316 replies to this topic

[sharm]

I have honestly never read so much on weight loss and watched so many youtube diaries for both banding and the sleeve. I am nearing my appt with the surgeon so hopefully I will get my surgery date soon. I have watched both operations (even though I am the queesy type) and I must say that the banding seems like it is not incredibly invasive to the body. This helps me with my insane fear of not waking up. So if I can set aside the fear of the operation I feel only excitement for my life after.
I realise that there will be work with my nutrition and some periods of discomfort both after the operation and as I learn how much and what I can eat but wow the upside is going to outweigh that.
I look forward to
- Seeing my 2.5yr old grow up and a chance of seeing grand children (I had her at 39),
- feeling good about myself again instead of living in the shadows
- People noticing that I am a woman again instead of a generic fat person

Wow the future is exciting - here is hoping for a March surgery date!

[sharm]

How are our early March Bandits going with their shake diets?

[MissA]

I dont have to start my Optifast til March 13, but Im now currently doing 2 Optifast bars 4 days a week - Breakfast every day and about 4 dinners a week. Depending on what Im doing on the weekend, depends on what I eat/whether I have a bar fri/sat/sun. Noticing I feel fuller quicker so hopefully its starting to do its job. Think socialising will be my challenge but im ready for it!

[sharm]

 MissA, on 22 February 2012 - 06:24 PM, said:

Think socialising will be my challenge but im ready for it!

Miss A this is a huge fear of mine. I often have business lunches (say once a week) and I am not telling people of the band. I think I will be having a lot of soup - should go down ok and draws little attention if you don't finish it. This is the plan anyway.....

[francesca]

i'm aiming to start optifast to-morrow even though the doctor told me 2 weeks is enough.i thought i'd start early so if i slip up during those 2 weeks maybe i won't feel so bad

[Mrs Monty]

Hi All, Great news, i got my date today, i will be banded on 20 March 2012!!! I can not wait. great to have a support as i will not be telling many people, my parents, and sisiters, my husband and my manager at work. so i look foward to sharing info and gaining experiences from you guys. yippe yippe!! so happy this is finally happening!! i have been waiting since feblast year when i took out Private health insurance.

[shazzky]

Miss Monty I am being done on the 19 th and have also been waiting since feb last year, what a wait!! I don't have to start opti until 5th march but feeling like starting the journey earlier! It's a bit hard because I have just started a new job and am not telling them of my banding ( 1 week unpaid leave) I don't want to sit down in the tea room having shakes just as I get to know everyone! It's so close now that I'm allowing myself to get excited. I can't wait, I just hope I don't fail at everything and the whole thing is a waste of time. I feel strong but usually when I feel this strength it leaves me around 6 weeks later. So I hope so so much that this is my best tool yet!

[sharm]

Welcome Mrs Monty and congratulations on getting your date after such a long wait

Good luck with the pre op shakes Shazzky. I have done shakes on and off at work for a long time so don't expect anyone will pay any attention if I go on them again!

Francesca did you end up starting the shakes?

[francesca]

has anybody tried the new banana flavour optifast.is it any good ?

[fatmomma]

Hi everyone, my op is 3 weeks from today and I'm starting to get a bit nervous even though I've had two operations in the the last 3 years. I've told a few mums at school that I'm having the band and they have been soo supportive. One of the mums has even organised a personal trainer to come to her house 2 days a week and i can go and exercise at her place in privacy without anybody gawking at me as i weigh 146kg. Good luck to everyone on their journey.

[Leapin]

Hi Fatmomma, what a lovely gesture by your friend. Hopefully in no time you'll be ready to get out there and fix up those gawkers!
I had 5 weeks yesterday until surgery, started one meal a day Optifast this week and so far so good.

[francesca]

fatmomma that's what you'd call a true friend.i l told my friends too and like you i found them very supportive they even take me to all my doctors appointments.i'd be lost without them.i've started optifast twice daily and i'm surprised cos i've found it easy till now.

