Bandista

Not completely off track, because here you are! I think the self-honesty -- the awareness of what's happening -- is the biggest hurdle and you have conquered that already. Jim's suggestion on labs is excellent -- could be a reason you're tired and one thing can lead to the other. I am trying to strategize for winter. Have had a great summer of major outdoor exercise, etc., but boy am I noticing the sudden shift in light. I want to bring joy with me through these colder, darker months and not let myself get pulled under. My biggest fear right now is complacency, or slipping back into negative behavior like trying to eat away the anxiety or tamp down stress with food (note to self -- does not work, does not feel good, only makes it worse!). Good luck with all -- you are choosing YOU and your healthy future. Thanks for this reminder today.

Hi there, on fills, my surgeon looks for being satisfied on a tennis-ball sized portion (his lingo) and not hungry again for 4-5 hours. I can tell I need a fill when I don't "last" or if I find myself looking for food, having cravings, etc. In the green zone I can admire yummy food but not have to have it -- a sort of ambivalence prevails. Or I just have a teeny bit and that's fine. On getting stuck, if I have real hunger and get too hungry I tend not to chew well enough, bites too big, etc., and then a stuck episode will inevitably occur. I like to think I'm learning! Good luck with all. You're doing great. Whole point of the band is the adjustability.

No worries, you're doing great!

A year ago I was where you are now! Get ready for a lot of amazing things opening up in your life. I love my Lapband. Love being out of food jail. Love being able to reinvent my life in my fifties. Love it that I like to exercise now (moi?). Love my size ten jeans. Honestly I would not have thought that possible. It's all possible -- best decision I have made in a long time.

The arms in the air: http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are?language=en And one I haven't seen yet but have been meaning to watch: http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability?language=en

@@PSRS520 good luck with all! I so recall those feelings of pre-op excitement and nervousness. Terry Simpson's article, "The Lapband is not about Restriction" -- I must have read that hundreds of times as I had kind of a long wait -- June 2013 started research, banded in November. That and O'Brien's Eight Golden Rules. Sorry I don't have those links handy (I'm on my iPad), but you are probably all plugged in already as it looks like Simpson has great patient education. Regarding calling, I didn't want to be too much of a pain but I did call and something had been missed so that was good. I went through a hospital and there was a general number for clearing surgeries. Plus I was in touch with my insurance company -- didn't mind being a PITA with them.

@@loulou29 glad you found this site. I learned so much reading through post after post and asking questions. It felt like it took forever to get my surgery date but in hindsight I think it was good for me to have that time to get myself ready. You seem like a very organized and procedural person -- good for you choosing yourself and your healthy future first. I love my band and would not want it out, that's for sure. And I can't feel it in me -- it's like it's on my brain instead because that appetite monster is off of my back. Very happy to be out of food jail.

Big cooking day yesterday -- I have a chef's jacket and threw it on to protect my clothes. It is huge on me. Ridiculous. I had to stuff myself into that thing before, with big gaps around the frog buttons. Cooks generally come in two sizes -- scrawny or roly-poly. Maybe I can be right in-between!

Shapewear is a new term but women have been stuffing themselves into undergarments forever. Last week, prompted by this thread, I tried on a variety of options. Oh my god, it was hysterical. But I did come away with a corset -- the wear your own bra kind of thing that flattens the belly. It has about fifty hooks and eyes on the front and, while there is no whalebone, it sure feels like it. I was definitely sitting and standing up straighter! Wore it out to a concert and had a blast dancing in the aisles to salsa music. Couldn't wait to get it off again later, but it sure did feel great to a) not have a Winnie-the-Pooh belly anymore and not even a sign of the old paunch. I don't hate my soft belly but do plan to do more core work this winter to tone up the abdominal area. http://media1.onsugar.com/files/2012/02/07/1/301/3019466/cover.xxxlarge/i/Vintage-Corset-Ads.jpg

@@JustWatchMe don't let the wrinkles get you down! You are at the gates of Onederland and doing beautifully -- nearly 100 pounds gone, gone, gone. Whole new life. I just had my 53rd birthday over the weekend. There are things about my body that are only going in one direction, lol, but the spirit is boundless and I'm so grateful for that -- the having myself back part. I was there all along but I know you know what that feels like, to have recovered a true sense of self. Don't let that anniversary date throw you for a loop. Yesterday was a Monday, the weather has turned and there are lots of reasons for the blahs, but step back for a sec and give yourself three cheers. Actually the cheering thing is interesting. I watched a Ted Talk a while back about faking it 'til making it -- i.e. pretending to love exercise until one day, oh my god, it's not pretend anymore. Anyway, the example given for rewiring that part of the brain is to raise up the arms like some one crossing a finish line. Yippee! Opens up the chest, head is picked up -- yippee! Maybe you need these to help you Celebrate yourself and all you've done. You are amazing -- yay, you!

