FLORIDAYS

A few Clichés come to mind as I was reading your post....Misery loves company seems to fit your BFF. If thats the case, when people make a change to end the misery... the "company" often doesnt respond. And thats ok... its your life not theirs. And as you travel on your journey, you will have the confidence to make new friends and of course keep many of the old friends.... but maybe you will find that all you had in common with some was being overweight. Since 11/24/10 when I started my journey I realized I was the one having to adapt to the world around me... not the other way around. Other lives go on while mine is seemingly stuck in a world of counting calories, worrying about what I am supposed to eat and spending hours in the closet trying to adapt my too large wardrobe. But for the first time ever I am finally doing something for me and finding the joy in the controlling of my life. My friends are pretty supportive but they dont ask about it all the time and yet they still invite me to dinner parties and know that I dont need any special considerations... I will adapt. I assume you made the decision to be banded on your own. You may have sought out information or support but by in large you had to be the one who said... this will work for me. So naturally it is on the formost of your mind. Just remember it wont be that way with others.

I am planning to have a drink on New Years to celebrate!! I was thinking vodka and cranberry.... seems pretty safe and sans carbonation!

I dont have much advice.... because I am going through the same thing anticipating going off mushy food this coming Friday. Going from liquid to creamy was pretty ok for me... but now that i am on mushy... and not having eaten real food for 5 weeks (including the 2 week pre op liquid) I am scared to death I will stop losing. I have lost 40 lbs thus far and doing great. How weird is that? I am afraid that eating will stop the losing??? So I am planning my meals for the next few weeks... will stick to my 800-1000 calories and hope for the best but my first fill isnt until 1/11 so I dont have much restriction. I am sure you will do well.... the first few days on creamy took some getting used to becasue I could barely drink / eat all I was supposed to but by the end of the week I had no trouble. I am sure you will do fine!!!

To add another Dr's opinion to the discussion.... Mr Dr says that the carbonation will expand and contract the stomach. When the gas enters it expands then when it leaves it contracts. If you do that enough over time(several times a day or even once a day) the band can slip or break away from the stitches. SO he refuses to endorse any sort of carbonitated drinks. HOWEVER.... he is fine with flat soda. I havent tried it yet and dont think I will. I was a diet coke addict.... and i basically quit cold turkey and as much as I miss the taste and the caffine... I figure its just another step toward my good health!

I started my pre op diet on 11/24 and lost 22 lbs before surgery on 12/9. On 12/14 I was down 3 lbs and as of today I am down 15 more for a total of 40 lbs since beginning the journey. I am on mushie foods and begin "normal" food on Friday. I am actually a little worried that I have to start eating regularly because I am so happy with the results thus far. However I have a 800-1000 diet to follow in order to stay on track. I have over 100 lbs left to lose.

I just started introducing mushie foods and so far i have been able to eat mashed potato (about 1oz) and cottage cheese / no fat -small curd ...also about an ounce. It took me 30 minutes both times to eat it. I am chewing like a maniac and trying to get the food to almost baby food consistancy before swallowing. I am still on liquid but am going to try apple sauce today then tomorrow will try to reduce the liquids. I am 2 weeks post op and agree that the liquids have been easier and I amtempted to just stay on them because I am losing at a nice pace but know I have to introduce solids.

I was banded 2 weeks ago roday! I am officially to start mushies tomorrow but yesterday i was SO hungry I called the Dr and he suggested trying some mashed potato or cottage cheese which I did. I had made a crock pot chicken for the family any way so I took a potato half and mushed it up, added broth and ate it very slowly. It was a little over 1 oz and it took me 35 minutes to eat. After 4 weeks of liquid (2 wks prior / almost 2 wks after) I was finally full. According to my scale this morning I am down 37 lbs.... of course that may be a few lbs give or take from the Dr.'s scale but its still a loss I am pretty happy with for the 1st month. I am sure I wont continue to lose at such a rapid pace once I am on full solids but I am shooting for 5 lbs per week for the first 100 lbs... the I know it will slow down as i get closer to my goal. My good friend is being banded as I type this... so I am thinking about her...

My surgery was on 12/9 so I am still new to this banded world but since 11/24 (date of my pre surgery liquid start) I am down 25 lbs!! I have a very long way to go but I am confident this will work and this time next year I will have lots to be thankful for. Best of luck to you!

I have butterfly bandages on mine and at my post op yesterday the Dr replaced on of them and said they looked good... only a few more days for precaution. So I am betting yours will be fine too.

I am 6 days post op and still have a little trouble getting up from a chair or bed. I just sort of "rock" myself to a standing position. Its quite graceful. LOL It does get better. Today is my first day back to work..... and I am fine but just a bit uncomfortable sitting all day. At lunch I walked around the office several times to just move around.... it was slow but i feel better.

