jguttery

I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to all my fellow November bandsters for all the support during my pre-op time. Tomorrow is my day and I am excited and shhhhhhhh a littlel nervous. To everyone getting banded tomorrow best of luck; and to those ontheir pre-op diets and those about to start them hang in there, stay focused. If I can do it anyone can. I will let y'all know how everything went as soon as I can. John

I have BCBS of Arkansas so my plan my be different from yours, however when I called BCBS they told me that out-patient surgeries had to have a "pre-determination" (their words) however in-patient sugeries did not require a "pre-determination"... so reading what the sent you. When I asked if that ment approval they said.. "it's a determination, not a approval"... lots of whitewash talk. Now there is a pre-certification required and that's probably what your IS is talking about..... just call BCBS and speak with them. I found them more than helpful!!! Best of luck to you!!!!

Gerber Turkey with Turkey Gravy for me... no way!!! Looks like Thanksgiving dinner for me will be a little turkey with a little giblet gravy beat to death in a food proccesser and maybe a little sugar free cranberry sauce on the side.... heck I might ever treat myself with a couple small bites of sweet potato pie!!!!:thumbup:

Hey Firechic, I'm three days pre-op from sugery, and my nutritionist recomended the whole baby food thing when it came to the mushy stage.... and I actually took a stroll down the baby food isle at the local grocery store and decided not to even try it. I will just use a stick blender or food processer to puree whatever I need... There just weren't that many that were appealing and they all looked bland!!!!!

Hope all the other November bandsters are doing well!!!! I had my pre-op yesterday, blood draw, EKG and chest x-ray. Monday is just right around the corner... but still seems far away. I found out yesterday I am the first surgery of the day and should be discharged sometime early Tuesday morning. Secretly, I'm hoping that by Monday night they are needing bedspace and I am doing well enough that they will go ahead and send me home. John

All prepackaged foods have nutritional data on the back of them...... starches are the same as carbohydrates. The protein will be listed as well as the serving size and calories per serving. A great site for keeping track and looking items up is livestrong.com. It can seem confusing at first, but you'll get the hang of it!!!!!! I personally try to say away from prepared frozen dinners. Too high in sodium. I take 30 minutes every day and make my meals for the day.... much more flavor than anything pre packaged and definitely fresher.

Hey Y'all, I haven't visited this thread in a while and wanted to check in Day #10 of the pre-op diet... doing well and this time next week I will be BANDED!! Good luck to everyone here!!!!!

Congrats!!!!! I know you are excited and what a great time of year to get banded!!!!! Best of Luck!!!!

Here is my pre-op diet... I started it 2 days early on 10-16. Beside one or two low points it has not been too hard and all and I am actually enjoying it. Meal #1 1/2 cup each of two choice from: nonfat yogurt, eggs, fruits/vegatable or Cereal. Meal #2 Protein Drink... 20 grams protein, must be low carb/no carb and low fat Meal #3 3-4 oz of chicken or fish, plus 1 cup raws vegatable or 1/2 cook veg Meal #4 Protein Drink same as above 8+ glass of Water a day.. No sweetened drinks or diet sodas.. I was told to no caffiene, however I still have one cup of coffee at work, rest of the time it's decaf.

I'm one week pre-op away from surgery and yes I am a little nervous... not about the band, just about the surgery itself. Stuff like, what if they find something else wrong while doing the surgery.. or what if there is some awful complication during the surgery. As far as the failure rate, I look at it this way... other than some major reason like my body rejecting the band, the success is up to me. It's my decision what and how much food I put into my body, I control my diet not the band. To use an weightlifting term, the band is just there as a "spotter" for me.... in case a try to do too much! Every one has there own way of using the band... that is just how I am planning to use mine. Best of luck in your journey!!!!!!

mebutbetter, Don't be too nervous... I was at first too, but found out it has not really too hard. Sure there are days like yesterday that I am tempted to give in to cravings. But, If I can do it, anyone can!!!

Today feels like it is a little harder for me, I don't know if it was waking up this afternoon (I work nights) to the smell of cinnamon rolls or just that I am tired (my 10th day in a row of working 12 hr night shifts, only 2 more to go!!!!!). Everything seems to be tempting me today... I haven't given in.... and have made a promise to myself that I won't. Maybe the Protein shake I drink around 8pm every night will help some. John

I've mixed Peanut Butter, No suger added Nesquick, and several other ingredients with it before. I also mix mine with Almond Milk... lower carbs than skim milk. But here are two of my favorite blends so far 1 scoop vanilla Protein powder, Almond Milk, Nonfat Blackberry yogurt, 3 pineapple chunks and a few ice cubes, then blend it. And 1 scoop vanilla protein, Almond Milk, and Nonfat Lemon yogurt, ice cubes then blend.... reminded me of a lemon pie the first time I had one.

I am in the pre-op stage. I was always the worlds worst for getting off of track on whatever diet I was on, and always telling myself tomorrow/next week/after I get past this/ I am going to start eating better. Truth be told those days built one on another another and got me to where I am today or actually 1 month ago... but I started my pre-op diet 10 days ago and wow what a change already! We all have our own reason why we do what we do or have done what we used to do. Get back to the basics, I know it's hard because I went all day today with cravings, but I told myself to keep my head in the game...and not to sabotage the progress I have made. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!! Eat healthy.... don't give into the temptations, you are stronger than they are because you made the decision of start your journey..... and that is one the hardest and strongest decisions the we make for ourselves!!!! And remember don't regret yesterday, but look for tomorrow!!!!! Hang in there, and best of luck!!!!!

I am getting my band in one week. When I first started thinking about getting one.. I certainly didn't look at it as I do today. Over the last week, I have realized that it can and will work, as long as I am willing to make the changes that I need to make within myself. It's going to take a lifestyle change and smarter, healthier choices. John

Okay Ladies, Doesn't look like any guy's have replied to this thread, so I am gonna break the ice... Here's mine!!! 1. Buy men's jeans in a store insteed of online. Most stores don't carry larger sizes with an inseam longer than 30". 2. Get rid of the nickname "Big" in front of John. 3. Go to the beach, pool, lake where ever with out feeling like I should keep my shirt on.... and finally and most important to me 4. Last summer my son and I went to an amusement park and planned to ride the rides and make vomitting sounds trying to gross out the young kids in front of us.... unfortunately I had to get off the ride because the safety bar wouldn't fit over my stomach:frown: .... This summer I'm gonna ride'em and make someone loose their funnel cake!!!!:blushing:

My last trip to Mickey D's was on the way home fro the surgeons office back at the end of September. Don't miss it at all!!!!

I had my first NSV today. My ring slide of my finger without having to wet it with something first!

Thanks for the wonderful words of encouragement Topazz and susidivah!!!! It's funny I've been around tempting foods for the other 8 days and not a bit of it bothered me. Just all of a sudden today it started. I know part of it has to do that I am tired... I always turned to food to help push me through a long night. Gonna kick this feeling in the butt... get through this... and get one more day behind me!!!!! Thanks Again!!!!!! ****UPDATE***** It's 3:40am, I just about have 2 hrs left of day #9, and I didn't give in to any of the temptations and cravings. Not the vending machine, not the strawberry cake in the breakroom, not the 2 Reeses Peanut Butter Cups a co-worker left laying in the office (okay, I did have to move those out of eyesight), not the smell of pop whifting in from the waiting room. Rest of the nights gonna be easy because after 4am, it's Protein shake time, and then I get busy getting ready for turnover!!! Gonna head home, and get some much need rest and wake up to a wonderful Day #10. Thank you all once again for the encouragement and support!!!!!!!!!

NSV is short for Non-Scale Victory... anything weight loss related that does not relate to numbers on a scale.

From my understanding the 4cc is an older band not used in the states anymore, but it is still used in Mexico. The new generation bands are 10cc and 14cc.

I will be getting my band Nov 1st too... on Day 8 of my pre-op. Best of luck on the pre-op and surgery!!! John

I was thinking today about how I was eating a couple of weeks ago verses how I am eating today, Day 7 of my pre-op diet. Yesterday I was counting my calories for the day, and realized I had consummed less calories in four days (averaging 650-800 calories a day), than I used to eat in one day. A couple weeks back I was mainly think of the pre-op diet, and first few weeks of the post op diet.... now I'm starting to think past all that... and the lifestyle change. Anyone else been looking further down the road too? John

My doctor put me on a 2 week high protein/low carb diet. 2 meals, 2 Protein drinks a day. meal #1 I usually make an egg white omelet with 1/2 veggies, meal #2 is a Protein Drink, meal #3 is 3 oz of chicken or fish and 1/2 veggies, and meal #4 is a protein drink. If a get a snack urge, I will usually have me a pickle spear or two or maybe a few fresh cucumber slices sprinkled with a little seasoning.... but in the last 3 days, I haven't snacked at all.