Florida Pete

Hey All 30 somethings! Well some of you I have already run across on the forums and others I look forward to chatting with. I am 36 and will be banded in two weeks (Dec. 5th). Getting banded was no easy solution until my son was boy a little over a year ago. I want to be around a long time for him and there is no better way to make sure that happens then to do the right thing in making my life healthier. Beyond that all the reasons are the same as mosts. Ever wanna chat or just get a guys view on things drop me a note. I'm always up for chatting and meeting new people!

That is beyond great that you went in there and not only did you stay in the gym but you stayed and worked out!!! A big congrats to you on doing that. It is the right move to get in there and to work out. The more we can do now before our surgery the better off we will be for our surgery and the better off we will be AFTER our surgery. I am not sure how well I would have been in getting out and walking after my surgery if I didn't get myself moving before hand. I really thought about it and it came down to this. If I am sore from walking now and it tires me out now how would I be after having the operation when my body is trying to recover. So with that thought I have pushed myself to get used to walking nightly and to getting out and doing more. :cursing:

I gave up caffeine a long time ago simply because with high blood pressure it was not good for my heart to have that added stressor. Personally I have been soda free for over 3 weeks now and I don't miss it like I thought I would. About 6 months ago my wife and I made the decision to not keep soda in the house. That really helped cut down the amount of soda I was drinking. I don't drink it at work so that really helped too. So simply all that was left was when we ate out. I started drinking iced tea instead. Yes I know tea has a very small amount of caffiene but it is minimal compared to coke, pepsi, mt dew, coffee, and more. I have thought a lot about beer also. I have never been a big beer drinker, well not since my early 20's, but I still like having a beer while watching football or BBQing. I have resigned myself to the fact that if I want a spirited beverage that I will either be drinking wine or mixed drinks. The reasons everyone has already talked about. What you have to do is think for yourself in what are you willing to do. How much are you commited to this new life you are faced with. Is that soda and is that caffiene worth giving up being thin and healthy? It's a choice we all have to make.

I wanted to vote in the pole but there is no option for my answer.... No because I have chosen on my own without the doctors telling me that I need to drink better beverages for me. Simply put I really have enjoyed soda for several years. I was a die hard Pepsi drinking for a long long time. Later switched to Sprite to get away from the caffeine. With knowing that soda can cause the stomach to stretch not to mention that it really provides no nutritional value I simply stopped drinking soda all together. So now it's water, iced tea, and crystal light.

Having a 13 month old I have actually thought about this too. Some of the foods we have fed him over the last several months haven't smelt to bad. I have yet to taste any but my wife has and she's almost always said they aren't to bad. I just might have to try some once in the mushies stage. I am guessing also that a jar of baby food is also like the perfect size for portion control for the mushies stage after surgery. Does that sound right to those of you who already had the surgery?

Welcome Bandtastic to the challenge! I completely understand and sympathize with you over the gym. I haven't ever gotten myself to even walk into a gym to get the membership because of my size even though I know people wouldn't care. The best I have ever done is used the gym at different apartment complexes I have lived at. But even still now at the place we're living at now I haven't used the gym. The good news is I have still gotten out and walked every day since I took on this challenge. I am even introducing walking during lunch at work 3 days a week starting this past Monday. Woot!

Wow! This is great to see so many people getting banded in December! Good luck to everyone with your tests and lab work. If you haven't been over to the December Bandsters section of these forums head on over there and see what everyones chatting about in there.

Wow! Congrats! That is a big accomplishment! I am still doing good with the walking! I made it through the weekend and made sure to get out and walk. It felt really good.

Also make sure when you get the code from www.tikergactory.com that you get the "bb" code.

In the Pre-op Changes I talked about my struggles at once I got my surgery date and shared the same as others about eating the last meals. But since then I start changing. I actually got my surgery date setup back in September so I had done my feasting, as I would call it, back in late September and early October. By mid October I started cutting things out. I started having an Atkins shake in the morning for breakfast. Then after two weeks I started a shake in the morning and a shake at lunch with like a banana or an Atkins bar between meals. Now today I officially start my pre-op diet so now I have to watch my dinners closer. From all the last meals that I had consumed I had put on another 8 lbs but since my pre diet to today starting my official diet I have dropped that weight and then some. It's great to know that I am heading in the right direction. I cannot wait to see how much more I can lose before my surgery.

If my story can help you that's great Cali! We all need help from time to time and this is a great place to share with one another how we're doing. I have read about so many others on the forums here that have really inspired me to work hard at this. Go Gators!

