Pre-op Day 1

OK, so today I start the pre-op diet.  I have been nervous about this day coming and getting through these 2 weeks  since I decided to have the surgery.  I have my shakes, bottles of water, sugar free water flavoring, Lean Cuisine frozen dinners, and sugar free Jello.  Ready - Set - Go! 

It's 10:35 AM right now.  So far so good, but the real test will be when I get home tonight.  I have warned my children to be prepared for the possibility of a grouchy Mama these next two weeks!  (Hopefully I won't be too unbearable!) Ha Ha!  I am so ready, though.  And two weeks from tomorrow is "the day" I have been waiting for.

I have added some "before" pictures taken today.  Not very attractive, but I will be happy to look back on them at some point so that I can see the progress I make.

Getting Ready

So, in preparing for surgery I am required to go on a mostly liquid diet for 2 weeks before.  The purpose of the diet is to shrink my liver as much as possible because the surgeon has to go past my liver in order to place the band around the top of my stomach.  I can have 2 protein shakes a day and one Weight Watchers or Lean Cuisine meal and all the sugar free / calorie free liquids I want.  I have bought some Slim Fast shakes and tried those a couple of days, but I don't feel that full with them .  So, I'm searching right now for other kinds of shakes to try before I actually "have" to start the diet.  I am thankful that I will get to actually have one chewable meal a day.  I think this part is going to be hard, but worth it in the end.  My "official" start date to begin this diet is April 30th, but it doesn't hurt to try a little bit before then. :)

A New Beginning is Just Around the Corner!

Well, today I decided to start a blog about my journey toward having the Lap Band surgery.  I'm hoping writing it all down will help and will really give me something to look back on later.  After 7 years of trying to find the right surgeon and hospital AND have insurance to help pay for the surgery, I am finally 3 weeks away from actually having it.  I'm a little nerveous, but very excited!  I can't wait to start my "new life".  I have been heavy my entire life.  I remember being in the 2nd grade and my babysitter wanting to put me on a diet.  Over the years I have tried just about every diet out there:  Weight Watchers, Atkins, Low-Calorie, Low-Fat, The "Cabbage Soup Diet" - you name it!  With all of them I have had some success.  I even lost 85 pounds the year before I got pregnant with my second child in 2001.  However, the weight always comes back.  I am looking forward to the life-change having the band will be!