imwiththebandnyc

Hi!! ^^^^^ Good Idea to see Dr. Ren about these eating issues, it will get sorted out, I can see you are working hard! Good luck and come by and visit my blog sometime, I am there alot and not on here so much. take care, Vanessa

This thread is completely inspiring. I know that some of you are struggling with losing that "last 10 pounds" or so-- and I understand that where you are (or have been, this thread is old already) is hard too. I wish to have these problems-- some of your problems literally sound like stuff I could run into. I am currently in the 190's at 5'4 and once weighed 123 pounds as an adult. I remember that time fondly and in horror-- it was after a clinical depression and people started asking me if I had an eating disorder. Anyway: I know I look good at 155, but I am pretty dedicated to at least seeing 136, which is a happy weight for me or has been in the past. My advice: perhaps talk to the nutritionist in your doc's office or a new one if you really want to take off the last few pounds. Perhaps a minor overhaul of your eating will jumpstart you again to the 'final' success. Congrats on all of your great progress!!!

I agree! ^^^ I am looking for longer term feedback, although NCIS, we may hear more from folks who have problems than those who have succeeded here... just a thought, not a criticism of anyone. I just think and hope that there might be banded folks out there who don't come around here anymore b/c they've moved on. But I am interested in any and all feedback to know what to expect and perhaps how to avoid any pitfalls. I am sorry if anyone has had problems..

try nyu medical center

I can round out this group (no pun intended) by being a pre-band person! I am having surgery in January 2010 and am in a holding pattern in the meantime. I am definitely interested in learning the skills that will not only make for successful weight LOSS but for permanent lifestyle change so as to keep the weight off. That is always the bugger for everyone. For the OP: I totally understand, and fear, the idea of doing great with the band with all of the initial energy and then having life get in the way. I do not mean to criticize, I want to learn from your experience and would love to help support your getting back on track. I will look for the 'banded at NYU" group so we can all continue to talk. Best regards, Vanessa

I agree that it is so infuriating that people who know you will tell you that you should just try to do this 'on your own' and 'what difference will it make?' Argh. The vast majority of people I've been reading about and tracking via blogs definitely and consistently lose weight. My real worry is maintainance over time... not a whole lot of long term info that I'm finding about that. But it will be a hell of a lot better to lose the weight and be thinner for a few years and then have to re-engage fills and everything with the band, if I slip-- than to never take the weight off at all. It is a risk benefit analysis. Basically: I'm trying to say that I've got a life-long problem and don't think that losing weight this time will be enough-- but it will certainly be a good running start at long lasting and successful change. Screw the haters!!

^^^ Glad you're not experiencing any meanies! Hope your experience with the band is going well...

Hi everyone: I am also in the lower bmi range for the surgery-- around BMI of 33. I haven't been on the scales in a little while but my surgery is planned for January 4th 2010. I will be self pay with Christine Ren in NYC-- and I intend to make every penny worth it. I'd estimate my weight at somewhere around 192 pounds, with a goal weight loss of around 55 to 60 pounds. I haven't experienced anyone being mean to me on this board b/c I am at a 'lower' (ha ha) weight-- to me, being 5'4 and weighing in the 190's-- it is kind of laughable to say "low" with regard to weight. I don't mean to be cruel to those with much more weight to lose, but it really is all relative. My weight class could be near to goal weight for a severely morbidly obese individual-- let's say someone who started out at 400 pounds. It would be delightful for that person to wind up under 200 pounds and a total boon to her health. For me: I have been hovering in the normal/ overweight range for alot of my adult life-- but I keep gaining an average of 3 to 4 pounds per year. I can't afford to NOT stop this UP-slide anymore or I will wind up being even more heavy and need the surgery when I might be 'sicker.' For now: I am considered by my surgeon to be a rather 'ideal' patient-- and the reason insurance won't pay is that insurance companies are arbitrary. I know I am rambling, but it is wonderful to see some folks who are 'like me' in the low BMI range and going for the surgery. I plan to continue my blog through my journey-- though in my personal life, few people will know about this choice. I personally do not want to be a WLS poster girl, nor do I want to be subjected to everyone's opinions on the topic. It is a personal decision that I've come to after years of failed attempts to control my weight without a stronger 'tool' in place.

I tend to be quite the blabber mouth myself-- but I am trying to keep this very quiet. I have told my family and that is it. My stupid sister went and told her sisters-in-law, which truly PISSED ME OFF, but I asked them for my privacy. I am sure they must have blabbed to their mom etc. Anyhow: my husband is super-supportive- not in a critical 'you're fat' kind of way, but in a, 'you've tried everything else and this will help you' kind of way. My parents had many questions and have asked some undermining questions-- but I can handle that. My sister, who is naturally thin and then keeps herself EXTRA thin by not eating very much and exercising excessively is asking all sorts of undermining questions. SHe says she is happy for me but is clearly conflicted for me- last evening she said "won't you be sad that you won't be able to eat giant salads like you love to do"-- and "I think you need therapy to say goodbye to food" and stuff like that. Fortunately, I do not talk to her every day, and I know she does want the best for me. Bottom line: I am keeping my blabber mouth buttoned. My surgeon (dr. ren) said: don't tell anyone, keep it quiet until you lose the weight. Then, if you wish, you can tell people. In this way: once you're already successful-- people will have less opportunity to tell you what a stupid decision you're making, since you're clearly showing that it was a good decision by the weight you've dropped!! Good advice from Dr. Ren!

Linda D-- you're a smart woman! I agree with you. I believe it is a combination of many things-- but I have been saying to my family-- who are asking me questions about BEHAVIOR (and I don't mind it, good prep for me) that there is also PHYSIOLOGY involved. There is really a complex cycle. But those of us folks who struggle with serious weight problems in our lives are undoubtably physically HUNGRIER than average. I mean a DRIVE to eat from hormones. That is also a result of your FAT making you stay FAT. Now, I acknowledge the psychological and behavioral pitfalls as well. I know that I eat when I am not hungry sometimes-- but for me personally, I eat far more often than not, because I feel a drive to do so-- and I DO stop before crazy fullness sets in. That's why I am hopeful that the band is a good option for me. I actually hate to feel STUFFED-- but I also HATE to feel hungry. Or rather-- when I feel very hungry, I begin to feel very driven to eat. Well: there is alot of mixed up stuff in there-- but the bottom line is that it is so difficult to parse it all out. I believe that those who will be most successful are those who acknowledge that the band won't do it for them, and that they have alot of work ahead. For the original poster who was struggling-- as I said, I feel for you and encourage you to do your very best in prep for the surgery. You may know this, but try writing a feelings journal or a blog and ready others' blogs for what they went through. That is what I"m doing to prepare right now. Good luck!

I am feeling the poignancy of the original post. I'm in a somewhat self-imposed wait period myself-- self pay, but since my band isn't a life/ death emergency, I'm waiting until I can put as much money as possible into 2010 flexible spending account and save on the taxes!! Anyhow: I was originally going to be banded on 9/28/09 and went through 7 days of a liquid diet before I was forced to cancel my surgery b/c I had a horrid infection in my finger (ugh. still healing, but finally moving in the right direction.) SOOOO: I was able to lop off about 5 pounds (Water, I am sure) in the 7 days I did the liquids-- and then as soon as I had to cancel the surgery-- I've 'given up' dieting for now. It is demoralizing and a waste of my energy-- but I also don't want to put on 20 pounds before surgery!!! I know I'm rambling all about me-- but my plan, b/c I am so far from surgery (date is TBA but will be early January)-- I will re-boot my healthiest eating planning in mid December after we return from a fun vacation in Jamaica. In the meantime, I'm in a weird holding pattern that I know is probably bad, but as someone just said: If I could do this alone and without the band as a tool-- guess what? I'd be thin by now. ** ETA: I just want to say that I totally understand and agree with the behavioral changes and am willing to make them. I am just being realistic that with 3 months to go (FOR ME) it is going to be a little hard for me to be on some 'hard core' diet before my surgery. And by 'a little hard' I mean ridiculously challenging. I am saving most of that mental energy for the big run up to surgery in December and the long term follow up of eating right with my band. Cannot wait to get my tool installed!! Life changes here I come...

Thank you everyone for your kind words and encouragement. Good news: It does not seem to be MRSA after all! Bad news: It was a viral infection (gross) called 'herpetic whitlow'-- which means I got a herpes infection on my finger tip. EWWW. Sorry to anyone who has Herpes, and alot of people actually do-- but I have never had such a thing, not the mouth sore kind or the STD kind. But, that's what it appears to be. While I continue on the Zyvox through completion-- since I was started on it as a presumptive MRSA treatment and we cannot be sure if I didn't also get a super infection from the removal of my fingernail-- my cultures are negative thus far. The herpetic whitlow diagnosis is pretty certain but viral cultures are out b/c that takes weeks-- it is a clinical diagnosis anyway and now the doc is pretty sure of it. All that being said: I will be a January bandster. Now that I am healing up (it will take several weeks for the virus to self-limit and clear up and probably months for my finger to LOOK normal... sigh) I had to take a look at timing and finances. I can put funds into an FSA for January and it doesn't make sense to rush to this procedure. I'm in no life-threatening condition. Besides, we have a vacation planned for 12/4/09-- so surgery before then would be a rush and a concern. I want to do this with my head screwed on right!! I'm continuing to visit y'all and get prepared mentally for the surgery and will watch you shrink in the meantime. Thank you everyone for your kindness!!

thanks for the sympathetic ear... all I can focus on is getting my infection cleared. Then: surgery. Clindamycin failed. Now on to Zyvox-- I hope this one works...