Swan56

b_r... I am super excited about not being the "big" girl anymore. Being able to shop in a normal store is so exciting to me PattyB57... you are so right in the fact that NOTHING is worth being woken up from surgery to be told they couldn't do it because your liver is too big. Thank you for reminding us of this hugely known fact girl_on_her_journey... I too am looking for lose about 120 pounds. It'll be nice to have someone else on this journey with me mom24teens... From what I have been told, click on anyones ticker and it'll take you to the website to make your own. Once you make yours it will give you the URL to copy and paste to your signature. I haven't done mine yet but that's what they say. Hope it works for you. MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone! Enjoy your last weekend before banding

Thank you all so much for your encouragment and letting me know I'm not alone in my crazy, emotional, scared talk... lol. I really appreciate it. I am very focused on why I am doing this and am so thankful that I have a spouse that is so dedicated to helping me suceed. I know for the most part he will change his eating to eat like me. I know a lot of people don't have a support system like that. We have been through a lot together and will make it though my crazy moods now too... CheckYes - I am on a preop diet. Have been since Dec 13th. This weak is just protien shakes, Jello, popsicles, and broth. Last week I could have one small meal (one lean protien and 1/2 cup veggies). This week has been harder but I've done really good. I'm down a total of 28 pounds from my heaviest, about 6 this past week though. I think I'm making good headway. Thank you again for all the support! I REALLY appreciate it! Merry Christmas everyone

Charlene... Ilkb4me... 1dayatatime... Thank you all for the encouragement! It's so nice to know I'm not alone in my crazy thinking before surgery. It's been a little stressful but I know that all will work out fine. I am looking forward to being part of the "normal" size crowd. Getting to shop at a normal store. The little things have me very excited. My mom is also very excited for me. She called yesterday with the news that a girl she works with that had her band placed in September has already lost 44 lbs. My mom seemed thrilled with that. While I'm not planning to make this a competition - I think averaging 10 pounds a month is an alright goal. That may be a little on the slower side but it'll still get me to goal within the first year I can't even imagine but I'm so happy thinking about it. Jewel... thank you for your continued support! You've been great helping me through the journey so far and i REALLY appreciate you and your advice. Congratulations on being so close to onderland! I know you'll make it there before we talk again. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

Charlene... Ilkb4me... 1dayatatime... Thank you all for the encouragement! It's so nice to know I'm not alone in my crazy thinking before surgery. It's been a little stressful but I know that all will work out fine. I am looking forward to being part of the "normal" size crowd. Getting to shop at a normal store. The little things have me very excited. My mom is also very excited for me. She called yesterday with the news that a girl she works with that had her band placed in September has already lost 44 lbs. My mom seemed thrilled with that. While I'm not planning to make this a competition - I think averaging 10 pounds a month is an alright goal. That may be a little on the slower side but it'll still get me to goal within the first year I can't even imagine but I'm so happy thinking about it. Jewel... thank you for your continued support! You've been great helping me through the journey so far and i REALLY appreciate you and your advice. Congratulations on being so close to onderland! I know you'll make it there before we talk again. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Hey everyone - okay I'm having a big freak out moment and I guess I need to know if anyone else had this. I am about 5 days preop and I've been super emotional lately. It's cycle time (TMI sorry) so that kind of makes me more emotional anyway but not this much. I, personally, think that it's fear of what's to come. I'm afraid of surgery, afraid of being put under, afraid of how my body will react to pain meds (i've never been on any prescription pain meds). Then part of me is questioning whether I will fail at this too. After trying to many things throughout my life, I can't help but think nothing may work. I wonder how my husband will feel about the new me if I do change shapes and then if my shape will go to my head and turn me into a big *itch. I've never been one to not live my life because of my shape and I guess I never really dealt with how fat I am. Now, taking such a huge drastic measure - I can't avoid the fact that I'm fat. Maybe I'm the girl that always thought I wasn't as big as I am. I have always felt my husband is pretty "out of my league." I'm just nervous about all the changes. Please tell me I'm not alone... how did you deal with your crazy emotions?

Hey everyone! I'm being banded on the 27th too. I have been doing a 2 week preop diet. The first week consisted of 2 protien shakes (at least 15g of protien and no more than 200 calories) and then one meal (4oz of lean meat and 1/2 cup veggies). The second week is 4 protien shakes a day. Both weeks I can add sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicles, and broth. The last day (Sunday) is clear liquids only. My first three days were REALLY hard. Day 2 fell on my birthday and it was hard not to "celebrate" especially since this year was the big 3-0 and I was pretty excited about another landmark number LOL. But I stuck to program and day 4 was much easier. I did get permission to have a drink at my party on Saturday though - so that was okay. I haven't been hungry this week at all and have actually been having to force myself to get all my drinks in. I haven't even been supplementing with jello, popsicles, or broth. I have gotten a few hunger pains but it's like it's just easier to ignore them. Last I checked (a few days ago), I was about 5 lbs down from the beginning of the preop. I need to get a new scale at home though - i don't trust the one i have, it's never consistent. As far as Christmas goes, I'm a little disappointed that I won't get to have some of my dad's amazing turkey and dressing or anything else. What i think I may do though, is make a plate for when I can eat again. My doc only has me on liquids for 2 days after surgery and then move on to mushy food for the next 11 days then slowly start adding solids back in. He suggests adding things in slowly so that if I have a problem - I can pinpoint what the problem foods are. So I should be able to have some of the Christmas meal on Thursday - maybe it'll be okay for a few days. If not... well, I'll be fine. It'll all be worth it in the end. On a side note, this week has been super emotional for me. I mean, i'm on my cycle (sorry if TMI) so that makes me a little prone anyways but I'm also pretty scared. I've NEVER had surgery or been on any pain medication so I'm a little nervous as to how I will react.

