lifeisjustbeginning2011

Hlong - welcome aboard!! Amy

Shauna, Yep - if I do next week then I will have a day or two less on the diet. Doc asked for a week or so on the shakes. But ya know what I realized tonight?? I'll be on the last day or so of my PERIOD. UGH!!! It isn't horrible or anything, but eeeeek....I'm skipping a pill tonight so maybe it will come a day early. Seriously don't want to have to deal with that, too! Amy

My doc office requires me to watch this video prior to scheduling surgery. I thought it was good to show family and friends - short, sweet and to the point. http://drsimpson.net/07_surgery_stories%20%28SS%29/Learn-about-Lap-band-surgery/Learn-about-Lap-band-surgery.htm

Thanks for the feedback. I think I'm going to go with the Withings Wifi Body Scale. Its $159 on Amazon with free shipping or they also sell it at my local Apple store for the same price (but you have to pay tax). I'm going to buy it from the Apple store since I can get it here in town. I seriously cannot believe I'm spending this kind of money on a scale! The idea of having my current weight/bmi/etc at my fingertips is really tempting. On the other hand.....do I really want it accessible all the time? Hmmmmm....choices choices!!

I saw that "Oh Yeah" stuff also - I actually saw it at the gas station in a premixed bottle (around $4). 30g of protein seems pretty good (the samples I have so far have around 25-28).

Wow --- I have a big decision to make. I found out today that the psych and nutritionist will NOT be available tomorrow (they usually meet with patients on Wednesdays). So...that means I could meet with them next Wednesday - but doc will not be operating during the week of July 4th..so it moves it back another week. Or, I can do phone confs with the psych and nutritionist immediately and have surgery next TUESDAY. Um.....yikes. I'm a teacher on summer break so I'm REALLY tempted to bite the bullet and have it next week. I'm just sitting on my duff anyway! Any thoughts? For those that have met with psych and/or nutrition already, would you want to do it over the phone or did you get more out of it in person? Thanks, Amy (biting fingernails)

Haven't seen any posts lately - anyone around?

Funny story - was at the doc office and noticed that there was a basket of Unjury (protein drink) samples on the bottom shelf. I waited until the doc left, then stuffed six into my purse. LOL! If I'm shelling out $10K+ to this guy, the least I should get are some free samples. LOL. I mentally promised myself that if I don't like them, I'll sneak them back into the basket on my next visit. Amy

Okay, here's what I've received 1 week after I called/emailed the list: Chike Celebrate Vitamins Bell Plantation Syntrax nectar 4Ever Fit (note, these are sold in single serve packets at Vitamin World, cheaper than shipping) Top Secret The other ones I either didn't order (due to cost), couldn't figure out how to order samples, or just plain didn't want to try it. I have a whole shoebox filled with these to try. I figure during my pre-op diet, I'll try them for my meals and then I'll know what ones to buy for the post op time when I can only have liquids. The nice thing about these samples is that I won't get bored with one flavor! Hope this helps...I have a word doc that I'm updating as I go along. Can't tell I'm a super-planner, can you? Amy

Yep- updated it again!! What's on your pre and post op shopping list? Here's mine.....care to add to it? I thought maybe we could keep a running list of helpful items. If you add something, just modify the list and repost Food: sugar free popsicles sugar free Jello Protein shakes fruit juice/milk/crystal light (I LOVE the Walmart brand of crystal light) soup applesauce Medical: Gas X Strips Scar cream or cocoa butter Ice packs Heating Pad Lip balm OTC Pain reliever Throat spray (post intubation discomfort) General: drinking straws electronic scale hand blender new set of knives (nice and sharp to cut up food!) Book, either "Band Wagon" or "Is Lap Band Surgery for Me?" (not sure yet) small rubbermaid containers to help portion out food food scale measuring cups

Revised What's on your pre and post op shopping list? Here's mine.....care to add to it? I thought maybe we could keep a running list of helpful items. If you add something, just modify the list and repost Food: sugar free popsicles sugar free Jello Protein shakes fruit juice/milk/crystal light (I LOVE the Walmart brand of crystal light) soup Medical: Gas X Strips Scar cream or cocoa butter Ice packs Heating Pad Lip balm OTC Pain reliever General: drinking straws electronic scale hand blender new set of knives (nice and sharp to cut up food!) Book, either "Band Wagon" or "Is Lap Band Surgery for Me?" (not sure yet) small rubbermaid containers to help portion out food food scale measuring cups

What's on your pre and post op shopping list? Here's mine.....care to add to it? I thought maybe we could keep a running list of helpful items. If you add something, just modify the list and repost Food: sugar free popsicles sugar free Jello Protein shakes fruit juice/milk/crystal light (I LOVE the Walmart brand of crystal light) Soup Medical: Gas X Strips Scar cream or cocoa butter Ice packs Lip balm OTC Pain reliever General: drinking straws electronic scale hand blender new set of knives (nice and sharp to cut up food!) Book, either "Band Wagon" or "Is Lap Band Surgery for Me?" (not sure yet) small rubbermaid containers to help portion out food food scale

Thanks for the feedback. I have a Target store closeby so I'll have to check that out. I looked on Target.com and there are several Weight Watchers scales...here is the link....which model do you have? Thanks!! http://www.target.com/s?keywords=weight+watchers+scale&searchNodeID=1038576|1287991011&ref=sr_bx_1_1&x=0&y=0

Does anyone have a favorite brand of scale? It sounds so silly - but I've returned two so far. The weight changed multiple times in ten minutes on both scales. I'm guessing I need to shell out some more money (rather than Walmart). I'm in Phoenix, so there are plenty of stores, I just don't know where to start. I figured you guys might know. Amy July 2011 Bandster

Greetings! I'm private pay and getting banded in the early part of July. I've "shopped" around a lot, been to seminars, support groups, etc and have finally decided on a surgeon. I've done my homework about the surgery and ordered a ton of sample Protein shakes (I'm a SUPER picky eater, so I know I'll need a wide variety to try). I'm scheduled for the nutrition and psych evals next week and surgery the following week (most likely the first week of July). My doc requires a BMI of 49.9 for surgery, and I'm just above that (50.4), so I'll have to do the pre op diet, but only a week or so. I'm finding myself thinking about this constantly. Is anyone else? Every bit of food that enters my mouth makes me think of the surgery. I've started to prepare myself for the shock of the lesser quantity post surgery. I take a small amount and put it on the plate and look at it. I sit there and cry because I know how difficult this is going to be. Food is my best friend. The thought of leaving food on my plate or refusing to eat food that is offered to me is actually anxiety producing. The money for my surgery was my "new car" fund. I decided that a new car wouldn't do me any good if I was dead, so I'm opting for the surgery, life and a crappy car. Trying to keep a smile on my face during some really tough emotional times. Amy

Here's where I am in the process: -I'm private pay -I've narrowed down my search to three places: WLIA (drs orris & barros), Dr. Simpson, Dr. Blackstone -I'm having the surgery in the next 60 days -I've got a whole bunch of protein samples on the way and once I have them I'm ready to start the pre-surg diet -I'm scheduling the pre-surg medical tests (I have insurance) -I'm building a support system (just an occasional support group will not be enough), trying to find a private counselor and personal trainer that are experienced in weight loss surg I'm looking for bandsters or pre-bandsters that would like to share information, resources, possibly get together, etc. Post here or drop me an email: lifeisjustbeginning2011@yahoo.com I'm Amy, 33 years old Hope to hear from some of you.....I know you're out there.

Greetings! I am also in the Phoenix area and I'm 33 years old. I'm pre-op, waiting for all my samples of shakes to arrive to start my 2 week "diet." I'm private pay, insurance wouldn't cover anything Looking for some support in the area...I know myself pretty well, and I'm going to need ongoing psych and nutritional counseling post-op. I want to have things in place before I set my date...but it will be soon...very soon. Feel free to drop me a line if you'd like to exchange emails or maybe meet up at some point. Feeling pretty scared, but I know this is what I need to do. I'm currently 5'6 and 310 lbs. Amy lifeisjustbeginning2011@yahoo.com

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/131238-samples-samples-samples/ I added a few comments to this list tonight.

I went down the whole list last night and picked out what I wanted. Here are a few notes about some of the offers listed above: 4Ever Fit - Email them that you would like to try the Fruit Blast Natural (truvia), the Fruit Blast the Isolate, and 4ever Whey Protein and why and they will send samples. ---->6/14/11 - received email back that samples are no longer free. A trial pack is $12.73, which includes tax and shipping. There are six samples: tropical mango, strawberry kiwi, black raspberry, tropical mango, strawberry kiwi, cran razz. Each is 30g. The direct link for the sample pack: http://www.4everfit....ck-6-x-30g.html Focus 28 - Email that you would like to try their products and they will send you many. --->6/14/11 - email received back, samples are free but must pay shipping. You get 5 samples, but cannot pick what any of them are, nor the flavors that you would like. I did a shipping estimate before I got too far in the checkout process, and the shipping was $13.34. Yikes. Let's keep this list updated!! :)