jennilamb007

My surgeon is very matter of fact and I love him for it really. He doesn't mix his words, I know exactly what he expects and it motivates me to want to do the best I can. He is like my Jimminy Cricket. The voice in my head that says "I will kick your a$$ if you even think of cheating." But I like that. His office workers even said, we will be your biggest cheerleaders and the biggest foot up your butt in this process. I believe them and I am on board. Good luck and you will do great. By the way, I am doing my surgeons 14 day pre-op diet of Optifast 800 shakes 6 x a day (1 every 2 hours) and sugar free Jello, broth, sugar free popsicles, sugar free gum (if you just gotta chew), black coffee, unsweetened tea, Crystal light and sugar free lemonade and in 3 days I have lost 5 pounds. Take care, Jen

I have been on a partial liquid diet (I get one small regular meal for dinner) for a week now. It was hard at first and I got a powerful headache, but it has gotten loads easier. Starting on the 8th, I go to total liquids for two weeks. I am hoping that easing into it with the week of partial liquids will have helped. I am odd in that I find if I put off drinking anything for as long as possible I don't get hungry, but the minute I have that first Protein shake I start getting hungry. I really hope that my surgeon says I can have the sugar free Jello, popsicles and such because it will majorly suck without it. However, I keep my eyes on the prize at the end and it pushes me forward. Good luck to everyone. We are all in this together. Take care, Jen

Today I was contacted by my surgeon's office and was told to start the pre-op liquid diet today. Thank goodness all I had had so far was a cup of coffee. I am to have 2 meals that are liquid and 1 regular meal. The regular meal is to be whole foods and nothing processed. On December 7th, I switch to all meals being full liquid. My surgery date is set for December 22nd. So, the first day of pre-op liquid diet: I got the call as I was drinking my one and only cup of coffee for the day. I had a Whey Protein Vanilla shake for breakfast and lunch. I had an Odwalla C Monster juice for a snack. Dinner was a sandwich and some sugar free pudding. I have a slight headache that I attribute to my body revolting against me because I am depriving it of fat and sugar. Too bad. I am going to look into other things that I can drink and eat. I love V8 juice (Spicy Hot kind) and Naked Protein smoothies. I welcome any and all suggestions. I am pretty thrilled I can eat Sugar Free Jello, Sugar Free Pudding and Applesauce. I am a big soup eater too, so that will be good. I was also told that I can eat fruit and veggies. I am going to enjoy those things until I have to go totally liquid. Wish me luck and I will keep you posted on my progress. Take care, Jen

That is fantastic news!!!! I hope that I have that same kind of success after I am banded in a couple of weeks. Jen

I got a call from my surgeon's office today and I am to start the liquid diet right away. So, here I am day one of the liquid diet and I am so excited I don't care that I am a little hungry. I get to do 2 meals of liquid and 1 regular meal a day as long as the food is real, whole food and not processed food. Once I get to 12-7-11, I have to switch to only full liquids until surgery. Wish me luck. Jen

Well, I have decided that although I don't have to start the liquid diet until December 8th, I am going to try liquids for breakfast and lunch and then a light dinner until then. Kind of wade into it. LOL. I bought some protein shake powder and skim milk. I like the vanilla and strawberry. Not a fan of the chocolate, but after a few days I may want the variety. I am just beyond thrilled that the surgery is in 25 days. I can do anything with that shining light at the end of the tunnel. I will keep you posted how this liquid diet thing goes. Wish me luck, because as a foodie, I am going to need it. Oh, has anyone seen that Yonanna machine? I am thinking of investing in one. It turns real fruit into a frozen, smooth sorbet-like dessert. I will check it out. Take care, Jen

I had to leave Obesityhelp.com because it was making me a wreck. The same people over and over and over again would spew the same negative rhetoric to the point I was becoming a nervous mess. I get it, you had a crap experience and you want to talk it up but honestly, not everyone has had a crap experience and would like to give their side. The positives all got lost in the sea of negativity. I am glad to be here. It is a much better group of people and the negatives seem to be a lot less. I hope you are finding more positives than negatives. We are intelligent people who have done our research and we don't need to be preached at ad nauseum about the negative experiences. You will be fine. Trust your research and your surgeon.

Thank you very much. I appreciate your kind words.

I made it through Thanksgiving without overdoing it. I realize that I don't have to start the liquids until December 8th, but I want to be as good and as healthy as possible until that time. No big last hurrah or anything because it is the compilation of many "last hurrahs" that got me where I am right now...unhealthy. I realize that food needs to be looked at as fuel and not as something that I am giving up or depriving myself of. I will have to change the way I eat and even eliminate entirely some things I like to eat. But, that depravation won't be so bad as I see a new, healthier me emerge. I have so many reasons to get healthy and I am completely motivated. I want to be the best version of myself that I can be. Here is to the holidays and the biggest, best Christmas gift of my life, my Lap Band Surgery. Take care, Jen

Thank you and good luck to all of you. Thank you Cheri. I hope I can keep it going. Jen

Today is my first day of blogging on Lap Band Talk. I received a tentative date for my surgery and I am excited. If the insurance company approves me, then I am set to have Lap Band surgery on December 22, 2011. Merry Christmas to me. I have Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield and I have heard that they are good about approving for the surgery. I have done the 3 month doctor supervised diet, I am definitely in the BMI category of having this surgery, I logged vital signs, weights and food intake for three solid months to turn in to the insurance so that I would have all ducks in a row. I need this surgery, and I want to have this surgery. I have a family that I want so much to spend time with and do things with. I have wasted a lot of time not feeling like doing anything. With the emergence of grandsons who want my time and energy, I now realize that I am depriving them of a grandma who used to have a lot of energy and strength and should want to get that back. I want to get that back and I will. I have a great team who is ready to help me meet my weight loss goals. I have several goals and dreams in mind that motivate me to be my very best. As a healthcare professional, it is very hypocritical of me to tell someone to watch their diet, sugar intake, salt, activity level, etc. when I don't. I want to be able to educate my patients without them looking at me like "why don't you take your own advice". Well, I am. I told my daughter that for my 41st birthday in June I want to go zip lining with her and her sister. That gives me 6 months to get to a comfortable size to do something I have always wanted to do. We shall see where we go. Next stop, the 3 week liquid diet leading up to the surgery. Wish me luck. Take care, Jen

I got some great Thanksgiving news today. My surgeon's office called and informed me that I was approved by my insurance to proceed with the lap band procedure. So, officially, I am having the surgery December 22nd. I start the liquid diet on December 8th. So, instead of three weeks of liquids they are having me do 2 weeks. They sent the papers yesterday and got approved today. Wow, that was super fast. So, from the time I went to the lap band surgery seminar to the time I get the actual surgery, the process will have taken 5 months. I am going to enjoy my Thanksgiving, without going nuts. I am going to prepare myself for the change of a lifetime that is about to take place and prepare my family for the changes as well. They are all excited for me and know that they have a part to play too in my success. All are on board. Have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. Take care, Jen

My insurance company is Blue Cross Blue Shield for Federal Employees. I had to follow a 3 month doctor supervised diet, have 2 years documentation of being obese, my BMI was high enough that I didn't need a comorbidity listed, but we did have documented in my medical record that I was insulin resistant, had a few episodes of high blood pressure, and joint pain. I kept a 3 month log of activity, meal plan and vital signs (blood pressures and pulse) and turned it in to add to my medical record. I really think this helped them see that I was serious about sticking with the plan. I had to be seen and evaluated by a psychiatrist and nutritionist. I met with a personal trainer (that wasn't required) and had them make a plan for me too to show the surgeon and insurance company. I was literally approved in 24 hours and I was stunned. I hope you get approved soon too. Take care, Jen

Congratulations on your success. This is very inspirational and I hope to follow in your footsteps. Jen

Today is my first day on the Lap Band Talk forum. I found out today that, pending insurance approval, my surgery date will be December 22, 2011. I have Federal Employee BCBS. I have heard they are pretty good about approving for the surgery and I hope that I am not the exception. I am excited and happy to get started. I figure lap band surgery would make for a very nice Christmas gift to myself, and to my family. I am thrilled to find that on this forum there is far more positive than negative remarks about the lap band procedure. I have just come from one that was nightmare inducing. So, I look forward to engaging with other lap banders who are happy with their decisions and have something positive to add. Take care, Jen

I just found out today that, pending my insurance approval (and I have my fingers crossed), my surgery date is to be December 22nd. I am very excited and ready to get started right away.

I will be starting my pre-op liquid diet soon. November 28th. My surgeon requires 3 weeks of liquid diet before surgery. Yikes. I am worried about that chew urge too. Maybe I will invest in some sugar free gum? I am watching your blog for inspiration. Take care, Jen