Band 101: 20 Tips From Amy

For our newbies and our researching prebandsters, I thought a nice topic for discussion today would be some Band-basics. A little "what Amy thinks she knows about the band" now that she is 20 months out. If my mature bandsters think I have forgotten anything, please point that out in the comments!

Kisses!

Band 101

1. The band is not a sure thing. There you go. Right up front and in your face. One of the first things my doctor ever told me...Some people do NOT lose any weight with the band.
2. I believe that with the right surgeon, and by being an active participant in your WLS journey, the band will work.
3. By active participant I mean: You have to get your fills, you have to try and make the right choices the majority of the time, you have to use your doctor and nutritionist, your support group and these blogs, to help keep you on track. There is no autopilot setting with the band.
4. You have to believe in yourself. There will be times that you do doubt the surgery. There will be times that you might worry. But, from the beginning, the more you believe, the more you will achieve.
5. The first rule of band club is there are no rules. You will find that every doctor has different rules to follow. You will find that one doctor says "NO pop EVER", and another doctor will say "Anything in moderation". You should use your doctors rules as guidelines. Find what works for you and your body. Just like every doctor, every patient is different as well.
6. Sometimes you will fail your band. This might be with one meal, or it might be a two week bender of Halloween candy and wine. It happens. It happened to me many times. And then, one day, you wake back up, pull up your big girl panties (which are going to get a little saggy in the ass area), and get back on track.
7. A cookie, four pieces of pizza, two entire bottles of wine...are not the end of the world.
8. Your scale will begin to rule your world. This will let up...eventually. But not totally.
9. If you eat too fast or do not chew, you will get to experience the dreaded PB. A productive burp is somewhere on the lower end of the throw up continuum, and includes but is not limited to: slime, rubber slobber, heaving, and chest pain. It's not as bad as it sounds. In fact, I think we bandsters, much like girl scouts, should have sashes we wear and get little badges for.
10. Fills don't really hurt.
11. You do not have to mourn the loss of food. Trust me...the food will still be there.
12. You will eventually have to...EXERCISE. (please refer back to number one for WHY). You may be able to coast for awhile exercise free. But soon enough my friends, the plateau will find you. And you are going to have to up your game. It took me over a year to enjoy the benefits of working out enough to actually miss it when I skip a day. But find something you like...and move.
13. There will be times when you aren't losing. Take your measurements. Take pictures.
14. If you surround yourself with people that support you, encourage you, and feed your soul, this journey is a hell of a lot easier.
15. Set goals. Work towards them.
16. Be proud of yourself, everyday, for choosing to make a difference in your life and health.
17. Try new things. As you start to shed your old self and create the new you, layer back up with experiences, tastes, and people...you have never tried before.
18. Eating in your car is never really a good idea.
19. Pooping ain't so easy post band.
20. The band, much like life, is what you make it. So make it worth it.