Hey There,

Just looking for any July 2011 banders. I just started my process, but as that I am "self-pay", I am on a fast track to surgery. Although, not terribly obese (bmi 34), I am using lap band surgery as a tool for continued success after loosing weight. I have always been able to join a program(diet or exercise or prescription) and loose weight.....I've done it several times with several different programs (not a good thing), but I always gain the weight back and more. Now that I am in my 40s, it is harder to loose and faster to come back. No more, I say! I want to be heathy in my future - family history/genetics dictates that I will/can be using a walker or wheel chair from degenerative bones and joints, heart disease, diabetes. I am trying to steer clear of that but still keep seeing myself heading in that direction, so now is the time for further action. Although apprehensive about going under, I am reading all the good things about the lap band procedure and am hoping that it is just a little more than the tubiligation and endemetrial ablasion that I had done last year. At least, I am thinking of it that way, so as to not scare myself too badly!

Lisa B - Northern Virginia

I'm on day 10 and its a little easier now than it was the first week. I actually do really well until about 5-6pm. Then I start to get hungry, like in the tummy hungry, not in my brain hungry lol I have a just a few more days but I do find I sneak a bit of food every once in a while. Hubby made ham and mashed potatoes and corn for dinner.... *sigh* I can make it!!!

Take that off your ticker girl! Life is just beginning indeed!

Shauna

Holy cow....7 lbs lost in 3 days on the pre-op diet. Mercy!! I hope the scale is accurate. I'll know for sure when I go to the doc office on Tuesday for the pre-op, but I'm really curious!!

Welcome to our 2 new members, MassMommyRebecca, and blackmajyk!

Here is our updated list:

No date yet: Shauna Deanne, kychick1294, 30Something (JeVona), nickieredd79

June 30: Nechama L

July 1: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy)

July 5: AlyGurl (Aly), MassMom01527 (Steph), Allison0927, Harvest Farmer, wannabe21bmi (Kate), Kim from CT, blackmajyk

July 6: lizzy21050, crash878905, Lorelei

July 7: nesportsfan, hokdo, songbird5769, Short and Chunky, LisaB68, pinktink, dare2bthin

July 11: dixiechick, honeybunny, Jessica43082, hlong1985, Breezybbyy

July 12: BandedApril (April), merlina

July 13: CurlyDiva, Tammy A

July 14: crystalddm, BandItOrLoseIt, MassMommyRebecca

July 15: Corize, JohnnyBoy

July 19: Mrs. Schultz

July 21: NomersCat, Coco's mum, Rock4Light401

July 22: razzcat

July 25: cat lady, dropsizes (Mary)

July 29: ButterflyM, PungosMama

Maybe it is good that I live alone!! LOL. I don't have to worry about anyone cooking food around me! My diet is supposed to be all shakes, but I did buy a package of the low fat/low sodium ham. I allow myself 1 piece (they're super thin, lunchmeat style) twice a day as a snack. I just have to have something besides these damn chocolate soy shakes. I'll probably cut those out 24 hours before surgery.

Amy

I'm on day 10 and its a little easier now than it was the first week. I actually do really well until about 5-6pm. Then I start to get hungry, like in the tummy hungry, not in my brain hungry lol I have a just a few more days but I do find I sneak a bit of food every once in a while. Hubby made ham and mashed potatoes and corn for dinner.... *sigh* I can make it!!!

Lorelei: I'm having the opposite problem. Ick! I bought Benefiber tablets and am sad to say that they're making up a lovely part of my pre-op diet. It's pretty pitiful when chewable fiber tablets are a dietary highlight.

This might be TMI but is anyone else constipated fro. Pre-op diet? Day three here...nine more days

I feel the same way. I hate jello and I even resorted to having that because I could sort of chew it!

I choked down cottage cheese the other day because it's an approved snack. I HATE cottage cheese. But I needed to kind of chew! Wow.

Anyone else suspect that this pre-op diet is also intended, in part, to help us learn to fight these cravings before we can do damage to our band by giving in to them?

Ok. Nobody freak out that I've lost this much since Friday, I think this scale is W R O N G. I'll compare it with the doc office on Tuesday, but this can't be right! Ugh. Dear Scale, I hate you already. Sincerely, Me.

You never know it could be true. At least it didn't show that you were gaining! Lizzy I'm having the same problem as you...ah the life of the banders! I'm getting excited and nervous for my D day..only 4 more days!!! I am so happy to see so many of us July banders. Good luck to each and everyone of you!!

Ok. Nobody freak out that I've lost this much since Friday, I think this scale is W R O N G. I'll compare it with the doc office on Tuesday, but this can't be right! Ugh. Dear Scale, I hate you already. Sincerely, Me.

I start pre-op tomorrow and thus made the most of today. However, I DID make it to gym for the first time in over six week (I got pnumonia =S) and I WORKED MY ASS OFF and burnt over 500 calories! So glad I didn't lose too much fitness during my down time.

Surgery is creeping up (July 15th) so I've been trying to work things in like skipping drinks before and after dinner (holy crap) and chewing 30 times with every bite (forever!) and I'm already getting tired!

Day our of pre-op...bad day yesterday, but back on today. Starting to doubt myself...I need a kick in my #%^!!

JohnnyBoy,

Your blog made me laugh until I cried! It is great that you have such a sense of humor and honesty about this journey.

Kevin M,

It is difficult! But we chose to do this for a reason. You can do it!!!

I'm scheduled to have the Lap Band on 7/14/11. I'm self pay, 41 years old and BMI of 38. I'm looking forward to having the lap band as a tool for losing weight. However, my brothers are begging me not to do it right now and wait 6 months to see if I can do it on my own. They're even willing to give me $1000 if I lose 20 pounds in six months without surgery. Is it worth it to use all my saved money for the surgery? I think so but I'm getting a little nervous especially when you read of a few people not having success. I know diet programs usually work if you follow them exactly so is it worth it to put my body through surgery for a tool in weight loss. What are your thoughts as you come closer to your surgery date?

Hey There,

Just looking for any July 2011 banders. I just started my process, but as that I am "self-pay", I am on a fast track to surgery. Although, not terribly obese (bmi 34), I am using lap band surgery as a tool for continued success after loosing weight. I have always been able to join a program(diet or exercise or prescription) and loose weight.....I've done it several times with several different programs (not a good thing), but I always gain the weight back and more. Now that I am in my 40s, it is harder to loose and faster to come back. No more, I say! I want to be heathy in my future - family history/genetics dictates that I will/can be using a walker or wheel chair from degenerative bones and joints, heart disease, diabetes. I am trying to steer clear of that but still keep seeing myself heading in that direction, so now is the time for further action. Although apprehensive about going under, I am reading all the good things about the lap band procedure and am hoping that it is just a little more than the tubiligation and endemetrial ablasion that I had done last year. At least, I am thinking of it that way, so as to not scare myself too badly!

Lisa B - Northern Virginia

For those of us who are keeping surgery quiet, do you plan to tell people if they ask you directly? Or tell people once you feel you are successful? I don't think I should lie if asked...

What do you think?

When i first made the decision to get banded, I simply told a few close friends, my significant other, and my mother. As the time came close, i got my surgery date...i have been telling more and more people. I don't know if it because of the support, or the fact that it is more definate (similar to the 3 month rule with pregnancy) either way i just went with my soon to be vanishing gut

JohnnyBoy,

Your blog made me laugh until I cried! It is great that you have such a sense of humor and honesty about this journey.

Thanks, Merlina! More to come. I hope more people enjoy it as it moves along. It'll be a great tool to let some of my brain trolls out to play once in a while. The only problem is is that they really like potato chips.