Bandista

Wow, congratulations every one -- so glad you're here. I learned so much from this forum. Best thing I ever did!

What a great post! All so true. If any one had told me last year I would be able to lose fifty pounds in seven months I would have been over the moon, but now that I'm there I wish it would have been more? That's crazy thinking. When I pull back to get a better perspective on this I realize I am glad for the rate at which I'm losing. A) it's miraculous, really, and it's given me a chance to absorb all the lifestyle changes, up the exercise and learn to chew properly, have small portions, etc., C) any faster would be uncomfortable for me socially, and D) this is a much healthier way for me to lose and I know that. It's funny how our brains work. I'm in such small pants I can't believe it -- was an 18 then 16 then 14 then 12 in the exact same brand of jeans and now I'm feeling those getting big on me. When the scale doesn't move as fast as we want we have to realize our whole bodies/selves are renewing and reshaping -- including the brain. Thanks for a great reminder to be proud and happy with the process, not beating down the door for more, more, more all the time. That was then, this is now.

My Winnie-the-Pooh belly seemed to go first, but also slimmer legs, etc. I have a round face and that is slow to show change. Now at 50+ down my rings are loose, wrists smaller, etc.

Have you considered discussing this with a therapist? There may be some issues here beyond privacy, like perhaps you are nervous about your own success or nervous about the relationships, trust issues, etc. I have benefitted from talking some things over with a counsellor and recommend that outlet if it's available to you. Best wishes and congratulations on choosing yourself and your healthy future.

Wow, first good time at a DMV ever!

Hi there, congratulations on your upcoming surgery! I can't tell from your profile what kind you are going to have....your surgeon will go over everything with you. It's important to never crush or split anything that is time-release. Your pharmacist can tell you if any of your scripts fall into that category. Best wishes! Many WLS patients have getting off meds as a goal and that is always very exciting. Here's to choosing yourself and your healthy future!

@superbariatricbabe Way to get ahead of the game! Congratulations on your upcoming surgery and all that awaits. Getting off of sugar and artificial sweeteners is huge. I was very happy to have upped my exercise pre-surgery. Didn't really want to, but I forced myself and I think that walking really helped kick my body into healing mode when the time came. All good things are ahead! Best wishes.....

This is hilarious -- junior/missy vs. plus size! Love it! Congratulations on all your hard work. It's challenging for the brain to keep up with the body. Melting.........

Way to go! And thanks for all the inspiration. I am so happy with my band. Love your list of things you want to accomplish -- GO, GO, GO!!!!!!

Loose clothes -- yippee!!!! So happy for you......I have to say, it feels so good when those pants start falling off of me. Can't wait to get to the next size. Not rushing it, but it's all happening.

If we could have lost weight dieting, we would have, right? But you will probably drop and surprise yourself. Main thing right now is just following instructions and getting ready for your surgery; you will do great!

Bought a fancy headband -- just came in the mail. For my 5K in September, which I will probably walk, which is as much as I walk most days, lol. Anyway, the headband from Bolder Bands was $18 and my husband is teasing about that -- a headband? But it's very cool and gets my hair away from my face. I feel quite sporty and athletic. Who knew?

Congratulations all -- very exciting!

Way to go -- you're doing great! It will all be worth it. I was so glad to drop weight that I knew for once would not be coming back. Here's to that!

Pre-op brings up so many emotions.....I had worries about forfeiting my favorited or not being able to go out, etc. All of those fears were unfounded -- I don't feel like I've given up anything. Can't really explain it, but when the appetite is dimmed there is that feeling of "enough" which must be what I was looking for all along with the volume eating. Good luck to you -- you are choosing yourself and that is very powerful. I highly recommend therapy. I saw some one and we broke down all my triggers so I could really see them and form some strategies. So easy with the band -- I am able to override those old behaviors and you will, too. I was sure I'd be the person it didn't work for but it's working great.

Yippee, yippee! We made it! So happy for you. All that hard work and exercise is really paying off. Congratulations!

@ Happy, happy birthday!

Hi there and congratulations! Keep us posted.......

Hi there, with my last fill I wondered if I was too tight. Rode it out a fee more days and I am fine now. I need to be able to eat certain things like dense protein and broccoli, etc. -- don't want a too-tight band. If I had symptoms like nausea or reflux or starting to lean on sliders I would go have a little removed.

Rolling over a little tricky for a few days -- had to think it out beforehand, getting out of bed, etc. But passed quickly. I didn't take pain meds but still got constipated and had to take something for that -- wished this had been addressed prior. That's all I can think of. I was so giddy and excited to finally have my band. And right now I have a wrenched back, am in a recliner on ice packs. Boy is a bad back painful and most of us have been there. Way worse than band surgery recovery, if you ask me. And I'd rather get a band then go through dentistry. Getting the band was a choice and it was empowering. Purposeful. Not like being ill or recovering from an injury, etc.

Thinking of you and sending best wishes....got to get this figured out so you are healthy and happy with your weight.....could there be something else muddying the waters? New response to stress, GERD, etc?

Congratulations on getting a date! It can be a nerve-wracking time. So amazing to choose yourself and your healthy future like this. Best wishes to you!

I believe this is sound science but it's just the amount of butter and heavy cream I could out away pre-band.....thank goodness those days are over. So enjoying being a dairy eater now, and this includes indulging in a little wedge of yummy cheese here and there, real butter if I fry an egg, etc. But back then it was so much more.....even a salad I would eat is amazing to think about now, that volume, Actually, new research plus old research that was buried for many years says your mom is right. It's the carbs, not the fat. Take a look at Gary Taub's books Good Carbs Bad Carbs or Why We Get Fat. Journalistic discovery of all the research and studies over the years that did not agree with the low fat bandwagon. Nations around the world (like Sweden) are revising their nutritional guidelines as we speak. I was low fat for decades, did nothing to keep me from gaining weight. Now I eat all the heavy cream and butter I want but keep my carbs very low and I maintain my weight very easily. Not to sound preachy, but the world is a-changing and everything we took for granted about nutrition since the 60's is being turned on its head.

Hey there, congratulations! I liked soups, too -- there's a no-dairy creamy brand called Imagine soups that come in a carton in the regular grocery store -- I liked the potato leek a lot, though I'd only have a little. There are lots of flavors. And my surgeon okayed egg drop soup. I even made it myself, fun! Loved my half a Popsicle here and there. I got MiniteMaid soft frozen lemonade ones and they were yummy, no artificial sweeteners. I was having so little calories it didn't matter if I had a little sugar. I couldn't do protein shakes -- maybe burned out in them from pre-op or just couldn't take the thickness. I had no protein or calorie goals during this time -- just having something if hungry but otherwise not, and learning to listen for hunger. That took me a while. Good luck with all that is ahead -- very exciting!

Glad you are seeing your surgeon tomorrow.....sounds like multiple diagnosis with neck/shoulder involved. Can be so painful! Pain associated with eating makes it interesting, too -- that seems very important so they don't just chalk it up to an orthopedic issue and send you on to the next doctor. Meanwhile, do you use ice packs? Amazing drug-free pain relief. Sending best wishes your way -- keep us posted!