New to this page, first time I have actually checked itout. The psychologist I saw as one of the pre requirements to surgeryrecommended me to this site. Was just given a possible surgery date of August 2and have my pre opt appointment on July 19. Overly excited and cannot wait tohave surgery and start seeing results! Any tips people can offer of how Ishould prep for before surgery...or things I need to get done, or have readyfor when I’m done with surgery and beginning my journey of becoming my skinnyself again I know it’s in there somewhere. It just has been hiding the last5 years!

Hi congratulations on making a great decision. I was banded last August 23 and it was the best thing I've done for myself. I've lost 65 lbs and want to loose more. I feel about 20 years younger and can do so many more things that I thought were lost to me. One of my very favorite things was going on an airplane and not having to ask the 115 lb. Air steward for a belt extension. It was really a wonderful feeling. You have a lot of great things to look forward to. The best prep I did pre surgery is to give myself my own cupboard in the kitchen. I have chosen not to tell many people about my surgery as I didn't everyone to ask a million questions and watch everything I ate. I wanted all of my weight loss "gear" ie.books, Vitamins etc to be in one place behind doors.I put any food that is just for me there to help me keep on target ( and so my 17 year old son didn't inadvertently eat it!) I was worried about remembering to do everything I was supposed to do and this has really helped to have it all in one place. Buy a really cute lunch box so that you can always have "safe" food with you. I also bought a really pretty journal to write in and keep track of Protein grams, what I eat, feel or anything else I want to put in. Treat yourself to nice things that wil be great to look at everyday. I decided to make this My Year and exercise ,loose weight and get healthy. It is knot easy to do this and it's difficult to not have food for comfort so you need to think of other things to fill the gap..do something fun every day even if it's a small thing.

also follow all the directions that your doctor and staff give you and you will succeed. Get up and walk in the hospital as soon as you can and make yourself do it. You will feel much better faster and not

have to worry about clotting.

I didn't intend to go on and on...but it is a life changing event and I am still in progress and still have to work hard. Good luck and great success to you! You can do it.!

Thank you so much for all your advice! anything helps me greatly. I am still waiting for a final approval from the insurance company, but my nurse at the office, already has given me a pre op appointment, and a possible surgery date of August 2. So I think she feels pretty confident that she will have an approval by then! Im getting more and more excited everyday, but I have to keep reminding myself that it may not all go through as expected!

Thank you for this post. I am new to this site. I have just made the decision to have the surgery and I am trying to surround myself with people who can support my decision and help me with the questions that seem to come to me day and night. I go to the class that is mandatory on the 22 of this month and hope they set me up for my consultation soon. Thanks again for this post. It was very uplifting.

Congratulations on making a great decision. I was banded last August 23 and it was the best thing I've done for myself. I've lost 65 lbs and want to loose more. I feel about 20 years younger and can do so many more things that I thought were lost to me. One of my very favorite things was going on an airplane and not having to ask the 115 lb. Air steward for a belt extension. It was really a wonderful feeling. You have a lot of great things to look forward to. The best prep I did pre surgery is to give myself my own cupboard in the kitchen. I have chosen not to tell many people about my surgery as I didn't everyone to ask a million questions and watch everything I ate. I wanted all of my weight loss "gear" ie.books, Vitamins etc to be in one place behind doors.I put any food that is just for me there to help me keep on target ( and so my 17 year old son didn't inadvertently eat it!) I was worried about remembering to do everything I was supposed to do and this has really helped to have it all in one place. Buy a really cute lunch box so that you can always have "safe" food with you. I also bought a really pretty journal to write in and keep track of Protein grams, what I eat, feel or anything else I want to put in. Treat yourself to nice things that wil be great to look at everyday. I decided to make this My Year and exercise ,loose weight and get healthy. It is knot easy to do this and it's difficult to not have food for comfort so you need to think of other things to fill the gap..do something fun every day even if it's a small thing.

also follow all the directions that your doctor and staff give you and you will succeed. Get up and walk in the hospital as soon as you can and make yourself do it. You will feel much better faster and not

have to worry about clotting.

I didn't intend to go on and on...but it is a life changing event and I am still in progress and still have to work hard. Good luck and great success to you! You can do it.!

Congratulations on making the decision. I was originally scheduled for the operation July 21 and started my liquid diet 2 days ago. I was using the Atkins Day Break shakes and they worked great. Had a shake & a couple glasses of water & felt full for a good 4 hours. Try out some different protein shakes & powder mixes now to get an idea what tastes good to you and what curbs your appetite best. GNC has a great website with customer reviews of all the different products so you can avoid what people say tastes terrible. Surgery got rescheduled to the end of August now but I am hoping to keep going with the shakes til then. Best of luck with your surgery!

I have been hearing from a lot of different people thatthey really like Muscle Milk Protein shakes. I was actually at GNC todaylooking at all the different shakes. I have my pre-op on Tuesday and mynutrition on Friday so I will definitely be talking to them about what theyrecommend as well!

I am being banded on Aug 4th. I start my liquid diet on July 30. I went to GNC and bought several things so I could try them. I wanted to eleminate what I did not like not, so that week pre-op week and post -op week would be easier. I really like the lean shakes, vanilla, made with skim milk, and a teaspoon of fiber supliment. It is good and the fiber makes if thicker, so I have stayed full longer. Good luck to you.

Thanks for the info! I had my pre op yesterday and I’mall set and ready to go for August 2! I can’t believe it! I had a really fastprocess compared to most people by what I am reading, I started this process inmid June and I’m already having surgery in August. Once I set my mind of doingsomething I really push to get it done. I also have an amazing nurse that worksfor my surgeon who clearly knows how to push insurance companies to get thesesurgeries approved! With all this said, it has left me with not much time to domy pre op and post op preparations! I hope I don’t feel too over whelmed! Mysurgeon does not require a pre op 1-2 week fast, and says he only recommendsclear liquids for about 2 to 3 days then I can move on to more ticker liquidsfor a bit then soft’s and of course solids! I’m taking today to make my listsof things I need to buy, get ready and who knows what!

I am being banded on Aug 4th. I start my liquid diet on July 30. I went to GNC and bought several things so I could try them. I wanted to eleminate what I did not like not, so that week pre-op week and post -op week would be easier. I really like the lean shakes, vanilla, made with skim milk, and a teaspoon of fiber supliment. It is good and the fiber makes if thicker, so I have stayed full longer. Good luck to you.

Hi Sandi, my name is Cindy V and I have my band on August 4th too, I got the vanilla Protein shake too. I start the liquid diet tommorrow Good luck to you on your band!1 p.s. love the fish, I enjoy fishing too.

Wow! we sound like were on the same schedual. I too, am being banded on Aug 5, and have been put on the 'liquid protein diet". Starting today the 24th. I had one shake of the clinics specially formulated whey and ran to the bathroom after. Its not agreeing with me. I have had all my tests and Im excited but nervous too. Good luck to you!!!