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Yeah! The Nurse Practitioner called me Friday on the drive home from work. She was working through the files on her desk just like I was told. Now that things are in her hands, it seems as though the ride from here might be a bit smoother. I am not scheduled: August 21 - Endoscopy September 24 - Chest X-Ray; EKG; Blood Work September 26 - Review tests with Nurse Practitioner, go over 2 week diet requirement and schedule the surgery date!! After talking things over with my hubby, and trying to navigate the events we have coming up, I believe I'm going to work to begin the 2 week liquid diet on 10/15. I have a wedding party to do make up for (Mary Kay Consultant) the first weekend of October. We are taking my 88 y/o mother-in-law on vacation the next weekend (10/12). That would put my surgery (if I'm lucky and there's availability) the week of 10/29....which puts it very near my birthday. I'm TOTALLY ok with that, as this can then be my birthday present to myself!!! At 44, I'll be starting a new me! Next year, it will be 2 birhtdays in one! This will also mean (hopefully....if post-surgery recouperating goes well) that I could potentially have turkey and mashed potatoes with everyone at Thanksgiving! And Christmas will be even better because that will be about 8-9 weeks out and things should be showing significant progress. (I know, maybe a bit Pollyanna-ish, but if you're not positive, things won't happen, right?) WHOO HOO!!! I'm SO excited this is finally moving forward.

Well I have finally calmed down from finding out I was approved. That was surely the longest 7 days of my life. I felt like a little kid again waiting for Christmas! So as I sit here tonight I'm feeling pretty good and have just been going through all the forums for insight on how my life is going to change. I am super happy but also trying to stay realistic in my own personal journey and knowing the weight is not just going to fall off overnight. Darn!! HaHa! I ordered 2 books today from Amazon and am excited for those to come. I am planning on going out and purchasing the Magic Bullet unless someone can suggest a better food processor?! I just like the "convenience look" of it but I've heard some say it leaks. I plan on starting my own personal blog page to have for day 1 banded and beyond. For me, I think it's important to referee back to where I was when I feel like I'm having a bad day. Exactly 1 year ago I was 60lbs lighter than I am now due to HCG shots and although it was a quick fix I wish I would have journaled how good I felt. Of course I gained it all back and then some. Ahhhhhh, the things we do for vanity. I am looking forward to finally embarking on a journey that will stay with me for a lifetime! Life is good!

Ok so I've posted on the past and the fun stuff, now time for a current update. I'm 20 months post-op. I've been stalled at my weight for probably 4 to 5 months. Sucks I know, but I have no one to blame but me. Bottom line I got lazy and some bad habits came creeping back in. I haven't gained which makes me so happy, but I haven't lost either . So what are these bad habits you ask.... Not eating enough protein, eating unhealthy foods, drinking while eating, not drinking enough water, not exercising regularly, and not sleeping enough. So to be fair to myself I have a crazy schedule. I work full time and go to school full time. I don't have children, but I am the one that cleans and cooks and keeps our house in order. My husband isn't lazy I just have OCD when it comes to cleaning and he can't cook to save his life. Still that is no excuse to eat crappy, skip the protein, and not exercise. I should be able to work all that in. I just let myself be lazy. So now I am correcting all of that. We I've been increasing my water intake and setting alarms for when I can drink after I eat and working out. That's been for the past couple of weeks. I caught myself the other day sipping while eating and someone shared the applesauce video with me. I haven't done that since lol. I have this great fear that I will stretch out my stomach, so I constantly test myself with water. I can hold 6 oz of water. My dr says that is perfect and exactly where I should be. So I haven't stretched it. Whew! I haven't gone up in inches either or clothing size. I've maintained it even through my laziness. The biggest change has been my hair. Yes, my hair started falling out after surgery and yes, it has all grown back. Only now....it's textured (technical term from my stylist). Meaning somewhere between straight and curly. Just enough that if I brush it with a brush it frizzes. It's annoying to have to figure out how to take care of my hair now that it's different. Lots of trial and error. Also, I hit that magic 18 month time for when I can start adding to our family. My surgeon gave me a go and my other Dr is happy with my weight and my blood work. So the good old fashioned way of having kids didn't work. That was step one. Now we are on step two, Clomid round one. Hopefully soon I'll have updates of future sleepless nights, but for now I have no such thing. I'm just happy that I can try. Lesson's I have learned: It's a journey that is long and slow. Take it one step at a time. Don't get discouraged and don't give up. I didn't become fat overnight and I won't become a size 2 overnight. :wub:

Congrats!! I was banded back in Jan and I remember exactly how you feel I think I started screaming when the office called to say I was approved! Good luck!! I used a regular blender/smoothie maker? to blend all my foods in the beginning. I still had to make sure to cut the meat into smaller pieces or they wouldn't get blended to the right consistency.

How exciting. I am almost 3 weeks post-op and reveling in finding my clothes are getting very loose on me! I am noticing it more in my clothes than the scale so I'll take it! I have a magic bullet knockoff that I bought at a garage sale. I was going to send it with my daughter for college but kept it and it works well. Of course, the pureed food leaves a lot to be desired but the blender is doing it's job and is much easier to clean and use than my standard blender. Just make sure you add plenty of liquids to the meat/protein and cut the meat into small pieces first or it won't work. Good luck on your journey.

ali as long as you start over or begin again, who cares how long its been since banding. you make yourself well my friend. you can do this

Growing up, I always knew I was intelligent. I never "got" high school and I never understood why some women are so obsessed with other women and their choices. I also never "got" the whole obsession with actors. I know I will never meet one and if I do, he is not going to sweep me off my feet and marry me. Come on, how many actors are married to regular people? And if there are some, how many found the average woman walking down the street? However, I always knew I'd marry someone just like me. Someone who loves to get out and do things. Someone who loves nature. Someone who loves New York City as much as he loves a log cabin in the middle of nowhere. I was wrong. I married my best friend, and I have no regrets However, he's the type of man I never thought I would be with. The kind of guy I used to stand up for high school even though I never quite got their obsession with D&D and computers. I always did understand the feeling of not fitting in or thinking a little or lot outside of the box. I watched "Sliders" and "Quantum Leap" but "Dr. Who" and "Star Trek" were never interesting to me. When I met my husband, I used to laugh at him when he would put on these shows, or when he would sit in front of computer for hours on end killing imaginary creatures in imaginary worlds. But, lately, I've realized that my husband didn't change me, he allowed me to find and appreciate my inner geek. And to be honest, I kind of like her. She's smart. She get's sarcasm (in case you haven't noticed from my blogs). She's direct. She's a leader. She's a pretty darn cool chick if you ask me. But, there are still things I don't like. Old "Dr. Who" is boring to me (please don't yell at me for that), "Star Trek" isn't as bad, but I can always find something else to watch, and I still don't understand the whole, sit in front of the computer, killing others thing. Why would I do that when I can sit on here reading status updates from people I haven't seen in twenty years and probably have nothing in common with or "PIN" things that I will never do? I mean come on, at least my stuff COULD happen...one day...maybe....ok, NEVER. LOL. So, for now, I am allowing my inner dork to show her head sometimes. I think we all have a little bit of this person inside of us. The person we tried to hide from others (especially in H.S). The person who sings and dances in the kitchen for no reason and makes up songs while chopping veggies...(in the "here comes the bride tune) "Here comes the knife....all in my hand...he's going to get you and help send you to tummy land" Yes, I do all of those things. I am a DORK. I am a GEEK. I am NERD.....but, I'm also all those other things I've been my whole life....now, I'm just more complete. NOTE: I read this to my husband and his response was, "You left out the SCA" Now, for those who doubt I married a geek, you can go check out www.sca.org. The website will explain it much better than I can. No it's not like the move, "Role Models" or a Renfair However, my husband does leave me for weeks at a time to roll play and 'kill" other people. I am not involved....this is just one thing I never could "get" but hey, let my husband enjoy his inner geek....his is much more out in the open than mine.

I know how you feel, I wanted to do a detox /cleanse before I started my pre-op diet but All I want to do is eat.I am so ready for this surgery, but I'm not ready for the Fast. But I'm going to start my juice fast first before I start the pre-op diet. Good Luck and best Wishes.