doinitagann

It is getting close. I am so EXCITED, not quite nervous yet. I am so ready for this. I have been trying to get this done for 2 years now. Thank God I found Dr. Ortiz or it may have been another 2 years. I look forward to joining all you bandsters and relating all my successes and trials. I really look forward to being in the misses sizes again. WOW. Big life change ahead. Thanks for your support.

My second and last child started kindergarten this year as well. She was so excited. When we got there she wanted me to stay. That got me. I came back 2 minutes after I left to make sure she was doing okay and she laughing and playing with the other kids. Oh, she doesn't need me like she used to. Now she can't wait for school to start. Congrats on this milestone. they grow so fast.

I am sorry, but I am laughing. I know that is horrible to say but it makes me feel a lot better. I thought I was alone in the NOW poop from nowhere. No accidents YET. but my oh my. I think it is all the ruffage. Anyway thanks for telling your embarrassing story so if and when I have mine, I will know I am not alone. Good luck on the plane.

a BIG AMEN TO THAT!! I thought it was just my husband that was the ASS. Guess not.

Once again, I can count on you guys for wonderful support. Preop is going a bit better the last few days. I am getting used to it. (for now). I went out of town for the night and I though i would have a horrible time. Besides the smell of Burger King in the car, I did not have so much trouble. I order 3 side salads from BK and ate it like french fries. ( I could almost pretend). I got a coffee from starbucks and poured my ensure into it and it almost tasted like a mocha. Imaginaltion is keeping me alive. Thanks again for all of your thoughts and advise. It helps more than you know.

You all are so wonderful!!!!!! Thank you for the support, it helps so much. You are all so right. Amazingly, having looked at his addictions, makes me understand my own. It has made me stronger to stick with this. I have done well so far on the preop and hope to continue. Don't know what I would do without all of you though. Thanks again >

I just got off the phone with my mom. She was crying because my little brother just got his 2nd DUI in 2 months. Oh,what do you do? This is his 3rd DUI to date and he is 27. He has no job and no money but a girlfriend who adores him and enables him. She leaves him cash when she goes to work and can't stand to leave him set in jail. She is bailing him out and missing out on visiting her out of town sister. He does not think he has a problem but we all know he does. He refuses treatment and the court ordered treatment is an outpatient once a week counselling. With all this stress, guess what I want to do? thats right-Eat. well I need to go but once again this is stuff that I cannot tell my husband because he has no idea what an addiction is. He just believes my brother is a loser and every time he messes my husband laughs and says "what a loser" I love my brother very much. He is a sweet guy and makes some of the stupidest choices. What do you do?

Good Morning all, Well, I have been on the preop diet for a few days now and am really struggling. I have not cheated or anything, but it is more with my mind. I am so hungry and I think about everything that is being given up. It is amazing how much food ruled my life. My mom came over yesterday and said she was going to keep my mind busy. The first thing I thought was where are we going to go for lunch. Her birthday is coming up, where do you want me to take you to lunch, My husband is returning tomorrow from California, where should we go to dinner. UGGGGHHH. I did not think that this was all so important until it was taken away. I am craving things that I never ate, because I know I can't have them. Does that make sense? So, does this feeling go away? and if it does go away will it come back when I am in a weaker state and will give in to temptation? I want this to work so bad, I have never been this big--not even close. The last 30 pounds jumped on me and took me by surprise. (I had a lost pregnancy, and became depressed) Now I am committed to this but I think back and thought I was committed to the other diets I was on too. So many gain backs has really damaged my outlook. I know I am not making any sense, I think it is lack of food that makes me rant. . But thanks for listening and giving me any advise or support you may have. This is not something I could bring up to my husband or he would tell me not to do it because I am having doubts and he don't want to pay $8000 for something that I will mess up. Also, few questions. Does it have to be lean cuisine or can I buy Healthy choice or smart ones (more protein that carbs)? How big can the protein shakes be? I am drinking ensure high protein and they seem so tiny. Thanks again for all the support that this forum provides. It is invaluable.

That would be great, unfortunatley, i have not allowed anyone with a camera within 10 miles of me since I have gotten so large. No pictures below the double chin

Have not had surgery yet, but i asked about a week ago and wish i hadn't. I guess when you eat too fast or too much sometimes you get productive belching (I think that is what it stands for) It is when the overeaten or unchewed food comes up from the innerds and can be painful and slimmy. Pretty nasty, hope I can avoid that one. Peanut butter doesn't sound so good anymore.

They almost look too big. better go for the 10's

I had originally planned on taking my husband with me to surgery, Thank God I changed my mind and invited my mom instead. Not only does my husband have no patience with waiting around for DR's but I could die if my doc would tell him something like that, or worse, my actual weight!! Whew. I do not need any extra pressure. the $8000 is pressure enough!

It was the email that requested info that I had not put my real weight, the paperwork was listed correctly

I am a little worried as well, When I requested the info for surgery I put my weight at 260. However, i did not weigh myself for close to 3 months. Was I in for a surprse when I stepped on the scale when I needed to fill out the paperwork. I had gained over 20 pounds. (I have an enormous amount of stress lately, I know, no excuses but that is a good reason to eat) I sure hope they are not thinking that I really weigh 260 because I have to loose 30+ pounds in less than two weeks.

Wow!! I am glad I read this forum. I would have been so discouraged if I did not know that before the first fill I would likely not lose or even GAIN!!! That will put my mind at ease when I get to that point. -Trudy, are you going to the OCC on Sept 3? that is my surgery date.

So I have been doing the preop and have a few questions. 1) is coffee okay?-maybe with some cream 2) what about soda? 3) what would be a realistic protein amount for the shakes? is ensure high protein okay (12g)? 4) Can I add ketchup or sour cream to my lean cuisine? 5) Am I freaking going to survive this?

Oh jessica, you make me cry. For once, it is because I believe you. I believe that you understand and care. All of this forum is so full of wonderful people who were complete strangers a week ago. Now i consider them to know more about me than a lot of my life-long friends. We are starting our journey together. I will be here for you and hope you can be there for me. THANKS.

Oh, that would be so COOL!!!! Of course I could never tell my friend where I met you. . Hopefully I will be able to make it up there next summer. Gives me plenty of time to lose some of this weight.

Maybe i missed something but I thought the OCC clinic was 15 minutes from the airport. Does going thru the border take that long?

My friend is in Montreal Quebec area. I loved it up there!!! Can't wait to go back SKINNY~!!!!!

I have a dear friend in Canada and email her all the time. I went to visit her a year ago and I can tell she was a bit surprised to see me large.(I met her when i was 140). I told her then that I was thinking of having the band done and she just about flipped. "Just go on a diet". I told her I have been on diets and never kept the weight off. I always gain the weight back. She did not understand why I could gain the weight back after i lost. Once I lose weight shouldn't I be able to maintain. She said. "It's not a diet, it is a life change" -like I haven't heard that before. Well during our chat last night she suggested we go on a diet together. I refuse to tell her about the surgery cuz I know how she feels about that. She has 15 pounds to lose and lets see I have 140. . She gave me a bunch of weight loss tips, like drink water, don't snack, Like DUH. It made me realize that some people do not live the life that is as hard as mine in my obese body. to some food is a fuel or a perk. to me food is my friend, my enjoyment, my crutch but most importantly-my enemy. It is there whenever I need it and there is plenty of it. I plan to succeed on the band, simply because it will put the wall between me and all the negative sides of eating. I know we all have friend out there like this. It is great to be surrounded by people who understand. I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to all of you. You are my inspiration. Your words are ten times meaningful as most of my skinny friends because I know you know what I am going thru. Good luck to all.

Ellen, YOU ARE MY HERO. I could not have ever in a million years said it more eloquently.

Due in surgery on Sept 3 and have been wondering if the lower portion of the stomach felt hunger. I guess that answers my question. Sounds like another thing to get used to. Hope i can handle it

Oh Donna, I am sorry. i have been part of this forum for only a week but have found your posts to be MOST helpful. i have 2 weeks to go and could understand what it would feel like to have that ripped out from under me. My husband is still trying to talk me out of it, but i won't budge. I know i could lose weight on my own but i could never, ever keep it off. I am a life time member of Weight watchers, twice over. I actually worked there . But as you said it is a food addiction. You could use this 6 months to do all the work and then once that is over, get back in touch with the OCC and have it protected properly-like putting stitches into an incision. Good luck, I look forward to future posts from you.