Tomorrow is my surgery date, finally! I completed my 2 week preop liquid only diet. Some days I had some lettuce and peppers though just to chew. I was doing great, down 11.2 lbs. I am assuming I haven't lost more because I have my monthly "visitor" and am very bloated.

Summer is my favorite season. If any of you are from the Northeast, I'm sure you'll agree. BBQs are also my favorite. And, the weekend before my surgery, I had THREE OF THEM.

The first BBQ I had my Protein shakes and I was fine. The second BBQ was at my house. I had only 1 Protein shake (as opposed to 4) and had a piece of cake and a cookie. The third BBQ, which was yesterday, was a nightmare. I had 2 Protein Shakes (out of 4), about a 1/3c of baked Beans, a 1/4c potato salad and a piece of cake. I feel absolutely terrible to the point that I could cry. I was doing so well. Does this mean I can't do the Lapband and stick with the rules? Am I going to fail?

Just about all of my confidence has dropped. I came into the preop diet feeling so good and not messing up, and 12 days later I cheated. And to top it all off, I told my aunt yesterday that I was having surgery Wednesday. She gave me a look (not a nice one) and said really? You're having surgery???? And said "well, you can't eat what you ate today." I wanted to crawl into a HOLE. Granted, I did not eat as much as I normally would have, but still, I ate when I shouldn't have. I didn't want to tell her about the surgery but my mom told me I should because she thought my aunt would be upset if she found out afterwards. I should've never said anything. The only thing worse than cheating on my preop diet is hearing people say, in lesser words, that they don't think I can do it or it's not a good idea.

I guess you could consider this a confession or me just venting. I hate that I'm gonna go into surgery feeling so badly. I want this, and I don't want to mess it up. I have eaten nothing today because it is my clear liquid day before surgery... and I won't mess that up because of anesthesia, etc. I really hope my spirits lift a little before surgery tomorrow.

Sorry to bring you guys down! Please don't read this as a "poor me" type thing!

Don't be so hard on yourself. Some doctors don't even require a pre op diet. Mine didn't. It was a holiday weekend and I think you did pretty darn good considering. Relax, go have your surgery and try to follow the process. I think your doctor will be pleased that you lost 11 pounds!

And....ignore the naysayers! People who haven't been through this process don't have a clue what they're talking about! Good luck. I'm sure you'll do fine!

I had my op today, and I COMPLETELY stuffed up my diet! All was fine!

You need to be kind to yourself, trust me.

it's that time of year for BBQ. Even though you shouldn't have those things now ! ! ! You did... So you scratched your itch. So get over it, and don't do it again. In time,,, you will be able to eat good BBQ. But not write now.

So time to move on, and think about your surgery, and plans of what you have in the house for you to have, after surgery.

You lost this weight in the first place, so you will go far if you stick to your plan.

Good Health to you, Shirley.

Hi Crash,

Wow, 2 weeks liquid diet pre-op. Whats up with that? I could eat right up to the night before surgery. I think it sounds like you are doing amazingly well. You should be very proud of yourself. I love BBQ also. LOVE THEM! There is no way I could go to a BBQ and not eat. I think you are being WAY too hard on yourself. Remember, the band is a tool to help you control your appetite and learn to eat more consciously. Honestly, I really had no idea how fast I ate or how poorly I chewed my food until I had the band. (That cured me in a hurry). I hope you have an exercise program already started, but if you haven't please start walking as much as possible right after surgery. Yes, it will hurt, but it will hurt less and you will recover faster the more you walk.

Please do not let your Aunt make you feel bad about yourself or your journey. She may actually think she is being helpful. When you need support, turn to your online community. We are people like you who will understand your problems, temptations, successes and failures. Yes, there will be failures, there will be times you think you let yourself down. THAT IS PART OF THE JOURNEY AND LEARNING PROCESS TOO!!! Embrace it! Love yourself right through your flaws. You are very brave to be taking this challenge. This is an entire lifestyle change. You don't have to be perfect. If any of us were perfect we wouldn't need any lap band or any support.

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY!!!

Indigostorm

I had my op today, and I COMPLETELY stuffed up my diet! All was fine!

You need to be kind to yourself, trust me.

Nothing like The Last Supper right?

I know I did too... But then you get it together..

Hi, Crash! I'm having my surgery tomorrow, too, and I had a 4th of July mess-up as well--just about on the same level as yours. Remember: the pre-op diet is designed to shrink your liver--and I promise that 1/3 cup of Beans (which is Protein and JUST FINE for a shrink-your-liver diet!), 1/4 cup of potato salad (I'm allowed that many carbs on my pre-op diet!) and even a piece of cake (about the same number of calories as one of the shakes you missed) is NOT going to keep your liver from shrinking.

