jena

I'm going to be using Fitday and I was wondering if anyone else is. If you've never heard of it, it's a great free "tool" and I think it will mix well with the band. Jena

Duh. #-o March. How could I forget march? I think I'll chalk it up to band excitement!

I'm so excited to be doing this. I've been studying the band since it was first approved by the FDA. Now is the right time for me to do this. I'm curious how the Feb / April bansters are doing in the weeks following their surgery. How is the post-op diet going? How much have you lost? How do you feel? Are you happy you did it? thanks!!! Jena

Awesome!! Let's do meet up. My step-mother is coming with me, and possibly a friend. We'll be getting in on the 7th around 11:00 or 11:30 on Air Tran from Atlanta. I bet we'll be riding to OCC together. You're the first person I've found who is getting banded on the 8th! Jena

I read that Sharon Osborn had hers removed because she still had an eating disorder and she thought the only way to overcome it was doing it on her own with therapy rather than having the band. Best of luck to her! I know myself too well. The weight would come back on, even with therapy.

Good find Michelle! That's awesome news. By the way, I just realized tonight that in exactly 4 weeks from today I will be banded! (May 8)

I love Ann Wilson and I love Nancy Wilson and Heart. Did anyone see her last night on the American Idol special? Oh dear! She was the heaviest I have ever seen her and my heart just broke for her. How brave is she to get up on that stage with FERGIE and sing her heart out. For those who don't know, Inamed approched her to get the band an be a spokesperson for it. She was banded in Jan of 2002 (I think) and lost 60 pounds. Somewhere along the line she wasn't successful. I can't find any information about what happened but I would like to know. I think it's important to hear where people went wrong with the band so hopefully we won't make the same mistakes. Jena

I treat myself all the time for no other reason than I like treats!

I'm arriving on the 7th for surgery on the 8th. I can't wait! Right now I'm counting the weeks, soon I'll be counting the days! Jena

I'll never forget the scene in Gone With The Wind where Scarlett is hugging the bedpost getting her waste cinched so she will have that famous 16 (17? 18?) inch waist line!

I agree with everyone, you are a doll! I can't wait to see your updated pics. I'm jealous! You have such thin arms and legs. Mine are so big, I bet I could win a "Who has the biggest bat wings" contest after I lose weight/

Paula is SO right about the scale. You shouldn't weigh more than once a week. concentrate on what you are eating, not some number. I say go a little further than Paula suggested...put your scales in your car, or better yet, your husbands car (if you have one) I's a pain to have to go out to the car and get the scales and bring them in and weigh yourself. So do it! Honestly, does the number matter? A better judge of weight loss is your own clothes. Buy yourself something like a pair of jeans in the next smaller size. Rate your weight loss on how your current jeans fit and how the smaller jeans fit. The number on the scale is just a number

I'm so excited for you Wendy! I'll be there in one month, so please let us know how it goes! Take care, Jena

This is so exciting! It's wonderful that you and your daughter are doing this together. Too bad that we'll miss each other by a few days. I finally made 20 pounds down in 4 weeks! Of course I started at 323.5 so I'm not surprised that I lost a lot, but 20 pounds in 4 weeks is pretty darn good. 4 more weeks to go and hopefully I'll lose 5-10 more. I expect my weight loss to slow down pretty soon. How's everyone else doing on the before-diet-diet?

Thanks MamaMichelle! I email Dr. Miranda my weight every week so she can keep track of my weight loss. I told her last week that I had hired a personal trainer and started swimming lessons so I can swim laps. She emailed me back that she loves to swim. She's a very sweet lady and also very encouraging. When I've told several people I'm going to Mexico for the surgery, after they get that horrified look off their faces. (y'all know what I mean, I'm sure), I tell them how the OCC is requiring me to lose weight and send my weight in every week and that seems to reassure them that I'm not going to some back ally surgeon. It makes me feel good about my decision as well.

Lori set up a time for Dr. Miranda to call me. What she told me to eat is: Protein shake - Slimfast Optima is one she named as an example and I really like them Lean Cuisine for lunch and dinner Salad - only green veggies - with the spray dressing. Just about every salad dressing makers have these now. I bought 4 different ones, a couple of Paul Newmans and a couple of others. And if I absolutely am starving, soup and she suggested Minestrone soup. I bought Progresso Minestrone and tomato. So far I only had the tomato soup once. I've been doing this for 4 weeks now and other than the first few days, it's been pretty darn easy. I started at 326 1/2 and she wanted me to lose 17 pounds before surgery. I suspect people with less weight to lose are put on a different diet. I've lost 18 pounds as of today and my banding date is May 8. I'm shooting for a 25 pound loss by the time of surgery. The thing that has made this diet doable for me is that Lean Cuisine makes so many many different dinners. The variety is HUGE. Everything from sandwiches, pasta, ethnic, veggie and meat & potatoes. I have been practicing eating tiny bites and chewing them until they dissolve in my mouth. It takes me anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour to eat one of those small Lean Cuisines! If I gobbled them down like normally would, I would be looking for something to eat right away. Since it takes me so long to eat, I'm perfectly full and not wanting anything else. Good luck on your Pre-op diet! Jena

Dr. Miranda has me on 1 Slimfast Optima shake for breakfast, one Lean Cuisine for lunch and one Lean Cuisine for dinner. I've lost 18 pounds in 4 weeks! Those darn Lean Cuisine's are really good and the Slimfast is so much better than I remember. You should call Dr. Miranda and ask if you can change diets if you are struggling on the one you are on. I get banded on May 8 and I've already lost the weight Dr. Miranda wanted me to, but I plan on staying on this diet until my date so I can lose as much as I can before banding. Jena

Getting filled together would be great! I know I'll be nervous.

My banding date is May 8. =D> =D> =D> =D> I live in Lawrenceville and I'm planning to use the roswell center too. I would love it if those of us who are banded at the OCC and live around Atlanta could meet up for lunch or dinner sometime. Looks like there are a handfull of us right here!

That is awesome Audrey! Not about your health, but about you changing paths yet continuing on with a career you love. I'm not taking a year off from working like George in the Summer of George - wish I could - but I did change jobs last September and it's turned out to be the best job I've ever had. You know what? Other than the number 50, this year may turn out to be the best so far. Jena

Audrey! Turning 50 has been a real dose of reality and I'm not happy about it! I'm with you, 50 sounds so freaking old. ( This is my gift to myself as well. Actually, one of the gifts. I don't know if you were (are) a Seinfeld fan, but there was a storyline where George was taking the summer off from work and do what he wants. He called it "The summer of George." Well, 2008 is "The year of Jena." I have hated wearing glasses for the longest time. I gave myself the gift of Lasik about 2 months ago. Losing weight and getting the band is the next gift. I've started getting facials every month and I have found myself a divine masseuse. I joined a fantastic gym and just this week started swimming lessons. I also paid for 12 one hour sessions with a personal trainer. Can you tell I'm divorced and have no children?

Chances are they will tell you not to give them wet food. Just the Science Diet for UTI's. I'm so glad you are taking them today. A UTI can kill your cat before you know it. In the future, the signs to look for are; Going outside their litter box. (Just like your's did) Blood in the urine. Seeing the cat straining to pee. They will usually let you know by doing this in front of you. Have you noticed one of them squatting, looking like they are trying to pee, and crying while they do this? I hope your babies are feeling well soon! (I have 5 now, had 15 at one time several years ago!)

I am so excited and nervous too. I feel like I've been waiting for this all my life. I also feel a little sad this wasn't around when I was younger. (I just turned 50) I weighed175 pounds when I was 11! I've only been at a lower weight once since then, and I could only maintain it for a few weeks. This is the first time in my life I've really had hope that I can be of a normal size. Hugs to all, Jena

This is a great article! http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...D=2008801270330

Atkins always worked well for me to take a lot of weight off quickly. You could probably lose 20 pounds easily in 6 weeks! My BMI was high too. I think it was 51 when I started. I'm just steeling myself when temptation is around. Got rid of the junk in my house - my friends made out getting cartons of ice cream and Marie Callendar frozen dinners. I cried while I dumped a bag of newly opened taco chips in the garbage. I know this is for a short time only, so I walk bravely by the Hershey nugget bars, cheese and peanut butter crackers, all different chips and pop tarts that are free to eat as much as we want. I just turn my head as I get my sugar free jello from the fridge. I know one little chocolate bar, a few chips or any of that other stuff will just set me off. For me it's either all or nothing and it's hard really hard to cross that line to no junk.