incolorado

Thanks for posting this - it is very encouraging. I have a week until I get my band! Congrats on the losses!:biggrin:

Thanks Lisani. That sounds like a very reasonable plan. I fell off the wagon this weekend - knowing that I don't have to do any diet until 3 days before surgery, I have that little voice saying, "why diet now! this is your last chance to eat!" But I plan to get back with the program today. I only have a week to go! Thanks again. :ohmy:

FunFab, Thank you so much for your thoughtful response and all the tips. Really helpful! I need to write all this down somewhere. Oh how I wish I had done this in my 20s. I wasted so much time and energy and emotional well being on trying to control my weight. You are really smart for tackling this early on. My surgery is now just 10 days away. The thought of being healthy and able to do all the things I used to do is just the best. I know it will be a LOT of work to learn how to work with the band, but compared with the anguish of dieting and failing over and over, I am ready for the challenge, to say the least. Good luck to you, I hope you get your surgery date soon!

Hi all, I have been doing my self-imposed pre-op diet of slimfast and one small meal per day and have lost 5 lbs so far. I am thinking about switching to more of a low carb plan, in part because I know from past experience I will lose doing that and partly because it seems easier to stick to. (I am only required to do 3 days clear liquid before surgery; so this pre-pre-op plan is my own doing - I want to get a running start on weight loss). Sorry if I have been posting too much about this topic. I wish my doc just had a plan to follow for 2 weeks, then there would be no back and forth like this. So, what was your low carb diet and how did you do on it? Thanks!

Yeah! Awesome that you got your approval! Yes, I am paying $10k here in Colorado (really more than that because I have to travel and pay for hotel, etc). I have what I thought was excellent insurance - we pay $16k per year out of pocket for monthly premiums! But no WLS is covered at all. At least all the pre-op stuff is part of the lap band package at my surgeon's office. And when you are self-pay the pre-op tests are much less extensive. I did not actually need a BMI of 40 since I have other issues, I was just saying that in the past year I tried to diet and instead of losing I gained 30 lbs!!!! All the way up to BMI 40. I am doing a pre-op diet now and have lost 5 lbs so far, that brings me to BMI 39. I guess I carrry my weight pretty well, it is almost all in my lower half (PEAR shaped!!!) I was not planning to tell my mom, but then she called and I just spontaneously told her. She was really excited for me. She decided to look into what her insurance might cover if she could go that route too! You might be surprised what your daughter would say - I'll bet she would be supportive. Most of us just want our loved ones to be healthy and happy. Great to hear your news, good luck!:wink2:

I am with you, after 4 kids my lower abdomen is a wreck. It was like this after kid #1 actually, and never recovered. The above-belly button area is just fine, thankfully. And my problem is just the "apron," not around my waist or back or anything (well, not yet at least). Great job, I sure hope I am as successful as you! And when I am done, I will be going for the tummy tuck!

Just go to tickerfactory.com, create your ticker, then paste the code into your signature. You can change your signature by clicking on User CP in the blue band at the top of Lapbandtalk, then look in the left hand column for the Edit Signature button.

Now that I am done with my rant, here is my answer: My doc requires just 3 days of Clear liquids pre-op. I was thrilled when I learned I did not have to do 2 weeks, and went on a major last supper binge. Then I realized I was sort of sick of eating, and I just wanted to start losing. So, this week I started doing the 2 shakes + 1 small meal thing. I plan to do it for 8 more days, then do clear liquids for 3 days. But I have one final dinner out planned the night before the clear liquids... In 2 days I've lost 4 lbs (Water probably) and feel much better. I know I would have kept eating and eating and ended up with more to lose. Now I feel like I am already on the program even though my banding is 12 days away. Getting closer!!!

Amen. My insurance company is paying zilch. Yet they just raised our monthly premium to $1300+ They have a blanket exclusion for WLS. I am self-employed and furious about this country's healthcare situation!!!! So I will pay my $10k for surgery out of pocket -- a healthcare "tax" (on top of the $16,000 per year we already fork out for premiums) as far as I am concerned. Total discrimination against the self-employed, and not a very big incentive for anyone to start a business. Okay, I'll take my rant somewhere else....

Thanks! Trust me, doing a blog is TOTALLY out of character for me, I usually do anything I can to avoid discussing my weight. My husband does not even know how much I weigh! (I am waiting until I lose to let him in on the numbers and the blog - but let's face it, he must have some idea anyway). I don't think I could do the vlog, I would be way too afraid of the searchability on YouTube...I am not telling many people. But I think it is great that so many do those vlogs.

Yeah, I never understood the point of a blog, but it turns out people really do read this stuff, and it is very inspiring, as you said. I gave it a shot and turns out it is really enjoyable - then again, I like to write. It is my way of holding myself accountable too. Just wondering, what does your 4 day full liquid diet look like? I am doing my own and sort of making it up so others' diets are interesting to me. Good luck, your date will be here soon!

