TXAmy07

Hey Shaun, you're May 6th as well, correct?

John - I'm not sure about squash, I've thought about that but I thought for whatever reason it had to be green on the INside. I will ask on Thursday though because I love squash and your wife's cooking of it made me want some even more!

Ann - good thinking on the peas! I will look for those as well as the green Beans with the onions and peppers in them.

So I have my pre-op appointment on Thursday, and I was thinking that I need to come up with some questions that I will need to know the answer to and write them down so that I don't forget.

The only things I can think of right now is that I want to verify that I wont have to stay overnight, and I want to figure out the exact cost that will be due that day.

Any input on anything else?

Thanks!

Nice, John!! Keep us updated! :crying:

Thanks John!!! Today was hard for some reason, I don't know why. I was really hungry and none of my "choices" sounded good.

Oh speaking of that - how many green vegetables can everyone think of? I have to do lean meat and a green vegetable for dinner. I don't really like green peas, I thought I liked spinach until I ate the required amount (1cup) and now the thought of it makes me gag... Broccoli is ok but it's getting old, and I love green Beans but even THEY are getting old!

Ann - when do you start your diet?

Skinnybyrd,

I wasn't told NOT to - I don't see how it could be a bad thing. I haven't been, but I was actually thinking about it today. I might hop on the treadmill for a bit tomorrow.

I just registered for a cruise with my bf and a friend this June, which is something I've never done and I DO want to lose as much as I can before that... So even more motivation!

I am not doing that particular diet, but I will tell you that the first day was HELL. I seriously wished I could lay down and never wake up. I came home from work and laid in bed because I had NO energy - and all I could think about was eating.

Then the next day I had a little more energy.

Then the third day I felt pretty normal...

Then the fourth day I wasn't very excited about eating, it was more that I was having a Protein Shake because I was supposed to do that.

Sooo now it's been 2 weeks this coming Monday and I am doing just fine. I am used to it, eating is not this big fun event any more but it's actually OK. I think 99% of it was mental for me.

And trust me, if I can do it you can too!

As a random side note: Do a google search on why stomach's growl... it's all mental! It growls because your mind is used to eating a certain amount at a certain time and it tells your stomach to start churning the acid that it uses to digest your food... And when your stomach is empty, the "growl" you hear is the air as the acid churns. When you're full it still "growls" but you can't hear it as much because the acid is churning around the food you just ate. Pretty crazy!

Good luck! Keep us updated!

-Amy

I love this!!

I just got done eating out with my boyfriend, bff and her gf - we went to a steakhouse and I was sooo good, I didn't eat ANY of the bread that the waiter kept us stocked with, I asked which was the leanest cut of steak that I could get w/no butter on it, AND I got green Beans and a salad with no dressing with mine while everyone else got potatoes and big fat steaks with melted butter!!!!!!!!!!

It was hard, but dang it. I am committed to this ONE meal at a time.

Keep these coming, ya'll! I think these are good for us all to read and to congratulate ourselves on.

BETHANY!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you! Congrats!!!!! Make sure to post your date once you get it, down in the May 2009 forum!

YAY!

OK Kristi... you're up now. We're waiting on you, girlie!

Oh PS, sorry about not responding to your exercise post, I didn't see it before now. I guess it doesn't matter at this point though huh, because you are already APPROVED! (And to answer the question, I have NO idea anyways... the doctor I did my 6-month diet with is one that my surgeon refers patients to and so he already knew how to note it for Cigna - I never even saw the files)

-Amy

Thanks guys! I am pretty excited.

Before my whole "journey" thus far I probably wouldn't have ever done this... but I am kind of looking at it as my REWARD - and I am nervous about being around all that food but I can handle it!

Oh and PS, I wont be flying. I'm driving to where the ship leaves from.

Amy

Hi guys,

I am being banded on May 6, and thinking about booking a 5-day cruise to Mexico the last week of June.

