Bandista

I'm with you guys -- love, love, love my band and would do it again in a heartbeat. And I wish I had done it in my thirties rather than fifties but I suppose there are medical advancements, etc. I would also choose the band again rather than something more drastic, but that's just me. Hopefully I am not in any danger of losing my band, but if so and it could not be replaced for any reason, I like it that there are more options available.

Just Watch Me -- we are watching, alright! Watching you soar...... So happy for you, and so happy you're here.

@@endzone this is your big day! Congratulations on your surgery and all that lies ahead.

Before I was banded I'd eat something and then want to have something else. Now sometimes my brain wants to do that. We call this head hunger. The difference post-banding is that I am able (easily) to just switch out of that mode. Physically I could have more food (then wait and go have more food, wait, have more food) but mentally I don't want to. That craving for more is gone so now I just stop. Hope that helps!

Went to my second Zumba class and still feel like a clutz, but it is fun and definitely a good workout. There's one tomorrow night and I'm going to go to that as well, mainly because I feel like I'll never learn the steps at once a week. Cha-cha-cha.

FIVE WEEK PROJECTION: You will be gorgeous and amazing, just like you are today. Work it, baby!

Way to go choosing your healthy future! Putting ourselves first means every one else benefits in the long run. It can be hard to do this, but it really works -- I had to break a long habit of putting other people's needs ahead of my own. Random thoughts: remember to pat yourself on the back for what you're doing. Be gentle with yourself. Have fun! I benefited from therapy to work on my triggers and just have an objective person to talk with throughout the process -- I felt like it was good to have that time each week for a little while. I didn't tell a lot of people about my decision to have WLS and there are a few people I wish I hadn't told -- not because they haven't been supportive but just that I still feel very private about it, but that's just me. I wrote myself a letter prior to surgery and it's in my jewelry box waiting for me to get to a certain weight then I'll open it up. I had a special notebook. It was good to have one place to track all my appointments and names of various people (surgeon, nutritionist, receptionist, nurse, etc.). It can be something to manage all of that. And then I also used it to write up my goals and checklists, etc., my feelings. Sometimes the only time I had to write in this journal was when I was waiting for an appointment. Ditto on not buying big containers of Protein powders, etc. And I also was really glad I upped my exercise before surgery as it gave me something to step into right after. I didn't want to do it, but I did and now it still amazes me that I love exercising (me?). Last thought is that whenever I saw something negative on the forum I skipped right over it. I got so much out of reading people's posts and asking questions, etc. It got to be so I could tell if something was going in a negative direction or a post title might be an indicator -- I didn't want to get any more nervous than I was. And I guess my last thought is that I'm really glad I let myself get totally excited -- and you know what? Almost a year later and I am still so excited. It's an amazing process. Back to patting yourself on the back. You are on your way!

Hi there, they are a little rubbery for me. I reckon they are all about how they are cooked.

Thanks so much @@readysetg070113 and it's easy, really -- cause we are awesome! Happy travels, Irish!

@@phil2912 no offense at all, thanks so much! Summer 2013 when I started my research and joined this forum I decided to get a therapist to go through the process with me. I got a lot out of our meetings -- we worked on triggers and how to be very specific about my responses, no glossing over with my usual, "well I'm stressed so I eat." This was a tedious process but I discovered some interesting things. I work from home and the fridge is nearby if I am "prepping" for a conference call or something like that. Or the ways I would eat if I was really just procrastinating or needing to stand up from my work station and walk around a little. Turns out there are other places to walk besides to the kitchen! So I really appreciate your suggestion. I did talk with two different friends yesterday about feeling like I was having some old f*&^%ed-up thinking going on and that was very helpful. And this forum -- the writing it out and hearing others' perspectives, reading similar stories and how we are the same and different, etc. I haven't decided whether to call this therapist and make an appointment. This is silly, but the building he's in is above an old newspaper and the dampness and mildew smell throw me off. But he is a good guy and it is probably a good idea to check in with myself in that setting. Besides, he'll be delighted to see how well I'm doing, how happy I feel overall. Those early warning signs of limiting myself in the wrong ways were a good wake-up call for me. I don't ever want to go the other way -- I love having a good relationship with food and with my body. Thanks for your post! @@JustWatchMe glad you woke up hungry, that we can welcome the sensation of hunger. I swear I didn't even know what it felt like a year ago! And I love the idea of the 5:2 -- just not for me right now. Sorry about your stuck episode. Like you, my band is very responsive to stress. Between that and the mini-fast it makes sense that you'd be tight -- and like me with the asparagus you may have munched on your healthy veggies too quickly. I sort of miss those days of massive plates of vegetables, lol. Now a little dab will do me. Have a great day, every one!

Congratulations on choosing your health and on your upcoming surgery. I remember how excited and nervous I was beforehand. Now I can hardly recall all of that because I'm just so happy to be where I am now. And it wasn't hard -- it's not that this is easy or the easy way out, but my life got so much easier and it has not been a struggle for me. Good luck to you. And your wife. We had to work out a little insecurity of my husband's -- that I would get healthy and run off with the circus or something. Um, no. But now he's my biggest supporter. She will be yours.

Beautiful post! You got to see how she was seeing you and it turned out to be a very poignant moment. I suspect much of life is like that, that if we're able to step out and see things from another angle we get a lot of insight. It can be amazing to drop our own perspective sometimes and step into another's line of vision. And of course she's right. You didn't give up and boy is the world a better place because of that. I'm sorry she lost her husband and I suspect it was very painful for her to watch that happen and feel so helpless. As we know, no one can do it for us where health is concerned. My body, my choices -- here's to showing up for ourselves!

