lunalady

Those are excellent guidelines, LisaLaw and I'm totally going to save them! Thank you for posting them! Hugs!!

That is totally funny and I am *absolutely* going to use it! It's actually a great visual for those who have never heard of the lap band before, isn't it? That's awesome! Thanks for sharing, little miss kowboyboots..a.k.a. Zip Tied!! lol

Good morning, everyone! I have a real quick question about surgery and I'm hoping that *someone* out there can answer me. I wear extended-wear contacts. Don't even *own* a pair of glasses...well, that's a lie...I have several pairs of 'cheater' glasses, cuz I'm old and I have to wear them for close-up work. I was told to bring glasses for the surgery; that I wouldn't want to be bothered with contacts. Problem is, since I don't own a pair, it's a little hard for me to do that! I had sinus surgery two years ago and I kept my contacts in for that without any problems at all. I mean, heck, I'm used to wearing them 24/7 for a week at a time, after all! Has anyone else had this issue? Did they *really* make you take out your contacts, even if they are extended wear?

Oh, you guys, thank you, thank you, thank you!! I honestly thought I was losing my mind! It's nice to know that my behavior is somewhat normal...and it's ESPECIALLY nice to know that this too, shall pass! And Shelby, I just laughed and laughed about your Mickey D's comment...I am *so* totally guilty of doing the same thing. It's just so close and so handy to zip through the line and get a burger, fries and a sweet tea, isn't it? lol Yup, the McD's down the street will be wondering what's up with *their* inventory in about three weeks, that's for sure! Ladies, thank you for your input! Hugs!

Hi, all!! I'm curious if any of you suffered from the "Last Meal" Syndrome...I'm sure there's another, even cooler, name for it than that, but "Last Meal" is what my brain has come up with. For a bit of background...I made the decision about three weeks to have the surgery. Ever since then, I'm eating anything and everything I can get my chubby little fingers on! It's almost as if I think, "Oh, it's okay. This is the ONE time in your life when it's OKAY to be heavy and to pig out! You don't want your BMI to be too *small* when you get to Mexico, do you?" Man, it's totally frustrating! Any thoughts on what you did to beat yourself at the mind-game would be totally appreciated!

My surgery is scheduled for three weeks from this afternoon...not that I'm counting or anything! Six more work days of regular diet, then eight work days of pre-op diet...then I'm on the plane and outta here! Woo-hooo!!!

So...called Fill Centers USA yesterday to get an idea of prices and availability. 'Bout had a coronary! The initial visit is $350, which doesn't include flouro. Flouro is an additional $99. Subsequent visits are $165. So...my first visit is going to cost me almost $500. Wow! But, I know that I want flouro at my first fill, just to make sure that everything is okay. I hope I don't need a fill every single month! And, even if I went back to TJ for my first fill and they used flouro, I'd *still* have to pay Fill Centers USA the initial visit fee of $350 when I go see them for my second fill. Either way...it's going to be spendy. Good thing I have some cash saved for it!

Holy crap! You know how you really don't notice how much weight you've gained until you see a picture of yourself and then you're in shock for a minute at how fat you are? Yeah, I got the same reaction this morning, only it was about how out of shape I am. I already *know* I'm fat! Holy crap...got on my new treadmill for six minutes on Sunday and for seven minutes last night. This morning, my tummy muscles are sore! From walking! 13 minutes of walking and I'm sore. This is going to be a long ugly journey. The good news is that I know I can do it. I just have to keep on keeping on! For my transformation, I have a whole arsenal at my disposal and I plan on using every single bit of it. 1. Lapband (physical) 2. Life mapping/hypnosis (mental/emotional) 3. Treadmill (physical) 4. Linda (mental/emotional) 5. Family and friends (mental/emotional) Yup, I'm gonna use every single bit of ammo I have and when this little butterfly comes out of her cocoon, there's gonna be a party!

Got my treadmill this weekend...it's a Nordic Track C1900...Linda bought hers brand-new at Costco a couple of years ago for $699 and then she had to assemble it. I got mine delivered and ready-to-go for $350. I totally got a STEAL! I even got on yesterday and walked for a bit to test it out...I could only do six minutes before my back started hurting though. I know six minutes isn't a lot, but hey, it's a start, at least!

