BlairE

I am getting banded 1/28 but the road to this point was not easy so I understand completely.... when I first told my mom she yelled at me saying I was being selfish by doing this and that I just need to try again on my own, well if I had been successful in the past I would not have come to this decision would I.She even went to her own doctor trying to get info from him on why I shouldn't have this surgery and well that backfired b/c he was all for it.... I told her if she thought I was being selfish then so was she by not realizing i have a problem and need help and that either way I am doing it for myself not her. Then there was my husband....lol.... who also needs to lose at least 50 or so as well. I told him that there can't be anymore ice cream, Cookies etc. in the house after wards until I get things under control.... his answer....lol.... why?? I am not the one getting the surgery.... NICE Right! So I took him to a support seminar and let him listen to the experts and all the ppl who have already had success. He got to see for himself what a positive influence this was going to be for MY life and has kinda come around but I still am not expecting a lot from him in the beginning. I am hoping that once I start losing weight that he will get that macho man feeling of " I am not going to let her out do me" and maybe start losing weight himself. Then there is my bff across the street, we have both struggled with our weight for over 16 years, in the past 3 yrs she successfully lost over 70 lbs. on her own but recently has had an issue with starting to gain some back again. She will not talk to me about my surgery, when I try to bring it up she is quick to change the subject.... I can hear the resentment in her voice. The ppl around you don't want you to change b/c they are scared they might get left behind or you will not be the same person anymore. Its like someone said in a previous post.... think about what made you get to the point of making this decision and how unhappy you are in your current situation....do it for yourself, once they see the changes and how happy you are they will get on board. I AM NOT GOING TO LET OTHERS CHOOSE MY FUTURE FOR ME. I know deep down in my heart this is my only chance to lose the weight I need to be happy and healthy. And yes this site helps tremendously..... the support is amazing!!!! We are hear for you!!!!

I have wondered about my meds as well.... I am on an anti depressant and I don't think I can chew it since its probably time release.... how do we find out if a prescription comes in a liquid form? Can we not swallow pills at all anymore...????

I am so glad "hope" started this post...you asked what many of us have on our minds as well.... I can't wait to feel desirable again and to start enjoying the bedroom scene...lol. Not only is it hormones but self confidence has a major part. How can you enjoy anything when you are trying to hide your body .... I have been married going on 23 yrs and we have always had a good relationship but the extra weight has def had an effect....

I came up with an idea of how to approach the liquid diet phase without involving so much agony....someone else may have done this before but I thought I would pass it on in case others are stressing about this stage as well.... I am scheduled to be banded on the 28th of Jan. so I have to start my liquid protein diet on the 14th and that part worried me. How was I going to handle the cravings when I can only have protein shakes, yogurt and 1 cup of veggies a day. Then I remembered what happened when I use to do the Atkins diet. It basically has you eating no carbs the first few weeks, only protein meats. It was not easy but at-least I got to eat solid food until I could get through de carbing myself .... and after the first week or so I was not as hungry, in fact I had to make myself eat so I didn't go into starvation mode. So that is the approach I have taken, as of Jan. 3rd I stopped eating carbs, I eat some veggies but have stuck to eating the protein meats and cheeses, doing it this way gives me more control in trying to curb my appetite. Hopefully this will make the transition into the liquid diet much easier and will give me less agony..... Would love to hear anyones thoughts on this approach..... My doctor does not allow any caffeine for the first 4 weeks after surgery so I have also started to ween myself off of my coffee by cutting my amnt. by a 1/4 cup each day..... so far no migraine and I am down to a 1/4 cup total tomorrow. I now am drinking decaff Chai tea with 1 tbls. of sugar free vanilla creamer and one splenda and it tastes great. Trying to mentally sike myself into thinking its caffeinated...lol.

Honk.... thanks for the info on the Protein, i have a bullet so i am going to use that, love the idea of freezing the dairy to make my shakes anything to sike myself into thinking I am having something good. I am going out this weekend and doing my research on the shakes.... PMF... what I did is get a lot of low sodium deli meat like ham turkey and chicken breast that I could grab easily if I am having a frenzy attack.... sometimes I put a little mustard in the middle and roll it up... I also got cheeses (not processed) frozen bags of a broccoli and cauliflower mix. sugar free Jello and the puddings but only 1 a day of each. Then whatever meat we have for dinner.

PUTTINGMYSELFFIRST....absolutely love your sign on name.... we should all have that same mentality. I am glad to hear I am not the only one with this same train of thought. I had read some posts on here where ppl were really struggling with hunger etc. during the liquid phase and I was trying anything I to have better success. I did cave on the caffeine part, too much for me to do both right now. I am doing "NO" carb as well except what I get through naturally with veggies and a little fruit. I am on day 5 now and its getting a little easier. Have you looked into the different Protein shakes yet...my doc wants us to use a product that has Pure Whey protein isolate so I am going on a search today... would be great if I could just use the Atkins already made chocolate one... I like them. Do you have a surgery date yet?

CONGRATULATIONS ARKS...... I know you must be excited. I am scheduled to be banded on the 28th but I don't think its really hit me yet that its really going to happen. One thing that kept going through my mind over the holidays was this is the last year I will be fat in our family pics.... next Christmas is going to be the best one ever as far as i am concerned. Let us know how it goes for you....

I am scheduled to be banded Jan. 28th and just recently joined this site.... all the info is great especially this thread. I have been stressing out about this liquid diet I have to start on the 14th. My doctor said I can only use the "pure whey protein isolate" ..... its suppose to absorb better or something. Can you tell me if any of the products you have suggested say this on the ingredients? I love the Atkins protein shakes and really hope they are acceptable....

Hey there, I am so relieved to have found this site.... to be able to chat with other Banders I think will help my mental state during this process so much. I am currently scheduled for surgery Jan. 28th.... wanted to be completely done with the holidays before I had to start the liquid diet. Have some of the same concerns others on here have about possible failure but after reading some forums I feel a lot better.... I know I can do this and if I think negatively I am only going to sabotage myself. I am looking forward to making friends on here and being able to support others as well as myself.....Blair