My doc only requires 3 days of Clear Liquids...But I decided to do 2 weeks on a diet similar to the ones many here have: 2 Protein shakes, low cal Soup 1x per day, 1 protein snack under 100 cals, and one small meal with veggies (like Lean Cuisine). The cals are around 1000. So far I have been doing this for 2 whole days and have lost 4 lbs and 1 inch in my waist. So glad I decided to take the plunge - I want to get a running start! Thanks to all who shared their pre-op diets, it gave me some good ideas.

Hey Michelle, you are really doing great! 18 lbs already! I started my self-imposed pre-op diet of mostly protein shakes and 1 small meal and am down 4 lbs and a full inch in my waist in 2 days (that is always where it leaves first). Okay, so that is water weight, but still, I am so glad I decided to do this. I am also Sept. 1. Very excited! I started a blog at the urging of a fellow bandster, and it really has been fun and helpful. Anyone else? Good luck to all, especially those just beginning their diets!

That is awesome, 17 lbs already! I just started doing one of the diets that many docs seem to recommend - 2 Protein shakes plus a small meal or Lean Cuisine. I am also going to add in low cal soups if necessary. So hoping to keep it around 1000 cals. So far so good! Your exercise regimen is impressive! I like to run/walk/hike, but have been discouraged lately because I just feel so out of shape! I am going to try to get back on it. I can't wait to lose the weight so that I can really run again. Good luck & thanks for the ideas!:sad:

Sounds like a good plan, have you lost anything yet? I realize this is not a race, but thinking a jumpstart to weight loss might be a good idea....

Suzanne, how much did you lose on your pre-op diet? I am concerned that if I don't do something I will just continue to gain more. That means more to lose, obviously! Thanks for the ideas, your diet sounds very reasonable.

Hi all, I am scheduled for surgery in 15 days (yes, I am counting!) and my surgeon has prescribed a 3 day ONLY CLEAR liquid diet. I am getting antsy to start losing weight, and I was thinking about doing a full liquid diet soon, for a week or maybe more, then switch to the 3 days of Clear liquids. Do you think this would make it easier or harder to stay on the 3 days of clear liquids? Also, just wondering what your liquid diets look like, trying to decide if I should do this. Thanks!

I did not read this entire thread...but cost should be an obvious difference, at least in the US. For those of us who are self-pay and scraping up every last penny we can find, the band is much more affordable in the US ($9900 for my surgeon in Denver). Isn't the sleeve more like $15-20k in the US? I realize Mexico is an option, but I really wanted to go to someone local. Therefore, financially, the band was the only real option for me.

I am Sept. 1 too. Can't wait!!!!

I have what I thought was excellent insurance. I was wrong. We pay nearly $1200 per month for our premiums for our family. Still, the company (Rocky Mountain Health Plans) has a complete exclusion for any kind of WLS. So I could not even try. (And forget about switching insurance companies, because I have developed hypertension, so I am now marked with a "pre-existing condition" --- ie, will be denied if I apply anywhere else). I am paying $9900 out of pocket for Dr. Brown in Denver, which is reasonable I guess, but as far as I am concerned, paying as much as we do already for health insurance, it is just shameful that NONE of this is covered. It is nothing more than a $9900 "tax" in my view. This is a great example of how insurance companies routinely "ration" health care. What else would you call it?

I knew the band was for me when I heard this one...I love greek style yogurt! The best.

I was told I would be getting the smaller one and a low-profile port....because I carry most of my weight in my lower half. :thumbup:

Awesome! You look fantastic! I hope I have similar success.

I am so sorry! You must be devastated. I am around the same BMI as you and same goal weight. Unfortunately my insurance has a blanket exclusion so I am paying out of pocket. (Makes me furious that they can refuse to pay for ANY WLS for anyone, no matter how much they need it, and especially when we pay over $16k per year in monthly premiums and otherwise cost the insurance co. virtually nothing! ) Anyway, sorry for the rant. Just wanted to let you know, if you are able to consider going the self pay route (even with financing), it is VERY quick and easy. Less than a month from first phone call to surgery date for me, and zero hassles. Good luck, don't give up! :confused:

I am getting surgery in a couple weeks and I have told my husband, kids, and mom. I really want to keep it at that. I live in a small town, and if one person knows, the entire town will know. This includes the major gossips and people who would talk about it non-stop and in a very negative way (I know this because I have heard the commentary about one person who had plastic surgery - I do not want to be the subject of similar commentary). The problem is I have to go out of town for surgery, and we will be leaving our kids with friends for 2-3 days, and asking other friends to handle the after-school activities. So probably 3 other families will be helping us, at least (we have 4 young kids). What can I say? What would you say? That you were going out of town for business, or is there some other surgery I could say I was having? I am not sure how to handle this, but I am certain that I do not want this to be the town's business. OOps, I did not realize this was the twenties board. Maybe I should post somewhere else...but let me know if you have ideas!