Mimi1980

Thanks Lapbandit. Day 1 was haaaaaaard. Day 2 a little better. The trick is not to let myself get too hungry so every time I start to feel hunger pangs, I drink Water or Crystal Light or I eat Jello, applesauce, a popsicle or drink a cup of broth. I have to call my doctor today to see if I can substitute something else in place of the Bariatric Advantage bars. They are horrible!

If I start to feel really hungry, I snack of fruits low in sugar or non starchy veggies. It helps a lot. I hate eating anything in a bar form. Medifast ruined that for me lol cuz the bars and the puddings were the only things I liked, and I ate too many of them for too many moths last year. I feel your pain. Though when I stepped on the scale this morning, I was 2 pounds lighter then yesterday and thats WITH me starting my period. So I know I'm doing something right. Best of luck and keep up the good work!

Thanks Lapbandit. Day 1 was haaaaaaard. Day 2 a little better. The trick is not to let myself get too hungry so every time I start to feel hunger pangs, I drink Water or Crystal Light or I eat Jello, applesauce, a popsicle or drink a cup of broth. I have to call my doctor today to see if I can substitute something else in place of the Bariatric Advantage bars. They are horrible!

Hi peeps!
I got the call today to confirm my approval!
I am so excited!!!!
My surgeons office had everything set up anyways so it was great! I really love how they have treated me this whole process.
I am going in on Friday to sign the consents, get my pre and post op instructions and prescriptions and I start my 2 week Protein Shake diet on Monday.
I can't believe this is really happening and that it is so close!
Seems like I have dreamed about being the me I always wanted to be and now, knowing its about to happen....its amazing!
To hell with the people who say you shouldnt need surgery! I am a real person with real problems who is so grateful I am being blessed with the chance to change my life
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I'm jumping on the band wagon!! My surgery date is 1/23!!! I'm a ball if different emotions but looks like I'm not the only one.
Good luck everyone! Wishing you a speedy recovery and a ton of success!

I'm January 24th I'm excited nervous and anxious. Good luck everyone.

Anyone else getting banded in January? I'm scheduled for January 23rd. It all feels so real now that a date has been set.

We sare the same date let keep in contact.

Wow 3 months is a long time to make you diet on your own. My nutritionist said basically, don't gain wait but that's for insurance purposes. I am on a 1500 cal diet and I track it using My Fitness Pal but I don't have to lose weight, just maintain. They will put me on a pre-op diet but that's only for the week prior to surgery and it's pretty much the same diet you're on now. Then liquids the day before. Yes, I can see your frustration, if we were all successful dieters we wouldn't be on this forum. It is a tool, but its a massive tool in helping us lose weight. The major thing it won't change is head hunger. And we give in to head hunger. So decided...am I really hungry? Do I need to eat this? Is it worth losing my sugery? And if you're gonna cheat, keep healthy Snacks around. My weakness is icecream. I want something cold, sweet and creamy. So I grab a yogurt instead. I know this is hard. I can't speak for how it will be after. If you're having it done in Mexico, just make sure you have a good support team in the States when you get back. Support is key. Best of luck.

I've been seeing a nutritionist since June and I've lost about 12 pounds. I haven't tracked using MyFitnessPal or restricted myself to any specific caloric intake. What I did was act as if I already have the band (somewhat). When I go out to eat (which has been for every meal, 6 days a week for the past 5 months while working 2 trials), I have the waiter wrap up half my food right away then I focus on eating just the half that's in front of me at a reasonably slow pace, whereas before I would just shove food into my mouth until the plate was clean. I developed good habits like putting my fork down between bites and not drinking (much) while I'm eating (this is still a struggle for me). I also did what babykins said above and kept healthier Snacks around like fruit, veggies, fat free cheese, popcorn, etc. I'm a candy addict. Not chocolate, but chewy and/or sour candy like skittles, sour patch kids, starburst, jolly ranchers, etc. I found sugar free options to my favorites and I also bought these really tasty Calcium chews from Bariatric Advantage. My point is that those little things put together can change your life totally.
I never thought I could do it either, but I've made decent progress (in my opinion) and every time I've stepped on the scale since June, I've lost or maintained. You have to figure out what your issues with food are and break yourself free from the bad habits bit by bit. It's important to take the steps prior to getting the band because being shocked into something is a recipe for disaster for most (definitely for me).
Believe in yourself and lean on your fellow January bandsters for support. You've gotten to this point because, like us, you've tried everything else to no avail.

Thanks! Congrats to you too! This is a big step we're taking. Like my doctor says, 2013 is our year!

We're working on adding capabilities to our site and app which are similar to MFP. It's designed with Lap-Band and other Bariatric members in mind. Do you have any suggestions on features you're unhappy with or would like to see changed or added within MFP ?

Congrats on your surgery date! I am hoping for a January surgery date. I have made one diatition appt. and have 2 scheduled in Dec. Then I think it will be my 10 day diet and surgery. I can't wait. I am so excited!!!
Good Luck and keep it touch.

