Bandista

Please be gentle.....you've chosen yourself and your health and you will work through all this. These early days can be difficult. It's a great time to work on listening to your body and that's what you're doing. You tested it and it's telling you something. It was helpful for me to realize I am not forfeiting anything or giving up food. I had to change my mentality as I had been and on and off dieter for twenty years. Deprivation can really mess with our heads.

I am only eating when I'm hungry......

Hi there, hope you have a good night and healing sleep -- congratulations on your surgery!

Shel, you look gorgeous! A good reminder of the importance of taking pictures -- and measurements, etc. Crutches have a lot to answer for in the bad back world. You are not the first to have a disc issue following mobility issues. Maybe take this time to do stretching? Your body has to be getting used to losing so much weight and now the crutches have out this pressure in your back. You are doing beautifully -- don't get derailed by this little setback. And of course it's a tough time of year. Yes, even in Paris. Less light, the harder months before spring and not being able to exercise when you had really gotten your brain/body used to that lift. This is all temporary! Know that you have accomplished so much. I love where you are in your head -- what you've learned about yourself. Your posts are such an inspiration. I wish you could come over for a cup of tea and we could share back exercises. Do you know the Mckenzie technique? He's a Kiwi and the stretching protocol he advises is being adapted into mainstream PT here in the States. It's the opposite of what was being recommended a few years ago -- how to get that disc encouraged back into place. The booklets are very inexpensive. Robin Mckenzie: http://www.amazon.com/Treat-Your-Back-Robin-McKenzie/dp/0959774661 January is behind us, a beautiful spring before us. You'll be on your bike again in no time!

Sympathies! I have been stuck three times on this journey. The most recent time I decided a Popsicle would be good afterward and I started the whole cycle all over again. Won't do that again! In each case it's been related both to speed of eating and consistency of the food. Rubbery fish in one case (cold at that, but I had let myself get too hungry and was reaching for "good" protein out if the fridge -- didn't even heat it up!), rubbery mushrooms another time, slippery beets wolfed down my first episode. I hope ice learned my lesson. I'm three months out and five fills in -- hoping I might be in green zone range. Good luck to you!

I used Thorne Mediclear and I did the capsules, too. The product my surgeon's office recommended was just absurd -- I'd never put that crap in my body. I put the nutritionist through some extra work but it was worth it. I wanted a true liver cleanse for my pre-op, not artificial sweeteners or dairy, etc.

Not sure where you live but here in northeast it is an itchy time of year -- do you have a humidifier going? I used vitamin E oil -- trader joes makes one that is not too sticky. Good luck! Happy for you that you are on the other side.

I'm three months out so rather new at this, but what I'm experiencing is life without a chattering monkey on my shoulder going on about food, food, food. That whole "what can I have?" refrain, or "what's next, what's next -- more, more!" Gone. Now don't get me wrong -- I still love food. I'm a fine cook and I am in the world of food still, but in a healthy way. It's not about personal intake now -- but I still really appreciate the tastes of amazing things being created around me or something yummy I make. But small amounts. Food is not controlling me and, Lordy, is that a relief.

Well it's true, GW, you have photo documentation to prove it! Hope you had a nice time in FL -- you are such an inspiration for all of us here. And you, too, Pretty Thick! Maybe you're just Pretty. Pretty amazing.

Can you have tea? There is a beautiful world of tea out there. I try to stick with Kukicha -- it's a Japanese tea and readily available through a brand called Eden (or others -- I can get it Eden the regular grocery store here in NH). It gives me a buzz but is grounding at the same time. coffee, or too much black tea for that matter, puts me at another key -- too high and not really in a place where I'm listening to my body. Im not sure how to say this, but what's up with your boss wanting you to be "on" in a certain way? Just be sure that's who you really are and who you want to be -- authentic and powerful, grounded and happy. I bring this up because I think we get pegged in our roles sometimes. You may have been in the role of overweight but perky worker-bee side-kick when a year from now your new starring role may be the job your boss' boss has now. Get healthy and climb that ladder, knowing there will be saboteurs along the way who don't even know they are doing it. In DC, it's like it's in the Water or something. Your decision to choose yourself and your health is going to be a little intimidating for some. Wait until they see you in the power suits you will be wearing not long from now. Don't start in on anything that's going to slow you down or stop you from being successful. If that's coffee, fine. Your adrenals will thank you later.

Nice, pic, Go Walking -- you are adorable! Pretty Thick, do not be taken in by our weird culture and the way women are portrayed by the screwed up fashion industry -- keep your curves and enjoy your figure. We are all so different as far as what we "should" weigh. Be strong, healthy and gorgeous -- that's the measuring stick!

So happy for you, Katy! Thanks for taking the time to post. Very inspiring! I keep reminding myself this is a lifestyle change -- it's great to read about the ways you have changed your life and how well the band is working for you. I'm very excited at three months out to be feeling many of those things you mention -- that relief from thinking about food, the taking pleasure in exercise and participating in my life in new ways all the time. I look forward to being a year out and then two.....it's a long game, this, but I am so up for it. Here's to really showing up in our lives and no longer using food to numb feelings or fill gaps. Yes, it's hard sometimes navigating everything and finding patience, learning to like working out, etc., but when I think about those sizes going down, down, down I feel so lucky to have taken this step. Thank you again for a wonderful post and best wishes to your friend.

We are very into Asian food at home and sometimes out. Yesterday we went to a local favorite place -- husband, son and me. I got a bento box with salmon teriyaki and requested no sauce. I had some Miso soup while waiting for the food. The portion of salmon was perfect for me and I had a few bites of veggies. The other things in the box -- a few shumai and a California roll --went to my son. My family loves eating out with me now as they make out like bandits!

