btradio Posted March 24, 2010 Report Share Posted March 24, 2010 First off, thanks to all of you that take the time to post on this board. It has been extremely helpful to read your comments and virtually experience your journeys. It is because of the things that I have read here that I felt so comfortable booking with OCC and Dr. Ortiz. I am currently scheduled for my procedure on 5/7 and I can't wait. I realize that change that is coming and I (think) am prepared for it. I am confident that this will be a successful experience for me. I am currently doing my pre-surgery weight loss regimen and will endeavor to lose the required amount of weight prior to my surgery date. Does anyone have any info they care to impart for someone at this stage of the game? Thanks again! Brian Starting Weight: 413.4 Current Weight: 409.0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BandDiva Posted March 24, 2010 Report Share Posted March 24, 2010 First off, thanks to all of you that take the time to post on this board. It has been extremely helpful to read your comments and virtually experience your journeys. It is because of the things that I have read here that I felt so comfortable booking with OCC and Dr. Ortiz. I am currently scheduled for my procedure on 5/7 and I can't wait. I realize that change that is coming and I (think) am prepared for it. I am confident that this will be a successful experience for me. I am currently doing my pre-surgery weight loss regimen and will endeavor to lose the required amount of weight prior to my surgery date. Does anyone have any info they care to impart for someone at this stage of the game? Thanks again! Brian Starting Weight: 413.4 Current Weight: 409.0 Brian! Congrats on making this decision, that I believe will change your life forever! I was banded in October 2008 and I am still on this journey. I would just tell you to really wrap your head around the idea that you have to mentally fight hunger after your band. That part never goes away. It doesnt just fall off and stay off. You will still have those cravings and want to eat. Start with good habits and dont break them. Dont drink with your meals, dont get your fill so tight that you live off slider foods that are high in calories. Stick with meat and veggies and lay off the processed foods. Get in a routine of daily exercise and dont let anything stop you from doing it. Get all the junk out of the house and tell your family you need their help by changing their lifestyle too. You will find that chips are so easy to eat, dont buy them! lol Take care of your band. Follow the liquid diet exactly as you are told after surgery. You dont want to slip your band and these few weeks are crucial. Good luck! It will take some work and some days you will wonder why you did it. But, one thing I can tell you, your band will help you not gain. I have wanted to lose more, but when I think about it, atleast I am no longer steadily gaining weight. I am thankful & I believe you will be too. Can't wait to hear about your journey! Dana 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apprehensive Posted March 24, 2010 Report Share Posted March 24, 2010 Great decision Brian. I am new at this band thing...my surgery was March 18th 2010. I can tell you that the pre-op diet left a litte bit to be desired...mainly because I am not a salad fan, but the drinks I was able to have were great. They were the meal replacement that is on the site recommended by OCC. I had one for breakfast, one for lunch with a salad...then for my dinner I had a lean cusine and a salad.Was not long I opted to skip the salad at dinner and was perfectly content with the Lean Cusine. At first I thought, this is not much food...but in no time, I was pretty satisfied with the entire meal thing. In just this short of an amount of time, I feel much better and that gives me the incentive to keep going. And...with the band in place now, it will be easier. The post-op diet sounds hard too... from first hand information on that, it is much easier than I thought. You have to keep telling yourself that this will be the last real diet you will ever have to be on. I hear horror stories about people who don't follow the post-op diet and I don't want to be one of them. Dr. Ortiz will tell you the same thing. It is not the band that failed, it is the person that failed. So, keep that in mind and keep a positive attitude. When you see the weight start coming off it will begin to make more sense to you. So....Best of Luck on your journey with the new way of life. If I can answer any questions, don't hesitate to ask. People on here have been great to me and I would like to do my part too. keep us posted on your journey to this NEW YOU. All My Best Apprehensive (that is just how I felt at the beginning but not any more!!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhawkchick75 Posted March 24, 2010 Report Share Posted March 24, 2010 Congrats on your decision!!! I don't regret it for a bit!!! The best advice I can give you is to take as much time as you can in this forum and read all the posts and go back and read old posts. I even got a small notebook and took tons of notes. By the time I had surgery (was 4 mos for me couldn't take off work until then) I felt so prepared I was like OK, let's do this!!! I felt like I had already been there b/c I had heard so many people's stories and seen pics. The biggest one for me has been breaking old habits and dealing w/ head hunger. It does not go away and you have to know that the band is just a tool - there is still a lot of work involved on our end so make sure you are ready for that. The band is not a fix all, but if I can be successful ANYONE can! I had horrible habits and very little willpower. So know it is hard, but doable!! Best of luck!!! Can't wait to see your progress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAMMIE Posted March 25, 2010 Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 BRIAN, LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT ALOT OF GOOD ADVICE HERE AND I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD ONE MORE THING, GOOD AFTERCARE. HAVE A GOOD DR LINED UP FOR YOURSELF LOCALLY EVEN IF YOU PLAN ON USING THE OCC FOR YOUR FILLS BEST OF LUCK TO YOU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BandDiva Posted March 25, 2010 Report Share Posted March 25, 2010 BRIAN, LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT ALOT OF GOOD ADVICE HERE AND I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD ONE MORE THING, GOOD AFTERCARE. HAVE A GOOD DR LINED UP FOR YOURSELF LOCALLY EVEN IF YOU PLAN ON USING THE OCC FOR YOUR FILLS BEST OF LUCK TO YOU Thumbs up!! The OCC can give you a list of doctors in your area. This is soooo important! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristi Posted March 26, 2010 Report Share Posted March 26, 2010 Brian, CONGRATS!!!! Making this decision to be banded, for me was very hard to do. However, it was the best thing I have done for myself. Through this process, I have gained a new and improved self confidence, I learned that I really like myself and more than ever, I am me again! I haven't felt like me in years. I love me now. My advice, Keep a positive attitude. Definitely keep us posted. Kristi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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