rose6850

This time tomorrow I'll be at the hospital getting my band placed. Woo Hoo! I have my 'official' pre-op pics up on my blog (http://blondeandbanded.blogspot.com), hospital bag is packed and I'm ready to go! This is going to be my longest 12 hour shift ever at work today with all of the anticipation.

Oops, got the parenthesis in my link:
Http://blondeandbanded.blogspot.com

Nothing beats homemade chicken broth and it's cheap and easy!
1 whole chicken, quartered
1 medium onion, quartered
3 celery stalks broken in half
3 carrots broken in half
2 bay leaves
10 peppercorns
Salt to taste
Throw it all in a large stock pot with 12 cups of Water and simmer for 4 hours. Strain everything out and refrigerate overnight. Skim off the fat on top and viola!
I freeze 12 individual 1 cup servings in little tupperware dishes and get one out when I want. I also pick all of the chicken meat off and freeze it in 1/2 cup servings and thaw it as needed to make salads or add to Soups once you're back to eating solids.

Just got to the surgery center. In my cap and gown. Can't believe the day has come already. See you guys on the other side

Thanks for the advise. I am hoping that I am just being a baby and getting tired of Protein Shakes. Maybe it is PMS. I keep telling myself that I need this or I won't be around for long. I am going to take your advise and make a list. thanks!

I got my Aetna approval on Friday and it was pretty easy. 4 months of supervised nutrition visits, meet their minimum BMI (or BMI and comorbidity) requirement, and don't gain any weight from your first visit to your last. Easy peasy!!
I asked Aetna why on the no weight gain rule and apparently there are studies showing a much lower success rate for people who gain pre-op weight. It can cause more surgical complications and shows a lack of dedication and knowledge about what is required for a banded lifestyle. Makes sense to me, it just sucks people weren't grandfathered in if they started the 4 months prior to the rule change.

My surgeon said I can still have soda and beer post-op as long as it's comfortable and recommends letting it sit a few moments after opening to release some of the carbonation.

Thank you all! These ideas should get me through two weeks!

You'll do fine. I just about bailed out but I am so glad I didn't. I have lost over 30 pounds since my band, putting my total over 200! I tell everyone i have lost a good sized man, and I gained a good man in the process!! Good trade off!

Got my surgery date today... 10/22. Aetna is awesome and approved me 2 weeks after submission so it's all downhill from here! I'd love to read about more of your stories so if you're blogging your journey, please reply with your web address!! I'd love to share experiences with you! My blog is at:
Www.blondeandbanded.blogspot.com

Got my surgery date today... 10/22. Aetna is awesome and approved me 2 weeks after submission so it's all downhill from here! I'd love to read about more of your stories so if you're blogging your journey, please reply with your web address!! I'd love to share experiences with you! My blog is at:
Www.blondeandbanded.blogspot.com

Got my insurance approval today!! Surgery will be 10/22 and pre-op diet starts tomorrow... YIKES! I'm alternating between so nervous I want to bail on the whole thing and so excited I can't stand it and scared to death of the pre and post op diets. Scary!!

You need to look at this another way.
You've been banded for 32 weeks. The average weight loss with the band is 1-2 pounds per week. You've lost an average of 1.25 pounds per week. That means you're exactly where you should be.
Remember, the weight didn't come on overnight and it won't come off overnight, either. Be patient and keep doing what you're doing and the weight will continue to come off.

I'm just starting the process and have a tentative date of 10/22 for banding. I'm blogging my journey at http://blondeandbanded.blogspot.com if anyone's interested in following along!
Also, I'd love to follow some of your blogs for motivation, knowledge, and to support your journey! Please post your blog address here if you don't mind sharing!

I'm just starting the process and have a tentative date of 10/22 for banding. I'm blogging my journey at http://blondeandbanded.blogspot.com if anyone's interested in following along!
Also, I'd love to follow some of your blogs for motivation, knowledge, and to support your journey! Please post your blog address here if you don't mind sharing!