philippians413

Today was Day 20 of my liquid diet~ only 5 more days to go. I had a difficult time today, was feeling pretty sorry for myself once again, but I know I'm getting close.

I'm totally with you. I am on Day 19 (out of 25) of a very, very difficult Preop diet. It is miserable. And the first 3 days were the worst. It does get easier. Your body does get used to it and the constant hunger gets better. The cravings do stick around though. Just think how proud of yourself you'll be when you finish and know that you followed it perfectly. I feel like if I can go 3 1/2 weeks on this diet, I can follow whatever rules are placed upon me for the band. Plus, if anyone tells me that I took the easy way out, I want to be able to say that I went through a lot for this, and was able to do it. Keep it up, it will get easier. I promise.

I don't smoke, but my surgeon recommends Chantix for those trying to quit before surgery. I think with Chantix it fills the nicotine receptors in you brain so that you don't want to smoke. I think you can even smoke for the first bit of time on the medicine, but you usually don't want to. Also, my surgeon recommends quitting before you begin your preop diet, or you will make it really hard on yourself. Hope this helps. Good luck!

I'm on Day 12 of the Preop diet, and it's starting to get to me. Not like at the beginning when I was starving and miserable. But I'm really missing eating something I enjoy. I would love to have an apple or a salad or a piece of meat. Knowing I have 2 more weeks of this is discouraging. I hope when I get down to the last week it will get easier knowing the end is near.

I'm seeing Dr. Trace Curry in Cincinnati. Probably about an hour or less from you. I think he also has an office in Columbus. He's a really good doctor. His website is www.thebanddoctor.com

Honestly, the first 2 days were the worst. I hid out in my room and was really depressed. I even cried some... thinking about 3 weeks of this. Day 3 was a little better. Day 4 and 5 have been great. I do feel somewhat easily tired. If I try to exercise I get tired faster. But the cravings and feelings of deprivement are gone at least for now. Hope they don't come back. Everyone told me that once you get past the first 3-4 days it gets easier, and so far I agree. Keep with it. You can do it. It will get better, and when you see the pounds start to come off it will encourage you.

It seems like each doctor is different in what they want. Even for those of us on preop diets, there is a lot of variety in what we can have. I'm getting nervous too. For the longest time I was "full speed ahead" and not looking back. But now I find myself dreading the pain, and wondering "Will I ever get to eat this again?" As for the preop diet - mine is a pretty hard one. All Medifast products - 5 a day plus a bar. Other than that only Jello, popsicles, and broth. About 500 - 800 calories a day. The first 2 days were completely and totally miserable. The third day was hard, but a bit better. Since then, I've been doing fine and actually feeling great. And I've lost about 8 pounds already in less than a week!!!!

For those of you who have been banded, which is worse? The PreOp diet, or "Bandster Hell" where you haven't gotten a fill yet? I'm struggling with the PreOp diet, and wanted to see if it gets better or worse!

Yesterday I had my nutrition class and I saw the nurse practioner. I also found out I had to begin my Preop diet today. It was only supposed to be 3 weeks, so I'm not sure how it got changed to 3 1/2. The nurse prac. said 3 weeks, but then the nutritionist just told me to start it today. AAHHHH! I cried on the hour drive home. I feel silly admitting that. I know it's just food. But I guess I felt like I needed time to prepare myself, and I didn't have any. So the PreOp diet is about 500-800 calories a day. I can have 5 Medifast/Healthwise products a day and 1 bar. The products they offer are: shakes, oatmeal, scrambled eggs/omelets, pancakes/blueberry pancakes, hot chocolate./cappuchino, and soups. I know that probably sounds great - but the portions are very, very small, and all of these products are low carb and high protein... so pancakes that aren't made with flour are really mediocre. Other than those and the bars (which are really pretty good) I can have all the broth, sugar free jello or popsicles and Crystal Light that I want. This morning I was really down. Which is funny, because I often skip breakfast. I had Amaretto Hot Chocolate, which was pretty yummy but was not very filling. I felt so hungry. I think probably because it's on my mind it makes me feel more hungry. I got some crossword and word puzzle books, and a couple of magazines. I think I might also get into some games on my husband's Nintendo DS. I joined NetFlix so I can get some movies. Trying to find other things to do with my time. I've also decided not to eat at the table. At least for now. So far today when I prepared food for the kids, I went to my bedroom while they ate. Just didn't want to be around it. The only other thing I have to report is that my surgery date has changed from Feb 8 to Feb 9. My insurance wants me to have it at a different hospital, thus the date change.

