Dame J

Thanks gang for the response. I think I might have been a little too worried yesterday about a couple sneezes. I was fine yesterday afternoon and I am still feeling good now. Cross your fingers that it stays this way. I have already had my blood work and Dr.s Pre-Op appointment and there were no concerns there. *Phew* So I guess I will just pray for the best till surgery. I might just get some cold stuff just in case and I will continue to drink my green tea and sniff warm eucalyptus.

Becca I can understand how upset you must be right now. I am upset for you believe me. For sure talk to Dr. Cobourn. The thing to remember that maybe your Dr forgot is that Dr. C is used to working and operating on people who already have these exsisting problems and conditions and it trained to understand the needs that they experience durring surgery. for example I was worried about going under cause I heard that BMI greatly influence tolerance and all those things. But then I had to sit back and think "wait a minute here is a Dr. who KNOWS this UNDERSTANDS this and is all ready forseeing all of these things. Don't worry Becca I am sure Dr. Cobourn will be able to help. Just hang in there.

My Surgery is Feb 9th. I asked if the fatty liver was a risk and he said that a good Dr wont have a problem but why take the risk. Because they do have to move around the liver to get around where they need he said it would be easier to move if it was not so fatty. He puts all his patients on the same diet for that reason. At least that is what I was told.

I was told I have a fatty liver as well. I am now on a strict diet, consisting primarily of Optifast and a serving of raw or steamed greens, before my surgery so that I do not run into any liver complications. My Dr. did tell me that this would shrink my liver and get rid of a lot of the fat. What my Dr. said was picture foie gras and that is what a fatty liver is like. Gross! Anyway he said a couple weeks on this and my liver will start to go back into shape and be less of a risk during surgery.

Okay so happy. I almost forgot that I could have mushrooms. Last night I grilled (no worries no oil or anything) a portobello mushroom and put on some steak spice (one with very little salt). Man oh man was that good. Was like eating a hamburger patty. I think I will have to make those for dinner a few more times. Way better than the raw broccoli that I have been eating. :hungry:

Great News Hugi. Congrats! :clap2:

Becca you kill me. :faint: So funny :D I was thinking the same think but too frightened to put it out there. I guess my goals are the same. I would like to get though the surgery without a problem and then I guess in terms of weight loose a good 10 pounds by the end of Feb.

coffee seems to work. Used coffee in my vanilla Optifast (blended with ice of course) and it wasn't too awfull. Still had to choke it down a bit by the end but it has been the best thing I have tried thus far. Got a call from Dr. C's office wanting to know if I wanted to move my surgery up to this week and I was so tempted but I have work and things to tend to first. Oh well my date is not too far off anyway.

Ha ha manly tickers! I am picturing saws cutting lumber and trucks driving down highways now! :biggrin1: Too funny! Well Andrew hope you are able to find the one that best suits you.

Well I am sitting here on my lunch break drinking my second Optifast. Here is what I have learned thus far: Do not smell the Optifast. Smells putrid and I believe it was cloe who did mentioned the smell in another post but I had forgot. Will not forget again. Blended is indeed better. Telling yourself that this tastes better than a McDonalds Milkshake fools no one

Astrotoes I don't know if I can handle making great food and not trying some of it. That would be a first. I guess the best you can do is just keep focused on the end result and just play from there. Or while you are preparring the food keep little reminders around you so you wont be tempted. Good luck I am sure you will do just fine. My mom made reverse chocolate chip muffins yesterday and this morning I was so tempted to just grab one for work and the thing that stopped me was picturing my liver looking like foie gras at the surgery. Trust me I didn’t even look at the muffin again. :biggrin1:

Okay just had my first Optifast. It wasn't the worst thing I have ever had in my mouth but it certainly wasn't the greatest. Big Shout Out to all of you that have and are doing this for three weeks. I am just doing for two and that seems like it is going to be a struggle. I am keeping track of everyones ideas though and I think I will make this optifasting a challenge. The challenge being how I am going to make this taste better. I think everyday I wil plan to experiment with various things and flavours and that way maybe I wont have to dread the optifast so much. Mandy wow you only did one a day? Were you not super hungry?

Thanks Cloe! Don't mean to pester you with questions but how often do you take it a day? The package of Benefibre say 1 - 3 times for an adult.

Actually funny that you mention it but I saw a show a couple weeks ago and they were talking to people who were over 500 pounds and they were calling them Super Morbidly Obese. No Joke! By the way congrats guys on being overweight. :biggrin1: How many other people in this world would take that as a compliment? :mad:

I totally forgot about the Benefibre. On my optifast sheet from the Dr's office it says to take Benefibre. Is anyone else here taking the Benefibre or something similar? I remember my grandmother always taking it. :mad: Anyway I was just wondering what a good kind to get is. They have chewable or just the powder. The vetrans out there who have already done this did you find the fibre helped out?

Hummm I will have to look into this magic bullet. First I will probably see how bad (or hopefully good) the opti tastes when is shaken up in a bottle with some flavour. I guess we shall see. :phanvan

To get a ticker just check out this post. all the instructions should be there. If the link doesn't work it was in the LBT forum for tips and suggestions. Good luck http://www.lapbandtalk.com/get-ticker-your-t16218.html

Okay so I start my Optifast on Friday and I am actually looking forward to trying it just cause there has been so much talk. Almost feel like sneaking a packet of it now. :paranoid Anyway I am not sure how to make it when I am at work. Home is not a problem because I have a blender and everything but how do I make it when I am at work? Is it okay just stirred or shaken up? Any advice would be great. Thanks.

Queen of stupid questions here :rolleyes but if I have surgery on friday do you think I will be able to do yoga by Wed? I would normally skip it but I am trying to keep up appearances as I do not want people to know about my surgery. So if I miss Yoga my friends will wonder why and.... well I am sure you get it. Anyway just wondering if I should start thinking of a story now or if it is possible to do my downward facing dog and cat stretches.

Hey Gaffer I don't think that you can get the Tylenols to go in Canada yet. I haven't seen them anyway. Tylenol does have a canadian website that is supposed to list all the pills and things that they offer in Canada. Worth a shot to look.

Thanks Drewslou. I really enjoy yoga. Too bad I am going to miss it for a couple weeks it seems. I guess I will have to take it slow and steady before I stretch myself into trouble. Thanks for the advice one yoga fan to another.

MANDI CONGRATS!!!!!!! :clap2: You look great! I know you said in your earlier posts that sometimes in your head you don't notice or feel like you have changed but sister just look at those pics. As for shopping in so-called normal stores trust me when I say you can pretty much shop in any of those stores. I do know what you mean though... when I was your size (which I hope to be again soon) I was always feeling the same way. Too big for normal... not big enough for plus. Just wait and let your mind catch up with your body if you need. You will be where you want in no time.

YOWZA!!! :yield: There is a lot going on here. Thanks for the opinions EVERYONE! I will for sure ask Dr. C what his feelings are on the topic of Yoga when I go for my surgery. Laurigee congrats to you being able to do all of that after surgery, I can't even mow the lawn when I am not recovering (okay well I can... but I won't) Anyway I guess the general consensus is to talk to my Dr. which I will do. I will start making a great story up now. I have heard that exersize and getting up and moving is important after the surgery so I will make that effort I guess by walking at first and working up to the regular regime. Thanks so much for all your opinions. I really do respect and consider them all.

Andrew I have been feeling the same way. I have been looking at the box of Opti fast for a month now and I have just been waiting for the start date. I am sure I will regret this impetuous nature of mine when it begins and I get grossed out at the thought of another shake, but for right now I eagerly await Friday. I think it really boils down to once I start the diet I will know this is real and that it is happening and then in no time it will be time for the surgery. As for delighting in eating while I can lets just say I am trying to get in all my favourites now, and Thursday night you can find me eating one of my favourite meals at Red Lobster for my last supper.

Hey Mandi thanks for posting that video of Dr. Cobourn. I made my mom watch it so she could see what I was getting into. I think it made her feel better and a little calmer about it. She love Cityline so what they say she trusts. Anyway thanks again for posting the clip.