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Welcome to our 2 new members, MassMommyRebecca, and blackmajyk! Here is our updated list: No date yet: Shauna Deanne, kychick1294, 30Something (JeVona), nickieredd79 June 30: Nechama L July 1: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy) July 5: AlyGurl (Aly), MassMom01527 (Steph), Allison0927, Harvest Farmer, wannabe21bmi (Kate), Kim from CT, blackmajyk July 6: lizzy21050, crash878905, Lorelei July 7: nesportsfan, hokdo, songbird5769, Short and Chunky, LisaB68, pinktink, dare2bthin July 11: dixiechick, honeybunny, Jessica43082, hlong1985, Breezybbyy July 12: BandedApril (April), merlina July 13: CurlyDiva, Tammy A July 14: crystalddm, BandItOrLoseIt, MassMommyRebecca July 15: Corize, JohnnyBoy July 19: Mrs. Schultz July 21: NomersCat, Coco's mum, Rock4Light401 July 22: razzcat July 25: cat lady, dropsizes (Mary) July 29: ButterflyM, PungosMama

Take that off your ticker girl! Life is just beginning indeed! Shauna

Welcome BandItOrLoseIt and razzcat! Amy, I love the banner! I can't figure out how to get the link though. Can you email me the link to potukmail@gmail.com? Shauna

Hey Vicky! Sorry if I stole the charm idea from you...I think I did read about it somewhere on these forums and thought it was a great idea. So lucky to have the Pandora...I'm self-pay so on a budget to say the least! Shauna

Hi Darlene, I'm not banded yet, hopefully sometime in July if I pass all these medical tests! I ordered mine from www.worldofcharms.com if you need an idea of where to order online. They have a ton of charms too, search for "vasectomy cupid" to see the funniest one. Once I meet my goal weight, I will keep adding charms when I travel to certain places (my first love is travel), and they have lot's of travel related ones. Shauna

Hey Stan, no biggie...I'm betting 80% of people cheat some on the pre-op. I'm not on it yet so have no idea if I'll be able to make it or not, but it must be hard. Wendy, you are welcome...I'm a computer programmer and even I couldn't figure it out for a while! For those of you doing "voluntary" pre-op diets, I think it's a great idea! Not only will it shrink your liver, you will have less of us wanting to smack you Welcome to merlina, please come around often and tell us how you are doing! Here's our list...everyone find their date buddies and IM them! No date yet: Shauna Deanne, kychick1294, 30Something (JeVona), nickieredd79 June 30: Nechama L July 1: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy) July 5: AlyGurl (Aly), MassMom01527 (Steph), Allison0927, Harvest Farmer, wannabe21bmi (Kate), Kim from CT July 6: lizzy21050, crash878905, Lorelei July 7: nesportsfan, hokdo, songbird5769, Short and Chunky, LisaB68, pinktink, dare2bthin July 11: dixiechick, honeybunny, Jessica43082, hlong1985, Breezybbyy July 12: BandedApril (April), merlina July 13: CurlyDiva, Tammy A July 14: crystalddm July 15: Corize, JohnnyBoy July 19: Mrs. Schultz July 21: NomersCat, Coco's mum, Rock4Light401 July 25: cat lady, dropsizes (Mary) July 29: ButterflyM, PungosMama

I've only told my best friend, sister, mother, father, and ex-husband...mainly because I will need their help before and after the surgery. I also told 1 co-worker who has been successful at gastric bypass...hopefully he keeps his mouth shut. If anyone asks, I'm going to say "I eat less and move more", which is the truth. Nobody needs to know what kind of surgeries I have had. I think people will judge harshly ("oh, she took the easy way out") when it's going to be anything but! Shauna

Welcome! I don't think your goal is unrealistic at all...check out the tickers on some of the other forums and you will see people that have done it! I'm a little freaked out too, I think everyone is at some point. We are here to support each other so feel free to post your feelings/experience here on the thread and we will keep you going! I've been eating at all my favorite restaurants and eating up all the "bad food" in my house. I won't be surprised if I'm a little higher in weight than in my first meeting with the surgeon, but that's ok. Shauna

The fact that you are thinking about probably means you will be self-concsious about it if you don't do some trimming! I'm planning on it!

