Bandista

My grandmother and mother refer to "Hangsie-Downsie" and now at 52 I'm afraid I'm going to find out what that is! And right now I'm at about sixty pounds down and still have more to go -- but very glad to be diminishing that back fat -- hate that under a sweater, blouse, etc. Bye-Bye!

PS -- you may need an appointment with your surgeon to assess for a fill. Be sure to keep all your appointments. You are getting on track!

Lemon water is a great way to detox. I also drink water with a splash of cranberry and aloe vera. I read labels like crazy and I don't do any artificial sweeteners. Those chemicals make some people just want more. Shakes and bars can be full of them, diet soda, diet foods, etc. If it says sugar-free it's probably packed with chemicals. Steevia is a natural sweetener that has no calories -- be sure to get 100% Steevia if you try this as there are some out there mixed with maltodextrine, etc. You only need the tiniest bit. If you mix that into your lemon or cranberry water it might take the edge off of the cravings. In a few days you will have the junk out of your system. Remember all the reasons why you did the surgery. Keep the long view, which is your healthy beautiful future. Best wishes to you!

Hi there and welcome! I am a November 2013 bander. Just wait until this time next year -- it's an amazing thing to take back your health. Congratulations on choosing yourself. So glad you're here! The site is great because of people like you.

I get a pain in my solar plexus and there's no mistaking what it is. Or why -- for me the why is eating too fast, not listening in to my body. I haven't been stuck in a long time but I had several episodes. Some had to do with rubbery foods. My band doesn't like that. I got too hungry once and had leftover fish right out if the fridge. And another time I got stuck on cooked cold mushrooms. I've had to learn what's right for me.

@@jess9395 thanks for this -- I see it's four days on then rest day......

Just found this thread! I am way in, yippee! I am on day six and need to go look at that chart. I am doing the wrist-saving kind and am up to around thirty seconds. I've just been going as long as I can. I am going to get a timer so I know what I'm doing and also add a second set. Definitely feeling this in my core now. It's working!

This is a great idea. I have some early pictures for comparison -- need to take another set (front and side). And somewhere I have measurements written down. These kinds of things can really help with continued motivation. Plus sometimes the scale isn't moving much but the body is changing before our eyes. Good luck with everything!

I positively agree! Thanks for sharing this excerpt from your book and congratulations on your writing success. "The Support Surgeon" -- love that!

Sending best wishes your way. While I haven't gone through anything like this, I too am amazed by the clarity and personal power I feel now. The fierceness -- and the realization that it is up to me. Showing up for our lives is a beautiful thing. Congratulations on the courage that it took to do this, for you and for your daughters. You have so much to be proud of......

I was banded last November and I am so happy with my choice. I am not hungry in the mornings so usually I don't eat until around noontime. I like Greek yogurt and buy the 100 calorie kind then pack the cup with things like chopped walnuts, chia seeds, a bit of gluten free cereal, etc. For me this is like a giant treat. Later I'll have whatever protein is going and some veg. Tonight we grilled and I loved my steak, just a small amount and then when I'm full I'm done. Oh, earlier I had cheese and crackers (GF) and we are having cocktails. I don't want to say what's good for any one but me, but this banded life is wonderful. I sure I could be losing faster but for the first time I'm not on a diet, I have no deprivation and I am at peace with food. I still love to cool -- have some chicken Marbella marinating right now. I've lost about sixty pounds and feel GREAT.

Talk to your doctor, absolutely. And if that doesn't work and you have to take a sick day you are what's important now. You are first.

Whatever weight loss surgery you decide on, the important thing is you are choosing yourself. You are showing up for a happy, healthy future. Congratulations on that -- you are worth the investment in yourself. Way to go!

I hope you're feeling better -- the walking around as much as possible helps with everything. I really wondered about the positioning on the table, whether my arm was put into a funny place that created the left shoulder pain. And many people sleep with pillows under their knees but as B52 says the OR table is a hard, flat surface. Get up and walk around all you can and know that you will feel better each day. Meanwhile, congratulations on getting the surgery done. You are on your way now -- a whole new chapter of your life unfolding.

