RedheadGirl

You have done amazing! Such an inspiration!

I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I started my journey on april 8 , 2010 . I weighed 436 the week before surgery and as of today I weigh 288 so you can lose good with the band. It is work every day, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have slowed down some now on the weight loss but atleast it is still going down. Congradulations on becoming a bander.

It is exactly this board and people like you who comment that keep me going... It is a relief to know I am not alone and other have and are going through this like myself. Thankyou!

The pre-op diet was HELL for me. I cried, I was moody, I was tired, Ugh...

It was completely psychological. I wanted to eat so badly but I kept reminding myself that I needed to stick to the liquid diet so my liver would shrink. I had to avoid a birthday brunch with my friends because the temptation was just too great. I never was extremely "hungry" I just wanted to eat. This web site helped me a lot.

I am now almost 4 weeks out and am eating Protein, fruits and veggies. I am so much happier. I have lost 35 pounds since May 9th (when I started my pre-op diet). You can do this!!

Let me know how things go!

Thanks Dave, that input was good to read and you are right. I do want to make sure that I do everything right on my part to make the surgery go well. It's so very mental and I know that this is just the start of the process of getting over the emotional addiction to food. I think this time really tests your strength mentally as I don't even really feel that hungry physcially but more so emotionally. Last night was another battle and I won. I wanted to indulge in almonds and my excuse in my mind was that it was a lower carb food and if I can have bars with some nuts why can't I eat almonds? I still don't get the meaning behind why Protein bars are ok to eat but other forms of low cal Protein are not? But... I will follow this and get through it one moment at a time.

Red,

I tell you that the preop diet is so important...maybe it will help you if I explained how I looked at the pre op diet. first off, I was on the diet for 22 days...nothing but Protein shakes...couldn't even have bars..i tried to stay busy took it one hour at a time. The outlook I had was that this was medically necessary for me to have a safe surgery. .in my mind, I wasn't going to do anything that would hinder the doc during surgery.. If something were to go wrong, it wasn't going to be my fault. I kept thinking and praying that I would keep my end of the bargain.

It was hard no doubt...but so rewarding when the doc told my wife that because I was so strict and stuck to the diet that my liver shrunk and made the surgery a breeze for him. Not to mention that I lost 58 pounds during those 22 days! Granted I was very active...being a football coach and was doing spring training for two of those weeks...i was very weak alot...but kept thinking and praying I was gonna stay true to it.

I hope this helps.

Dave

Where in Oregon are you? I also live in Oregon. And why did you have staples? Is that a normal for the lapro surgery?

Good luck to you!!! Don't feel weird about being scared of being skinny. This is a big change, and it's normal to be scared about such a big change. Hope your surgery goes well.

I'm not sure what the wait time is because I set mine up a few months ago and picked my surgery date since I was doing it so far in advance. I don't think the wait time is long and from what I know everything about this place is great so far!

How long are you having to wait until your surgery? Im looking into this hospital as well and am wondering what the wait times are for the lapband.

Thankyou Kittyforet, it is nice to know that others are going through this at the same time as me.

RedheadGirl,

It does get somewhat easier! I get banded Monday June 20 and haven't done awesome on the pre-op, but each day gets a little better than the day before. I agree it is so hard to see and smell what others are having and not be able to enjoy it too!!! Some days I am ready to gnaw my own arm off, but then I realize it's not on my diet list!!! It's an emotional hunger that we are dealing with and you have to NOT let the food win!!! I suck at will power so if I can attempt the pre-op, you can too!!!

soon it will all be worth it!!!!

good luck!!

I'm so glad that this area might get more active. I have felt a little loss with all the other places and have wanted to find support and offer encourgment but it's hard to "get to know" people on here when there are so many and I don't know where to jump in. So this is perfect.

I'm 33 and this month I'm being banded. I am getting banded in Mexico as I am self pay and will be doing this for my bday. I leave on the 26th for San Diego to vacation for 2 days and then get the surgery on the 28th. I'll be in the hospital there during my birthday. Happy Birthday to ME! Most expensive gift I've ever given myself.

I'm currently day 3 of pre-op and just posted a couple times about how I am struggling sooooooooooooooo BAD tonight. I want to eat. This makes me wonder if emotionally I'm ready for this. I'm so used to eating for hunger, and every emotion that I feel so "off" right now with just drinking Protein drinks and eating bars. I want to feel stuffed and that is not happening.

I can't thank you guys enough for replying. It's given me hope to read the responses. I'm on day 3 of my pre-op diet and feel like I'm going nuts. I just want to eat. I want to soothe myself with food. This is a hard addiction to fight and overcome.

I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I started my journey on april 8 , 2010 . I weighed 436 the week before surgery and as of today I weigh 288 so you can lose good with the band. It is work every day, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have slowed down some now on the weight loss but atleast it is still going down. Congradulations on becoming a bander.

This is day three of the pre-op diet for me and I am struggling. I want to chew and spit out food or something just so I can chew! My pre-op diet consists of Protein drinks that are low carb and Protein Atkins bars up to like 2 or 3 a day. My calories have been low. First day 500 calories and second day 800...today so far 800. I think so much of this is giving up the overeating and wanting to eat and knowing that I can hold food but just can't have it. I don't know how I'm going to go til the 26th. Well, really til the 28th... I'm flying to get my surgery done and am spending two days in CA before I cross the border. Just wondering if anyone else has struggled and am curious if it gets any easier. I can have broth as well and am trying to think of ways to jazz it up or spice it up without adding any food or any carbs to it. Any suggestions?

