:laugh: Let me start off by saying I am not banded yet, hopefully the end of this month for sure by april. So being that I know this is the path that I'm going down, I feel like I should be preparing myself by going on a diet now. Or at the very least STOP making such horrible choices about what I'm eating. Since my mindset should be about how I'm changing my life. However in the month and a 7 days since my consult with my surgeon I have gained 4lbs and have not changed my eating at all (meaning no more than usual no less). My insurance doesn't require me to have any kind of pre-op diet. I'm upset with myself for several reasons about this, but mostly because I'm afraid it means I'm not as dedicated as I think I am. I want this surgery, I want to change my life. I don't want be able eat as much as I do.

Most of the time justify it that I'm not going to be able to eat these things afterwards so I want to partake now while I can. But I read plenty of post from people that say they started months before changing there eating, and I feel like a failure or that I'm somehow not as motivated or maybe I don't want it as much as they do or did. but I know I do. Is it wrong that I haven't been proactive in changing my life before surgery? I'm so confused along and somewhat ashamed that I haven't been able to change yet. I am aware that the band is a tool and of everything I will have to do to be successful, but I guess I want to wait, for what I don't know maybe a surgery date or maybe till my two day pre-op liquid diet I don't know. Is there anyone that was like me before there surgery, not completely ready to give up the food before I really really have to? I'm certain I will be successful I'm not going to do all of this for nothing I do finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, I just am scared. my lack of willingness to change beforehand not only scares me, but makes me angry at myself, but not enough I guess to change...story of my life.

Hi, the funny thing is I did change before the surgery. I had it on January 14, 2008. I lost about 20 pounds before the surgery by going on a protein powder shake diet. Then after the surgery I could only eat a 1/4 cup of broth and that felt great to be full after that little bit. You see, that is what I thought the surgey would be like. But now that it is the beginging of March, I think I am eating too much. I have had my first fill and I can still eat 2 chicken thighs and some cooked carrots and then I feel full. I have not lost anymore weight since January 27. I have lost 40 pounds all together. I was excited at my first fill because I lost 6 inches around my butt and thighs but had not lost any weight. weird. I guess I am trying to say- If you can, drink a protien powder shake for breakfast, one for lunch and then a palm sized piece of protein with some kind of green leafy vegetable like broccoli or spinich. That is what my surgeon put me on. I ate more than a palm size and I ate a big bowl of broccoli with squirt butter. Mean while, I did have my "last" meals-lasagna, chinese buffet etc. But pretty much stuck to the diet. mostly. You can do it. You are just thinking that after you won't be able to have those foods but in reality you will be able to eat those foods just not as much of it.

I still have to figure out why I can eat so much. I will tell the surgeon next time I go in.

I hope I have helped some. You do not have to be so hard on yourself. Just remember God is in charge and you can always rely on Him.

I'm a "Carb" addict so being banded has made the decision to stop the cycle for me. Surgery was Tuesday before Thanksgiving 11/21/7 and as of last Thursday I'm down 35.5 lbs, from a size 22/24 to an 18. I only weight once a week, but have become very aware of the losted inches from everywhere by the way my cloths, shoes & even jewelry fits me right now. Prior to surgery I was 2 weeks on Opti-Fast so my last meal was never celebrated in any way and I keep focused on my improved health to keep me going............. Keep focused but don't beat yourself up for a bad day we all have them

Hi, I was banded on 02/27/08 and I did not go on a diet to get ready for surgery....except for the 1 week prior to surgery that my doctor had me on a full liquid (soups, protein shakes, jello, etc) and the one day of clear liquids the day before surgery.

I also wondered how I was going to deal with the change... whether or not I could handle it... I did gain 3 lbs from my consultation on December 18th ( I was 309 lbs on 12/18/07 and 312 lbs on 02/21/08) but on the day of my surgery they weighed me and I was 299 lbs.

I don't know if I have lost more in the past few days because I broke my scale (hehe! scales are evil!). So far I am feeling fine. I watched my family eat Pizza and garlic knots last night and other then loving the smell of the garlic, I was fine not eating it.

You can do this... just keep thinking of the end result... I know I'm going to have bad days when I will wonder if it is all worth it... but If you read the posts from people that have lost the wieght... it does change your life for the better!

Hang in there!:laugh:

Lorraine

Well, I did no pre op diet. I think I was taken out 25 times for my"last meal". Everyone wanted to sort of celebrate ,I suppose, my change. It has not been easy giving up some things. Others have been east. I will fight this, same as you and most every one else in here the rest of my life. Don't be too hard on yourself. Your time will come and you'll do your best to succeed. So do what you can, but don't beat yourself up.

You say you have read about those who did begin dieting prior to the often required pre op diet.....but haven't you read also about all of us who did a "last meal" over and over and over??? Some of us took more convicing that dieting pre band would be a good thing!!!

My surgeon had a fairly simple straight forward Atkins induction phase type of pre op----and he requiredit for a 10 day period pre banding. I told myself it was 2 weeks, and told everyone else it was 2 weeks, and made it! But before that? I was the same as you are saying....eat it now since I won't be able to later!!! I had everything imaginable, and I bet I ate 2 dozen grilled cheese sandwiches in the weeks leading up to it! BUT..... when it come down to the time, I cooperated! I wanted the surgery, and when I began the diet, and saw the weight dropping, I got into the lose mode---the knowldege that this time I was going to diet it off, and the band was going to be there to help me from regaining all of it plus more----was so encouraging.

It worked too!!! And now, I can eat all those things I was stuffing in my mouth that I thought I would never be able to eat again....I can do them all!!! But instead of 2 full grilled cheese and a bowl of soup, I manage 1/4 of a sandwich, and a small bowl of soup!!! I share a single sandwich with my 3 yr. old granddaughter, and we have leftovers!! I could not imagine it before!! But it works!

Relax----and more than a diet, concentrate on healthy eating, and planning to make the post op diet easier on yourself.

Start cutting out carbonation, and lowering the intake of sugars and carbs. The more of that type of thing you eat, the more you want, so start cutting down the amounts now. Begin switching over to decaffeinated products, and low fat items. Opt for whole grains, and less white refined breads and flours.

The ultimate goal is not a strict diet, but a healthy one. The band helps with that immensely! But making small, subtle changes here and there as you work towards being banded---can do nothing but help!

Good Luck to you, I hope you get a date soon and are on your way!!! Welcome Alecia!

Kat

I'm not worrying about losing weight just now. There are other ways to prepare for the band besides dieting without one. I am working on logging all my food -- I want to see exactly what triggers my eating and also how healthy my diet is when I freely choose -- and on learning to take small bites and eat slower. Those are important things too.

Losing weight before surgery is great if you can do it because it will make the surgery go easier. But if it was easy, we wouldn't need a band!

HI, You need to decide if you want this lapband. I say this because I feel the exact same way. I am getting closer to my date. I am scared. Is this just another way for me to be in denial of my weight issue? Remember when you told people you were on a diet and then someone would say 'hey, you've lost weight' and, for me at least, I would say, ok, that's enough, people are seeing it, time for the double cheeseburger. It's just sabotage. I mentioned to my doctor about my eating habits when I first started this journey. I said I was 'afraid'. He said, 'don't be, because the band won't allow you to eat the same way again'. I know it's scary. That's just the only way I know to put it. But if you even THINK you can do this after you get banded, then maybe that's a big part of your decision. I'm scared, but I'm going to try to do this with my most positive attitude. You need some supportive friends to talk this through with. I see a 'behavioral specialist' I talk to her about all my 'stuff'. She's helpful. Let us know. Ks

Alicia, I truly feel like I could have written your post. I have been considering this for a few months and got serious with my research a couple months ago. I attended a seminar in January and I had my initial consult with the surgeon this past week. I just need to get a couple things from my PCP and have my psych. eval., then they can submit to insurance for approval. I'm hoping to be banded sometime in April, that's my hope anyway. I am just SO ready to start this process, I wish I could start tomorrow. Because I really feel like this will be the exact tool I've always needed to not just lose the weight but keep it off.

BUT until I can really get it going, I've had no motivation to start one of the same old diets I've done 100 times before. And like you, I think I am stuck in the "last meal" mindset so I am gaining instead of losing! And like you, I feel guilty that I don't just do SOMETHING to get myself ready!

Maybe the two of us could become band buddies and try to motivate each other, and maybe we can at least start some of the changes Kat mentioned in her post (Thanks Kat - your posts are always full of words of wisdom!). Those will probably help us more to prepare for the band than following any of those old "before" diets anyway - to start making the changes we will need to make later when we do get our bands.

What do you say?

Lisa

I think we all feel pretty much the same. I ate everything that was not nailed down prior to my surgery. I did however remain committed to my goal of getting healthy and losing weight. If we could do it without the band we would have. It will be my gatekeeper forever. It will help me lose the weight but more importantly to keep it off. I was banded on 1-7-08 and have not had a fill yet. To date I have lost 30 lbs. I exercise 5 days a week without exception. I log every bite and stay below 1000 cals a day. I am getting my first fill next week and can hardly wait because I am hungry, but will succeed no matter what. When I made the decision to be banded I made the decision to change my life. But until that day came I was like a kid in a candy store. Enjoy the food now but once you are banded remember why you put yourself through this. Good luck.

Great thread! I am not banded yet either, but am already starting to think about what kinds of changes I can make and be successful in before I get banded.

I lost a little prior to banding but it was mostly because i gave up soda and fastfood. other than that i didn't change my diet or start exercising until after surgery. I have consciously made the choice to eat healthy foods instead of crap and i avoid it 98% of the time. I exercise like crazy and I self motivate. I just got to a point where i said enough is enough and i am going to lose this weight and the band has been a major source of motivation for me and I know it is going to help me keep the weight off.

Don't beat yourself up. I know you can do this if you want it bad enough. Good luck!