~Bridgette~

You did better than me! The first time I met with him one on one, I had no questions... I hadn't prepared at all!!!! I felt like such a loser!! Gina~ I still have to do my before pics! Hubby took my measurements last night so I could put them into that Realize program thing that Dr. Clark gave me when I met with him. I like that little program online to track my foods, water, goals, stats.... pretty nifty! =) Anyways, still have to do the pics. I have normal pics of me at various events, etc., but I want to do the face shot, the front view and the side view...

I got my packet from Cat yesterday and my surgery was scheduled just a week ago, so you'll get it next week, I'm sure! I went last Friday and paid my program fee so I could get the handbook and read it before class. I've read it twice! Now I just need to remember to jot down my questions so I can ask Dr. Clark when I see him. You're right, this is a great site with wonderful folks! Welcome aboard =)

Hi Ebonie! Are you doing the pre-op class on the 14th? That's when I'm doing mine. I'm getting banded just 2 days after you and I'm thrilled. Glad you found us on here! There are some wonderful folks on here!

Dirigo ~ that is amazing! What a wonderful thing to share! Best of luck to you and your family! Barb ~ I sure am glad you're a Hokie fan! =) Also, I know you're going to do so well with your surgery. Your doctor sounds fantastic! That's awesome!

Yep, I'm going to have to limit myself as well.

Oh.. I'm definitely going to ask for "calm-down juice".... I get nervous whenever I think of the actual surgery! To the OP~ You're going to do fantastically!!! Keep us posted. =)

I believe it has 30 cals per package... I wouldn't use it solely for my water, but was curious about using it for 16 oz of my daily water (1 package a day)

Great thread!! I'm subscribing so I'll have lots of great ideas for when I'm banded.... 5 weeks from today!! =)

Hey Barb ~ are you having your surgery done at UVA? My mom had back surgery done there about 7 years ago and it was really nice there. I love Charlotesville, it's beautiful. The only thing it has going against it is the University, LOL. (I'm a Hokie!)

Me, I'm in Chesapeake! =)

Thanks for posting that, Sunshine! Very informative!!! =)

Meshultz ~ I imagine by this time, your hubby is in "bandland" and on his way to a healthy new lifestyle! Will say a prayer for healthy and speedy recovery. Please try to keep us posted on how he's doing. You're up next, girlie! =) Thanks for the kind words! You're right, the surgery is simply a step on the way to a new healthy lifestyle. Just think of how much healthier we'll be by this time next year!! =)

I'm going to be banded in 5 weeks and I will be getting a Realize band. When I met with my surgeon for the first 1on1 visit, he gave me a book by the Realize folks with his surgeon number for how to activate my account on the Realize site. I did that just tonight and DH took my measurements so I can start using the online tool to track my food intake, and stats. It was pretty cool. I don't really know much about the differences, but will take whatever my surgeon chooses to put in me. I figure he's the expert, not me.

Good luck!!

So, tonight DH took my measurements! Ugh! I can't wait to see those numbers go down! I'm getting the Realize band and when I met with the surgeon last month, he gave me a book for the Realize site where I can track my progress. I can put my food diary, log exercise, goals, weight/measurements. It looks like a pretty neat site! I played around on it this evening so now I have my baseline information. It's pretty cool. I also re-read my handbook that I got last Friday. Whenever I read the section about the surgery, I get all dizzy-nervous feeling. I don't know why but that's the part that's freaking me out the most! I need to calm down, but it's pretty darn scary.

Hi, I'm Bridgette and have been overweight all of my life. I always joke that I was a size 18 when I was born! (My mom hates it when I say that...) I have suffered from PCOS for the last 5 years and am on meds for Pre-diabetes and high blood pressure (as of June this year). I decided it's really time to get serious! My biggest fear is that I'll fail at this and will have gone through surgery for nothing! I absolutely HATE to exercise, so that's my biggest hurdle. I still haven't told my folks, I'll tell them eventually. They're overweight too, but I am not 100% sure they'll be supportive. I think they look at WLS as "the easy way out".... I'm learning, it's definitely NOT easy!! DH supports me 100000% and I'm forever grateful! I'm looking forward to hopefully being able to be a mommy one day. Right now I have 2 incredibly spoiled cats. But... they won't be around to put me in a nursing home when I'm 98 and still going strong b/c I made this decision to get healthy, so... I need to get to conceivin'. LOL

Woohooo!!!! You go girl!!!

Thanks for all the hard work you've done SnS! You rock!! =)

Oooohhhh... I hadn't thought of sundae spoons. I did look on Oneida.com and they have "feeding spoons" for babies in regular stainless steel. They have little spoon "heads" and longer handles. They're $14.99 + s/h for 4 of them. I'd like to have some to take in my purse when going to a restaurant. I know, I'm wierd, but I *really* don't want to PB or get stuck in public!!! I might just order 2 sets of the feeder spoons and be done with it. They also have a little set that has a baby spoon, baby fork and feeder spoon.... what's the likelihood I really need a fork? Would a pickle fork work the same way? I could probably order a set of those in the same style and they'd have long handles like regular flatware but have little "heads".... I don't know what you call the part you eat off of, LOL. I'll let you know how my bullet works. I'm a housewife so I just wanted something I could use throughout the day without having to unassemble and reassemble my big kitchenaid blender, kwim?

I went online and BabiesRus has some, but they're over $30 for a set of spoon and fork. Oneida.com also has some. I'll probably get them from there. You can get 4 feeding spoons (they're a little longer than baby spoons) for $14.99 plus s/h. I just don't want plastic utensils. I figured I'd need a set to keep in my purse for dinners out as well.

Hi SnS ~ my date is Oct 29th. Thanks. =)

Congratulations!!!! That's my day too. We'll be banded together. :smile:

Shop in regular stores and get deals on clothes go to an amusement park with DH go hiking wear cute jewelry that is too small for me right now Take a bath in my regular tub without feeling wedged in Squat (haven't done that in years ~ bad knees!)