Kat817

I am being banded on the 24th....and am excited in spite of this pre-op diet vs. Easter Dinner!!! :eek: Kat

Hi everyone! My husbands insurance refused me due to not having 12 months of MEDICALLY SUPERVISED weight loss efforts, including regular meeting with a nutritionist, and a medically supervised exercise program. We live in a rather rural area, and this wasn't something I was prepared to try to do for the next year, so we opted to go self pay. In the end, I received a settlement from a car accident I had been injured in, and we used that. Like my husband pointed out, if I had been trying to do the 12 month thing for insurance, that accident that laid me up would have ruined it, it would have interupted my consecutive 12 months! I am being banded one week from tomorrow!! (04/24/06). I am so excited it keeps me going through this damn pre-op diet, while I help prepare Easter Dinner!!! It will be worth it! Good Luck to all of you working to get a banding date!!! Kat

You look awesome Mandy! :clap2: I never saw a before picture (I am a newbie) and I would never have imagined you looking any heavier, you look like you have always been nice and thin!! Wooo Hooo ... You have inspired me for sure!!! Kat

I don't know of any drink mixes per se made with splenda Mandy, but....there are some you can mimic using the Splenda sweetened Sugar free syrups from DaVinci. And some of the flavors (they have a bunch!) make the protein shakes much more palatable! You can check out the flavors offered at www.davincigourmet.com . Kat

I can so relate Kristielynn!!! I too am pre-op dieting it. I am sick of optifast!!! But even more sick of being this fat...so there ya go, I keep drinking!!! Good luck to you, I get banded the 24th....am VERY excited, and a tad nervous as well!! Kat

Glad you are feeling better now Boo. Thought I would let you (or anyone else it might help) know that if the shakes are still off limits, and you need clear liquids, I had one recommended to me. I bought it today...have yet to try it. It is zero carb isopure. This is in a 20 oz. bottle and comes in several flavors, and has 40 g. of protein per bottle. I was told about it on another thread. She did say it helped if you added a packet of sweetner to it, because it was very tart. But if dehydration is an issue, and getting your protein is as well, you may want to try it, it would help with both. I am pre-op dieting with the high protein, and am going to give it a try this evening. I bought mine at GNC. Good Luck, can't wait to join you in Band-ster land!! kat

The change in your body is amazing...CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! I know it took a lot of determination and hard work. I have to say tho, what really impressed me as I looked at your pictures is that as you appear to have lost the weight you seem to have gained the confidence....from refusing to look at the camera to posing!!! I think that is awesome!!! You have every reason to be proud. I can't wait to join you! I get my band on the 24th! Now get out there and strut your stuff!! Kat

My cousin, and a friend and her husband all had lap band surgery ( which prompted my own interest!) by Dr. Aceves in Mexicali. They have all done wonderfully. My friend and her husband run their own business, and have been back at work very soon after. My sister in law and I have scheduled with him and will be banded on the 24th. After seeing his past "work" and how his patient advocates have been so attentive, I am not worried in the least. Good luck to you!!

Glad to hear all went well, I am feeling a boit nervous, but also jealous as hell!!! I want mine done and behind me!! Pre-op diet is going so so....not seeing any weight loss, but I am sure it is healthier anyway!! Hope all continues to go well for you, I'll be watching to see how you do! Kat

