Lattedah

SpecialK... Thank you for starting this thread, I love it! I'm getting my band on March 12th. Very very excited and a littler nervous. I remember seeing the thread about avoid LBT for 2 weeks prior to surgery... and I'm glad you started this thread of motivation/inspiration. Good luck to you and Butterflylady on your upcoming procedures and can't wait to start checking items off this list...

Hello... I'm Sheri, 46 and I'm an administrative officer for a federal agency in DC. I will be banded on March 12th... gulp! :w00t: Actually, I'm so excited -- a little nervous about the procedure -- but excited and motivated! I've been heavy since puberty, typical yo yo dieting has brought me my highest weight ever. While I've got a lot of weight to loose, I have faith that I will loose this weight and I plan to "get this party started." Nice to meet everyone and I wish you ALL great success and continued success! :biggrin2:

They want me to drink protein supplements, ie unjury powder protein mixed with milk... they also recommend HOOD milk (which is sold at Harris Teeter), but I can also drink atkins advantage shakes, Medifast drinks, and EAS? They want us to have 70-80 grams of protein a day. Also, chicken or beef broth which also counts as protein. And water, plain, crystal light, Fruit 2 0, diet snapple...and that's pretty much it. Today was my first day and the shakes are definitely fillling... I'm not hungry and, in fact, trying to finish my second shake... i'm also trying to get some broth in too... but so far so good...? :thumbup:

Colorado... congratulations on your surgery date! I completely understand all the "feelings" you're going through. I'm feeling all of them too! :thumbup: I'm on the liquid diet now and that's very interesting... . I also have BCBS FEP and he's not a provider, but I decided to go with him. BCBS FEP will pay 75% of the billed fees... so, I'm okay with that as I was prepared to self pay... But, I think they're both such great doctors that it's nice to know we're in the same surgeon family! Look forward to keeping in touch. Sheri

Craig! Thank you so much for sharing! You have articulated your journey so well and I feel even more sure about my decision to be banded on March 12th. I'm so positive this is what will work for me and I can actually see myself loosing the weight. This is a big deal for me because I had become so jaded and lost because I had so much to loose and I had lost hope of ever truly being able to loose all the weight... it was so overwhelming. But, I believe this is going to work and I am going to work with it... I think of it as gaining a constant companion who I need to care for and let it help me as well. When I hear from people such as yourself who have been successful, it gives me chills and makes me weep just a bit... but they're tears of realization that it can happen. You deserve a big round of applause! You did do it! if my calculations are correct, you've lost 140 lbs, that is remarkable. I think it must take time to let it all sink in... the success I mean. And it sounds as if now you can truly see how grateful you are and let yourself be happy. Congratulations! Thank you, once again, for sharing and thank you for convincing me that this is real and we can really win the battle! Sheri

you're right, yourown... It's all for our health, right? Good luck on the 3 week liquid diet. :biggrin:

Hi, Chica... Yes, glad to pave the pathway of what to do and not to do. LOL... Actually, it's probably for the best... I was just sorta un-prepared and didn't order any unjury... Dr. Pinnar's office also said I could use the atkins Protein drinks too... but I will try to yummy sounding chocolate mixture you and your son recommended. :biggrin: Also, they told me to buy Hood milk which can be purchased at Harris Teeter... (vanilla and chocolate) are supposed to be delicious and less carbs and mix well with the unjury. Can't wait to hear about your progress... we'll compare notes. Bye for now.

sorry, "I hear.." sometimes I type faster than I spell... :biggrin:

That's great, ColoradoChik. I here Dr. Pinnar Sr. is wonderful. Their offices are right next to each other. Good luck and congratulations to you. Isn't this so exciting?

Hey, ColoradoChik... are you being banded by Dr. Pinnar (Jr. or Sr.)? I'm being banded on March 12th by Dr. Eric Pinnar. Very excited and nervous. Sheri

Hi, Marchbandsters... Okay, so I start the liquid diet tomorrow...gulp, and I am about to babble just a bit, so I hope no one minds... :smile2: My doctor's office recommends using the unjury powder, I see that you can order it online, but has anyone found it in stores? I may just use the Atkins advantage drinks or powder and the isopure drinks sound good too... Also, I have a dinner tomorrow night and I was thinking of just ordering a broth type Soup.... I hope that won't make a big difference. Actually my doctor really only asks patients to do the liquid diet for 7 days prior to surgery and for some patients he might ask them to start 2 weeks prior. Although no one brought up from my doc's office, I was the one who brought it up... As I was confirming everything for surgery, I threw in..."so, should I start the liquid diet a week or two before my surgery?" The patient coordinator, said, yes, why don't you go ahead and start two-weeks before... I sometimes wish I could stop talking so much...scheesh. :biggrin: Wish me luck.

Hi, Lori... Congratulations on getting your surgery date! I'm getting banded on March 12... very excited, nervous, all that jazz... Let's keep in touch as we prepare to make the biggest change of our lives! Take care and keep in touch. Sheri

Georgia Girl... thanks for your encouraging words. :thumbdown: I will be banded on March 12th (crossing my fingers -- if I don't have to take another sleep study). I'm excited and I love reading posts from successful bandsters such as yourself... I'm also a little nervous... but more excited I think... Thanks again.

Wow...Kimmie, GeorgiaGirl, Gloucester and TulipStar... Beautiful! You all look absolutely gorgeous! It's so motivating to see your progress... Your smiles show exactly how thrilled you all are about loosing the weight. I'm so happy for all of you and I can't WAIT to get banded and loose this weight myself. Thanks for sharing your successes and inspiring others like me... it makes such a big difference to us. Continued success to all of you!

LosingIt08... you're right about the daisey tickers... too funny. I picked them because I think of Daisey's as such happy little flowers...

Thanks, Terri! You're right, we're as young as we feel... and we're going to feel a heck of a lot younger after the band! We may need curfews pretty soon! LOL... Good luck on your surgery on the 3rd. Can't wait to hear from you. TTFN (Ta Ta For Now) :thumbup: Sheri

Hello, my fellow March bandsters. I'm scheduled for surgery on March 12th, by Dr. Eric Pinnar in Reston, VA. I'm very excited, nervous and just so ready. I know this is going to be the best decision I've ever made for myself. I do wish I had done this 5 years ago when I first read about lapband; however, you can't go back in time...No matter, I'm doing this now and I'm still sort of young, 46! :thumbup: I feel so lucky and thankful to have so many of my family and friends support me in this very important step in my healthy life. Also I'm so happy to have found this site -- not only because it happens to focus on the lap-band procedure, but because it's absolutely refreshing to find so many genuinely nice and caring people who opening share their experiences and support with others... and all just because everyone here want others to succeed as well. Cheers to you all and here we go...! Sheri

Hi, Angie... Yes, it took me all of 3 hours to do the psych test... my hand, neck and head were very tired by the time I was finished and actually I was so lost in the bubbles, the time flew by. I was so happy to be finished. It's actually kind of interesting to see how they take all those bubbles and questionnaires and turn them into a line chart that tells you all about yourself... :thumbup: Good luck. Chubbychecker...I'm also having my surgery by Dr. Eric Pinnar... he and his staff are amazing. I love how involved they are and I feel completely confident in the pre and post care. Can't wait! Good luck to you and look forward to hearing all about your progress. Take care all. Sheri

Kimberly... will you just send me emails from time to time telling me again and again all about your weight loss success... I love hearing that and it's so motivating! :tt2: Congratulations!

Hello, slim. I am getting my band in March and I went to the Seminar in mid-January and stopped smoking the next day. I really don't know how I was able to do that... but I want this band so badly, that I found some strength. It's been pretty easy, but when I want a cigarette, I focus on the band and loosing the weight... Actually, I think I focus on the surgery. I don't want to add to any complications during surgery... so maybe that's my incentive? Good luck to you, though...

Steph! Congratulations on your weight loss! What an incentive for me! I am being banded in March and I'm so excited. You have done an incredible job and should be proud of yourself. Hope the tweaking helps you loose the other 30 Lbs! You're amazing. I'd love to hear how your journey went in loosing your weight. Take care and talk to you soon. Sheri

Hi, Chica. Just saw your post. I'm also being banded by Dr. Eric Pinnar. He and his staff are amazing. As you can also see, Tater was banded by Dr. Pinnar Sr and he's also wonderful... it runs in the family! You will be very happy with Dr. Pinnar and I wish you great success. Keep us posted. Bye for now. Sheri

Hi, Tater. I have been thinking about you and wondering how you're doing. I hope you're feeling great and healing nicely. Can't wait for the update :cursing: Take care and talk to you soon. Sheri

Hello, Teresa... as others have said talk to your insurance and a get a name, ask them if they cover, and to direct you to their policy online. I was prepared to selfpay and think of it as a car payment... the difference would be that this would be much more of a value to me than any new car! I have BCBS FEP and they do pay. Then I found out my surgeon isn't a participating provider but they will still cover 75%... I'm still so happy that I called and I know... Good luck to you, I'm so excited about getting my band soon. Gr8... Wow... you've lost over 100 pounds since last April? That's so wonderful... I know that must have been a lot of work, even with the assist of the band. Congratulations on your success... and how did you do it exactly?

Hi, Julie. I've just read your history and all I have to say is... Wow! Congratulations to you, Julie! You are an inspiration to me as I'm sure to many others. I have a lot of weight to loose as I begin this journey. I'll be banded on March 12. I'm excited about loosing the weight (which I truly believe I will do with the band) and I also know I'll be going through the plastic surgery procedures you're going through and again, I'll say that you are my inspiration. God bless you and good luck to you on your thight lift! I look forward to hearing your updates! Again, Congratulations and thank you for your inspiration!