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 met with PCP today. Actually she's a NP, but I think of her as my doc. I called and made the appointment when I knew the surgery was on. Since my testing was all done at the center, this was the first time I saw her since we discussed the possibility of weight loss surgery months ago. I wanted to make sure that she was on board with my choice, and that she would support me, medically speaking. I know the center will take care of my weight loss related issues, but I feel more comfortable meeting with her monthly because I have other medical issues that need monitoring. She's an awesome sounding board and I feel much better going into surgery knowing that she's "got my back." Whew. Another step towards the big day on Friday.

Amy

I did great with my low carb diet today. I'm freakin proud! Didn't think I was going to make it. Had craving for cheeessssyyy fries w bacon from outback. Instead, got steamed broccoli and a salad. I rule! Oh, and I chugged muscle milk and still hating the aftertaste. Unjury tomorrow, without a doubt.

Started pre-op today and with a few additions to my optifast shake this morning (replaced 1/2 the water with fat free milk and added 50g of no fat yogurt), I made it through. I'm concerned though because I'm not hungry enough to eat everything my plan says to. =/

Made it to gym again today... only to realise that I'd forgotton my shoes. =S

I too survived day 1 on the pre-op diet. 4 shakes, lots and lots of water and 1 cup of steamed green beans. That was it, no cheating. I did go to bed dreaming of having just one bite of the homemade turkey pot pie from my last meal. It's now day 2...I'm going to bring some celery sticks to snack on at work (as I can only have raw veggies in addition to the shakes) to help curve my morning snack cravings. Didn't really get hungry yesterday until between 5-6. Boyfriend had dinner cooked, fed the kids and the kitchen cleaned before I got home so I didn't have to see or smell the pork chops, scalloped potatoes with bacon and green beans. He is really being very supportive.

Hope everyone has a great day, especially the pre-banders on pre-op. We can do this!

I too survived day 1 on the pre-op diet. 4 shakes, lots and lots of water and 1 cup of steamed green beans. That was it, no cheating. I did go to bed dreaming of having just one bite of the homemade turkey pot pie from my last meal. It's now day 2...I'm going to bring some celery sticks to snack on at work (as I can only have raw veggies in addition to the shakes) to help curve my morning snack cravings. Didn't really get hungry yesterday until between 5-6. Boyfriend had dinner cooked, fed the kids and the kitchen cleaned before I got home so I didn't have to see or smell the pork chops, scalloped potatoes with bacon and green beans. He is really being very supportive.

Hope everyone has a great day, especially the pre-banders on pre-op. We can do this!

That's SO sweet!

My boyfriend is refusing to eat around me for this week. <3

LisaB - I so agree ! The amount of years I've been overweight (my entire life), time and money I have spent on weight loss is astronomical. Yes, I've lost weight but as my PCP says - never really learned good eating habits ... so this is it for me.

I too survived day 1 on the pre-op diet. 4 shakes, lots and lots of water and 1 cup of steamed green beans. That was it, no cheating. I did go to bed dreaming of having just one bite of the homemade turkey pot pie from my last meal. It's now day 2...I'm going to bring some celery sticks to snack on at work (as I can only have raw veggies in addition to the shakes) to help curve my morning snack cravings. Didn't really get hungry yesterday until between 5-6. Boyfriend had dinner cooked, fed the kids and the kitchen cleaned before I got home so I didn't have to see or smell the pork chops, scalloped potatoes with bacon and green beans. He is really being very supportive.

Hope everyone has a great day, especially the pre-banders on pre-op. We can do this!

Great Job, Tammy ... I am so concerned about this pre-op stage ... we can do it !

Great Job, Tammy ... I am so concerned about this pre-op stage ... we can do it !

Don't be concerned...you can and will do this for you!! You deserve to be healthy and happy. We are all here to support you every step of the way!

That's SO sweet!

My boyfriend is refusing to eat around me for this week. <3

That is great! Makes it a lot easier not having to look at the food knowing you can't have it.

I did great with my low carb diet today. I'm freakin proud! Didn't think I was going to make it. Had craving for cheeessssyyy fries w bacon from outback. Instead, got steamed broccoli and a salad. I rule! Oh, and I chugged muscle milk and still hating the aftertaste. Unjury tomorrow, without a doubt.

Best of luck with day two!!!

I went to Wal-Mart tonight to gather up post-op food for the liquids and mushies stage and ended up (because of the odd combination of food I was buying) having a chat with the cute, thin 20-something checker about my planned WLS. She was very sweet and encouraging and told me about a friend of hers who had lapband and has been very successful. I guess I've decided (by default) to be pretty open about it.

However, I'm not telling a group of my college friends--we get together every year for New Year's Eve in a different city (this is year 19--yipes, I'm old!). This year we're going to Las Vegas and I kind of want to just show up and surprise them all with my dramatic weight loss (I'm already 30 lbs lighter than they saw me last). Is that just totally ridiculous of me? Well, at least it gives me a goal!

Gaaa....I messed up my last reply, sorry for the wasted space.

Lizzy, I think its great that you will surprise your college friends with the new you!

The running joke for the last 20 years among my college girlfriends and I, is that they never know if they will recognize me when I walk through the door of our get togethers! They have seen me yo-yo from a size 6-16 for years....The next 20 years I plan on being the same size each time we see each other.

Wow. The emotions are really intense this morning. Woke up early with a lot of anxiety. I'm not sure that there is a minute that goes by when I'm not thinking about the surgery on Friday. I feel like I could just start crying at the drop of a hat. Anyone else getting super emotional? Deep breath....I can do this!!

Thank you! Yes! We must talk, this process has been a bit overwhelming.

Hey Colee85,

It looks like we are going through the same practice. I am having my procedure with Dr Nain on the 7th. You will find loads of information in our forum here. Good Luck and I will talk to you soon.

Lisa

You forgot about me My surgery is July 18th!

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