I Am A New Bandster....

[NY LAPSTER 0]

Hi everyone

Ijust got banded 11/11...Can't believe it but all done and it went really well. So far everything as expected. This board really prepared me for what to expect but there is nothing like the real thing...I'm being real careful ..doing the liquids..in fact I am nursing a cup of chicken broth . Besides the discomfort from the incisions I am really beginning to feel my new friend in my belly....Tough part amongst many is going to learn patience..I somehow gained 2 lbs in hospital and I have heard that weight loss can be minimal until the first fill..That's a little hard to understand given the caloric intake seems pretty low but I'll be patient...I'm gonna give my body the time to heal ..but I have always been the kind of person who is in a rush...It took me a long time to add these layers to my bod so I better get used to unlayering slowly but permanently...

Anyway...thanks for being here..I'm really glad to be one of you...

NY BANDSTER

[Audrey 21]

That's great news! It's so good to see you home and posting so soon!

Put your feet up - remember you've had major surgery!

Welcome to the beginning of your new life ! YEAY !!

Aud x

[Alexandra 55]

Congratulations! You will feel better and better each day and yes, in couple of weeks or so you will discover that you have indeed lost weight. But remember not to agonize over the weight loss when it stops, which it will when you start eating soft and solid foods again. Be good to yourself, you've got a lot of healing to do!

Welcome to bandland!! :D

[La_madam 20]

Congratulations!

You sound like you have such a great possitive attitude. Good news to hear that everything went so well for you.

[Rebeccalee 2]

Glad to hear everything went well. Keep up the good work.

[NY LAPSTER 0]

Thanks for your encouragement...It seems like I was given such a great gift...I'll be in touch..

NY LAPSTER

BANDED 11/11/04

10/30-202

11/11-284.5

GOAL-199

[adoorme9 0]

hey, n.y.

glad you joined the club, i'm having withdurals from n.y. after 49 yrs of living there,.....

i started losing weight, without a fill since , my band 2 1/2 lbs. every two days , i couldn't belive it, then when i started solids, things change and i'm strugling with the pounds. but, have learn so much, on this site. becareful how you eat. eat slowly, when the time comes, drink your Proteins, and your waters, and any problems go to your doctor.. the best of health to you, feel better and is a joy you'll have for a long time...

margie

------------------------------------------------------

margie

295/258/140gol

4/5/05

montiefiorie hospt.

dr texiria

bx. ny.(moved to pa.)

[New Hope 37]

...It seems like I was given such a great gift.NY LAPSTER

BANDED 11/11/04

10/30-202

11/11-284.5

GOAL-199

What an excellent way to sum this up! The band is a wonderful gift that will help you regain your health and allow you to get out there and live in the world, take part in things, and don't sit on the sidelines anymore. Your whole family will benefit from this gift...for many years to come. Best of luck to you! I look forward to hearing about your fantastic progress! You're a male bandster, right? You'll be sailing right past us female bandsters before you know it.

[NY LAPSTER 0]

Dear Marie and Everyone

I haven't posted much but do read the board alot. You guys are so great and have helped me so much in that you are all living this journey with me..I am now almost 4 weeks post op..I have 2 more days of mushy and then I re-introduce solids. The mushy part seemed hard in that the food was fairly caloric and I didn't lose much the last two weeks at all..At least I didn't gain..I get my first fill 1cc next Mon 12/13....Hope to get a little restriction on my way to finding that "sweet spot ". Doing this around Thanksgiving, a number of family and business events has been very interesting. I've been real good at home and my family is so supportive..When I am out to dinner with friends or family sometimes I forget and dring a little Water with the meal- not great. Also, I find that I order like a Soup as an appetizer and then nibble on some mushy -soon to be solid main course. Of course I eat so much less now but still I heard that people only order an appetizer for dinner...What do you do when everyone else is eating and is it hard to just do that...I am and plan to be in the closet with this for some time except my immediate family. For the first time ever I am doing something just for me and it feels pretty good.Part of me wants to blurt it out to so many people and then my sanity takes over and I say, nah.......