Thanks... I'm about to rib my skin off!

I can't stand the taste of most low carb Protein drinks. The best ones I have found were the EAS and Atkins advantage that are premade in the 4 packs to buy. Expensive but much better than the powder. Both can be found at Walmart.< /p>

Thank you!!!!

I'm having a hard time! Day 3 of pre-op diet which consists of shakes and a couple 2 carb Protein Bars a day and that is all I get! I want to eat.... I don't know if this is more emotional hunger or physical. I want to crawl out of my skin and just go eat. Everything around me looks good and smells good. Making my son dinner tonight was hard, I wanted a bite. I get banded on the 28th so I have a ways to go. Does this get any easier?

Thankyou!!! I'm going to call now.

Love Fill Centers! I post about them all the time because so many people that go out of country are left without a doc that will accept them. They will take patients that have gone foreign and are sooo nice. I have used several of their providers because I travel and like them all. The one in Oregon is a lady and have read good posts on her. But if you will call Fill Centers they will even tell you how experienced she is. 866 345 5872. Hope this helped

I've been hearing lately that a lot of people don't lose that much with the band. That it is more for people who have 100 lbs or less to lose. Anyone else hear about this???

I'm so glad it's now June!!! I'm ready to start my pre-op diet, I'm getting tired of food! Crazy but soooo true!

Thanks for the replys. It's good to know I am not alone.

How much weight have you lost? You are VERY handsome!!! I'm sure it'll be no time before you find a girl. How old are you?

Heather

Thank you for the compliment. I'm still trying to get use to it since everyti e I look in the mirror I still see myself as i use to be

I'm also getting banded June 28th!!! Yay!

Hi, my surgery is June 28... Like all the others, I'm so excited to start this amazing journey. Glad to see so many on here with the same excitement. Imagine how we are all going to look at our Christmas and New Years Parties this year!!! Fabulous!!!!

Hello, I'm new to posting around here and just started lurking around the forums. My sugery is scheduled for June 28th! Yay! I'm weighing in right now at 437 lbs. My word! I'm so glad I am getting ready for this surgery. I hate that I have ate my way this big. I'll be updating in here and I'm looking forward to getting to know some of you. We all need support.

Heather

I'm SOOOO glad you posted this! I was a little worried with starting out at such a high weight if I would lose that much with the band. I'm currently 437 lbs and my sugery is June 28th. You give me HOPE! :)

WOW, 58 lbs in 3 weeks! Geez! Dave good luck! You will do great and I am saying prayers for you. :) keep us updated.

Well, it's been a while since I posted, and my surgery is tomorrow May 24th @ 8:30. I am on the last day of my pre-op diet...it's been rough!

Well, as I said before, I weighed 619 when I went in for my consult about a month ago. Because of the pre-op diet, I'm down to 561. I can't believe I dropped 58 lbs in 3 weeks!!

Tomorrow morning is my surgery, so I would appreciate any of you saying a prayer for me. Thanks in advance!

Dave

I'll prolly post this on pre-op board too for the bigger exposure!!

Wow, great job on the 20 lbs! Are you finding it hard to follow this plan? What type of Protein drinks are you drinking?

I'm on Protein Drinks, broth, yogurt and cottage cheese. I can have all the s/f Jello i want. I'm on day 12 of 18 and have lost 20 lbs as of this morning.

What type of pre-op diet are they having you follow?

June 14th! I start my pre op diet in 4 days.. I am getting so EXCITED.. Good luck to everyone.. I am sure we will all be talking a lot more as our dates get closer

I'm curious to hear what your all pre-op diets are? I know liquids but what about the specifics. I will ONLY be allowed Protein drinks and can't go 40-50 carbs a day in doing those. I have to do this for 2 weeks.

-Heather in Oregon

Hello,

I'm going to be banded in Mexico at the end of June and am trying to figure out where to go for my fills and the cost etc. since I am a self pay. Does anyone use fill center USA? What is your experience with them? Are they expensive, do you get a lot out of going to them? Any info would be great!

Thanks,

Heather in Oregon

Hello,

I guess I should jump on board and try and get some support for this new journey I'm about to get on. I'm so excited! I'm self paying and so I am heading to Mexico on June 26th. I will be staying a couple days in SanDiego and then heading over to Tijuana for sugery. I'm supposed to do a 2 week liquid diet of Protein Drinks prior. Looking forward to chatting with some of you.

-Heather

I'm having surgery in Mexico on June 28th and I'm getting it done by Dr. Lopez Corvala in Tijuana. He is one of the top ten bariatric surgerions in the World and has taught classes at a Univerisity in Baha CA. He has an excellent resume. I'm only paying 5,000 for my surgery coming up and I'll fly into San Diego and be picked up and taken over the border. All transportation is paid for. I don't have to worry about taxi's. I spend 2 nights in the hospital and one night in a hotel right by the hospital. The hospital is NICE it's called Angeles Hospital and is in a tourist american part of TJ with a starbucks, sams club, movie theatre in english...etc.

I've known 3 people who have gone to Mexico and all were very HAPPY over it! Good luck on your journey.