Congratulations having a date! The "excited, terrified" feelings are quite normal. Just focus on the prize.
You are doing great losing weight before your surgery and it will help in the long run.Just try picking your healthiest options, eat slow, begin drinking a lot of Water and you might want to try some Protein Shakes and see what ones you like . I got a mixer bottle from Walmart and used EAS whey Protein chocolate flavor and it mixes really well with water. Pure Protein has ready to drink containers. Just a thought.
Best wishes on your journey!

you should be so proud of yourself. don't give up the journey you have started does have it's ups and downs but beleive me it will all be worth it. because you are worth it, your health is worth it, and your family is worth you winning this battle!!!
stay focus, stay strong, and stay in touch with this community it's so awesome!!!

I posted here back in May when I made the decision to get banded. My insurance, Oxford, required 6 appointments with a nutritionist (not 6 months), but I only just got around to completing my appointments today. I would have been done and approved sooner, but I had got assigned to 2 trials, the latter of which is ending next month. My surgery date is now set for January 23rd! I'm both excited and terrified. I've wanted to stop this process so many times, but I know that I owe it to myself to be the best me I can be, inside and out...so onwards I go.
Stats -
May 2012
5' 11" - 341 lbs
November 2012
5' 11" - 328.8 lbs
I've made some good progress considering the fact that I've been eating nothing but takeout and room service since August, but I know I need to do much better after I get banded. Any advice from banded business travelers will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Yes it will help!!! When I was 365 I could hardly walk the grocery store. At 215 I do a 3-3.5 mile walk daily and then do 1 hr Water based exercise at night. I highly recommend Water based exercise for heavy people. I started out doing lap swimming but with the following: snorkle (makes it easier to swim since you don't have to worry about the breathing), and a water proof MP3 player makes the time go by soooooo much faster (available on Amazon and so worth the money). When I can't get a lane at the pool I join in the water aerobics class. You can ask the instructor for ways to me the exercise easier for now and harder later on.
If I can walk out in front of the entire high school swim team in my fat lady swimdress and weighing 365 pounds ANYONE can.
Exercise is like a self forfilling prophecy-the more you work out the less you weigh. The less you weigh the easier it is to work out.

Love that verse, Texas!
This might sound crazy, but I actually think that I will be able to serve God more effectively when I loose weight. I don't think my heart toward serving and bringing him glory will change, but I think it will change the way people respond to me. I think my weight gets in other people's way. I certainly don't think that's okay, on their part, but it is the way our culture is. Our culture sees heavy people differently, negatively, etc. I hope that losing weight will make people look at me more for who I am inside and for the words I speak about the Lord, and for the way he has changed me (new creation in him). I hope they will see God at work in me when they see me and not just a big overweight person, which is where their eyes stop right now.

@mimi You have made my day, just knowing how your mind has been renewed. "God is good" This shows us the power you have when you finally feel how worthy you are of great things.. You are so much stronger than you realize if you stay focus. For you to have taken the steps you have from just the other day is amazing grace. Plus you can see yourself as being an instrument to help your mom and others.
Thank you for your keen insight and mentioning about my "Light'. About my statement that I'm not religious but I have God in me and etc. I just didn't want to overdue it, like I'm teaching/preaching in my posts. I'm just a person who Loves the Lord. As a matter of fact I wrote a post tonight about "Sex and hang-ups before & after surgery". I don't think God was in that one LOL

@Clarks4willie First keep reading these posts because there is so much support and advice that will help you through. God will walk with you, but you have to put the work in too. He will give you the strength that you need to jump over some hurdles, go under some hurdles and knock down some hurdles. He's walking with you now, you were lead to this website and you found this post. BY the way that "Doubt" you had after believing you can do this surgery, was nothing but you and Gods "enemy". Wanting you to take a "U" turn from the direction that is best for you, which is your Good. Don't let him win

So, I feel a little better today. I finally told my mom and my sister about my plans (I didn't tell my sister, but she asked me because she saw the LBT app on my iPad, so I didn't lie). They are both really supportive and I was able to talk about some of my fears with my mom who's a nurse and a good candidate for the surgery herself. It really helped to talk about it and mom reassured me that I'm making the right decision. She's seen how unhappy I've been the last 3 years and knows that I must make a change. Who knows, my decision may inspire her to do something too.
Eyewonder, your light shines through the Internet. Don't ever feel the need to explain your belief in God. It is a beautiful part of who you are you you should continue to share it with others....

@mimi Keep me/us posted and message me anytime. You will have a peace because Prayers has already went forth for you from people reading your post. So be it

Thank you Christina, eyewonder and cnewme
Eyewonder, it's like you know exactly what's in my heart. I've been struggling with my weight my whole life, but it wasn't until 3 years ago that I really started feeling like this was a life or death situation. I had other things going on health wise so surgery was not an option then. Now that my neurological health has stabilized some --- it is finally the right time. I know I NEED to do this because nothing else has worked.
I just wish that I could have made the decision then have the surgery within the same week. That way I'd have less time to doubt my decision.
Thank you all for your advice and wisdom. I will keep going through my appointments and hopefully by the time I'm approved and have a surgery date, I'll be at peace with my decision.
I really love this forum.