Yesterday I had my nutrition class and I saw the nurse practioner. I also found out I had to begin my Preop diet today. It was only supposed to be 3 weeks, so I'm not sure how it got changed to 3 1/2. The nurse prac. said 3 weeks, but then the nutritionist just told me to start it today. AAHHHH! I cried on the hour drive home. I feel silly admitting that. I know it's just food. But I guess I felt like I needed time to prepare myself, and I didn't have any. So the PreOp diet is about 500-800 calories a day. I can have 5 Medifast/Healthwise products a day and 1 bar. The products they offer are: shakes, oatmeal, scrambled eggs/omelets, pancakes/blueberry pancakes, hot chocolate./cappuchino, and soups. I know that probably sounds great - but the portions are very, very small, and all of these products are low carb and high protein... so pancakes that aren't made with flour are really mediocre. Other than those and the bars (which are really pretty good) I can have all the broth, sugar free jello or popsicles and Crystal Light that I want. This morning I was really down. Which is funny, because I often skip breakfast. I had Amaretto Hot Chocolate, which was pretty yummy but was not very filling. I felt so hungry. I think probably because it's on my mind it makes me feel more hungry. I got some crossword and word puzzle books, and a couple of magazines. I think I might also get into some games on my husband's Nintendo DS. I joined NetFlix so I can get some movies. Trying to find other things to do with my time. I've also decided not to eat at the table. At least for now. So far today when I prepared food for the kids, I went to my bedroom while they ate. Just didn't want to be around it. The only other thing I have to report is that my surgery date has changed from Feb 8 to Feb 9. My insurance wants me to have it at a different hospital, thus the date change.

My surgery got moved to Feb. 9. That's only 1 day, so not a big deal. As for the Preop diet. I am starting it today. I am hungry, but I'm trying not to think about it. Not doing very well though. I had to sit in my bedroom while my kids ate breakfast.

I have never written a blog before. I have never really considered it. Nor have I ever read others' blogs. But the past couple of days I began reading blogs of others who have already begun this journey. I wanted to see the progression of thoughts and feelings they have gone through after their banding. It has been fascinating to read about the ups and downs of others' experiences, and to know that I am embarking on this myself. I will be banded on February 8. I begin my 3 week pre-op diet a week from now. I feel like I am struggling to focus on anything else. I know my life is about to change forever, and I'm almost obsessed with it. I know my husband and parents are sick of hearing about it! To give a brief background on who I am - I am 34 years old. I am a former teacher, currently a stay-at-home mother of two children, aged 2 and 4. My husband has never weighed over 190 pounds and doesn't understand my struggles. He is not really in favor of me having Lap-band®® surgery. He says that his gut feeling is that this is a bad idea. But I don't think anyone can understand the struggles of a morbidly obese person except for another person who has walked in the same shoes. I believe that God has led me down this path. My faith and my relationship with God is very important to me. When I felt like even God could not help me out of this pit, He revealed to me that this was the way He was going to choose to answer the prayers I have prayed for so long. I know that if I do not do something, I will not live to see my children grow up. Even now, I feel like I am preventing my children from having the childhood they could if I were 100 pounds lighter. I'm too tired to run in the backyard with them. I won't take them to amusement parks because I know I won't fit on the rides. I keep myself from getting together with others and making friends because I hate being the only fat mother in a group of beautiful, skinny, perfect mothers. I'm tired of feeling like I never have anything to wear, even though I have boxes and boxes of clothes that USED to fit, and a few things that currently fit that I don't really like. I don't want my kids to be known as the kids with the "fat mom." Most of all, I want my kids to remember me as happy, healthy, energetic, and fun. I don't think that would describe me now. I want my life to change. So, I don't really care if anyone ever reads this blog or not. This is for me. I want to have a record of this time in my life. I don't want to forget where I came from. When I feel like things aren't moving fast enough, or that it's just not worth it.... I want to be able to look back at where I started. Michelle 1/10/10

My nutrition class is in 2 days. This is where we will told about our preop diet and also how we will be eating after the surgery. I don't think I'm supposed to start my preop diet until next Monday though. So my challenge is... "Last Meal Syndrome." I had been doing pretty well at losing some weight. But now I've quit journaling, and I'm eating things because I know that I won't be able to eat them for a long time. (if ever) Last night my husband and I went out on a date to our favorite place - The Melting Pot. It's a fondue restaurant that serves a four course dinner. Cheese fondue, salad, main course, and dessert fondue. You end up eating a lot of food while you are there, but you eat it quite slowly because of the nature of fondue. I sat there and wondered if that was the last time I'd be able to eat there. And I realized something about myself. I have a really hard time having fun if food is not involved. To me, a nice date always involves a nice dinner. I don't know how to enjoy myself any other way. When my best friend comes into town (she's overweight too) we buy special foods so that we can have a good time. It seems like food is a form of entertainment for me. Not just that, it is my primary form of entertainment. I need to find a way to change the way I find fun and enjoyment. In the meantime, I need to find a way to maintain control of my eating these last few days.

Hey guys!! My date is February 8! Nervous and excited. My preop diet starts next Monday - 3 weeks! - and I'm really dreading it but determined to follow it perfectly. Janelle - I noticed you are having surgery in Cincinnati. Who's your doctor? I'm having surgery in Cinci with Dr. Curry. I'm excited to make some new friends that will be going through this with me! Michelle

My nutrition class is in 2 days. This is where we will told about our preop diet and also how we will be eating after the surgery. I don't think I'm supposed to start my preop diet until next Monday though. So my challenge is... "Last Meal Syndrome." I had been doing pretty well at losing some weight. But now I've quit journaling, and I'm eating things because I know that I won't be able to eat them for a long time. (if ever) Last night my husband and I went out on a date to our favorite place - The Melting Pot. It's a fondue restaurant that serves a four course dinner. Cheese fondue, salad, main course, and dessert fondue. You end up eating a lot of food while you are there, but you eat it quite slowly because of the nature of fondue. I sat there and wondered if that was the last time I'd be able to eat there. And I realized something about myself. I have a really hard time having fun if food is not involved. To me, a nice date always involves a nice dinner. I don't know how to enjoy myself any other way. When my best friend comes into town (she's overweight too) we buy special foods so that we can have a good time. It seems like food is a form of entertainment for me. Not just that, it is my primary form of entertainment. I need to find a way to change the way I find fun and enjoyment. In the meantime, I need to find a way to maintain control of my eating these last few days.

You can do it. You have a fresh start and a new year to begin getting back on track. I'm not banded yet, so I don't have all the answers, but maybe seeing your doctor and getting a fill might help.

I have Anthem. I didn't have to do any supervised diet at all. Just a psych eval and nutrition consult. I was approved in less than a week. I think it somewhat depends on your particular plan thoughl

I have been struggling with this. I start my preop diet in a week, and I've been eating things just because I won't be able to. Also, I have gift cards to several restaurants, and I've been feeling like I need to use those this week because I won't be able to later. I am trying not to overdo it and go off the deep end, but it is a struggle for me. Michelle

I have to do 3 weeks because my BMI was a little on the high side (49ish). I hate that. Our doctor has us do Medifast/Healthwise. We can have 5 or 6 products a day. There are shakes, protein water, oatmeal, soups, pancakes, scrambled eggs, bars, etc. We are only allowed 1 bar a day. Other than that we are supposed to have clear liquids. I think it equals out to about 500-600 calories a day. I know that's a lot better than some people have, so I am thankful for that. But I know it is going to be difficult to make dinner for my family and then eat that. I am going to have to get some books from the library or something to keep me busy during that time. I want to be able to look myself in the mirror and know that I did it - that I followed it perfectly. I think it will be good to have each other's support and know that we are not the only one going through this.

It seems like a few of us are scheduled for the 8th. That's cool! Those who are having surgery on the 8th, when do you start your pre-op diet? I have my "nutrition class" this Thursday, and I think I'm supposed to start the diet a week from today. That's 3 weeks. I'm really worried that I am going to struggle a lot with the pre-op diet. Michelle

Good to see you all here and know I'm not alone! #1. Surgery date? February 8 #2. State you live in? Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati #3. Doctor/Surgery Center? Dr. Trace Curry #4. Insurance or self pay? Insurance $3000 copay #5. Age and height 34, 5'9" #6. Current weight and goal weight? 334, 150-160 #7. What was your deciding factor for having this surgery? I ran out of other options #7. Do you have the support of family and friends? Yes, my husband isn't totally in favor though #8. Concerns and questions? Concerned this will be 1 more failure Looking forward to getting to know everyone better! Michelle

I have never written a blog before. I have never really considered it. Nor have I ever read others' blogs. But the past couple of days I began reading blogs of others who have already begun this journey. I wanted to see the progression of thoughts and feelings they have gone through after their banding. It has been fascinating to read about the ups and downs of others' experiences, and to know that I am embarking on this myself. I will be banded on February 8. I begin my 3 week pre-op diet a week from now. I feel like I am struggling to focus on anything else. I know my life is about to change forever, and I'm almost obsessed with it. I know my husband and parents are sick of hearing about it! To give a brief background on who I am - I am 34 years old. I am a former teacher, currently a stay-at-home mother of two children, aged 2 and 4. My husband has never weighed over 190 pounds and doesn't understand my struggles. He is not really in favor of me having Lap-band®® surgery. He says that his gut feeling is that this is a bad idea. But I don't think anyone can understand the struggles of a morbidly obese person except for another person who has walked in the same shoes. I believe that God has led me down this path. My faith and my relationship with God is very important to me. When I felt like even God could not help me out of this pit, He revealed to me that this was the way He was going to choose to answer the prayers I have prayed for so long. I know that if I do not do something, I will not live to see my children grow up. Even now, I feel like I am preventing my children from having the childhood they could if I were 100 pounds lighter. I'm too tired to run in the backyard with them. I won't take them to amusement parks because I know I won't fit on the rides. I keep myself from getting together with others and making friends because I hate being the only fat mother in a group of beautiful, skinny, perfect mothers. I'm tired of feeling like I never have anything to wear, even though I have boxes and boxes of clothes that USED to fit, and a few things that currently fit that I don't really like. I don't want my kids to be known as the kids with the "fat mom." Most of all, I want my kids to remember me as happy, healthy, energetic, and fun. I don't think that would describe me now. I want my life to change. So, I don't really care if anyone ever reads this blog or not. This is for me. I want to have a record of this time in my life. I don't want to forget where I came from. When I feel like things aren't moving fast enough, or that it's just not worth it.... I want to be able to look back at where I started. Michelle 1/10/10