Band_Groupie

Sounds like you've got great support at home and a plan for the future. Keep it up! -BG

Great job and you're certainly going to be successful with all your preparation! Best wishes!-BG

First, CONGRATULATIONS!!! It was today, right? Trust us, it will get better. Try to get some walking in every few hours and rest as you can. You'll see a big change in a few days...and all of us had those frustrating moments post-band. Hang in there. -BG

I’m coining a new phrase here on LBT. Because I’m going to need it. Soon. How many threads, posts, and blogs have you seen here about LB’ers who are getting close to goal (usually starting about 30 lbs. out from goal, depending on their BMI) and are facing a whole new set of challenges. Their BMI is lower, as is their weight. Although they’re at their Sweet Spot the amount of food they can eat and still lose weight is no longer working for them. The same goes for exercise. Yeah, they’ve hit plateaus before, but that doesn’t even come close to this…it’s much worse…the weight loss stalls and slows down to a painful crawl…a death march even. I’m paying more attention to all those ‘30 and Goal’ posts (sounds like a football commentary, doesn’t it?). They feel guilty for complaining or even asking for support here…How can they not feel guilty for even seeking support when they’ve lost a ton of weight and are now in clothes sizes they haven’t seen in years…for some, since grade school? How can they justify needing support when others are struggling just to start losing their weight? After all, they’re so close to goal…and look at all the newbies here just starting their 6 mo. diet…or those that are now in ‘Bandster Hell’ and are just trying so hard to maintain and wait for those fills. What right do they have to complain? They’d look like FOOLS for complaining! They’ve lost a ton of weight…they’re almost at goal…they look better…they feel better…they are so happy with their weight loss…I’m with you…WHAT THE HECK DO THEY HAVE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT? Except…now…I’m almost there… These Banders get that. They feel the same way…they feel happy and frustrated at the same time…they’re happy with how far they’ve come, but they’re frustrated with their slow progress getting those last 30 or so pounds off. Should they feel happy or sad? They don’t even know how to feel about it…and it‘s not like the NSV’s are still pouring in to make them feel good as they‘ve now been this weight for awhile. Maybe they even feel a little like a failure and as though they’ve let others or themselves down with their slow weight loss. These Banders feel like they have to apologize for even complaining. Over and over they feel like they had to justify why they had a right to be frustrated at all. So how do you go about explaining how horrible it feels being so close to goal and for your weight loss to stall. You lost the bulk of the weight at least somewhat steadily, but now the scale is barely moving and at this rate it might/is taking years to get to goal. Those people generally get sympathy from others who are in the same position they are, or others that have already been through it (and we know there not as many ‘old-timers’ here…maybe this is why some disappear even?). Don’t we all give great sympathy to those going through ‘Bandster Hell’? It’s because we’ve all been there. I kept thinking…heck, when I was going through that period after banding and before restriction and I was feeling down and needed support all I had to say was ‘I’m going through Bandster Hell’ and I’d get all kinds of support…‘Oh, I’ve been there too’… ‘This is normal’ … ‘Don’t worry it will end soon’ … ‘Try this…’ Mention just two words ‘Bandster Hell’ and you need not have to explain any further…we get it…we sympathize. Here’s the thing…I’ve decided I’ll need an acronym or at least a term for this period in my Band journey. If I can say PB, Slime, Stuck, or Bandster Hell and I don’t need to explain or justify these terms and my being there, then why isn’t there one for this tough, usually longest phase in the Band journey? I looked on several sites and there isn’t one. I need a term so that I can talk about this without having to give a lengthy explanation and justification each time…something like ‘Bandster Hell’. I figure the best time to come up with this is even before I start into this phase. I don’t need your support yet for this, because I’m not there yet, but I will be soon. I looked at words and I found one that really struck home…LIMBO, in limbo: a state of uncertainty or of being kept waiting; a state of oblivion or neglect; a condition of uneasiness or aprehension; a state or place of profound anxiety brought on by the unknown; indeterminate state; a condition of unknowable outcome. Well that works. So I’m coining a new phrase for myself (and anyone else) here so I won’t have to explain or justify why I need support. I’ll soon be 30 lbs. or less from goal and I’m sure I’ll need to continue getting support here. You’ll read this phase name and you’ll just nod your head and know exactly what I’m talking about and hopefully give me the support I’ll still need (because if your not there yet, you know you soon will be). You’ll understand that I have the right to be frustrated or upset because this phase of the journey brings its own set of challenges and it’s own set of emotional issues. I’ll need the same support you give all of us at any point in this journey. You see, I’m headed into that last phase of Weight Loss…and I may be there a LOOONG time so I’ll need your patience and understanding. I’m headed into ‘Goal Limbo’.

Holy cr*p girl!!! You're in the Century Club!! Already!!!!! Great job...you should be really proud of yourself. The doc who first pioneered the Total Body Lift was a guy from the University of Pittsburgh school of medicine....(had to look up his name) Dr. Hurwitz. I only know this because Pittsburgh is known as a leading medical city so things like that are always on the news here (they did a brain implant/stimulation surgery for weight loss here last year). Is is the same guy doing yours?