Since I have begun this journey...from the VERY start...I've felt that there are forces at work around me...guiding me and pointing me in the direction I need to go. Example: the fill Dr. is right across the street from my work. I can sit at my desk and look across Overland and see his office. How the hell cool is that? Example: Susan and the whole 'life-mapping/hypnosis' thing. One more cog in the wheel of transformation. I just found out that one of the (flouro-using) Fill Centers USA's offices is in Salt Lake. I'm going to be in Salt Lake from August 12 through August 15 at a Scentsy convention. AND it just so happens that my six-week date will be the 6th of August. I'm going to call them and see if I can schedule my first fill (with flouro) either before I sign in for Convention or else as I'm leaving Convention. Wow! Forces at work, I'm tellin' ya!

I took money out of my 401(k) account. It's for my retirement but my theory was that if I *didn't* get the surgery and kept going the way I was going, I wouldn't even *be* here for my retirement! My surgery is scheduled for Thursday, June 25.

Woo-hooo!!! I get my treadmill this weekend! Found it on Craigslist...Nordic Track...retails for over $1K and I'm getting it for $350! I can't wait! AND it's the same one that Linda has! How weird is THAT? Went to a different GNC on my lunch hour yesterday and bought some more protein supplements. I have about a four month supply now, so I'm pretty sure I'm set! lol Went to the store last night and bought about a dozen and a half different soups. I actually bought baby food, too, to supplement the protein in the soup. Figured I could just use my handy-dandy new little Smart Stick and puree the hell out of everything when it's time for me to have full liquids. Bought bandaids and first-aid cream and Tylenol and Gas-X. The Gas-X I bought is little strips that you put in your mouth and they dissolve. Genius! Bought juice, too, and lots of Crystal Light. I'm trying to think of the groceries I'm gonna need and get the ones that go in the pantry bought already. Figured the less I have to buy when I get home and don't feel like doing too much, the better it's gonna be!

I bee-bopped into GNC last night, just to look around, while I was waiting for my daughter to meet me. Never in my life have I even *set foot* in a nutrition store. I was pretty much convinced that lightning was gonna flash and the ground was gonna open up and swallow me as I walked through the front door. Surprise! Nothing unusual happened, but trust me, I was waiting for it to! The clerk was a complete snot to me. He took one look at me (and my size) and immediately (mentally) dismissed me. I've had it happen to me enough that I know how it works, trust me! He asked if he could help me (which he obviously thought he couldn't, this is a health food store, after all!); he was about 19, with pimples and everything. It was great. NOT! So anyway, he asked if he could help me and I told him that I was having lap band surgery and needed to get some protein supplements for my post-op dietary needs. He said, "Well, most people who have *those* surgeries use this." and took me over to the wall of supplements. I bought two small packages, one Banana Cream flavor and one Mixed Berry flavor (they were 'buy one, get one for half-price'). They each add 22 grams of protein to whatever you add it to. I'm going to add it to my fresh fruit smoothie breakfast every morning, and possibly to the one for dinner, depending on how much protein I've had during the day. I was looking at the Isopure Protein Water and it was almost $4 for 16 oz. Then I happened to notice a big jug of Zero Carb Isopure powder that you just add to your milk or water. It adds 25 grams of protein for each scoop of product. On sale for $42.99; 44 scoops. I bought that, too, in the Pineapple Orange Peach (was it peach? now I don't remember!). So, I'm pretty much set. I would like to get some of the Isopure powder in Vanilla Cream, though. Maybe I'll go visit another GNC store during lunch today. I'm not going back to the 'snotty kid with pimples store', that's for sure. I'll feel excited when I can walk into a store and NOT get the 'big person' treatment, ya know? *sigh*

Shy, Thank you for the information!! I'm gonna go there right now and check it out.

Thank you, ladies! I'm just *so* excited for this new lease on life, I can't stand it! And I was seriously bummed when I thought I might not be welcome here.

