Wow, long time since I've posted. Winter has gotten the best of me, was diagnosed with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and its time to get the winter weight off.
Will post later when I have more time, just wanted to reactivate my journal!
I found this while searching on the net, so I wanted to save it for future reference. I'm down around 70 to 80 lbs and so far the only thing I'm experiencing is lower back pain. I still have more weight to lose, but so far everyone tells me no need for tummy tuck. But you never know, I want to have all the info I can in case I do require one.
GET INSURANCE APPROVAL FOR COSMETIC SURGERY
Since I previously worked at an insurance company and have discussed what I’ve learned there, I often get inquiries about how to get insurance approval for cosmetic surgery after weight loss.
It is possible to have the insurance company approve payment for your reconstructive surgery. The most common type of surgery requested after weight loss is an abdominoplasty.This single surgery can make one of the biggest differences in the body – it removes excess skin and tissue of the abdomen area. This procedure is also often called a “Tummy Tuck.” Do not EVER use the term Tummy Tuck when communicating with your insurance company – they consider this strictly a cosmetic surgery term and they do not like it.
Once thing I’ve learned with having worked at an insurance company is that how you communicate with them is as important as what you say. The abdominoplasty is a term used to cover a few different procedures. Two of the terms, panniculectomy and abdominoplasty are often used interchangeably, but the terms actually have some subtle differences.
In a panniculectomy, the hanging or excess skin of the pannus (the lower part of your abdomen) is removed surgically.In this procedure, muscle repair may not be done – in most adults who have had weight changes or pregnancy there is often some separation of the abdominal muscles.
In an abdominoplasty, this excess skin is removed and often there is a repair of the abdominal muscles if there is separation or loosening of the muscles in this area. Hernias in this area are usually covered by insurance, and the repair of these hernias is often done simultaneously with an abdominoplasty.
I think the keys to insurance approval are very simple. It's difficult for one doctor to completely ignore another - so I always try to have my insurance approvals passed on to the clinical doctor in whatever group is in charge of making the decision.
To make sure this happens, I include a lot of doctors' letters in any file that is going to be sent to an insurance company. By this I mean letters from your PCP or General Practitioner, letters from your OB/Gyn, your dermatologist - any doctors you have.Add these letters along with the file and photos that your Plastic Surgeon will send to the insurance company.
Now after a massive weight loss, it is inevitable you'll have lots of excess skin. For that reason, I suggest you make sure that the insurance company understands that it's not cosmetic reasons that you want this skin removed - but for medical reasons.
In other words, you want to make sure that they understand that this excess skin (and excess tissue, especially in the areas of your abdomen, thighs, hips etc - and perhaps even your bust) is interfering with your daily function and life.
The things I would stress would be the issues that occur with excess skin. These may seem gross but they are actual medicalresults of excess or hanging skin. If your hanging abdominal skin is forming an apron of skin that hangs toward your pelvic area, then this may cause complications that can be used as justification for approving your abdominoplasty surgery.
The idea is if you have any of these conditions to make sure that your doctor notes you've been diagnosed or treated with it. Or if you haven't been diagnosed but the doctor knows you are PRONE to this conditions this can be used as justification for getting your surgery before you suffer from these conditions. For example, if a female has been treated for yeast infections from her OB/Gyn, then it is perfectly acceptable for that doctor to note that the hanging skin might make you prone to that condition (even if it has not yet surfaced.)
Letters from your dermatologist noting skin irritations, rashes, infections from your hanging skin or having been treated with medication for these conditions is also a very strong factor in getting approval.
A letter from your urologist might mention if you've been diagnosed as having excess abdominal skin that is pressing or your bladder or urethra. This pressure can cause various urological conditions and disorders.
If you’ve been treated by a chiropractor for any lower back pain, any type of alignment difficulties or other conditions that might be affected by hanging or excess skin, get a letter documenting that.
It has been studied that every one pound of abdominal tissue add 10 pounds of strain on the disks of the spine and lower back. The extra weight affects the normal curve of the spine and contributes to lower back pain. In other words, an extra five pounds can add 50 lbs of strain to the lower back. And extra ten pounds of abdominal tissue can add 100 lbs of strain to the disks of the lower back and this is another reason this area common suffers abdominal hernias (this is especially true after changes in weight, pregnancy, and abdominal surgeries).
Your PCP or Family doctor can also be of great help in helping the insurance company to realize that getting an abdominoplasty is reconstructive and not cosmetic. Having this doctor detail the conditions you’ve experienced is essential to getting approval for this procedure.
Insurance companies are often in the business of not approving procedures that they even suspect are not medically necessary but cosmetic. Make sure that your documentation reflects common medical industry terminology (writing panniculectomy or abdominoplasty instead of Tummy Tuck, as discussed earlier) and utilizing the correct codes to document the conditions that you may suffer from.
If you have even more significant excess skin that extends throughout your lower body area, then the more severe Belt Lipectomy or even a Lower Body Lift may be needed. This procedure involves a full around-the-world incision that spans your entire body. The surgical and recovery times are also more lengthy in this much more costly procedure and often insurance companies are hesitant to approve a Belt Lipectomy or Lower Body Lift without some significant documentation to show that it is needed.
