JoannMarie

Welcome Babyfever! My date is Dec 4th and I am excited, too. 20 days! Not worried about the holidays - I plan to be lookin' good next Christmas, so I can say no to the goodies this year. There was an eggnog shake recipe on one of the earlier pages. There is also a thread under December 2008 that has many recipes for shakes of all kinds - look for "Holiday Liquid and Shake Recipes." I printed it off and am buying the supplies for some of them - they really look good. Also check the poll for our December group name (finalists). Please vote for your favorite. The poll closes on Nov 24th, and we would like to have input from all the December bandsters. Good luck!

Wow - that was a happy change for you! I don't think I have heard of anyone actually getting their surgery moved up instead of back. I am with you on the unprepared scene. I would have a heck of a time trying to get everything together for an earlier date (but would take it if they told me to!! teehee). Best of luck to you. Keep us posted on your progress!

You are all such an inspiration to me. My emotions are all over the place these days. Anticipation, nervousness, excitement, a little fear -- I can't believe it is finally coming into view. 22 days. Thank you all for sharing your feelings about all this. In spite of all these emotions, I do not feel like I am alone in this, and that means so much to me. It's amazing - not only does He open the doors, He provides the friends and support in the most unlikely of places... God bless all of you.

Welcome to all our new December bandsters! I am alternating between a lingering disbelief (is this really happening???), excitement, and extreme nervousness! Happy, too, I might add. Wow - lots of emotions during these days of preparation. I am feeling like I should be "nesting." LIGHT BULB - not unlike the preparations for the birth of my babies... hmmm.

Thanks, Carol. I'm not too concerned about it. I'll come up with something that sounds good. DIL has one sister who has absolutely no people skills - asks (and says) anything that pops into her head whenever it pops, no matter how it sounds. Drives me nuts!! Apparently it drives others nuts, too - I've heard through others DIL and this sister are on the outs right now. She probably won't be there and if she is, she'll be watching and waiting for DIL to mess up. I have not told a lot of people about banding; primarily my husband, my kids, and a couple of close friends. I assume my son has shared the news with DIL, but I have asked that it not go beyond them. I did this knowing DIL may have a hard time with that, but I hope she respects my privacy. If not, it will not be the end of the world. It will all work out just fine. :laugh:

Thanks, Pete! It's probably a good thing to let this go until 11/24 - With the holiday and offices closed for that, most of the December dates will probably be assigned by then and they will be starting to work on January. We have just a little over 3 weeks - I am starting to get excited!

Congratulations Najah on your date! Nina, you are right - time is really flying by now... When do you start your pre-op diet? All the docs are so different - some are saying 3-4 weeks! Mine normally says 10 days, but told me a week. That puts in right smack on Thanksgiving! I think I will be super careful on T-Giving, and go to the full-fledged pre-op on the next day. My pre-op visit with surgeon is the day before T-Giving - if she does not like my idea, I will go with hers!!! I really wanted to avoid all the questions with the family - my kids know, but many extended family (DIL's parents and siblings, etc.) may be there and believe me - they will be very curious about a liquid diet! I love 'em to death, but they can also be very determined. I'd like to say nosy - but just hate to call it that...(but they are! teehee) DH and I have to be there, family celebrations are very important to all of us. So we will see. I guarantee you I will not miss my surgery date. I'll make up a stomach ailment or something even more distressing - might as well really get them talking! Hope everyone is doing well tonight!

Clempier, He knows what you need whether you can put a name to it or not. Most of us think we know exactly what we need and we need it NOW! He knows better, and He sees to it our real needs are fulfilled at exactly the right time. We are so blessed with a wise and loving Father. Praise God

Welcome to all the new people joining us. I hope you get your December dates. It will be so good to have that part behind you and begin the New Year with a whole new outlook! Keep us posted on your progress. Wow - there are so many things we have to do to get this banding done. I began my research in early February! My first seminar was March 5th... I went to 3 seminars before I found the group I wanted and they took a long time to decide (after all that testing, etc.) they wanted me! 26 days to go!!! It is beginning to sink in. I think two of you hit the jackpot with your questions. Everyone seems to have two major issues - eating slowly/chewing everything to obliteration - and being motivated to exercise. I don't think I'll have too hard a time with eating slowly - I tend to be a slowpoke anyway and almost always the last one to finish. But I do have issues with exercise. I can always come up with an excuse, sometimes pretty good ones - but of course that is still just an excuse. The important thing for ME to remember - the only way this is really going to work and work forever is if I exercise. period. If you have not voted on a name for the December group, please go to the Dec 2008 forum and the "Let's Choose a Name" poll and vote for your favorite.

Pete - that is great! You are a very creative man. And you are right, it looks like Holiday Hotties is taking a commanding lead.

Hi Aviva, Weather changes fast! Esp early winter in the northland. I'm in Kansas City area - we had a record 74 two days ago. It will be 47 today and it is windy. Still not Manitoba cold, but the first cold snap is always a shock for Missouri. I think Winter Wonders has several votes - be sure and add yours for the names you like. Many have voted for 2 or 3 - that's okay with this election!

