Coo

I am glad things are looking up for you Thanks for your report and feelings. I am a mass of contradicting feels at the moment - I start the liquid diet tomorrow 2 weeks pre op. I will be taking your advice, and reading, walking, etc - can't help but be anxious though. I sort of fear too, what will I do when I can't "medicate" with food? THAT's really scary:omg: Thanks again for the tweak of confidence that I might be able to get through this

Thanks and congratulations to all who have been banded and reported it. And yeah, us nervous nellies appreciate full details

Hi guys I am terrified of the pre op diet, let alone what will have to get dealt with post op. I know how desperate I want the end result, I just don't know if I am strong enough to cope through all this. I have very sketchy instructions re the diet. I rang my surgeon today to double check as he said "you probably won't need to do optifast". So I got the letter and it doesn't mention it. His secretary seemed surprised, and contacted him, and he said, well "if she can tolerate it that would be good". What does this mean? I have to just have Optifast? I can just diet and cut out lots? The anaesthetist secretary seemed surprised I wasn't already on it, although its not two weeks preop yet. Has anyone else info on this vague instruction from their surgeon?

Congrats to all who have just been banded, I'm looking forward to heating your day by day stories.

Congrats New Bandsters Keep us updated, as I've still just over 2 weeks to go. Its all still pretty scary!

Hi Carrot06 Have you started the Optifast yet? If so, how's it going?

Hi Sades! I am anxiously awaiting my banding on October 22. I am still reading the forum every day, but I'm still pretty much apprehensive and feeling quite low. I think I should be feeling much more confident, but perhaps with time. There are some great supportive people here, and so much info and support. My weight is identical to yours! Good luck

Hi Just trying to get my head around all the preparations and my future, and I was wondering if there are any vegetarians ont he forum? My booklet says I will never be able to eat asparagus and other very fibrous foods again, but nearly everything I read refers to steak, chicken etc - no lentils, and heavy fibre diet. Anyone?

You look fabulous Jacqui! When were you banded? I am sure you have worked hard at it - I've never worn a bikini in my entire life!

Good luck for Saturday Jude

Hi Jude, Me too - I don't know if I am squirming with embarrassment or the enormous sense of failure, either way, only my husband knows about my pending banding. I feel like I am judged on what I look like etc now, and I am just not ready for the scrutiny and then the conversations about me I know will take place when I am not around. Good luck with your surgery!

Oh, was this YOU saying this - I sounds like ME saying this - this is exactly how I feel. And I'm now stressed and anxious about having my "crutch" gone - what do I do then? I am still awaiting my pre-op instructions.....thought they would have been here by now.

Really JulieNYC ? This is encouraging - thank you for the info. I had some fresh pineapple today and thought, oh, no more of that. A lot of reading is good, but the more I read the more scared I get! Thanks for the info

Hi Fluffy I'm really nervous too - I keep telling myself, WHY are you doing this to yourself? And then I let myself feel.....you know, and then I know why I'm doing this. I'm realy really worried about the vomiting and coping in general post op.:eek: Even now, I keep telling myself that I "should" be able to lose the weight on my own, but of course I've been trying to do that for 20 years, the usual yoyo story. Have you started the liquid diet yet?

Thanks for the info I've been veggie (ovo lacto) since 91, and when I did that I gave up smoking and lost 10kg similtaneously - but I couldn't even drink coffee for 12 months - the association of EVERYTHING to smoking was too great. My biggest thing was "making the connection". For me personally, the trays of beautifully presented meat in the supermarket were "faceless". When I made the connection with what it actually was that I was trying to get my kids and myself to eat, it was easy. Now, chocolate, sugar etc etc......well that's why I'm on this forum. I brought up our four boys ovo lacto veggies too. We've never had any defiiciencies, but we are not vegan. I was eating some fresh pineapple today and I thought, oh, I won't be able to have this after 3 weeks time. I must say, I'm really confused :eek::confused: - what will I be able to eat, what won't I, what AMOUNT will I be able to eat , will it work, will it be worth it. I guess if I can live on dhal and oatmeal for a while I'll get through, but I'm not looking forward to the first month of adjustment.

Hi Everyone! I have made this very scary decision, and I am hoping reading all your posts will help me through. I see a lot of common positive feedback, but I am really anxious about the first month, and also, about "what will people think?". I asked my surgeon if he felt people would be predjudiced if they knew THIS was why I was having time off work etc. And advised me that it was probably best not to tell people of my procedure (I'm get panic attacks anyway) as they do tend to be a little prejudiced about weight loss surgery. I have enough questions to fill a book! I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences, and how you got through the first days. Also, having no desire to overeat - is this true? As you can see, although I know I am doing something that I really want and need, I am pretty anxious about the actual process and dealing with people! :omg: Coo

Hi, another Perthite here! Being banded on October 22. Very nervous too. Any updates from those of you who are now banded? Did you all tell people what your surgery was? I feel pretty private most of the time, and cringe at the thought of telling people. Nice to see some more locals on the board - I only found it a few days back :rose:

I am so sorry for those of you still struggling and not losing - I really feel for you :cry I am not being banded until 22 October, and so am reading everything I can. I have read that the volume per meal should be 1/4 cup, and somewhere else about 1 - 1 1/2 cups of food. Is there an average amount to strive for, or that is recommended? I was seriously hoping as I started to lose, I would have some energy and incentive to move more, but its so hard right now. So I can understand the exercise thing too - I gues we all can or we wouldn't be here :rose:

Thanks for the info. I am hoping I'll be able to eat mild, home made Indian food as I can cook it low fat and it will be tasty. It is also soft, moist and lentils are full of Protein and yummy!

October 22 for me!

Well done you! I've been thinking about this today. I can't stand to be seen, so the thought of having my husband do the pictures ugh :rose:. My surgery is October 22 - good luck with yours !

Thanks for Sharing - all the positive articles and info are starting to give me some confidence that it will all work out :rose:

Wow, thank you so much Wendell :rose: I won't say its answered everything, but it answers so many, such a great list. I'm a mass of emotions right now, so its something I can read and re-read. thanks again!

Apart from being so much smaller, I desperately want to NOT care about food, you know? It rules me, I don't want to rule it so much, as not care at all! I just want to eat if hungry, and otherwise, it can sit on its own without me

This is how I feel. I sort of feel like, I'll never be able to eat again, so I have to do it all know - totalling shooting myself in the foot:help: Do others feel like you are headed to the gallows instead of a new life full of the hope of a slim and healthy body with much more confidence and self esteem?