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Congrats to all who have just been banded, I'm looking forward to heating your day by day stories.

Congrats New Bandsters Keep us updated, as I've still just over 2 weeks to go. Its all still pretty scary!

Hi Carrot06 Have you started the Optifast yet? If so, how's it going?

Hi Sades! I am anxiously awaiting my banding on October 22. I am still reading the forum every day, but I'm still pretty much apprehensive and feeling quite low. I think I should be feeling much more confident, but perhaps with time. There are some great supportive people here, and so much info and support. My weight is identical to yours! Good luck

You look fabulous Jacqui! When were you banded? I am sure you have worked hard at it - I've never worn a bikini in my entire life!

Good luck for Saturday Jude

Hi Jude, Me too - I don't know if I am squirming with embarrassment or the enormous sense of failure, either way, only my husband knows about my pending banding. I feel like I am judged on what I look like etc now, and I am just not ready for the scrutiny and then the conversations about me I know will take place when I am not around. Good luck with your surgery!

Oh, was this YOU saying this - I sounds like ME saying this - this is exactly how I feel. And I'm now stressed and anxious about having my "crutch" gone - what do I do then? I am still awaiting my pre-op instructions.....thought they would have been here by now.

Really JulieNYC ? This is encouraging - thank you for the info. I had some fresh pineapple today and thought, oh, no more of that. A lot of reading is good, but the more I read the more scared I get! Thanks for the info

Hi Fluffy I'm really nervous too - I keep telling myself, WHY are you doing this to yourself? And then I let myself feel.....you know, and then I know why I'm doing this. I'm realy really worried about the vomiting and coping in general post op.:eek: Even now, I keep telling myself that I "should" be able to lose the weight on my own, but of course I've been trying to do that for 20 years, the usual yoyo story. Have you started the liquid diet yet?

Thanks for the info I've been veggie (ovo lacto) since 91, and when I did that I gave up smoking and lost 10kg similtaneously - but I couldn't even drink coffee for 12 months - the association of EVERYTHING to smoking was too great. My biggest thing was "making the connection". For me personally, the trays of beautifully presented meat in the supermarket were "faceless". When I made the connection with what it actually was that I was trying to get my kids and myself to eat, it was easy. Now, chocolate, sugar etc etc......well that's why I'm on this forum. I brought up our four boys ovo lacto veggies too. We've never had any defiiciencies, but we are not vegan. I was eating some fresh pineapple today and I thought, oh, I won't be able to have this after 3 weeks time. I must say, I'm really confused :eek::confused: - what will I be able to eat, what won't I, what AMOUNT will I be able to eat , will it work, will it be worth it. I guess if I can live on dhal and oatmeal for a while I'll get through, but I'm not looking forward to the first month of adjustment.

Hi, another Perthite here! Being banded on October 22. Very nervous too. Any updates from those of you who are now banded? Did you all tell people what your surgery was? I feel pretty private most of the time, and cringe at the thought of telling people. Nice to see some more locals on the board - I only found it a few days back :rose:

I am so sorry for those of you still struggling and not losing - I really feel for you :cry I am not being banded until 22 October, and so am reading everything I can. I have read that the volume per meal should be 1/4 cup, and somewhere else about 1 - 1 1/2 cups of food. Is there an average amount to strive for, or that is recommended? I was seriously hoping as I started to lose, I would have some energy and incentive to move more, but its so hard right now. So I can understand the exercise thing too - I gues we all can or we wouldn't be here :rose:

Thanks for the info. I am hoping I'll be able to eat mild, home made Indian food as I can cook it low fat and it will be tasty. It is also soft, moist and lentils are full of Protein and yummy!

October 22 for me!

Well done you! I've been thinking about this today. I can't stand to be seen, so the thought of having my husband do the pictures ugh :rose:. My surgery is October 22 - good luck with yours !

Thanks for Sharing - all the positive articles and info are starting to give me some confidence that it will all work out :rose:

Wow, thank you so much Wendell :rose: I won't say its answered everything, but it answers so many, such a great list. I'm a mass of emotions right now, so its something I can read and re-read. thanks again!

Apart from being so much smaller, I desperately want to NOT care about food, you know? It rules me, I don't want to rule it so much, as not care at all! I just want to eat if hungry, and otherwise, it can sit on its own without me

This is how I feel. I sort of feel like, I'll never be able to eat again, so I have to do it all know - totalling shooting myself in the foot:help: Do others feel like you are headed to the gallows instead of a new life full of the hope of a slim and healthy body with much more confidence and self esteem?

Hi everyone I'm fairly new here, well very new really! My surgery is October 22 and I am unsure if I will have to go through the liquid diet or not as my BMI is 36. I'd like to wish everyone ahead of me all good wishes and good luck, and I would love to read how you are going post op

Thank you for your replies, support, encouragement and knowledge And IndioGirl55 I really appreciate your honest pro's and con's for this surgery. I truly wish they banded the brain too - wouldn't that help? I have not yet read why the gas/wind thing happens. I had been wondering about the cravings and comfort eating - after all, that's why I'm the size I am. I am hoping that as the size of me drops (assuming I can cope with the not eating, the liquids, the nausea and portion control) I will regain some self esteem, confidence and pride. I do feel acutely uncomfortable telling people, and at this point won't be telling my adult children. I did read where you can't really eat in public - as its fairly obvious there's something not normal LOL going on with the chewing and only consuming 2 tablespoons of food. Which to a great degree won't worry me, but family events leave me wondering! I am thinking that considering what's ahead of me, that its good I'm of a hermit-ish nature! Thanks again :kiss

Hi Just trying to get my head around all the preparations and my future, and I was wondering if there are any vegetarians ont he forum? My booklet says I will never be able to eat asparagus and other very fibrous foods again, but nearly everything I read refers to steak, chicken etc - no lentils, and heavy fibre diet. Anyone?

:omg: Is there a specific section on the board that deals with this period of time of adjustment? I figure it might be a time of adjustment "hell" - just don't kknow where it starts!

Great Thanks - my first piece of solid "how do I start this process?" information