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IndioGirl, when I was doing eDiets, I met a few of the people I was dieting with too. Actually, two of them were in Alaska where my sister lived. It was really fun meeting them. Thanks for your support and wisdom. I see you get around and it's nice to know someone has gone through the journey and is still here. As for the liquid diet...no not totally liquid. Protein drinks, salads and green stuff, and lean cuisines. The goal is to lose 5% of the weight before surgery. It's tough.

I posted this on the wrong thread. Now it's where it's supposed to be. I have been "big" all my known life. I remember people commenting how the fact that I was a big girl as far back as the age of 5. I look back at those pictures and I was not a "big" girl, I wasn't fat, I just wasn't a little lithe stick person. I was active when I was young and ran around like crazy, fat and all. I weighed 120 pounds in 6th grade. The lowest I weighed in high school was 138 and that was for about 2 minutes. I graduated from high school somewhere at around 170-180. My lowest weight in my adult life was 158, and once again, it was for about 2 minutes. I went over the 200 pound range in the late 80's or very early 90's. I've never been lower. Of course I've been dieting since high school. Down and up and down and up, over and over again. Yes, I've tried almost everything except the Jenny Craig stuff or the pay for meals ones because I don't want to spend that money. I joined eDiets a couple of times and lost the most weight on the Zone diet. I still think it's one of the best nutritional and most workable diet out there, but I just don't have the sticking power for the long haul. I lost over 30 pounds on the Zone, but after 4 months, I started slipping back a little. In 2004-2005 I had some emotional upheaval with the death of my parents and associated problems and gained all the weight back over the next two years. Then in 2007 I took a job that added to my stress in very bad ways and gained an additional bunch of weight. I have changed jobs again and I'm in one that is very good and I enjoy but I still haven't been able to stick to anything and lose weight. This is my path to the lap-band. I started looking at this last year, but I was afraid of not being able to eat oranges, asparagus, beef, etc. ever again. Also, my insurance won't pay for anything related to weight loss. Stupid on the insurance companies part. They would save a ton of money on the health related issues. I digress, I saw a program on TV and this lady about my size and close to my age went through weight loss surgery and she seemed content afterwards. Not craving, not edgy for what she couldn't have. I decided to start looking into it and here I am. Good luck to everyone here and I'm looking forward to following our journey through WLS.

Julia, Your stick-to-itness is inspiring. To stay on this diet since September is a sign of your determination. I take it the time factor is for insurance? It really shows you will make the banding work for you. I am on day one of the pre-op diets, Protein drinks, GREEN salad only and Lean Cuisine for dinners. I'm not really looking forward to this phase, but I know I need to do it and I will. I'm also going to make sugar free Jello which is something I've never done. I guess I really am ready to make those necessary changes.

You just never know what's going to happen in the future. The money can be replaced with time and during that time your weight will be decreasing. Make it a challenge for every $$ you add to your savings, a pound is lost. I am a self pay also because my insurance will not cover any weight loss procedure, even doctors visits. It's only money and I'm more important than that. Good luck on your journey.

IndioGirl, Thanks for the kinds words and you have done great!! Do you keep on the boards to keep on track or just because you enjoy them? I always wonder about the longevity because once people lose the weight or the opposite gain it back, many times they just disappear. Yet here you are and your advise it good.

I think I posted by bio on the wrong thread. Oh well, now you all know the story. No one else has a July 2nd date so far. Maybe the doctors don't want to do surgery right before the holiday. It works out well for me because it's one less day I have to take off from work. I start my official pre-op diet tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to that, but I am determined to make it work. Later,

My date is July 2nd in Mexico. ee:drool:

My date is July 2nd...so not quite a week before you. This will be interesting.

Hi Lisa, I'm in Arizona also and will be banded July 2nd. I'm self pay and sit at a desk so I can't help with the time out question, but I believe you'll get a wide variety of answers. Hopefully your doctor will work with you and not send you back before you can handle it.

I haven't been banded yet, just starting pre-op diet, but even from this perspective, your weight loss seems great to me. From everything I've been reading this is not a magic pill and it takes work and time. Look at the dates the people were banded, the ones with the greatest weight loss were months and even a year ago. I believe the band is the tool to help you make it for the long run...not a quick fix. During previous weigh loss attempts, these sorts of message boards really helped with support and motivation. Good luck to you and I hope to be in your shoes in another month or so. :wink2: