jhawkchick75

What a fantastic feeling!!! I agree it matters so much more than the scale!!! Of course I'm so bloated today I can barely get my fat pants to fit, but soon enough!!! Congrats that is so fantastic!!!

I didn't lose all mine (lost all but about 4) but I would still do your very best to lose as much as you can. The more you lose, I understand the easier your procedure and healing is. My guess is they will still do it, but again do like everyone said and keep up on the water and exercise and diet. Best of luck!!!

Don't live out there but I just had to say congrats and tell you how jealous I am!!!! How great is that!!! You will have such a blast!!!

Woo Hoo!!!!! I am just a day before you so I know just what you are going through!!!! Are you staying at the Lucerna tonight? I might be trying to get an early flight home, but if not i'll try to look for ya. The broth in the restaraunt downstairs is pretty good - just really salty. But the hotel is fantastic! These folks aren't lying, make sure you walk a LOT!! I wasn't wanting to get out of bed, but when I do it sure makes a difference!!! Congrats and take care!!!

Yowsa...I am so sorry you had all that throwing up! With the way my tummy feels right now I can't imagine getting sick. I had to cough earlier and that was bad enough! I'm so glad you are feeling better. And congrats! I'm just a day behind you so it will be exciting to compare notes! Good luck and congrats!!!

Thanks everyone! Today my mom and I went to Revolution Ave but I didn't like it too much. Everyone was so pushy and I got crabby and tired so we didn't stay too long. I came back and rested and then we went downstairs for dinner. I wasn't hungry but I figured I'd better get some food in. The broth was good, but really salty! Now i'm just lounging in the room (thank goodness for free wifi!!) and am watching Footloose in Spanish! The gas has been minimal which is good. Overall I feel good. I bruised a lot and I feel like someone kicked me in the tummy, but otherwise i'm OK. The hotel is fantastic - wish I would have know before my surgery though that there is a lady that gives massages here! I would have totally gotten one. We are doing a trolley tour of TJ tomorrow so i'm excited about that. Thanks again for all your support and messages. It really helps! I can't wait for recovery to be over and to be albe to get to losing! Have a great night!!!

When Dr Ortiz came in yesterday before my surgery he was telling me about it and it sounded like he hadn't been interviewed yet. The family that is going to be on there with him were at OCC too and they hadn't been interviewed yet either. As they were there, they got a call from the show aking them to bring some of their largest clothes to show. But if anyone does see when it will be on let us all know. I'll keep on the lookout too! Awesome!

Hey folks! Sorry if this ends up silly i'm still drugged! But I am done they got me in today instead of tomorrow which is fanstastc! I've been up walking and already had two otter pops. Yum! Figured while i'm passing this kiosk I would type right quic, Everything was great - only glitch for me was it took them three different spots until they could find a spot for my IV. But I am used to that - happens all the time to me. Everyone here is really nice. Jazzy, there was a guy here today that I think he said is your stepson?? His wife and son here here too and they were really friendly. For all you Friday folks, hopefully i'll see you in passing or at the hotel. My mom is on her way over there now. Everyone is great - me and one of the male nurses sat and watched one of those Maury Povich "are you my baby's daddy" shows. It was a riot! The best thing is once I got here I didn't feel nervous at all. They had already drugged me when Dr. O came in and all I could think is "don't say anything stupid Shelby"! He told me my band is a female and is definitely a bi&$% so do everything she says and don't make her mad. Was a great analogy! Welp, back to walking but for those coming up just wanted to say piece of cake! No pain so far except when I get in and out of the bed. I'll try to get on here later!! Cant think you all enough for your help. It made me not nervous at all! Everything they tried to tell me I was like "yep, heard about that"! Thanks!!

Congrats!!!! Im glad to hear it went well and hope it continues!!

Yea!!! Congrats to you!!! I am glad to hear that everything went so well. Keep us up to date on your progress!!!

I haven't been banded yet, but thought I would chime in: Age: 33 My weight didn't get bad until after puberty. Then, I was really active so I was able to maintain it a bit. I danced competitively and was able to keep it down, but I always was criticized because I was surrounded by ballerinas and I had curves. Looking back i'd kill for that body again! I've done just about every diet out there. Weight Watchers 6 times, pills, dieticians, and so forth. I would usually lose around 20 lbs and then it would plateau so i'd quit. AFter I got in my upper 20's it seemed like it got twice as hard to lose. So now here we are! I'm not going to set a weekly goal just yet. My hopes are just to lose something each week and make good choices. I'm afraid if I put a weekly goal on myself i'll be disappointed. We shall see!