The CPT code for the abdominoplasty procedure is generally CPT 15831 – The excision of excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue. (This is the code that is on my insurance approval letter for my abdominoplasty.)
The code for removal of excess hip area tissue is CPT 15834.
With other areas included (flanks, back) it is CPT 15839.
If this process includes suction-assisted lipectomy (like liposuction) then it can be CPT 15877.
(Note: Insurance companies are notoriously loathe to approve CPT 15877 as they consider it cosmetic.)
It is important to document that the excess skin is not a cosmetic issue but is “interfering with exercise, hygiene and health” and that it is not cosmetic.
The following is a list of common industry ICD-9 codes are descriptive diagnostic codes that used to describe symptoms, in this case relating to excess skin. These can be used in the letters that describe the various conditions and symptoms that are prompting you to seek the surgery.
Panniculitis 729.39 - Skin irritation underneath pannus area
Large pannus 701.9 - Redundant skin, lower abdominal area
Intertrigo 695.89 - Rashes & Irritation of skin in pannus area
Back pain 724.1 - Back pain from diminished abdominal muscle
Skin Abcess 682.2 - Can result from excess or hanging skin
This is just some of the information that can be included in the documentation provided to the insurance company. I know I did not want to wait until my excess skin became a full hanging apron, so I knew I had to be persistent and diligent in seeking insurance approval.
The slight unfill did the trick, slept like a baby last night for the first time in weeks! No acid reflux at all. I wish now I would have had him only take out 1/2 of a 10th of a cc. It probably would have worked and I would probably have better restriction.
But whatever, I'm living with what I have now. I have restriction, just not as good as it was before the unfill. But I just cannot live with the acid reflux. I need my sleep! It was so bad it was coming out my freaken nose. lol.
Today's menu:
bfast
coffee with cream
toast & strawberry jam (HOMEMADE WITH SF)
Lunch
meatloaf (again, homemade and used SF barbque sauce I made)
salad
Dinner
chicken fahitas, no tortillia
orange sorbet that I made - SF
Wt today 147.4
40 months ago I got the band. What a roller coaster ride its been. Below are my stats - month by month - as you can see, the longer you have the band and the closer you get to goal, the harder its been for me. Some fly right to their goal, for me, its been hard work - and lots of it! Also, lots of ups and downs, the band helps with controlling eating, but not slider foods (ice cream - chips, etc.)
So emotional eating has been something I continue to deal with. When I'm down, I eat. Its something the band has not been able to fix, and I'm still working on it every day.
Consultation with Doc 11/24/06 - 248.9
Surgery Date 1/18/07 - 226
1 mo post op (Feb 18)- 206.8
2 mo post op (March 18) - 198
3 mo post op (April 18th)- 193
4 mo post op (May 18th)- 184.2
5 mo post op (June 18th(- 178
6 mo post op (July 18th)– 174
7 mo post op (Aug 18th)- 178 - went on vacation and ate big (7 day cruise)
8 mo post op (Sept 18th)- 174
9 mo post op (Oct 18th)- 170
10 mo post op (Nov 18th) - 167
11 mo post op (Dec 18th) - 170 - haven’t even been trying
12 mo post op (Jan 18th 2008)- 174 - again, not trying. But finally refocused - exactly where I was at 6 mos post op – so basically no weight loss in the past 6 mos
13 mo post op (Feb 18th) - 183 - Ouch! started taking steroids and made my weight go up, along with not eating right and no exercise!
14 mo post op (March 18th)- 185 - grrrrr
15 mo post op (April 18th)- 180 - weight is finally going down, but inches are actually coming off faster since I've been exercising a lot.
16 mo post op (May 18th)- 178
17 mo post op (June 18th)- 175
18 mo post op (July 18th)- 179- still not focussed:sad:
19 mo post op -(Aug 18th) - 178 - focussed again - This time I am committed to getting to goal and will not stray! I do not ever want to see the 180's again!
20 mo post op (Sept. 18) - 171 - :rolleyes2:
21 mo post op (Oct 18) - 168
22 mo post op (Nov 18) - 169 - I am focussed and doing good, but need to get back to exercising. I want to hit 160 by year end.
23 mo post op (Dec 18) - 166 - only 6 more pounds to get to my goal by year end. I don't think it will happen, but I will continue to try.
24 mo post op (Jan 18, 2009) - 168 - had hysterectomy and gained from all the fluid due to surgery
25 mo post op (Feb 18) - 168 - not losing, maintaining - joined Weight Watchers to give me some accountability and some structure.
26 mo post op (March 18) - 165 - WW going slow, but finally moving down again
27 mo post op (April 18) - 165 - grrrr -
28 mo post op (May 18) - 160 - FINALLY, almost out of the 160's. The lowest I have been in YEARS! 5 lbs away from being at a healthy weight, and 15 lbs away from my ultimate goal of 145!!!
29 mo post op (June 18 - 2009) - 165
30 mo post op (July 18, 2009) - 163
31 mo post op (Aug 18, 2009) - 163
32 mo post op (Sept 18, 2009) - 160
33 mo post op (Oct 18, 2009) - 164
34 mo post op (Nov 18, 2009) - 163.2
35 mo post op (Dec 18, 2009) - 168.4 - very discouraged and just giving up
36 mo post op (Jan 18, 2010) - 175.6 - depressed that its been 3 years and still not at goal!
37 mo post op (Feb 18, 2010) - 173.4 (decided it was time to take control and started HCG)
38 mo post op (March 18, 2010) - 161
39 mo post op (April 18, 2010) - 158.5 (had a little slip with vacation)
40 mo post op (May 18, 2010) - 150.7
Wt this morning 149.9 - holding strong in the 140's for the past couple of days. I will be glad when I see another drop, the further I get away from the 150's - the happier I will be. :confused:
on 1/18/07 when I received my band, I set a goal to weigh 145. Well, I'm in the 140's now and only need to lose 4.9 lbs in order to reach that goal.
I've now decided I want to get to 135, but first I want to reach that goal of 145! I've already reached my doctors goal of 155. I've also already reached the goal of no longer being overweight. Its taken me over 3 years to do it, but I've done it! Or almost done it all. I'm just one happy camper today!
I logged my weight into fitday.com today and guess what, I'm no longer overweight!!!!! I'm in the "healthy range" and my BMI is 24.94, see below:
24.94
A BMI between 18.5 and 25 is considered healthy.
The healthy weight range for your height is between
111.2
lbs and
150.2
lbs.
Your weight is within this healthy range.
I'm doing a happy dance now.......
Todays menu;
bfast
coffee, cream,
strawberries made into a jam
melba toast
Lunch
chicken stuffed with spinach and marinara sauce poured over it, sf, ff marinara sauce.
Snack
Apple
Dinner
Chili with onions and jal peppers
sliced tomatoes with a little sea salt
Scale was up today, not sure why, but more than likely its because my body is fighting me getting lower....well, I will win this fight!
I also need to drink all my water today, did pretty good yesterday on my water, but not good enough!
Today's menu:
Bfast
coffee with 1 TBSP cream and capella drops
melba toast
strawberries mixed in magic bullet with a little stevia, made a jam out of it and spread on my melba toast
Lunch
chicken breast stuffed with spinach
Snack
apple
dinner
bison
asparagus
Exercise
treadmill
Menu today
Bfast
coffee with 1TBSP coconut milk, 10 drops fo capella flavor drops (vanilla custard)
1/2 grapefruit with stevia and cinnamon, 1 Wheat melba toast
Lunch
chicken baked and stuffed with spinach and sugar free/fat free marinara sauce over it. Yum.
Snack
1 apple sliced and peeled with 1/2 lemon squeezed over it
Dinner
Chili made with extra lean beef, 1 melba toast and extra onions over the top, 1 sliced tomatoe with salt & pepper
Exercise - still too sore from working in my garden over the weekend. whew, can barely sit on the toilet without screaming out in pain. I'm getting to old for this, lol.
Thought I would come by to post in my lonely journal. lol.
Anyhow, took a break from HCG for most of the month of April, not sure why I did it, just felt I needed a break.
The good news is, MAINTIANING my weight. Down in the 150's which is my doctor's goal. My personall goal is 145 or maybe even 135.
I started the HCG again this month and will do it until the end of the month and then will end it. I should be close to my goal by then.
I am very happy with the fact that as soon as I began eating more than the diet required, I didn't gain. It seems that the resetting of your hypotholamus (sp) is what the HCG is supposed to do, it seems it might have worked because I am not gaining. I didn't lose either, but I didnt try. I just ate normally, protein first and then the rest of my meal.
I will post more this month with my results. I plan on stopping on 5/30 then I will do a 3 week maintenance plan according to the manuscript and then 3 weeks slowly reintroducing the starches and carbs into my diet. Then I will be leaving for my cruise.....If I still have another 10 lbs to lose after my cruise I might do one more round.
It feels so good to be in a size 6 and being so close to my personal goal! Also, I'M NO LONGER OVERWEIGHT according to the charts. I'm a normal weight. Wow, first time in 22 years I'm normal!
Thank you Mr. band and thank you HCG. Together they have acheived miracles for me!
I also want to say that I owe most of my progress to the band! The band helped me lose 80 lbs! HCG is just helping me get to my personal weighloss goal. For some people they can get to goal with the band by itself, but for me, it just wasn't happening - I was sooooo close to goal, but yet sooooo far.
The last 20 lbs is by far the hardest. I tried Weight Watchers, low carb etc and just couldn't lose the last of my weight. So I decided to give HCG a try and it worked for me, very happy with the results if I havent mentioned that before. :thumbup:
Anyhow, I just don't want to confuse anyone especially newbies that they will have to go on some special diet with the band, that IS NOT THE CASE.
Follow the band rules, proteins first, no drinking with meals, exercise 30 minutes a day, stay up on your fills, etc. You will do great! And then when you get to final stage and having problems lose the very last 10 to 20 lbs, thats when you might think of trying something new for your body. But until then, I recommend eating the lap band way. It does work!
Well, back on the HCG diet - started it again on 4/01.
I did pretty good until Tuesday night (3/30). Had a late dinner and did not make good choices, ate fried chicken tenders, fried shrimp, and french fries, then had two drinks!!! Can you say yuk? Anyhow, by Thursday morning was up 7 pounds. Good news, I'm down 5 of the 7 pounds in 4 days. I know a lot ot it that I gained was water weight, alcohol seems to do that to me.