Hi there, I love losing weight that I know, for once, is not coming back. Yippee!

Hi there and congratulations all -- exciting times. Most of us look at the forum as one big place for joint mentors hip, support, etc. I joined in June 2013, had my surgery in November and am coming up on my first anniversary. Throughout the process I've been so grateful for this place where I can read posts and get a better understanding, ask a question, share successes, concerns. I made a point of following positive people who were having success and noting what makes them that way (commitment, humor, patience, willingness, etc.). Good luck -- by choosing WLS I was choosing myself and my healthy future first and that was a big change for me. Every one else benefits, of course, but putting myself at the top of the list made a huge difference.

@@gin765 no such thing as a silly question! I asked a zillion when I was researching and getting my head ready for banded life. We have fun here...

I think menopause is delayed for me now because I'm healthier. I have skipped cycles and thought I was done done, but no. The beat goes on...... I did want to lose the weight prior to menopause because I think it's more difficult after, but now I'm more relaxed with all that. The weight is coming off regardless. Speaking of hormones, though, the benefits of increased sexual energy are pretty amazing. Loving that.... The heavy periods, not so much.

Hi Rose! First of all, congratulations -- you are doing great. Don't worry if the scale doesn't move all the time. It will! Look for non-scale victories, like clothes fitting differently, feeling more physically fit, how the mind games might be changing, etc. And speaking of brains and human behavior, I am some one who had to really work at my pacing -- how fast I was eating. And if I eat too fast I am not chewing properly. It helped to train myself to put the utensil down between bites. I resisted this which gave me some information right there -- I didn't want that implement out of my hand, so I looked at that behavior and did practice sessions on the clock. That also gave me a chance to listen for the signals of satiety. For me I might just kind of get bored, like I'm not as invested. Then I know I'm done. Just know you're well on your way and you'll get this figured out. Don't hesitate to call your surgeon's office as they may have a nurse or nutritionist who is there to help patients sort through post-op issues.

When it is slow sometimes I think about how much I would have gained if I hadn't done this. I was packing it on bit by bit, slow but steady gain gain gain. And of course there's all the benefit of not having loose skin from rapid loss. I'm finding exercise to be a big factor in my health and happiness -- more so than the scale which can be pokey. Jeans size ten, OMG. But I'm still hovering around 190. (I record lowest number, which so far is 187.).

Of course you are! But know that there are many people who had to figure out another way, like changing insurance or self-pay, etc. The main thing is you have decided to do something about your health and your future. You deserve to get the assistance you need so don't give up!

No! Can't feel the band in that way at all. What we feel is the effects of the band but not the band itself.

Just saw this now and I'll bet those pants are getting loose! Amazing the way a new size feels -- way to go!

Call your surgeon's office -- they will want to know what is going on!

So happy for you -- way to go rebooting your band and your renewed commitment to your healthy lifestyle! Makes perfect sense about the protein bars. Understanding what our sliders are is such an important thing. Great that you got yourself back in there to talk it through. You are on your way!

Yippie! So happy for you.

Isn't it great to be able to really enjoy the food? And everything about it. I am a sucker for presentation but of course it has to be delicious, too. Before WLS I don't think I was ever in the moment of eating -- I was thinking about what's next, what foods were in the fridge, what to make, etc. Now my few bites are savored. So glad to be at peace with food. What a gift.

Expect to get really excited! My first appointment was an overview of what the program at my hospital requires, some basic procedural stuff like weighing in, BP, etc., and a list of future appointments. My insurance required a BMI of 40 and I was nervous about being under that -- wished I had slouched when we did the height. Good luck with all! I got a notebook to track everything.

This is out of my area but I just wanted to chime in and say way to go -- ten pounds from goal, happy and healthy at 25, you will make a great career choice!