Any eating out tips !!!

Also, I am turning 50 in 3 weeks ..This surgery and new lifestyle is my gift to myself and my family but I am a little concerned about being put on the spot by some friends who know that I can usually pack away a good meal and a number of drinks when I am out partying...I guess these concerns are petty compared to the dangerously unhealthy life before....

Anyway, thanks everyone..

Steve

NY LAPSTER

10/30 302.5

11/11 BANDED 284.5

12/7 261.5 -40.5

199 WILL BE REAL NICE

[leatha_g 4]

Good post, Steve.

I eat out quite alot and let me just tell you that I am not always 'good'. It's hard when those around you are having appetizers, then full course meals, THEN Desserts.

I have gotten to where I do simply order an appetizer like crabcakes as my entree. Problem with this is that I lack vegetables alot. I'm trying to focus on bringing them back into my diet however, even it means drinking a V8 per day.

I have some standby's, like the crabcakes, salmon cakes, etc that I order most all the time. Or sometimes, I'll share an entree with someone, just taking a bit of their meat, such as chicken marsala. It's been 18 months and I've just learned to try to focus on the visiting and enjoying of the people I'm with instead of gorging myself with food the whole time. I've also had to try to learn to keep my eyes on my own plate as watching others gorge can become rather disgusting after awhile. I also remember that if that were me, I'd certainly not appreciate someone telling me it was the wrong thing to do, so best I just focus on my own plate. lol.

French Onion Soup is another decent thing to order. It has more Protein in it than we would think and it's definitely filling. Or, if you can still have salads, there are many great ones these days. Just remember some of the dressings UN-do any good that we've done weight-wise.

Either way, you're right, it can be tough, but I have learned I'll be okay just playing with my food long enough to finish the meal and enjoy the reason I'm there.

Good luck!

[Iluvharleys 15]

Steve - Glad to hear you are doing so good. Once you get to solids, it will be much easier especially when eating out. You can even have a glass or two of wine, if you like it. I have learned that if I push my food around on my plate a lot and just play with it, most people don't even notice that I am not eating it. You can also say that you are doing Portion Control right now, as you will be losing weight at the same time. While I was still on liquids I had a party to go to, and I just pushed things around and not one person noticed! I actually thought they would because I am famous for trying a little bit of everything. I am also a closet banster, and at Thanksgiving, everyone noticed the weight I lost and ask me what I was doing. I told them South Beach diet and walking, and it satisfied them. Please keep us posted on your progress. Men lose a lot quicker than women, so we can pout as your scale goes down, but be very happy for you at the same time!

I was one of the lucky ones that lost weight during the liquid phase, but everyone doesn't. Don't worry about it, this is the time for healing. Once you get to solids, you will start losing.

[nightingale2u 42]

Welcome to Bandland Steve! Looks like you are sailing through the toughest time after being banded... congrats! This is an awesome forum isn't it. I can imagine what I would have done without this site during the pre and post-banding stages!

Darcy

[blossom 2]

Hi, Steve! Congratulations on getting your band!

[New Hope 37]

As far as eating with other people, Betty is right, most people don't really pay any attention. Just put some stuff on your plate and push it around. Take your time eating and you'll still be eating while everyone else is. Or say you had a big lunch (breakfast) and you're not very hungry and order an appetizer. Shrimp Brochette is wonderful! Congrats on joining the 50 club. I'm a member and I feel healthier and emotionally better than I have in years!

[Zoe 6]

Sounds like you're doing fine, Steve. Congratulations on the impressive early weight loss!

There's a thread on "closet bandsters" from a couple of months back; you might want to check it for tips. If someone asks why you aren't eating much, you can always say that (1) your stomach doesn't feel quite right, or (2) you want to lose weight. Both true!