I was banded on 12/9. Mr Dr orders 2 weeks of liquid. No mushie foods until the 3rd week which for me is Christmas Eve. He explained that the stomach needs time to heal and rushing towards mushy foods will not serve me well in the long run because I may have complications. So I am listening and following it to the letter. Up until today I had no appetite. I had to force myself to eat the 4-6 cups of broth, water and juices. Today I am back on protien shakes as well and for some reason they are a little less statisfying than they were pre surgery. Maybe it means I am healing! But I only have another week.... and this week I get to introduce tomato soup, V8 juice and milk so maybe that will help with the hunger. I would talk to your doctor about your individual situation. Good Luck!

My doc said to start the adult chewables on Friday which is 8 days after my surgery. I bought the gummies.

Hi Judy Yes we met... I was the tall blond who was sneezing her fool head off in the room at the end of the hall next to the waiting area... I never even noticed the number. My hubby was with me and we left about 730pm. Millie showed me your before shots! You are an inspiration! I know I will get there too!

Thanks! I go to the Dr on Tuesday for post op appointment. I am anxious to see how much more I lose! That is my focus........

I was banded Thursday. No severe pain. I would classify it more as discomfort. Took Maalox several times yesterday for gas but none so far today. I took a shower last night and that made me feel alot better. Try to walk as much as i can around the house.... just feel like i was kicked in the stomach.

I think I caught a cold in surgery.... or had one ready to break because as soon as I was out of recovery I started sneezing ... one right after the other. they gave be benedril in my IV but of course every time i sneezed I my stomach killed me. Still stuffy today but better.... at least I am getting it all over at once. LOL

I am a light smoker.... less than a pack a day. I had surgery on Thursday and doc knew i smoked. Got a lecture from the anesthesologist but told him i am tackeling one thing at a time. LOL I had no complications.

Yes he did it on Thursday, He and the whole staff @ Memorial were wonderful! I am 2 days post surgery and feel like I have been thru a war...but feeling better thasn yesterday so thats a step in the right direction!

I am not familiar with that diet but i am on day 13 of the Optifast liquid which is 800 calories since 11/24. I am being banded in Tampa on Thursday. From my research and info from the doctor the point of the liquid is to shrink your liver to make for an easier surgery. Remember the stomach is behind the liver and the Dr only has a tiny camera so see what he is doing.....so they want to get it as small as possible. My Dr. said it avoids excessive bleeding from the liver also which will cloud his view. Also... you will not be able to eat anything sold for several weeks after surgery. Preparing your body beforehand helps to avoid shock post op. And... lastly, you will lose weight prior to surgery ! I lost 22lbs in 12 days as of yesterday! Best of luck to you. This is just a phase.... it will pass and the results will be worth it!

Had the preop weigh in yesterday.... Lost 22 lbs on the liquid diet (started 11/24) so I am very ready for Thursday to get on to the next phase of this journey. Best of luck to anyone getting banded this week. Mine is @ 12:30 on Thursdy in Tampa!

Day 9 of my pre surgery Optifast liquid and I am dying to know if I have lost any weight but I am sure I have since its 800 calories and I havent cheated once! I get weighed in on Monday for surgery on Thursday. Just curious how much people are figuring to loose pre surgery if you are on liquid?

I am on day 7 of the Opti Fast (liquid) and my surgery is next Thursday 12/9. The first 2 days I had a horrible headache but nothing to make me go off the liquid. Now every shake is one step closer to next week. Good Luck!

I just picked up my Optifast today. Start tomorrow for 2 weeks. Will be banded on 12/9. My Dr. will not perform surgery unless you do Optifast for 2 weeks prior to surgery. He will cancel the procedure if I do not lose weight. But on 800 calories per day I am guessing I will loose 15-20 lbs.

Hi! Our statistics are different but the story is the same. I am 5'9 and if i had a nickle for every time someone told me I carried my weight well I would be very rich! Since I carry it below the waist its easy to conceal in flowing skirts! But the fact is I am well over 100 lbs overweight! That said.... my insurance (Aetna)wont cover the lap band. I went to the internet and looked at all my options including traveling to Mexico. In the end I settled on Dr Aquila in Tampa who is offering the procedure (all inclusive) for 5k to be paid at the time of surgery and $200 per month for 24 months interest free...no financing. I am to be banded on December 9th and I couldnt be more ready for this to happen. I have gained and lost the same 100 libs for 20 years.... and this time its going to be for good! Look around.... talk to several physcians.... there will be a solution out there!

The liquid diet I will be on for 2 weeks before surgery.