All in all, you had roughly the same # of calories that you would have had on your shakes and less fat and fewer carbs that you would have had on a regular day before the pre-op.

You did okay.

Give yourself a hug.

Now give yourself another one.

You're going to do GREAT with the band!!!

Don't be so hard on yourself. Some doctors don't even require a pre op diet. Mine didn't. It was a holiday weekend and I think you did pretty darn good considering. Relax, go have your surgery and try to follow the process. I think your doctor will be pleased that you lost 11 pounds!

And....ignore the naysayers! People who haven't been through this process don't have a clue what they're talking about! Good luck. I'm sure you'll do fine!

Thanks Cindy... I do need to relax! I am feeling a little bit better about it.

Hi, Crash! I'm having my surgery tomorrow, too, and I had a 4th of July mess-up as well--just about on the same level as yours. Remember: the pre-op diet is designed to shrink your liver--and I promise that 1/3 cup of Beans (which is Protein and JUST FINE for a shrink-your-liver diet!), 1/4 cup of potato salad (I'm allowed that many carbs on my pre-op diet!) and even a piece of cake (about the same number of calories as one of the shakes you missed) is NOT going to keep your liver from shrinking.

All in all, you had roughly the same # of calories that you would have had on your shakes and less fat and fewer carbs that you would have had on a regular day before the pre-op.

You did okay.

Give yourself a hug.

Now give yourself another one.

You're going to do GREAT with the band!!!

Thank you for the great adivce... I did hug myself mentally because I am at work lol. I am feeling a lot better... best of luck with your surgery!

Hi Crash,

Wow, 2 weeks liquid diet pre-op. Whats up with that? I could eat right up to the night before surgery. I think it sounds like you are doing amazingly well. You should be very proud of yourself. I love BBQ also. LOVE THEM! There is no way I could go to a BBQ and not eat. I think you are being WAY too hard on yourself. Remember, the band is a tool to help you control your appetite and learn to eat more consciously. Honestly, I really had no idea how fast I ate or how poorly I chewed my food until I had the band. (That cured me in a hurry). I hope you have an exercise program already started, but if you haven't please start walking as much as possible right after surgery. Yes, it will hurt, but it will hurt less and you will recover faster the more you walk.

Please do not let your Aunt make you feel bad about yourself or your journey. She may actually think she is being helpful. When you need support, turn to your online community. We are people like you who will understand your problems, temptations, successes and failures. Yes, there will be failures, there will be times you think you let yourself down. THAT IS PART OF THE JOURNEY AND LEARNING PROCESS TOO!!! Embrace it! Love yourself right through your flaws. You are very brave to be taking this challenge. This is an entire lifestyle change. You don't have to be perfect. If any of us were perfect we wouldn't need any lap band or any support.

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY!!!

Indigostorm

I appreciate the encouragement. I love that I can come on here and get feedback from people who know exactly what I'm going through. I didn't anticipate this being such a mental journey as it is physical. One step at a time, we're all getting there!

it's that time of year for BBQ. Even though you shouldn't have those things now ! ! ! You did... So you scratched your itch. So get over it, and don't do it again. In time,,, you will be able to eat good BBQ. But not write now.

So time to move on, and think about your surgery, and plans of what you have in the house for you to have, after surgery.

You lost this weight in the first place, so you will go far if you stick to your plan.

Good Health to you, Shirley.

Good BBQ in the future is definitely something to look forward to

I had my op today, and I COMPLETELY stuffed up my diet! All was fine!

You need to be kind to yourself, trust me.

Hi Aly, glad everything went well! I think it's just a mix of guilt, PMS, and pre surgery jitters that are getting the best of me. I have to get a hold of myself for God's sake! lol

Don't beat yourself up too much. I didn't have a pre op diet and I ate mcdonalds the day before surgery.

I'm fine now that its out of my system, plus having the band makes things easier.

I'm not so hungry plus I physically cannot eat much.

Anyways, a little slip is not going to be a predictor of the future.

Good luck tomorrow!

Good BBQ in the future is definitely something to look forward to

I do 800-1200 cal. a day. That's with Good BBQ definitely in my diet.

So it's there for you too.

crash, the best thing that you can do for yourself is to forgive yourself! As the others here have posted. The holidays are hard on everyone and eventually you will be in a position to be able to eat and choose between the "good and bad" foods. Two days before my surgery, I had a BBQ to end all BBQs. I survived and so will you. Isn't it great to know that you are not alone?

Have a great surgery and welcome to band land!

I like what Aly said - be kind to yourself ! Good luck with the surgery ... come to the board often ... it's a great support system !