I have decided that I am *completely* in love with my new Smart Stick Hand Blender! It is the most awesome thing I've used in decades! Went over to Linda's this weekend and she fixed me a fruit drink with it...she said it was my first 'bandster' meal and this was to give me an idea of how to eat once the surgery and healing is all done. All she did was chop up some fresh fruit into small pieces (I chose cantaloupe, papaya, pear, watermelon, strawberry and half a banana) and then she poured some Tropical Punch flavor Fuze over it, to cover. Inserted the little stick and turned it on...omg! In just a few seconds I had the most wonderfully refreshing drink you could *ever* imagine! Fresh fruit, liquified!!! She says it takes her a couple of hours to finish hers...she has one every morning and every night. It was so dang yummy! And I was thinking, I could even add some vanilla flavored protein powder to make sure that I'm getting enough protein. Oh, yes, I will definately be using my new little friend a *ton* of times!! It will even whip cream!! Woo-hoooo!!! I have a feeling that this will become my new best friend, just like it did with Linda! I am *so* thankful I have her for my mentor...she's been there, done that and she is helping me *so* much. I need to send her an 'I'm so thankful you're in my life card'.

So...everyone...I need to verify that it's even OKAY for me to be here! I just realized that this is the forum for the patients of OCC and Dr. Ortiz. I was thinking it was for *all* lap-band surgery patients. I am going to Tijuana, but NOT to the OCC. Is this a problem? Any words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated! Thank you...

Shy, What's the five day pouch test? Is this a newbie question? lol Yeah, I'm new. My surgery is scheduled for Thur, June 25. Only four more Wednesday morning wake-ups!! (not that I'm counting or anything! lol) Thanks (in advance) for the info...

It helped me when I realized that 'cm' is a 'size' measurement (like inches) and 'cc' is a 'liquid' measurement (like pints).

The first check was waiting for me when I got home from work on Friday. So...I have made the surgery appointment (Thursday, June 25), paid the deposit and made our flight reservations. My younger daughter will take us to the airport and she and her husband will take care of Simon (my boxer) while I'm gone. My older daughter will pick us up when we get home. Just a couple more things to get done before I go: 1) Shop for liquids/protein shakes, etc. 2) Look on Craigslist for a good used treadmill. Oh! And pack!! I am *so* ready for this transformation to a more healthy me!

First meeting went well...it helped that we had history with each other, I think. The initial 3-hour meeting was knocked down to a little less than 2 because of that history and the fact that I'm already comfortable with her. I am REALLY excited to see some of the changes that she's helping me map out. Already could tell a difference this morning...did my 'house laps' before I got on the computer to play WoW. Going to concentrate initially on the 'get moving' part of the transformation. After surgery we'll work on the 'healthy eating choices' part of it. Commitment to Excellence...that's my theme, I've decided...

How about being able to do our own pedicures, because we can *finally* reach our feet comfortably!! Woo-hooo!!! Can't *wait* for THAT one! Hugs!

So...I am not telling *everyone* what I am doing. My boss and fellow employees at job #1 just know that I'm flying to San Diego with Linda. My kids and their husbands know and they are VERY excited for me. A few people at job #2 know (one there just had Gastric Bypass about six months ago, and she is TOTALLY jacked for me!). Linda knows (she's been banded since October of '06 and she's offered to go with me for the surgery). Today, I told Mandi. She doesn't want me to do it. Thinks it's too expensive and I should just diet more. How frustrating for me...she doesn't *get* that I've dieted my whole life away! It's not about dieting, although watching what I eat will consume a TON of time/energy for me, I'm sure. I'm concerned that she's going to be one of those friends who, once you've lost some weight and feel better about yourself, tries to sabotage your weight loss/healthy life efforts. I guess if she turns out to be one, then I'll just deal with it then. I'm going to go to lunch with Dee later this week or early next week, whenever I get the Scentsy in for her, and tell her. I know that she's been thinking about having it done, too, ever since Linda had hers done. I think she's waiting for the money from the sale of her grandparents land before she can do anything, though. It would be awesome if there were any way she could pull it off that she could go down with me the same time. Time will tell who my *real* friends are...

Congratulations!! Can't wait to see the 'before' and 'after' pix!! Hugs!

Ladies, thank you *all* so very much for the replies and the well-wishes! It is *so* nice to be able to be absolutely truthful about my weight issues. It used to be that I would NEVER tell anyone how much I weighed, because I was so self-concious of how high that little number on the scale was. What I'm discovering is that *my* life is going to be lived...not dictated to by that little (okay, by that BIG) number on the scale! I'm *even* thinking about getting a treadmill or an exercise bike for when the weather is ugly outside. Now don't any of you pass out because I've had a healthy thought or anything! Seriously, though...thank you so very much for the inspiration I've found here when I've read your stories. It really does fill me with hope! Hugs!