Has anyone traveled outside the country that soon after being banded? I realize it's not REALLY "outside" the country since it's on a boat but I just want to be reassured that I'll be good to go 6 weeks after! I am hoping I will already have the "hang" of things so that I can fully enjoy myself and not be worried.

Thanks!

Amy

I am actually really curious about mine too.

I have been doing a 2 Protein shake, 2 small lean meals per day for a week and a half now, and I have 2 1/2 more weeks left of it... I am down 11 lbs, but I wonder if there's any way to tell if we're getting there? I see my surgeon a week from tomorrow so I guess I will know more then but I want to know before then!

Sooo... anyone know anything 'bout livers? :thumbup:

Bethany, I THINK they make them mail it... that's what my coordinator said - but I am not taking that at 100% truth. (not that I have a reason to doubt, but as we've already seen - they are very much dependant on who the lucky person is that gets your stuff and reviews it!)

I am down 11 lbs since the beginning of the pre-op, and I can't wait to see my surgeon next week to find out if I am doing a good job!!!

Good luck you two!

I am not posting this out on the "external" forums because I am curious to see what OUR group is experiencing. Especially (but certainly not limited to) those that have already started the pre-op dieting.

I have noticed that I am much happier in general since beginning the pre-op diet. I can't figure out why - if it's because I am eating healthier and I am in this "eating to live, not living to eat" mode (someone else said that recently and I loved it so I kind of stole it just now, was it you Ann?) and I am not eating all the processed crap that I was, OR if it's just because deep down I know I am 3 weeks away from the first day of the rest of my life?

Has anyone else experienced any of this?

I feel less stressed and more happy and maybe a little more energy. I am digging it!

Amy

Congrats and welcome to the May BANDitos group, Bmooney!

Meem, it's not full liquids thank God. It's 2 Protein Shakes a day and 2 small meals of lean meat and green vegetables for one and 1/2 cup fruit and yogurt or something like that for the other. It's not too bad - the first 2 or 3 days I swear I thought I was going to DIE. I was miserable and grumpy and hated myself for being in that position...... but then my head realized my stomach wasn't actually HUNGRY, and I kind of got over it! Now I feel better than I have in a while! I think I worked all the processed crap out of my system and started to focus on something other than eating and it's much better. Which reminds me of another post I want to make so that I don't hijack this thread.......

But thanks for asking!!!

LOLOLOL ANN!!!! That is FUNNY!

What a great ide............... I mean........... how naughty of you!

Good deal! Keep us updated!

Hallelujah got it!!! That was totally Dr. S.

I wouldn't have complained about March or April either, but our group seems pretty awesome so far. So, I am happy where I am.

Without my Reese's. Those aren't even my favorite but it's been a couple of weeks at least since I have had chocolate so it sure sounds good...... Man, had I only known. I should have had some chocolate! Meem, have some for me!!!

Oh yeah, we're going to succeed! (yes, we will indeed, 98 3/4 percent guaranteed)

I think we're the best month, don't ya'll?

Yesterday... that was hard. My boyfriend got my daughter her easter basket stuff and I specifically said "don't get a lot of candy, I want to get her more exciting stuff - a book, a movie, some jewelry or something"... so what does he get her?

Gummy worms, a huge bag of reese's Peanut Butter cups, cadbury eggs, and a HUGE foot tall chocolate BUNNY. (And some non-candy stuff, but not much) So they were all walking around the house eating candy and then talking to me with their chocolate Peanut Butter breath, and my boyfriend said "can't you just have ONE?". I said "sure, I can have ONE. Then tomorrow what, will I have ONE again? Then the next day it'll 'just be one'"??? I think he felt bad then. He just wants me to be happy with myself, I know.

This makes him look unsupportive and he isn't, but I think he had a weak moment. Blah. I am glad I didn't give into that.

