abbypoo

I just started my pre-op diet this morning. I have to drink two Atkins Advantage shakes a day and eat a small dinner of protein and veggies. I'm limited to 800 calories a day, so I'm sure I'll be starving by tonight! The good news is, these Atkins shakes are really tasty!

Hey nice to see you on this thread Jason! I would love to ride a bicycle again too. I bought a cheap one a couple years ago in an effort to lose weight. It was SO exhausting just to go around my neighborhood... not only because I was out of shape, but because I was too heavy for the bike itself. This was when I was much lighter than I am now, too. When I lose enough weight to ride a bike again I'm going to reward myself with the nicest one I can afford (err... that might not be a very nice one... lol)

Carrie: No kidding! It has been a LONG time since I walked without my thighs rubbing together... since elementary I think! That is one of my biggest wishes, no more friction! ha ha ha

Ha ha ha! I just saw your table! You must have had a mom like mine... I fold my underwear!

Blogging about our journeys is a great idea. I just started one the other day and it's in my signature as well. I really think the more we stay focused, the better success we shall have!

Triplet, you are so funny! I can touch my toes, but painting them is not that easy! As a matter of fact, I've noticed that in the last year if I wear pants that are too tight I can barely get shoes and socks on! People keep asking me if I'm excited about my surgery... you're damn right I am!

Miss J: I too have to agree, #4 is great! I don't really Celebrate Halloween, but I can't wait to go out in a dress that's just barely long enough!

Lol. I'm sorry, but I don't see the point in swallowing. Does this turn guys on or something? Is that what the whole fascination is? My boyfriend doesn't get any extra satisfaction out of it, so I think I'm just going to stick to spitting that crap out!

Greytz: No worries! I think we are on the same page now Anyway, that's the great thing about this forum, we're a bunch of very different people with vastly different experiences who've come together for a common goal. Nanook: Good to hear you're losing weight (finally, right). I'm so sorry about your complications, but I'm glad that you're on this board so others can see that this surgery is not without its risks.

Ejacu-loads... hilarious. Uhhgg. that "stuff" gives me a stomach ache. I'll do the dirty deed, but it's going down the sink!

Fortunately for me my boyfriend has been really supportive of my decision to get the surgery. Of course in the beginning he expressed some concern that I might not want to be with him anymore when I lose weight. I think I eased his concerns, though. No way I'd leave him for anyone.

I would agree with trying the Atkins shakes, my Dr. has recommended them for my own pre-up diet. I know what it's like to feel so tired from a VLCD (very low calorie diet). I wouldn't beat yourself up too much about eating the nachos! As long as you didn't gain back everything you lost, you've probably done no damage to your progress at all. Chin-up, and remember you've just got a little longer to go!

I would be happy at 180 too! How did your revision surgery go?

Alright, I guess I'll hop on this BANDwagon. I don't start my pre-op diet until Monday, so this thread should help keep me accountable!

Thanks for sharing your experience! Having never been thin myself, I obviously can't relate. I would like to point out that you might have a much more negative attitude towards being overweight than me. Being fat has come to be part of my identity, and if I were to hate being fat I would start to hate myself. Yes I experienced some of the insecurities and inequalities and inconveniences that come with being overweight, but I would like to think that I didn't let it negatively affect the quality of my life.

I think you might be misconstruing my post a little bit. I was trying to say that being overweight can actually be a more positive experience than negative. For starters you know who you are and you know who your friends are too. That being said, everyone on here wants to lose weight for one reason or another. My biggest reason is my health as well, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited about how great I'm going to look!

I hadn't thought of that, and you are probably right. It scares me to think that I might develop an entirely new outlook on life! I really hope I don't lose any relationships through my journey, but I can see how that could happen. Thanks for giving me something to chew on!

Yeah, I'm self-pay and me and my boyfriend will be driving six hours to Detroit for my surgery. I am using Care Credit for my financing. It's actually pretty reasonable, I'll be paying less than $250 a month for 60 months for my surgery.

Hey Christa, I think what she was saying is that the cost of the surgery in Detroit was $7,000 cheaper than it would have been in Illinois, not that the overall cost was $7,000. But anyway, her surgeon Dr. Webber is the same as mine and he currently charges $10,700 for the surgery. There is also a Dr. in Denver that does it for $9,900 I think.

Hey Noor, I'm having my surgery by Dr. Webber on August 12th. I did a lot of research beforehand and I trust that he's a competent surgeon. I will let you know how the surgery goes if you want.

Hey everyone, I'm having my surgery at Harper on August 12th by Dr. Webber. So far I have no complaints, but I'll let everyone know how the surgery goes in a couple weeks.

Colleen! I am having my surgery done through Great Lakes Weight Loss, which costs $10,700 for self-pay. My actual surgeon is Dr. Webber. Their website says you only have to be 18 to get the surgery through them. I know that if you are self-pay they can schedule you within a couple of weeks of contacting them. Also, if you are self-pay they take financing through Care Credit which has financing options of 24, 36 or 60 months at 13.9% interest. I too am a student, and I'm having my surgery done between semesters. Please let me know if I can help you!

Ok, so I think this thread might be somewhat controversial, because I know a lot of people on here hate everything about being fat. I respect that, and I'm with you. That being said, I noticed that a lot of the women on here are wonderfully funny, smart and damn interesting! I'm not saying that our personalities are established by our weight, but I think that at least in my case I've had to "make up for" being the "fat girl" in other ways in my life. I don't think it was a conscious thing at all, but I think I purposely developed those aspects of my personality to try to prove my self worth. So what am I getting at? These are all really good qualities that I probably would not have if not for being fat. I often think about what I would be like if I had grown up skinny, and I'm pretty sure that although it would have had its benefits, I would not be the well-rounded (no pun intended.. ha ha) person that I am today. So lucky me for having lap-band! I'm going to have the trifecta: beauty, brains and personality! Did I mention I'll be healthy too? So tell me what you guys think. Do you have anything positive to say about your experience being overweight?

Nancyjean you are hilarious! I was just about to put them in chronological order myself because it was bothering me! Ha ha... too funny!

Looks like we have similar starting points and goal weights Stum! It looks like you are well on your way... keep up the good work!