Anyhow, will stay on HCG until 4/21, leaving for my puerto vallarta trip on 4/22. So I will be taking another "break" for about 4 or 5 days from the HCG diet.
I will "try" and not over indulge in to much fruity alcohol drinks, but can't make promises. :thumbup:
I just love sipping on an umbrella drink by the beach or pool! I love the sunshine, I hate the winter!
Wearing a size 6 - thats right a size 6 capri pant today!!!!! I love it! I am totally loving my legs these days. My cellulite is even disappearing, I still have some, but not near as bad. I really am seeing the changes in my body, the fat is truly melting away. I'm a believer!
I'm off HCG now, taking a week break or otherwise known as a "planned interruption".
I ate so much yesterday, stayed away from sugar and carbs, and I was worried stepping on the scale this morning, but I lost another .6 oz. Crazy, but I did. Down to 157.5 now. Yay!
I am just in shock at my thighs, I can't say enough about them. They are my biggest problem area, always have been and now they are shrinking!
I have not been this small in 21 years! Its amazing!
Life is going good these days. :blushing:
Menu today
Bfast
Coffee with coconut milk creamer (yum)
strawberry jam (crushed strawberries with stevia) with melba toast
Lunch
Spinach/ricotta cheese stuffed chicken breast
(yummy again)
dinner
Steak, salad, blue cheese dressing
***I'm eating lower carb this week while taking a break from HCG diet. Will continue HCG on 4/1 until 4/18
Day 1 - loading days 178.2
Day 2 - 178.5 (another loading day)
Day 3 - First day of VLCD 179.8
Day 4 - 176.2
Day 5 - 175.6
Day 6 - 173.4
Day 7 - 172.4
Day 8 - 171.1
Day 9 - 168.9
Day 10 - 168.9
Day 11 - 168.8
Day 12 - 169.0
Day 13 - 168.2
Day 14 - 167.6
Day 15 - 167.5
Day 16 - 166.9
Day 17 - 165.8
Day 18 - 165.4
Its so nice getting on the scales and seeing them continue to go down. And its nice not experiencing any hunger! Today's menu
Bfast
1/2 grapefruit, 2 cups of green tea
snack
melba toast
Lunch
Shrimp salad, celery
Dinner
HCG approved chili
Applie crisp made with stevia - yum
Wt this morning - 165.4
Today is day 39 on the HCG diet. I'm taking a few days off, also known as a "planned interruption". So today is my last dose of the HCG, then I will follow the diet for 72 hours until the HCG is out of my system. Then I eat "phase 3 style", or avoide my sugars and starches, I will be back on it around 4/2. I just have an event this weekend, and on the 30th. My plan then is to stay on it until 4/21, I will be leaving for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on 4/22. Once I return, right back on the program. I believe I should be at my goal weight by the end of May or first of June if I still to the program.
I did have a few cheats on this round, but I still managed to drop around 22 pounds in 39 days. Not bad in my opinion. I probably could have dropped 25 if I had not swayed from the program.
Here are my daily results, I'm sure you will be able to tell when I cheated because the scale would go up for a few days.
Day 1 - loading days 179.8
Day 2 - 178.5 (another loading day)
Day 3 - First day of VLCD 179.8
Day 4 - 176.2
Day 5 - 175.6
Day 6 - 173.4
Day 7 - 172.4
Day 8 - 171.1
Day 9 - 168.9
Day 10 - 168.9
Day 11 - 168.8
Day 12 - 169.0
Day 13 - 168.2
Day 14 - 167.6
Day 15 - 167.5
Day 16 - 166.9
Day 17 - 165.8
Day 18 - 165.4
Day 19 - 164.8
Day 20 - 166.1 (started cheating)
Day 21 - 167.1
Day 22 - 166.8
Day 23 - 165.3
Day 24 - 164.8
Day 25 - 163.7
Day 26 - 163.3
Day 27 - 162.4
Day 28 - 161.2
Day 29 - 162.4
Day 30 - 161.2
Day 31 - 162.3
Day 32 - 162.2
Day 33 - 161
Day 34 - 161 - My body is stalling big time!
Day 35 - 161.7
Day 36 - 159.3 FINALLY BROKE THE STALL
Day 37 - 158.1
Day 38 - 158.8
Day 39 - 158 - Last dose of HCG
Total loss 21.8 pounds!!!!!
Wow, I am in the 150's, I'm doing a Happy dance today! So close to my goal of 140!!!!!
I am going to try and not gain too much while I'm off the program this next week, I want to continue going down!
Well, I started a controversial diet on 2/16 and so far it has been going good. I have read lots of negative stuff about it, mainly from doctors. I am always surprised at the comments from readers which are all positive, they had all done the diet and quite please with it, so I decided to try Dr. Simeons HCG Protocal. I did something similar to it back in the 80's but it wasn't quit the same.
