This is a two parter so bare with me....I have a girlfriend who is beautiful, and i mean a bombshell...aspiring actress blah blah blah...not to mention pencil thin (the relationship is just like the show "king of queens" lol) she supports me with this, but thinks i dont need it...as still an athlete etc...its easy for her to saw shes gawked at and visually undressed everywhere we go lol...and for me, im just a big football player...is anyone in this situation with me?

Secondly, I have to go on a two week fast before my surgury...is there anything you guys recommend to take my mind off eating or something to drink to feel full? I mean a few days wont be tough but my day 10 it might....do i just suck it up?

thanks,

Guy

How about sex?

Seriously! Nothing better to interest you and getting you all revved up than thinking of how much better in shape you will be...that there will be an end in sight, all of your weight loss efforts WILL pay off..... I tell you it has worked for me, and my husband isn't complaining! :tongue: :smile: :w00t: I feed off of the attention... nighttime is my worst time for eating, but how can I eat when I am busy in the bedroom? *grin*

HTH

Hahaha....well thank god im young....i have no problems there...but like i say sex is like pizza, "when its good its REALLY REALLY GOOD...but when its bad its still PRETTY DAMN GOOD!" hahaha

I'll start with #2... DON'T STARVE YOURSELF! I don't know what diet your doc has you on for your pre-op, but make sure you feel good. And remember its only a couple of weeks. You can do it!!!!

Now for question #1... Welcome to the club!!! Most people will be happy for you, and some will be jealous. There is a thread on here from a lady who lost her BEST friend due to weight loss. I wish I could find it for you. This is normal. But, this is about YOU. You do what makes you happy no matter what, no matter who objects! Believe it or not, now I am the 'thinner' one of friends and they do treat me a little different. I haven't lost any friends, but my weight loss is very hard on my best friend b/c her insurance has hassled her about her surgery for a year now, and she still has not been approved. Your friend will go through a lot of mixed emotions, just bare with her and be very open about everything that is going on. Let her know that this is not easy for you and you need her support.

GREAT RESPONSE from SHORTGAL. Very good information.

I just wanted to chime in on the 'too-young' comment.

I am 23, and banded shortly after turning 23...

And I wish I had done it earlier!!

Just because we're young, doesn't mean we haven't been there and done that.

I've been fat since I came outta my momma.

At 8 years old I cried about having to pick up the golf ball out of the hole because it hurt my back too much.

At 19-20 I had crippling.. and not ow it hurts, but crippling back pain. I could not walk anymore. I was too proud, my doc told me to start using those scooters when I go in public. I wasn't going to be caught dead doing that, I was only 20... that shouldn't happen to me!! So I just didn't go anywhere. And I was gaining weight even more rapidly from not doing anything. My great-grandmother was diabetic. Looking at pictures of she and I at the same age, we looked identical.

By 30 she was bed-ridden and weighing 700+lbs. At 35 she died in her bed, and was one of those people that became a spectacle when her body was removed from the home.

I did WW and failed. I did Atkins, lost a lot of weight, gained it all back + some. Atkins was the best success I had, until the band. I officially passed my Atkins success a month ago.

I now have no back problems when I walk. I feel like I have been given a new life, I feel youthful (FINALLY).

So.. as for being too young, if I 'just tried dieting some more', I might have ended up like my g'gma.

I was not saying anyone is too young for surgery, however the younger you are the longer you'll have to live with the band. We see the results of careless youthfulness almost every day, when a teenager drives too fast and loses their life. Sometimes the young just live impulsively.

I was fat as a child, too, so I understand. I don't remember that The young man that posted the thread said he was fat as a child, I recall reading that he bulked up for football and now that football is over, he's having a hard time getting the weight to come off.

I tried to give him a dose of reality, to be sure he isn't seeing the option of surgery as a quick fix.

I don't think he was listening to me anyway and I stand by my advice that he try to live life as a bander for awhile and "try it on first before buying it" because it's not easy to "return" it.

At his age, there can be a world of difference in maturity even in the short time between 19 and 21.

Yeah I can see that, and I understand what you're saying.

But as a whole, I know there's a lot of young people like me, who was doomed to have a miserable fat life, and no matter how much we helped ourselves, we need this surgery.

I thank god daily for modern medicine. I can pretty much guarantee I would have ended up bed-ridden in a couple years and dead by 35.

Hello footballer,

With regard to the pre-op diet: yep, suck it up.

Good luck,

Robin :smile:

Does anybody know if there's a particular reason Optifast would be used for the pre-op diet as opposed to other protein drinks? I've looked at the labels, and it seems there are better options out there (higher protein, lower carb, etc.)

I'm on Day 3 and struggling, but I am determined!!

As far as the pre-opt liquid, follow what your doc is giving you, as every docs prep is different. I was on a liquid high Protein pre-opt with 2 cups of veggies allowed, with broth, Jello and ice pops too. My nutritionist let me have a Protein fruit smoothie once a day.

As a Football player, you are probably aware of protein supplements, just pick the ones that are low carb, and whey Isolate protein. I like Isopure low carb chocolate powder, and Designer Whey Natural. I mix them into smoothies, or the Carnation Instant Breakfast sugar free versions. You can also try Slimfast.

The hardest days for me were days 5-7. I was in the liquid phase over Christmas and it was tough. Once you are over the hump, it gets easier and you feel it.

But most importantly, do this for yourself, your happiness and your health. Don't let others sway you. I should have done this 10 years ago, after being on more diets than I care to remember. You have your whole life to look forward to.