phowell

The program here goes by the weight you start with the bariatric center. It doesn't matter how much you lose post op because it is the first weight that they get that they count...hope this helps!

I haven't been banded yet (Jan 2nd) but I have a friend of mine that was banded in Nov. She was supposed to go in last week for her first fill and they decided she didn't need it even though she feels like she could eat and eat! :hungry: They told her that her proteins (chicken, fish) are still sticking so her restriction is fine. She just needs to be sure and eat these first and she won't be hungry. She said it is really working for her!

We don't have to do a liquid diet, we have been taking a class that tries to get us to work on nutrition and exercising. I was a little worried when I went to my pre-op appt and heard all of you doing liquid diets! I have only lost 4 pounds and not the 5% of my body weight that they said they wanted me to lose. I asked about going on a liquid diet and they told me to just be sure to practice all the things I had learned (small bites, chewing, no drinking with meals) and I would be fine. If I wanted to do one or two meal replacement shakes a day I could, but that I would be on a liquid diet long enough and they didn't want me to burn out on it! It is important to shrink your liver because it is over on the right front side of your body and that is where they put the scope in to see what they are doing so it comes across your body to your stomach. Hope this helps someone!

I think metabolism is at the base of everything. I also think that eating throughout the day makes more sense than trying to starve yourself--kind of like a fire....keep it fueled and it will burn. It is a lot easier to keep it going than to stop and start it! I think that is why it is so important to eat breakfast even if it is something small. A glass of milk or juice or anything like that. If you starve yourself for long enough and don't give yourself any food, obviously you will lose weight--but when you do eat your body will store it. As far as breakfast making you more hungry, it takes a little while for your body to adjust to it. I know that if I don't eat breakfast and then I eat lunch, I am VERY hungry by dinner. So kind of the same as being really hungry by lunch if I eat breakfast. Makes sense to me--no one has to agree:nervous

Mona....as one who did not have insurance for a very long time and had to pay for a lot of hospital pays: Check with the hospital you had to stay at. Often they will give you a discount or completely write off your hospital bill if you are having a hard time paying for it. Just call them and they will be able to help. Usually talk to the billing dept. Hope this relieves a little stress!:nervous Hope you are feeling better!

Well, the 2nd is going to be a NEW START for all three of us--what a way to start a new year!!!:whoo:It is so exciting to think what we will look like this time next year---we'll be little healthy hotties!! I am so excited! I can't believe how fast it is coming up! Ginger....you have really inspired me and I have started a semi-liquid diet before Wednesday. Just give myself a little kick in the pants--I Can Do It....LOL:clap2:

did you try to copy and paste the whole thing or just the smilie? Didn't know if mybe that made a difference or not. It doesn't seem that you have that much stuff--a lot of people have 2 or 3 tickers and stuff written....just a thought:cry

I can't believ surgery is only a couple of days away!!:whoo: Crazy. I keep dreaming about it!:notagree I am going nuts thinking about it!:eek: I will be glad when Wednesday has come and gone! How is everyone else holding up?

I had to steal the sig line from Chrisann! I love the punching emoticon--hope you don't mind! :clap2::clap2::clap2::nervous

This made me laugh, too! I remember my sister on a grapefruit and bacon diet. Eat those two things at every meal and you will lose weight. I think she gave up after the first week, but her cholesterol probably went up. My sister is pretty tiny and usally tries every other week to lose 5-10 pounds! She said she doesn't know about this whole surgery thing! I have a friend that was banded in Nov and had eaten a part of a hamburger (no bun) and was fine and then tried a meatball and was in major pain. I told my sis this story and she said "Why would you even do that?" I was confused. She said"Have surgery and then ruin it by eating a burger!" I was apalled. Apparently,(according to my skinny sister) once you have the band you are only allowed to eat salads, just so you know!!! LOL

I have laughed right through this thread! I would LOVE to be able to do 2 things: Cross my legs without having my fingers laced around my knee (trying to look cute, but knowing if I let go someone is going to lose an eye when my leg flings off!) Be able to wear a skirt and pantyhose so that I can look cute crossing my legs without the friction burn I get from pantyhose and my thighs rubbing together!

Ginger....I would love to talk to you....tried to pm you, but you don't accept them! Let me know where to get a hold of you and I can give you my e-mail and my IM info! The more support the better!:clap2:

I feel EXACTLY the same way! I am having a terrible time and am hoping that I can still go through with everything. We don't really have a pre op diet we are just supposed to make behavior changes and exercise. I actually asked if I should go on a liquid diet before surgery and was told that if I do to only have one maybe two a day so I don't get burned out on liquids since I will be on them for a while after surgery. I am just feeling like I need to eat all the white bread I can before surgery since I won't be able to have it after. I haven't really eaten that much, but boy do I want to!:hungry:

Bert...your surgery is coming up fast...are you excited?:whoo:Good luck with it!

I don't really have a pre op diet. Just to change my eating habits. Eat slowly (chew A LOT), think about why I am eating, put my fork down between bites, don't drink while eating--basically mindful eating. We also go to classes for 6 weeks for that and 12 weeks for exercise and nutrition. It has been very informative and I have made a lot of changes that are starting to come a little more naturally! We are supposed to work toward a weight goal that our dietician sets for us just so our livers are smaller at surgery--definitely hard at the Holidays! How is yours going? I have my pre-admit tomorrow morning! It is getting SO close!!!YEAH!

Ginger--we are getting banded the same day!! I go in on the 26th for my preadmit--it is coming so fast! I am so excited and nervous for what I will feel like after the band! Hard to believe I will finally be able to wear all of the skinny clothes that I love and have saved all of these years! Good luck!

One of my favorite parts of this poll is that it closes at exactly 9:46....that makes me laugh

I wanted to say this also. About 6 years ago a friend of mine had gastric bypass. I did the same to her--quizzing her and giving her statistics. Not because I didn't want her to have the surgery, but it sounded so risky to me. Plus she went and gained a bunch of weight just so she could have it done. She also made the comment that she wanted the surgery "to eat the pizza and lose weight too" I was just worried because I was afraid she was going into it with the wrong attitude. The doctor that performed it told her that she had just missed her window for laproscopic surgery so she had to be opened up because he did so many one way then so many the other. That made me nervous. She now has a scar from up on her chest all the way to her pubic bone! She has also started gaining the weight back because she never really changed anything she ate--2 wks after surgery she ate a big beef and bean burrito from Taco bell! I am not saying that this is you, and this is why people are saying things or not beins supportive--just maybe they are worried about you!

I think that no matter what, when, or where--people are afraid of change. They are afraid that by losing weight you will be a different person than the one they are used to.

H&P stands for history and physical. Just making sure everything is how it should be before surgery. No colds/infections. No chest pains or other complaints. No big deal! Good luck with all of your testing and your doc visit! It sure is exciting isn't it?!!?

Here you are required to complete 2 classes one is 12 weeks and is about nutrition and fitness. We actually exercise during the class for 45 mins with a trainer and spend 45 mins with a dietician going over ways to change our diets and any questions we might have. The other class is called a behavior change and it is about WHY you eat. It is quite interesting and very emotional. It is really trying to get you to change your life by making small changes instead of all of a sudden having the band and not having your behavior modified! I found it VERY useful! On a different note...I had my h&p today with my doc and the last thing I have to do is go to preadmit at the hospital! Coming up quick--less than 2 weeks!!!YAY!

I know a couple of people around here that didn't quit smoking and they knew by blood test. Ended up having their surgery postponed for 6 months....

What about New Year Knock-outs?

I was married to a paramedic and the best place to have any medic ID is on your wrist because inevitably (sp?) if something happens to you, you are going to need an IV and they are going to look at your wrist. A necklace may slide to the back of your neck and it might not be noticed until it is too late!

Racetrack--we are scheduled for the same day! I can't believe it will be here so fast. Seems like forever until I look at a schedule and then I get nervous, scared, and excited all at once!