I am down to my last 20 lbs to lose and I'm finding it very hard with just the band. So I decided to do the HCG diet which is pretty strict and so far I have not cheated one time. I've followed it to the T and am down about 13 pounds (This is about the weight that I've gained thru the winter so no need to get too excited)
Day 1 - loading days 178.2
Day 2 - 178.5 (another loading day)
Day 3 - First day of VLCD 179.8
Day 4 - 176.2
Day 5 - 175.6
Day 6 - 173.4
Day 7 - 172.4
Day 8 - 171.1
Day 9 - 168.9
Day 10 - 168.9
Day 11 - 168.8
Day 12 - 169.0
Day 13 - 168.2
Day 14 - 167.6
Day 15 - 166.9 (total 12.9 pounds)
I have about 25 more days to go. My goal is to lose a total of 25, but its slowing down, so I will be happy with a loss of 20.
Its amazing how little hunger I have. With the band and the HCG, it seems to control the hunger. I'm proud of my will power too. I have stayed on the protocol and have not strayed at all. I've become creative with my snacking too.
Today I made "apple chips". Sliced a green apple up (peeled it first) and sliced it very thin, sprinkled stevia on the slices and cinnamon and baked in oven and made the apple chips. They are great for snacking and I can have a few thru out the day. I get 2 fruits a day. It also helps with my "sweet tooth".
Well, thats whats been going on in my life lately. I will post more in my journal.
PS - I would appreciate no negative comments, I was reluctant to post this however, I am keeping this blog for my future reference and have kept it updated from the very beginning of my research with Lap band, therefore, I decided to detail the HCG in my blog.
Thanks!
My latest fill is still pretty good, I think I might need just a tad more then I will be done. I'm so glad he finally listened to me and quit taking all the fluid out each time. My way is working!!!! I am finally getting some restriction!
My menu today:
bfast
1/2 grapefruit, green tea
Lunch -
saute'd grape tomatoes, with 3 oz of grilled chicken breast
Snack
2 melba toast, sliced apple
Dinner
4 oz of talapia (grilled)
cabbage - steamed
Fill #1 - 3/6/07 - 2.2cc's
Fill #2 - 4/17/07 - 3.0cc's
Fill #3 - 7/6/07 - 3.5 cc's (I think it was only 2.5cc's because when I went back for fill #4, he could only w/draw 1.8 cc's)
Fill #4 - 7/20/07 - filled me back to 3.0 ccs - He should have filled me more!
Fill #5 - 8/17/07 - 3.4cc's
Fill #6 - 10/08/07 - filled me to 3.8cc's - the best restriction I've ever had,but still could eat big bites of food, so I figured I needed to be tighter.
Fill #7 - 11/21/07 filled to 4.0 cc's. By the evening could not hold anything down, not even my saliva. PBing all night - horrilble experieince
UNFILL #1 - 11/23/07 - unfilled to somewhere between 2.5 to 3.0 cc's - NO RESTRICTIONS AGAIN :tt2:
Fill #8 - 1/18/08 Went in and the doc filled me back up to just right under 4.0, according to Flouro, it was perfect. Well, by next morning, could not hold down saliva again, ended up back in hospital
UNFILL #2 - 1/19/08 - Doctor had to unfill me to 3.0 again because of the swelling from all the PBing for being too tight. Again, NO RESTRICTION -
Fill #9 - 2/12/08 - 3.5 cc's - was tight for about a week, now feel lose again. grrrr, still have "some" restriction, just not quite enough! Next fill scheduled for 4/7/08 - I hate that it takes sooooooo long to get in to see the fill doc.
FILL #10 - 4/7/08 The doc just added .4cc's, making me at 3.9cc's. I think this might be the one!
FILL #11 - Was scheduled on 6/25/08 - but the doc did not fill me up, I was leaving for a cruise on 6/27 so he didn't want to risk me being too tight, so did not get a fill.
FILL #11 - 8/5/08 Went for a fill, this time the doc took all my fill out and all he could get out was 2.4 cc's. Filled me up to 4.0 cc's, I left, had to go right back because I could not drink, he took out a little over .2 cc's, he said I'm somewhere between 3.5 to 3.7 cc's. - I had great restriction for 2 weeks, but It has now loosened some. I feel I might need a tad more. I'm worried I have a very slow leak.
UNFILL #3 - 8/5/08 - Took a little over .2 cc's out, had pretty good restriction, but still a tad too lose.
FILL #12 - 9/17/08 - Added just 1/10th of a cc - I think I'm somewhere between 3.8 to 3.9 cc in a 4cc band. I am hoping and praying this is the fill that I stop with! I do not have another appointment for another fill, will wait this one out and see.
Fill #13 - 10/06/08 - Doc added about 2/10's of a cc. He took everything out and put it all back in and said I was about 3.7 to 3.8cc's. - which is where he said I was last time.
FILL #14 - 11/10/08 - Doc took everything out and I had about 3.6cc's, which is pretty good. He then filled me up to just under 4.0cc's I believe I'm about 3.9cc's. I ate some canned peaches and set around the office for a bit, made sure none came back up. Seems to be doing good so far. I hope this is my last fill!
FILL #15 - 08/10/09 - Added about 1/10th of a cc. I think I'm right at 4.0 cc. Wt on the morning of my fill was at 165. But was very bloated from steroids I was on for the previous week.
