Hi, I really would like to be able to keep in touch with all of you waiting for

December surgery and as we progress on our way to success. Maybe start with Date of surgery, Where banded, Present weight and goal weight. Of course, add anything else that is helpful to others or if you need some words of encouragement hopefully someone here will step up and help us.

I will be banded 12/12/06

Banded in Wisconsin

Starting Weight 266

Goal 140

Well I am getting packed to go to nashville. I am excited and edgey (sp?) but I am going to make it. I don't know if I mentioned this but my husband is in chemo and goes for a scan tomorrow while I am in surgery so please keep him in your prayers. This past year has been real tough on us. Several times I just gave up on the banding cause I didn't have time to fight the insurance co and something would happen and I would start again. I figure God must think this is the thing to do. Well it is off to pack so I will post later tonight when i get to nashville. Love to all

Carol!

I will be praying for you and your hubby!!!! Please don't be away for long and get right back here and tell us all about everything!

What are you packing to bring with you? What time do you have to be there and is anyone going with you?

Please know we are all thinking of you and sending the warmest wishes! What a great year 2007 will be for us all!

Nathalie,

I cannot tell you how many times I have rambled that Unwritten song in my car with the kids. I know the words but never really listened to them. I am glad for your sappy moments, because I found it very uplifting. I will take all the positive I can get!

Hello all! I've just previously been approved and will have the surgery December 6th! I'm very excited and wish everyone the best! Let's Go Dec. Bandsters!

Hi Sassy!

Congrats on your approval. Oooh, your date is right around the corner! Wednesday is it? Are you nervous at all? Were you on any kind of pre-op diet? Where are you? (Plano, TX, I presume)

Welcome welcome welcome! We're glad to have you.

Nathalie

Hello Nathalie,

Yes I go in at 6:30 am on Wednesday! Surprisingly, I'm not nervous at all! I'm very happy! Yes, I am on a pre-op diet. It consists of two protien drinks a day and two meals a day. One meal with grains the other with 1 green veggie and 1 lean meat. It's really not that bad! O, and yes, I'm in Plano, Texas!

I too am a december bandster. I am extremely excited! Nervous too, of course. Hopefully by this time next year I will down 60, 70, maybe even 80 lbs!!

ok new date!! December 18th! Glad I finally have a new date, maybe I will stick with the liquid thing better this time. i just wish the dr. required it, since he doesn't I have a hard hard time.

Hi Sweethot!

Congrats ont he new date. Now we are sharing a date...nice to have you as a surgery sister.

Hope Carol is doing well. I am thinking of her.

Welcome Sassy looking forward to meeting you. Good luck on your surgery!

It is so great to get meet other people getting banded in December, my surgery date is 12/6/06, 2 days. I am on the Clear liquids for few days and I am really hungry. Usually when I get anxious I eat, but since I can't I am realizing that it will be like this for the rest of my life. I am very nervous but excited at the same time about this phase of my life!

Hello!

I also will be banded on December 18. I will arrive on Dec. 17th which is a Sunday to check into the hotel and get settled. They will do my pre op and Surgery on Monday, Dec. 18. I will go home on Tuesday. My mom is going with me. She was trying to get me to change my mind, telling me to maybe get a breast reduction and butt reduction. My husband had a heart attack! Getting lip would not solve my problems of over eating and portion control.

She did say she'd support my decision. I think for some reason, she is afraid I will get to skinny. I just want to be healthy and be a good role model for my daughters. I have two step daughters who are 15 and 19 and they have major issues with food, watching me diet the whole time they have known me, 11 1/2 years. They are both very in shape, but have issures with food. They have a phobia of getting overweight, especially my 15 year old. She doesn't eat during the day and binges when she gets home till the evening. I tell her that is a recipe for obesity. Of course she doesn't think I know what I am talking about. She is very active, runs, dances, etc.

My 19 year old used to not eat, even convince herself food made her nauseous. She goes through periods where she loves food, eats a lot, then doesn't eat. She actually needs to gain weight. She used to be anemic. I know I had a big part to play in there sick relationship with food.

When I had my daughters, I vowed to eat healthy, excercise, so that is what they have seen. They are 5 and 7. They both are thin and have very healthy eating habits. They only eat when they are hungry, don't clean there plate (My mom used to try to make them clean the plate, until my daughter told me mom "my mom says you used to make her clean her plate and that is why she got fat") My mom stopped doing that. They love veggies, broccoli, cauliflower, eat all in moderation. I do notice that they say things like, "that has too much fat or sugar".

