Leepers

Yep. I know how ya feel. I hosted a party at my house last night and actually cooked food I can't eat. I'm on my fourth day of preop. I have times of raging hunger, but generally it hasn't been too bad. Then I went to a party tonight and just ate off the veggie tray. Everyone was eating pizza. My hubby is doing the preop diet with me to show his support. I don't know if he's gonna make it though, he's having a hard time.lol.

I definitely think hormones can change with weight gain/loss.

I am not banded yet. December 18th is the day. Thanks for asking this, I too like to drink. I don't drink every day, but about once or twice a month, I like to go out and have a few and catch a nice buzz. I have actually purchased some of the Skinny Girl products. She has wine and also some pre-mix drinks like Margaritas and Cosmos that are only about 100 calories per serving. Which is about 500 calories if you drink the whole bottle. I feel that with anything, you have to find what works for you. The most important thing is not to drink too much and throw up. Throwing up is not good for the band.

I started my one week preop diet today. The only solids I'm allowed are raw veggies and 2 servings of fruit. I am allowed a limited amount of yogurt, pudding, and cottage cheese. Does your surgeon want you to give up caffeine? I'm allowed to have diet tea and coffee. That would be really hard to give up. Keep some advil nearby. Caffeine headaches are a bitch!

I had a very busy day for my first day of the preop diet. It was great to keep busy. Lots of errands and a last appointment with the surgeon before the surgery next week. Motivation isn't too hard just yet. Plus, the hubby is doing my preop diet with me just to show support. Love him!

I am scheduled to get my band on December 18th. I start my liquid diet on December 11th. Every year, I host an Ugly Ornament Party for some long time friends and usually most people imbibe many spirits for the party. I will be on my third day of the liquid diet. I know I probably should not have a lot of alcoholic drinks, as they tend to be high in sugar and calories, but I would really like to have at least a couple of drinks. Does anyone have any good suggestions for a low calorie alcoholic drink that would be possibly "acceptable" on a liquid diet? Also, do you think the alcohol would affect me differently while on a liquid diet? For anyone with a band, what alcoholic drinks have you drank with the band?

How's the liquid diet going? I thought I was going to be on all liquids but I'm able to have raw veggies, yogurt, and cottage cheese. I start tomorrow!

Last Friday I had preop testing including a barium swallow. It wasn't too bad. I also had pre and postop education. Word to the wise, do not buy anything until they tell you exactly what you'll be eating. I was out buying and trying all kinds of protein shakes and then they gave me a list of the ones they want me to use. None of which are the ones I was trying. lol. I also didn't realize that my MD only wants you on protein shakes for about 2 weeks or so. They really push changing over to solids. In one way, this forum is so helpful because everyone is going through the same thing, but you also have to realize how different every pre/post testing and diets are, so you can't just assume that you'll be doing it the way everyone else does. I'm very excited about the surgery on the 18th. I'm ready to change and my awesome hubby is going to do all the diets with me even though he's not getting surgery. I love it! I did have a moment of panic last night thinking about anesthesia. I have never had surgery before. I work in a semi-surgical area of a hospital and know a lot about anesthesia, but I'm still nervous though I know I shouldn't be. I just want the 18th to be here. I'm ready to get this done! Tired of being fat!

Aargh! My phone won't let me edit my post. This wasn't in the preop forum. Lol. Still loved it!

Wow. Thank you so much for posting your story and thank you for posting it on the preop forum where all of us preop and recent bandsters would see it. We so often focus on our fears of change and forget the positives of change. Stories like yours help us focus on the future we can look forward to instead of obsessing over the short term.

You need to go to the doctor. Immediately. I know that with the band, things can get stuck and that you can have esophageal spasms. But if this has been going on for a few days and you also have shoulder pain, these are symptoms of a heart attack. Don't take the chance. Go to the doctor and find out for sure. It is prob the band but your heart muscle is more important. Please. I work in Cardiac Cath Lab.

I love this website/forum. I've heard a lot of old timers who are unhappy with some changes, but to a newbie like me,this is great. Did they teach me about bandster hell at my preop education? No, they did not. But, I feel so much better knowing that this is something I may go through. Don't give up skinnysomeday!

Kmb67, my surgery is also sceduled on the 18th. I start my preop diet this Wednesday. I will be on clear liquids for two days postop and then full liquids until xmas day. Xmas day, I can have mashed potatoes! Woot! I love your pic, you and I have a very similar body type. Good luck with your surgery!

I have pair of size 14 jeans I bought when I lost a bunch of weight 10 years ago. They are at the top of my NSV list (but about 120lbs away). Gettin my band December 18th. Congrats to you on your NSV!

Lipastar, I would totally be done being patient. It's tomorrow and they haven't called? You should call them. I work in a hospital. There's no way that it is not scheduled yet. You may have slipped thru the cracks.

Don't be afraid to ask your surgeon how long he's been putting in the band or how many he has done. You don't want the new kid on the block.

Thanks for the reminders. I will ask about it when I go in for testing this Friday. Carolina Girl, every couple buys what they think will be the ugliest ornament, and we do a white elephant style opening of the gifts where you can steal, etc. I actually have a small tree just for ugly ornaments that we've gotten every year. This is our eighth year having it and it's always a blast! It always seems that some sort of hideous animal wins every year. Last year I bought a Snookie ornament and someone else had bought a Paulie D. (Jersey Shore) ornament. I got stuck with Paulie! Lol

Yes, pre-surgery diet. I go this Friday for a barium swallow and education. It is my understanding that I will be on a liquid diet for one week before the surgery (and also, one week after). No mention has been made about any certain amount of weight loss.

I am so relieved to know I'm not the only one who thinks the Premier vanilla flavor is nah-stay!! lol.

Oops! Hit post too soon. "A lot" would be a great response to people asking how much weight you've lost.

Ive decided when people ask how I'm losing all the weight, I'm going to say,"I'm restricting what I eat." It will be the truth and will not need further conversation. I've also been thinking that "a lot" will be the perfect response.

I have been thinking a lot lately about what I am going to say to curious people who ask about my weight loss. It is very unusual for me to be secretive about myself, I'm usually am open book. For some reason though, I want to do this journey privately. I might change my mind later. So, I came up with a great response I may use. I like it because it's the truth, so I'm not lying but it also doesn't invite further discussion. When someone asks me what I'm doing to lose the weight, I'm gonna say, "Restriction," or "I'm restricting what I eat." It will be true and most people will not get the implications.

Welcome!

My surgery is scheduled for December 18th. I will be going in on December 6th for some preop testing and education. I know that I will have to do a liquid diet for one week before the surgery and one week after. However, I am a person who likes to plan ahead and it's killing me to wait for 2-3 weeks for the "education." So, I was wondering about other people's liquid diets. What are/were your "rules" or parameters? Can you drink as much liquid as you want or do you have calorie restrictions? Is it any liquid, or are there certain types they want you to avoid. Just curious...

Good Luck tomorrow, Gardnergirl!