jena

In France you can get wine or beer with your big mac and fries!

I'm guessing you are probably under a BMI of 50 if you didn't have to talk to Dr. Miranda. Mine was just over 50 and I had to talk to her about which diet to be on and she gave me a goal of 17 pounds to lose. I couldn't schedule my surgery until I lost 10 pounds, which I did in 2 or 3 weeks. Because of work, I couldn't schedule at the end of April, so I scheduled for May 8. I lost more than 1 pounds in 4 weeks and I have 2 weeks to go and I've lost 23 pounds. I stuck with the pre-op diet even after I lost the 17 pounds. I'm too afraid of gaining back the weight!!

AKKK! I think you're right.

This is a silly topic, I know but one of my cats loves my Slim Fast Optima drinks so much, he now knows what the can looks like! He gets in my face while I'm drinking it, putting his paws on the can while I'm drinking it. When I've finished he licks the top of the can and I pour out a few drops for him and he goes crazy drinking it. Doesn't matter what flavor! Anyone else have a cat that reacts this way?? My other cat has absolutely no interest in it, btw. Jena

I'm still pre-op by 2 weeks, but for the last 6 weeks I've been following the diet with the one shake in the morning and Lean Cuisine for lunch and dinner. The one thing I've learned from eating the frozen dinners was portion control. Last night was the first time I cooked in 6 weeks - I live alone so it makes it easy - and I was able to portion it out to about the size of the frozen dinner and I did just fine. So, maybe if you could get you a few Lean Cuisines or Weight Watchers Smart Ones it would help. Jena

What great advice from everyone!! Have you thought of making something like French Onion soup or some good chicken soup? Then you can eat the liquid and no one would know. Have two bowls (because it is so good) and then say you don't have room for dinner. Have frozen yogurt for dessert, just freeze your yogurt. Serve them pie and ice cream. Throw out any leftovers or send it home with the Aunt and Uncle. Good luck! Jena

Three weeks from today Mom12!! Woo Hoo! =D> Jena

I just don't like the taste of Crystal Lite or Propel, don't know of anything negative about them.

I'm so glad you went ahead and had that done! You know I once asked my gyn doc what on earth made him pick gyn as his specialty. He said it was the money that made him do it! hahahah At least he is honest! I'm from GA too, as some of you know. I'm from the Atlanta area. I'm being banded on May 8. that's 3 weeks from today!! jena

You'll make it! At some point, your body has to let go of the weight!! I'm on the pre-op diet and for the last week I've been fighting a stubborn 1/2 pound. After losing 20 pounds in 4 weeks, this is very frustrating! Grrrrrrr. Have you tried the Special K protein water? 5g of protein and 5g of fiber in each bottle. They taste great! I like the pink lemon aid. I've got the bottles and the packets to mix in bottled water. I don't drink crystal lite, propel or any of those other drinks. I've just started drinking these and I like them very much. Drinking a couple of these a day gives you an extra 10g of protein and 10g of fiber.

Drop the turkey luncheon meat and the turkey bacon. Get yourself a turkey breast and bake it in a baking bag - it keeps the meat moist. Eat that instead of the lunch meat. The turkey bacon and the lunchmeat (any deli type meat) has nitrates and salt in them to preserve and cure them. This junk makes you retain water. Skip the bacon for breakfast and have a scrambled egg or egg beaters. Up your fiber! You need 30g per day! I love the FiberChoice tablets and hard candy. They are like big sweet tarts. You chew them, the hard candy is orange flavored. Each tablet has 2g of fiber. Get the sugar free or the sugar free plus calcium. Go to this link and get $3.00 off coupon. http://www.fiberchoice.com/ Good luck! I've enjoyed reading about your progress! Jena

OMG! I just found the awesome site on About.com that has a link to spas in TJ and lots more good information! http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/casdmenu/...ana_special.htm

That is so funny that you asked Alana! I was just about to post and ask the same thing. I do love my spa visits, and I was thinking of treating my step mother to a facial or massage. I wonder if there is a day spa nearby? Jena

Take note of the word CURE. My doctor was amazed to find out the AMA recognizes the band as the only cure to Type II.

Hi gals! We will have to start a thread for ourselves and our adventure! I'm bringing my laptop and camera to record the trip. :cheerleader: Are y'all coming alone or with someone. I'm bringing my stepmother. Alana, Sufina and Jena - 3 weeks to go!! Jena

Damn those scales!!! I'm on my pre-op diet and have lost the weight Dr. Miranda wanted me to, but I'm keeping it up until I get banded in 3 weeks and 2 days. I have been gaining and losing the same 1/2 freaking pound for 9 days now. I told myself after I weighed this morning that those damn scales are going into the closet for a while. Jena

I love reading those posts. I love looking at everyones ticker and one day I'll post mine on here. The ones I appreciate as well are the "I've messed up, but now I'm on track and here's how I did it" posts. I know I'll be there someday and it's reassuring to know that other people have too and they pulled themselves out of it. What I don't like (I know, you didn't ask) are the posts where people talk about cheating on their pre-op diet, one last supper (which turns into one last supper for every night until they are banded) and how much they "cheat." Then they ask for advice. What advice can you give them other than "don't do that." THEY know what to do and no one can tell them how to change their mindset. Jena (dodging rotten tomatoes)

Snowbird, I love what you said. It's like you read my mind. I'm 3 weeks pre-op and I made the call to Lori 4 weeks ago. At that time Dr. Miranda told me I needed to lose 17 pounds and the diet she wanted me to follow. I'm so afraid that I will mess up the band after I get it I've been doing everything I can to live like I already have it in order to make the transition smoothly. I'm starting the 5th week of my pre-op diet and I've lost 20 1/2 pounds. I have no desire to have a "last supper" because I don't want to mess anything up. I'm not waiting until I get the band to change my life because it won't. I have to change my life with or without the band.

Akkk! Sorry for the double reply. My paperwork gave instruction on how to use PayPal, so it is accepted via PayPal.

Double check and make sure the money was not taken out of your card before paying again. From PayPal you should receive a receipt if the transaction went through.

What an awesome idea! I never thought of liquid Tylenol! I'll make sure to pack some when I leave for San Diego on May 7. Jena

Wendy, you are doing two of the most difficult things a human being can do. Just being able to beat the smoking for two weeks shows what a strong person you are. If you can get past these two weeks of not smoking and trying to maintain your weight loss, you will be so successful with the band.! I really admire your strength in attempting these difficult things. Hang in there! > Jena

How on earth do you use it? :-?

I love it! I actually bought the pc version, but honestly, I like the web version better because the pc version doesn't have anyway to upload or download the information to the website. So, the only place I can access it is on my computer! I'm going to be doing the web version for my band so I can access it from work of while I'm traveling. The sparkpeople.com looks like fun too. I've never heard of it so that was a good find too! Jena