jennay5180

Thank you for your post! This is true! And I LOVE that verse! I'm being banded on the 10th...so I'm feeling that way right now! I know it is the best thing for me....so I'm marching on! But I believe that it will be the best thing!

Oh, mannnnn...I totally know how you feel! I went to a Red Sox game last night...and I'm on my liquid only 10 day pre-op diet....and the hot dog guy kept coming around and I walked past the sausage (MY FAVORITE) stand a couple times and I swear, my mouth started watering. I know that in the end, it'll be worth it...and I keep hoping that I'll truly believe that being thin tastes better than anything I've eaten! I've never been thin...so I don't know about that....but I'm sure I'll love it!

Yeah! I LOVE Zumba too!! AND...BodyPump!! It's an awesome way to get cardio and weight lifting in a fun class! You burn a ton of calories and you tone up pretty nicely too! Great for the arse!

Congrats to you!! I'm scheduled to be banded on the 10th of August! I can't wait to keep hearing about your new life!!

I'm going to be banded on the 10th! I'm SO pumped!!! I had to go through a 6 month program through my insurance, so that it will be completely paid for. Anyway, I started that back in early February...and started looking for a Dr. back in January. I am SO excited that the day is finally coming soon!! Less than a week... YAY!

I JUST went through that last week...and someone recommended Myoplex Carb Control (has 25 g of protein for 11 oz). I can actually tolerate this one. I had tried Isopure (Alpine Punch) first....and thought that it may be a nice, fruity way to get my protein. EWWW...NOPE! I thought I was going to throw up!! I do like Nectar too...someone told me to go to www.mybariatricpantry.com. They have a sample pack of like 12 flavors. I've only tried the cherry one so far. That was actually pretty good too. It mixed nice and there weren't any clumps. Give it a try!

OK...It's Day 2 of the Pre-Op diet...and overall, feel pretty good. I just started getting a little hungry feeling this afternoon. I took the day off from work b/c I had two Dr's appointments this morning (one was my pre-testing for surgery next week, the other was my last appointment before my surgery), so I took the whole day off. I am getting the rumbly tummy today....mainly while watching tv and seeing ads for all sorts of yummy looking food! haha...Oh, mannn....this is going to be a long 9 days. Anywayyy...next Tuesday is the big day! I am SO excited to finally begin!!! It's been a long time a'comin! I started this journey in January when I began to do research on the band and it seems like it was never going to come. Now, I am finalizing plans for my surgery and have actually begun the pre-op diet. I am praying that I don't mess up on the pre-op diet! :closedeyes: Anyway, I'll keep you posted with my week! ~Jen

hahaha...glad to hear I'm not the only one who thought that stuff was AWFUL!!! hahaha....It is sitting on my desk, half full....just staring back at me. I'm ready to toss it. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be drinking anymore of those!! hahaha.... Someone on my last post did recommend the "Nectar", along with a website where I could purchase it. I bought a trial pack of several different flavors, so I'm looking forward to trying those. I'll also try those Protein Shots. How many grams of protein in those? Everything is just SO expensive! It's crazy. 20 oz of that Isopure crap was $4.69! ACK. I'm also looking into unflavored protein powder....so hopefully, I can get that down and manageable. It's the headache that is really killing me! Even now...several hours after drinking that crap (half of it)...and I still have a raging headache!

Ok...so this week I am taste testing different protein drinks. I went to GNC and purchases some Isopure Alpine Punch and some Myoplex Carb Control Chocolate Fudge. I JUST tried the Isopure and I thought I was going to die! No wonder people lose weight if they have to drink this stuff! OMG...I think I want to puke! Seriously...it has taken me 2.5 hrs...and I'm still not done with 1 bottle of 20 oz! The taste isn't even the worst part.....I have a raging headache! I think it is the fake sweeteners in the drink. I am fairly certain that I am intolerant to ANY kind of sweetener that isn't sugar....even this stuff that they call "Sucralose", which says it is "made" from sugar. I'm not sure what I am going to do??? I think it'll be bad enough going through the 10 days of Pre-op diet....but if I am going to be having a huge headache everytime I have to struggle to get these drinks down??? Is this a sign that this is a bad decision for me?? If I'm not even going to be able to drink these drinks???? I'm really bummed. Please help...

Yeah, that's what my nutritonist said too...Sugar Free Carnation Instant Breakfast....but I'm not sure how great that tastes? I just purchased a trial pack of several different flavors of the "Nectar".....so I'll be looking forward to trying that as well.

Where are you from in MA? I'm from MA too!! I'll be getting my band done on August 10th!! SO excited...

I got a call on Tuesday confirming that my Pre-op appointment was on Monday, August 2nd and that my surgery would be on Tuesday, August 10th (of course, with approval from Tufts...which they will send the paperwork on August 3rd...the last date of my I Can Change Program). They said that I have to be at the hospital at 11:30AM for a 1:30PM surgery time. I was hoping that I'd get an early surgery....so I'd get it over with right away. I am SO excited. My doctor says that we have to take 2 weeks off from work....and I was a little bummed b/c I didn't really want to use 2 weeks of vacation time to recover. I was hoping that it would just be 1 week and that I could go back early. However, I have just found out that I can use short -term disability, so if I end up really needing that 2nd week, I can stay home and focus on healing...and I won't need to use 2 weeks of vacation time....just the first week will be taken from my vacation time. :mad: :cursing: Yayyy !! That means I can save it for when I am skinny...and go to some exotic island in my [not yet purchased] teeny bikini! hahaha.....Pipe dreams right now....but hopefully in a year, reality! Anyway, b/c I'm not just using vacation time and I will be out for the full two weeks, I ended up just telling my boss and my co-worker what I was doing. I made sure to let them know not to say anything to anyone; as I wasn't even going to tell them. I think my boss was a little hurt when I said that b/c she said, "Why??" and I told her that it was a really personal thing for me...and I didn't want to have that extra pressure of lots of people knowing and examinging me. My co-worker said, "You aren't THAT big?? Why do you want this?" After I explained to her that I was unhappy and showed her all about it, she seemed very happy for me and I think will end up being really supportive. My boss, who I knew once I told her, was going to do some extensive research on the LapBand did exactly that....and promptly informed me the next morning that it was FDA approved and that b/c of that, she approved. Hahah...she is so funny...and she really does care about me more than from just an employee standpoint, which is nice. Anyway, now 4 people are in my little circle...and I do not feel inclined to tell anyone else. I think my boyfriend will be bringing me for surgery....and I think he will even stay the day with me. He works a ton and it is hard for him to get time off without his boss bitching and moaning...so I am happy that he cares enough about me to persue it. I start my pre-op diet a week from today. YIKES! I'm so nervous!! I'm still trying to research some good protein drinks and unflavored protein to add in to things. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm nervous that I won't even be able to make it the 10 days! Anyone have tips to help sustain them through this time??? ~Jen

Wow!! I LOVE following your blog!! It is truly inspiring!! My tentative surgery date is August 10th...and I can't believe it! Like you said...it goes by SO fast! It seems like I just started investigating this whole process....and really, it has been since January!!! SO exciting!!! Anyway, thank you for the inspiration!! I SO look forward to when you post!! I am looking forward to being in the same position as you in 6 months....being a mentor/inspiration to someone just like myself! Congrats! You look FANTASTIC!!!!

Yay!! Great job so far! You are right! God is good! I'm looking forward to my band date in August!

Oh, my goodness! I just got off the phone with the receptionist at the surgeon's office...and they have set a tentative date of Tuesday, August 10th, with a pre-op date of Monday, August 2nd! :tt1: This is all, of course, providing that my insurance approves me! It is so weird! One of the two people whom I have told about this decision asked me on Sunday if I was nervous. I told her not at all! Then, I get my tentative date today and I just got the butterflies! It is SO strange! Something that I have been wanting SO much for for the past several months is now within my reach...and I get nervous! Haha....Is that weird?? I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that this is what I want and what I need to do! WHOOOOOOOOOO! I am getting pumped!!!!

It seems as if time is flying by....and for this, I am EXTREMELY greatful! I am believing that the next couple months will just sail by (although I should be sad that I am wishing away the beautiful weather just to endure another one of those eternal New England winters! hahaha)... My boss is out of town at a conference this week...and whenever she is away, time at work flies by! :thumbup: We are going through a rough time at work with our boss...so whenever she is away, we feel a bit free! Anyway, it just means that Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be like a blur...and then I leave for North Carolina on Thursday. I am going to visit a friend whom I have known since we were three....and have gone to school together from Preschool till High School graduation. Then she moved down to NC to attend Duke for her Undergrad...and UNC for her Ph.D....so she's been there for quite some time. I try to make it down about once a year to visit her. I will spend Memorial Day weekend with her....and when I get back, I'll have my Psych appointment on Monday, June 7th. I am a little nervous. My health coach said that some psychiatrists are brutal, where some are ok? Can anyone shed any light on their experiences so far? I know that I am not an emotional eater....so for me, that shouldn't be a problem. In fact, I don't eat when I get stressed....hahahah....better yet, right? :thumbup: I think I have 3 more health coach phone calls...I had my blood work done a couple weeks ago...what else am I missing? Do I need to get some kind of physical before the actual surgery? What else should I expect to have to do? I've done the sleep study - and no sleep apnea - yay! :cursing: Anyway, that's my update 'til the psych consult. Let me know your experiences about this, please... ~Jen

Hi there...I've been reading your blogs and have been praying that things will work out for you! I can only imagine how much that would suck....especially after have gone through most of your pre-surgery appointments. I know I would be devastated if something happened....I just keep believing that this is what I am supposed to be doing and things will work out! I can't wait to keep reading your posts to see how things work out for you. I know I had Cobra for a few months until I got a new job and didn't need it anymore. Can your husband find out what insurance he may possibly have and call the other insurance company?

Hey! At least yours is only 3 months.....My insurance makes me do a 6 month program before I can be approved! :cursing: I'm hoping for an early August surgery date! I hope everything goes smoothly for you!!

We are about right on the same time frame! I am hoping for an early August banding as well!! :cursing: I'll be excited to hear more about your journey!!

Hi there....I have yet to be banded, nor do I have a surgery date set (although I'm hoping for early August - provided everything works out with the insurance). However, the way I see it is that with any diet, it will be a lifelong commitment. Obviously, if you are needing a band, it means that you have some sort of weight issue.....so whether you have the band or not, it is going to require a lifelong commitment of exercise and diet. That is no different than having the band in my opinion. Anyways, best of luck with your surgery! I'm jealous that you will be banded soon! I CANNOT WAIT! :cursing:

The sleep study is a requirement for the surgery (from the surgeon). I think it is mainly so that they can check to see if you have sleep apnea, so you can get the mask for the surgery? Or at least that is what I had seen on someone else's post. My surgeon told me that the icanchange program is pretty much a giant waste of time....b/c you go through this 6 month program trying to dissuade you from having the surgery....only to be approved at the end for the surgery? It makes no sense, he said. He said that they have never had anyone denied, which is at least some relief! I'm halfway through! I think I have most of the requirements done....I think I just need to have the labs done, or whatever. That just reminds me that I need to call their office and see what is up. I never did get the results for my sleep study, so I guess I don't have sleep apnea?? Otherwise, wouldn't they call?? haha...

