Just wondering if there are any of you from Illinois going here. If so I would like to know how your surgery went and how you are doing. Good luck to all of us on our journeys!!!

Oh that's too bad that you live so far away. They must have a pretty good reputation if you are willing to drive that far to have surgery. Any news on when you might be able to get it scheduled? When mine got approved they scheduled me that day for a couple of months out, but then called and said they had a date in two weeks and if I was willing to immediately start the pre-op diet I could take that spot. I definitely took advantage of that! I was ready to have it done.

Yeah its only like an hour and half away and not to bad of a drive. I was going to have the Lap Band done in Peoria at OSF Medical Center but they didn't treat me right when I wanted to get more info on everything. All my family and friends are from Danville and that's were I'm orginally from and I'll be healing up after surgery in Danville so its gonna work out pretty good. I just finished my 3 in 1 appointment in Clinton yesterday. They are getting some more of my medical records together and I have to get my pysch eval back and then in should submitted to BCBS. Its a waiting game now. They told me yesterday it will be end of April early May at the latest since its the beginning of the year. Yeah I feel the same way I just wanna get it done and over with lol. I want it done before summer so I can enjoy the weather while its lasts and start my journey!!

Just an update from me. Finally got my approval on April 20th and my surgery date is set for May 21st in Champaign. Feels good to get the ball rolling and surgery will be around the corner before I know it!

Congratulations! You will have to keep us updated on your pre-op diet and how things go. I am excited for you!

Thanks Eve! I'll defiantly keep ya posted it. Starting my Pre-Op on May 6th!

Hi everyone! I'm on my countdown for surgery at IBC... 3 more days to go! I've been on the pre-op for 10 full days and it has been very doable. I've experienced the mind hunger several times and have really tried to keep myself busy so I don't think about eating.

Like many if you, I love the staff at IBC and I'm looking forward to working with them post-op. I go to the Champaign office and I'm very impressed with how smoothly things run there.

I start seeing them on April 30th.good luck on your journey

Thats awesome Ice!! I'm getting ready to start my Pre-Op diet here in a few weeks and my Pre-Op appointment is on May 1st. I love there staff and they have been very helpful in this whole process. How did they set your Pre-Op diet up? I know it varies from person to person but I wanted to know what I'm going to be looking at lol.

I went through the same office. They had me do 14 days of 2 shakes and a low calorie meal a day. As well as sugar free jello and pudding. I ate my low calorie meal at lunch instead of dinner because all I could smell was food at work during lunch. After the first 5 days it was easier.

I have the same basic eating plan. I do a shake for Breakfast, a light juice (with Vitamin c) mid-morning, shake for lunch, a dinner of lean Protein and veggies, and a snack (I do Greek yogurt and fruit, but you can do cheese and fruit or even popcorn). It is an 800-1000 calorie diet.

I am used to eating crazy big portion sizes, hence my need for LapBand, so this 2-week diet hasn't been "fun", but I have to admit that I've gotten used to it.

Just keep your eye on the prize and fight through these pre-op days. I'm learning that I do have the willpower within me to follow the rules. I want to lose weight more than I want to eat unhealthy food. I just have to keep reminding myself.

Also, like threekidsmom, I sometimes switch the order of my "meals". Today I did a shake, then my fruit/yogurt snack, then my dinner, and my 2nd shake in the evening. I just tried to treat them as meals, spaced them 3-4 hours apart, and did not snack throughout the day.

Thanks for the info Ice!! I'm just trying plan out everything so I can't stick to it. I had switching stuff up but I'm sure I will after a day or two. Did you purchase the Baratric Protein powder from there office or did get something from somewhere else? I work a 2nd Shift job so I'm gonna try to plan it like I'm on a 1st shift schedule.

I work 12's, was on midnights for 8 years and just moved to days this year. My head still thinks I need to eat at 11pm, so I'm training myself to eat at "normal" times again. Just do what works on the majority of the days in the week.... and wing it the other days

I found a great Protein shake at Target. It's called EAS AdvantEDGE. It's on the "approved protein supplements" list at IBC (you'll get the list at your appointment... it's in the blue guideline book they give you) and I think it tastes really good. It is cheapest at Target, but in a pinch you can get it at Jewel or Walgreens, it's just overpriced there. I get the pre-made shakes cuz they are easy to grab and go, but I bought one container of powder to use in a pinch.

Also, the nutritionist at IBC said that since the EAS AdvantEDGE are only 110 calories, I can have an extra if I'm feeling really hungry after having just one. So far, I haven't needed a second, but it's nice knowing I can have one if I'm super hungry.

I work 12's' date=' was on midnights for 8 years and just moved to days this year. My head still thinks I need to eat at 11pm, so I'm training myself to eat at "normal" times again. Just do what works on the majority of the days in the week.... and wing it the other days

I found a great Protein shake at Target. It's called EAS AdvantEDGE. It's on the "approved protein supplements" list at IBC (you'll get the list at your appointment... it's in the blue guideline book they give you) and I think it tastes really good. It is cheapest at Target, but in a pinch you can get it at Jewel or Walgreens, it's just overpriced there. I get the pre-made shakes cuz they are easy to grab and go, but I bought one container of powder to use in a pinch.

Also, the nutritionist at IBC said that since the EAS AdvantEDGE are only 110 calories, I can have an extra if I'm feeling really hungry after having just one. So far, I haven't needed a second, but it's nice knowing I can have one if I'm super hungry.[/quote']

Yeah its gonna be tough trying to get a schedule down and all that good stuff. I'm most likely going the Protein Powder route. I just ordered the Baratric Advantage off there website. I've looked around some stores but man its expensive! I'll get my moneys worth with the Baratric Advantage stuff too!

The Bariatric Advantage powder is cheaper at the IBC than it is on their website. I always get it from there as opposed to the website because of that reason. They also have some really good protein bars there. I REALLY like the caramel crunch ones. They taste like a 100 Grand Bar. One thing I didn't think of before I finished my pre-op diet was how much protein is in cottage cheese. I started struggling to not eat the same thing every day, and by the time I was done with it I realized I could have been eating a serving of that with my meal at dinner time. I don't know if you even like it, but that is just a thought! Don't forget the obvious things like I did!