Bandsters for the week of December 27 ~ let's chat!

[Swan56 6]

Hey everyone! I'm being banded on the 27th too. I have been doing a 2 week preop diet. The first week consisted of 2 protien shakes (at least 15g of protien and no more than 200 calories) and then one meal (4oz of lean meat and 1/2 cup veggies). The second week is 4 protien shakes a day. Both weeks I can add sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicles, and broth. The last day (Sunday) is Clear Liquids only. My first three days were REALLY hard. Day 2 fell on my birthday and it was hard not to "celebrate" especially since this year was the big 3-0 and I was pretty excited about another landmark number LOL. But I stuck to program and day 4 was much easier. I did get permission to have a drink at my party on Saturday though - so that was okay. I haven't been hungry this week at all and have actually been having to force myself to get all my drinks in. I haven't even been supplementing with Jello, popsicles, or broth. I have gotten a few hunger pains but it's like it's just easier to ignore them. Last I checked (a few days ago), I was about 5 lbs down from the beginning of the preop. I need to get a new scale at home though - i don't trust the one i have, it's never consistent. As far as Christmas goes, I'm a little disappointed that I won't get to have some of my dad's amazing turkey and dressing or anything else. What i think I may do though, is make a plate for when I can eat again. My doc only has me on liquids for 2 days after surgery and then move on to mushy food for the next 11 days then slowly start adding solids back in. He suggests adding things in slowly so that if I have a problem - I can pinpoint what the problem foods are. So I should be able to have some of the Christmas meal on Thursday - maybe it'll be okay for a few days. If not... well, I'll be fine. It'll all be worth it in the end.

On a side note, this week has been super emotional for me. I mean, i'm on my cycle (sorry if TMI) so that makes me a little prone anyways but I'm also pretty scared. I've NEVER had surgery or been on any pain medication so I'm a little nervous as to how I will react.

[sunshine755 0]

I just joined the website and I am glad I did. My surgery is scheduled for the 28th at 11am. I am very scared, nervous and anxious. My biggest worry of course is the anesthesia. I am afraid of not waking up! I started my pre-op diet 1 week ago and have lost 10 lbs so far. I found the Protein shakes from costco, chocolate and vanilla whey Protein, are very good and low in carbs and sugar. I mix it with low calorie, low carb milk by Hood and it tastes really good. I add flavoring so that they are not always the same for ex: with the chocolate-I add orange flavor, Peanut Butter or almond flavor, with vanilla- I add strawberry. extra vanilla or orange etc. This way I have a different shake everyday, all day. Thank for listening and I look forward to talking with you all throughout our journey.

[b_r 0]

Hello everyone. I am scheduled for the 29th and my doctor doesnt have me on a pre-op diet. I am wondering if maybe i should start one that way I can get use to it. Good luck to everyone. My pre-op is on the 28th. Im scared and excited at the same time. I am scared that I wont wake up from the surgery and excited for the new me. I have never been thin (always the "BIG" girl). But I need to do this for my health.

[PattyB57 0]

Hey Everyone! I am being banded on the 30th. Went in yesterday for my preop appiontment and it went very well. My 2 week preop diet is Atkins. I was so thrilled when they told me that after reading all the post about others being on the liquid diet for 2 weeks.

For Christmas I am fixing a brisket, ham, chicken along with green Beans and salad. For the others in the family there will be mac & cheese, rolls and pie. I will have a nice Jello. I am keeping my eye on the prize!

Nothing would be worth waking up in recovery and being told they could not do the banding do to the size of the liver. NOTHING Girls!!!!

Can't wait to hear about all of your POSTOP stories!

Patty from Austin, TX

[girl_ on_her_ Journey 1]

Hello Everyone my name is Lisa and I get my band on the 27th Im so nervous but excited at the same time. I have not told my family i am doing this other than my husband. I don't want to hear negitive feed back. I am ready for the new me! I do keep thinking about all the things I wont be able to eat and it makes me want to go eat at all the places i love This is going to be great journey I can't wait to see myself by summer this is going to be the greatest thing I have ever done for ME! I can't wait to get a closet full of new clothes. I want to lose about 100lbs maybe 120 how cool it will be and to go to my high school reunion that i have avoided and see the people that I havent seen in years. I look forward to the energy that i am going to have and get out and play with my kids. My husband is afraid that I will leave him after this I think that is why when I brought this up a year ago he was so against it. What doesnt help is his best friend of 25 years wife left him after 27 years of marriage after she had her surgery. I told him i wasn't going anywhere and that im not starting over (training lol) with anyone else. I am taking care of me... Good luck to everyone next week. Protein Shake glasses up everyone here's to the new us ! Bring on the new thinner us 2011!

[mom24teens 0]

Hi Everybody! Thank you Teri for starting this group - it will be so nice to have a group of "friends" who are at the same stage I am. I am being banded on the 28th along with having my gall bladder removed. Like most of you, I am excited, nervous, & worried all at the same time. Excited to finally be set for surgery. Nervous about all the changes post op and worried that I won't be able to make the eating plan fit into my work life...I hope I am worrying for nothing. I started the preop diet on the 14th. It is a 1000 calorie/day diet. I use the whey Protein supp from Walmart 3 times a day. I mix Crystal Light (WM version) in and it really helps the taste.

I am also looking forward to a new me in 2011. I would like to lose 100-125 lbs and can't wait to start shopping for new clothes I also look forward to this summer on the lake - we go camping boating & jet skiing.I can be a more active participant in these activities. The main reason I'm doing this though, is my health - I have a strong family history of stroke, heart disease, diabetes etc. I already take meds for high bp and don't want to go down the road that most of my relatives have. It's time to get control & make a change for the better!

One last thing: will somebody PLEASE tell me how to get the ticker at the bottom of my posts?!?! I have tried & can't seem to figure it out. THANKS!

[Swan56 6]

b_r... I am super excited about not being the "big" girl anymore. Being able to shop in a normal store is so exciting to me

PattyB57... you are so right in the fact that NOTHING is worth being woken up from surgery to be told they couldn't do it because your liver is too big. Thank you for reminding us of this hugely known fact

girl_on_her_journey... I too am looking for lose about 120 pounds. It'll be nice to have someone else on this journey with me

mom24teens... From what I have been told, click on anyones ticker and it'll take you to the website to make your own. Once you make yours it will give you the URL to copy and paste to your signature. I haven't done mine yet but that's what they say. Hope it works for you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone! Enjoy your last weekend before banding

[Judyjones 2]

This site is wonderful. I will be banded on the 31st and very excited to start my journey. My doctor is kinder that most of yours because I am not on clear liquid diet, just special foods which includes one slice of bread a day. I love those shakes from Walmart with skim milke and ice cubes. I am from upstate NY, NOT the city....LOL and 59 years old. Anyone else from my area or at least my age? Thanks Teri for starting this. I loved reading all the blogs and what you are going thru. I have decided over the holiday that food is not the holiday, the people you are with are so everyone Merry Xmas and think skinny.

Judy

I wish I could figure out how to make one of those ticker things. I love to see those and how much weight has left your body.

[bandcamp1210 1]

I am having my surgery on 12/28! I am so excited, nervous, worried, so many different emotions!! Ready to start my journey to a new, HEALTHIER me! Nervous that it wont work for me...worried I will have problems with the band..just trying to stay positive! I have worked so hard for this, fighting the insurance companies, I am just ready to be on the other side of surgery

I only have to do a 3 day liquid diet pre-op..but have lost 45 pounds since I have started this journey!

That is amazing! 45 pounds! Wow!

Are you getting the same questions I am like:

"If you have lost this much don't you think you can go the rest of the way without surgery?"

UGHHHHH

[mattie7632 24]

Having the procedure Dec 27th, Monday!

Been on the clear liquid diet. I admit I have cheated a couple times and popped a couple bites of food! I actually did better the first 3 days and on day 4 I started to cave. Today is day 6 and today and tomorrow I have to be sure to do very well and drink lots of water!

I am feeling like under the weather now and hope I'm not getting a virus or something that would prevent Dr. from doing the procedure!!

Good Luck everyone, and Merry Christmas!

[notablonde 0]

Bandcamp,

Yes, and absolutely nothing is more frustrating!! People just dont understand what a struggle it is to keep weight off. I have lost the same probably 75 pounds several times in my life LOL....keeping it off is the problem I also get, "when you lose weight you arent going to like me anymore, or you will find new people to be around" my reply to them is, "I will still be the same person inside, I am just doing this so I will like me" people are so dang frustrating sometimes LOL

Havent told a lot of people because I dont want to have to hear their negativity. And I dont plan on telling them, just going to say I lost my weight through diet and exercise

That is amazing! 45 pounds! Wow!

Are you getting the same questions I am like:

"If you have lost this much don't you think you can go the rest of the way without surgery?"

UGHHHHH

[imagine923 4]

I have told some people and others only know about the hernia repair. When the questions come about how or why I am losing so much weight my plan is to tell them I've made a lifestyle change.

[LUVFORDALO 0]

Merry Christmas to all... the best gift we all could have given to ourselves is the gift of better health! I am going to be banded on December 27th as well. I can't wait. I'm just waiting for the new life that I will begin with the new year. Who needs resolutions? They don't ever last! This is for a lifetime and I can't wait to have mine last a little longer!

[newlifekp 0]

I am also having Lap Band surgery on the 27th (tomorrow!) I am not nervous about the rest of my life, but I am about the anesthesia. I know this is a normal fear and I just will have to get through it until 7:30 AM tomorrow, if all goes as planned.

I was on a 2 week low-fat diet. I found myslef cheating a little bit yesterday on Christmas. Had some popcorn at the movies and 3 bites of an appetizer at the restaurant. I lost 7 lbs this past week, so I really hope I didn't mess up my liver yesterday.

This is the first time my surgeon is doing a lap-band (and the first time the hospital is as well), but I feel really lucky. He is having a specialist proctor coming from Chicago to be with him during the operation (the dr. has 2 patients scheduled tomorrow). If he didn't decide to do this locally, I would have to go 3-4 hours away and I have seen how non-compliant other banders are in the rural area I live due to the distance from the dr. and fills.

Plus, I fugure he is not going to let anything bad happen to his very first patient, right?? I look forward to hearing how it went for everyone else this week. Good luck everyone!

[rather be scrapbooking 1]

I didn't forget about the thread, just a few changes here. I have had a last minute change of heart, and I decided to do the gastric bypass. I have 200 pounds to lose, and while talking with my doctor, I think this is the best thing for me.

Thanks so much to all of you for posting on this thread, and best of luck to you all!!

Teri