Here are a few thing I'm treating myself to after each 10 lbs lost: Massage Manicure/Pedicure A movie Some new makeup Splurge on a new accessory A new bottle of perfume And once at my goal weight, some great new clothes! I'm sticking to the ebay/Craigslist/Goodwill route until then, it just get's too expensive otherwise. I also ordered a charm bracelet to walk through my lap-band journey. It will be a plain bracelet except for one engravable heart charm...which I plan to have engraved with the date when I reach my goal weight. It symbolizes that I love myself. Every time I lose 10 lbs. I will treat myself to a new charm. It might symbolize something I've always wanted to do, or something/someone important to me that I'm doing this for. I think my second charm will be the Eiffel Tower...I've always wanted to go to Europe but always put it off because I know you have to walk a lot there and my weight means PAIN when I do that.

Did you have all 5 shakes? I would usually recommend calling the surgeon's office but since it's Saturday that may not be possible. If you had all 5 shakes, I would eat an extra yogurt and/or shake. It is probably tempting to eat something that is not on your list. So it's up to you whether you want to strictly follow the diet. In reality, a lot of people cheat a little bit and it doesn't end up in a canceled surgery or anything. Heck, some people don't even have pre-ops. But if you do, try to have something like an egg or something that is just protein. Eggs, chicken, tuna, and skim or soy milk are allowed on my pre-op. We are here to support you whatever you decide! Shauna

Glad you are feeling better Nancy. I have heard it's not uncommon to feel "fluish" about 3 days in but if it seems extreme it's probably best to call the doc! Shauna

Welcome PongosMom, pinktink, and Tammy! Congrats LisaB on getting your date! MassMom, I'm so sorry about your endoscopy. I've been told I'll be knocked out for it, for which I am grateful. I also have my "Am I doing the right thing?" days, I think it is pretty normal when you are making such a huge lifestyle change. I have lots of fears...will I fail? What if I don't have the willpower to follow the diet and keep working out? How bad is getting stuck going to hurt? What if I slime in front of people?!!! When all these things go through my mind I just recall all the people on these boards that wouldn't change getting the band for anything and have been successful and it helps. I want to just say to Kevin and Stan to please stay active on the thread...it is so nice to have some guys around! Best of luck to all of you starting your liquid pre-ops, you can do it! Just think, I'll be STARTING my pre-op while you are already over your surgery and getting to mushies! Promise me you won't rub it in Here's our updated list: No date yet: Shauna Deanne, kychick1294, 30Something (JeVona), nickieredd79 June 30: Nechama L July 1: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy) July 5: AlyGurl (Aly), MassMom01527 (Steph), Allison0927, Harvest Farmer, wannabe21bmi (Kate), Kim from CT July 6: lizzy21050, crash878905, Lorelei July 7: nesportsfan, hokdo, songbird5769, Short and Chunky, LisaB68, pinktink July 11: dixiechick, honeybunny, Jessica43082, hlong1985 July 12: BandedApril (April) July 13: CurlyDiva, Tammy A July 14: crystalddm July 15: Corize, JohnnyBoy July 19: Mrs. Schultz July 21: NomersCat, Coco's mum July 25: cat lady, dropsizes (Mary) July 29: ButterflyM, PungosMama

Man, am I a bonehead. Was supposed to have a gallbladder ultrasound and my blood tests today and forgot to fast. Now I can't get in until late next week. Considering it might take a while to get back the results, I'm probably looking at a late July date instead of mid-July date like I was hoping for. Bummer! I made this really cool spreadsheet that my friend (the skinny nutritionist distance cycler) recommended I do. It starts out with your weight and then I put in each Friday's date. I then subtracted 2 lbs for each week, to show me at my goal a week before my 40th birthday! It's really easy to modify since it is all calculations...so if I don't make my weight loss one week, I just put in the actual number and then the numbers cascade down by themselves! If anyone wants it email me at potukmail@gmail.com with your email address and I'll send to you. Shauna

Welcome Kim and Lorelei! Kevin, I am banding at a relatively low BMI because it was only a matter of time before getting back to a BMI of 40...I gained 30 lbs. in the past year after a 50 lb weight loss (starvation diet) the year before that. I have no doubt that I would keep on packing on 20-30 lbs a year the way I eat now. I'm glad you are doing this now. Shauna

Welcome to our new peeps...Nickieredd79 and dropsizes (Mary)! No date yet: Shauna Deanne, LisaB68, kychick1294, 30Something (JeVona), nickieredd79 June 30: Nechama L July 1: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy) July 5: AlyGurl (Aly), MassMom01527, Allison0927, Harvest Farmer, wannabe21bmi (Kate) July 6: lizzy21050, crash878905 July 7: nesportsfan, hokdo, songbird5769 July 11: dixiechick, honeybunny, Jessica43082, hlong1985 July 12: BandedApril (April) July 13: CurlyDiva July 14: crystalddm July 15: Corize, JohnnyBoy July 19: Mrs. Schultz July 21: NomersCat, Coco's mum July 25: cat lady, dropsizes (Mary) July 29: ButterflyM

I'm so jealous of all you guys that can do the whey-based Protein drinks...there are so many yummy mixes out there! I realized after trying 2 samples that I can't do them because I'm lactose intolerant...this AFTER spending $50 on tons of samples, all whey-based. If anyone in the Phoenix area wants a big bag of samples, come and get them (west Mesa) and they are yours! Amy, so glad you got a new date set! To all of you losing weight on the liquid diet and wondering "why can't I just do it this way?"...ask yourself if you could KEEP it off once you go back to solid food. I know I couldn't. I lost 50 lbs. 2 years ago and put 30 of it back on in the last year. A big part of why I'm getting the band is to KEEP it off for life! Who else is going to see a counselor/psychologist to deal with their food issues? I have my first appointment next Thursday with a guy that supposedly specializes in weight issues...I hope it helps. My co-worker who has had gastric bypass (and has been successful) told me he has friends who also had it and gained all their weight back, because they didn't fix what was "broken in their brain", as he worded it. Got my chest xray yesterday, getting gallbladder ultrasound and blood tests today. EGD is scheduled for next Thursday...then I'm ready to be scheduled! I am a little worried about showing up anemic on the blood tests, as the last time I tried to give blood they wouldn't let me since I showed up slightly anemic. I've been eating extra red meat to hopefully beat that! I'll post an updated list shortly. Lot's of July 1st banders...hope you guys stick around to mentor those of us with later July dates! Shauna

Hi Kate, I'm also going to see a psychologist on a regular basis for my food problems. He specializes in it so hopefully he will be good! The only doctor I found that specifically handles bariatric issues was not on my insurance My goal is to be in size 8. That may or may not happen at my goal weight of 131...so if that doesn't get me there I may lose a few more lbs. I felt my best at 117 but I was a freshman in college then and I don't know if that's realistic at age 39. Plus, with all the working out, I should be in a smaller size since muscle is denser than fat. How did everyone pick their goal weight? Mine was just the number the surgeon threw out...I think it puts me at like a 22.5 BMI, which sounds about right, but there's still a part of me that wants to go even lower if I can. Shauna

April, you are so lucky! I'm told NO caffeine before and 6 months post surgery! So I gave up my Diet Pepsi addiction a few days ago and it's been hard. I am surprised they are letting you drink diet coke afterwards, most docs tell their patients not to drink any carbonated beverages because it can stretch out the pouch. Although I must admit that sounds like BS to me, I'm going to follow their instructions to a T if I can. You are lucky you have such a lenient surgeon! Shauna

Hi guys! Join us on the "Any July 2011 Banders?" thread in the Pre-op section...that is where all the action is! Shauna

Welcome JohnnyBoy, Butterfly, and Kevin! I will add you to the date list and repost later today. Kevin, I was also looking for a therapist and the psychologist they required me to see pre-surgery had some good names for me...maybe you can try there? For those of you trying to get your tickers working...use the "BBCode" text in your signature, NOT the HTML text. That worked for me. Shauna

Some surgeons offer complications insurance through BLIS (http://www.bliscompany.com/), including mine. It covers things like slippage, erosion, etc. I am considering getting it but it is very expensive. Is anyone else considering it, or paid for it? Shauna

Thanks lizzy...sorry you can't get it in the Lone Star state!

OK, just decided to make the list since I have the time, let me know if I got any of them incorrect, or if anyone wants me to add their first name to their username. No date yet: Shauna Deanne, LisaB68, kychick1294, 30Something, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy) June 30: Nechama L July 1: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan July 5: AlyGurl (Aly), MassMom01527, Allison0927, Harvest Farmer July 6: lizzy21050, crash878905, July 7: nesportsfan, hokdo, songbird5769 July 11: dixiechick, honeybunny, Jessica43082, hlong1985 July 12: BandedApril (April) July 13: CurlyDiva July 14: crystalddm July 15: Corize July 19: Mrs. Schultz July 21: NomersCat, Coco's mum July 25: cat lady

I'm also nervous about all the things you mentioned, plus the surgery! Do you have a good support system at home to help with the baby? It could be hard that 1st week if not. Are they going to let you nurse after the anesthesia? Nursing may also affect what kind of pain meds you can take after the surgery so be sure and discuss that with your doc beforehand. I was thinking of starting a list of dates and when everyone is being banded, would that be useful you think? Shauna