I had to do a lot of behavior modification as I was a real shoveler -- ate too much and too fast. So now I use a small utensil and I chew, chew, chew. I go slowly and can tell when my body is telling me that I need to go even slower or stop altogether. My goal is to be able to eat dense Protein -- like salmon, etc. and broccoli. I can tell if I'm too tight when I can't do that comfortably. Good luck to you! I did some practicing with putting down the utensil between bites and waiting a full minute to pick it back up again. That was so hard for me -- and of course that isn't what I do on a regular basis but it showed me what slow really means. Best wishes and congratulations on your excellent weight loss. I am very happy with my band and with the pounds off I will never see again but mostly I'm really happy with my new approach to life -- not being obsessed with food, really getting into exercise, etc. For me, that has made a tremendous difference. If any one had told me I'd be exercising like I am now I would have laughed in their face. But I just kept faking it 'til I made it -- and now I really do enjoy it. Incredible!

This has been an interesting experiment for me. I have a history of being very restrictive and of course tried every version of every diet out there prior to WLS at which point I declared myself out of the diet game. What's worked well for me is to eat when I'm hungry and not eat when I'm not hungry. That's my one little "rule" for this banded life and actually it's much harder to do the former than the latter. Of course I'd always bounce back again -- Yo-Yo-Yo is my middle name. For these reasons, this 5:2 brought up a lot of old "diet" behavior for me. The old "better have it now" and "I'm going to reward myself" instincts came roaring back. It makes sense to me that I could not resist trying a new diet -- because that's what I always did. I think if I could have approached this as lifestyle rather than the D word then I could perhaps have skated through and gotten the metabolic benefits without screwing with my head. But there it is, we all have our own histories, head games, etc. So I ended up going back to my regularly scheduled programming. Eat when I'm hungry. That's important for me. I hesitated to report out because I want to encourage you all to go, go, go -- but we all know how different our bodies our. And the brains, geez. There's a committee in my head sometimes that I have to shut down. I could tell my the self-talk over the 5:2 prep and counting, etc. that it's just not the right thing for me right now.

Hi there, my insurance required a BMI of forty and I was a wreck about that, had to gain some plus heavy pockets for those weigh-ins. Wish I had slouched for inch or so shorter. I was in the 240s and needed to be 250 for my height. Since I "should" (?) be in the 140s that is 100 pounds -- geez, not fat enough for you, insurance co? But even though that was all a little stressful I am hardly able to recall all those appointments, etc. this time last year as I got ready for my surgery.....cause now I am jumping for joy every single day. It's not just the weight loss -- it's having the appetite monster off my back and feeling at peace with food. Check with your insurance company re: any requirements and find a surgeon who is committed to the followup. In the first year that's what it's all about. And don't let one nurse stand in your way. She was inappropriate.

Having the appetite dimmed allows me to make good choices -- I am so happy to be out of food jail. I still love food, just in small amounts at appropriate intervals -- and I'm not on a diet. WLS was a drastic decision for me but I'm so glad I took that step. Very happy and at peace now, have become a real exerciser and many positive changes in my life. Best wishes to you whatever you decide. Choosing yourself and your health first is what's important!

Happy Monday, everyone! 5K was great and I'm looking around for another. Tonight a Zumba class. Did the first last week and hope I start to learn some of the steps, cha cha cha. It was a fun way to get exercise and the hour went by fast. A pretty irreverent group so lots of laughter. Having a mini-fast today (5:2 plan) and looking forward to a productive office day.

Hi Leah, congratulations on getting your band -- so happy for you. New chapter opening choosing healthy life, bright future. I have so much energy now it's ridiculous. Sorry no protein powder recommendations here but I'm sure you'll get a lot of input. I know the health food stores sell single packets of protein powders so you can try that way and find something you like. Also some places allow returns -- Vitamin Shoppe, I think, and maybe GNC?

Cha, cha, cha! Went to my first Zumba class last week and looking forward to tomorrow -- have my new Monday night exercise for going into winter. Congratulations on your surgery and all healed up, ready to rock. When do you go for your first fill? I love my band -- so happy with this last year. Best wishes!

Way to go! And you're so right about the battle being between the ears. Have fun today and enjoy tomorrow's break. You will be in the single digits in no time then it's on to Onederland. Yippee!

I actually thought for a moment you had an app for freezing apples....we get a little obsessed with apples at this time of year (have a small orchard). Have fun with your iPhone! I will give the app a try, too, now that I found out how to make the font big enough so I can see it. A little spoiled by the iPad size. Alex, thanks for all you do to make this site so great.

Thanks for all your encouragement, David. Today a bike ride! Very exciting to be discovering the trails around here. And my husband can ride, which is fantastic. He's had three back surgeries and has a bad leg -- cane, brace, etc. -- but he can ride like a gazelle. I'm more like a turtle on my bike but I will get there.

@@PuraVida37 you'll be standing on your head in no time! That's such a fun goal. I'm going to out kayaking on my list. Was afraid before I wouldn't be able to get out of the thing! Still not sure but something for next summer.

Vida, so happy for you! Today I did my first 5K so a banner day all-around. It was such a big deal to be part of something like that, out in that world, etc. My time was just under 48 -- I fast-walked (leggy). You are doing splendidly. Imagine a while back any one telling us we'd be like this!

47:52 fast walk, good time......