ljv52

Julie, congratulations on your weight loss. You were beautiful before, but even more beautiful now. Thank you for sharing your photos and your story. I am having my surgery 1/27/09 and it's nice to see photos showing such great results. You're definitely an inspiration.

Hi Ms Kelly -- I agree, this site is a god-send. I've learned so much from reading posts here. How are you doing with your pre-surgery diet? I'm doing great -- I'm so ready for this, nothing is bothering me. I went to the dr. today for my final check up before surgery and learned I lost eight pounds since starting it on the 20th. So that is great. I'm logging all my food onto myplate.com which I really like because all the word is done for you there. Good luck on Tuesday - be sure to let us know how you're doing after surgery.

Hi Ms Kelly -- I agree, this site is a god-send. I've learned so much from reading posts here. How are you doing with your pre-surgery diet? I'm doing great -- I'm so ready for this, nothing is bothering me. I went to the dr. today for my final check up before surgery and learned I lost eight pounds since starting it on the 20th. So that is great. I'm logging all my food onto myplate.com which I really like because all the word is done for you there. Good luck on Tuesday - be sure to let us know how you're doing after surgery.

Hi Danielle -- do you go to the support meetings at the clinic? Have you done well with your lap band. I'm looking forward to my surgery. Three more days! Linda

Yes, I'm probably too well stocked with Protein supplement. I bought unjury -- strawberry, chicken Soup, chocolate and vanilla as well as some fruit flavored Isopure. My real name is Linda -- hopefully we'll meet at the support group. Have you ever met anyone else here on this forum who had surgery at our clinic? Linda

Gas x strips are for after surgery, to help with the gas pains. I can't wait to get this done. Only 5 more days until Band-day! Yippee!

I'm doing the same with my shakes - the non-fat vanilla ice cream just makes them so much creamier! I'm putting fresh strawberries in mine. Also have added sugar-free peaches, which is also yummy.

I went shopping today for my stuff to take to hospital -- liquid tyleno, Claritin and Gas X strips. Also had to buy magnisium caltrate to take on Monday. Stocked up on some more jello, etc. for after surgery. I'm ready, I just hope the rest of this week goes fast!

Lovebugs, I'm sooo excited! I was supposed to have the surgery last year but got very ill in July (kidney failure) and had to recover from that enough, so I'm just more than ready. Do you go to the support group meetings? I haven't been yet, but hopefully will go after the surgery. I really love everyone at the center -- they are all so nice. Smolak is Calahan's partner. I'm not really too nervous, just wanna get it done and over with! Thanks for replying.

Hi all, I'm being banded on 27th also. Looking forward to starting my new life also. Good luck to you all! Linda

It is weird how different the pre-op and post-op diets are. I'm on a 2-week liquid pre-op then I do 2 days of clear liquids, then 2 weeks of full liquids, and then 2 weeks of pureed food or liquids (it's up to me, I guess I'll be able to puree some and/or just do protein shakes). So, 6 weeks of pretty much liquids -- so far it's not as bad as I thought it would be. As you said, I'm so ready for it and once I make up my mind, I'm usually okay. It's the long-term that gets me. That's why this is such a miracle tool -- to never have to lose the same 100 pounds again is great! I can't wait until 1-27!

Hi everyone. I'm scheduled first on the 27th -- 7:30 a.m. I'm glad I'm first so I don't have to sit around waiting. I had my pre-op appts. last week, started pre-op diet on 20th. Are any of you restricted from caffeine? And if so, do you know why? I read somewhere that they believe caffeine can cause you to binge eat. I just really love my one cup of coffee in the morning. But I've done okay on the pre-op -- it's amazing that after all these years I never understood that protein makes you feel full. I'm using Unjury and Isopure protein powders. I am excited and can't wait to get this done and start my new life. I'm so exccited to know that Ill never have to lose this hundred pounds again -- I've done it before, and here I am -- but it's great to know we don't have to do it ever again. What a dream come true! Good luck to you all.

Hi everyone. My surgery is scheduled on 1-27 at Mercy Center for Weight Reduction. My surgeon is Dr. Smolec. Would love to hear from anyone who had surgery with him. Thanks.

