tammyj

:clap2: :high5: :dance: I've been counting down for about 12 weeks now...LOL!

Welcome FurEllie and keep us posted on your weight loss efforts! I'm just getting started and it's harder than I thought it was gonna be. I'm still thinking about all the foods I have to give up.Hi Kyethra, I hope you're keeping warm! The boots wouldn't have worked for me because they made me remove my shoes every time they weighed me.

Looking good girl!

Congratulations!!! We will both be banded in March. My date is March 15th. Yes, February is going to fly by so I'm stocking up too...Don't forget your protein!

Welcome Clickersister! Truth be told, I kept my weight on to stay in the BMI 40 range. By mistake I gained a few pounds and crept up to a BMI of 41. I am a chronic yo-yo dieter. Under normal circumstances I would have started my traditional New Year's Resolution and probably would have lost 20 lbs by now, but I purposely kept the weight on so they would have no reason to deny me. Now that I'm approved, I am getting serious about getting some of this weight off. So as long as it's only a few pounds, I would gain them back if it were me, or wear layers of clothes, drink a ton of Water or wear ankle weights before your weigh-in...LOL! Also, could it be possible that your scale at home is different from your Dr.'s scale or have they always been consistent? Let us know how everything goes!

Good morning Tracy! I'm doing great! There was a snowstorm here in Chicago last night, but I still made it to the group support meeting at the hospital. It was not fun trying to get there, but I made it! It has to be very nerve-wrecking waiting for a date. I hope they call today!!!:gluck:

YIPPEEE!!!

You are doing great!!!

Congratulations Tracy!!! I hope you'll be getting a surgery date very soon!

Thanks everyone and congratulations Nicole on getting your approval and surgery date! My surgery date is March 15th!!!

The request for approval was just sent in on January 24th and I got my approval letter in the mail today!!!:confused: I really didn't expect it 'til the end of the month. WOOHOOOO!!!

That sounds cool! We can encourage each other along the way. I'm just anxious and ready to start losing weight so that's why I'm starting early. I actually started today and drank a Slim Fast for Breakfast and had Soup for lunch. I'm going to wait a couple weeks before starting the Protein drinks...probably the third week in February. I don't want to wear those out before I actually need them. Sounds like March will be your month!!!

I just got my official approval letter in the mail today! The request for approval was just sent in on January 24th and I got the approval already. I'm so excited!!!:bounce:

The request for approval was just sent in on January 24th and I got my approval letter in the mail today!!! I really didn't expect it 'til the end of the month. WOOHOOOO!!!

Bears lost... I decided to get serious about losing some weight now. I have been having feasts on all the foods I love and now enough is enough. I did my normal Monday morning workout at Workout Express today. I don't usually workout on Tuesdays, but I am going tomorrow because it is time to lose some weight. If I start now the less I have to lose after being banded and besides this extra weight is really bringing me down.:faint: I am also starting to practice some bandster rules. I have been trying to get used to sipping liquids. I am so used to downing a 16 oz bottle of water in 4 or 5 gulps. How in the world am I supposed to get in my 8 glasses of water a day by sipping?!?! Seems like my water bottle will have to be permanently attached to my hand to get it all in. Today I replaced my breakfast with a liquid. In a couple weeks I'll switch to breakfast and lunch. I'm only doing Slim Fast right now. I'll probably switch to some of my protein drinks in a couple weeks. I don't want to wear those out since I still have a little over three weeks left before starting the full liquid diet. I weigh in every Tuesday at the hospital. Last week I was 275. I am so pumped and ready to lose some weight!!!

Most surgeons require some form of pre-op diet. I have to do a 2 week liquid diet before surgery, but I am allowed to have soft Cereal like Grits or Cream of Wheat and 2-3 oz. of lean Protein a day. After surgery I have to do the same thing for another 2 weeks with no lean protein, 2 weeks of soft foods and then on to solid foods. Some don't have to do a pre-op diet at all and some are told to follow a low carb/low fat diet before surgery. It varies, so ask your surgeon what his or her pre-op instructions are. Good Luck next Saturday!!!

Welcome Sara!!! I'll keep my fingers crossed that you get a March surgery date...the sooner the better! This waiting is about to drive me CRAZY!!! I am coming up on week 7 of a 12 week program required by my surgeon. I'm trying to stay positive!

:cheer2:GO BEARS!!!:cheer2:

:cheer2:GO BEARS!!!:cheer2:

A friend of mine is having a Tastefully Simple party this afternoon. I hear they have a variety of soups. I'm sure they are more expensive than store bought. They would be prefect for my pre and post op diet and I'd be helping my friend get free products as the hostess so I am going to buy some. Anybody ever try them? Are they any good?

Puddin, you look amazing! We are the same height and I can't wait to get to a size 10/12. Your pictures are such an inspiration!

Welcome CarolynB! You ARE doing the right thing.

I sure hope so. I think easing into it may discourage me even more so I may just do a couple trial runs instead.

Not everyone! Check with your surgeon to find out. You may get lucky and get away with a low fat/carb diet or Clear Liquids the day before surgery.

Hello all you March Bandsters!!! My surgery date is March 15th. I have been researching the Lapband since this summer. I changed my mind quite a few times. I finally went to my first seminar in November, saw the surgeon in December, and now my date is almost here!!! I'm almost done with all my testing...I still have the Pulmonary Function Test and sleep Apnea Test. I have been really worrying myself about how I'm going to handle the pre-op liquid diet. I decided to work my way up to it. Starting Feb. 15th I will replace one meal with liquids and starting Feb. 22nd I will replace 2 meals with liquids and then March 1st I will start full liquids. Maybe if I ease my way into it, it won't be so bad...or will this just prolong the process and make it worse??? At present, I am 5'9", 275lbs, BMI 40, size 26. My Goal is to lose 100lbs and weigh around 175. Not sure what size I'll be at that weight maybe 14/16, but size 10/12 sounds better! March is just around the corner, but now I won't feel so alone during the wait.