Wow, as I read through these threads, my heart goes out to those of you who suffered abuse at the hands of those who should love you most...your family. I am proud of you all for making the strides in life that you obviously have...AMAZING!!! My "why am I FAT" story is different. I was raised in a loving environment, was catered to with my eating, if I didn't like what was for dinner, my Mom made me something else. I remained thin my entire childhood. My Dad struggles with his weight, but nothing like where I am now, he is 6'4" and has topped out at 250 pounds, and he exercises, and watches what he eats, and keeps it under 230. He has serious health issues with his arteries and heart, so he is very into keeping it under control. My Mom is a little heavy, nothing extreme, has never had to buy plus sizes! My only brother is stick thin, and well over 40 yrs. old. he was injured in a car accident when he was 18, and is mentally challenged now, although coping and living independently, and self supporting (more than many "normal" people seem able to do!). Now me...as I say, I was very thin, through my childhood, first marriage, having a child, back down to under 150 lbs, and at 5'9" that was fine. Then I made a massive mistake, and married my 2nd husband. He was abusive from the beginning, he broke both my bones and my spirit for awhile. People always ask why I stayed. When my ex would get in a rage, he would threaten my family...not just me. He would say things like maybe it was time to pay my brother a visit, or go tell my Grandparents a thing or 2. So I stayed and took it. THEY did not marry him I did, I could not be responsible for getting them hurt. And he would do it, he threatened a friend, and hospitalized him. So I beleived. Well, into the marriage a couple of years, he wanted to move to TX, I saw it as my way out, I had no family in Texas for him to threaten me with, so we moved. One day as I was biding my time, we were in the laundry area of our apt. complex when this overweight woman come in, and he tells me, "if you ever gain weight like that you are GONE!" And the mold was set, I did everything in my power to gain, I ate butter straight out of the Country Crock tub! And then I found Weight Gain through GNC........well true to his word, he hated it, and the beatings got worse. I finally made arrangements for my daughter (from the first marriage--who's Dad had now also moved out of state) to go visit Grandma back in NM. And I was ready to make my move to leave. Things did not go real well, he went into yet another rage, and did his best to kill me. 7 stab wounds, and 3 broken bones later, I finally managed to leave...albeit by ambulance, but he was on the run, and I was OUT!! I was elated! I flew home the day I was released from the hospital. But my eating to be "unseen" had just begun. I no longer trusted my judgement in men or anything else for that matter. I did not want anyone to look at me. Being fat was fine. I found a friend in food. And so I ate, ate and ate some more!! Meanwhile they finally found and arrested my husband, and I had to go back for the trial. But they locked him away for awhile on an attempted murder charges. He eventually got out, and come back to New Mexico and harrassed me, but has finally been locked up again for assault on a P.O. and an armed robbery and shooting with the intent to kill, which was his final felony strike, so will not even be eligible for parole until 2036. I feel safe. But habits had been born, and nurtured, and still I ate. A lot!! I love potatoes...fried, mashed, any way... chips, comfort foods, are (were!!!) my big downfall. But also finances played a part. When I was struggling to restart after all of this, I knew a nice lean piece of meat and a salad was healthier for my daughter and I, but macaroni & cheese out of a box and hot dogs were what the budget allowed. And ill fitting teeth following mine being knocked out, made pasta and potatoes much easier to eat. Well way back when between husband #1 and husband #2 I met a man and I do mean a MAN...made of what ALL men should be made of! We dated, even lived together for awhile, but he was off to school in the big city, and I could not go (divorce restrictions on leaving the state with our daughter), so we went our separate ways. I continued through the years to be in contact with his family. Well one night he called me out of the blue. We talked for 5 hours on the phone. For the first time I felt ashamed about my looks. I told him, he seemed to be unconcerned. He come to town, and once again took control of my heart. He has never, ever said one negative thing about my weight. But he is of normal weight for his height, and is quite active. He loves his motorcycle and wants me to go with him to ride, and I feel like everyone is looking at me. He wanted to buy me leathers for the bike, I told him it would take 10 cows! We have been married now for 7 years, and I am finally happy again, and trust him, and eventually my own judgement, and I no longer feel the need to hide behind this. Now the decision was easy.....doing it will be much harder. Hubby supports the decision, and will be right by my side as I go through it on the 24th of this month. He has changed his own habits to help me along already. He has begun making lunch while at work his big meal, and therefore we have a light dinner. I feel ready for this next step, and look forward to feeling what you all have talked about as you lose the weight. As I go forward with this I look forward to the support I am sure I will find here!! Kat

As I continue my pre-op diet, you all give me hope....I WILL eat real food again!!! Congrats to everyone on the weight lost, and the effort put into it, I hope I can do as well! I will be banded on the 24th!! WOO HOOO!!! Kat

Thanks for the great advice...I will take all I can get! Sounds like it is time to dig to the bottom of the lingerie drawer and find the granny panties and the loose worn out bras!! I KNEW there was a reason I never throw anything away! I am going to make sure to mention to my Dr. about having to wear a bra home so maybe that will help. I appreciate the help! Kat

I am scheduled for April 24th. Actually one of my sister in laws and I are going together! The buddy program we deicided! We have a 3 1/2 hour drive to the airport and will be flying to Mexico. I am somewhat worried about the return trip...but I figure one way or the other we will make it. Hubby is going to be there, he will make sure I get home ok!!! I am so excited I wish it had been done already! Kat

My insurance wouldn't cover me either. I was planning to use savings and income taxes. Ironically though, a car accident that could have easily taken my life, ended up helping to save it, and I am using my settlement to pay for my surgery, which is scheduled for the 24th of this month!!! Yea!!! I am on my way!!! Good luck to you, and hope to see you back here so we can compare our experiences & keep each other motivated in the right direction!

Wow! Some of these I find pretty scary! I will be flying home 3 days after surgery...so I will have to wear the seatbelt on the plane. I may have to ask for a seatbelt extender...do they still use them or will I have to buy an extra seat to get one? And bra-less? No Way!!! My girls are free only in the privacy of home, I would turn and knock over some unsuspecting flight attendant or something!!! Seriously I am way too big to be braless in public! I will be banded on the 24th of this month, I wasn't worried at all...til now!

I have not got an exact date yet, we are waiting and working to fit in with hubbies time off from work, but it will be this month. I am SOOOO excited!!! I am 45 and inthe 4 corners area of New Mexico, USA.:clap2:

I don't know if this will help anyone else or not, but it has helped me. I as a general rule drink decaffeinated (sp?) drinks, iced tea, even an occasional cola. When I get a headache, (and I used to get them really bad as a PMS symptom prior to my hysterectomy) I drink something with high caffeine, and it helps. It is the main ingredient in OTC migraine medication I was told.

Hi, This is my first post, so please bear with me if it does not come out right! I had been a bit cautious about who I told I was planning surgery, and had received mostly encouragement. However unknown to me, both my husband and my oldest daughter told EVERYONE!!! So now all his co-workers and my ex-husbands family know...neither of which makes me very happy. Now tho, I really feel like I have something to prove!! Wish me luck! Surgery is as yet unscheduled but will be later this month.