Reminders....10 Tips For Unlocking the Keys To Band Success

As I promised yesterday, here are some great reminders/tips from my surgeon's office:

1. The band is not primarily about restriction
2. The band is first about reduced appetite (hunger) and eating less.
3. Always stop eating when you no longer feel physically hungry.  This may be long before you actually feel full.
4. Measure foods, eat only the amount you measure, and then walk away.
5. Do not rely on your stomach "feeling full" as your signal to stop eating.  This can easily lead to chronic overeating because the stomach "tells" the brain it's full about 20 minutes after it actually is.
6. Never eat until you are "stuffed."
7. Never eat more simply because you can.
8. The key to successful weight loss is not how much you can eat, but how little you can eat to suppress appetite.
9. Pay close attention to your bodies signals that you are done eating.  For some people this can be hiccups, a runny nose, watery eyes, a sigh, or a slight pain in the left shoulder.  What does you body tell you?
10. The band is a tool, you are the user, the controller, of the tool.  Like any tool, it is only as effective as the person using it.  You can use is effectively (like hitting the hammer on the head of the nail) or ineffectively (hit the hammer all around the nail).  You control the tool, not the other way around  By being careful and attentive you too will become a Band master.

Source: Southern Oregon Bariatric Center

Does a Lap Band Adjustment Hurt?

This shout-out post is for the newbies.  I get emails from you guys all the time asking about whether a band adjustment (A.K.A "a fill") hurts.  Well, since I had a fill yesterday, I thought that I'd tell you all about it.

Here's how a fill usually goes down:

1. I lay on the table and lift up my shirt to just below my bra line. I fold my pants waistband down. I put my hands/arms above my head.
2. My belly area is cleansed with Betodine.
3. The medical professional feels for the port (I am very lucky that my port is pretty easy to find).  It helps to push your tummy out a bit, like you're doing a sit-up.
4. The area is numbed with Lidocane (this hurts more than the actual fill, in my opinion)
5. The port is accessed with a special needle as shown below.  Fluid is added or removed and then the needle is taken out.  Here's a photo of the needle inside my port yesterday:

      6.  They clean up my belly to remove the Betodine and then put a band-aid on.

My nurse practitioner ended up putting in 0.3 ccs which takes it to a grand total of 7.6 ccs in my 10 cc Lap Band.

Here's what it looks like when the needle is removed:

Overall: it hurts less than a flu shot or a vaccine in your arm.

By the way, the sensation of when they remove fluid is really an odd feeling.  I cannot explain it very well.  You have to experience it to know it.  I feel like I can't quite catch my breath. It's super weird. But it tells me that yes, indeed, there's a band in there.

Tomorrow's post: 10 Tips For Unlocking the Keys To Success With the Lap Band.  (Ummm...yeah, I stole borrowed some informational sheets from the surgeon's office yesterday and I will be sharing them with you.)

The Long Lost Chicago Shopping Story

"I like my money right where I can see it: hanging in my closet." ~Carrie Bradshaw; Sex and the City.

Let's talk about the shopping that occurred at BOOBs in Chicago.

Took me long enough to get around to this post, right?  Grab that cup of coffee a settle in.  This is going to be a long post.

Since I live in middle-of-nowhere podunk Oregon, I've become quite skilled at online shopping. 

But let me tell ya, a girl really can't get the full-on shopping retail therapy experience unless she tries the clothes on and then prances around and poses in the dressing room.

The prancing is important. That's how I can tell if a cute top or a sexy dress speaks to me. 

Wait, your clothes don't speak to you?  Ummm, yeah, me either.

By the way, you know those magical mirrors in the dressing rooms that seem to make one look ten pounds lighter?  I want one of those mirrors in my house.  I'm taking donations towards the cause....just sayin'.

Anyways, onwards to the fun and amazing shopping adventure that I had on that fateful breezy Monday morning in Chicago.  It seems like it was just yesterday...

I first stopped in at Forever 21 which was just around the corner from the hotel.

Yes, I do realize that their clothes are pretty much made out of paper and after a few washings they will disintegrate.  But they have cute stuff hangin' up in that store I wanted to check it out.