Hi there, Congratulations on getting your band. I hope you feel better today. Walking around helps with everything -- releases trapped gas, gets the body working properly again after surgery and anesthesia. Be gentle with intake and know that you're not alone with this. As Terry mentioned, a heating pad might really help. Best wishes and keep us posted! PS if you take pain medication be sure any constipation issues are addressed so you don't run into difficulties with that....

Congratulations! I signed up for a 5K in September and I'm so excited. I will probably walk -- 52, arthritis, etc. -- but hey, I'm doing it. I am not afraid to be out in the world anymore -- I feel like I belong in the community of exercisers. Now, can some one tell me who this is writing this? I honestly cannot believe it. I was not athletically inclined before and now I wake up planning exercise instead of planning food. Yippee!

I can feel my port -- the marble analogy above is a good one -- but even though I've lost a lot of my Winnie-the-Pooh belly and am exercising a lot it isn't sticking out or anything. I don't really think people will be looking at my stomach that closely -- I certainly hated that when it was a great big belly and I won't want it happening when I'm at goal either. Eyes up here, please!

Looks like you are really close to goal. I imagine that can be a tough time but know that you're doing beautifully and you know how to get right on track. We're not in the black and white world of dieting anymore, when we're either "on" or "off." It's a lifestyle and you're living your life. Congratulations on all!

Susan, I'm so sorry you are going through all this. I'm glad you're working closely with your medical professionals -- don't stop until you are comfortable. Could there be some kind of food intolerance going on? Dairy, wheat, etc. -- something that is setting off inflammation? Just a thought. Keep us posted. My thoughts are with you! Only you can know what to do bit my feeling is that you and your docs will work this out.

Leepers, I love following your success -- you are doing so beautifully! Have fun at the gym. It's working!

You are so inspiring. Alex. I love the way you write and I am very grateful for all the behind-the-scenes work in creating and maintaining this site. I happened to be here during the transition from LB Talk to Bariatric Pal and that was done so well. No easy feat! Like others have said, I felt so prepared for my surgery from reading so many posts beforehand. I have gotten much more information here than through my hospital, although I always follow my surgeon's directives, etc. But the experience of people who have been through it? Priceless! There are so many people here who I really admire. Thank you for bringing me together with them. I have never participated in an on-lime forum -- not even a video game -- and his has been an amazing experience for me. Many thanks and best wishes for your Bandiversary. I am so happy for you!

Nice NSV! These non-scale victories are really where it's at. I haven't really lost in a couple of few weeks. What does that mean? My pants are starting to get really loose. I have gone from 18 to 16 to 14 to 12 in the same kind of jeans. Now I am looking at 10? OMG! So who cares what the scale says..... it wil go down, I know the pattern now. First the loose pants or other NSV then the new number. You are doing great!

I'm pretty excited about planking. The Mrs. Winnie-the-Pooh belly is much smaller now, but I really need to tone my core for every reason. Unlike a lot of exercises, this one is easy to do in a very short amount of time. Also I have wrist and hand problems and since this is on the forearms there is no impact at all. There are challenges that suggest twenty seconds to start on first and second days, then moving up to thirty, etc. These images helped me a lot:

I am so happy to feel in sync with my body again after a kind of stand-off for a long period of time. I felt sort of betrayed by my body or just unable to communicate. A separation. Now I AM my body and that feels so good. Reunited. Good luck with this pre-op phase! You're really on the right track with everything -- so happy for you. The listening is a wonderful thing. I had to practice quite a bit but now I really get it and that's made all the difference. I eat when I'm hungry and don't eat when I'm not hungry. I was such a restrictive dieter and had a lot of deprivation going on (which would bounce the other way, of course) so it's the eating when I'm hungry that is hardest for me. I have to acknowledge the hunger instead of trying to distract myself from it or prolong it until later so I can save up or something. Had to work at shedding my dieter's mentality and now I really do welcome hunger. And satiety.

Very powerful. I have not seen this before but will keep an eye out for the artist.