DebHart71

Good luck to you. To qualify for my insurance to cover the surgery I had to lose 10% of my starting weight, take a weight management class and hav psychological counseling and it took a little over a year. When I first started they required a year and have since relaxed their time frame. I am scheduled for surgery on October 17th and I can hardly wait. I am on day 4 of my pre-op diet and it is not as bad as I thought it would be. Good luck to you both! Debora

Tell her you had hernia surgery; you are not to lift things when you have had this type of surgery. I know that I have an umbilical hernia that has to be repaired at the same time I get banded. You can also ask your surgeon to write this type of note and if he/she is cool they will do this for you. Debora

Only give yourself words of encouragement and love; never deride yourself, it serves no purpose. I have noticed that prejudice against those who are overweight is the only openly accepted form of prejudice no matter what race or gender you are. Although, I have noticed that women get more flack about being overweight then men do. However, if we are to change the way society sees people of any size we have to start with ourselves and reflect that attitude onto our children. My mother and I are both obese but so far my daughter is at a perfect weight and she has made some comments about Gramma being heavy and me having a big butt. I have told her that even if she thinks it is true, to never say it to anyone for it might hurt their feelings. I have also told her that everyone is beautiful just because they are human. You can be one of the most beautiful people, by society's standards, and have the ugliest soul. I don't plan to take my pre-op picture until the day before my surgery. I am scheduled for October 17th! woohoo!

You're welcome. Also, when choosing your healthy TV dinner, try to get more meat and veggies and less starch. I have the Protein bar in the morning, three protein shakes during the day and then I have quite a lot of calories left over for dinner. Protein fills you up so adding lean protein to your dinner is not only good for your system it makes you feel full longer. I am finishing up day 3 of the two week diet and it is not as hard as I thought it would be. One of the hardest things is when everyone is having their lunch at work and I get to smell everything while I have my Protein shake. However, if you keep busy you can distract your mind from these things. Also, if you get hungry in between you need to drink more Water. I have had to have one diet soda each day this week because I found that going cold turkey with the caffeine caused horrific headaches, however, I feel that by the second week I should be able to cut out that last diet soda and be fine. Good luck to you!

So far I am liking the EAS Protein products from Walmart. Debora

My surgeon does not have this recommendation but I have heard that it makes the surgery go a lot easier. I have a co-worker who has been banded and I got a copy of her pre-op diet. This meal plan consists of consuming 4 Protein drinks and 1 meal at regularly spaced intervals throughout the day. For example: 7:30 am - Protein Bar or shake 10:30 am - protein bar or shake 1:30 pm - protein bar or shake 4:30 pm - protein bar or shake 7:30 pm - meal/TV-dinner (Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, Smart Ones, etc) Note: if you still have calories available and are still hungry you can add lean meat to your dinner; such as boneless, skinless chicken Women 5'4" and below: 1100 calories and at least 60 grams of protein daily Women above 5'4": 1200 calories and at least 65 grams of protein daily Men 5'9" and below: 1300 calories and at least 70 grams of protein daily Men above 5'9": 1400 calories and at least 75 grams of protein daily Do NOT consume more than your calorie limit and get at least your protein minimum every day for two weeks. I have been using the EAS Protein Bars and shakes - specifically the carb control bars and shakes. You can get these at Walmart. Debora

Back in 1996 I had to have gall-bladder surgery and was talking with the anesthesiologist; he asked me about allergies and I told him I only had an allergy to eggs and he said it was important because some anesthesia they use is made from eggs so this can be very important. They want to make sure you are safe. I know it is frustrating and disappointing but it will happen. Good luck to you! Debora

Hello all, I am Debora from Tallahassee, Florida. I am 5'4" and 265. I had to work for a year to get 10% of my starting weight (300), weight management class, psychological evaluation, and a seminar and class required by the surgeon. I was approved surprisingly fast and I am scheduled to be banded on October 17th. I started my pre-op diet yesterday and the hardest part was the headache that I got from the caffeine withdrawal. I am really excited, don't care who knows I am having the surgery and I am keeping only good thoughts about the outcome. I have a few people who say negative things and I have to let it go and get on with things because this is about me and not them and it is my decision, which I didn't make lightly. Good luck to everyone!! Debora

I am also scheduled for October 17th and I am really excited! I was not prescribed a pre-op diet but a co-worker had her band done in August and she gave me a copy of hers. Good luck to you!

What pre-op diet are you on? Mine is the following: Beginning at 7:30 am I have a Protein Bar or shake, every three hours after have a protein bar or shake, at 7:30 pm I have a healthy TV dinner (you can have the healthy TV dinner for Breakfast or lunch if you want), do not exceed 1100 calories per day, get at least 60 grams protein per day, no caffeine, no sugar I have been using the EAS AdvantEdge Carb Control Protein Shakes and Bars and they are really good. I have been having the healthy meal at 7:30 pm because it helps to fill me up and not be hungry for bed. I have not had any unusual trips to the bathroom so far, but this is only my second day on the pre-op diet. Debora

I am being banded on 10/17 and started my pre-op diet yesterday. I have to say I am excited as well. The surgeon doing my surgery did my gall-bladder surgery back in 1996 and I have complete confidence in him. The pre-op diet is not as hard as I thought it would be. The hardest part is the caffeine withdrawal. I went cold-turkey and boy did I get a headache!

Thanks. You will see that the six months will fly by; I know the year passed very quickly for me. My life is pretty full though; I work full time, have a very small business on the side, I'm a single mom and I am working on my Master's degree. If you keep yourself busy you will pass the time in no time at all!

I just started my pre-op diet today: No caffeine - withdrawal headache really bad No sugar No more than 1100 calories per day No less than 60 g Protein per day Protein Bar or shake starting at 7:30 a.m. and every three hours after (using EAS AdvantEDGE carb control protein products) One meal can be a healthy frozen dinner like Healthy Choice If I still have calories left over I can add a lean meat to my dinner. No soda - getting ready for not being able to have it after surgery. I am scheduled for banding on October 17th! Good Luck to us all! Debora

I had to lose 10% of my starting weight in one-year's time. My surgery is scheduled for October 17th and I am looking forward to it. Do you have to lose a certain amount of weight in the 6 months? By the way, where are you in Florida? I am in Tallahassee. Debora

Be glad it is only 6 months. I am a member of an *** and I had to do several things in a one-year time span: lose 10% of my starting weight, take a weight-management class, and pscyhological counseling. This was just to get approval from the insurance; then I had to take a class on what to expect in the hospital and my diet afterward. I just started my pre-op diet this morning, made the mistake of going cold-turkey with the caffeine and have a major headache. I am scheduled to be banded on October 17th and I am very excited to start the next phase of my journey. Do you have a certain amount of weight you have to lose in the six months?

As part of the requirements for insurance to cover my procedure, I had to lose 10% of my starting weight in a year's time. I kind of put it off until the last couple of months so everyone saw my weight fall about 25 pounds in two months; this had people saying that I didn't need to surgery since I was doing so well. I will be 40 next month, my starting weight was 300, I have never been thin in my life, I have high cholesterol, my knees are absolutely horrible and I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with my daughter. After so many times of losing some weight and then putting it back on plus some I was tired of it; however, my mother had a real problem with the bypass and almost died. I felt that I needed weight loss surgery but I didn't want anyone to cut my stomach. I tell everyone that I know my history and I have done the research and the prep work for this and it wasn't a decision I made lightly but this is the right decision for me. I just started my pre-op diet; I am scheduled to be banded on October 17th and I am looking forward to the next step in my journey!

I am scheduled for October 17th; I just started my pre-op diet today and boy am I having caffiene withdrawal headaches! I am really looking forward to my banding day!