ElizabethAnne

I can tell your motivation level is high. I was very motivated after meeting with my surgeon in January, then when I had the appendectomy on April 2, I became less focused. The next thing I knew, I was buying Easter candy and didn't stay out of it like I should have. That got me way off-track. Have you read the magazine article on Inertia? That article is excellent and describes me well---If I am not completely "mindful" at every given moment, I can quickly get off-track with my eating. This week my surgery was rescheduled, and since getting that phone call, I am once again completely motivated. I told my husband I think I am even more motivated than I have ever been to lose weight. And that's a bit odd for me because once I get going on a diet, I am always motivated. This time, however, it's a much higher level of motivation. I, too, want to shrink my liver, to be as healthy as possible going into this surgery, and to do my part ahead of time for my surgeon. I just need to be careful about losing too much. My insurance has approved me, and I am concerned about what will happen with my insurance if my BMI goes under 30. I don't know if they weigh us on the day of surgery or if they go with our weight on the day that we do our pre-op testing. I have to do the pre-op testing once again since my surgery needed to be rescheduled. My height is 5' 4.5" and I am short-waisted, so like you, I am concerned about my surgeon having the space he needs. On the day of my surgery, I want to ask him about where he plans to place the port.

Congratulations!

Congratulations! Thanks for encouraging us with your success!

That's great! Congratulations!

My surgeon asks patients to limit their calorie intake to no more than 1400 per day for at least two weeks prior to surgery. Patients are instructed to pick from the following: meal substitution (products such as Slim-Fast), established programs (Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, TOPS), diet books (Atkins, South Beach), or counting calories. I'm choosing to count calories.

That's great! And it encourages me. After my appendectomy, I didn't expect much pain. I'm not a medical professional, but it seemed like a fairly simple procedure to me. However, I needed regular doses of pain medication for four days after surgery. Each of those days, I was literally watching the clock, anticipating when I could have my next dose because it never seem to last the full 6 hours. After this experience, I've been a little concerned about what the pain will be like from the band surgery and how it will compare. I know I will get through it, but it's always nice to know what to expect. Thanks for sharing!

I don't follow sports much, but I LOVE his words of wisdom! I enjoyed reading your introduction---and your photo is beautiful!

Congratulations to you, too! You are doing well. Hope you're able to make it to 180 by your anniversary, but if you can't, focus on next year's anniversary instead. You WILL get there!

I'm glad to hear you're still feeling well. No pain meds? That is wonderful!

Hmmm...Thanks for the explanation! Can't say I am looking forward to that part. And I had planned to tell no one I am having surgery...at least at first.

I've never seen the Zoi brand before. Where do you buy it?

I bought a Chobani twelve-pack at costco, and it has peach, strawberry, and blueberry. I like them all, but always eat all of the peach containers first. I bought a couple of pineapple but haven't tried them yet. I did find a new Yoplait flavor (caramel) at Wal-mart, but I like the Chobani brand's texture and flavor much better.

Thanks---it can't go by fast enough! I am soooo ready!

Thanks! I called my surgeon's office and left messages five different days, trying to get rescheduled. I was out of patience and about to post a whining message here about no one returning my calls, and as I was typing it, the callback came. What a relief! Now, I am back on my diet, struggling but at least I am motivated to do what I am supposed to do. Congratulations on your weight loss! It's exciting to see how well all of you Springers who have already been banded are doing! Has your hunger decreased at all since surgery?

Keep trying on the liquids---that's the best we can do. I have been trying to train myself, too, and am struggling but am confident it will be worth it. My surgery is June 5. I was originally scheduled for April10, but I had to have an emergency appendectomy on April 2, which delayed my surgery. However, if it had to happen, I'm glad it's done and out of the way before my band surgery.

Happy to know it went well! Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

So happy to read you are approved!

Yay for you! Being under 200 is a great accomplishment that you have worked hard for so celebrate this success as you work toward 190. And please keep sharing your successes---it very encouraging to those of us still at the pre-surgery stage.

Are you comfortable enough with this therapist to share your true thoughts? If not, perhaps finding a different therapist would be beneficial. Given the circumstances, I understand why you weren't honest with this therapist, yet it's difficult for a therapist to be effective when a client isn't comfortable sharing his/her innermost thoughts and feelings. Pre-op is hard, but a good therapist who possesses the additional training needed for working with weight loss surgery patients will understand your struggles and should possess the skills to help you each step of the way. Best wishes!

It doesn't sound crazy to me. In my family and among my friends, food is almost always used for celebrations, for mourning, for comfort, for get-togethers, etc., so I completely understand why you feel like you do. Cooking and baking are two of my favorite activities, and I feel like I need to replace them after surgery with something that's not food-related. I want a fresh start, yet I'm reluctant to give up the activities I enjoy the most. I've decided I am going to wait until after surgery to see how it goes. Right now, I am always hungry and consequently have little-to-no willpower around food; I am hoping that will change after surgery. Others have mentioned that they no longer desire the foods they used to or only want a few bites; hopefully, we will have the similar experiences.

Okay, I have to know more. What type of noises? Gurgling, growling? Can others easily hear them? Are the noises lessening as you heal?

Congratulations to you! Keep busy and your days will pass by quickly.

It's great to read your surgery is behind you and that you're feeling good! And as you heal, the days ahead should be even better!

I have been walking a minimum of five miles daily for several years and find it relaxes me, helps me sleep, and takes away some of my desire to eat food I don't need. I walk two miles every day at lunch with a friend who is a faithful walker, so it's not difficult to get three more miles completed in the evening after work. And when I already have my exercise in for the day, walking is still the strategy I use most when I want to eat, primarily during the evening. I try to make myself walk at least a mile when I am tempted, and most times, I end up walking even more unless the weather is bad. My interests are cooking, baking, reading, knitting, and other sedentary activities, so a walk works best for me because it gets me out of the house and away from food. I've been seriously thinking about trying to replace my desire to bake and cook with sewing but don't know if I would have the patience for it. And I wish I could paint or do an artsy-type hobby, but I lack artistic talent.

Welcome to the group! Ask any questions you have---people here are great about sharing their experiences.