bandpal

Thank you, Donna. Wow, was it great to come home and find these messages.I really appreciate it. Congratulations on your weight loss!

Thanks, Worth - time to rest up from a long trip and contemplate a new beginning. Looking forward to posting more and getting to know everyone here,

Thanks, Kara... the journey begins. Where do your Israeli relatives live?

Thanks, Alberto - I am sore and tired but hopeful. Good luck with your goal - I'm rooting for you.

Shukran, Hijabgirl! It's really moving to see so much empathy and concern on this forum. I'll keep posting and hope to hear more from you, too. Ma'as salaama!

<p>Hi from Israel, everyone - well, I am truly one of you now, having just returned from being banded up in Tel Aviv yesterday. Wow, am I sore (coughing and sneezing are especially not fun) - and my kids are going to be very impressed with my scars; hopefully they'll remember that the days of jumping on Daddy's belly are over. Wait untill Daddy doesn't have a belly to jump on anymore! Then we'll all go out on the lawn and jump around together. I'm subsisting on Water, herbal tea and chicken broth as per Doctor's instructions, and am not experiencing significant hunger. I'm exhausted and am going to sleep, but no doubt about it - something new has begun.</p>

I'm getting lap-banded tomorrow at Tel Aviv's Assuta Hospital . My doctor is Dr. Avinoach who works out of Soroka hosptial in Be'er Sheva. I fly up to the big city at 0830, start fasting from 0900 on, show up at the hospital at 1200, spend the night at the hospital and, if all goes well, should be discharged around noon of Thursday and will fly back to my little desert home near Eilat. I'll have a friend along with me for the trip, which is a big comfort.

I'm a 47 year-old man, weigh 130 kilo, (286 lbs) and am 1.68 (5'5''). Right now I have trouble tying my shoes and putting on my socks, feel like I am on the verge of dislocating my shoulder every time I wipe myself (that's probably too much information, but that's where I'm at) and am startin to notice how narrow they are building doorways these days. I have tried Weight Watchere, OA, cognitive therapy and Atkins and only end up getting fatter.

I'm excited and hopeful about tomorrow. I realize that there's no magic involved in this and that I'm still going to have to work hard, but I'm counting on the lap-band leveling the playing field and introducing a new element in my effort to free myself from my obesity.

Thank you all for being here- I welcome your comments, questions, advice and support.