I was thinking about every day going into the bag and getting about 5 of the Reese's and bringing them to work for the people here at work. Then slowly they will all be gone, and between the two of them they will think the other is eating them. Hahahahaha. :smile:

I am also not telling many about my upcoming surgery. My boyfriend and mom and a few very close friends know. Everyone else just thinks I am on a diet. I am not sure what I am going to tell people for the actual surgery, if it comes up... I was thinking gallbladder or something.

I have an 8 1/2 year old and I have NO idea what I am going to tell her. When she is older I will probably tell her, but for right now I don't want her to worry about mommy. She is also at the age where she repeats things to people, such as the other day when she told everyone at the dinner table when I went to dinner with a friend, his brother's family and his parents, "guess what! My mommy is on a diet and she lost.... Mommy, how much did you lose already?". She was so proud and trying to brag on me, but wow! I almost fell out of my chair! LOL.

Anyways, I totally get the whole not-telling thing. My main reason is not wanting the food police to watch me and for that to be the big topic of discussion, "can you eat that??" "what can you eat so we can schedule everything around you??" etc, like others have mentioned. It's no one's business and I wouldn't care if anyone thought I was a liar if I didn't tell anyone or I just played it off as gallbladder surgery. At least I'd be a thin/healthy liar!!!! :smile:

Hallelujah, I feel exactly the same way. Sometimes I am anxious, sometimes I am excited, sometimes I wonder what I am doing... I go back and forth.

I was watching an episode of Intervention last week and the girl agreed to go get help and they showed her on the way to the treatment facility and she was crying. She said, "I am not crying because I am sad about my decision, I am crying because my whole life is about to change and by my own choice I will never get to use drugs again and that's hard to comprehend". I had SUCH an AHA moment then, because I totally feel like that! By my own choice, I am changing my life and my lifestyle and I feel like I need these 4 weeks of the pre-op diet to mourn the loss of my "old life" where food was my reward and I was excited to eat vs. eating to make my body healthy.

I hope that makes sense. It is kind of early AND it's a Monday. :smile:

That's awesome Bethany! I live in the N. Dallas area but was born in east TX. I actually work for a company HQ'ed in the Denver area so I have friends there and visit there too sometimes. :drool:

MAY! I am crossing my fingers for you to have a MAY date!

Mlat, I LOVE that way of thinking. Why haven't I thought that...? I too can do anything for just 1 day!!!

I am on the end of day 5 of a 30 day and I am actually doing a lot better now than I thought I would be. The first two days were terrible, but I was at work those days sitting in my office all alone with nothing to think about but work and being hungry. Then I traveled (for work) for a couple of days, and I noticed I didn't feel as hungry. Today was the same - I was off and didn't notice being hungry because I was so busy planting flowers and trimming hedges and making my front yard look exciting.

So it could just be that I was preoccupied or maybe my stomach and mind is getting used to not being super excited about all of my endless lunch or dinner fatty choices. Who knows!

We're all in this together though!!! I sure had my moments of, "I'm making a mistake, I can't do this, this sucks, what have I gotten myself into" and I am sure I will have more in the next 25 days, but those times pass by!

Oh, and I am down 8.5 pounds in those 5 days - I just hopped on the Wii fit earlier to check. Yay!!!!!!!!

Hey you two, head over to the May forum's. :drool:

Here's the link: May 09 Bandsters - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum

I'm from Dallas. :drool: I know Joe T's, mmmm...... That's the best reason to drive to Ft. Worth from Dallas. Chuy's just opened up a new location near us too so that's even more rough! We actually went there on Sunday night before I started my pre-op on Monday. Ahhhhh memories!

Mmmmmm Mexican food... that's also my downfall. I'm from TX (well, ok that's obvious with the name, etc) and it's home of the best Tex-Mex ever. EVER!!!!!!!!!

Oh well. I was talking to someone that had LB and she said she could still order fajitas and have the meat, the onions/bell peppers, the refried Beans, etc. I think that's pretty doable.