Thanks Angie! 'pimping you out' Hee hee!

The walking is the best remedy as the gas needs to migrate outside your body and this can take awhile as it's not in your gastro system. A heating pad can help with the pain too.

Mmmmmmmushies! Feels like heaven after that liquid diet! -BG

Keep plugging away at the insurance pre-ops...it's always such a battle, but so worth it in the end. Best wishes! -BG

Yeah CENTURY CLUB!! How exciting!!! Congrats! -BG

Make this your new 'job' now...you've got the motivation and the time. You can do this! -BG

You're such an inspiration here! All that hard work has paid off. Time for more than a bathing suit or you'll be going to Hawaii naked...LOOK at that closet LOL! CONGRATS! -BG

Thanks for posting this! I'm now recovering from H1N1 and the cough is awful (I have asthma so I'm sure it will linger longer then for most). I would have been more worried if I'd had a new band. My stomach fat is about gone so I can feel my port easily and know it's alright...I figured if it hasn't hurt my port (all my stomach muscles are so sore from the violent cough) then it probably hasn't hurt the band.

Thanks gals! Dear Lord Mechelle...too much pressure LOL...I still learn something new here every week from others. Fever's gone finally, just sleeping like twice as much as normal...on the mend, thanks for asking! -BG

What’s your best feature? How many posts have I read here from obese women saying they’re sick and tired of hearing they’ve got ‘such a pretty face’. I’ve always been told it’s my eyes, but they're not my best feature. OK, I’m not usually a ‘cutesy’ or what DH would call a ‘hokey’ person (he's dating himself...and what does that mean LOL). I haven't named my cars or my houses. I’ve seen lots of people here who’ve named their bands…weird? Maybe. After all, we have names for all our other body parts right? I haven’t shared my band with anyone but DH so how could I openly call it ‘My LB’? Out of necessity (or so I’m telling myself, well, and you) I gave my band parts names…naw, they‘re more like code words that happen to be names. After all…when I was having a problem with my band in front of others and DH would ask me ‘WHAT‘S THE PROBLEM?!!’ How could I answer (and no, I haven‘t had to use the code names much at all, maybe twice ever)? Shhh…don’t tell anyone…and I’m NOT being cutesy, or hokey, or weird (OK, maybe a little). I answer in code (depending on the problem)… ‘I forgot to call Phil!’ or ‘I need a Fluffy pillow for my back!’ I’m sure you’ve guessed…Phil is my port (I know, no elaboration necessary on that one)…and Fluffy (my first Avatar phrase here was ‘I’m not Fat, I’m Fluffy!’ It was something my DS2 always said about me…cute, but it hit home too) so Fluffy…yeah, she’s my band and gets even Fluffier with each fill as I get…well, less fluffy. Phil and Fluffy…they’re a good couple…sure they fight sometimes…first one is happy, but then the other one isn’t…then vice versa…then they’re both unhappy…but mostly they get along (sorry, it’s the drugs talking). It’s like having new family members…they’re there to help (sometimes annoy) and support me and that’s just what they’re doing. I think they’re my new ‘best feature’.

First, contact your ins. co. for a copy of your bariatric policy so you know what they require. Second, set up some seminars to attend (I went to the 3 best hospitals in my area before deciding, and I learned new things from each seminar). Third, while you're waiting for those seminars start doing a lot of research here...read all the Stickies (top threads of many sections on the home page) and develop a list of questions you still have. Have fun and get started! -BG

Go to Tickerfactory.com and follow the instructions there. You post the Picture (not the code) in 'edit your signature' under 'user cp' (top left here). Send me a note if you get stuck. -BG

WELCOME to LBT! If you do a search on the Home page under Docs/Hospitals you should find others. There's also a group just from California (Home page, under groups, states). Have fun! -BG

CONGRATULATIONS Bander! Hunger is normal as you've now entered 'Bandster Hell'. Just try to at least maintain your weight (protein will help the hunger some) and keep practicing the bander rules. This period is for healing so rest up. -BG

CONGRATULATIONS Bander and WELCOME to LBT!! Those SF popsicles saved me (they come in tropical flavors even now). Thin the oatmeal with some milk and it will not cause as much pain. You'll feel better when you get back to food. I was dizzy by the end of that liquid diet. -BG

CONGRATULATIONS Bander! Scooching down on the Loser's Bench for you! -BG

I know the BMI charts aren't the 'Bible for WL', but I just checked and even 190 is in the Obese category...sounds like he's setting the bar really low. I'm allmost 5'9" and I'm shooting for at least the high end of a normal BMI (I started at 248 too). Sometimes I think the docs just go by the LB statistics...what is it most say- 60% of excess weight lost. If you want to get healthy you'll need to set your own goal. Go for it!