JennyG1971

I am super stoked!!! I have ONE more day before my surgery... and I slept til noon, so it's really like a half-day!!! (that was part of my evil plan) I am going on a cruise with my husband in March and am already trying to imagine how much weight I will have lost by then... I KNOW that no matter what, I will feel better... and that's the real important thing! I can't wait to see how people that only see me occasionally will react to me. Let me just re-state: I AM SUPER STOKED!!! I am waiting on a call from the hospital to let me know what time I need to be there tomorrow, etc. I know that I am just going to burst into tears when that's done... I mean, I think it will make it seem more real. Right now, I just keep thinking that 'something' is going to come up... but really, what can? (If you know of anything and are reading this, please refrain from telling me!) *Someone had suggested gummy vitamins, so of course, i bought them. MAN, they leave a NASTY :Dancing_wub: aftertaste. I am thinking that Flintstone Chewables will be the ones for me.* I'll just let the kids have the gummies. It will be a novelty for them, hopefully til the bottle is gone. At least I didn't buy the GINORMOUS bottle. lol So, I am thinking that I need to go to bed early tonight (which for me, means around 11) so that I will be well-rested for this procedure. I have no clue why I'm rambling on and on about things that are going through my head. Maybe it's my nerves. Ativan??? Nope, don't have any of those. lol Well, I am going to close for now... wish me luck tomorrow and please say a little prayer for me!!! :present:

Cheyenne, Okay. First of ALL... BREATHE. Chill-ax!!! LOL I have seen so many different requirements on this website. Each surgeon is different. Don't stress it. My story involves seeing a psychologist, nutritionist, blah blah blah... Just use common sense when it comes to eating. Chew things alot more than you normally do. I agree with someone who posted... NO STRAWS... i think for ONE reason is a straw allows air into your stomach as well as you may get more liquid than you think... sip sip sip!!! Also, canned STOCK sucks. Period. Do it yourself. The recipe sounds like a great idea. In fact, I am going to try it... My doctor recommends clear liquid for the 1st week, full liquid for the 2nd week, soft foods the 3rd week, and then the 4th week following Bill Phillips' EATING FOR LIFE plan. Also, a multivitamin every day for the rest of your life... 70 grams of protein. AND, i found out from someone on here that GENISOY is an unflavored protein that you can add to soups, milk, juice or whatever... It isn't bad.... compared to drinking those NASTY shakes. I can't hang. Just can't. I figure if I am going to be puking, they aren't doing me any good... and they are actually harmful. So, that's that. I hope that things work out for you.... We are getting banded the same day and we'll have to keep in touch. :biggrin:

I can NOT believe there is only 3 more days til my surgery. I have waited and worked for this for soooo long. I mean, not as long as I've been overweight... of course! But still, a LONG time!!! I have to go out today and buy some unflavored protein powder to make sure I'm getting enough protein because I've heard horror stories about losing hair and stuff.... PLUS, the extra protein will help with the weight loss. I KNOW that I can do this. But there is a tiny voice in the back of my head that's whispering... 'hmmm, what if it doesn't work???' I am working on blocking that voice out with thoughts of, It HAS to work. This is my last chance. Life or Death. I chose LIFE!!! I have been pouring over before and after pictures and progress pictures and am AMAZED at how some people look. I want to be one of those people!!!! This is going to be AMAZING! YAY!!!! Three more days! But for now, I'm drinking my protein shakes and trying to walk. Man, walking is such a pain when you are fat. I mean, just walking. Blah. I don't want to be this person anymore... I can't wait for the day when I can walk and not have to have my family slow down to keep me company... that will be awesome!!! So, I just want to blog to basically journal my thoughts while I'm preparing for this awesome ride I'm about to embark on. Last night, my husband and I went over to my best friend since kindergarten's house to hang out and play SPADES with her and her hubby... We laughed so hard my stomach hurts... She is going to be such a great support for me. I am blessed to have a lot of people who are excited for me and will be pushing me along on this journey!!! :thumbdown: Alright, that's all for now... :drool:

Today, I met my friend, Julie halfway between our houses (we live 40 miles apart), so that my daughter could go and hang out with her girls for a few days... this will also allow me not to have to worry about one less child this Wednesday. :tt2: On the way back home, while I was waiting in the CVS drive thru lane, my son got really quiet... that is unusual for him. I looked over and he had a tear rolling down his cheek. I asked him what he was crying for. His reply kind of shocked me. We have talked about this surgery for months and months at my house. It's common knowledge. I've discussed the procedure with my kids. (At first, my youngest son thought that I would go into the hospital, have the surgery and come home a skinny woman!) :biggrin:If ONLY it were that easy!!!:w00t: Caleb said that he is worried about me dying while I am having the surgery.:frown: I told him that I didn't think that would happen... BUT if something did happen to me, at least I would die TRYING to better myself and my family life. I told Caleb that it was a guarantee that I would die if I didn't get the weight off. Done. It's gonna happen. BUT, this LAP-BAND®® is a tool for me to lose the weight I need to lose... and when that happens, I will be a better mom to him. I will be able to run and play with him and his brother and sister... I'll be able to play volleyball, and ride rollercoasters and walk with them. We can go somewhere and DO things!!! He finally got the idea and dried his tears. I think he's good now. I, myself, am not worried about the surgery. I KNOW that it will be a success. I WANT this more than anything else I've ever wanted and I will make this THING WORK!!! Alright, that's all for now.... :wink:TWO MORE DAYS!!!!!:eek:

Today, I met my friend, Julie halfway between our houses (we live 40 miles apart), so that my daughter could go and hang out with her girls for a few days... this will also allow me not to have to worry about one less child this Wednesday. :Dancing_wub: On the way back home, while I was waiting in the CVS drive thru lane, my son got really quiet... that is unusual for him. I looked over and he had a tear rolling down his cheek. I asked him what he was crying for. His reply kind of shocked me.:present: We have talked about this surgery for months and months at my house. It's common knowledge. I've discussed the procedure with my kids. (At first, my youngest son thought that I would go into the hospital, have the surgery and come home a skinny woman!) :biggrin:If ONLY it were that easy!!!:bye: Caleb said that he is worried about me dying while I am having the surgery.:frown: I told him that I didn't think that would happen... BUT if something did happen to me, at least I would die TRYING to better myself and my family life. I told Caleb that it was a guarantee that I would die if I didn't get the weight off. Done. It's gonna happen. BUT, this LAP-BAND®® is a tool for me to lose the weight I need to lose... and when that happens, I will be a better mom to him. I will be able to run and play with him and his brother and sister... I'll be able to play volleyball, and ride rollercoasters and walk with them. We can go somewhere and DO things!!! He finally got the idea and dried his tears. I think he's good now. I, myself, am not worried about the surgery. I KNOW that it will be a success. I WANT this more than anything else I've ever wanted and I will make this THING WORK!!! Alright, that's all for now.... :drool:TWO MORE DAYS!!!!!:eek:

I can NOT believe there is only 3 more days til my surgery. I have waited and worked for this for soooo long. I mean, not as long as I've been overweight... of course! But still, a LONG time!!! I have to go out today and buy some unflavored protein powder to make sure I'm getting enough protein because I've heard horror stories about losing hair and stuff.... PLUS, the extra protein will help with the weight loss. I KNOW that I can do this. But there is a tiny voice in the back of my head that's whispering... 'hmmm, what if it doesn't work???' I am working on blocking that voice out with thoughts of, It HAS to work. This is my last chance. Life or Death. I chose LIFE!!! I have been pouring over before and after pictures and progress pictures and am AMAZED at how some people look. I want to be one of those people!!!! This is going to be AMAZING! YAY!!!! Three more days! But for now, I'm drinking my protein shakes and trying to walk. Man, walking is such a pain when you are fat. I mean, just walking. Blah. I don't want to be this person anymore... I can't wait for the day when I can walk and not have to have my family slow down to keep me company... that will be awesome!!! So, I just want to blog to basically journal my thoughts while I'm preparing for this awesome ride I'm about to embark on. Last night, my husband and I went over to my best friend since kindergarten's house to hang out and play SPADES with her and her hubby... We laughed so hard my stomach hurts... She is going to be such a great support for me. I am blessed to have a lot of people who are excited for me and will be pushing me along on this journey!!! :present: Alright, that's all for now... :Dancing_wub:

Lisa, I am having my surgery on 12-30... WEDNESDAY!!! yay! So, I completely feel your excitement!!! Good luck with everything! My doctor just said no soda, but I haven't had caffiene for a couple of years now steadily. An occasional cup of coffee, but only really GOOD coffee. lol My doctor says only a liquid diet 2 weeks prior to surgery... it's strange when I came on this website and found out that isn't a requirement across the board... I love this website and how informative it is... lots of like minded people out there and bouncing good ideas (and some bad ones) off each other to get through this weightloss journey and MAJOR life change... Good luck tomorrow!!!

and oh yeah, i forgot to answer you about the insurance. I am covered CURRENTLY by BCBS of Texas. I'd love to have someone who is going through what I'm going through to talk. It would be awesome!

I am 38 years old and the mother of three children... they are 17, 12, and 9. Two boys and a girl... I am ready to get this weight off. I am ready to get off this blood pressure medicine. I have been overweight my entire life. I never remember 'fitting' in body-size wise with other people my age. My family has a history of obesity and of course all the goodies that go along with obesity. Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and many other wonderful things when 'get' when we are overweight. I already have the high blood pressure (and am on medication), I have borderline sugars (so I know the diabetes is on the way) and have been in the hospital this year with chest pains. No heart damage though (Thank God!) My mother died from complications of diabetes after she had suffered from congestive heart failure, angina, a triple bypass, and stroke before she passed away. I am ready to feel GOOD again! I am ready to laugh and play with my children again without feeling winded... I'm ready for my knees to stop aching, ready for my ankles to stop hurting, ready for my back to stop aching! And so, my LAP-BAND® journey is about to begin. After 20 months of fighting it out with the insurance company... I have approval!!! And most importantly, I have a surgery date! December 30, 2009. FIVE MORE DAYS!!! I am just so ready to get started on something that will actually WORK for me. I've looked here on the boards for protein advice, for diet advice and for just moral support from someone who has been there. I am hoping that I can find answers here and hopefully as my journey continues I'll be able to help someone else out!:drool:

I am 38 years old and the mother of three children... they are 17, 12, and 9. Two boys and a girl... I am ready to get this weight off. I am ready to get off this blood pressure medicine. I have been overweight my entire life. I never remember 'fitting' in body-size wise with other people my age. My family has a history of obesity and of course all the goodies that go along with obesity. Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and many other wonderful things when 'get' when we are overweight. I already have the high blood pressure (and am on medication), I have borderline sugars (so I know the diabetes is on the way) and have been in the hospital this year with chest pains. No heart damage though (Thank God!) My mother died from complications of diabetes after she had suffered from congestive heart failure, angina, a triple bypass, and stroke before she passed away. I am ready to feel GOOD again! I am ready to laugh and play with my children again without feeling winded... I'm ready for my knees to stop aching, ready for my ankles to stop hurting, ready for my back to stop aching! And so, my LAP-BAND® journey is about to begin. After 20 months of fighting it out with the insurance company... I have approval!!! And most importantly, I have a surgery date! December 30, 2009. FIVE MORE DAYS!!! I am just so ready to get started on something that will actually WORK for me. I've looked here on the boards for protein advice, for diet advice and for just moral support from someone who has been there. I am hoping that I can find answers here and hopefully as my journey continues I'll be able to help someone else out!

I am allergic to aspartame. It gives me headaches, nausea and vomiting... so needless to say. It's off my list. I have found that Yoplait whips is NOT sweetened with aspartame and are pretty good. It seems like all the 'light' yogurt I've found has aspartame in it. Stevia is the best sweetener that I've found. I have been "OFF" soft drinks for 2 years now, so I don't miss the taste... I am having surgery Dec. 30th and am currently on my pre-op diet. My surgeon suggests Opti-Fast for all his pre-op patients, but that contains aspartame & since I can't do THAT, I'm doing broths, applesauce, yogurt, and protein shakes.