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EastEndMTBr, This is awsome! Another horse person getting banded the same month as me! I have a Quarter horse Paint (Double registered) gelding and a Quarter Horse mare. She's my fave. My DH has a Tenessee Walker that he rides when I go on the trails. I mostly trail ride now, and I hope to hit them hard this summer when I can get on Katie without the saddle slipping. She's always been a trooper, but she's small, and I'm sure she'd be grateful if I'd lose 100 pounds! I've always ridden western. I used to barrel race back in the day, and I've done some team penning. I'd be happy if all I can do is get on by myself, but in the back of my mind I'm thinking that I'd like to get thin enough to do some of the speed stuff again. Lets keep in touch!

Clothes and shoes on. I've heard of people using ankle weights to give them that last pound or so they needed to qualify. I've never heard of any adjustments for clothes. That's a new one. I was just barely a 40 BMI before the 6 month diet, and a 38 after. I still qualify. They use your starting weight for the BMI criteria.

I think the unflavored is OK. I add it to crystal light energy for my morning wake up. The chicken soup is tolerable if you need something less sweet than most, but I hate that it can't be really hot. I like soup warmer than 130 degrees.. They are both better than most of the other protein powders I've tried.

Congratulations! I've got a 2 week diet, which I started today as well. My last meal was Olive Garden. Good luck on your journey!

Thanks! Did you have trouble sleeping on an empty stomach? I got about 4 hours sleep last night..

I'm on 3 protien shakes/day plus 2 fruits or steamed veggies / day. I think I'll start out trying to skip the veggies/fruit and save them for a treat if I get really hungry. I'd like to lose as much as I can pre-surgery. I officially start my pre-op on Thursday, but I said goodbye to food today at lunch. Olive Garden. I figured I might as well do it right. I'm having unjury unflavored in Crystal Light for dinner. Here we go... Good luck everyone!

Hi everyone! I am 51, married and the mother of 2, ages 23 & 24. I'm a software engineer at the University of Illinois, where I've been for the past 12 years. I love my job, and surprisingly enough, even though we're all desk jockies I'm one of very few 'large' people in my office. My kids are both out of the house as you might have already figured out. The oldest, my daughter is living in St Louis and working in a dress shop. My son will be graduating college in May and is going into Education. He's getting married in July to a complete doll. She's a size 0, and working on her masters in NUTRITION. Can you believe the irony? Fortunately, my kids seem to have taken after their father in their physical attributes. He is 6'3" and slender. I have 3 horses, 2 dogs and 1 cat. All spoiled. My horses are all looking forward to me losing 100 pounds! I'm glad to see so many nice people in our little April group and I hope we can all stay positive and supportive through this journey.

I was glad to see this question asked. Soup is a good idea. I've got to go to Easter dinner at my in-laws about the same time after surgery. I was planning to just excuse myself to the other room with some sort of 'stomachache' excuse, but maybe I could bring some soup as a side-dish rather than the traditional cookies.

This is ONEderful! I'm so happy to see younger people having this surgery. I gained my weight with my kids and have been huge for 25 years. You've done the right thing taking care of the problem while you are still young. I've sat on the sidelines the whole time my kids were growing up and they only know me as fat. Congratulations on taking control! Now you can really LIVE!

Way to go!!! I'm so jealous!! Keep up the good work. I'll keep this handy for myself when I need a lift.

That's awesome! What a great feeling! Maybe that would be a good name for your band.

We had a PS come to our Lap band support group meeting and he said that if you document the rash issue that most insurance will cover one kind of TT but not the other. I don't recall which was which, but it does sound like your PS is not willing to do much work for you. I'd look around.

Welcome everyone! I'm about 2 weeks behind you, so I'll be watching your progress. Good luck and keep in touch!

Thanks for the tip. I like unjury unflavored in Crystal Light, but I think I will go to GNC and get some samples as well. I'm sure I'll get sick of the stuff I have soon. I also got some samples that I ordered on line. I think the site was 'vitalady' something...

Congratulations on getting approval. You've jumped the first hurdle toward your new life. I hope you get a date quickly and can join us April bandsters! Keep in touch. We're all rooting for you.

We have the same band date! Let's be band buddies!!

Congratulations! What a great feeling that must be. Not to deminish your loss in any way, but does it seem like the men lose more quickly than the women? I'm still pre-band, but every time I see a post "Another huge loss" its a man...

I'm in! Better late than never... I get banded on 4/14, so with the pre and post diet, maybe I can meet my -20lbs goal!

I've been weighing myself every day, first thing in the morning, for years. I have a very accurate scale and my weight still fulctuates a 1/2 pound or so day to day but its usually up when I pig out the night before, so its a tool I use to remind me to stay on track. My advice is that if you're going to weigh every day, at least get a really good scale so you can trust it.

I'm 51. I think there are a lot of us in this age group out here. I start my pre-op diet on the 31st and surgery on 4-14. I'm from Illinois, but my dad is from west Texas and I have a lot of family all over your state. Welcome!

I'm getting my band 2 days after you, so lets support each other. So far I'm just excited and anxious to get started. The anxiety hasn't set in yet. I'm stocking up on protein powders, sf jello, etc. I'm dieting already. Just counting calories, and I've already lost a lot. My problem has always been keeping the weight off, so I hope this is the LAST time I have to lose the pounds.

Its great to see so many of us April folks out here to support each other. It won't be long now! I start pre-op diet soon, so I'm stocking up on the Protein powder. I've tried several, but I think I'll probably stick to the unjury. I don't mind it mixed with my Crystal Light Peach Mango (Energy) and that way I get my caffine and protien all in one.

I'm smaller than you, but in the same boat. My jeans must have streached because they are huge. I can pull them off w/o unzipping them, but I can't fit in the next smaller size!! I refuse to buy more 'fat jeans' , so I have added a belt...

Sorry for your trauma!! Head wounds do tend to bleed A LOT. Its really scarey, especially with babies.. My kids are 23 & 25, but been there, done that...

Good luck to everyone getting their band this week! Let us know how it goes.