OH Juli

Thanks for sharing your story and welcome to an authentic life. Coming out late in life has its challenges but also its rewards. Good for you.

Nice to see this thread, I was banded April 22, 2009. I have lost 170 pounds. I had major restorative dental surgery which made me super sick for about 6 months so I did unjury the whole time and that helped. I had a revelation of why I overate, an internal change to match the outside. I am back in college 23 years after the first round and majoring in Psychology with a 4.0. I grew up in a small town in Mississippi and I thought I overate because of a domineering mother, the pre-mature death of my dad when I was 3, a gradmother I was afraid of or the fact that I was adopted and felt very lost. The truth was, I was and am a lesbian and always have been. I always knew it but could never voice it. I grew up in a super religious household and there was no support, no nothing so recently I came out to my entire family, all of my friends of Facebook after I chopped about 200 insignificant people that never spoke to me and noone has said anything negative. I feel for the first time that the inside matches the out. I had lost 170 pounds but still looked in the mirror and couldn't see any changes, I was miserable. Once I came clean with my authentic self and didn't worry about the outcome or consequences, I could see the slimness of my face, the gentle curve of my body. I went from a size 30 to a 12/14, I have a great deal of excess skin so I really prefer a 14. I will be having plastic surgery once I get the final 20 pounds off. I have never regretted the band and feel amazing, truly. Thank you for allowing me to share.

Peace and Blessings......Katie

p.s. this picture is very old, only one month in, I had only lost about 17 pounds here

Everyone can start over. That's why we go to bed and wake up in the morning. You got it in you to do it!

I hope you get your medical stuff rectified so you can live with the band happily.

Hey,

While I'm older than you I returned to school when I got banded. I found the structure of my life really did well for getting my exercise in and eating right. After graduation it all kind of went badly.

The good news is you can create structure, maybe not papers that are due, but you can put goals to timeframes and really work at getting back into the system of losing.

Good luck..

This is missing Protein so I'll add turkey smoked sausage or something. Came across the recipe in my email.

Sweet and Tart Vegetable Stew

Serves 6 as a main dish

15 minutes prep time; 30 to 40 minutes stove time

The stew keeps 5 days in the refrigerator, and is excellent reheated or at room temperature.

Cook to Cook: Cutting the vegetables in the food processor will save time. And if you can, use organic vegetables.

The Sauté:

• Good-tasting extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 large carrots, peeled and thin sliced
• 1 small (about 1-1/4 pounds) green cabbage, thin sliced
• 2 medium to large onions, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 5 large garlic cloves, minced

Spice Blend:

• 2 teaspoons ground allspice
• 1 generous teaspoon each ground coriander and ground ginger
• 2 tablespoons each sweet paprika and dried basil
• 2 tablespoons sugar, or more to taste

Liquids:

• 1/3 cup vinegar (red wine or cider vinegar)
• 1 cup vegetable broth or Water
• 1 14-ounce can whole tomatoes
• Water as needed

1. Film the bottom of a straight-sided 12-inch sauté pan with oil and set it over medium-high heat. Once it's hot, add the carrots, cabbage and onions. Sprinkle them with the salt and pepper, and sauté the vegetables for 10 minutes, stirring them often, or until they're browning (this is where the stew's depth comes from). Stir in the garlic, the spices and sugar. Cook until the spices are fragrant, but no more than a minute.
2. Pour the vinegar into the pan and boil it down as you scrape up any brown glaze from the bottom of the pan. When there is no liquid left, stir in the broth or Water, and the tomatoes and their juice, crushing them with your hands as they go into the pan. The vegetables should be barely covered with liquid. Add a little water if necessary.
3. Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer, cover the pan, and cook for 10 minutes (check often for sticking), or until the carrots are barely tender. Uncover the pan and turn up the heat so the liquid is at a fast bubble. Cook off the excess liquid, stirring the stew often to protect the vegetables from burning. You want the sauce to be thick and rich tasting with a sweet-tart balance. Add more sugar, vinegar, salt and/or pepper as needed.
4. Serve the stew hot, at room temperature, or reheated.

I'm back on the boards after along while. I see myself in your post. I eat easy foods instead of what I should. Mostly out of laziness. I know there's not much I can't eat if I take the time and trouble. Seems like the good for me foods take more time and trouble. Like peeling an apple instead of applesauce. But chewing an apple is more exciting than slurpping sauce off a spoon.

Good luck, thanks for the shining example.

Find the local running store and have them fit you. You should be prepared to spend an hour there and to jog a little outside, around the building before you buy. They are the only equipment you need for running so they should be the best you can find. I find them for $89-100 when I go. And don't worry about being a novice runners the people in there are so psyched you're trying their sport they'll encourage you all the way.

WOW I just realized that today is my 4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY to getting banded. WOW again.

I was in a hurry when I posted earlier so a little more story now. I love my band. I lost quickly and easily with my band. I rarely have had to get adjusted. I lost most my weight and had complete body lift too. That will be two years ago in May.

I've also finished two degrees and got kicked in the pants at work. I'm lucky that I have a job still but it was super hard. I think the stress of that had me going to my old comfort-food. I'm up 40 pounds from my lowest and I really need to knock that off again. I'm hoping with the spring I can.

Like someone else said, I spent so much time on this site, before, during and for a few years after surgery that I'm surprised I ever left.

Everything changes though, right. I hope to hang around here more. This site was so helpful before, I'm sure it will be helpful again.

I could stand to be involved again. I had surgery in 2007. Doing well but need to knock off some weight gain that I put on in the last year. I've had a crazy work-stress year.

How is everyone?

Try tying your shoes looser. Tight shoes cause numbness when cycling.

Yeah, I need to show my head back on these boards too. I vastly underrated the amount of support they give me.

So woot, let's talk cycling.

Wendy's Chili or a single without the bun.

Taco Bell's pintos and cheese was sublime when I first went back to fast food. It's still pretty awesome.

Mc D's burgers are too tough and I struggle with chicken, period.

Well Hi everyone.

It's been a long while since I've been on here.

I'm looking for support and love and all the nice stuff we get from each other on these boards. My life has been full of great and not so great stuff but full of things that have kept my control of food far from the front of my thinking.

My weight is up about 20 pounds since I had plastic surgery. In part because I don't exercise 10 hours a week anymore (see the busy life comment above) and also because I've fallen into baked good hell.

The love of muffins and Cookies is just horrible. I'm going on a cruise at then first of March. When I get home I'll be going for a fill.

Hope you all are well! I've missed you.

Hey Marchies.

I knew you'd be here when I needed you. Thanks.

I'll tell you, I'm struggling. I'm struggling to exercise, though I still phone it in a few times a week. I struggle to eat well too. Sugar is killing me. I'm eating it far too often. At least once a day or three or four times. Like Cookies, cake and ice-cream.

My scale is inching upward too. Ugh, ugh and ugh.

I know you might feel like you can't tell me what I don't already know, but frankly I think I need to hear it.

So hit me my Marchies. May I find the needed motivation in your voices.

J

Hi.

I know, I know. I've been gone. I hope I'm not forgotten though.

It's been a busy summer. I'm glad to see some of the regulars here and supporting each other.

Jeni, btw, you hair can be coming out because of the plastic surgery anesthesia...that's a spelling nightmare. But if your doc is on the stick, it will get figured out. Could be the thyroid too.

Gwen, I bought white pants this summer. I bought my last pair when I was in 6th grade. I think about you whenever I wear them. I might wear them tomorrow even.

I had my band loosened recently because I was causing myself vast amounts of problems having it super tight. I had reflux and PB's constantly. There was no eating after 7pm or before 11am. I was miserable.

However, now I can EAT. I only has .25 cc removed.

So I'm working on eating right. Some days are better than others. I still workout but I'm not training for anything no marathons, no big bike rides. Maybe something will pop up.

Glad you all are still here for me. I'll do my best to be here for you.

A social drink you can do with in normal don't drink while medicated rules. You know no vicodin and alcohol kind of thing.

Beer is carbonated. Carbonation is bad. Like it hurts bad and it's bad for the band. If you don't like it, don't put it in your body. If you do like it, it's a struggle to stay away, but staying away is typically recommended.

Find something else you can drink. A mixed drink or wine.

The problem with alcohol is the empty calories. If you're willing to consume them, knowing you've got to burn them anytime you are off of pain meds is okay.

If you are a quitter this would be reason to quit. If you have been a quitter and want to stop giving up on your goals, this would be the time to push on.

That's a little harsh, I realize, but shit does happen and sometimes it happens to nice people. Is this a test of your fortitude in regard to banded life? Maybe. What's your answer? You in?

I say stay and get it done.

That's really sweet, but I want to see you all and catch up with you more than I want to be celebrated.

I'm looking forward to Thursday.

You get used to it because you have to.

Keep the glass off the table. Actually it's a great cost saver when you go to restaurants because you're not spending an additional $2 for a beverage.

I'm a double shot of espresso over ice. I have them fill the cup with ice and I add skim milk and sweet-n-low at the free bar.

That's my iced coffee.

Otherwise I'm a no-fat, no-foam latte for my Hot drinks. It's a lot of milk but I count the calories as part of my day.

BTW.

Babygirl and I bested our Muddy Buddy time by 13+ minutes from last year.

Was it the new course? Was it our super strength and agility? Who cares! We did it faster!

Hi Maw,

I'm a fan of the Cliff Blocks. They are little gel blocks with sugar and sometimes caffiene. Also, I make sure to have either a Protein Drink or oatmeal before I set out.

50 miles I can do without eating on the ride, more than that I need to stop and eat be it a chicken sandwich or burger minus the bun or something. I tend to ride with people to restaurants, then turn around, or on organized rides where there's a lunch stop.

Hope that helps.

J

Hi kids.

Babygirl and I are doing the Muddy Buddy on Sunday in Detroit.

You all remember that from last year? Should be fun and DIRTY!

About not wanting an unfill---

It's an "adjustable" band because you'll need to have it adjusted at different times in your life. It's not a "just keep filling 'er up" band. Let go of thinking that an unfill is failure or something like that.

It's about getting to the ultimate restriction that allows you to eat well, lose weight and not hurt your body in the process.

This is part of the learning curve with being banded.

Well wishes for you-

J

Jeni,

Thanks for posting the rules. I read every one of them! It's been a while since I've done that.

I needed the jolt!

Hope my fellow Marchies are having a good summer!

peas are hard to eat. And yes you can be swollen from surgery.

Just stick to liquids for a few days. You didn't make a mistake.