Its been a long process to finally get to this point...but its finally here. Im on my 5th day of my 10 day liquid diet..and its been really hard..but just try to stay focus ed on the sweet rewards this journey will bring.

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Congratulations on the start of your journey.

Omg, I get mine in the 31st also. Well have to let each other know how it goes.

I got mine the 31st of Jan in 2011.....A good Omen!

My band has been nothing but a fantastic thing ever since...EASIEST and best thing I have ever done , both for PERMANENT weight loss and a total life changing event.....

I hope your journey is as pleasurable as mine is...

Congratulations!!

I’ve been banded now going into my 7th year and have talked about this here several times but I think it’s worth repeating for new bandsters.

Try and take it one day at a time. Don’t compare yourself to others. Don’t go into this journey saying “I’ll never be able to eat this or that ever again.” I can eat ANYTHING except rice and apple skins and no carbonated beverages. Follow the guidelines given to you by your doctor. Remember… take tiny bites (the size of your pinky fingernail) and remember to finish what you have in your mouth before you take your next bite.

When I was losing weight I checked in every month with my family doctor to get weighed and measured. (I don’t own scales) I also attended two coffee groups for people that were banded. These things really kept me motivated and on track. I still check in every month with my family doctor to get weighed-in and I host two coffee groups. For me support from fellow bandsters plays a big part in this journey.

Back when I was banded my doctor suggested something called the “Egg Timer Distraction”. It’s kind of difficult to explain here but I’d be happy to email you the .pdf document. It REALLY helped me with “head hunger. I can’t tell you the number of people in my lapband coffee groups over the years that have said how helpful this “trick” has been in dealing with their head hunger.

Also, I’m not really a “diet” book type person but I recommend you pick up two books.

Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle – by Dr. Michelle May

I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. May speak at a conference when she came to Toronto and her book and guidelines really work well with the lapband journey.

The second book is:

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite – by David L. Kessler

Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions and also if you would like a copy of the “Egg Timer Distraction Document”. --- tomander@bell.net

Tom, Toronto

Banded July 6 06

Wt. Loss: 156 lbs

tomander@bell.net

I'll be joining the 31st club to it seems. My lap band surgery is scheduled for January 31st and I'm excited. The pre-op diet sorta sucks but it's a short roadblock to get past.