2 year band anniversary fast approaching...

[Aussiegirl 0]

Hello fellow Australians!

I don't visit here near as much as I used to when I was first banded. I did find that this site did provide me with some useful information.

Next month I will hit my 2 year anniversary - can't believe that time has gone so fast. To date I have lost 34kg - so you can see it has been a very slow and labourious loss for me, but totally worth it. The best thing is knowing that I am never going to put that 34kg back on again!!

I am sitting here scratching my head trying to think of things to tell you that may be of interest, so feel free to ask any questions that you may have and I will be happy to relate my experiences.

Naturally enough most people are interested in food. What to eat, what not to each, how much etc etc. A typical day for me runs something like this. Breakfast me is a Protein Shake called Isowhey, which is made with 150ml of low fat milk and I chuck in a handful of fruit - at the moment blueberries and raspberries are in season. I do a drink in the morning because I cannot tolerate any food until around lunchtime. It can take me up to 1 hour to consume this.

lunch depends on my fickle band and how soon it as been after my last adjustment. If I can eat solids I go for tin salmon or tuna and vegetables as I find that I cannot tolerate common salady stuff like lettuce, Tomato, celery. Tea is usually some sort of Protein with more vegies - usually fish or chicken. I don't tolerate red meat very well unless it is minced. I cook chicken a lot in the slow cooker as this makes it nice and tender. I find that by tea time, I my stomach has "warmed up" and I can eat a bit more.

During the day I also try to get in some fruit and yoghurt - but that depends if it is a good day or bad day. On a bad day, fruit has to be juiced, on a good day I can manage grapes, watermelon, canteloupe. Anything with a thick skin is out (boo-hoo I used to love eating cherries at this time of the year) and is stuff like pineapple, asparagus and celery with all the fibrousy bits. And of course, in between all that, I try and drink as much Water as I can. That is quite hard as I find that I am full for hours after eating.

Other foods I find difficult to digest and tend to stay clear of are doughy breads (toast is OK as are dry biscuits), rice, steak, lamb, chicken breasts (I find the thigh fillets are more tender), pizza, smoked salmon, hot chips, cakes, puddings, and eggs can sometimes be problematic. I find the band very fickle - what I can digest one day, I may not be able to get down the next.

I have had quite a few instances of vomiting - but it is not really vomiting it is more like regurgitation. Something gets stuck and its either got to get down or come up. When something gets stuck its painful, I tend to salivate a lot. I walk around and it either goes down or up. Obviously I would prefer that it go down. I make a mental note of what I ate and whether I didn't chew properly or was trying to eat too much and then learn from that.

Exercise I do everyday. 30 mins walks with the dog daily plus 4 gym sessions per week. The weekly gym sessions consist of 1 spin class, 1 step class then I do two cardio and weight training sessions each week in which I do a 5km run/walk then a 30min sessions with free weights and a fitball working on all the main muscle groups.

I have had 7 band adjustments over the last 2 years and reckon the surgeon will top me up again in February. The first few adjustments weren't too bad - I didn't notice a lot of difference, but then they really kicked in and I had to be really careful and go back to fluids and mushies for as much as a few weeks post adjustment. Nowdays I am prepared and make sure I have a lot of fluids and Soups in the house before I visit the surgeon.

The most surprising thing for me - when I stop losing weight despite the fact that I am eating so much less than I used to! That is so not fair. The body has an amazing ability to adapt unfortunately.

The best outcome for me - I have stopped being invisible (as weird as that may sound) and am having to get used to not being overlooked by others and to being noticed. That can take some getting used to.

Hope this has been useful to someone out there.

Goodluck everyone and feel free to ask questions and I will do my best to answer.

[aussie_jode 0]

Wow aussie girl! You are doing great! thanks for sharing your story. My two year anniversary is in June. That will probably be my next fill as I am pregnant at the moment and only have had 3cc.

[Jachut 487]

You've done amazingly well. Its good to hear from people who are long term bandsters.

[Parvathi 2]

Thanks for sharing your story, Aussiegirl!! You've done so well Congratulations and keep up the good work.

[jenny 1]

hi aussie girl it was great to read your post know what you mean about being invisible either people look at you or pretend your not there, you know one of the things i miss the most getting on the dance floor bout a year ago i got up and done the birdie dance just had too missed it so muchdown to a size 20 now when i am in a 18 i'm on that floor again:clap2:

[saleel22 0]

Hi Aussiegirl,

Thanks for posting such a great read. It gives a true insight of every day life with the band. I am being done on the 16th on the Gold Coast and am finding reading everything like this is the only way for me to stay calm. Good luck to you. I hope you keep on doing well.

Saleel22