Unforgettable

I have a lower BMI and am only required to do a 3-day MediFast liquid only diet. I'm more than willing to do it for the safety reasons related to my liver but am also glad I don't have to do a super long one either. Although my friend who was banded by the same doctor did a 2 week one and lost like 15 pounds so that would be nice. Juniper, your diet doesn't sound too horrible compared to some of the others I've heard about.

I'm not in the wilnington area yet but hope to move there next summer!

Nice to meet you Maggie I'm Jessica and I'm sure we'll be seeing each other pre and post-op . I actually have to be there at 630 since my surgery starts at 8 so it looks like we're back to back!

For my doctor, I think it's based on the BMI. My friend has a higher BMI and had to do a 2 week diet and my BMI is 37 and only have to do a 3 day one.

Hey there! July 20th as well with Dr. Curry!!! I have an 8am start time that morning, how about you?

I think you hit the nail on the head with this one. I feel the same way about my sister and am worried what kind of effect it will have on her. For most of my life, she was the skinny one and I was the big one so I know what it feels like to be on the other side, and I'd hate for her to feel that way even if it's not my fault. All I can hope is that it will be a motivation for her and we can work on it together.

Most of mine are on my back and then one on my shoulder so I'm not too worried. I plan on getting a full back piece as well as hips so I'm just gonna weight until I reach my goal weight to be sure.

Hey everyone! My name is Jessica. I'll be 26 in October, I'm single with no kids, and a pediatric nurse in Cincinnati Ohio. My doctor and I haven't set an official goal weight yet, but I have between 80 to 100 pounds to lose, and I'm 5'5". I've been overweight since I hit puberty, and am actually closer to my smallest weight now. I was as high as around 260 pounds, lost about 50 pounds with diet an exercise bringing me to around 210 and have gained back around 10 pounds in a 3 year period. I'm ready for the band and the lifestyle change that comes with it, and always looking to meet new friends going through similar experiences!

July 20th Surgery date...holler!

I'm so glad to see more July peeps! Yay us

Candace, I definitely understand what you're saying. I don't want to have to justify myself or defend myself, and people are more likely to question you before you've had it done when they feel they can do something rather than afterwards when it's a moot point. I know once I have it done I'll feel way more comfortable with it all. Plus, you can't argue with results!

I like it, plus I like that it's a little different by not having the month in it. I'm open for other ideas too.

Definitely! Plus like my one friend that just had it done, the people at work that do know - when they aren't asking how much weight she's lost, they are scrutinizing every single piece of food she puts in her mouth and I know they're judging her behind her back. Again just pressure that I don't really need.

I've told my close family, and less than a handful of friends at work. Unfortunately word got out at work and so most people know. What's frustrating is that now everyone at work wants to do it and I'm afraid it's looking like a trend and an easy fix and is taking my credibility away, which is why I didn't want them to know in the first place. Anyway I've decided my approach with the issue of telling people or not will be that I won't directly lie, but I won't announce it to the world. If they ask where I was I'll tell them I had surgery. If they ask what kind of surgery I had I'll tell them it's personal. If they ask how I'm loosing weight, I plan on telling them "hard work, exercise, and magic." Just from hearing from friends that have had it done, I think the more people that know the more pressure I'll put on myself so during the process I'd like to have as least amount of stress as possible. Now when I'm close to my goal weight maybe I'll announce it to the world :biggrin:

I can definitely understand that frustration. For a lot of us this goes so far beyond physical, it's such a mental issue. I know for me it will still be there regardless of how much weight I loose. Since I'm fortunate enough to have my insurance covering the entire cost of the surgery, I've already accepted the fact that once I reach my goal weight I may need plastic surgery, and I'm okay with that.

I'm so glad to see some moer peeps in July! We definitely need to come up with a kickass name

We'll be having surgery the same week! Sorry about the hernia. I'm assuming you're a NICU RN - I'm a peds RN and my manager almost freaked when I told her 2 weeks so I can't imagine 8 weeks. As far as it being "elective" that just crap, but I have realized that A LOT of people think it's taking "the easy way out" which is so far from the truth. Although at my work, I'll be the 3rd person on my floor in the past 2 years to have this surgery done, and there are 2 people who are thinking about doing it as well. The problem is that the 2 people considering it are the ones that bring fast food into work everyday, never attempt to watch what they eat, etc so I can understand why some people would think that THEY are taking the easy way out, and then that assumption just gets pushes to all of us having the surgery. Oh well people will think what they think that's why I'm not willingly sharing the information with coworkers because it's none of their business. Keep me updated on your journey!

Yea we definitely have a very similar story, same BMI, around the same goal and just about the same amount of weight to lose. Hearing your story definitely makes me anxious to start mine!

You are definitely not the only one that feels that way. I always try to think though that we all have our preferences - so people prefer blue eyes, some prefer long hair on men, and some guys prefer smaller women so I try not to fault them for that. It's when they act like you don't exist and are rude that the line is crossed. I agree with what many say though, I think a lot of it for myself personally was my own insecurities, because it wasn't that I was the fattest girl at the party, it was that I NOTICED it. It messes with your head and sometimes you make it worse than what it is. I know no matter how much weight I loose, that will still be a demon I will have to battle within myself.

I'm glad I'm not the only one lol

I can totally relate! Another thing I hate is when I'm going out for the day, feeling really good about myself and then see my reflection in a window or something while I'm out.....who the fk is that fat ass because it isn't me!!

Jen - I hope your 6 months is fast and successful! I have no problems waiting until July - now that I know I'm approved, I'm okay with waiting :tt2: Patience is a virtue and all that jazz lol

I'm so sorry thishappened to you! People are hurtful, hurtful creatures and don't realize how their words can impact others. More proof as to why I feel good about choosing not to announce my surgery to the world - because there are people like this that will NEVER understand and always judge. Keep your head up!!

Well to be honest, my BMI of 37 was right at the borderline range as far as my insurance approval goes. So their insurance specialist basically said I have to do the 6 month diet to go through the motions, but they really didn't want me to lose no more than 5 pounds so I could up my chances of being approved by insurance. I think that was harder to do than a normal 6 month diet - they didn't want me to lose to much, but if I gained then that was really bad for insurance too:blink:. I'm just glad that's all over with now and counting down the weeks until surgery.

Hey guys, I'm scheduled for surgery with Dr C on July 20. I id the 6 month diet with him too. Him and his staff are pretty awesome. They are all cool and down to earth, and I forget the exact number but at last 75% of the staff are bandsters themselves. Not to mention Dr C has had the surgery as well as his wife. They know what they are talking about!