Finally had my initial consult yesterday with my surgeon. I have a very high BMI of 74 and he wants 100lbs lost before surgery. Was kinda down till he told me how he was going to help me with the task. I think of it as a mock-up banding. He has given me a prescription strength appetite suppresant and told me to use Atkins Diet. I went after the meeting and joined my local gym and walked half a mile! I will go daily and work my way up to more strenuous walks and workouts. I want this surgery and am ready to do what it takes... it is better than the alternative!!! Gonna do weekly weigh-ins at the surgeons office and monthly visitis with him personally to check progress. I am excited to start seeing results!

Jason

Jason,

Welcome to LBT and good for you! I'm sure you will succeed and have your surgery. Working with the doctor and toward the goal of LB should keep you well motivated.

Good for you for taking that first big step! Keep us posted on your progress!!

congrats on getting started! I know it seems like a lot, but stay positive and you'll get there!

Jason what a great attitude you have! Keep up the positive thinking. Best of luck on your journey.

Hi Jason and welcome. You will love this site. It is a great place to come and ask questions, read information, and just vent if you need to. I've met a lot of very nice people here and have made a couple of really good friends. Congratulations on your decision to get the band. I love mine. You are lucky to have a doctor that is working so hard with you to get you where you want to be. Some doctors would just send you out the door and tell you to come back when you've lost that 100 pounds. It sounds like you are really motivated and I know you can do it!!! Let me know if I can do anything to help you out. Take care!!! Becky

Welcome! Good luck with your task. Stay motivated. Look at your goal in the long run and don't get discouraged!

Jason, this time you aren't doing this alone. You have the surgeon's office, the trainers at the gym -- and some great support here. It will take work, but you can do it. You have a goal in sight that will make all the hard work worth it because unlike other times, once you get to the surgery, you'll have a tool that will always be there to help you stay on track!

First of all let me thank you all for your support and kind words! I have been getting the same from close friends and family and we all know how important that is. I am thankful for that. I joined the gym my wife goes to and the day of my consult I went to the gym and started walking on the treadmill. This is what my doc recommended most for me at this time. I did .5 mile the first night and .7 mile last night. I plan on taking it slow and am meeting with a personal trainer next week to discuss safe steps for my weight and ability. My doc also told me to use Atkins diet which I have somewhat started. This is a huge change for me even starting to workout/walk. I have decided to cut all breads, rice & Pasta. I have cut fried foods as well. I am not following Atkins 100% yet because I still have suaces and whatnot on meats, but I have made a radical change in my eating habits and I am proud of myself. I am going to contiue reading and learning about Atkins and slowly work my way to following it by the book. My next big battle is to stop using caffeine. This one I am not too excited about, but I will slowly get down to not needing it. I have mentioned this before I believe, but my wife is type 1 diabetic and is a HUGE help in having the strength to accomplish these tasks... we are helping one another! Anyhow I am curious to see what my weight is this coming Monday. When I left the office after talking with my surgeon and his fitness expert I agreed to walk 1-2 times a week. After leaving I thought to myself ... why can't I walk every day? Well this is what I am doing. I am ready to loose this weight and have this surgery!!!

Wow... that blew up into a blog didn't it? LOL Thanks again for the support! It means a great deal to me!

Jason

P.S. I turned 30 today.... YEESH! HAHAHAHA!!!!!!

First of all let me thank you all for your support and kind words! I have been getting the same from close friends and family and we all know how important that is. I am thankful for that. I joined the gym my wife goes to and the day of my consult I went to the gym and started walking on the treadmill. This is what my doc recommended most for me at this time. I did .5 mile the first night and .7 mile last night. I plan on taking it slow and am meeting with a personal trainer next week to discuss safe steps for my weight and ability. My doc also told me to use Atkins diet which I have somewhat started. This is a huge change for me even starting to workout/walk. I have decided to cut all breads, rice & Pasta. I have cut fried foods as well. I am not following Atkins 100% yet because I still have suaces and whatnot on meats, but I have made a radical change in my eating habits and I am proud of myself. I am going to contiue reading and learning about Atkins and slowly work my way to following it by the book. My next big battle is to stop using caffeine. This one I am not too excited about, but I will slowly get down to not needing it. I have mentioned this before I believe, but my wife is type 1 diabetic and is a HUGE help in having the strength to accomplish these tasks... we are helping one another! Anyhow I am curious to see what my weight is this coming Monday. When I left the office after talking with my surgeon and his fitness expert I agreed to walk 1-2 times a week. After leaving I thought to myself ... why can't I walk every day? Well this is what I am doing. I am ready to loose this weight and have this surgery!!!

Wow... that blew up into a blog didn't it? LOL Thanks again for the support! It means a great deal to me!

Jason

P.S. I turned 30 today.... YEESH! HAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!! Congrats on the progress!

Jason, We all have work to do and thats why we are here. I wish you the best of luck. Stay positive, strong and focused. Sounds like you are determined, go for it! We will be right there with you all the way.

Hello Jason and Happy Birthday. I was 30 once :ohmy: Just thought I'd mention to you that when I had to go on my pre-op diet, I had to have 2 protein shakes a day and I used the Atkins Advantage shakes. I like the chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. My doctor still has me drink one every day for breakfast and that is something I will have to do forever (it's a good thing because my band is VERY tight in the mornings and it's another good thing that I like them). I don't know if they would fit into your food plan now, but remember them if you have to have protein shakes pre or post op. Good luck with the caffine. I confess..... I am addicted to coffee and luckily it is fine with my surgeon if I drink it. It was a part of my liquid stage... and boy did I need it :thumbup: It sounds like you are working hard. I'm sure you are proud of yourself, your wife must be awfully proud of you, and I am proud of you too. I'll bet your doctor is going to beam when he sees/hears how well you are doing. Keep up the good work and keep us updated on your progress. Becky

Jason, Keep it up. I started going to the Gym as well. I started 3 weeks ago and have missed only one day. Good idea in getting a personal trainer involved. I have one as well. He motivates me when I think that there is no more left for me to give. He has taught me how to use the different equipment in the Gym. I thought I would stick out like a sore thumb, being overweight and inexperienced with the equipment. But the people at the Gym have been nothing but wonderful. Keep increasing your walking, little by little. Soon you will be amazed at yourself. Keep telling yourself what your motivation is..... to be healthy, be around for your family, experience new horizons....... You can do this!! Good luck and keep on moving. Heather:thumbup:

Thank you all for your support! It means the world to me. For the past week & a half I have been going to walk on the treadmill nightly & eating SO much healthier. At my first weekly weigh in........ 17lbs down!!!!!! I was shocked & overwhelmed! My doc's nurse said... don't give up. Man o day... I have no plan on giving up. Cutting out all the high carb foods has not been as hard as I had thought. It is going well and I am happy! I will continue to keep yall updated and once again thank you for your support & kind words!!!

Jason

oh my gosh, thats amazing!!!!! good job, seriously!

KEep us posted, id love to hear how things are going for you!

Jason- That is AWESOME! That has gotta make you feel so great. Keep it up. You are off to a wonderful start. DO you realize what 17lbs looks like? Go to the grosery store and pick up 17lbs of beef........ Amazing. Keep us posted. Good work. Heather:thumbup:

You have made a big first step and that is getting the help you need in to succeed. Good luck and remember you have all the support you could ever need right here!