jojo41

No pre-op diet for me either. My surgeon only recommends pre-op diets for people with BMI over 50.

GotGlock21......don't worry I've been doing the same thing, for the last 4 weeks I've been eating everything I can get my hands on because I keep thinking "well I can't eat this after I get my band". Today I went for my last pre op visit to the clinic and surprisingly I have not gained a pound......maybe due to nervous tension and stress!!! Don't be too tough on yourself....so what if you gain a couple of pounds, you'll soon lose it after your op. Cheers Jo...........4 days to go :clap2:

mcw12985......Don't worry I had exactly the same problem as you. I was terrified because I hadn't seen a doctor in 4 years then we moved to another state and I had NO Primary Care Physician. Finally I bit the bullet and rang four doctors in my area, all but one of them had no problem with recommending me for a WLS consultation. Be Brave .......it WILL be worth it!

My husband and kids are the only people who know about my upcoming surgery....in 5 days :clap2: .....everyone else thinks I'm getting the cysts taken off my ovaries.

My husband and kids are the only people who know about my upcoming suregery....in 5 days!.....and it's going to stay that way!

Luckily... in Australia you do not have to give your weight for your drivers license only your height. But since I've become obese no one has ever asked me my weight....I think most people know it's a bit impolite to ask anyone their weight let alone a fat person. The first time I was totally honest with myself and my husband about my weight in 7 years was when I went to the Obesity Clinic for my meeting with the nurse and nutritionist. I hopped on the scales and it read 125.5kg (276lbs). I walked straight out of the clinic and told my husband. He was not in the slightest bit shocked or judgemental because he is so proud of me for taking this step to have lapband surgery. It actually felt great to finally admit what I weighed, almost like a weight was lifted off my shoulders, because I know this is the last time I am ever going to be this weight.....mind you I doubt I would tell anyone else my exact weight simply because it's none of their business!

My list is pretty much the same as everyone elses. 1. Avoid seeing anyone I haven't seen in the last couple of years because I'm embarrassed about how much weight I've gained. 2. Avoid many social situations particularly when I have to meet new people. 3. I also HATE going to the doctor and have to be almost on my deathbed before I will visit one. 4. Avoid going to new restaurants because I'm worried that I won't fit in their chairs comfortably (this happened a month ago in a Mexican restaurant... the chair was a wooden "tub" chair and I was squeezed in so tight around my hips I felt like a muffin! 5. I hate shopping for clothes...I can't wait to wear great clothes! 6. I avoid mirrors whenever I can, actually I haven't seen myself properly in a fulllength mirror for years. 7. No high heels for me as I'm also worried I'll break them or my ankle. 8. I have not been able to wear a belt for 7 years....because I look like a sack tied in the middle. 9. I look for the most secluded part of the beach and HATE walking from the sand to the Water to swim....I feel like eveyone is looking at the FAT woman waddling to the water. 10. I avoid amusements park rides, horse riding, motorbikes, motorcycles, boats, scooters, chairlifts, anything where my weight could cause embarrassment. 11. I try to travel business class as often as possible beacuse I am terrified that if I travel economy (coach) that THIS time the belt may not fit. 12. I rarely weigh myself....not worth putting myself through the torture although I believe my fear of the scales is one reason I became obese. I had NO idea how huge I had become. 13. Avoid sex with my gorgeous husband because I FEEL FAT! 14. I won't use public swimming pools (thank god we have our own) but I also won't swim in our pool if friends are here. 15. Won't go snow skiing because my suit is way too small and I don't want to buy a new one because I look like the "michelin man"...also the chairlift situation. 16. I haven't been to any "black tie" event for 7 years because I have nothing to wear and refuse to buy any evening gown in a size 20... they are all hideous and I end up looking like I'm wearing a parachute 17. I never wear shorts 18. I have recently started avoiding certain people who make me feel uncomfortable because of my size....a particular friend who is a size 8 and is always trying to "help" me by suggesting certain exercises, diets and basically making me feel worse than I already do. 19. I do not like to eat at a smorgassboard or buffets because I think people are looking at how much food I am dishing up on my plate and when I do eat at one I never fill my plate and usually go home hungry. 20. And last but not least I find that the bigger I've become the more I have hidden myself away from people.......I can't wait to loose some weight and stop feeling so self-concious about my appearance. Phew!

Trizzy.....I feel for you too.:cry I went to Disneyland last December (all the way from Australia) and was paranoid the entire time that I would not fit in the rides....luckily I didn't have a problem however we went on the Indianna Jones ride and the lady infront of me was taken off the ride because the bar wouldn't close. I made eye contact with her and gave her a sympathetic smile but I will never forget the look on her face as she got off the ride with her young son......pure embarressment. Has anyone else noticed how when you will walk past another obese person that there is often a look of recognition or slight smile between each other.....it's almost like we're saying "I know what you're going through"......I notice it often particularly from other obese women around my age.

Two weeks to go until band-day.:clap2: Like Gatorrev I can't wait to do all the things I have been avoiding for the last few years due to my ever expanding girth. I cant wait to run with my kids, sit comfortably in an airplane seat...as a matter of fact sit comfortably in any seat, to be able to cross my legs with ease, to enjoy shopping for clothes and most of all I can't wait to not be self concious about my size. What things are you all looking forward to??

Wow ....that's a pretty long list!

YAY DODY:clap2: I am having my surgery on the 17th.....so we can enjoy this rollercoaster ride together! Jo

July 17th here!!!

Hi Everyone......I am being banded on the 17th July and can't wait I live in Sydney/Gold Coast, Australia. I have been happily married for the last 17yrs. We have a son aged 15 an a daughter who is 12. Now,I don't know if it is a good or bad thing but there is no pre op diet for me so I am shoveling the food down furiously .......a bit like having the "death row last meal" but mine has lasted 2 weeks! Good luck to everyone Jo

I still have mine and it seems to be pretty healthy. No-one in my family has had their's removed either so I agree,there must be a strong genetic component because Lord knows I have yoyo dieted with the best of them.

I agree with the above posts...swimming is great in summer or a treadmill placed right under the air-con!

I think people are too quick to jump onto the "obesity bandwagon" these days. 10 years ago it was smokers....smoking related illnesses are the no 1 cause of death...smokers are a burden to our health system...smokers are selfish....etc etc Now it's.... obesity related illnesses are the no 1 cause of death....obese people are a burden to our health system....obese people are selfish.... etc etc It seems like every 10 years or so they look for a new group to "persecute". Don't get me wrong I know the health hazards in being obese, that is why I am having WLS BUT I hate the way obese people are currently viewed and treated by society. Has anyone read "The Obesity Myth"?......very interesting reading.

No..I've never contemplated suicide due to my obesity. Perhaps because although I HATE being FAT I love my family, friends and life. (I just know I will love it even more when I am able to participate in it fully).

My surgery is 17th July and my surgeon places all his patient's ports (over 7000 of them) under the outerlayer of the muscle.

tellymelly....I am also surprised Angelina is in the lead ....too skinny for me! Maybe everyone is is thinking having Angelina's body will get them a hottie like Brad Pitt (although he's too skinny for me also!!)

I have noticed there are alot of us 40-45yr olds in here. Did turning 40 have anything to do with your decision to have WLS. It did for me....I realised that at 41yrs I just didn't have the "fight" in me anymore. I just knew that another "diet" was not going to help me. I also realised that I was now (drum roll)......"middle aged".........and my health was only going to get worse.

Joyce.....wrong Nicole. Nicole Richie is Lionel Richies daughter included in the poll . Nicole Kidman is the Aussie marrying Keith Urban in Sydney this weekend. Although I agree Nicole Kidman could do with a few extra pounds too!

I agree....the first thing I noticed when I went to my surgeon's office was there were NO chairs only big, wide comfy lounges.The second thing I noticed was the nurse, nutritionist, psychologist and doctor never mentioned the words "Morbidly Obese".They explained that my weight was affecting my health....well, I would have had to be stupid not to know that, but they at no time made an "issue" of my size. Actually the nurse referred to me being a "smaller" candidate (which amused me beacause it's been a long time since I was referred to as "smal"...lol).

Candysmooch.....It was an awful moment particularly because my kids had to witness someone being so cruel to their mother.To be honest I was too shattered and shocked to retaliate. So I ignored him, didn't mention it and when I got home in the privacy of my own bedroom I cried and cried like I had never cried before.....it was definitely my lowest point.It actually shocked me....I knew that being 5ft7in and 276lbs made me obese but I didn't realise that I was such a "target" for someone elses anger and contempt.I suppose in a perverse way I should thank him because he was definitely a catalyst in my decision to have WLS.

I agree...I have NO problem with the word FAT.....I am FAT.....and I'm OK with that but "Morbidly" obese I do have a problem with that.No one says someone is "morbidly underweight" if the person is so underweight that it is affecting their health.

nursekathy....I understand where you're coming from. I also get frustrated at the descrimination against fat people. I realise 'morbid obesity" is a health issue but it also has a stigma attatched to it. I do not want to be "morbidly" obese that is why I am having WLS but I feel that if people chose to be then they should not be descriminated against purely on their size. Let's face it "fat" people are the majority!