hippo-ray

Wow! YMJackson1's comments are great. Re: #6, even when I was skinny I thought I was fat! Seriously, I am not exaggerating. I was looking at photos when I was 140 pounds and remember talking with friends about how fat I was. As women we're terrible about this. We gotta give ourselves a break!

I have been on optifast for 7 days and have lost 14 pounds...7 days to go with this and feeling hungry with surgery a week from today! The hubby asked if this loss made me question my decision to have surgery...NO! Yeah this works while you are on it. I would not be able to maintain this kind of diet! Vanilla optifast with ice and a packet of raspberry (or your favorite flavor) makes a decent smoothie. It actually was too much for me to eat at one sitting so put about 1/2 cup in the freezer thinking I could have "ice cream" later. It does not freeze well and lost a lot of flavor.

I have been on optifast for 7 days and have lost 14 pounds...7 days to go with this and feeling hungry with surgery a week from today! The hubby asked if this loss made me question my decision to have surgery...NO! Yeah this works while you are on it. I would not be able to maintain this kind of diet! Vanilla optifast with ice and a packet of raspberry (or your favorite flavor) makes a decent smoothie. It actually was too much for me to eat at one sitting so put about 1/2 cup in the freezer thinking I could have "ice cream" later. It does not freeze well and lost a lot of flavor.

Day 3 and I am really, really hungry!:biggrin: Vanilla optifast with a half cup of coffe = capaccino. It's good hot or on ice. Optifast tomato soup is good. Only 12 days to!

I think we need to deal with one issue at a time. My first focus is getting banded, loosing weight and getting healthy. If that results in loose skin....I will decide I need to deal with it then. One day, one thing at a time!

Day 3 and I am really, really hungry! Vanilla optifast with a half cup of coffe = capaccino. It's good hot or on ice. Optifast tomato soup is good. Only 12 days to!

I started the Optifast this morning. Chocolate drink - very good. Strawberry drink - not so much. Vanilla drink - good. Berry bar - very good. Chicken soup - yuck! Drinking alot of water and diet coke. I think I will miss diet coke after surgery! So, overall, day one - not so bad! :biggrin:

Thank you all for sharing! As I move forward the cost thing keeps bothering me. I am feeling better about my investment!

I started the Optifast this morning. Chocolate drink - very good. Strawberry drink - not so much. Vanilla drink - good. Berry bar - very good. Chicken soup - yuck! Drinking alot of water and diet coke. I think I will miss diet coke after surgery! So, overall, day one - not so bad! :Dancing_wub:

I am scheduled for surgery on 1/13/10! I have my pre-appointments (pharmacy, anestesia, dietician, billing office) on 12/23 I start my optifast on 12/30 I find that everytime I eat I am planning what I will eat at that particular restaurant next year this time :confused: I have ordered several samples of protein powders. So far two have not horrible aftertaste in water with Crystal Light - Bene-protein and Design Natural. The bene-protein works pretty well in potatoes as well.

Bene-protein and Design natural aren't bad in water with crystal light.

there is low sodium broth. my mom says it's tasteless but if you're looking for something different....

I am scheduled in January too! Hope all goes well for you!

WOW! Your post gives me re-assurance as I prepare for mine in January! Thanks for sharing!

I am scheduled for surgery on 1/13/10! :crying: I have my pre-appointments (pharmacy, anestesia, dietician, billing office) on 12/23 I start my optifast on 12/30 :ohmy: I find that everytime I eat I am planning what I will eat at that particular restaurant next year this time I have ordered several samples of protein powders. So far two have not horrible aftertaste in water with Crystal Light - Bene-protein and Design Natural. The bene-protein works pretty well in potatoes as well.

Went to the bariatric support group on Thursday. A more positive experience this time. I will be having my surgery sometime in January 2010. I anticipate starting the pre-op diet Jan. 4th. I don't have the specific date yet as the surgeon hasn't determined his schedule yet. This schedule also lets me have one more set of holidays. So until after Christmas I will be monitoring the discussions.

Went to the bariatric support group on Thursday. A more positive experience this time. I will be having my surgery sometime in January 2010. I anticipate starting the pre-op diet Jan. 4th. I don't have the specific date yet as the surgeon hasn't determined his schedule yet. This schedule also lets me have one more set of holidays. So until after Christmas I will be monitoring the discussions.

There's been quite a bit of dicussion about telling or not telling the world that we are thinking about or had the lab band procedure. I have to say that I am torn about this. I have told my spouse (very supportive as you can read in a previous entry), my daughters (not so supportive), my son (doesn't feel I need it but "whatever you think is right mom) my mom (that's a lot of money that could be spent on a really fun trip) and two people at work (one really positive one with a funny look) My husband says we should shout it from the mountain tops then everyone can be supportive and cheer you on. I am more reserved because I've failed before. I think in the end, we neeed to ignore the rest of the world and decide what is best for us. Not the family, not the hubby, not the kids not everyone else. Perhaps the key is are we trying to "cheat" and think this will be a magic bullet or are we addressing health issues and improving our quality of life? If it's the latter, would we question exercising, taking a necesary medication or going to a physician? I believe lab band should be no different. The difference is that people don't ask about doctor appointments, the medicine we are taking or our exercise regiman. When we start showing weight loss, people will not hesitate to dwell, question or badger. My plan is to take the two weeks off that I am on the liquid diet and at least 2 weeks off after my surgery. Knowing myself, I know that I will have trouble when it will be so obvious that I am having to eat (or drink) differently. I hope this will help me get off to a more positive (and personal) start. On the plus side, I managed to exercise 4 out of 7 days this week. Nothing too taxing, but really trying to start getting into better habits.

There's been quite a bit of dicussion about telling or not telling the world that we are thinking about or had the lab band procedure. I have to say that I am torn about this. I have told my spouse (very supportive as you can read in a previous entry), my daughters (not so supportive), my son (doesn't feel I need it but "whatever you think is right mom) my mom (that's a lot of money that could be spent on a really fun trip) and two people at work (one really positive one with a funny look) My husband says we should shout it from the mountain tops then everyone can be supportive and cheer you on. I am more reserved because I've failed before. I think in the end, we neeed to ignore the rest of the world and decide what is best for us. Not the family, not the hubby, not the kids not everyone else. Perhaps the key is are we trying to "cheat" and think this will be a magic bullet or are we addressing health issues and improving our quality of life? If it's the latter, would we question exercising, taking a necesary medication or going to a physician? I believe lab band should be no different. The difference is that people don't ask about doctor appointments, the medicine we are taking or our exercise regiman. When we start showing weight loss, people will not hesitate to dwell, question or badger. My plan is to take the two weeks off that I am on the liquid diet and at least 2 weeks off after my surgery. Knowing myself, I know that I will have trouble when it will be so obvious that I am having to eat (or drink) differently. I hope this will help me get off to a more positive (and personal) start. On the plus side, I managed to exercise 4 out of 7 days this week. Nothing too taxing, but really trying to start getting into better habits.

Thanks! This set of conversations was very helpful! I'm at the same point - looking at surgery in January.

One of the ladies at the support group shared that they use a whole wheat tortilla or pita pocket with a little sauce and cheese in the toaster oven or stove. She says it addresses the craving.