Thank you Cali. My self control has been more about determination then self control. It's like people have talked about in order to be successful with surgery and with the weight loss it is a big part of changing our minds and our thought processes. Changing specifically how we think about food. Trust me in that I have very much been a binge eater and an emotional eater since I was a child. But now I have to realize that I eat for nourishment and not for any other reason. Sure I can enjoy the food but I can enjoy it in smaller amounts. I have to admit today I had a weaker moment in that I was making bacon to have bacon turkey patties and I had a couple of more pieces then I should have. But I don't spend time beating myself up over that. If I was to do that daily over and over then I really have a problem. But the fact is I have been working at it and I am determined to be in the right condition to allow my surgeon to perform this surgery and I am determined to once again feel great about myself. So for me it's know that in the end it is all up to me if I am going to make a success out of this or not. It is up to me and no other person. I have to take responsibility for my life and my well being. So that's my story. LOL

Well about a month ago I started slowly changing my diet to get into my pre-op diet. My pre-op diet is basically like most others. A shake at breakfast, mid morning snack, a shake at lunch, mid afternoon snack, and then a sensible dinner. I am restricted to 30 carbs a day and 1200 calories a day. So first I started one shake in the morning. Then I went to morning and lunch with the snacks between meals. I still was eating whatever I wanted at dinner and for the most part however much I wanted. Ok so the shakes in the morning lasted 2 weeks and then a week into the two shakes a day I decided to weigh myself. Prior to the shakes I weighed myself and I was at 462 lbs. Ok so as I was saying 3 weeks into my new diet routine I weighed myself and I gained. I was 464 lbs! I felt defeated and frustrated. I started to question if this whole thing was going to work. I had already cut down the amount of food I was eating every, of course not as drastic as it will be once I am banded but still I should have been losing or atleast that's what I thought. Well ok so I didn't give up and the next week I continued the 2 shakes a day with the snacks between the meals followed up with my dinner. I started to watch the dinner a little closer and then added one more big step. I started walking for 15 to 20 minutes a day. I have always known that I would need to start exercising to really help myself through this process so I might as well start now was my thought process. Well that has proven to be one of the best steps. So here I am today officially on the first day of my pre-op diet and I decided to weigh myself. 452 lbs!!! Since I started watching my dinner closer and started the walking I had lost 14 lbs!!! Now I feel great about what I am doing and know that I am moving in the right direction with all this. I feel confident that the LapBand will most definately be the right tool to help me become the man I was once years ago.

Everyone talks about setting goals for yourself and this has been on my mind a lot. What goals was I going to set for myself. Of course I am like well I want to be thin and I want to weigh about 200 lbs. Ok yeah that's like the ultimate goal but really that's down the road. What goals do I set as my milestones? So I started thinking about it. As of today (11/14/08) I weigh 452 lbs. So my first goal is to reach that 400 lbs mark. I am currently 3 weeks away from my surgery date. I am in full swing of my pre-op diet and have begun an exercise routine daily. Right now it is simply getting out and going for a walk daily but I have to admit that is more then what I have done for a long long long time. The only other goal I really have set is that I want to get to the point that I can once again running in for exercise. I used to run about 7 miles a day. I really enjoyed it. I pretty much have always been a morning person so years ago I used to get up early right before sunrise and go out for my run. I would get to see the sun come up and really just enjoyed that time to myself. So I hope one day to get back to that. The only other goal other then my final goal is getting down to a mens size 42. Right now I wear a mens 56 and on the higher side of 5X for my shirts. So why is the 42 my magical number? It's as simple as this. The by in large is the largest size in the department stores that most of them carry for men. I can remember when I started wearing the 42's I could still get my jeans at Walmart, Target, and regular department stores but then the 44's and 46's on up I had to start looking at places like Casual Male Big & Tall store. As I got larger this became an exclusive for me. That and the J.C.Penny's Big & Tall catelog. So yes the 42 pant size is a big milestone to me. So for now it's getting down to 400lbs. After that I think it's getting down to a mens size 42. Beyond that is to far right now that I just am not ready to set those goals. Oh and my running is a goal but that is a long term goal to me unlike the 400lbs is my immediate shorter term goal.

It's crazy I tell you. I am originally from Oregon, lived in the DC Metro for 4 years, and now in Florida for two years. Here it is today and I am wearing shorts and flip flops at work. Sunday it is going to be cold here and what do we consider cold? 69 degrees will be our high. Although today I think it's suppose to reach like 81 or 82. Oh and mini goals I think are really important. Short term goals that are obtainable and don't seem so daunting as the long term one is.

Don't be nervous. Be excited that we are only 3 weeks away from that big day of change to our new lives! I actually do have some nervousness too but I am more excited and optistic about it right now.