Unfortunately, there's nothing like trying on junior size clothes to make a gal feel like a fat cow.  I am a size X-LARGE at Forever 21.  Seriously. Sigh.  But I never forget to remind myself that I couldn't have ever shopped in junior sizes when I was a fatty.  I ended up buying a boring navy blue button-down sweater cardigan.  Yep. A work outfit staple.  Way to step out of my comfort zone, right?  NOT.

I then headed north on Michigan Ave.  My destination was the Water Tower Place Mall.

Eight levels of shopping extravaganza and enlightenment.  Supposedly, Oprah has an apartment in the building.  I should have texted her so we could grab a coffee and catch up.  But I forgot and honestly, I had exactly two hours to get all my shopping done before I had to meet my roomie, Stephanie, for our official last supper in Chicago (deep dish pizza of course).

I arrived at the mall right when it opened at 10am.  Where was everyone?  It seemed like a ghost town.  I walked into White House - Black Market.

The overly eager sales ladies greeted me immediately and asked what they could help me find.  I said I was just looking around.  Then the especially commission-focused sales lady who I nick-named in my head as "scary eyebrows" asked if I wanted to see their fall collection.

Ummm...sure?

In five minutes flat, Scary Eyebrows had me trapped in a dressing room trying on all kinds cute skirts and tops.  In the end, I bought...betcha can't guess....yep, a white sweater cardigan.  Uh oh, I just may be a one trick pony after all.

I then ventured into Victoria Secret.  Pretty much no man's land for me when I was a fatty.  I never ever was able to fit into ANYTHING in Vicky's when I was a fatty.

I always feel that when I now walk into a Vicky's that the sales ladies will give me one look and laugh because I must be in the wrong place.  But there were no laughs to be heard.

Here is your OFFICIAL WARNING:  Never walk into a Vicky's on a Monday morning at 10am.

They are eager.

The sales ladies will pretty much start measuring you and force you things to try on.

After trying on what seemed like every version of bra ever invented, the middle-aged sales lady somehow convinced me to try on this bra/thong combo:

Wow. Me likey.  At that exact moment when I looked at my reflection in the magical dressing room mirror, I knew it.

I knew that ALL of that hard work of counting calories/protein and exercising was abso-freaking-lutely worth it.

Of course the sales lady asked to see how it looked.  I slowly opened the curtain and stood there embarrassed.

She nodded approvingly with a smile on her face.  Then as if modesty wasn't a concern, she calls over TWO MORE of her sales lady cronies for them to get a look too. Or as she said it, for "training purposes." WTF.

I ended up buying way too much at Vicky's that day.  Damn those overly eager sales ladies.

But honestly, it was fun experience and validated all that hard work that I've done to get my body to look like it does.  It made me realize that, yes,  IT'S WORTH IT.

Weigh-in Day...

Goal Weight: 145 lbs

Today's Weight: 139.6 lbs

Happy Friday!

Does Anybody Have an iBand?

No.  It's not another brand of gastric band or an iPhone app.

It's a new surgical procedure that's being done when a new Lap Band is placed around the stomach.  It's called iBand.  Or more officially it's called "Imbricated Lap Band Procedure."

This procedure takes the Lap Band to the next level.

The surgeon not only places the Lap Band at the top of the stomach, but also makes the stomach below the band smaller by folding the stomach inwards and suturing the stomach walls together.  Almost like a gastric sleeve without the cutting of the stomach.

If you want to see a cute cartoon on what the procedure looks like, click HERE.

If you want to see a surgeon, Dr. Adam Smith (who is banded himself), talk about the iBand procedure, click HERE.  The best thing about the entire interview is the comment that Dr. Smith makes about accountability.  Me likey.

Here's Dr. Smith showing off his weight loss.  Another successful bandster!

Do you have an iBand? I want to know

Can I Ask You a Really Random Question?

I can't believe that I've never asked any of my fellow bandsters about this...

Ever since I've been banded I've been much more prone to motion sickness. 

Before banding, I had no problem with it.  Planes, trains, cars, boats, etc...no problem at all.  Very rarely would I have an issue, unless I was on a cruise ship in really choppy/rough seas would I consider taking a Dramamine or Bonine.

Now? Sigh... It seems to happen more often now that I'm banded.  Heaven forbid I look down at my phone while I'm a passenger in a car or read a map. I'll get so queasy. I have to look out the window.  So now, I always keep Bonine and/or Zofran in my purse just in case.  And sometimes that doesn't even help.

It can be a quick 10 minute car ride in town or a plane ride across the country, I can sometimes get queasy.

I wonder if this increase in motion sickness has to do with my stomach is often empty?  But wait, isn't motion sickness an inner-ear thing?  Who knows?

Have you had this problem?  Any advice?

Versatile Blogger Award!

Lucy over at "Lucky Lucy's Lap Band" awarded me with the Versatile Blogger Award.  Thank you Lucy!

Versatile: ver-sa-tile [vur-suh-tl] or, especially British, [vur-suh-tahyl]: capable of, or adapted for, turning easily from one to another various tasks, fields of endeavor, etc.: a versatile writer.

Award Rules:
1. You thank the person who presented you with the award.
2. You tell 7 things about yourself.
3. You award 15 other newly discovered bloggers.

OK, onwards to seven things about me...hmmm....Is there anything that you don't already know about me yet?  Here goes:

1. I finally started my Christmas shopping/gift list last night.  Finally.  I am usually done with most of my shopping by Halloween.  Where has the time/year gone?  I can't believe that Christmas will be here in eight weeks.  By the way, is anyone else participating in the secret santa that is being organized by the beautiful Shannon?  I am!
2. I plan on wearing leg warmers and a sweat band to Jazzercise one of these days. It would look super hot, right?
3. I have been meaning to tell you about my "undo" days.  It's where I eat super healthy and low calorie/high protein (approximately 1000 calories a day) to "undo" a previous day's poor food choices. Anybody else have "undo" days?
4. I went HERE last night.  So spooky! I'm such a scaredy cat.
5. My guilty pleasure TV show this season is Tough Love Miami. Who else watches that hot mess?
6. If I adopted another cat, I would name him "Mr. Darcy."  But I don't think Pemberley would like another kitty in the house.  She likes to be the princess and only kitty around here.
7. I have a fill scheduled one week from today! yay!

I would like to pass along this award to one special new blogger out there, not 15 bloggers as the rules state. (If you haven't noticed already, I'm not exactly a rule follower.  I'm more of a rule bender).

Anyways, I award Big Jim over at "A Quest to Become Medium Sized".  He's a new blogger.  There are so few men who are banded out here in the blogosphere.  Please stop by and say "Hi" to Jim.

Happy Halloween!

How was your Halloween weekend? 

Mine was great!

I went to potluck Halloween costume party on Saturday night.  I made a delicious low calorie pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese frosting and caramel drizzle...from scratch.  No cake mix involved.  Totally low fat rich and decadent...Yum!

Did you see the sneak peek of my Halloween costume on the Facebook page that I posted on Saturday night?  Well, in case you missed it, I was a skanky pirate.

Wearing this costume was a HUGE non-scale victory for me!

Hope you have a safe and fun Halloween!

Back To Basics - Do You Love Flan?

I do.

Actually, I don't think that I've ever met a dessert that I didn't like.  I guess that explains why I once weighed 256 lbs.

I've been thinking a lot lately about getting back to basics with my food choices.

I used to be such a good little bandster.  Now?  Not so much.

Therefore, here's one of my very favorite band-friendly recipes...ever.

Vanilla Egg Custard.

It's cinnamon-ny.  It's nutmegy.  It's sweet.  It's deeeee-lish.

It's the skinny cousin of high calorie/fat flan.  High protein, low calorie.

I posted the recipe two years ago when I was 5 days post-op.  Check it out HERE.

I made the recipe again this week.  It was just as yummy as I remember it....

PS: This recipe qualifies as a "full liquid" according to my surgeon.

Weigh-in Day...and a Fun With Fat Photo

Goal Weight: 145 lbs

Today's Weight: 139.0 lbs

Are you ready for Halloween? 

I'll be sure to post a photo of me in my costume....hint: I'll be wearing fishnets...

Anyways, here's the promised fun with fat photo (Halloween 2002):

What are you going to be for Halloween this year?