So, two topics today because life has been nuts and I haven't had time to do this.

I had my pre-op class last week. I was so surprised when they said it would take all of three hours, barring any complications. And a little more than two hours of driving. Insane, huh? Otherwise, we got very brief presentations on diet, mental challenges (surgery is on your stomach, not on your brain!) etc.

I am grateful for the specific ideas on clear/full liquid diet suggestions. I am a low-income single mom with four growing kids who still need to eat, so my budget is extremely limited. With these ideas, I can start shopping a little at a time now and slowly build up my pantry/freezer.

Uggghh, the diet coke thing. I have had a few over the last few dates, both cases in extreme heat situations. I had been drinking ALOT of water, but really, the water just wasn't doing it for me.... maybe because I have been drinking it so long. It was also easy to justify, because I havent actually had the surgery yet, so I figure I have a little room to work with. A few over several days is still much better than a few in a day.... or a few before noon. 23 days until surgery.

And the last big hurrah...... sigh. Here in my hometown there is a fabulous street festival every year that centers aroun the harvest of the most amazing peaches. It is right up their with Christmas in terms of favoritism for me. I purposely planned my surgery for after this date, which also roughly coincides withthe end of summer BBQs etc. I thought it would be so much easier to have the funnest things behind me for the year before I start this journey. But then....

Well, we did the parade, we did the burgers. Walked through the booths. We indulged in water and icees because it was so incredibly hot, and finally, yes, one diet coke. We went to the car show, the kids played at the park. We went home for dinner and R&R before returning for the carnival. THe numbers varied during the day....anywhere from 1-3 adults and 4-7 kids. With that many people, and in a huge crowd, it gets hard to do what every person wants to do. So, by the time we got all that in, the booths selling steaming hot, fresh peach cobbler had closed up shop. I was, of course, very disappointed. ANd at 11 p.m. in total and complete exhaustion, I couldn't figure out why I felt like it was such a big deal. I didn't remember, until about 4 a.m., that I had planned to make that cobbler be my last big hurrah before I start putting my health first above everything.

Not sure what I am going to do about that just yet.

I see the dietician on Friday, so I have about a week before I start the low-cal pre-op diet. I was going to use that time to start cutting back on what I am eating so that next week isnt so painful.

I know all of these baby steps are quite necessary, but I am really starting to get a bit impatient. It is so much easier to just DO rather than think about what to do all the time. :thumbup:

PS. Comments are always welcome!

You will still want those foods and can still eat them. You will just have to eat less of it than you would have before the surgery. Remember the lap band is a tool. You are still a human being with desires. Having the lap band doesn't mean you can't enjoy peach cobbler once in a while. The night before I have my fill in the lap band I tend to go out to eat and I think this may be the last plate of food I can ever eat. The plate of food gets smaller and smaller each time. I have finally got to the point I can order a salad and then get a little from my husband's or child's plate and be content with that. Sometimes I still want to eat just because the food taste good and it is there. Thanksgiving and Christmas party is still kind of hard. I use to get a spoon of everything. Now, I just get a spoon of a few of my favorite of all foods.

Hey, thanks! How long have you had your band?

My guilty admission -- I am a sugar addict from hell -- the one who will have a little taste of something and end up eating way, way too much. So for me, I know a large part of my success will come from avoiding the stuff at all costs for a good lengthy period of time. Forever -- not practical. But maybe someday.