flrosie

This is something I've been thinking about for a while. I'm wondering if I'll need psychological help when this is all over (only half joking here). I've been heavy my whole life. Who am I going to be when I'm not this size any more? Am I going to be different? I hope not because I like who I am even if I don't like how I look. How are people going to be towards me? Different? Probably, but am I going to like the difference? When I did my psych eval I told the doc that I am excited to meet the new person I will be. Since I've never been thin (normal weight, I mean), I don't know what my face will look like, how my legs will look, how clothes will feel....it can be overwhelming and, let's be honest here, all of this is part of the reason I couldn't maintain any weight loss in the past. It was self-sabotage, easier to continue to be the fat person I knew than take the scary path to the normal weight person I didn't. Maybe I'm rambling but your post made perfect sense to me. 9 days to bandyland

Congratulations! I feel for you, sista! I quit smoking just to have the surgery. This is the only thing I was willing to give it up for. It's only been a couple of weeks, I still crave one sometimes, but I still crave solid food, too, and I'm doing okay without it. I figured if I quit while I was restricted in my eating I wouldn't gain another 20 pounds from quitting. (I wonder if I'll be addicted to the Valium when this is all over?) I'm still 9 days from bandyland and I can hardly stand it. Worse than waiting for my next cruise.

OMG, Missy. That is EXACTLY the point. How many times in my life have I dieted, lost a significant amount of weight, just to gain it back again. I just don't want to put myself out there for another failure. I must say, though, I'm feeling more confident since finding this forum and all the wonderful people on it.

Glad it went well...your attitude is half the battle.

I have the Optifast thing too but it's not 800 calories. 160 each and I'm "allowed" three a day. That's 480. I am allowed sugarfree popsicles and clear broth. Not much. I agree about the binge thing but, if anything, this is good practice, right? I did two weeks on Protein Drinks only back in October when I first started thinking about the band. I figured if I couldn't make it two weeks then I shouldn't consider the band as an option. I didn't have any trouble. More hungry now than then, But we will keep going because we're going to succeed and a little discomfort now will pave the way for great results later. Good luck!

CONGRATULATIONS! Your ticker says you reached your goal weight today!! Yay for you!!! Oh happy day!

I agree with you that it is a need-to-know or who I want to tell deal. Geesh, we don't tell everyone every medical procedure we have, do we? This is no different. I shared this with two of my best friends who I knew would support me and two of my six children (so far). I haven't decided if I'll tell the others before or after surgery but, again, it's not important really. My husband is 100% behind me, "Whatever makes you happy." (I've trained him well!)

Just noticed your ticker says your surgery is today. Hope it goes/went well and you're feeling great!

Isn't that the truth? Others who could lose a few pounds (or more) are so threatened when we take action, whether it's a diet we can stick with or surgery.

You get fruit??? Dang, I can only have 3 protein shakes, broth if I can't stand it any longer, and popsicles. I'd love an apple I can chew on!

My date is March 19th - two weeks from today. I started the pre-op diet on Sunday. I tried a two-week liquid diet in November 2012, when I was first contemplating the surgery. I figured if I couldn't do it, then I could do the lapband surgery. It was a breeze. Good Luck everyone.

Good Luck!

Hi Everyone! New to this site and the community here. What I've read so far leads me to believe I'm in the right place. I'm encouraged just reading the other posts. My surgery is scheduled for March 19th. I've been trying to get this scheduled since October. A 'miscommunication' between my surgeon's coordinator and my insurance company created the long delay. Long story, it's over, and I'm on the schedule now so I'm happy. I've been overweight my whole life. Genetically predisposed, I guess, growing up in an Italian family where every occasion was marked with celebratory consumption of massive amounts of food with every member of the family present and bringing more food than a small village in Italy would need to survive the week. The definition of "occasion" could be a wedding, a funeral, or a Wednesday because someone said, "I think I'll go to Grandma's house today" and it traveled through the family like a prayer chain. Like most of us, I know how to diet, I don't know how to maintain. I decided on lapband because it would give me the control I lack and would allow me to keep that control the rest of my life. I seriously contemplated bypass or sleeve surgeries. Then I remembered I don't know how to maintain and I figured I'd end up being one of the statistics of those having gained all the weight back. I am not going to be that statistic! I'll roam around here and get to know everyone. I think I found the right place. Rosie