I don't think you're supposed to have ANYTHING after midnight. My guidelines so nothing, no mints, no gum, etc. They need your stomach completely empty. Why are you having your band removed?

Just wanted to say congratulations to you both!

My nutritionist gave me the okay to Celebrate my birthday with a few drinks. She said she's a firm believer that this is life and in life we're allowed times to no be so strict on ourselves. Of course she did say to stay within limits. But i did good and am back to the grind. Surgery in 8 days...

So today is the day I start my preop diet. It seems pretty typical - from what I've read. I'm mentally prepared for it but since I work this jacked up shift - I had my last normal meal just before midnight. I didn't go wild - it consisted or a turkey with provolone on wheat, strawberry greek yogurt, and a banana. I will have a protien shake in a few hours and then it'll be my bedtime a few hours following that. I'm actually pretty excited. I can't believe I'm only two weeks away. Luckily I have an amazingly supportive husband who is doing most the preop diet with me. <Yes ladies, I realize how blessed I am with this!> Just hoping I don't hit too many road blocks (and cravings). Having my big 30th birthday party this Saturday - so I'm a little nervous about that. But i have told my closest friends so they will ward off the evil doers LOL Any advice?

I haven't been banded yet (12/27 is my day) but I can tell you that Elizabeth and Imagine have it right. My surgeon has done thousands of bands over a 6 year time period and has only experienced two of those dealing with erosion. Then the slippage is caused from overeating (as Elizabeth said) and stretching out the smaller pouch. The nutritionist told me today when I mentioned forums to "be careful what you hear." Because like someone else pointed out - many people that don't work with their band will be disgruntled and post negative reactions instead of taking into account that they may not have followed their doctors orders. For all the negative posts - I'm sure you can find thousands more positive ones. Don't second guess yourself. Get some good support behind you and be excited about changing your life for the better!

Congrats on your date Tori! I'm being banded on 12/27 also... As far as the protien shakes go, have you tried mixing in fruit of a small amount of Peanut Butter? I have also heard mixing in flavors of Jello powder. And be sure to try different types of powder as some are MUCH tastier than others. Good luck!

Okay I have no idea what just happened but I'm frustrated that it cut off ALL the rest of my answer.

Hi again everyone and thanks for the "welcome"s! Charlene K - I have started the preop. I began it on Monday, so beginning day number 4. I've heard I'm over the worst days (1-3). It seems to be getting easier. I haven't had any cravings yet - which is excellent considering... (period

So today was the big day - i hope it went well! I guess technically it was yesterday since it's after midnight now. Hope you're feeling okay and good luck on your journey!

I can't wait for the summer in my new body either! We always take our big family vacation in July and I'm so excited for it this year - maybe I will actually feel comfortable in my bathing suit...

I don't think the protien is that bad but some are worse then others. Luckily I was pretty used to having them anyway - my husband is a gym rat (trying to get back involved since his injury). Just try mixing in fruits or maybe a small amount of peanut butter - maybe even some jello powder. I don't know. But yeah, it'll take away some of the energy as your body shifts. I've been kind of tired - I guess that's where the extra supplements would help.

Thank you Becky and good luck to you too!

Thank you Imagine923 and good luck to you as well! My program is basically just orders from the nutritionist at the surgery center I'm going to. For the first week it's 2 protien shakes (200 calories or less and at least 15g protien) and one meal - 4 oz of a smart protien (chicken, fish, etc) and 1/2 cup of veggies. They gave me choices on frozen meals but I'd prefer to cook myself so I kinda skipped past those. Then the 2nd week is 4 protien shakes. I can supplement both weeks with sugar free jello, sugar free popsicles, and chicken/beef/veggie broth. Then of course the last day is clear liquids only and the night before surgery, nothing past midnight. How're you do on yours so far? Mine has gotten better - so yeah, i guess what you were told fits for me too. Good luck on your surgery! Let me know how you do

So awesome that your husband is willing to help as well! Mine has been a little grumpy with the lack of intake but I think he'll be okay...

Thanks for the luck tntbelt! I definately have needed it the first few days but it's getting better. Tomorrow may be VERY rough though - I promised the kids I'd bake sugar cookies so they could decorate them for their teachers. The smells right out of the oven will be ridiculous but luckily cookies was never really my weakness anyway - I'll be fine ...