emptyNest

That is great progress. Congrats! I too weigh every day, even tho most of the 'experts' say to only weigh once/week. I've been doing it so long that the minor fluctuations no longer bother me. I'm still a 'before', but the loss is steady... about 3 pounds/month. Its still exiting to me each time that scale hits a new low..

Welcome everyone!! I'm not sure if I want to name my band until I get to know her... I might need to change it based on how well we get along.

UNJURY has a chicken broth flavor and unflavored. I mix the unflavored with my crystal light, so I think that qualifies as 'clear'. Unfortunately I think the only place to get it is on the internet, so it may not help you for this week. I'm not banded yet, but I hope those 2 things get me through the first week.

My surgeon requires that we go to one before being banded. I've been to 3 and I haven't even been banded yet! There is a nutritionist there, and its nice to meet others who have been through it. My DH even went with me once. Go, and see what you think. Worst case you don't have to go back.

PERFECT!! I was wondering what to tell the nosey ones...

Have you noticed that Crystal Light ( & the generics) list the serving size on their 'Single' drink mixes as 1/2 packet? Who would split one of those tiny packets??

Cindy, You are SO right! I'm the same way. I CAN lose weight without the band. I've done it... 60 lbs, 70 lbs, Adkins, Nutri-System... Sure I can do it. Can I keep it up forever? NO. That is what I hope the band does for me. I just need a little bit of help... a little leash, as you put it. My surgery is mid-April and I'm losing weight the 'Normal' way now. Down 30 pounds. The difference is that I hope the band helps me to FINALLY keep it off. Thanks for your comment and wish me luck!

I'm scheduled for the 14th....finally

I've discovered embroidery (quilt blocks). It's cheap to do, keeps my hands busy, and since I don't want to get my work dirty I can't eat at the same time.

That's great! I'm so happy for you! Sounds like you are on your way!

Its so good to see more April people! As it gets closer I'm really starting to get excited! I'm counting the days, and trying to eat better. I'm trying to start replacing meals with protein shakes, too, hoping that helps later.

Good luck to you! Let us know how things go. I'm sure you'll do great!

YES!!! And it looks like we have the same surgery date, too!!! 4/14 !! I started another post called APRIL 2011 Bandsters. Not many of us yet... Do you have a pre-op diet?

Congratulations! You will be getting banded on the same day as I start my pre-op diet, so I'm right behind you. Keep in touch!

Welcome!! My DH went with me to the scheduling appt. and he asked me why I kept grinning... I've been working to get this approved and scheduled for nearly a year! Lets be nerdy together!!

We are being banded on the same day! I'm 4-14 as well. Let's keep in touch! Do you have to do a pre-op diet? Mine is 2 weeks <800 cals, 50-60 gm Protein.

I think you can definately lose weight with Nutri-System if you stick with it. I lost 60 pounds with it after my kids were born. Unfortunately I re-gained it all plus.. after I went off it. You have to commit to a permanent change. If you can do it with Nutri-System, more power to you. I couldn't. I hope the band will give me enough help to make the change permanent this time.

Change doctors. I had the same issue. My PCP who I've had for 20 years refused to refer me, even thought he knew I've been obese for 20 years. He wanted me to do this liquid diet thing that, guess what... was a for-profit thing of his. I changed PCP's and am now on the road to getting the band.

Sometimes the best surgeons are the ones without much of a 'bedside manner'. My husband had an aeortic aneurism fixed this summer. He had had previous open-heart surgeries, so he was high-risk, and I was VERY worried. Anyway, long story short he nearly died on the operating table. The aneurism blew when they opened his chest and before they had him hooked up on the bypass machine. Thank God he was under the care of the best. He's fine now, and back to his old self. I went on-line before the surgery and there were tons of negative posts about the surgeon's personality, or lack thereof... Fortunately I have friends and family in the medical field and they all told me that he was the best SURGEON to have. I realize that this is different, but I'd still rather have an excellent surgeon with no personality cut on me than a 'great guy' with less skill.

Wow!! What a great way to state it. I've been feeling the same way, but this is an inspiration to me!!

I am REALLY hoping that I am a March Bandster...sigh...since I've been working on getting this done since last May.. My appt with the surgeon & nutritionist is Feb 21st, so that at least is getting close.

I was really reluctant to tell my thin friends about my plan to have the surgery for this exact reason, but guess what? They both knew of people who had had it with WONDERFUL results... such a pleasant surprise!! Hang in there! We're doing what's right for us. Maybe they are jealous?

I loved Adkins, except that eventually I'd just 'need' a hunk of bread, so I'm going to try sticking mainly to protiens, but watch the fat. We raise cattle, so I'm glad I'll still be able to enjoy a good steak after, since our meat is to die for .

OK, so I'm trying out some options for when I have to do the liquid protien diet and found something really GOOD. I mix up a batch (2 cups) of SF Jello and add a scoop of unjury unflavored. I put it into 2 1 cup individual serving cups, then when I'm ready to eat it I add a squirt (small) of Redi-Whip. It comes out to 10 gm protien, 1 gm carb, 75 calories, and its yummy!! I think the whipped cream hides the slight wang of the whey protien or something, or maybe It just makes me feel like I'm cheating, which technically, I guess I am...

Honk, I totally agree. I've been overweight for 25 of my 50 years, since I had kids. I lost 70 lbs twice.. gained it back plus more each time. After the second time I quit trying. I was afraid I would gain more again. So my weight has been stable for about 7 years. This is my chance to loose the weight FOREVER, and I don't feel guilty about it.