xavier

...none but ourselves can free our minds...

Probably no margaritas for us on Cinco de Mayo...we'll be in deep preop mode!! I figured out the ticker thing. Oh, and if anyone wants to know I just cut and pasted (stole!) the banditos logo into my signature under CP and saved it...stole it from John...Thanks John!!!...Cali

Are you absolutely sure you are limited to 20g of protein? I'm kind of new to this but is it possible that is a minimum and not a maximum? I have never heard of or seen that and I am all over these boards...If it is correct, good luck and I hope its only for a couple of days...my doc says get 60 to 80g from preop all the way thru all of your weight loss and then when you are at a happy plateau you can go down to 40 to 60...he says and I ve read this all over this site that lower than 40 and your hair falls out and you are nutritionally deficient! Cali

I dont know why my ticker doesnt show my weight...I will try to change it but I'm not very techno! I weighed in yesterday at 212 at the doc's. I am 5'4"!

Dear Maclynn and Hallelujah, I just got my date... may 6th! I am sooo excited.We look like we are all three similar in terms of age and what we want to lose! Although Mac you must be a shorty girl if you want to get to 124!! I just went to an appt in LA yesterday and I saw FOUR lap band billboards!! I am guessing you two didnt see those in your area but it is really catching on! I have been seeing the TV commercials and in magazines for the Realize but I'm getting the regular lap band...keep in touch ladies...it looks like we are in the same boat! Cali

You are such a strong person...you inspire all! Cali

I couldn't agree more. I needed to gain aroung 15 and then I woud have to do a six month diet and lose 10 to 15 but stay at BMI 40. So really I would have had to gain at least 25 and I just couldn't do it to myself because in my case it would be to save money. I knew I couldn't guarantee getting insurance approval anyway, and I knew I could afford it so I am self pay. That is one SICK system! Good luck! Cali

There's a little gun that's a staple remover, it bends the staple in the middle and they slide right out! Good luck! Cali

Dear Just, Wishing you all the bet and congrats on surviving the preop diet! I saw you are from socal so I wonder who your doc is? I am seeing Dr. Oliak on Orange tomorrow!!! Good luck and keep us posted on how you're doing!! Cali

Dear Help, Youre on the right track with the half decaf...but also really try to fill yourself up with water...it can be the best thing for the caff withdrawal! Good luck, I am doing the same! No date yet though...Cali

Definitely see what your BMI is at 5'4" and then wear baggy pants and bend your knees. Looks like you would have to weigh 230 at that height...a half gallon of water weighs 4 pounds so drink that and eat salty the day before. Also lots of people put small handweights in their bra or in a girdle.....good luck!

Dear WDW, If you want or need any more motivation, take a look at wendytip's photos. They are amazing and so motivating...shes a red rock star!! PS: Great blog...so honest! Cali

I think you're really going to love this site because your story has so many themes common with others here! There are thousands of people here and yes, people like me read the blogs religiously and even get irritated if some of our favorite bloogers have other things to do besides blog! Whenever I read stories like yours from young people like you it just makes me want to say 'do it!' before you get any older...I'm only 45 but I obviously wish I had even really known about this when I was a young 38!! Good luck whatever you choose...we are ALL here for you! Cali (waiting for your next entry)

You are sounding like superwoman...I was going to go grocery shopping and maybe buy and fill some of those plastic eggs for my DD's lunch bag tomorrow, then maybe lay out a little for my Vitamin D problem! I really cant wait til tomorrow's appt but not looking forward to the drive. The mapquest says 3.5 hours but LA traffic can double it! Oh well. Well your blog made me laugh because of those pictures...and our big dog Quinn. He's basically a retriever and I guess we dont have a lot of Easter experience since we are (slacker version ) Jewish. But when the DD was about five, it was kind of springy in ND so we decided to hide 'Passover' eggs in our yard. We got up early and hid them all over the back yard and then later when the DD woke up and was dressed to go out one of us happened to look out the window right before letting her out! Panic! The DD (darling dog) had brough all the eggs back into a neat pile on the patio!! Years later in Fresno I was laying ut in the sun by the pool and the same DD (damn dog) brought me something kind of grayish in his mouth...I told him to drop it when he turned to the side and I saw the long pink tail! Well by the end of the day he had brought us three baby possums just like in your picture...and they all seemed to think he was Mama! He's very gentle and I could tell by their wet and 'peaked up like merengue' fur that he had been lovingly licking them! We put them in a box under a tree at night and the real Mama came and got them.... Anyway your blog made me think maybe I should hide some eggs in the yard for HIM! He would probably love it! I don't dought they make dog ones at Petco but I think I could make my own! Well I'll be waiting for the post preop report tomorrow...if you have time! Good luck! I'll prob send you a PM as to how mine goes, I guess I should have done that for all this stuff!

Sorry I'm not in the cool kids club yet...I am HOPING to get a date on thursday! I am self pay so I hope it goes fast...I am sooo excited...I really admire for your reality attitude! There are a few things more important than your weight and it sounds like you went through FIVE of them. Hopefully now you can start thinking more of yourself...keep blogging...it helps us all! Cali

I have heard of people being denied for one pound...

Dearest BG, Me too, I 've always heard that igloos were built round so that the person in there had everything in arm's reach. That's how I need it. I'm sure I will be overshopping soon, but better that than not having what I need! I have a friend who had some plastic surg (breast aug and abdom. lipo) and came home and vomitted all weekend...not good with any chest or abdomen surg! She couldnt get herself to a pharmacy and didnt know anyone she could ask! I told her there are usually always pharms that deliver for a price or if that failed you call a cab and they'll go get it. I know I'll prob be sending the DH out for something but I'd rather be as prepared as possible...now I need the greek yog! I'm going to ask for liquid lortab and phenergan suppositories and whatever else they can think of! They DONT want me calling at 3am! I have a bunch of scopace pills (the pill form of the scopolamine patch for motion sickness)...but like anything going to gut-town you gotta be taking it before you start to heave! I get sick with the video games, amusement park rides, and on our boat without it!I never take the OTC stuff like dramamine or bonine because its so sedating but post op that might be good! Bottom line: GIVE ME DRUGS!!!

Cant tell if the person asking was just curious or a bit judgemental. But either way that kind of question supports all of the people who arent telling certain people! You took it positively though and made a positive answer, good for you! Cali

Do you mind my asking why you got unfilled? Cali

One gallon of water weighs eight pounds. So you should at least be able to drink half of that right before your weigh in. Also, I hate to be the person to mention this, but a five pound fishing weight would be about the size of a pack of cigarettes and could fit in the bra cup! I know I sneaked some stuff into concerts in there! I would consider just putting a three-pound weight in each side! I would hesitate to do the pockets and boots in case you have to get in a gown or anything. Well I considered all of this but it would have been around 15 for me so I am going to self pay...I feel lucky that I can! Insurance companies are evil! God luck! Cali

Dear BG, What do you need all that yog for...a body mask? Seriously if you got some ideas for it, do share! I have a question for you or anyone who has a clue...if we are not supposed to use NSAIDs after the band what can we take? Like for a headache or knee pain...morphine, medical marijuana?? Once I get scheduled I think I am going to ask my doc to prescribe all the post op stuff BEFORE the procedure...if you read people's stories of their surg day a lot of them talk about the pharmacy screwing up (the person is vomitting and therre's no phenergen suppositories) or just the hassle of having to stop by a pharmacy when you are in post op pain etc. What do you think? Girl, I KNOW you like to be prepared!! Cali

Dear Coco, Hey!! Do you have a date yet? I cant remember if you already said! I am having my seminar and doc appointment on Thursday and I am sooooo excited! I am self pay so I hope it goes fast! Does EVERYONE have to have a psych evaluation? I dont really care (I think I'm just the right amount of crazy!) but all this stuff just delays it!! Your pal, (baby walrus), Cali

Go for it...you will be even more motivated as you make those monthly payments! Its not a car or a fancy watch: its an investment in you and you deserve it!!! Good luck! Cali

Great to hear your success story and your complete honesty! Great blog! Thanks, Cali

Can you start some seeds inddors? That's what we used to do in ND! Cali