Hi Oz! Your age will definitely be an asset for losing weight, and your gender, too. Congratulations on this decision to turn your health around. I am three months out and thirty pounds down so far -- one third of the way to my goal. Know that you will probably experience an excellent initial loss but then there may be a slow time while you get to the right fill, then you'll go down again. Working out will be an excellent aid to weight loss so start exercising as much as possible now or maybe you are doing that already. I think that's the magic ingredient. You are going to do great!

The abdominal binder is a really great idea. You'll feel protected and tucked in -- and a reminder to you to take it easy getting up and down, etc. I'd start walking now and be in the best shape possible, then walk as soon as you can post-op. I put some serious miles up and down the hospital corridors and think that really helped kick my body into healing mode -- and to shrug off the anesthesia. I had an ibuprofen drip in the hospital then used liquid Tylenol at home. I had a filled prescription for narcotics on hand but did not need to go that route. An ice pack might be a good thing to have with you -- could grab it out of the fridge and apply in the ladies' room for a bit if your port area or other incisions are sore. I enjoyed Popsicles during this time so you might want to take in some boxes of those (every one will want one!). I think you may feel very tired those first few days and that you should take off early and go home as soon as you get that signal as your body needs to heal -- be sure to listen to that. This choice for a healthy future is a big decision and far more important than anything else. It's why you are doing it -- your health matters. So take it easy and don't get too stressed or too tired. Keep choosing yourself first!

I heated up some homemade soup from the freezer -- label read chicken sausage and white bean soup. Well it had rice in it, too. I haven't been eating rice but thought I'd give it a try. I could tell just from putting a bit in my mouth that my body was saying no, so no soup for me. It's like my body is talking to me and -- lo and behold -- I was listening! Rice cakes are fine -- not sure why. I had some hummus for lunch. Boy does that have a lot of calories.

Congratulations! Wait until you see that scale dropping -- very exciting. Best wishes!

Sounds like it to me -- yippee! I just had a small fill the other day and am hoping this is it. So far so good. Appetite dimmed, whole other life besides food, food, food.

Hi there, I'm your height and weight right now plus I'm 52. Got my band in November and am down 30 pounds (from 248). I know it will be slower the closer to goal I get but I plan to go all the way to 148. Maybe the surgeon is using statistical bias. I think it is ridiculous to use mass numbers for individual cases but that's all they have for data. They are rolling in all the people who did. To get all the way to goal and there may be many reasons for that -- unwillingness to address emotional eating or "give up" junk food, not exercising (obviously this is not you!) or just not having the dedication and perseverance. I went into this knowing it's a long game, not an overnight cure. It's a lifestyle change and I am looking forward, not back. The band is just what I needed to help me get this weight off once and for all. You can do it!

Great piece; thank you. I am a big gardener and a veggie lover -- have been struggling with not being able to eat them like I used to (fast and hard!). Have worked out a few things like cutting up the broccoli smaller and just eating the tops, peeling beets, etc. But I miss the volume -- and so does my digestion. Have not been able to get enough fiber despite chia seeds, flax seeds, Miracle Fiber (veggie), psyllium, you name it! Any suggestions very welcome. I tended in this direction prior to surgery so it's not a big surprise but I have got to get things moving. It's only been three months so I'm hoping my body will adjust. Wondering if I should do a series of colonics, if that would help.

Hi Becky, jump right in; this is a great place to be! I started my process last June and was banded in November. It was reading so many posts here and asking questions that made me feel so completely ready for the big day when it finally arrived. A couple of thoughts: be gentle with yourself and thank yourself for making this big choice for a healthy future. You are choosing yourself and that is a very powerful thing. I had a notebook to write everything down in one place -- all the appointments, little tips I was learning along the way, questions for the doc, etc., and I made a list of all the reasons I wanted to lose weight, the things I want to be able to do, etc. Also I got a therapist for a while to talk through my triggers for eating -- it was great to notice the when, why and what of my emotional eating, how I used food to cope with anxiety, etc. It's not like I hadn't looked at that before -- I'm 52 -- but this time was different. Even if I wasn't completely stopping yet, I was noticing what my automatic responses were and that helped me later. Also I started upping the exercise and I'm pretty sure exercise is the magic ingredient. I didn't want to do it but I increased walking and working out. This gave me something to step into post-surgery when I suddenly did want to do it. Having been an up and down dieter for twenty years, I can't tell you what a relief it is to have the band. It's not just the weight lost (yippee!) but the shutting up of those gnawing voices in my head asking about food all the time. Good lucks it's everything and look forward to seeing you on the forum!

Just catching up on this thread -- so inspiring, the running, C25k, etc. But it's the biking that is settling into my consciousness. I am visualizing getting a new bike this spring -- one I can get up on to the top of the car on my own. And then to drive to the bike paths scattered throughout the area. I really want to do that. Today made a date for a walk around the lake with a friend who knows how to go at a good clip. There's a dog we can barely keep up with to keep us speeding along and we talk a lot so it's a good breathless walk. Grateful for warm enough temps to be outdoors this weekend. Thanks for the perking up this morning -- these bander threads really help me with the get up and go.

Slouch!

Hi there and happy anniversary. You have helped me so much as I've been navigating through this new lifestyle. You are a wonderful human being -- love your frankness. Best wishes for continued rocking band success!

Red Swingline stapler! Brant, I love your posts. And I follow this one because Plication is fascinating -- I'm a bit envious. Very rural area here and had not even heard of it until a few months ago.