jgandg

I am embarrassed to admit it, I love this show! Every summer I start out thinking this will be the last time I watch it...and I get sucked in.

WOW!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!:clap2::clap2::clap2:

I'll be taking a multivitamin, calcium, fish oil, and vitamin B complex. Currently I only take fish oil and B complex.

I think making mini-goals is a great idea!

Awesome!!!!! :biggrin1:

You're doing GREAT Wheetsin! What an amazing time this has been for you. Congratulations!!!:clap2::clap2::clap2: (Question: why pacing in the restroom? I'm still a newbie, so forgive my ignorance.)

Six days until my 2 week liquids phase and I'm really nervous. I feel like I'm forgetting everything, like I won't know what to eat, what to do, how to care for myself. I've read all the information from my doctor's office a few times, but I still feel like I'll forget something major or make some mistake. I'm used to worrying about other people - feels weird to worry about myself. All I have in the house is 3 huge containers of Isopure Lo Carb protein shake mix - vanilla, chocolate, strawberry. I have to stock up on other liquids this weekend. I really want to embrace the sugery the way I did weeks ago, but as the time gets closer I just get more nervous.

Oh my goodness, that's awful! I have never had shingles, so I can't offer any advice. Just wanted to lend some support while you get through this.

Thanks everyone. I think when he said "if you do this, you won't need surgery" he meant that if I follow the weight-loss strategies given to me by the psychologist at my surgeon's office, that I wouldn't need surgery in the first place. He really feels I can do this (lose weight) without the band. I feel like I am being patronized. How can he know what I can and cannot do? It's like Jack said, I am in dire need of help, I know another diet isn't going to be a long-term solution. It's sad to me, the thought of leaving this therapist, b/c I feel like I've come so far in the past year. I guess I should attribute that more to me than to him, but I'm nervous about leaving something that's been otherwise successful. We meet tonight, and I am going to tell him how I am feeling. It's gotten to the point where I don't even want to talk about LB with him b/c I know he's not supportive - exactly the person whom I should feel most comfortable talking to, and I don't. Some asked about $$ - I don't know his per hour fee, I pay a small co-pay. Thank you so much to everyone who posted here. I am so thankful I found this board.

I am pre-band. I've told my husband, mom, sister, brother, 3 friends, 2 co-workers, and my boss. I will not tell anyone else. Those I have told are those I feel safest telling. I do not feel it is my duty to educate anyone, nor do I want to be a role model. For me, this is a personal battle, and my successes will be sweet and my failures will be brutal. I cannot trust the failure with many people. I don't want to be measured, questioned, gossiped about.

That's really awesome! :biggrin1:

I've been seeing a therapist for the past year, discussing the reasons why I am overweight, among other things. When I told him I was researching the LB, he thought it was an extreme method and not necessary. He thought I could lose through continued therapy and recommended a diet (the UltraMetabolism diet). When I told him I made the decision to have LB surgery, he stopped trying to dissuade me, but he challenges me about it. I told him some of the tools my Dr's office gave me, behavioral tools, and his response was "well, you know this already. If you do this, you don't need surgery" which is true - for example, the tools, or strategies, are things like writing down what I eat, being aware of emotional triggers, reframing my feelings to more positive ones, etc. I feel a bit angry toward him. I feel like this is a very personal decision, and his challenges and his even mild criticism is really not what I need. I wish I could go to his office and feel comfortable talking about the surgery. Because right now I feel like I don't want to share my concerns or nervousness, b/c he'll be like "told you so!" I am so tired of people who are not MO telling me what will work and what I should do with MY body, MY life. For the main person who is dissuading me to be my therapist is just so hurtful. Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. I will bring this up when I see him tomorrow night. I just am really disappointed b/c otherwise things have been going well but this inability to support me is really getting in the way.

What a great thread! Everyone has had such exciting and interesting adventures. I went to high school with Emmanuel Lewis (Webster) One of the Beastie Boys flirted with me when I was wayyyy to young to know how to flirt back, and before they were famous I used to hitchhike regularly to the Rockaways I've met Thomas Pynchon - twice Caught a Ramones guitar pick, and gave it to a friend thinking I could get one again (what was I thinking???)

Hey Wanda - we're surgery date twins! I'm being banded by Dr. Geiss in NY on 9/21. Best of luck to you and everyone here!:mad:

I live in Suffolk County; my doctor is in Nassau. They are other LI'ers here, and some city banders too. My doctor also has a pretty strict post-op diet: I *think* it is about 5 weeks before solids are introduced. (Im being banded on 9/21). Which reminds me I need to add the post-op diet phases to my calendar or I am bound to forget! Port Jervis is near PA, right?

I *think* it's a couple of months before my surgeon will do the first fill. I'm wondering how far into the future I might be able to expect to find the fill level that is good restriction for me. What has been your experience?

What a great thread! I'm yet to be banded, but there is an elliptical machine in my basement that will testify to its use as a place to hang a shirt now and then when there are no more hangers near the dryer. It was a Christmas gift from my husband - no, no, not his idea, MY big idea. Who would want a nice bracelet, a set of awesome cookbooks, a day at the spa when you can have a 75lb. chrome and rubber guilt-inducing machine in the basement? Walking for me it is!

Congratulations on your amazing weight loss! I think that no matter what your doctor's intentions are, if you do not feel comfortable with her, then it's time to find a new doctor.

My surgery date is 9/21, with pre-surgical testing and clearance from my PCP one week before. I have a 2 week liquid stage prior to surgery. :faint: Not the worst, but I have a wedding in the middle and I'd rather not be tempted. But otherwise I am very excited, a little nervous, and getting very psyched to regain energy! Best wishes to everyone~~~~~~~

You ARE worthy of respect and love. If you are not getting that from them, I'd spend as little time with them or around them as possible. Don't take their abuse - if they say something like they did to your husband, tell them to leave your house, or tell them that what they said is rude and hurtful and excuse yourself from their company. Why should you be their punching bag? Don't stand for it anymore. They sound horribly insecure and like they are trying to take out their anger/frustration/inescurity on someone sensitive. Don't let them. Also, make it clear to your mom and your husband that you expect their full support. No excuses for meaness.

Hedwig please let us know how you are feeling.

In today's NYT Magazine, theories of microbial and viral causes of obesity are discussed. Here is the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/13/magazine/13obesity.html?pagewanted=2 Will probably require (free) registration.

Thanks Tricia!

I'm kind of embarrassed that I don't know the answer to this already, considering I am having surgery on 9/20.:embarassed: How exactly does the band work to make you feel full? I understand that we feel (or I will feel) full sooner due to the restricted stomach size, but how does it make one feel full longer? And does the band somehow affect hormone levels that allow one to feel full? Thanks in advance!

That's fantastic! Congratulations!!!!:clap2: