perryjoyce

My pre-op diet is minimal and I kind of wish it wasn't. I am way more excited than nervous, but of course there's a nervous element that grows a little each day and will probably keep me up with butterflies in my stomach the night before. Oh well, I can handle it! Bring it on!! My boyfriend (of 9 years) is kind of the same way. He's a skinny little thing that can eat whatever he wants. He's sympathetic to my issues with food and can clearly see that I try and I try and yet I don't see much progress, so he's supportive, but I think he's trying to keep my expectations in check so he's yet to get really, really excited about it with me and is mostly silent on the issue unless I bring it up. Last night he finally told me that he really thinks this is the right decision for me and that he's impressed that I'm willing to commit so dramatically to altering how I can eat - forever. It was nice to finally hear that. I'm sure your hubby will come around, if not before, then definitely after when the results start to show! I've never weighed less than the BF but I will! Oh yes, I will!!

I am May 13th and I am SUPER EXCITED! Littler nervous, little overwhelmed. I'm an over-thinker for sure. Regardless, I am so ready for this. I need an entire lifestyle overhaul and I am more than ready to commit to this! I kinda wish I was on a more strict pre-op diet but as it stands, my doctor only wants me to swap one Protein drink for a meal for a week, and then Clear liquids two days prior. So I feel really guilty eating normal meals twice a day right now. Part of me is enjoying it, part of me is ready to get this show on the road already! Good luck with your surgery on the 11th! And good idea starting this thread! This is our week, we're up at bat, and we're gonna knock it out of the park!!!

We'll be band sisters, my surgery date is May 13th as well! And we're actually both starting out about the same as far as BMI and weight goes. I visited my PCP for my pre-op clearance recently and she told me her only concern is that I'm a little young to be so drastically changing how I eat. I think she has the impression that this is a "last resort" operation. I disagree entirely. I told her I am 100% sure that I could lose the weight, but I'm 99% sure I'll gain it back at some point. The statistics don't lie - very, very few people lose weight through diet and exercise alone and keep it off. I don't want to put my body through that. Plus, I have been fortunate enough not to have any health scares - why wait until I have diabetes before I make a change? The way I see it, the band forces you to eat the way our bodies are supposed to eat. Not this Americanized way of finishing off huge portions and consuming overly processed foods. Honestly, I think even non-overweight people would benefit from this. I too mourn the fact that I'll never be able to eat the way I love to eat now - but the fact that I love the way I eat now is a huge red flag! That tells me that my relationship to food is unhealthy and it needs to change for my own well-being! When I first was recommended the LAP-BAND®® (by a plastic surgeon, no less) I laughed at him because I thought it was a gimmick. After lots of research I was convinced. And just like you, finding out insurance covered it totally sealed the deal for me. We all know how stingy insurance is. Why would they cover it if it's not a proven success?? I don't have my band yet obviously, but that's how I choose to see this. I am taking a proactive step knowing that the deck is stacked against me, both through genes and environment. I am nervous too and no matter how much research I do there's still the big, scary "unknown"...but I'm also very excited and I think I'm in very good company. That's how I rationalize it. So good luck to you, and don't forget to let us know how it goes!

My pre-op instructions were pretty minimal too. I only have to substitute one meal with a protein shake one week prior to surgery (which starts today!) and then clear liquids two days prior. I was kinda bummed because I wanted to have some pre-op liquid diet success, like a lot of the other bandsters, but I couldn't quite bring myself to do it on my own. :thumbup: I never got around to asking why my instructions were different, though. I was hoping it had to do with being on the lower end of the BMI scale and maybe not having a fatty enough liver because of it. I just squeaked by at 39.9. What about you? Also, congrats on your surgery date! It'll be here before you know it! :thumbup:

Also, I've been told time and time again that they only count your initial weight when you first submit your paperwork for approval. So if you lose you will still be eligible. It would be really stupid of insurance if they demand you go through a medically supervised diet but then penalized you for being successful!

You should definitely wait and let insurance cover it for one simple reason: if insurance covers it now and you have complications down the line, insurance will cover the complications. If you self-pay, insurance will NOT cover anything! For me it was worth that bit of comfort and security knowing that even if something goes wrong, I won't be stuck with the bill. Two months is really nothing especially if you can schedule your surgery for right after. I started this process almost exactly two months ago and my surgery is a week from today. I was the most impatient person in the world when I was first starting out and I had no idea how I was going to "suffer through" eight long weeks. Let me tell you, it FLIES by! So please, don't let the two months stop you. It's also worth learning patience now because from what I hear, the first eight weeks or so after surgery are dedicated to slow healing and recovery. So if you're already in a rush and you go into that period equally in a rush, you will probably only frustrate yourself. That's my biggest fear right now, managing my expectations vs. my impatience! We'll get through it though! One day at a time, as they say! :thumbup:

If you're worried about excessive salt and processed chemical additives (which I am) Trader Joe's, if you have one around you, have a very expansive line of packaged, frozen meals that have practically ZERO chemicals. I'm always amazed when I see the ingredients list. It's all real food! And the food is always good. They are not "diet" foods, so you're probably getting about 300-500 calories per dish and will need to split it up but I think it's worth it for such wholesome ingredients when you just can't get around to preparing fresh food from home. They do have a "guilt-free" line that keeps the calories very minimal, but I can't remember what their ingredient list looks like. I don't have my band yet (5/13!) so I can't vouch for how well they work post-op, but just wanted to let you know it was an option. Hope this helps!

I don't know if you're particular plan is different from mine, but I have Anthem BCBS and it has been a dream! No monitored diet, just a quick phone conversation with a nutritionist/psychologist and I was approved within three days! I was so worried, especially because I'm barely on the cusp of having the required BMI, but it really was exceptionally quick. So there's a good chance that you won't lose too much time and any time you have spent on the doctor monitored program is obviously a good thing in the long run!

I wish I had advice for you but I'm right on your heels, my surgery is one week from today! Please come back and post your experiences in the coming days for us! And of course, GOOD LUCK!!

You look great! Face and neck are so slender, and great definition in the shoulders! I love that you picked a similar (if not the same) red top! It makes the difference all the more striking! Congratulations, big time!!

Thanks Dottie! My surgery is a week from tomorrow so it's very comforting to hear your experience went well! I have every confidence that things will go smoothly but I'm still a little nervous. I just kinda wish I could get it over with and start my new life already. By the time I blink I'll be banded, so it's just patience and sticking with the plan for now. Good luck with the days ahead and I can't wait to join you on the other side! :bored:

Someone recently mentioned how indispensable the Magic Bullet was to their success and now I am wondering if there are any other tools that any seasoned Bandsters find absolute essential and would recommend to those just starting out. Kitchen scales? Portion controlled Tupperwear? Protein shakers? Anything you just can't live without? I'm trying to stock up now. Surgery is approaching and I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed! Thanks in advance. :scared2:

CONGRATULATIONS!! I am still another two weeks away from my surgery but I keep coming back to the post-op boards just to hear stories like this! They keep me so motivated and encouraged. I think it'll really help me get through this "bandster hell" period I keep hearing about. So thank you for being a pioneer of success and good habits from our newbies! I hope to have a similar success and stick around so I can "pay it back" in the future! =)

Hahahaha...yes, I never thought I'd say it, but I too can't wait to be just obese and/or overweight!! =)

Congratulations! Insurance approval was the most stressful part so far for me as well! Everything else FLIES by after you get that letter in your hands! Glad it wasn't a painful process and good luck to you! :scared2:

The problem I had is that in my area (and maybe yours too) you can't walk two feet without running into a 1-800-GET-THIN billboard, bus stop, or other for of obnoxious advertisement. Even I thought the lap band was a gimmick!! When my doctor suggested I research it I was shocked. Then I did m homework and realized it's no gimmick, just a reliable tool with a promising success rate! So there is a stigma and family and friends who care about you are rightfully going to maybe raise an eyebrow. To those who have not done the research it really sounds like just another in a long line of shady fads. So I only tell those who I have the luxury of explaining what it is, why it's safe, and why I think it'll work for me. I usually end my little speech with "...and insurance will cover it, so clearly it's legit!" That usually puts people at ease. It's natural for our loved ones to be skeptical, they care! So we just have to educate and inform until they are as comfortable with it as we are.

I'm a big fan of eastern philosophies when it comes to food (consuming a predominantly regional, plant-based diet with an increased sense of awareness) particularly as described in Paul Pitchford's "Healing with Whole Foods" and T. Colin Campbell's "The China Study". I'm not convinced that a vegan, raw food, or macrobiotic lifestyle is entirely necessary, but I admire the teachings and the discipline. So my question is: has anyone ever attempted to lose their weight specifically combined with a whole food, perhaps eastern-based lifestyle? I mean, I know a minimally processed, nutrient dense diet is the *ideal* we strive for, but has anyone (either on these forums, an author, or on another website) ever lost all of their weight with this specific focus and documented some of the benefits? I'm looking for a good resource to help me out. I'm not a vegetarian, but I've never been a big fan of meat so I worry about getting enough Protein and I don't want to rely solely on Protein drinks. My hope is that by loading myself up with all these amazing powerhouse foods and antioxidants I will give my body every fighting change of bouncing back to optimal condition. I don't want to just lose weight, I want to be strong and vibrant and healthy from the inside out. Like we all do! Along these same lines, are there any supplements (Vitamin E, for example) that people take that are particularly good for maintaining skin composure/elasticity as we shrink? What about topical treatments, such as cocoa butter? I've spent a lot of time reading books on pre/post LAP-BAND® lifestyle and the do's and don'ts both in books and on this website. Now I wanna go a step or two deeper... :smile:

I'm really glad someone prompted this! I just turned 28 last month and my surgery is in May. One of the reasons I decided to do this now is because I want to enjoy at least one year of my 20's thin! All of this insight is VERY encouraging! Just last night I went out with my best friend for a belated birthday celebration and we did the whole shebang - drinks, appetizers, dessert, coffee! I thought about the band the whole time and how it might affect my social life, which is largely centered around going out and enjoying friends and food and drinks. So I'm glad to hear that those who are young and have been banded have no noticeable change, just an increased urgency for moderation and awareness. Which I am honestly looking forward to!

Yay! Congrats!! I got approved recently and my surgery is 5/13! We're all in this together now! Go May Bandsters! Go ALL Bandsters!!! :thumbup:

Not only will you get there, but you will get there stronger because of this experience. I haven't hardcore dieted in a couple of years, and while the impatient side of me was relieved that I did not have to go through the supervised diet, now I am worried about getting banded and not being "ready" or forgetting how to eat within certain guidelines. I am going to have to relearn that discipline on the fly and I'm terrified it will impede my post-band progress, which will only deflate me mentally. You will hit the ground running when you do finally get there and I'm sure your progress will further motivate you! So as frustrated as you may be keep in mind that it will all be so very worth it!

I like the 80/20 rule a lot! It allows for that amazing sounding pie and Big M that Jachut was describing! Yum! A CSA is a great idea! I did that a while back and completely forgot about it. I loved how it made me cook creatively based on what I received that week. Thanks for the idea, Jen! And I'll definitely look into that book. I'm glad to hear that a lot of you are not having trouble getting your protein requirement in with beans and other grains. I started looking into those protein "shots" and they just reminded me of those 5 Hour Energy drinks that are so toxic. I know I'll have to do some shakes (and I'll definitely take a peek at that bariatriceating.com site) but only as a Plan B. Thanks again for your input everyone!

Thank you both for your replies, they are very helpful! BetsyB, I will definitely look into that lotion you mentioned! And thanks for the well wishes, Bella! 5/13 can't come fast enough! :smile: Just curious - have either of you had any issues with any particular grains? I know rice is sometimes not very well tolerated, but any experience with any of the other grains? Bulgur, spelt, farro, wheat berry? I am very fond of quinoa (technically a seed) as it is considered a "complete" Protein. I'm not opposed to protein supplements, I just don't want to rely on them too heavily. Thanks again, ladies!

I'm on the other end of the spectrum. My insurance approval was insanely quick. Just a telephone conversation with a nutritional consultant and a psych evaluation. My surgeon's office is committed to giving me as much support as I need, but I do feel I kinda missed out on a good opportunity to really, really educate and prepare myself for the rest of my life. So while the impatient side of me is relieved, the worry-wart side of me is concerned.