[francesca]

i'm having a hiatus hernia repaired at the same time as the lap band.i'm having a lot of reflux problem i hate the bad taste i'm constantly getting in my mouth from the hernia

[MissA]

Welcome to all the new March banders! Its slowly getting closer...... seems to be all thats on my mind lately!!
I have moments of 'omg wtf am I going to do' but then they pass.
Am loving the optifast chocolate and berry bars... so much more filling than a shake for me.

[sharm]

 fatmomma, on 24 February 2012 - 11:59 AM, said:

Hi everyone, my op is 3 weeks from today and I'm starting to get a bit nervous even though I've had two operations in the the last 3 years. I've told a few mums at school that I'm having the band and they have been soo supportive. One of the mums has even organised a personal trainer to come to her house 2 days a week and i can go and exercise at her place in privacy without anybody gawking at me as i weigh 146kg. Good luck to everyone on their journey.

Welcome Fatmomma and good luck with your journey. No gawkers here only support.....

[Success]

I just can't wait.. start my optifast Monday coming, I can't stand optifast and dietician said its ok to use others...biggest loser stakes are my favorite! shopping next week to buy pjs slippers etc..just need to get tests. Monday and pay the fee and all there then!

[fatmomma]

Hi everyone and thanks for the support. I start my shakes on friday and have brought peppermint and strawberry essence to put into the vanilla and chocolate shakes to give them a better taste. I did the optifast shakes 3 years ago and they were so nice but now they've changed the formula and they taste like cardboard lol. Good luck

[Nofluba]

Hi march bandits. So lovely to meet you all. I am all approved & just have to book in - great news. I have been reading all your posts and everyone is so positive and very excited. I have the positive part right just not the excitement. I can't bring myself to make the call to get my date confirmed (5th or 13th). Does this mean I'm not ready yet?

[mumoffourboys]

Hi March Bandits, I am being banded on 22nd March at Joondalup by Dr Hannes Basson. I am quite nervous about it, not the actual op but post-op and the fills. I have been stressing out for the past 2 weeks over the care of my baby boy, my parents are going away on the same day as my op and I don't entirely trust my hubby with bubs for over 24 hours hes very easily distracted and I think still getting used to the new dad responsibilities lol. Lastnight my awesome lil sister said she can have my son while I'm in hospital...yay, now one less thing to stress over

I have my dietician appointment on Friday and pre-op appointment in 2 weeks so everything's coming along. I havn't told many people I'm having the procedure, just the important people like my Hubby, Parents, Sister and her Boyfriend. I'm not ready to tell everyone, I'm not 100% sure why I'm just not comfortable with it yet.

Im not sure when I need to start the Optifast? Will I find that out from dietician this week? Does anyone know if you can have other shakes instead of optifast?

[Success]

 mumoffourboys, on 27 February 2012 - 03:36 PM, said:

Hi March Bandits, I am being banded on 22nd March at Joondalup by Dr Hannes Basson. I am quite nervous about it, not the actual op but post-op and the fills. I have been stressing out for the past 2 weeks over the care of my baby boy, my parents are going away on the same day as my op and I don't entirely trust my hubby with bubs for over 24 hours hes very easily distracted and I think still getting used to the new dad responsibilities lol. Lastnight my awesome lil sister said she can have my son while I'm in hospital...yay, now one less thing to stress over

I have my dietician appointment on Friday and pre-op appointment in 2 weeks so everything's coming along. I havn't told many people I'm having the procedure, just the important people like my Hubby, Parents, Sister and her Boyfriend. I'm not ready to tell everyone, I'm not 100% sure why I'm just not comfortable with it yet.

Im not sure when I need to start the Optifast? Will I find that out from dietician this week? Does anyone know if you can have other shakes instead of optifast?

hi mumoffourboys, congrats on ur decision to get banded. I am also being banded 22 march dr basson joondalup...you will find out from the dietician but I started shakes today one week early...I can't stand optifast and the dietician said its ok if have different ones...
good luck with ur journey and maybe read up a bit more about post ops and fills on this site it is so useful and you will feel better knowing more about it..
I have told everyone but each to there own.. you don't need to tell anyone else if you don't want..it's your journey and your story so do whats best for you