Everyone talks about setting goals for yourself and this has been on my mind a lot. What goals was I going to set for myself. Of course I am like well I want to be thin and I want to weigh about 200 lbs. Ok yeah that's like the ultimate goal but really that's down the road. What goals do I set as my milestones? So I started thinking about it. As of today (11/14/08) I weigh 452 lbs. So my first goal is to reach that 400 lbs mark. I am currently 3 weeks away from my surgery date. I am in full swing of my pre-op diet and have begun an exercise routine daily. Right now it is simply getting out and going for a walk daily but I have to admit that is more then what I have done for a long long long time. The only other goal I really have set is that I want to get to the point that I can once again running in for exercise. I used to run about 7 miles a day. I really enjoyed it. I pretty much have always been a morning person so years ago I used to get up early right before sunrise and go out for my run. I would get to see the sun come up and really just enjoyed that time to myself. So I hope one day to get back to that. The only other goal other then my final goal is getting down to a mens size 42. Right now I wear a mens 56 and on the higher side of 5X for my shirts. So why is the 42 my magical number? It's as simple as this. The by in large is the largest size in the department stores that most of them carry for men. I can remember when I started wearing the 42's I could still get my jeans at Walmart, Target, and regular department stores but then the 44's and 46's on up I had to start looking at places like Casual Male Big & Tall store. As I got larger this became an exclusive for me. That and the J.C.Penny's Big & Tall catelog. So yes the 42 pant size is a big milestone to me. So for now it's getting down to 400lbs. After that I think it's getting down to a mens size 42. Beyond that is to far right now that I just am not ready to set those goals. Oh and my running is a goal but that is a long term goal to me unlike the 400lbs is my immediate shorter term goal. :cool:

Well about a month ago I started slowly changing my diet to get into my pre-op diet. My pre-op diet is basically like most others. A shake at breakfast, mid morning snack, a shake at lunch, mid afternoon snack, and then a sensible dinner. I am restricted to 30 carbs a day and 1200 calories a day. So first I started one shake in the morning. Then I went to morning and lunch with the snacks between meals. I still was eating whatever I wanted at dinner and for the most part however much I wanted. Ok so the shakes in the morning lasted 2 weeks and then a week into the two shakes a day I decided to weigh myself. Prior to the shakes I weighed myself and I was at 462 lbs. Ok so as I was saying 3 weeks into my new diet routine I weighed myself and I gained. I was 464 lbs! I felt defeated and frustrated. I started to question if this whole thing was going to work. I had already cut down the amount of food I was eating every, of course not as drastic as it will be once I am banded but still I should have been losing or atleast that's what I thought. Well ok so I didn't give up and the next week I continued the 2 shakes a day with the snacks between the meals followed up with my dinner. I started to watch the dinner a little closer and then added one more big step. I started walking for 15 to 20 minutes a day. I have always known that I would need to start exercising to really help myself through this process so I might as well start now was my thought process. Well that has proven to be one of the best steps. So here I am today officially on the first day of my pre-op diet and I decided to weigh myself. 452 lbs!!! Since I started watching my dinner closer and started the walking I had lost 14 lbs!!! Now I feel great about what I am doing and know that I am moving in the right direction with all this. I feel confident that the LapBand will most definately be the right tool to help me become the man I was once years ago. :cool:

Actually this is very common. Most people talk about the "last meals". I know that I did this for several weeks too. Whole bag of Doritos with sour cream and salsa, lots of pizza, big bowls of sugar cereals, etc etc. I think almost everyone goes through this.

Hey Everyone, Ok here is the link to the banner. http://d.imagehost.org/0146/holi-hot.png Now go to the editor for your signature CLICK HERE and then put after the link with no spaces. This will add it to your signature. Let me know if you have any problems with it. Like I have said before I will change the banner if another name gets voted in. :thumbup:

That's great that you are going to Dr. Kuri. To bad we're not the same day but still the same week. Just for anyone wondering about Medical Tourism and going to Mexico for surgery here is a news article that CBS channel 13 in Sacramento did about the Good and the Bad sides. Dr. Pedro Kuri was shown as the good side to medical tourism. cbs13.com - CBS13 Investigates: Surgery South Of The Border

Just checking in! Still going strong and doing great with the walking. My wife and I were talking about it last night while on our walk how we both need to really push ourselves to make sure we get out there every day. We both are sleeping better at night and feel like we already have more enegry throughout the day. Keep it coming!!!

Well really that is great to have your surgery moved up! Congrats on that and don't stress to much over it. Remember this means you get to start your new life earlier rather then later! :thumbup: A big congrats on getting the insurance approval! Keep us up to date on your surgery date and all!

My wife and I went walking again last night. With the time change it sure does make the evenings feel a lot later then they are. I get off work at 5, run over to the day care and pick up my son, and then meet my wife at home. We change quick into walking clothes and head right out. It's not fully dark out when we're walking but the sun sure is almost completely down by then. With the walking we have been doing pretty well. I do get to the point that I am breaking out in a sweat which has never been that hard to do but it also tells me that I am doing enough to get my heart rate up and maintain that heart rate for atleast 15 minutes to burn off calories.

You bet if we get another name that I will make a new banner!