FILL #16 - 8/31/09 - My last fill lasted 2 weeks then I felt wide open. Went in for another fill, this time he did not take any out and just added 2/10th's of a cc. I think I'm just a little more than 4.1 cc's in a 4.0 cc band. I feel great restriction so far. I'm hoping this last. I'm sick of fills. lol. :w00t: - I could tell my fill was wide open, I was starving all the time, wt at the time of fill was 170! grrrrrrr
FILL #17 - 10/30/09 - completely drained me, checked for a leak - no leak YAY - added 4.6 cc's - I feel like he didn't add anything, feel wide open! Hungry all the time
FILL #18 - 11/09/09 Doc did barium swallow test - I think he thought I was full of it. He saw what I was talking about and agreed I was way too loose. He added 2.5cc's. I feel restriction again, but not a real tight restriction. I have no idea where I'm at these days and I really don't care anymore how much CC's I have, I just want RESTRICTION!!!!!!
Fill #19 - 11/23/09 - I had a some restriction, but not enough, the doc added 3/10ths of a cc. I feel pretty good, not too tight, which means it probably will get looser. I will ride this fill out and see what happens. Very discouraged at this point.
FILL #20 - 12/28/09 - did not take any fluid out, just added 4/10th's of a cc. Still feel lose, but on the fluro it showed I was tight, so we'll see how it goes.........
Now that the doctor has quit taking all my fluid out every time I get a fill, the fills are slowly but surely getting tighter. Fill #20 did pretty good, but still too lose, so I just had fill #21 and I'm having a hard time drinking my shake. I have to slow down a bit on it, that is GREAT! My fingers, leggs and toes are all crossed, hoping that this fill is the one that works - I am hoping to keep the restriction! I am to be on liquids for the next 48 to 72 hours.
Fill #1 - 3/6/07 - 2.2cc's
Fill #2 - 4/17/07 - 3.0cc's
Fill #3 - 7/6/07 - 3.5 cc's (I think it was only 2.5cc's because when I went back for fill #4, he could only w/draw 1.8 cc's)
Fill #4 - 7/20/07 - filled me back to 3.0 ccs - He should have filled me more!
Fill #5 - 8/17/07 - 3.4cc's
Fill #6 - 10/08/07 - filled me to 3.8cc's - the best restriction I've ever had,but still could eat big bites of food, so I figured I needed to be tighter.
Fill #7 - 11/21/07 filled to 4.0 cc's. By the evening could not hold anything down, not even my saliva. PBing all night - horrilble experieince
UNFILL #1 - 11/23/07 - unfilled to somewhere between 2.5 to 3.0 cc's - NO RESTRICTIONS AGAIN :bored:
Fill #8 - 1/18/08 Went in and the doc filled me back up to just right under 4.0, according to Flouro, it was perfect. Well, by next morning, could not hold down saliva again, ended up back in hospital
UNFILL #2 - 1/19/08 - Doctor had to unfill me to 3.0 again because of the swelling from all the PBing for being too tight. Again, NO RESTRICTION - :mad3:
Fill #9 - 2/12/08 - 3.5 cc's - was tight for about a week, now feel lose again. grrrr, still have "some" restriction, just not quite enough! Next fill scheduled for 4/7/08 - I hate that it takes sooooooo long to get in to see the fill doc.
FILL #10 - 4/7/08 The doc just added .4cc's, making me at 3.9cc's. I think this might be the one!
FILL #11 - Was scheduled on 6/25/08 - but the doc did not fill me up, I was leaving for a cruise on 6/27 so he didn't want to risk me being too tight, so did not get a fill.
FILL #11 - 8/5/08 Went for a fill, this time the doc took all my fill out and all he could get out was 2.4 cc's. Filled me up to 4.0 cc's, I left, had to go right back because I could not drink, he took out a little over .2 cc's, he said I'm somewhere between 3.5 to 3.7 cc's. - I had great restriction for 2 weeks, but It has now loosened some. I feel I might need a tad more. I'm worried I have a very slow leak.
UNFILL #3 - 8/5/08 - Took a little over .2 cc's out, had pretty good restriction, but still a tad too lose.
FILL #12 - 9/17/08 - Added just 1/10th of a cc - I think I'm somewhere between 3.8 to 3.9 cc in a 4cc band. I am hoping and praying this is the fill that I stop with! I do not have another appointment for another fill, will wait this one out and see.
Fill #13 - 10/06/08 - Doc added about 2/10's of a cc. He took everything out and put it all back in and said I was about 3.7 to 3.8cc's. - which is where he said I was last time.
FILL #14 - 11/10/08 - Doc took everything out and I had about 3.6cc's, which is pretty good. He then filled me up to just under 4.0cc's I believe I'm about 3.9cc's. I ate some canned peaches and set around the office for a bit, made sure none came back up. Seems to be doing good so far. I hope this is my last fill!
FILL #15 - 08/10/09 - Added about 1/10th of a cc. I think I'm right at 4.0 cc. Wt on the morning of my fill was at 165. But was very bloated from steroids I was on for the previous week.
FILL #16 - 8/31/09 - My last fill lasted 2 weeks then I felt wide open. Went in for another fill, this time he did not take any out and just added 2/10th's of a cc. I think I'm just a little more than 4.1 cc's in a 4.0 cc band. I feel great restriction so far. I'm hoping this last. I'm sick of fills. lol. :rant: - I could tell my fill was wide open, I was starving all the time, wt at the time of fill was 170! grrrrrrr
FILL #17 - 10/30/09 - completely drained me, checked for a leak - no leak YAY - added 4.6 cc's - I feel like he didn't add anything, feel wide open! Hungry all the time
FILL #18 - 11/09/09 Doc did barium swallow test - I think he thought I was full of it. He saw what I was talking about and agreed I was way too loose. He added 2.5cc's. I feel restriction again, but not a real tight restriction. I have no idea where I'm at these days and I really don't care anymore how much CC's I have, I just want RESTRICTION!!!!!!
Fill #19 - 11/23/09 - I had a some restriction, but not enough, the doc added 3/10ths of a cc. I feel pretty good, not too tight, which means it probably will get looser. I will ride this fill out and see what happens. Very discouraged at this point.
FILL #20 - 12/28/09 - did not take any fluid out, just added 4/10th's of a cc. Still feel lose, but on the fluro it showed I was tight, so we'll see how it goes.........
FILL #21 - 02/01/10 - Doc did not take any fluid out, added 1/2 a mil then I told him it was still too loose, so he added another 1/10th of a cc. Feel really good right now - but as always we will have to wait and see.
Had my 20th fill, and I feel a lot more restriciton so I'm pretty happy with it. I've been exercising, but the last few weeks, eating has been bad! So, back on track now and have rid my house of all the bad chocolates my clients have sent me!
Menu today:
Bfast
skinny latte
Lunch
spinach
turkey
olive oil
snack ff pudding
dinner
grilled fish
steamed spinach
Exercise
upper body workout and cardio
Just updating my blog. I weighed on 12/11 and lost 5 lbs, weighed in at 168. I am not weighing again until 1/1/10. I still have not measured again, but will do that on my next weigh in.
I'm on my 4th week of my exercise plan. I was up at 4:45 am this morning, and let me tell you, its still not easy to get up and get to the gym. But I've got a buddy and I don't want to let her down, so I'm a firm believer in the buddy system!
Eating has been GREAT! I have been doing very good, lots of fish and chicken. I've had a few days that I splurged, but they were planned splurges, so I don't feel guilty.
Will check back later...............
8:15 am - South Beach Protein bar, Coffee w/cream - 210 cal
11:00 - 7 almonds - 48 cal
12:00 - grilled chicken and green beans from Goldies Patio grill, mini candy bar - 405 cal
3:30 - non fat yogurt mixed with all bran cereal - 130 cal
6:30 - 1 oz cheese (sharp chedder), 1 cup of homemade turkey chili - 410 cal
Total calories 1203
Exercise:
Elliptical - 30 min
Quads/thighs
Hip Abductor - Inner - 3 sets - 1 @ 80bls, 2 @ 90lbs
Outter - 3 sets - 1 @ 80 lbs, 1 @ 85 lbs, 1 @ 90 lbs.
Leg Press - 3 sets - 55 lbs each set
Bench step - 2 sets on each leg holding 5 lb dumbbells.
Ball squats - 1 set of 10, holding for 10 seconds.
Hamstrings/Glutes:
Glute Machine - 2 sets @ 35 lbs (need to go up next time, easy with 35 lbs)
Seated Let Curl - 2 sets @ 45 lbs
Lying Leg Curl - 1 set @ 30 lbs
Calves:
Calve Machine - 3 sets - 1 @ 90 lbs, 2 @ 100 lbs
Standing dumbbell calf raises - 2 sets holding 8 lbs dumbbells
ABS:
Laying hip raises - 2 sets @ 15 each
Ab Crunch machine - 2 sets of 15 with 10 lbs weights
Incline sit ups - 2 sets of 25 each
Stretched - did not hop back on elliptical, I called it a night after 1 hr 40 min.
Notes: I'm starting to see my body change, my DH told me last night my butt sure is smaller. :tongue2:.
Still have not weighed, and excited to take my measurements to see how far I've come in 2 weeks!
Today is my 21 year wedding anniversary, I wonder if I could fit into my wedding dress? I might try it on tonight to see.
Week 2 of my exercise program:
Monday's menu:
coffee with 2 tbsp of flavored cream (just can't seem to give this up) - 70 cal
yogurt mixed with 1/2 cup of raw oatmeal - 230 cal
Protein shake - 280 cal
hummus & carrots - 170
almonds - 240
lean turkey - brocoli & 255
Total cal 1175
Exercise:
Hit the gym around 8:30 pm last night
Started with 30 min on elliptical
BICEPS -
2 sets of Standing Hammers (8 lbs weights)
2 sets of Alternative Dumbbell Curls (1 set with 5lbs, 1 set with 8 lbs)
TRICEPS
Overhead tricep extensions - 2 sets (5 lbs)
Tricep pushdown - rope - 2 sets, 1 @ 20 lbs, 1 @ 25 lbs.