Woo Hoo me too!!!!! I don't have my tests until Thurs, but we are heading down a day early to relax. They told me they might ask me to go ahead and do my surgery on Thursday instead which would be fine with me. One day earlier to start and finish my 21 days!!!!! Can't wait to meet you all that will be there this week!!!! I'm so excited!!!!!

I know right! I work tomorrow then i'm off for a week! Everyone at work thinks i'm on vacation, which isn't totally a lie! I have a lot of meetings tomorrow so hopefully the day will go quickly. I'm ready to get to getting! Can't wait!!!

Great list! You are so much more ahead of the game than me. I have to pack and print off my stuff tomorrow and then I should be set. Great job!!!!!

Thanks so much everyone these are a HUGE help! Just went to the store and stocked up. I got all the stuff on my list plus your suggestions. I feel better having it all here before because i'll be on my own when I get back. For the special K water, I get mine at Wal Mart. The powder and the liquid bottles are in two different areas at my store - no idea why! The bottles are over by the slim fast and ensure and the powder is by the kool aid and crystal light. Not sure if you have any Wal Marts near you, but try there. Thanks again everyone!!!

4th row I am soooo jealous! I'll be seeing NKOTB on 11/11, but i'm up in the balcony. I can't wait it will be such a blast! I was a Joe girl growing up, but now Donnie is definitely my fave! Did they play a mix of old and new songs? Looks like you had a blast! And those boots are way cute! Glad you had such a blast!

Ick! Thanks for letting me know about the Ramen! I was gonna take those on the trip b/c they were nice little packets. Sounds like the bullion comes in packs too so I should be OK. Basically looking for something that is easy to pack. If it tastes good even better! When I get back i'll definitely make sure I have lots of cans of broth to stock up on. I can't thank you guys enough! I have my list here at work and am updating it! Thanks again! The belly is still flip flopping, but today has been a busy day at work so hopefully today and tomorrow will fly by and I will be on my way!!! Shelby

Thanks so much this helps a LOT!!! Sorry, guess I should clarify...yeah, i'm just buying the ramen for the broth i'll take the noodles out. I read on here someone did that so I thought I could take those with me and they would be easy while down there. I'm also going to do the cubes. Anything I can do to mix it up as much as possible. Thanks so much for the tips on pain pills, heating pads, and everything else. That sure helps a lot! I'm also excited the pops don't have to be sugar free! Now on the jello are you talking about jello jello or can you do jello pudding too? I'm getting very nervous but really excited too! I'm making my list and about to get on weather.com to see what to bring. It seems like so many people have come and gone since me, so i'm so glad it is finally my time!!!! I wish I could have lost more during pre op but i'm going to keep pushing and do my best. I've been out of town since Wed so it was really hard. But I tried to make good choices and did what I could. My belly is flip flopping and I wish it was time already! Thanks so much!!!

So i'm making my grocery list for tomorrow and I want to make sure i'm buying the right stuff. Sorry if this has already been posted - I looked up to a few months back and couldn't find anything. Here is what is on my list to buy to have when I get back. If I should add or delete anything please let me know. I feel pretty solid about what I can eat days 8 on, but the first 7 are still fuzzy. I'll need to mix it up as much as I can or i'll go nuts! Thanks in advance!! Shopping List Gas X strips Ramen Noodles Special K20 Protein Water packs and bottles Sugar free popsicles Apple juice Question: Are protein shakes OK during the first 7 days? If so i'll add them to my list. Already got my liquid vitamins so i'm good there. I'm also going to get a heating pad - I remember someone mentioning that.

Sounds like a blast!!!! Have a great time and we will hear from ya soon!!!!

Wooo Hooo!!!!! That is such a great feeling I bet!!!!!! Keep up the great work!!!!!!!

Awww that is so fantastic!!! I want a dog so bad, but i'm never home so I just can't do it right now. But someday I want several! I can't wait to see pics!!!!

Ohhhh....I will be thinking of you all tomorrow!!! Please be sure and let us know how it goes! I leave for San Diego on Wed - have slipped a couple times on my pre-op, but I have lost some so I feel good about that. I've tried really hard but being out of town has taken me out of my routine. Good luck!!!!!!

Ditto to what everyone else has said. You look fantastic and should be SOOOO proud of your accomplishments! I'm starting about the same weight as you and it is great to see where abouts I could be in 7mos from now. Thanks so much for sharing - any tips you can give are helpful as I start this journey. Shelby

I just got back from my conference and it was soooo hard to stay on track! When i'm home and in routine i'm fine but I unfortunately slipped up a couple times this week. But i'm back on track now until I go to OCC!!!! I still can't believe I leave on Wednesday - it's finally here!!! Hopefully i'll have lost enough weight - it didn't come off as fast as id like, but I have lost some. I'll weigh in tomorrow.