KLo

Patsygrn - I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your husband. This must be an especially hard time of year for you. Keep up the good work on your low carb diet. I have surgery next Tuesday and am planning to go low carb for the next week. While I don't work nights (thank goodness), I did pick up a few shifts here and there on a previous job long ago. You're right - it messes with your body and you just want to eat all the time. Keep us posted...

Hey All - Audree - my dr didn't really stress a pre-op diet - just said any weight loss pre-surgery will be helpful as we first lose around the stomach and also shrink the liver. I too worry about my social life post-banding. I seem to go out to dinner as my main social thing and that will all be changing soon. I also am not telling a lot of people about the surgery so I haven't quite figured out what to say to casual friends when they want to meet up for dinner. Mookie1 - thank you so much for the kind words of support. And of thinking of the pups! It's funny, I am VERY particular about what types of food and treats they get (and they look great, if I do say so myself!) but I'll shovel just about anything in for myself. What's up with that?! :-) I am glad to be involved in the post with people going through this life changing event at the same time. In fact, this whole board is AWESOME! HAPPY NEW YEAR to all - BE SAFE tonight!

Hey Everyone! I know I dropped off the planet since my first post but I have enjoyed catching up on this post. Love the comments about the dogs. I have two and my boy (Tobin Aubrey) is never leaving my bed. I am not sure how that'll work if (when) I get a boyfriend. Tobin is not good at sharing - especially me! My surgery is coming up very soon (1/10). I only have 1 pre-op appt before the actual date. It is starting to feel very real, finally. Love the idea about mini-goals. My goal is to go walk on the treadmill at work for 10 minutes during my breaks on a consistent basis. I know it is not a long duration but even that little bit helps. Good luck to everyone with their goals and continued success with weight loss. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all and BE SAFE tonight! Kathy

Hey everyone! This post has really taken off - that's great! I hadn't checked it since I posted a while back. I am done with all my tests and classes. I have my pre-op with the surgeon and then Jan 10 is THE DAY. I can't wait! It is has been hard to be low carb like my dr wanted around the holidays and, I'll admit, I have not been good at all. But I have started a few little changes that are at least a start. I have really cut back on the soda and began walking. It is starting to really hit me that the time is almost here and it is for real. I am still trying to get the nerves up to tell my manager at work. I know I don't have to but I'd kind of like to just in case there are complications after I go back to work (Jan 18). A little about myself - I am 33 and live in Virginia Beach VA. I am single and work as an underwriter for a large insurance company. No kids- just two spolied dogs and a cat. I have been overweight since my early 20's but have felt fat since my teens. My mom started making comments about my weight right around puberty. I have decided to do this because - let's face it - I am not getting any younger. It is time to do this and face my issues. I also start seeing a counselor next week to deal with my "root cause" issues. Has anyone else started seeing a counselor? I know I have issues that are probably the driving cause of my obesity. Good luck to all and HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2007 is going to be GREAT!!!

Hey Everyone!!! Put me on the list for banding 1-10-07! I, too, am very excited. Good luck to us all, I know we can succeed! I met with the dr last week and have a ton of pre-op appointments in the next few weeks - lab work, nutritionist, etc. The dr wants me to start sampling different Protein drinks to get an idea of what I like. He also wants me to start getting habits set up now like walking, no soda, etc. Also, he suggested a low carb diet until surgery as the first place where weight is lost is the stomach and that can make surgery easier. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE! I am glad we are in this together.

I love to read too. I don't read much sci-fi but I do enjoy Ray Bradbury. Our book club just read the first in the series The #1 Ladies Detective Agency. It was really good and something I probably would not have picked on my own. I also recently started The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama (he is awesome). One of my favorites of all time is This Much I Know Is True by Wally Lamb and also the Clan of the Cave Bear series (but did not care too much for the latest of that series - hope the next one is better because it is supposed to be the last). I enjoy Dean Koontz a lot. I like to try a variety of styles.

Hey Chris - great idea for a post! I am single and have been for more years than I'd like to admit. My surgery date is Jan 10. I am taking this step for a same reason a lot of you mentioned - it is just time to get my life together, internally and externally. I didn't start to gain a lot of weight until mid-20's and dated kind of a lot when I was younger. There were some good times and bad times. I miss the closeness of having someone there just for me. Most my friends are married. Although I am not unhappy being alone, I do want a boyfriend but it also kind of scares me to think of being so close to someone. I really hope this post keeps going and we can share our dating experiences. I don't feel comfortable with my physical self at this point and won't even be looking to date until I am well into the weight loss journey. There are definite challenges being single. Even just with the immediate after care for the surgery. It's not like I have a husband who can take care of me. Luckily, I have great friends. I have kind of been all over the place but I think this is a great post. Let's keep it together girls!

Good to know - thanks!

So what exactly does the test consist of? Do you have to go stay the night in a lab w/wires hooked up to you?

An underwriter for an insurance (property and casualty, mostly auto/home) company. Great company/benefits and interesting but too much sitting a desk.

Welcome and best wishes! I am new in the process too - waiting to hear back from the insurance company and have my psych eval 11/2. I live in VA now but previously I lived in Albany IL, a tiny town right across the river from Clinton. Keep us posted on how everything goes!

I am reading these posts and nodding my head in agreement. I am very new in the process - my psych test is 11/1 and am waiting on insurance approval. This post is giving me lots of things to look forward to. Here's my list in no particular order: -Crossing my legs -Actually fastening the airplane seatbelt instead of hiding under a blanket and feigning sleep when the flight attendents walk by -Cute clothes -Tucking in shirts -A much thinner face -A more active life -Not minding my picture being taken -Being able to actually run -Rewarding myself w/LASIK eye surgery when I reach my goal weight Also, I too can remember being 150-160 and thinking/feeling I was HUGE. Oh, to be that "big" again... I know we can all do this!!!

Hello all, I went to a lapband seminar tonight that focused on the band. I had gone to another seminar last week but they were definitely more into gastric bypass although they perferm lapband surgeries too. I have done a lot of research and have been lurking here for weeks - I really want to go with the band. Now, I guess, it is just of matter of going through the pre-op stuff and waiting on insurance. I have A LOT to lose - 142 pounds to get to goal (150 lbs). This site is great and everyone seems to be so supportive. I am really looking forward to making the leap into bandster life.

It was at the Weight Loss Surgery Center of Hampton Roads w/Dr. Clark. Their office is is Newport News. Good luck tomorrow! Thanks to all for the welcomes!