Hi Guys

I am scheduled to be banded in just over 9 weeks time, on 18th August; my surgeon has asked me to do the optifast diet for 14 days prior to surgery to shrink the fat around my liver, so that commences on 4th August.

I met with the nutritionist yesterday, and told her I was planning on commencing a self-imposed health kick as of tomorrow to get my mind and body into the right mindset.

I asked her whether any other lap band patients had done something similar and she advised me that she had never had another patient come through and voluntarily kick-start their weight loss early; in fact, most of the patients had basically gone on a massive eating binge right up until the mandatory pre-op diet commenced.

I started to second guess myself and wonder whether I am making the right choice here; but I've decided that this is the right decision for me.

I'm interested to know whether any of you chose to voluntarily kick-start your own pre-op diet, whether you were one of the binge eaters, or whether you just existed in blissful ignorance until the mandatory pre-op diet kicked in... and, why?

Miss K

I have to start the pre-op diet on Sept. 8th but I tried this week to do it to see how bad it will be. I made it through bfst and lunch but had to eat dinner, it smelled so good.

I don't know how I will make it through 2 weeks but I know I have to since I have a history of fatty liver.

My insurance company didn't have a set number of pounds for me to lose, but my doctor wanted me to lose 20. If I had not followed the 6 month plan and lost weight, my insurance company would not have approved. My BMI was actually slightly under 35 (34.8) 2 weeks before surgery and they approved it. Had I not complied with the 6 month program and lost weight they would have assumed that I wouldn't be able to follow a post-op banding diet either and would have denied. They had a woman who didn't follow any of the rules for the 6 month diet/exercise program and they denied her.

All that being said, I am not defending insurance companies because I am their biggest critic. It is my belief that they have only 3 goals:

1) sell policies

2) collect premiums

3) deny as many claims as they can

Amen. My insurance company is paying zilch. Yet they just raised our monthly premium to $1300+ They have a blanket exclusion for WLS.

I am self-employed and furious about this country's healthcare situation!!!! So I will pay my $10k for surgery out of pocket -- a healthcare "tax" (on top of the $16,000 per year we already fork out for premiums) as far as I am concerned.

Total discrimination against the self-employed, and not a very big incentive for anyone to start a business. Okay, I'll take my rant somewhere else....

Now that I am done with my rant, here is my answer:

My doc requires just 3 days of Clear liquids pre-op. I was thrilled when I learned I did not have to do 2 weeks, and went on a major last supper binge. Then I realized I was sort of sick of eating, and I just wanted to start losing.

So, this week I started doing the 2 shakes + 1 small meal thing. I plan to do it for 8 more days, then do clear liquids for 3 days. But I have one final dinner out planned the night before the clear liquids...

In 2 days I've lost 4 lbs (Water probably) and feel much better. I know I would have kept eating and eating and ended up with more to lose. Now I feel like I am already on the program even though my banding is 12 days away. Getting closer!!!