I don't want any of them to go through what I have gone through. I need to do this right, so for the rest of their lives, they can see me have a healthy relationship with food, watch my portions, make healthy choices, excercise, drink Water. I am not telling them about the surgery. I am going to tell them that I am going on a liquid fast, which they won't think twice about since they have seen me do fast, veggie shakes, etc.

Has anyone heard of Juvo shakes??? (Juvo.com) I used to take these shakes which are 100%natural. They are dried in a process that makes them be in a raw state. I go to a chinese herbalist and used to buy them there. They are 30 different types of veggies, mushrooms, Beans. The only thing is I didn't think it had enough Protein. My chinese herbalist said it had the right combo to sustain healthy life. I think I will buy they again and add protein to them.

Juvo is also supposed to help with different ailments and help the body heal faster, etc. I haven't taken them in a while. My kids even liked them. I would blend ice, light soy milks, raw sugar, cinnamon and a banana. It tastes like heaven. That combo came up to about 350 calories for a large shake. Has anyone else tried these shakes? If you have, how do you take them?

I am going to be stocking up my cabinet now and will start my pre op diet on Dec. 10!!!!!! YYYYYYEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

Audree

OOOPPSSS I meant "getting Lipo" not getting lip!!! HEHE

Sweethot - hey girl! I was searching to see if you had gotten a new date - WTG!! I'm so excited for you!

I can't believe my date is less then a week now! And this week is going to fly for me. I'm busy every day. But listen to this - Wed. I'm hosting the bunco girls (bunco is a dice game and we have 8 girls who get together once a month, taking turns at each others house) well I'm host and I have to put on a decent meal - we eat dinner at 6:30, play bunco from 7 to 7:30 eat dessert and then play for another 1/2 hour. I tried to pick a dinner that I can make "light" and a salad, but I've only told 1 of them I'm having the band and she doesn't know when - so I am planning on eating that night with them. I figure if I do my shake in the afternoon and then try to fill up on salad the rest won't be horrible. Ok so thats Wed. then on Saturday a dear older lady has invited me to lunch, its the members of the club I work at so I feel compelled to go - I will order a salad and hope I don't over eat - but DANG this pre-op diet stinks! Since I am "cheating" those 2 days I thought that I will do just liquid on Sunday - (as if thats going to make a difference at this point) I go in on Monday at 10:30 and have my surgery at 12:30. I will be spending one night in the hospital.

I'm going to make another ticker because even tho I haven't been the best pre-op diet person I have lost 6 pounds.

Thanks steph C! I am very excited that it will really happen now. I just can't seem to do the liquid thing. I drank a Protein shake for bkfast and gagged the whole time. I hate the proteiny taste and texture. so gross. i even hate to add Protein powder to a smoothie, so gross. I make dinner at lunch because of my husbands shift, he works 2-11. I made pork chops with mushrooms and onions and simmered in cream of mush. Soup which makes like a gravy and butternut squash. For dinner I will try another shake.

I amost wish I was busier, to keep my mind off food. the weather here in Germany is cold and rainy everyday. Not much to do outside in this weather. It's the kind of weather that makes you tired. I just want to lay around all day and snuggle on the couch and watch tv. Terrible. When I lived in florida 5 months ago, I was out and about everyday. I could do things outside, beach, pools, playgrounds ect. Go to malls. Here, I'm so tired and don't even get dressed most days. I pick my daughter up from school and that is about it.

I know the liquid thing is hard but just do the best that you can. Its your husbands shift that has you feeling like that. Its hard to live in different schedules. I've been there more then once - and then there are times when he works out of town - those weeks I don't cook, I don't clean and I only do what has to be done. LOL Ok so I take advantage of not having to be responsible. But maybe you need to do a craft or something - I don't know what you like to do but if you start something and tell yourself I want to get this done before I go in for my surgery it'll push you to do it. My goal for today is to clean my bathroom and mudroom - really clean them good. And then next week when I'm home from the hospital and not feeling like doing anything then I won't have to worry about them getting cleaned. Set little goals for yourself each day. I like to do crafts and to read but I just can't get my mind to focus on anything but being banded. So the house cleaning will have to do.

Since you've been in Germany have you been to any of the castles? Or gone site seeing? I would love to visit Europe - maybe that will be my long term goal. LOL