dnunzo51

Just have faith. We all went through plateaus. You body is adjusting. Have you been cleared for exercise yet? My recommendation is to start exercising as soon as possible. This is the best way to break through the plateaus.

I had to do Optifast and clear liquids for two weeks before my surgery and dropped almost 20 lbs. That is what I would highly recommend.

I lost 19 lbs from surgery to my first fill.

I too was banded on a Thursday and returned to work the following Monday.

I am 11 days post surgery and have lost 12 lbs. First fill is scheduled for 4/6. I hope to loose another 7 lbs. by then.

I was told that or stomach's create a lot of gas post surgery and THAT is what the gas-x and maalox are good for. Walking will help the abdoman gas to dissapate. All that I can say is that both worked for me.

I too was banded on the 25th. My gas pain was basically gone within 3 days. I never tried the gas-x strips but I was taking maalox and that seemed to help. Have you been walkng much? I know that I was diligant about walking every 2-3 hours post surgery for the first few days. Hope this helps.

My Dr advaced me to the next stage of the post op diet. I am allowed to have full liquids for the rest of the week then I may move to mushies. I had tomato soup for dinner last night. That was the best darn tomato soup ever!

I too was banded on the 25th and I would not say that everything has exceeded my expectations but more was in line with them. I have no more gas pain and the incision pain is minimal. I am, however, STARVING! I am on a one week post op clear liquid diet and am taking in about 500 cal per day. I am absolutely famished! I have my post op follow up today and will talk to my doctor but I will manange to struggle through. Good luck on your journey!

I just had my surgery on the 25th. On my 2 week Opti-fast diet I lost 18 lbs. in 15 days. I did work out but not regularly. I too was drinking 5 shakes per day but I was extremely hungry. I did manage, however, to not cheat. Good luck.

Day one post op and the pain is minimal. I did underestimate the gas discomfort however. i am also havong a difficult time taking in enough liquid. It is difficult to swollow as i feels like a have a gas bubble in my stomach. I'm sure that this will subside. All i can say to everyone that has yet to under go surgery. Walk, walk, walk. i have probably done a mile already today. It does help.

It is 7:05 am on the day of my surgery. This will be my last official post in the PRE-op thread. I am both excited and nervous. I woke up at 3 am and could not fall back to sleep. I am hoping that all goes well today and that the pain and recovery time are minimal. Wish me luck. I will update tomorrow.

Thanks again everyone, you guys are the best. Today is 2/22. I have my pre-op weigh in today and all of my pre-op testing. My goal as to lose 20lbs on the pre-op diet. It looks like I lost 18lbs. Not bad! I can not believe that my surgery is only 3 days away and that I made it through that pre-op diet. Thanks again all and I will post prior to my surgery.

Thank you all for the encouraging posts. I am now at the halfway point. Today is day 8 and my surgery is one week from tomorrow. I am now down 12 lbs. and counting. I have managed to stay strong and not cheat, thanks to all of you.

I have just completed day 5 of my pre op diet and I am STARVING! The only thing that is keeping me going is the fact that I can drink boulion and the fact that I am already down 9 lbs. Today was extremely difficult We went to our local sports bar to watch the Daytona 500. They had a free food spread which consisted of Chili, Bratwurst, Burgers, Chips, Potato Salad and Queso. I wanted so bad to eat something but did not. I feel that part of the pre diet is also to build mental strength. Anyway, off to bed and hoping that tomorrow will be easier. I stll have 10 days until surgery.

Thank you everyone for that posts and the overwhelming support. It is nice to have a group of people that truely understands what I am going through. I may need to lean on you guys as my journey progresses and I appreciate all of your help so far.

I really could use a mentor. I am a 38 year old male who's surgery is scheduled for 2/25. I am getting very little support from the people around me. My parents are against it and my fiancee' does not undertand why I just don't "eat less and exercise more". I am located in FL. My current weight is 303 and my goal weight is 195. As my surgery gets closer I am extremely nervous and feel like I have no one to lean on. Help!

I just found out that my surgery date is going to be Feb. 25th. I find myself, all of a sudden, extremely nervous. Is this normal? I don't have a very good support network around me.

I had a dilema when I started my 6 mo. I went in weighing 308 with a 41 BMI. I could not fall under 300 or my BMI would fall below 40 and I would not be approved for surgery. On my 2nd visit I weighed in at 310 (no problems but I was not dieting at all). On my 3rd visit I had gone up to 315. The Dr. lectured me and told me that I was risking being booted out of the program. He put me on appetite suppresants and on my 4th visit I had lost 12 lbs to weigh in at 303. I was told to just maintian my weight for the rest of the program. Visit 5 came after a big drinking weekend and I was back up to 309 (most of this was water weight). My final visit was yesterday and my final weight was 304 and my BMI was 41. So, to make a long story short, I was able to loose 4 lbs but that was really all that I could afford to loose and I really did not diet that much.

I just had my final Dr.'s visit today and have a tentatve surgery date of 2/25/2010, we are just waiting on insurance. ' #1. Surgery date? - 2/25/10 #2. State you live in? - FL #3. Doctor/Surgery Center? - Dr. Aguila #4. Insurance or self pay? - Insurance #5. Age and height - 38/6'1" #6. Current weight and goal weight? - 304/195 #7. What was your deciding factor for having this surgery? Insurance paying #7. Do you have the support of family and friends? - Not really! #8. Concerns and questions? - What is the failure rate?

My surgery is scheduled for Feb. 25th. I have a 400 mi. motorcycle ride planned for 7 days after my surgery. Should I be concerned that I won't be able to handle it?