Bandista

Hi there, glad you're feeling better and congratulations on being on the other side! Keep on walking, walking a little more each time. Those steps add up -- you'll be amazed. The walking helps release trapped gas and kicks the body into healing mode. Best wishes to you!

Way to go -- so happy for you!

I really love cauliflower "smush" -- steam a well-rinsed head and throw in food processor with chicken stock. Add salt and pepper, cumin, coriander, a little chili. Savory pudding, OMG.

OMG Jeff (spouse) was just saying this today as I was trying to diagnose...time for new shoes. Even though I have orthotics I have been putting in some major mileage. I know what I'm going to do tomorrow. And there is a futon waiting for you in NH when you come to climb Mt. monadnock. Just sayin......

Hi there and congratulations on this new chapter in both of your lives. First days walking, walking as much as possible. It will release trapped gas and make recovery so much more comfortable. Get ready for some big changes as far as joy, dancing, snuggling and just....happy happy to get that appetite monster shut down and able to get on with life. Wonderful life. Have fun with those teens -- ours is 19. I'm so glad I made this decision so I can keep up!

Whatever surgery you choose, there are hoops and hoops -- but oh my goodness, so worth it! I was happy before but I'm just so...happy! Good luck to you. Know that you are worth it. Worth it all! And it will go by before you know it.

IT Band thoughts? I know the tennis ball thing and have heard about foam tubes. Any other ideas? ....youch!

Catfish, I wish I could go bike riding with you! I got my bike but have not become a real cyclist yet as I'm so busy being a crazy fast walker. Signed up for a 5K in September and I'm so excited. Meanwhile IT Band. Eeek! Trying to figure out how to deal with that. Know the tennis ball thing, have heard about hard foam tubes.

Best wishes all of you -- I was so excited and nervous as all get-out. Honestly, I can't even really recall those early days. I took my sense of humor with me to the hospital. I had never been an overnight patient and I'm 52. It was all so much better than I thought. And I was getting what I wanted -- a choice for myself and my healthy future. To this day, I am thrilled. Life reclaimed. You are all on your way -- good luck! It will be better than fine!

Good idea -- that is a big drop. Once I saw the hospital bill and what the whole thing cost I decided to never hesitate calling and putting my medical professionals to work. I think they like to have that patient communication, too -- the band requires a lot of that initially. At day four or five I dropped six or seven -- I think it had to do with the retention letting go. Hope you're feeling good. Great to have the surgery behind you now and whole new life ahead. I have so much energy now it's crazy. And down another size in jeans. Yippee! Best wishes to you....

This is great! Mindfulness is where it's at for every aspect of life. I once participated in a six-week Mindfulness course led by a guy who studied with Jon Kabat-Zinn, a leader in that field. It was transformative. Eating was one of the things we addressed -- I remember one exercise where we had a raisin in our mouths forever, just noticing everything about it. Have fun -- so good to be a noticer and to learn to be beside things rather than whirled up in them.

Men! Careful, we may round up a posse and come after you, lol. Seriously, congratulations on such great success -- what a great start.

Men!

So happy for you! I know what you mean about the perspective. That's a lot of sizes down -- you are doing beautifully. I figure anything in the right direction is major progress.

Woo-hoo!

Yippee, so happy for you! It's so great to have the appetite dimmed and to be able to make the right choices.

I am not on a diet, yippee! Because I was such a restrictor (with inevitable bounce-backs, obviously), it is better for me not to count and measure. I know what's right and if I'm having too much. I don't count protein grams but love protein -- it is great for me to be more relaxed about food. I'm happy I still really enjoy it -- and all the prep, etc. -- but I use my planning, counting, obsessing energy for exercise instead. Love counting that!

Hi there, this link really helped me when I was starting out. Every time some one posted it I reread the whole thing. Maybe it will help you, too: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html Sent from my iPad

Hi there, good for you to be noticing how you're feeling. In the old days I just tamped down whatever was going on with food and now I try to just take that extra time to breathe and consider the whole picture. Right now I'm struggling with peri menopausal stuff. When will this be over!! I think my band reacts to the hormonal shifts and right now I'm having a lot of that. But on the plus side I really wanted to get my weight off prior to menopause because I think it's harder afterward. I'm 53 and like so many people wish I had my band decades ago. Good for you on the Zumba, etc! The exercise really helps me, too. I am a walker, primarily, but have wanted to try Zumba. Used to be a dancer. There's an August class in our little community center with an instructor who is supposed to be great. I blew off the first week but think I will call and see if it's okay of I come do the other three. Perfect intro, really, and right here in town. Thanks for the thought! And I hope you feel better. The writing it out helps, doesn't it? I so appreciate the people here. You are doing really well. After each of my many fills I would have restriction then lose it and go for another and then that leveled off. Even still I had to have another recently. It takes a while to get to solid green but you are on your way!

Hi there, so happy for you to reclaim your health -- throwing up is no way to live. Some one mentioned the YouTubes of Dr. O'Brien's Eight Golden Rules. Those really helped me, to, and also Dr. Simpson's web site with a section on how the band works. We all get the stress eating thing, that's for sure. I worked with a therapist for a while to identify my triggers. This was work I thought I had already done. I'm in my fifties and have struggled with weight and body images for so long, read so many books, some precious therapy, etc. But this time it was different because of the band and knowing it was possible to get my appetite dimmed which left the habit part to deal with. We really broke down the nuts and bolts my behaviors. It was so tedious but I did it and lo and behold I discovered new information. Basic stuff like hating the phone so every time I had to do a conference call I'd eat in advance then reward myself after. Or the phone ringing and going for food as part of picking up the receiver -- talk about Pavlov's Dog! Woof. The awareness of this kind of thing helped me stop doing it. Sometimes I have to remind myself, "I don't do that anymore!" Of course there are still struggles, like the wine and cheese party my body wants to have every damn day at five o'clock on the dot or the movie watching grazing thing, etc. But you know what? It's all working, one day at a time. And I am a different woman now that I have chosen myself. I find I am also choosing not to get all whirled up in stress that I don't really care about. I do my work but the self-awareness of my banded life has changed how I think. Other people's crises are just that now. Not mine. I'm taking care of me first. It's so empowering -- more empowering than cheese, lol, or that chocolate in the pantry. I love this thread and the determination. So inspiring!

This checking in with yourself and how you're feeling is going to serve you well -- really taking the time to notice what's going on with your body is key to the process of learning about the band. For people who always did too much it can be hard to slow down. I was definitely some one who responded to demands of the people around me way before taking care of myself. When I decided to get banded I realized I was choosing myself first and committing to my health, my life, my future. Funny thing is all my loved ones are benefitting from this "me first" attitude because I am just so positive and happy and productive now. Rest when you need to rest, and the rest will take care of itself. Best wishes to you!

Yippee! This is great.......have fun. Here's to really living our lives! I have a basket to put on my bike but haven't figured out how to secure it on there yet so it's kicking around the house. Every time I see it I smile. There's something so youthful and freeing about a bike. You have inspired me to ride mine today -- and I already did. A four mile walk this morning in under an hour. Who are these women? Yippee!

New PA, yippee! That changes everything. Establish a good relationship with this one. Let him/her know you are committed to making this successful, that you understand about the red/yellow/green zones and that you want to work to get to green. And pat yourself on the back for how well you've done. 68 pounds down is amazing. Go ahead and say it in the mirror: "I am amazing!" Really. And congrats on the exercise. That is definitely where it's at. Plus getting that appetite dimmed. You are on the right path. Let go of your past negative experience with the previous PA. That's all over. You stood up for yourself and you're getting what you want and need. Just like when you got the band -- you're choosing yourself and your healthy future. Way to go! And you know what? Onderland is in your sites.....it's all happening.

Hi there -- you are in the right place! You've done a lot of great research. I have learned so much from the people here on the forum. I started my process in June of 2013 and was banded in November. I am still so thrilled about the whole thing. Not a day goes by without me feeling like jumping for joy. I honestly can't believe how good I feel -- not just the weight loss but the choosing to change my life has been so empowering. I'm in my fifties also and it's like I've changed the course of the whole rest of my life. I can hear all of this in your post. That determination and positive attitude are going to play a big role in all the exciting times to come. I'm so happy for you!

@@mizzanke Hi there and congratulations on your surgery -- we can't tell from your profile what kind you had, etc. If it's Lapband, the process of getting adjustments can take a while but it is all happening. Don't worry about a few pounds here and there. It's hard not to obsess about the scale but maybe putting it away for a bit while you go through the learning curve and get to know your new mode would help. Glad you're here on the forum!