Hey everyone....

Well I am 9 days out from being banded. I knew this day would come and I am excited for it. Tomorrow is the beginning of my pre-op diet and wow it really has hit me how much food has meant to me for emotional stability and support. I am really feeling serious anxiety about this new direction my life will be taking. I want to know how people have dealt with this. Thanks.

I'm sure a lot of people struggle with the pre and post-op diets because they are so restrictive. During this time, it was helpful for me to remember that the liquid diet was only temporary. I hated every type of protein shake I tried, and I haven't had another shake since a few months after surgery. The liquid protein diet is no fun, but just remember that you have to do it for a few weeks only, and then you will be able to eat many different types of foods again. People have various food intolerances, but honestly, there isn't anything I physically can't eat, even with 8cc's. There probably won't be many foods that you absolutely cannot get down after surgery, so there's no need to feel anxious about completely giving up food. The liquid protein diet is in no way representative of the diet you will be following after you have healed. Good luck with your pre-op diet and with your surgery.

I understand... I had the same "cold feet" just before surgery. Giving up food was like giving up an old friend... an old DESTRUCTIVE friend.

I am only 2 months out, but I had 2nd thoughts just before surgery because I was afraid to give up what I was comfortable with and had grown accustomed to. However, even tho it is a change, just remind yourself it's a GOOD change... and you will feel SO MUCH BETTER afterward!

You came this far... you can do it just as SO MANY have. We didn't get here because we DIDN'T like food... we all liked it a little too much.

And please don't hesitate to email me if you need to chat or anything. I know the anxiety all too well. I was so very nervous I was crying just before they gave me the GOOD meds in my IV!! lol

I went through these same feelings before I was banded. Kinda like I was getting ready for a breakup. After I was banded I kept trying to eat more food than the band woud allow simply because I wanted to taste it some more. I would get a little sad when I had to stop eatting. Then I lost 3 pounds, and another 3 until I had lost 28 pounds. I realized stepping on that scale and being down means more to me than the taste I crave. Now I am a scale addict.LOL It is a huge change in life but the benifits outway the sacrifice.

Thanks guys. I feel better today than yesterday. I am one day done with the pre-op diet and it was not the end of the world like I imagined it to be. Yes I was hungry, like all day, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.....:thumbdown: