arittel

I was a HUGE Mt. Dew Addict. I'm talking 6 to 9 cans a day. Well on day one of my pre-op diet I couldn't have that anymore. I switched cold turkey to Crystal Light WILD strawberry (the WILD Strawberry, ENERGY, has a little caffeine.) By no means is there the same amount of caffeine but I have only had 1 headache in a little over a week. My surgeon allows coffee drinkers to keep drinking coffee before and after. He doesn't worry about the caffeine intake so much as the carbonation in pop. It makes drinking all this endless Water a little easier and my surgeon said it was just fine since there is only 10 calories per packet of crystal light versus 170 calories per can.

When they say a 12 month weight loss program, make sure they don't have any "Catches" to that. I chose Weight Watchers because it was one of my insurance company's approved WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS. Only to find out 3 months into my 6 month time frame that because my Weight Watchers Team Leader was NOT a certified Dietician or a licensed nutritionalist it did NOT count as part of my 6 months. GRRRR!! So I did it through my doctors office .

Something very similar happened to me...January 1, 2010 began the new calendar year for our Health insurance through my husbands employer. They did NOT have any pre qualifiers other than a BMI over 36. So January 7th I met with the surgeon, they filed the paperwork and I was approved by the 14th. Only to find out that we couldn't do the surgery until February 2010. No big deal right. EXCEPT on January 25th my husbands employer sends home a letter that states effective February 1, 2010 they will be switching health insurance providers. So the surgeon re-filed with the new company and what do you know --you have to do the 6 month weigh loss program. (So I joined Weight Watchers because that was one of their approved programs.) Well 3 months into this I find out that because our Weight Watchers team leader is NOT a certified dietician it doesn't count. I have to do a program through the dr.'s office. Well luckily I had been going to the doctor monthly anyway for various items, thyroid checks and what not, that he had monthly weights on file. I kept going to weight watchers also. SO I had 6 months of a program PLUS the dr's visits. Sent it in and was approved in less than a week . I hope everything works out for you and that they don't change benefits. Getting Banded October 13th and refuse to believe it will really happen until I wake up from the surgery and am told it is DONE

I have bc/bs of MN and it took one week. :drool: Hopefully yours goes as quickly.

So I'm on day one of this and so far I can't say I'm the biggest fan of the dense peanut butter bar. We'll c how the rest of the day goes. I was a heavy mtm dew drinker and this morning I had to literally stop myself and think as I reached in the fridge. I grabbed a water. That's a BIG step for me. Somehow the little victories make me happy. 13 and 1/2 more days of opti fast. Not that I'm counting. . Lol

They gave me vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry shakes. 2 different bars. 2 Different soups to choose from daily---Garden Tomato and Chicken somethin'. So I will have 7 days of Tomato and 7 days of Chicken. If your plan is like mine just think only 14 more soups to go :smile2:

R U trying the soup tonight? Let me know how that goes over if you are. I didn't realize how much anxiety I had over this whole pre-op diet until just a little bit ago.

Uhhh....you get Jello, I get nothing more than the Opti-Fast and water. At least it was Jello and not a cheeseburger. Next time you'll be sure to double check the Sugar free part I'm sure of it :smile:

I start mine tomorrow. Optifast 800. Keep in touch as how they taste. I'm not so excited about this part of the journey but whatever, it's only 14 days :smile:

I would love to share each others journeys if possible. What if any is your pre op diet requirements and have u started it yet? Mine will be optifast for two weeks Prior to surgey. Not so excited about that part of the journey.

I'm 28 and my date is set for October 13th. I'm super excited. 20 days to go!! (Not that I'm counting or anything.) Let me know how the approval process goes and for those of you that have your date set keep in touch.

New here, hope you don't mind if I jump on board......I finally got my phone call from the surgeon's office yesterday. October 13th here we come!! Yeah! I can't wait. I meet with the nutrtion/dietician and other specialists on Monday, Sept 27th. 2 Weeks of Opti-Fast.