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Hi Caterpillar The vanilla sucks - but I doctored it with frozen berries and some Spenda. (I was allowed as Doc said "do your best". I also loved the strawberry Optishakes. And Capuccino are okay. And hey, I LOVE brussels sprouts!!! :thumbup: Good luck with your surgery :cursing:

I still do wonder. But I am trying to take it slowly - my usual bull at a gate, lose by yesterday has never worked, so I am trying to take this "normal". I doing: Using Small plates/bowls Eating regular food - we're vegetarian Banning the baddies from the house : chocolate, chips, Cookies, fatty foods, pre-packaged cakes etc Slowing down Chew, chew chewing - I still forget sometimes :cursing: Not drinking with meals I think because I've been overweight since I was 11, that its not going to happen overnight, so if I take it gently and let the band help me, I'll make it this time.

For me.. a last resort. I have a phobia of vomiting, so there was that. I was at my biggest weight, my lowest ebb. My life was out of control like my eating, and I actually admit I went into the hospital still not knowing if I had made the right decision. I felt embarrassed I had "come to this". Having said all that, I also decided I would try and take it easy. By that i mean, that I wouldn't try and lose it yesterday, I would take it slowly. I still can't seem to exercise, but my band is giving me control - my band controls the volume, and so far, my head is controlling what I consume. Good luck with your journey,

I had 4 weeks off - but I did ask for that. I just had so much on my plate, and I knew I had a bit of "head" stuff to deal with, I decided I wanted time to work through things. I am glad I did:wink2:

Well, we know and they don't know, and we know that they don't know how it feels to be totally hopeless and helpless. Apart from my husband, NO ONE knows, not my work, no kids, no mother, no family, no friends - no one. I was so glad I happened to mention this to my surgeon as an afterthought just prior to leaving after my pre-op visit. He said that there was some prejudice in general and that it might cause negative feedback. I was feeling so damned scared of what I was undertaking, and I get anxiety attacks anyway, so I decided to say nothing. I am sad to say, I have never read single thing that has made be wish I was "more open". This is my body, my decision and I am grateful for the support of my husband. I feel so judged due to weight anyway, that another load I couldn't support. The fact i have to "diet", like I have for 40 years, means to me I made the right choice, and its my business. I just hope it becomes publicly acceptable, as it is not only reducing future load on the health system, both physically and mentally, but its giving us a life to be getting on with.

Hi Everyone! I've just been busy coping with my life - like most of us I guess. I managed to get through Christmas, and work is keeping me frantic - anxious and frantic . I am happy with my band, and I really notice a difference with my second fill. I GOTTA chew properly now - a good thing, it makes me think. I am not having weight drop off, but so grateful I've just gone down, even with Christmas and my son's 21st. It was AMAZING just to finish the 21st party having only consumed about 7 cocktail sized items and 2 fruit juices. Great feeling of control. :tongue: I wish I could exercise, I truly do, I just feel ike I can't give the time from keeping up with work. I can't seem to get my head around that side yet. My Dog wants me to as well ! I hope all are well - I haven't been able to find OregonHolly for ages - I am a bit concerned.

Just the band for me - I WANT to exercise, but still can't get into that head space. I'm changing jobs in two weeks, and I hope that will allow my head to feel I will have the time to devote a session for myself several times a week.

I think a little patience - what a horrible thing!! I just had my second fill, and I think it will be okay for a while. I still have to make a big effort to say, okay ENUFF! I still want to keep eating, and often, I am eating because its meal times, and because the family is eating. What I am doing is being really selective in what I eat. I will add a yoghurt to my lunch, because it is sweet and I feel more satisified. But when its 9.30 at night,and I want to eat "just because I want to eat" I refuse myself, and I do feel better next day that I didn't weaken. its really hard,and I hope you really get to see some results soon. Hang in there, it will be easier soon.

That's great news - I bet it feels great. My current jeans a bit loose, but not enough to downsize yet . I'm getting there....but not long now :smile:

Absolutely - I often read the board, or look at the photo's to give me strength and courage. Its so easy to be discouraged when life gets tough, and there are so many inspirational stories and people on this board.

As per the other Thread - I have only good things to say about Dr Watson - the future is ahead of us all :smile:

Good luck to you both - I'm sure tomorrow is the first day of getting it all under Control :smile: It won't be long before you are well on your way

Yup - all of the above! I have HBF and all up, including the post op medications it was about $2000. Fills are $160.00. It was about 6 weeks until there was a theatre slot. There was a lot of medications post up, Warfarin, anti nausea, dissolvable panadol and stuff - not unexpected, but if you haven't had surgery before, you do need to pay for the TEDS stockings, medication etc - SJOG bill you for this after discharge. He's great BTW. A really positive experience for me :smile:

You are both doing great just being on Opti. I had two weeks - but I've read of people on several months due to their very high BMI's. I was also lucky as I had opti for 2 meals, and a light salad for dinner just so I could chew I also had some of the vanilla - the strawberry and the Capuccino was just being released then, and I HATED the Optiyuk Vanilla. What I did (as I was allowed) was take some frozen berries and a stick blender, and add some SPlenda and frozen berries to the Vanilla and made a shake - this also increased the volume. It got me through. I tried steamed veggies at night, and couldn't hack that - so I went for the salad option. Just tick off your days, and think of how close your op dates are , and hang in there, out the other side is your future :grouphug:

My BIG failing is getting my butt moving . I just don't seem to be able to get it started - I have reasons to be motivated, but I guess it will come. I am soooooooooo relieved Christmas is over, and all that *stuff* has gone - calorie laden stuff! I've had my second fill, and hope when the weather cools, and I have the next two/three weeks over I'll get some space and time to concentrate a bit more on my progress. Good luck !

Hi! I'm here too :rofl: Hope all goes well - Dr Watson is great. I didn't see much before the op, but am very comfortable with the process now

It could be me writing the first and last sentences I have quoted! Trepidation - OMG absolutely!! Right up until I was awaiting my anaesthetic. I think looking ack, it was the fear and anxiety of this too failing, and me stil be that size for the rest of my days. So what if, what if? what if? The surgery was good for me, no problem at all. Vomitaphobic - THAT was what my husband felt would be my saving grace - I'd rather break a leg than vomit. So far, NO vomiting, NO PB'ing The battle for me IS constant. I also work from home, and I'm keeping a grip so long as there isn't lots of stuff in the kitchen. Christmas hasn't been that great, but I haven't put on either. I have my second fill next week. I did seem to notice a reduction in restriction - but maybe that was all those calorie laden goodies at Christmas?? I am still trying to make the changes, some days are better than others. I totally don't tot up calories. At my age, I know what I shouldn't eat, its weakness that lets me down. So all my life I've counted, jotted down, weighed in etc. Now I've decided to let the band do some of this worrying for me. Slowing down eating and not drinking with food are biggies for me -but as long as I slow down, its good I don't regret this decision, but I did wonder and live in trepidation. Oh, yes, its a secret - only my husband knows and I am very very glad I made that decision

:rolleyes I think its what they call "head hunger" - for me its comfort eating. I'm not physically hungry, and its a constant battle to stay busy enough to avoid snacking. I have virtually banned goodies from the house - Christmas was awful but they are nearly gone again. My two biggest hurdles - comfort eating and slowing down. I started by snacking healthy and trying to say to myself "do you REALLY want this" - most of the time it works. What has helped with the band, is that restriction, so if I do have Snacks, I end up with way less. My restriction isn't that great, I'm due my second fill, and I hope this will help

Hi Cheza Bethesda is in Claremont- and mostly accommodation is pretty expensive around there. I guess it depends how close - its not really a touristy type area. Do you have anyone you can stay with or maybe even transport you to and from?

Hi All, I am travelling soon, and I was wondering if the band is a "pre-existing" condition? I mean if something happened with the band whilst away and I need to be hospitalised, this would count as a "condition" - I mean - is this like say, a pacemaker or other pre-existing thing? Also, if it is, is there a specific insurance company anyone has used for their travel insurance? Ta muchly

You know Julie, this kind of question just reminds me what thin people never even give a thought to. Like summer heat and sweating in between the things, its like crossing legs, and bras cutting in.....but we know I take heart that it will soon be a thing of the past though

Oh, Renee - I'm so sorry I totally empathise and understand - just before Christmas, doing my shopping, I was feeling not too bad, and I caught sight of myself in a shop window - and I as so brought down. I felt the world could tell I had lost over 20 pounds, but that shop window told the truth - still a fat middle aged woman. We need to try and be more positive I guess, and patient, we'll get there

The decision realy has to be our own. I went through hell just prior to wondering if I should, would I fail, what would happen if people found out etc. I know my decision in all of this was right for me - but I only know that now. I've been having a tough time of the holidays, but I still know it would be worse without my band. I am a vegetarian, so it may not be that helfpul to you to tel you about my food. I eat no flesh of any kind, so no "stuck" or "PB'ing there You can defeat the band by eating cr@p - Cookies, fast food, high calorie drinks & shakes - easy easy to do. So IMHO the first thing to pledge yourself, is to stop with the fries, burgers and fast food and sodas. That's a truck load of calories. I am eating virtually my pre-op diet, but soooo much healthier

I haven't vomited, or PB'd - but I've come to the discomfort/pain several times - over Christmas Its like you are all saying, I KNOW its enough, so just damn well shut the mouth. It was so much easier two weeks ago, but now, I'm in that panic mode of , "I have to stop eating tomorrow", starting tomorrow I'll start the exercise, and get my act together. I got a holiday for Christmas and seriously need to lose 30 lbs - and I should be going before March........doesn't give me a lot of time, and yet, the pre-op and post op did 20 lbs for me in 6 weeks, so it shouldn't be out of the question. The thing is, I just feel weak and hopeless - again :help: I am, tomorrow, beginning my proper regime again

Me too I think its the season - I feel like I've not lost anything at all - I know that that just isn't the case, but it feels like that. Many of us are hurting right now I think. I'm feeling totally despondent and thinking, man when I next go for my fill (2nd) my Doc will be so disappointed in me. We'll all need to hang in there - thank goodnes for this board