Hello everyone,

My banding is slated for Janaury 9. I first have to have a Greenfiled filter placed and that will happen this coming Thursday. It is out patient surgery done through the femoral vein in the groin. The filter is threaded up through into the vena cava which feeds blood to my heart. Its job is to catch any clots and keep them from going to my lungs or heart.

Then I will go on January 9 for my banding. After reading quite a bit in this forum I feel I have been well educated and prepared for my banding. I have been going to classes for almost 9 months. I have also been doing therapy with a food disorder specialist. My "peas" are all in a row so to speak and I ready to begin my life anew with the band in place.

I am to do a 9 day liver cleanse all liquid diet prior to the banding. Then I am to eat all liquids for 7 days, followed by pureed foods for 7 days, then soft foods for 7 days before beginning a "regular" diet of healthy choices.

I have cleaned out all of my cupboards, fridge, and freezers. If it is not a protien source or a vegetable it is not in my house. I have a cupboard full of protein powder in various flavors, sugar free Jell-O, broth, etc. My kids gave me a Magic Bullet blender for Christmas so when I get to the pureed stage I can cook my own food and then mush it up good in the blender. It's nice because it came with 4 little blender containers and lots of recipes.

I also have my exercise routine in place. I have built a "circuit" in my family room so that I can move from machine to machine with ease. I do believe exercise will be a very important factor for me. I have a supressed immune system stemming from my cancer years ago so going to a gym is out of the question for me (way to many bacteria and viruses lurking).

If this banding does not work for me then it will be no one's fault but my own. I just can't magine putting my life at risk to have this surgery and then going back to my old ways. It just will not happen!

My first "reward" will come this summer. My honey and I have planned a Harley trip through the midwest. I am SO looking forward to that! I believe I can be down 40+ pounds by then. Leather chaps here I come!!!!!! LOL If you knew me you would know how of character leather chaps are but they are on my list of things to own.

Next on my list is to learn to snorkle and then scuba dive. I also want to hot air balloon. There are so many activites I want to attempt!!!!!

So here's to a new me.......a me who will take care of myself at least as much as I have always taken care of everyone else!

I am wishing all January banders a successful surgery. The best is yet to come!

~~ D ~~

Hi Sunrise, Merry Christmas to you! I'm scheduled on Jan. 8th. My new life start. I will be 56 by then, and ready for the next chapter. I scuba dive still, but it's not pretty! My goal is when I get below 200lbs, I will schedule a tandem sky-dive. That's what I want to do, and have wanted for years! I wish you well, good luck and Happy new Year!

Welcome to an exciting journey. Sounds like you are both mentally prepared and ready. Stick with us here in the January group....we are a good gang! All the best!