I think one of the biggest changes that I am going to have to go through is how to live with the band. Not just in my change in diet and exercise but the change in my overall life.

For example Friday at work two people brought in food for everyone here. Donuts and begals were served up for everyone to enjoy and get fat on. Then again today another person brought in left over cake from the holiday weekend. Sure it's easy to say I won't have any but it's really setting the mind so you don't even have to think about having some or not.

Even beyond that I start thinking about life in general. For instance a few weeks ago we had some friends over for a BBQ. The was the main focus of the time was eating. Chips and dips before the main course. Then the main course and then desert after that. Why couldn't we have just invited them over for a pool party or to play cards or watch a movie or even just to have time to sit and visit with each other? The answer really is we could have.

Going a step further is learning how to act in an environment where I will be asked to go out to lunch or dinner with friends. This I think is going to be one of the biggest changes to go through.

I was talking with my sister inlaw over the weekend and she was talking about how they have some friends that the husband had gastric by-pass and now he hates going out to eat. He makes it very vocal about how he doesn't want to go out to eat. I can see both sides but I think that's where I say you have to learn how to approach your friends with doing something other then living life based around food.

So now I start thinking about what can I do to say lets do something other then food. What are suggestions I can make to my friends for other things we can do.

Over the weekend we went to my inlaws. Living in Florida it's common to get out a lot of course because of good weather. But this past holiday weekend it was not good weather. So it was like the family was lost so it turned into an eating feast weekend. I don't think that anyone really knew how to handle the weather or what you could do instead of the outdoor activites.

It's a mind set on life that has to be changed.

Pete,

You should try dating and being banded. OMG, it's the worst! Not to mention when I'm stressed out, like on a first date, my band gets SoOOoo tight. I just order food and push it around on my plate making it look like I've eaten something. LoL It's a great system, let me tell ya.

But you're exactly right, what does a person do?

I can only imagine! Thank goodness I have a good marriage so I won't have to worry about this but I can just imagine how that must be and on top of that how do you tell this person that you have been banded and can't eat much.

Hey Pete,

I just read your blog entries and your entries on the website, and I am aghast. Why would any insurance company deny you this?!?!? I am offended on your behalf!

I hope your family is able to come through for you and help you get the surgery. I am waiting for my nutritionist's and psych evals - my primary care doc has already approved the process. The next steps for me are to go through with the evals and then wait to hear if I am approved by the bariatric surgeon.

You'll be in my prayers - I hope you are able to make it.

Hi Rose,

It really is disappointing what the insurance companies have done with their coverages for WLS. Most insurance companies will still cover WLS but that does not mean that is the "plan" that your employer has bought. For example BCBS still does pay for WLS but the plan my company bought WLS is excluded from coverage. My company would have to pay a significant amount more on everyones premiums for insurance if they were to chose that as a coverage. So the insurance companies more less have stopped covering by making it not affordable for companies to pick up the coverage.

It really is sad that it's not part of the standard coverages. If I continue the way I have been in a short time I would more then likely become diabetic. Very possibly need some sort of heart surgery. And become more of a burden with more and more medications. But the insurance companies see WLS as a high cost surgery with little gain. How they see little gain I don't know but it's the statements they make.

Lucky for me my family has said they will pay for the surgery so off to Mexico I will go for my surgery.

Hey Pete,

Keep us informed of your progress - my best wishes to you and your family, and I look forward to hearing about your great results. I know you'll be great and you can encourage your wife as well..