Shoulders
Dumbbell shulder press - 1 set 8 lbs, 1 set 5 lbs
Upright Barbell row - 2 sets @ 20lbs
Chest
Incline dumbbell flys - 2 sets 8 lbs
dumbbell bench press - 2 sets 8 lbs
BACK
One are dumbbell row - 2 sets @ 8lbs
Lat pull down - 2 sets @ 40 lbs
ABS
Ab crunch machine - 2 sets (15 each set @ 10 lbs)
incline sit ups - 2 sets of 25
ab roller machine - 2 sets of 15
ab ball machine - 1 set of 20 (5 lb balls)
Back on the elliptcal to finish up for another 15 min......home by 10:40 and asleep by 11:30
Then, the alarm is off again at 4:50 am this morning and I head to the gym and on the elliptical by 5:20 am, did 40 min of HIIT.
Whew, what a day.......
Going home tonight and watching the finale of the Biggest Loser, then to nighty night!
Thats right, I just finished 1 week of my exercise plan and eating right! And I've stayed off the scales for an entire week. This in itself is hard for me to believe because I'm a total scale whore. I usually weight at least 2 to 10 times a day. And I haven't weighed once all week!
I'm not going to weigh until 12/14 - I will also measure to see if I've made some progress in the past two weeks.
Here is a recap of my week:
11/30 - 60 min of cardio and 60 min of strength training (lower body)
12/01 - 5 am cardio - HIIT 45 min
12/02 - 60 min of cardio and 60 min of strength training (upper body)
12/03 - 5 am cardio - HIIT 45 min
12/04 - 5 an cardio - HIIT 45 min
12/05 - 60 min of cardio and 60 min of strengh training (lower body)
12/06 - "Free Day"
I ate clean all week, Sunday is my cheat day or what I call a "free day". If I want a cookie I can have it, but just one, and I don't count my calories, I don't exercise - I try and make good choices, but I'm not obsessed about it. I am happy to say, I did good, even on Sunday!
Now my week 2 begins! I'm trying to do this plan until my 3 year band anniversary - 1/18/10. I want to be at goal, or close to goal by then. I'm tired of teeter tottering around the same freaken 10 lbs!
I am so proud of myself for sticking to my plan this past week, its got me motivated to continue with this plan. It also helps that I've had a buddy. I know I can't turn the alarm off at 5 am and go back to sleep because she is waiting on me. So, as much as I hate to do it, I get up and head to the gym! 3 days a week its 5 am and 3 days a week its evening or late afternoon.
I think my biggest fear is to step ont the scales on 12/14 and not see any results. It could happen, but I do feel my clothes fitting better, so hopefully my measurements will show a loss.
Okay, I'm ready to hit week two!
5:15 am - Hit the elliptical machine for 45 min
7:50 am - protein shake made with Jillian Michaels Protein powder, 1 cup skim milk, 1 TBSP peanut butter, 1 banana (383 cal)
8:35 - coffee with cream (60 cal) - I need to work on giving up the cream!
11:00 - nonfat yogurt mixed with 1/4 cup of raw oats - (203 cal)
2:00 pm - 10 baby carrots & 1/4 cup of hummus (175 cal)
6:00 pm - 2.5 oz of canned white meat chicken (70 cal)
Okay, my neighbor brought me over an ENTIRE PIE tonight - thanking me for taking care of her house while she was out. My husband, who doesn't think at times, cut all of us a piece, so I ate a VERY small piece. 1/2 of a piece. BUT............ when I went to fitday.com, it was still about 350 calories! Glad I only ate a small piece. I warned my husband that if it is not hidden, or eaten when I wake up tomorrow, he is dead meat! hahaha.
7:30 pm - 1/2 of a piece of chocolate peanut pie - 350 cal. OUCH
TOTAL CALORIES - 1250 cal - about that. Its my best estimate - the pie thru me off a bit because it was homemade. So I had somewhere between 1250 to 1350.
Even thouigh I had a little sugar fix, I still don't feel too bad. My calories are not out of control, I exercised today, so I don't think it will ruin me. The beauty of the band is, just becuase I had a piece of pie doesn't mean I "give up". I just brush it off and move on. Tomorrow morning, back to the gym!
I'm doing it, I'm sticking to my plan, I'm exercising, I'm eating right, and I'm staying off the scales!
Yesterdays menu:
8:00 am - Protein shake made with skim milk and organic peanut butter (290) calories
11:30 am - baby carrots and 1/4 cup of hummus and steamed broccoli = (270 calories)
2:30 - apple with 1 oz of almonds = (235 calories)
6:15 pm - 3.8 oz of griled chicken, 1/2 breaded chicken strip with 1 TBSP of gravy (I made this for my family and I just had to taste it since they were going on and on about how good it was), steamed broccoli = (250 calories)
TOTAL cal for the day 1045 by my calculations, then I put it into fitday.com and below is what it tells me.
Calories 1,068
Fat 37%
Carbohydrate 31%
Protein 87.9G = 32%
Exercise =
30 min on elliptical HIIT
strength trained -
biceps
triceps
shoulders
chest
back
abs
Back on the elliptical for another 30 min cardio burn!
TOTAL TIME AT THE GYM - 1 hr 50 min, 1 hour of cardio and 50 minutes strength training.
And, I've got to pat myself on the back, I was up and at 'em this morning at 5am. I was on the elliptical by 5:15 am! Today is my cardio only day.