I like the new look, Alex! One thought about color - those of us with eyesight problems have trouble reading color on color - and that depends on what colors are used, probably different for everybody. My hope is that you will have sufficient contrast between the font and the background no matter what colors you are using. As the font gets smaller and smaller - with less contrast - it quickly becomes impossible to read. Thanks for doing a great job, Alex.

Welcome "40" or is it "20?" I keep telling myself 40 is my new 60! I agree with the name situation - not all celebrate Christmas, and we have a man in our midst (Florida Pete), so we need to be mindful of names that are too feminine. I have 2 questions - what is your band date? and just what is the coldest major city in Canada? I was raised north of Duluth, MN (on the North Shore of Lake Superior), so I can identify with cold and snow. brrrr. This morning I was watching tv footage of the North Dakota blizzard that hit yesterday - it brought back memories... My thoughts go out to those who are trying to dig out this morning. If you have not voted, please do!

Welcome, StartingOverNJ! I have not read back over the posts again, but I believe your date of Dec 2 puts you at the head of the class! If memory serves, I think we have one on Dec 3rd, three of us on Dec 4th, and a couple on the 5th, then many others... (Dec Posters, please correct me if I am wrong!) My date is Dec 4th (27 more days!). I alternate between excitement and nervousness, but I've been working at this since February, so I've had lots of time to research and learn. That has been very good for me, as I am one of those personalities that needs to do that. I actually made my decision quickly, but needed the reinforcement to know I was doing the right thing with the right surgeon and staff. Please go to the Dec 2008 forum listing and find the Name Poll posted this week. We are asking everyone to vote on a name for the December bandsters. We hope to have a clear choice by Monday morning, so please vote soon.

Hi Pete, Check out any job fairs in your area. Local TV channel last night was highlighting MANY jobs in the KC area that aren't necessarily advertised in the papers, but contacts are made through job fairs. DH and I were surprised to see there were so many good paying jobs available. These companies were saying they could not find enough qualified people to staff their needs. Seemed many of them were good administrative positions. Might be the same in your area... It would be worth a look.

I have not yet done the small plate/little silverware. I think it's a good idea, though. I'm also going to look for a small bowl - that will hold just a cup of food. Maybe I'll pick something up this weekend. Funny how we have to "trick" ourselves, but I'm all in favor of whatever works!!

Well, I think Indian Summer is over for Kansas City... Sunny but kinda cold and windy out there today. Long sleeve weather may have just begun. Everybody who is new to the thread, please check out the poll set up to choose a name for us. As of this morning 18 had voted and there is a 3-way tie (you have to check it out to see which 3!) I think we will give everyone until Monday morning to vote, then we will either post the top 3 for a final decision - OR - if there is a VERY clear winner we will just go with that name. Those of us who are scheduled for Dec 4th - we have 28 days to go. Not time for nerves yet, but it is time to give thought to picking some aspect of the new way of eating (small bites, chew-chew-chew, no liquid w/meals, etc.) and beginning to practice those things that may be the most troublesome for you. I've had serious "last meal" syndrome for several weeks. I figure that's not all bad to say goodbye to some of those things I will miss - but have to watch out for carrying that too far. I've decided to follow the SoBeach plan - aiming for high protein these next couple of weeks until I start my pre-op liquids. What are the rest of you doing?

Hi Gnana! Did you check out the poll that is posted in this forum? Be sure to vote there. In a few days we will either be picking out the top 3 and offering them for an final decision - OR - if the numbers are very strong for one name we will just go with that one. I think ALL of us will be Holiday Hotties next holiday season!

Smilin' Apple - no wonder you are smiling! Congratulations on your wonderful success! You are an inspiration to all of us.

Welcome Jodibyland, and all the others who have joined us. This is such a supportive group - all of us have had the same questions in our hearts about whether or not this is the right thing to do. The doors have opened for me just as I needed to have them open - I am so happy with my surgeon and her staff - yet I've had plenty of time to research and learn and prepare myself for a life-change. I have complete faith this is the right thing for me to do. I hope all of you have that same sense about your decision. My ticker came from TickerFactory.com. There are instructions in the FAQ section listed at the top of each page of LBTalk. I will say I had trouble getting my saved ticker to my signature block, but I emailed Alex and he so graciously helped me with that part of the process. Good wishes to all,

Welcome atl38! We have 28 days to go.:biggrin: Are you doing anything special to prepare?

FF yogurt mixed with skim milk would give a good consistency, too. I have printed all these recipes off and will be collecting ingredients this week! I never thought of making ice cubes out of juices and/or milk...duh. Whatever works!:smile2:

Good idea, Tamra. I think it's a lot easier to share with the smaller group. I think it is strange, but my post op diet won't be given to me until I see the surgeon again on Nov 26th, just a week from surgery. She went over the generalities at my first consultation, but she said a lot in a short period of time and I don't remember the details (like to help with shopping!). I've been looking at the information that is out on the net, but there are so many variations I will feel better when I have the word from the surgeon. I'm sure we will have lots of ideas and recipes through this thread. Thanks!

Wow! These sound really good! Makes me think this all won't be so bad after all.... One suggestion for the Grasshopper smoothie - instead of heavy cream, might try fat free half and half. You will probably get the same consistency with a lot less fat (good for the liver...)

Hey All -- check out the poll Augies set up for us and vote on your favorite. Thanks Tamra!!