Good luck to all of you having surgery tomorrow. When you get up and around, I'd love to hear how you're doing. My surgery is 1/27.

Thanks for your response Janet and your warm welcome. Day 2 of my pre-surgery diet went well. The V-8 soups are fabulous -- I've tried both the tomato and red pepper ones and I was so surprised they were good!

Hi Janet and everyone. I am relatively new to this site. Last summer I was waiting for insurance approval and was reading entries everyday and then got very ill and had to put surgery off until now. I'm excited because my surgery is scheduled for Jan. 27. I just started my pre-op liquid diet today and it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. I am well stocked with Iospure, Carnation Instant Breakfast, sugar free jello and pudding, etc. I had major back surgery ten years ago and since then have continued to shrink in height from 5'4" to now 5'1". I had lost 100 lbs. 20 years ago on my own and kept it off about 6 years -- I was single and my son was out of high school and I didn't have to cook for anyone. I had plenty of time to go to the gym and I worked out at least 2 hours every day. Then I remarried and had to start cooking for my hubby and three young step kids and didn't have time to keep up with the exercise. So I gained back that 100 pounds plus a few more. And because of the hight shrinkage, I'm actually much bigger even though I'm not that much heavier. I need the lap band tool to limit my food intake cause I do love to cook and eat. Once I researched the lap band, I decided I've spent 56 years of eating whatever the heck I wanted and now I can handle limiting my food. I also have a 2 year old granddaughter and I want to be around to see her grow up. Thanks for the menitoring site - it's inspiring to read your stories -- you've all done so great -- I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you better.

Hi Judy, welcome and hang in there. I had to delay my surgery last year because of health problems but am finally scheduled for 1-27-09. I'm on my pre-op diet and am looking forward to my journey. The waiting is hard, but have faith, and I'm sure you'll make it through. TQ, I'm thrilled to hear you are already rid of knee/ankle pain. I have a bad back and bad knees and can't walk very far or long, so I am hoping to improve after some weight loss -- you give me hope.

Hi Kari! Started my liquid pre-op diet today -- and it's not bad -- I had stocked up on Isopure and Carnation instant breakfast, etc. I can also eat some veggie soups (pureed) and yogurt, etc. I can handle it. I just tell myself I've spent 56 years pretty much eating whatever I wanted (except for the many diets) so I can now get serious and eat correctly to stay healthy. Good luck to both you and your sister as we start our journey.

Hi Karie! You and I are also band sisters as my surgery is also scheduled for 1-27-09 (even though our surgeries will actually take place one day apart because of time zones). Do you have to do a liquid pre-op diet? I start mine tomorrow (1/13). I'm looking forward to the surgery.

Congrats on the new baby! I was pre-approved last June and then had a major illness which prevented me from getting banded. When I called my surgeon's office to schedule my surgery after my illness, they contacted the insurance company for me and I was re-approved in a matter of DAYS, not weeks. Good luck and I hope your re-approval goes as quickly as mine did. I have my surgery scheduled for 1-27-09 and start the pre-surgery diet tomorrow. I'm excited.

Hi to all the New Year Hotties! I originally got approval in June, 2008 from my insurance company, but I was very ill from kidney failure in July, Aug. and Sept. Finally got over my illness and got clearance from my kidney doctor to have the surgery and had to get re-approved by the insurance company. That finally happened and my surgery is scheduled for January 27! I start my pre-surgery diet tomorrow and I'm very happy to finally proceed. What I'm looking forward to is never having to lose 100 pounds again. I was successful once before many years ago, but the weight came back after major back surgery when I couldn't exercise as much as before. My surgeon is Mark Smolik in Des Moines,IA.

Hi, i've been enjoying this site for several months. I am waiting on insurance approval. I am going to Mercy Center for Weight Reduction. My surgeon is Dr. Smolik. They've been doing lapbands for about 1-1/2 years. Is there anyone out there from this facility or who had this surgeon? I'm excited and anxious to get insurance approval and hoping they won't require a supervised diet or anything.

I'm still waiting for insurance approval but have a question. With as slowly as you need to eat and putting fork/spoon down between bites and waiting 1 to 2 mins. after each bite, your food must get cold in a hurry. How do you get used to eating cold food? :ohmy: