Well I have a surgery date. I will be banded on October 21, 04. I am so excited and I cannot tell you all how great it is to come here and have so many of my questions answered just by reading around.

Thanks and I am sooooooo excited!!!

HOORAY!!!!!!! You will be in out thoughts and prayers. Keep us posted.

Thank you Penni, I cannot wait. I am sooo ready for this.

Oh, it's so exciting when they finally give you a date! Congratulations!!

Now you have to watch out for that pre-surgery food fest known as "The Last Supper." Rememebr that once you're banded you WILL still be able to eat; nothing will be off-limits and there is nothing you'll have to give up permanently. I know it's really hard to believe that and it's so easy to go hog-wild. Have fun, but in moderation.

I know, in trying to not do that I am going to actually try to lose 20 pounds before surgery. I thought this would give me practice on protein eating and finding new things that I like. Now I am just trying to find a great protein drink. I have to do 5 days pre op of clear liquids. I think that this will be the hardest part. I have done it for 3 days before so I know I can do it. Thanks for the advice though. I can use all I can get.

Practice your slow chewing and slow eating now too, it will help later. LOL Glad to hear you got a date! It will be hard waiting all the way till october. When I booked my date it was less then two weeks out. I had done months of research and was just ready to get it done. I was living on pins and needles the last week of waiting. Best wishes to you, Teresa

Congratulations!

Just think..by this time next year you will probably be at goal just needing to lose 80 pounds...Congratulations on your upcoming date..I practiced chewing, small bites and eating slow the entire month before surgery I really think it helped me prepare for now.

Good Luck to you

Please start getting all your water intake in. That took me the longest time to accomplish. You'll do great!

YAY!!!! I'm so excited for you! Isn't it wonderful to start making plans around a specific date???? I stopped drinking ANY carbonated beverages in the month before my surgery... stopped drinking with meals and directly after... and increased my Water intake. I really didn't diet ... just made those three changes that I thought would help me adjust to the banded rules. Wishing you the best .... soon you'll be in bandland!

Darcy

Lucky you!!! I can't wait to be in your shoes. Hope all goes well!

WoooHoooo! Good for you! hey, start planning that skimpy Halloween costume for next year!!

Thank you all for the wonderful words and the great advise. My biggest thing is I have to quit smoking. I am not a big smoker, really only smoke in the car to and from work. So my date to stop smoking is October 1. My family is a little worried about taking food and smoking away from me all at one time, I think that they think I might be a little bitchy . However, with only smoking around 5-7 a day I know I can do it. That is just one of the many changes I am getting ready to make.

With the after surgery diet. Do any of you follow the South Beach guide lines? I have read the book and some the recipies are wonderful. I know that this is not a "diet" and this is a life change. I just wondered what was working the best for people. What foods are easy for you to eat and what is NOT working.

I decided if I am going to do this I am going to give it my all. I am very afraid of losing hair so I want to make sure that I get in my protien.

Anyway, thank you all for the nice words and I am here getting my closet in size order already. I think that I have every size know to man in there.

Good for you, get the smoking habit broken now. Then you'll be even more healthier! I know you can do it. You have a great "can do" attitude! Keep it up!

You will probably be able to eat about anything you want to. But you will eat much, much less and eat healthier. You'll start noticing the fat, sodium, carbs on food items. You'll eat protein first, then vegetables, some fruit, and an occasional dessert. You'll basically be making healthy food choices that everyone should be doing -- every day.

I haven't had a major problem with hair fall out.

One of my first "adult" eat out meals was at a nice Mexican restaurant. I had grilled shrimp and steak, didn't eat the rice, beans, and chips. I had a great take-home box for the next day. It tasted so fantastic, after being on the soft food stage.

The biggest adjustment I had was to stop drinking with meals. I still have to work on getting my water load in for the day.

Best of luck to you!