I am going thru the process waiting to get my approval and to get the date for my procedure. I should be sleeping now but i can't help it i am so nervous. I have lost weight before like everyone elso but keeping it off is the problem. I workout now and I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, but I can live without it. I want to know is the pre-op shake thing for everyone or is it if your BMI is over a certain thing? I'm sure the smaller the liver the better everything goes. Also does the amount of tummy fat have to do with the pain factor also? Where the port is once you start to loose weight can you see it poking out? Does it bother you yet? What can't you eat, I know everyone is diffrent but just general ideas, also how can your band slip or should i say why would it slip? Any thing would be helpful....