purple3797

yeah poppies wife!!!! That is so exciting!!!!!

I am a 5'2 34 year old female and I was wondering just how much protein should I be taking in daily????? Whether it be food or shakes. :smile2:

I am seeing that many bandsters use optifast pre and post surgery. I was looking on the website and it is so expensive. Are there cheaper alternatives and what makes optifast so different than other protein shakes that are out there that are much cheaper such as muscle milk light or premier from costco, or even slim fast...just curioud I am preparing for my nov. banding and I want to try different shakes to get prepared and for pre op. Thanks!

i like carnation instant breakfast no sugar added but I thought maybe it was not enough protein. The atkins shakes taste good also. I was just wondering if there was something really special about the optifast or if it was just overpriced. You guys always have the best advice!

I was wondering what is everyones pre op diet??? What are you eating/drinking and for how long before procedure!! I was curious to see if they differ or if they are all similar.:smile:

I am still not banded I have a date for Nov. and I am scared reading these posts. How can you eat such low calories and not lose weight?? If it was a matter of calories in and calories out weight loss should be a given. This is why I am so hesitant at times of the operation. I think I will lose my mind if I go through all of this and it does not work! I know you have to work it and I work it now and the weight is not coming off. I do eat too much though and that is what I was hoping it would help with. I feel so bad for you guys and I am scared to be in the same boat!

I have heard that the weight loss can really affect relationships with your spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend .....even studies that have shown the divorce rate skyrockets. Have any of you experienced this??? I have a feeling as much as my hubby says he supports me he is also very comfortable with me beinhg heavy and may feel threatened when I start losing weight.:biggrin:

Does anyone continue to do weight watchers with the band????:smile2:

I have a body bugg also! I used it for awhile and lost about 15 pounds. I find the web site to tally the calories though quite annoying! WW site is so much easier and better. I liked th ebug to help me see how active I have been for a day and as a reminder to get my butt in motion. It just got annoying also to wear the band on my arm all of the time. I stopped wearing it and wnet back to WW and I am now counting points. It is so hard for me to imagine life without focusing on a diet or some food plan like ww even after the band..

Topazz..I think you are giving yourself a great birthday gift!!!! I LOVE THESE BOARD ALSO!!! I know I have heard from some of you the feel of failing at the band and I have had this fear also. I keep feeling like what if I go through all of this and put my family through it and then I have serious complications or fail and do not lose weight. I feel as if I have lost some on my own and then I get frustarted with myself like why can i not just lose the weight on my own without medical intervention.....I feel like I am weak in some ways by doing this. I know that it is not correct it is just ingrained in my head. I looked back at my ww books and i have been in the same weight range give or take 20 pounds for the past 10 years. Obviously I am not losing it on my own despite my stinkin thinkin.

That is great!!! You guys are really inspirations to me!!!!:biggrin:

thanks for the great ideas!

I am so nervous about the whole procedure hoping I am doing the right thing that I go back and forth from excitement to pure fear LOL!!!:smile2:

Hi Topazz I live in Mount Sinai and My Doc is Dr. Ahmin at Mather Hospital. Who are you going with??

I am also scheduled for Nov but no exact date yet! I am sooooo nervous, It is moving faster than I thought it would. I live in NY and I am a working mom of two boys ages 3 and 6. I owuld love to get and give support! I actaully went back to Weight Watchers today to try to keep my eating in check. Even doing this though I still feel so bungry.. I guess that is where the band will help.. I hope!:smile2:

I had my office consult and I now I have all of my tests to do. I am sooo nervous. They said I could have it done in Oct. but I picked Nov to give me some time to get appointments done and get use to giving up the food. I was wondering if anyone else out there had to do an upper endoscopy before the big day. My surgeon says it is standard to check for hernias prior to the operation. Just wondering and also how long before the operation do you start a liquid diet? I meet with nutritionist and psych Oct 12th.:smile2:

Wow Amy that is amazing..any complication? I am nervous. I will be banded in Nov. but no exact date yet. I would love the support of all of you and to give support as well! I am from NY I am a working mom and have two boys 3 and 6 years of age!

I have my meeting with the surgeon next week and then all of my pre op stuff will take place. I was told that the actual surgery could be in about a month or two if I go through all the tests. I am so confused because part of me wants it and part of me is 1-afraid if I get it I will still not lose weight 2-have complications and regret having it 3-feel like a failure because I could not do it on my own. My husband and family is very skeptical of it and I do not need the I told you so's later on. However I am 34-230 pounds 5'2 have tried over and over to lose weight and can not be consistent with it. I guess part of me also is afraid to give the food up because it is my drug of choice. Maybe that is my reistance. I was just wondering how many of you bansters are happy they did it and how many out there..if any regret it and what are the worst things to deal with with the band..thank you!

Thank you all for your comments. It seems as most are really happy they did it! I will take it a step at a time. Next step meeting with doc. I have already done the seminar and I know my insurance covers without a prior medically supervised diet.

Hi KC, That's funny you say that because I use to go to meetings there way back when before kids and was really trying to live the 12 step way of life. I just fell away from it and had no time for the meetings. But they are helpful to vent and be around like issued people. What web site did you join?

I still have not decided yet about the procedure. I am so nervous and am trying every other way first but it seems as through nothing is working.

I am very overweight and I am thinking about the lap band. I wanted to ask this forum do to you guys already having the procedure done. 1-Is it worth it? and 2-What can you no longer eat. I heard that you sometimes can not even eat certain fruits and veggies and then how do you get all of your nutrients and eat healthy? I am 33 with 2 kids and I do not want diabetes, heart issues and everything else that goes along with being so heavy. I have to do something!:smile:

I was thinking about having him do my procedure....I like that you had a good experience. I literally live 10 minutes from the hospital but of course i want to go somewhere good not just close.

Wow ....These are the stories that make me really question if the band is the best thing. Sometimes I get pissed off at myself and think if I am willing to go through an operation why can't I just eat healthy and exercise on my own and lose the weight. I am so confused and mad at myself that I am even in this situation!

So you can not eat any bread....does that mean all starches??? Forever????