Hi, I'm Sandy and I'm really excited - I've been on a diet LITERALLY all of my life. I know how to eat right and I don't mind exercise - I just love to eat. Really glad that I found this forum and would like to know what I should expect, how I'm going to physically feel, what I'll be able to eat (I know that I have to eat lots of Protein, but everything is different regarding what you can tolerate and portions).

Best of all, there's a place I can go where everyone is going through or has gone through what I am.

Good friends help make painful issues a little easier to deal with.

Hi, Sandy! ^^ I'm new here as well!! Good to see someone new like me!

Swing me a message sometimes.

Oh, good! We can go through this together! Have you seen your doctor yet?

I have! For the pre-certification. How about you?

Not yet - sometime this week. They're supposed to call me tomorrow and let me know when. Where do you live?

Hello - I am new here as well. My surgery date is January 18...I'm super nervous but excited too. My biggest worry is that I love to eat and my life revolves around it so...what to do when you aren't hungry or you can't eat the things that you enjoy? I don't know...but I can survive it!

Hi, Cyndie! You can tell us all about your experience - I'm excited for you! I know what you mean about food, but look at this as a tool to manage how you eat, rather than have food manage you. And think about all of the cool clothes you can ask for next Christmas!

I'm excited for you as well, Cyndie! You go, girl. And when you see that towering, fudge cake... just imagine yourself in a bikini... that's what I do and it usually works. Plus, I'm sure that you'll feel amazing! And I live in Massachusetts, Sandy. :]

Minor setback today, ladies - BC/BS won't cover my surgery, so I'm going to be paying for it. I have an appointment scheduled for 1/10 with a doctor here locally because my internist recommended him, but I haven't heard or read anything positive about him, so I'm going to Dallas on Wednesday (about 90 miles away) for a consultation. At least since I'm paying for it myself, I don't have to jump through the insurance hoops and I'll (hopefully) get to have the surgery sooner.

Hey girls! I should be having surgery sometime in late January/mid February...can't wait!

Cyndie, I do needlework (cross stitch) so I'm planning on doing that...and writing my blog...instead of eating, but the needlework is especially good because I can't eat when I do it or I'll get the fabric messy.

I'm so grateful to have found this forum...you've all helped me so much already just telling your stories and asking your questions.

Good idea, Dianne - I have a counted cross-stitch sampler that I've been working on for 3 years - that will be a good project!

So glad we're all going through this together!

Sandy, I wish I wasn't working when you come down to Dallas on Wednesday...I'd suggest we meet up for coffee or something!

I'm a long time cross stitcher...in fact, I have a piece on the stretcher bars right now that I've been procrastinating over for years. LOL. Time to get it done, I think!

2012 is our year!

Dang. That's a set back. I hope the best for both of you.

Well, hopefully this will be the first of many appointments in Richardson and we'll be able to get together after one of them!

I hope so!!!

My appointment is at 9:30 tomorrow morning and I'm so excited! Will be leaving here around 6:00-6:15 because of the Dallas rush hour traffic and should be back early afternoon. Wish me luck!