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Hey everyone, this is my second day on my two week pre-op optifast diet. Does anyone have any tips on how to survive this time? Yesterday was awful, I have never been so hungry and I had terrible nausea and heartburn. Today is a little better, when does it get easier?

I am feeling scared. I know it will sound funny but I am mourning the loss of my "old" life. I am actually fantasizing about going to my favorite Chinese buffet just one more time before life as I know it changes. I am also worried what I am going to use instead of food to deal with the stresses of life. So, I think I am ready but it is also scary. And I am HUNGRY! LOL This two protein shake/one meal a day diet is tough! I have been doing it for a week now but there is still two to go. I am excited to get it over with. Of course in the back of my mind is the date...my father passed away on that date in '07 so hopefully he wont be at the gates waiting for me. LOL. I am excited though. It is going to be fun having a totally new life. What about you? What are your fears and thoughts? I am a teacher but I can be a great listener.

Stacey

Thanks for friending me too! It will be nice to know someone who is getting banded on the same day as me! I am very excited about the surgery and pretty much just ready to go. I do, however, have my occasional moments of worrying about all the what ifs, wondering if I am making the right decision, and second-guessing my decision to implant a device into my body. (But, given that I am a therapist, over-thinking things from all angles tends to be an occupational hazard of mine.) Overall, I am very excited and am impatiently waiting for 4/1 to finally get here! How are you feeling now that 4/1 is only 2 weeks away?

Hi Leigha

Thanks for checking on me. I have been busy and haven't made time to get online the past few weeks. Also I kinda had a standstill for a couple of weeks and I was a little embarrassed I guess to check in and update my progress. I am about 4.5 weeks out and havent had much restriction the past couple of weeks. However, I have really been able to stay on track with healthy eating and exercising at least 5 days a week. I am down a total of 33 lbs since the pre-op diet period, and down 15 lbs since surgery day. So I feel good and will be having my first fill Monday morning. I had to readjust my expectations, because they were unrealistic with what I should lose initially.. but I am pleased with my progress so far. I think in the back of my mind I still fear that it will be like prior diets and I will fall off of the bandwagon and gain it back, but I am determined to prevent that from happening.

Thanks again for checking on my progress. I hope all is well with you!

Christopher

oh you go girl not too long to go it'll all be worth it.. i was on a 4 weeks preop only did 3 lost 22.04 pounds and the surgeon said my liver was perfect! so no cheating will ensure u get the band!!

I am definitely getting better everyday! but its getting a little problematic, since the op i've become lactose intollerant ALL milk products give me the runs and make me violently ill..

Each day i get a lil better.. last two days i ahve gone a step back.. i think i did too much!!

You will be there soon babe i have faith in u...

wow i would be upset to wait every two months for a fill. I get one every 3 to 4 weeks and my doctor insists. I think you should insist every month as well its included with what you have paid. 15 pounds is great its just two months . keep getting the fills and yes get to walking i lose from doing just that.

Thanks for the kind words... that is very nice of you... feels good to hear that sometimes. I have done pretty well with the band-- I am very blessed that since surgery I have had restriction-- I didnt have to go thru "bandster hell".... I have just followed the rules on drinking while eating... and eating my protein... and just making healthy food decisions as far as nutrition. Don't get me wrong-- I do allow myself a couple of "favorite" meals each week- but bc I have restriction I dont go over my calories. If you need anything on your journey please don't hesitate to email me-- will be glad to help... I will tell you one thing that helped me alot -- is to log all my food and drinks in caloriecounters.... I have offically lost 89 lbs as of this morning-- and I have 17 more to go to reach my original goal -- but I am thinking i might go another 10... to 125.

Sample day for me like today I ate for breakfast 1/2 cup of yoplait fruit smothie w/ 1/2 cup 1% milk and a scoop of unflavored protien powder (180 cals), lunch 1/2 cup cottage cheese and 1 grilled veggie (chicken flavored) burger w/ ketcup and a little mayo (200), snack 1/4 cup almonds (170), dinner 1 salmon patty-3 oz, 1/4 cup brocolli steamed and 1 small red potatoe (385 cals) then I had a few slices of cheese and 16 reduced fat wheat thins (240 cals)for bed time snack (can't break that habit for some reason!) Had a pretty good eating day today! More then I've been able to eat in the last week. Total cals 1175. I've been trying to stay around 1200 a day...although this last week it's been tough to get there. Last night I could only eat about an ounce of chicken for dinner and a few bites of a flat bun and a few bites of macaroni salad. Then I started getting a watery mouth is what I call it...lol! I guess they call it sliming.

Hi - had a bad fitted on 13th Feb'11 but i've lost no weight. I had my 3rd fill two weeks ago and am now at 6.7ml. I know everyone is different but shouldn't I have lost some weight by now? I eat sensibly and exercise sometimes but to no avail - help.

Not getting hungry yet, but I have had trouble with the protein drinks. My nurse suggested Muscle Milk, I'm trying it tomorrow. I really need more proteins. I am on liquids only now (today is the first day) but all Ive had today is some potato soup and some sugar-free pudding lol!!

I can't seem to have any more than that..it hurts my tummy Plus, my nutritionist said that by week 3 I will be hungry...so I really wanna get a head-start so it won't be so hard for me to loose between week 3-5 (I have my first fill at week 6).

Nope, we don't allow smoking in our house. I don't think I've even been around anyone smoking lately. I work at a hospital, so no smoking allowed there. It must be a lab error. My doctor was confused, too. It said "positive" then the words "canceled due to duplicate." He said he didn't know what that meant, there wasn't another nicotine test in the results that would be the "duplicate." I see the surgeon Thurs. Guess i will find out then. I'm not going to worry about it cuz I know it's a false-positive. How are you doing? I bet you are just in a tiny stall & the weight will start going down again very soon! It can't do anything else, right? My gosh! You're only drinking milk! I started my liquid diet today, got tired of being tempted with food and just decided to start....so far so good!

lucky!!! i get my first fill (second fill i guess? i got 2 ccs in the band before it was placed around my stomach!) in the first week of April.

im on solid foods. ham, chicken, turkey, steamed veggies, low fat cheese and stuff.

Thanks for asking. It went really well. Surgery took 3 hours. I had lipo to my outer, inner, posterior thighs and knees and lower abdomen and a pubic lift. The pain only lasted about 3 days. I am 12 days post op today and I actually did 30 minutes on my elliptical machine today (even though the dr told me to wait another week). The brusing was horrible, but is getting better. The swelling hasn't been too bad so far. I can already see improvement. I just hope I don't have too much sagging when the swelling goes away. I don't think I'm going to be satisfied with the pubic lift though. I had some excess skin from my tummy tuck that I was hoping he would remove and he ran out of time. I'll wait 6 months to see what it looks like and I may consider a revision if I don't like it.

How are you doing?

Hey there I see you just did you lapband recently. How are you holding up? How was the surgery? I have my first apt to get the ball rolling next week. I am very nervous about the surgery part....

GOOD LUCK!!! Just remember to FOLLOW THE PLAN!!! I have been off for a week have have gained close to 10 lbs back!! JUST WATCH YOUR EATING AND REST

From one Cindy to another...

I just found this group and I too live in south Jersey.

I started this process about a month ago and this Tuesday I have the last of my pre-op requirements at Temple. I already met with the surgeon. I then have to wait a couple of weeks for them to submit my file for insurance approval. Unlike a lot of what I read on the blogs, Temple won't schedule the surgery until after everything is submitted. I can't wait to have a firm date...hoping for April.

Anyway, I think it would be great to have someone to talk to through this process.

Hope to hear back.

Cindy

Hi Ellen,

I'm so sorry, I just saw that my response from before didn't post. I'm doing great, between 8-18 pounds away from my ideal weight for my height according to Dr. McVay, but if I choose I could lose more. So, that's exciting. I've lost 87 pounds so far. My birthday is coming up on the 23d so my parents are flying in for 2 weeks...they arrive this coming Wednesday, I can't wait!!

Thank You :smile2: How did your surgery go? good I hope. Are you on liquids still? I am for another week I can't wait to be off liquids. Hope your feeling good.

Hi Jasmine, I am having mine on 26th March, will be flying out 2 weeks today! Can't wait, and yes indeedy we can support each other. C x

I am having surgery next week. I am so happy for you and your weight loss! I am inspired by you. Thank you!

janelle

Thats good, hopefully you can get in in the morning too! I found out i have to be there at 7:30 am now, but i live like 3 minutes away.

so i had my blood work today. i had an EKG last week at my other doctors, so they didnt have to do that again. but i did the chest x ray and gave blood. they had to poke me 3 times! ouch. each arm then one hand. they just couldnt get any blood out of me lol. but im glad all of that is over with. I didnt have to pay anything and they didnt mention anything about pain medicine yet. i guess my mom will take care of that while im in surgery.

im so hungry btw lol.

OK ... MY turn for a kick in the ass... Can youhelp me out??? LOL Not sure why, But my motivation is ZIP this past week. Not really caring what I eat. And eating until I puke, then eating some more... Have you ever done that? Man, i just dont get it. Maybe I'm more frustrated with my month long plateau than I realized?? Tell me how well you're doing! That should get me motivated again :-)

OK ... MY turn for a kick in the ass... Can youhelp me out??? LOL Not sure why, But my motivation is ZIP this past week. Not really caring what I eat. And eating until I puke, then eating some more... Have you ever done that? Man, i just dont get it. Maybe I'm more frustrated with my month long plateau than I realized?? Tell me how well you're doing! That should get me motivated again :-)

OK ... MY turn for a kick in the ass... Can youhelp me out??? LOL Not sure why, But my motivation is ZIP this past week. Not really caring what I eat. And eating until I puke, then eating some more... Have you ever done that? Man, i just dont get it. Maybe I'm more frustrated with my month long plateau than I realized?? Tell me how well you're doing! That should get me motivated again :-)

OK ... MY turn for a kick in the ass... Can youhelp me out??? LOL Not sure why, But my motivation is ZIP this past week. Not really caring what I eat. And eating until I puke, then eating some more... Have you ever done that? Man, i just dont get it. Maybe I'm more frustrated with my month long plateau than I realized?? Tell me how well you're doing! That should get me motivated again :-)