ATXVeg

I feel you! I had to push my date out by weeks after I was cleared by insurance and my surgeon due to my work schedule. Otherwise, I would have been banded by now. What do you do?

My surgery is week from tomorrow and I'm only taking 4 days off. My job isn't physically demanding but very emotionally and mentally challenging. I have to walk up and down a hall 15 times a day. Besides that its just talk and type. I know everyone is different, but do y'all think that's enough time?

I'm on day 5 of a 14 day Atkins pre-op diet. Because I'm a vegetarian my NUT is allowing me 50 carbs daily instead of the usual 20. I've lost two pounds. Two. I'm really considering just going on a 7 day liquid fast. I tried to call my NUT to talk to her about this but they close early on Fridays. So until then I'll stay on what I was told but I'm really worried. What happens if your liver doesn't shrink because you don't lose weight? Any ideas?

I live about 10 min from the TR office. How did your surgery go? Back at home and resting?

So just to clear things up, 'm not a vegan. Vegans don't eat any animal products - I eat eggs and consume dairy. However, I was concerned about this exact thing, so before I even called a surgeon, I did a lot of reading around the internet, and it is absolutely possible to get that much protein as a vegetarian or even a vegan. In fact there are several successful vegan/vegetarian bandsters on these boards. My problem is getting the protein with only a few carbohydrates, because the best veg sources of protein also have carb (Beans and tofu, for example). My surgeon only requires his patients to get 50g of protein per day post-op. That is definitely doable for a vegetarian. I'm not worried about the post-op at all (or not any more than anyone else) but the pre-op diet is really stressing me out. You said you're a big meat eater. What kind of meat are you eating? I've always heard that you can't really eat meat that much after the band due to the requirement that your food become mush as you chew. My aunt has a band and she hasn't been able to eat red meat in years. I've also read that many people can no longer eat chicken after banding. What does that leave? Fish? lunchmeat?

Where did you get yours? I've been looking at fitbit but I think I like the Up better.

I've heard that the bariatric advantage vitamins are ghastly. Has anyone tried Opurity from the Unjury people?

Do you do them at home or go to a spa-type place?

I'm 4'11" and weigh around 195 most days. Sadly, though, a disproportionate amount of weight hangs out under my chin, giving me a MONSTER double chin. No one ever accuses me of being too small, because my face is so fat! But I have had friends, even dear ones, hesitate before giving me their support. I work in mental health and most of my friends are in mental health, so in general, we're a pretty supportive bunch. But for those of you who were told you were too small, imagine how those people will feel when you are *actually* small.

Why yes, I am going through True Results? Are you? I know that they do some surgery in SA, but my insurance OK'd St. Davids. What part of Austin are you in?

I'm a vegetarian. I am in the Atkins pre-op, and I decided to add fish for just these two weeks, but I feel confident that I'll go back to pure veg after surgery. I really considered adding meat during pre-op, but I just couldn't. I was thrilled to find out that the unjury chicken Soup does not have any chicken in it!

I am scheduled for surgery on February 5, 2013. My family has a beach vacation planned in August and I wonder what size I will be and will I be comfortable in a bathing suit for the first time in a decade? Does anyone else have plans or hope (or dreams, etc) in the next 6-12 months that would be significantly affected by banding (and you know, weight loss)?

ToBeBandedin13, my family is planning a trip to the beach in August. I'm really curious what size I'll be and will I be comfortable in a bathing suit for the first time in a decade? Hmmmmmm.

I live in the Austin Area. My surgery is scheduled for Feb. 5. Would totally love real-time support! Where are you having surgery? Mine is scheduled at St. David's South.

I know that every surgeon has different requirements, but I'm curious of how many of you are on a liquid pre-op diet vs a low-carb pre-op diet vs a "wacky just eat better before surgery" diet. And, just for curiosity sake, what is your starting BMI? I'll go first. I'm on a low-carb diet, but I'm a vegetarian so it's a little tricky for me. I am going to be on a modified liquid/low carb diet (because how many eggs can I eat in a day?). Basically, I'm going to replace all of the fajita meat that I can't eat with high Protein shakes. Just so you know, my surgeon's nutritionist created my plan - I'm not improvising. My starting BMI is 40. Jen

Yes, some lapbands fail. Some bandsters fail. It happens. Do you know what the failure rate on dieting is? 96% at best. Only 4% of people who lose a significant amount of weight on a diet (not WLS) keep it off for 2 years (the cutoff for "success"). Compared to that, lapband knocks it out of the park!

I start on the pre-op diet on 1/29, as well, so I'm feeling your anxiety too. One big difference between a juice fast and a liquid diet is the protein. So at least that might feel a little better. You can do it! We'll talk each other through it!

Confirmed for Feb 5th! Yay!

Jennifer, I'm (hopefully) scheduled for Feb 5. I don't have to start my pre-op until next Tuesday the 22nd, but I thought I would give it a trial run yesterday. FAIL! I so bombed out by 5pm. But, I learned what I need to do differently. I need WAAAAAY more Protein than I'm used to and I need to breathe through my cravings. We can do this. Can you get your nutritionist to nail down a more specific diet than "low cal, low carb"? That might be helpful. You can do this. You can. Jen