest after a much-too-busy holiday season. Grateful not to be hungry but still need to rein in the eating/drinking. Enough with the cheese, good grief. About to make a great big beet and green apple juice and that will be the first thing I've had today besides tea. Juicing has always worked for me as a way to regroup. Here's to 2016 and health, prosperity and enjoying our lives. Best wishes to all!

Yippee, so happy for you!

Yippee! So happy for you!

Here's to you, Liz, and to your healthy life and all that it now holds -- you are showing up for it all and that's a beautiful thing to see. You have been a great inspiration to me. Keep on keeping on and appreciating every minute of what we have, yes!

I am some one who needed several fills to find the green zone. In hindsight grateful for the time it took as I had to get used to the whole new lifestyle of eating slowly, etc. the links below in my signature helped me a lot -- maybe they will help you, too!

Congratulations on having your surgery -- hope you're recovering well. What a new year you are going to have!

Thinking of your family, Joe. And life, affirming happiness and being present in our lives.

Hi there, all -- Happy Solstice and all the rest. So much going on at this time of year -- I have to admit I am looking forward to January and the calm following all the holiday merry-making. It's been one thing after the other here, including a three-day trip to see cousins out of state where we helped them give a huge party. Must run in the family. Exhausted but happy. Taking a morning in bed with my laptop and journal beside me. Need to choose myself first and make sure I am well-rested, not racing around. I gasped when I saw the scale this morning but assume that is a lot of retention. Time to rein it in, however, and get back on "my" foods versus restaurant food, party food, etc. I did hydrate very well on our trip -- took six bottles of my cranberry aloe Water with me and downed them all -- plus I got out for one mega-walk through a beautiful park. Now to get my exercise routine here established for the cold months ahead when I can't really do the outdoor thing. My treadmill awaits. Need something like a video series to watch down there while I'm doing it.

Need this as I really need to get into my indoor mode for the next four months+ -- got to make friends with the machines in the basement as it's too cold to work out outside. Last Sunday was yoga queen in back of a concert hall -- coukd bot sit still so used the time/space for my workout. No one noticed, great stretch session!

Yippee! So happy for you. I love, love my band.

@@jerandlaur hi there and congratulations on your surgery. Hope recovery has gone well. We pretty much all mentor each other here, but if there's anything in particular please put it out there. The links below in my signature really helped me understand how the band works and how to work the band. I must have read the Simpson stuff a thousand times. Best wishes!

Sharpie : ) glad they are taking care of you! And you taking care of you, too. Go band!

Hi Julie, sending a little extra love your way today!

Hi there all, good to check-in! I am not able to search on this thread and post......have to wait for it to come up (weird!). I am doing some cleansing and also amazing body work, kind of like PT meets massage. The holidays don't seem to be a particular trigger as my band is there to let me know I don't need much food. Yay!

Hi there, finally found it -- won't come up for me in a search either so I had to wait for some one to post: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/349818-banders-7/

Do they have a kitchen I don't know about? Because this one is MY KITCHEN. Family often comment, "we live in a restaurant." Well, it's my restaurant, just sayin'.......... But seriously speaking, a good pantry with the right food is a necessity. Get in what's good for you, what works and if there are triggers, etc. -- get 'em OUT. I cannot believe that we currently have things like chocolate, ice cream, array of cheeses, etc. and I am still able to make good choices. Thank you, band.

Hi there, Flouncy Ruffles -- you do your thing! I loved this post. So germane in my life right now. I'm mid-life or whatever it is, and I'm looking better and better. This can feel a little weird and messy. But I want to wear those boots. That skirt! I say let's go for it and enjoy it all. Best wishes to you. Dance on!

Hi there, this sounds to me like acid reflux. I would contact your doctor right away as this can cause long-term damage. Some people benefit from blocks of wood under the head of the bed -- a couple of inches to raise up the torso for sleeping. But talk to your doctor -- something is not right and you want to be healthy and pain-free, no GERD, etc. Speaking of GERD, this could also be due to dietary changes. My husband had GERD for years, esophogeal stretches and all the rest, only to find out he can't do wheat. I don't have bread now that I'm banded. And some people don't have food too close to bed for that reason. Good luck -- but get help. That's what they are there for! You are worth it!

Congratulations -- so happy for you. I love, love, love my band. Definitely not the easy way out (whatever that is) but, boy is my life easier having the appetite monster off of my back. The links below in my signature helped me understand more about the band; maybe they will help you, too. And we are here to share our experiences -- keep us posted! I am two years out and feel the joy of making good food decisions without a lot of angst. I just eat good healthy food in much smaller portions and at appropriate intervals. Sure helps not being hungry! Good luck with all.

So swee! You are going to have a very special holiday season. Cute is nice; I get that. But listen up, you are BEAUTIFUL inside and out. I haven't met you but consider you to be a cyber-friend. You are smart, sexy, hot and gorgeous. Yes, and cute. For the daughter's boyfriend. So sweet! And I know what you mean because my kid is in college, too, and we are attending lots of perfmances. I rock it when we go hear him play and I feel so good in my fun clothes knowing he is thinking, "yeah, that's my Mom." Have fun!

Well, for those of you celebrating with me over breaking up with the sleep machine, we are back together again. I love the concept but it turns out I was waking up frequently, gasping and all the rest. It may be that I am with this thing for the duration. Last week I was really dragging, pain index high (I have arthritis) and just not feeling "myself." Well, I think that can all be attributed to poor sleep. I went back on the CPAP two nights ago and have had a complete turnaround. Plus my husband is happy as I'm not waking him up now, so there's that. My plan for now is to lose ten more pounds then go back for another sleep study to make sure the machine is tuned to my new body and working optimally. That's the update! An NSV Take-Backsie but I am still one happy woman.

@@SassyNanny whoah, a bit scary -- but hey, who would have thought of weight loss surgery years ago and here I am so happy with this newfangled thing on my stomach.

Hi there and congratulations on everything. I remember my first fill and how I didn't realize the surgeon had done it already. Very easy! And yes, eating slowly and chewing very thoroughly are definitely where it's at. Best wishes!

@@Inner Surfer Girl thank you, I will look into that! My machine is pretty old at this point and I'll bet there is all sorts of new technology available.