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With the liquid diet... Can you drink water? As much as you want? I start my opti fast on Friday I wasn't sure and also can you eat food like salad or sf jello/pudding? What about protein shakes??? Thanks anyone for info so confused :-)

Good luck today!!!!

Hello and welcome msladyt!!!! Yeah another August bander!!!! It seems depending on dr, bmi, and what your willing to do it all depends. I have a week of opti but want to do 2 weeks to lose more weight. Most I know did have to change eating before surgery such as no sugar, no carbs, high protein. Good luck to you and welcome aboard!!

I just joined my gym, Lucille Roberts, a couple of weeks ago and took the Zumba class on Thursday night..OMG...LOVED it!! whew! what a great workout. One hour of shakin, dancin, and sweatin' LOL I am going again Monday night!!! I have been doing cardio every time I go to the gym. I do arms and back one day. Then next time I go to the gym I work my legs. Also to switch things up sometimes I break up my cardio like 10 min bike, 10 elliptical, and 10 incline on treadmill. GOOD LUCK and have fun. I loaded my IPod with lots of fast moving songs and also if you go to itunes and type in Zumba you can get some zumba songs too! I love the songs in the zumba class so I downloaded them to my pod. LOL Keep on keepin on!! Hope my 2 cents helped

Anyone have a "last meal" like something you need to eat before you start pre op or get banded? I've been dieting and working out but now I'm making a food "bucket list" I'm feeling guilty for wanting to eat pizza, outback blooming onion, and tgifridays sesame jack chicken strips these are my weakness lol I start my pre op this Friday so I'm really excited and almost looking forward to the liquid diet to lose weight. Haha I don't know if I will say that 3-5 days in though lol would you or did you eat your trigger foods before your having surgery??? One last time??

Good Luck everyone!! Im right behind you and starting my pre op next week. I go for pre surgical testing Aug 3rd!!!!! Can you drink Water while taking the opti fast??? Keep up the great work and best of luck to us August Banders!! Just think how much fun we will all have shopping for next summer!!!!!

Wishing you the best of luck on your surgery day and here after!!!!! Can't wait to get an update

Hey 18! It's a hard decision that you need support for with your parents. I played so many sports in High Svhool and was in good shape but my 20's of late night partying, drinking, and eating caught up with my inactive after Hugh school self. I had great fun in my 20's gaining a ton of weight I was 24 at the time and i did manage with a healthy lifestyle, diet, calorie counting and exercise to lose 50lbs I was single, took double classes at the gym and was at the gym 7 days a week!!!! It took a lot of work but lost weight to where I felt good about myself and was fit. I then got together with my husband and eating was the fun thing we did. We enjoyed Wayy tooo much eating lol Here I am at 36 and I am 80lbs heavier than that 24 year old who lost all that weight. I have 2 amazing children and I'm a teacher so full time job and I don't have 2 hrs a day 7 days to be in a gym. I still have my husband but we are being active and both changing our unhealthy lifestyle. For me getting this surgery has helped me want to live and be fit for my kids. The point in my whole life story here, if you feel you can diet and exerciser and lose this weight you should give it a try. If you find in a year you are having trouble staying on a diet and exercise program Then join weight watchers and Definitly get a support buddy because diet and exercise must be a part of the banded life or no band. Obviously that's the key to this whole thing.... Meaning life... Drink your water, exercise, the band will take care of portion control. I wish you luck!! I don't think at 18 I couldve done it! I do know most people say "I wish I had done this surgery soon" final thoughts, I spent my 20's eating and my 30's miserable from bring overweight and allowing it to spiral out of control. I can't go back in time, I can only move forward and I am destined for success, I wish you the same on your journey...in life!! :-)

awesome job!!! I just came back from a great workout and made my protein shake!!! Im with ya on commiting to get healthy!! Keep it up everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Fellow NYers!! Im in LI using a dr in Hewlett. Going for my band at South Nassau on Aug 11th. Im excited and cant wait for Aug to get here. How is everyone doing????? SSankofa how are you doing 4 years later?? any tips to share?? TIA

Congrats on telling your mom and her supporting you! My dad was very sceptical but sees how much ive done my research on this, and that I am fully prepared for what im getting into. Parents want the best but my dad is 67 years old, back then you didnt have these kinds of surgery and surgery to my parents was either tonsils or cancer. I think cosmetic surgeries are incresing and my 86 year old grandmother was apprehensive too but i have read so much on WLS, done my homework on lap band surgery, and joined a gym and changed my eating all family and friends are supportive. if they are not..who needs em right??? Killerhighlights goodf luck!! you are so close to your liquid diet...let me know how it goes, im right behind you, should start 7/28 but I will be on vacation then so have to start 8/1. Im not packing a heavy case of optifast while away lol BTW killerhightlights your blog was amazing. LOVED it!!!! Well Aug banders another day down, our month is just around the corner. Im going to a support meeting wed night, I hope to meet more ppl and gain insight into this surgery and more support system, I cannot fail!!! best of luck all!!!!

That's great that you have your "step mom" I have found 5ppl close have gone through this. my cousin is down 70lbs and the a friend at my work just had it in Feb with same dr. My other friend at work is having it Aug 15th so we will be bandit buddies!! Lots of great success stories! Your food party sounds great! I had a coke zero last night and kinda was like wow not much longer. Haha When do you start your liquids??

I agree, the blogging is therapeutic. I havent made my blog public but I did start you tube videos. I can't wait to look back on what I looked like at my heaviest. I went to dr and my date is set for Aug 11th, I can't wait!! I got one week of optfast. I can't believe I have to live off of this. It's all coming together! I'm excited and happy to have a msg board of ppl who know what I'm going through. Thanks Aug banders!!!!! Stay strong n were almost there!!!! Soon!!!!!!

HELLO FELLOW AUGUST BANDERS!!!! I just started this process 3 weeks ago but BOY has it moved soo fast. I am a teacher and dr said if I can get all appointments in by July 13th that I can do Aug 11th. Dr said Aug 25th but I go back to school that week, I teach first grade and already have 2 toddlers...he moved it to Aug 18th but then I was on a mission to get this all in and have just finished ALLLL of my appointments yesterday. I went to pulmonologist on Friday afternoon and went back that night for sleep study. I have my confirmation with dr. on THIS WEDNSDAY, July 13th. Whew!! Happy to be done with all appointments and going to make them stick with Aug 11th as banded date. best of luck all!!! where can I get a good list of pre op food???? im gonna need it! Love the Isopure, vanilla cream I only use 1 scoop but its still with 1 scoop 25 g protein and like 100 cals. any other good MUST HAVE stuff??? Thanks all and best of luck on your WL journey!!!!!

I would definitly press the issue withyour insurance company. The BMI may be a little low but you have diabetes and a higher BMI now. Your weight has gone up which caused the diabetes. Now, they will need to send you diabetic supplies and more doctor visits in addition a bunch of other appointments if your diabetes gets worse. I would make sure they understand those points before they deny you. I hope it works out, Good Luck!!

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate the response. I feel much better and will get it in writing abou tthe 20%. Have a great week!!!!

Im scheduled for surgery next month. My insurance is Empire Government. My insurance says I need to pay my deductable $388. then they pay 80% and I get the 20%. The dr office says I will pay nothing but my deductable and I am worried I will have to pay the whole 20%. It is 100% covered if I use an IN network doctor. I really LOVE this dr. am already scheduled with him and dont want to walk away now. Any thoughts or experience with this??? How come my dr's office will cover the 20%??? HELP please Thanks in advance for any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions.

Hey LB People! Ive been stalking this site and feel well into this LB experience to shout it out now...I'm having Lap Band Surgery!!!! I went to my first appt at Bariatric office last Friday June 17th and here I am less than a week later with all appointments booked and im scheduled for surgery Aug. 18th..may be moved up to Aug 11th since I will be done with all dr visits by June 13th. We'll see! Just wanted to say Hi and intros. Wishing everyone well on this journey and any bandits out there can share a story, motivate the masses, or just say Hi lemme know!!!! Thanks Cara