Today is a sad day for me. My boyfriend of a year and half decided to part ways yesterday. I have been doing pretty well for the most part....mainly b/c I went into the relationship with minimal expectations. I had met him shortly after getting out of a 2 year relationship with another guy, so I didn't want to be hurt the same way I had been previously. It has helped...b/c I am not devastated like last time! I was a complete wreck for days! This time, it makes me sad when I think about calling him....or when I wait for his call. It just hit me that he was the only one who knew about my decision to be banded. I didn't even tell my family. I live about an hour from my family...and we aren't super close (although we get along)...so I could totally hide it from them if I wanted to. Now....what am I going to do? He was so supportive of me and my decision...and now I have no one! I know at some point, I'll have to let someone know....but who? Who can I trust enough not to judge me? Who can I trust enough not to tell everyone? I think this realization just made the breakup that much harder. I was ok up until about 15 minutes ago when this thought came in to my head. He was going to be the one to bring me to the hospital. He was going to be the one to stay for the day with me while I recovered in the hospital. He was going to be the one to drive me home. Now....I have no one. Gosh, it seems like my life is one giant disappointment after another. How much can one person take? I am overweight (and have been for all of my life) and can't lose the weight no matter how HARD I try.....I could never finish college no matter how many times I tried to go back.....it seems like my finances are always wacky - never far ahead......my desire to be married with children seems like it will never happen - especially after being in two long-term dating relationships with both of them ending. I can't win. I am afraid that getting the band will just be another one of those things that I look forward to, only to be sorely disappointed. My heart hurts. 3 :thumbup:

Today is a sad day for me. My boyfriend of a year and half decided to part ways yesterday. I have been doing pretty well for the most part....mainly b/c I went into the relationship with minimal expectations. I had met him shortly after getting out of a 2 year relationship with another guy, so I didn't want to be hurt the same way I had been previously. It has helped...b/c I am not devastated like last time! I was a complete wreck for days! This time, it makes me sad when I think about calling him....or when I wait for his call. It just hit me that he was the only one who knew about my decision to be banded. I didn't even tell my family. I live about an hour from my family...and we aren't super close (although we get along)...so I could totally hide it from them if I wanted to. Now....what am I going to do? He was so supportive of me and my decision...and now I have no one! I know at some point, I'll have to let someone know....but who? Who can I trust enough not to judge me? Who can I trust enough not to tell everyone? I think this realization just made the breakup that much harder. I was ok up until about 15 minutes ago when this thought came in to my head. He was going to be the one to bring me to the hospital. He was going to be the one to stay for the day with me while I recovered in the hospital. He was going to be the one to drive me home. Now....I have no one. :thumbup: Gosh, it seems like my life is one giant disappointment after another. How much can one person take? I am overweight (and have been for all of my life) and can't lose the weight no matter how HARD I try.....I could never finish college no matter how many times I tried to go back.....it seems like my finances are always wacky - never far ahead......my desire to be married with children seems like it will never happen - especially after being in two long-term dating relationships with both of them ending. I can't win. I am afraid that getting the band will just be another one of those things that I look forward to, only to be sorely disappointed. My heart hurts. 3 :confused:

So exciting! I'm right there with you....only a couple months ahead of you...so we can keep each other in the loop with what is going on. I also have Tufts...and should be completed with the program in the beginning of August. Hopefully banded shortly after! :thumbup:

SO...I had my Nutritionist appointment last night. They told me that this appointment would be an hour long. I got there about 15 minutes early....but couldn't find where it was located in the hospital. I was directed to the basement....but it was nowhere to be found. Then, I called the number given and she told me to come back upstairs and in actuality, was right down the hallway from where I had spoken to the first person. Haha...Oh, well. I got to her office, paid my $10 co-pay, and she was like, "Oh, I need you to fill out these forms". "Oh, you mean these?" I had all of the forms prefilled....so she was like, "OK! hahah" So, then she kept asking me if I knew this and that...and I felt like I know all of this so well, that I could repeat it to her. Long story short, I got out of my appointment at 5:07 - I had gotten in a little early, so in total, it probably lasted about 20 minutes. hahaha... Anyway, although the 2nd part is down, I feel a little bit at a standstill. I'm sure others have felt this way....but I can't start losing weight yet b/c I am right at the point where my insurance will fully cover my surgery. If I lose more than 1.6 of my BMI, I am under the 40 BMI that is required. I feel like this is almost counter-productive. I cannot start to modify my diet to be more like the one that I will be eating when I have the surgery, or I might risk losing a few pounds (which I inevitably gain back anyway), to have gone through this whole thing for the insurance to deny me. Anyway....I'm just counting down the months until this dream is a reality! :frown: