aviva1979

Thanks, All! Very helpful!

yep - i bought a few tubs of the vanilla mix from

I keep finding comments in posts with folks post-surgery having gas pains and painful bloating - what's causing this? is it a frequent occurrence? wondering if it's something i should add to my list of anxieties as i get ready for my surgery date

In an effort to not lose my mind going onto the liquid diet while on a work trip (and then lose my job) i'm starting to swap in 1-2 protein shakes for a meal/snack now. working well so far. i'm definitely feeling fuller longer with the increased protein. my nutritionist wants me at 78g/day - which has really changed my eating habits.

I am Sched for July 11th to be banded. I started reducing calories 5 days ago and swapping in a Protein shake or two for meals to make the pre op liquid diet easier. I think I've lost a pound A premature post but was inspired by reading where folks are in their journeys!

There is a 20lbs difference from my home digital scale and my surgeon's office (his is lower) - with my PCP and nutritionist's offices also being different but closer to my scale. I've been thinking it might be time to buy a new scale for home - glad I found this thread!

Have you found taking it helpful?

Hi all, I just bought some glucosamine condroitin (sp?) joint supplements at whole foods to see if they would help with achy knees. I get banded on July 11 and I am hoping the weight loss does a lot to help this - but in the meantime this supplement was recommended. My nutritionist had me get chewable multi-vits for pre and post surgery but I realize I never asked her why chewable. Will taking the supplement (and it's a big pill) be an issue after banding? If yes, does anyone know where I might find a chewable version? Thanks!!!

Thanks for adding me! I am getting banded on July 11 and will be traveling for work when I start my liquid diet. Using MFP to help reign in the calories (and keep the protein where it needs to be) in the weeks leading up to pre op diet so it isn't such a tough transition.

I am not in the area but do visit Nashville occasionally to see a friend. If I get down there this summer I would love a walking partner!

Hi all- I am Sched for surgery on July 11th. I would love to find either an online mentor or someone in-person in the area. There is a local monthly support group in my town but it is overwhelmingly ppl exploring WLS and very few have had surgery. Anyone out there? Aviva

I am in W-MA and getting banded on July 11...

Well this is silly... I can't figure out how to add/invite a friend using a handle. I only see options for email/my contacts/Facebook. Help?

I am avivasrobinson - would love buddies!

Congrats! I was also recently approved and my date is July 11. I'm not nervous so much but I have had a few moments of mourning over the relationship I've had with food that just has to end. Sounds weird, but I am a little sad at times. But on the whole I am really excited and relieved.

I like the unjury vanilla - but only if it is really cold. I have had it with Water and skim milk. Didn't like the chocolate splendor - nothing I did kept it from being grainy. I just ordered samples of the strawberry and chicken Soup to try so I am not straight vanilla all day every day. You are probably already onto this - but def check the sugar and sodium in the options - some of the tastiest bottled versions I've bought when I'm out and about have tons of both in them.

not having to automatically lengthen the seat belt all the way out (or sift immediately to the back of clothing racks in stores) is something i really look forward to!

My surgery date is set for July 11th - the last week in June I will make my final flight before the band and i'm filled with all the dread - will i fit in the seat? can i get the belt to buckle? will the person next to me be so small they won't be put off by my hip spilling underneath the arm rest? I always vacillate between hoping i'm next to a small person who doesn't take up their whole seat anyhow - and a big person who we can at least commiserate together (even if we're totally smushed together). I'm just so glad this group exists - I'm aiming to lose around 125lbs - and knowing there's a group out there in a similar place as me gives me great comfort. I hope by the time of my next flight (which I'm hoping won't be until August) I'll be able to report back that the seatbelt was no problem!

good luck! I saw that we are pretty close in current weight/height - would love to stay in touch while we go thru the pre op diet, which will overlap a bit!

I only told my husband, mother and sister I was exploring the Band and then a few close friends once I was further in the process to getting approved. Once I got approved I told my father and my manager at work, and a few other close work friends. I spend almost half my day with my work colleagues and a number of them I'm pretty close with after so many years - so it was important that a few know so when we travel together they have some sense of why I'm making the choices I'm making - and to be supportive versus trying to tempt me with negative behaviors. I'm still deciding whether or not I'll make a broader announcement to the rest of my family, friends and acquaintances.

It took just shy of a week for me to hear from my surgical practice's scheduler. After my surgeon's nurse called to tell me I was approved I called the office twice trying to just jump right on it and got a call back saying I had to wait for this one particular staff member to call me.

Sweet - nice to "meet" you ladies - i'm excited to have a community to experience this with. My appointments with the nutritionist are over (for now) and I've realized (again) that I really need to log my food in order to keep track - particularly to hit my Protein goals. I just signed up on My Fitness Pal (avivasrobinson if anyone wants to be buds on there). Since I will be traveling for work when I start the liquid diet I am taking the weeks before then to start reducing my calorie intake and swapping in a Protein Drink or two for meals - yesterday was successful, and I started today with a work phone call that didn't require me to be in front of the computer so I took a walk. how are your days going so far? anyone else doing a pre-liquid diet stepdown?

good luck!

Got a call from the surgical scheduler this morning, and my date is set for July 11th! I was hoping it might be sooner, but not surprised it worked out this way. Means I will be starting my liquid diet while I'm traveling for work - so that will be interesting. I'm also wrestling with not having our annual 4th of July BBQ at my house (which is in a prime location for watching fireworks) - maybe I'll just have ppl over for fireworks but avoid smelling burgers on the grill all day. Anyone else have a July date set? Wanna support each other through the next weeks?