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Yay! I finally hit my first self-imposed goal: 25 lbs down!!! WooHOO! (******cue dancing poodles and waving sparklers******) Tomorrow will mark 3 months of being banded (surgery was Feb 1st), and in that time (well, including pre-surgery liquid diet) I have lost 25 lbs. Forgive me for repeating myself so often, but this is big for me. I think one of the reasons I set my first goal as one that would take some time to accomplish was because I needed hard evidence that this "band thing" could actually work for me, that I might finally have found a way to lose the weight I've been battling for as long as I can remember (I was a normal kid until I started school at age 5... I don't remember what it feels like not to be heavy). Trust me, I've been on every diet on earth, and I've always been able to lose a little weight, but it was always a slow, hard battle and it always seemed to take forever to see results, so I needed to set myself a goal that would be a "real" loss, not just the 5 or 10 or even 15 lbs I've lost so many times before. Been there, done that, gained it back plus some, not impressed. With 25 lbs, I'm finally impressed. Dieting has been part of my life since I was 9 years old. In that time, I can't count the number of pounds I've lost and regained (and gained and gained). Also in that time I've tried every diet in creation, and let me tell you, they've all of them had one thing in common: they sucked! All of them felt like a constant battle, pitting me and my willpower again my hunger and my love of flavor (I would say love of food, but in this case I'm really not talking about food as comfort or emotional band-aid, but as a pleasurable sensory experience). Every time I've dieted, I've felt miserable and constantly walking a tightrope over the canyon of all the things I wasn't allowed to eat. In the past, keeping myself limited to 1500 calories a day felt like absolute torture. Seriously, it should have been covered by the Geneva convention. But with the band that's all different. I eat between 800-1200 calories a day (usually around 1000) and I'm only hungry when it's actually time for a meal or a snack. I enjoy everything I eat, but I'm able to stop myself when I've either had my allotted portion or I'm feeling satisfied. I'm able to eat things that truly give me pleasure and stay in control so I don't overdo it. I just can't describe what an amazing feeling that it. It just rocks. The band has changed my life in so many ways that can only be called positive. I finally have hope... no, I finally have confidence that I can and will take off this burdensome weight. I might not be one of those people who loses every excess pound within the first 6 or 9 or even 12 months, but now I know that it will come off. Let me sit with that for a minute, because that's huge. This is the first time in my life I've ever been able to say that and really mean it. That makes my heart swell with happiness. I can do this now, with the help of my band. I can and I will. So, my next goal is a little one: 5 more lbs for 30 lbs total. It's a small one because it will encompass 2 accomplishments in one shot. First, it will be the most I've lost in one attempt in my adult life, and second, it will put me back in onederland, 2 things I've been hoping for for a long time. Plus, hey, 30 lbs is a great round number. I can hardly wait. Even better, I know I won't be waiting long.

Last week I went to my surgeons office an was disappointed to find out all my test results weren't sent to his office yet. He then scheduled me two weeks later (5/10/12) to come in and then we would submit to insurance. I was so bummed (and even wrote a mini rant on here last week lol). Then this morning I come home from work ( I work overnights) and I get a call from unfamilar number that wasnt stored in my phone but looked somewhat familair . I didnt want to answer but I did because I was so tired and was so close to lala land.I did answer. It was my doctor telling me I was APPROVED for surgery!!!!!!!!!! I almost dropped the phone in disbelief!! He submitted it to insurance after all (on 4/26) and got the call today that I was approved. What a fast turnaround time!! After I hung up I started dancing around my room. All that huffing and puffing last week for nothing!! Im happy he did submit without me knowing because now I wont have to go through the stressful waiting period. I go in on friday to get my date and my protein shakes to start my two week fast. Im so happy and excited now. Thank you bcbs.

So for the last few years I've gone up and down the same 10-15 pounds. The lowest I've been is 260 and that's when I've dieted until life had no joy, but if I so much as looked at a piece of bacon I immediately jumped to 270-275ish. And, man, you can really feel a difference in your body at that weight! Yet today I jumped on the scale and it read 257.4!! It might not be onederland, but I'm just as happy! Go Lyra! *happy dance*

I have been a member of the Verticalsleevetalk.com forum since December 2011. I log on almost every day to see if there is new information to learn -- and there always is. In April of 2011 I learned that my insurance company (Anthem Covacare) paid for the VSG, but I would have to complete a 12 month counseling process. At that time, I really didn't know if I was going to have surgery. I found a WLS doctor near my home and made an appointment to visit and find out more information. I talked to his surgical coordinator and to the doctor in person. When I met him, I did not get a good feeling but I ignored my initial feelings and thought I was just overwhelmed with information. I talked to my assigned counselor twice a month. There was a 4 week period where I dialed in to a group conference on the telephone. It wasn't until September or October that I really got serious about surgery. In December I found this forum and became a "peeper" and read for a while until I had questions and then joined. I found out that a friend of mine was having the gastric bypass in December. I couldn't get a hold of her until late January and she told me about her journey. She wanted the bypass because she wanted the dumping effect. She said that she needed the reminder of what not to eat. Anyway, she told me about the doctor she went to and I had not hear much about him. Turns out he used to be partners with the doctor I had chosen -- even showed my doctor how to do the surgery lapriscopically! Then in March I contacted my doctors office and asked them what else I could do to get ready for May 2, when the insurance company would be making their decision. The nurse scheduler told me to get a psyc eval and that I had to pay the $1000 to the doctor that was required before surgery. I hit the roof because I was not told this. She said the money was to pay for his fitness gym and additional appointments. They gym is not big at all. I kind of freaked on her and she scheduled me for another appointment with him since it had been a year since I had talked to him. I hung up and immediately contact my friend who had surgery in December and got the number of her doctor. I called and even the front desk girl was so helpful!!! I cancelled the appointment with the first doctor. I had my psyc eval sent to this new doctor - Dr. T. and was told to attend an orientation. Dr. T's PA did the orientation and I learned nothing new but had to go through the process. Next, I had to get an endoscopy which went very smoothly and 4 days later I met with Dr. T. I was blown away by his down-to-earth style. I was immediately drawn in by his charisma and his willingness to answer all my questions -- and believe me, I had a ton! His physician's assistant was just as informative. You could tell these guys knew each other well and have worked together for a long time! Last week I finished another group session that lasted 3 Mondays. I talked to my counselor for the last time last week and on Wednesday, 5/2 she will send through my paperwork to the insurance company. The Drs. office will put through their paperwork on that day as well. I should know something by Friday, 5/4 or Monday, 5/7. I'm really scared, excited, scared, hopeful, scared, nervous!

I woke up today not feeling so hot. I definitely didn't get enough water yesterday and today I am paying the price. Nothing too bad, but I'm listless and feel like I was run over by a runaway camel. I'm also not able to tolerate any chicken broth or the protein drink that I was able to drink just the other day. So today I've been concentrating on getting my water in and I'm half way to the mark. Also, I couldn't tolerate the liquid Vicodin that the doctor prescribed so I've been moved to a different pain killer. Which is awesome since the one big incision that the doctor did to pull out my stomach has a good four inch bruise around in. Yeah, its sore. So, working on the water and I went for a 'walk' outside. Basically I walked to the end of the street and back. It's not much but the movement helped. I stepped on the scale today and was down 6 pounds from my surgery day weight for a total of 18 pounds!!! I guess I should work on getting a ticker set up.... My mom, who is concerned that I've barely been able to get water in went and found some greek yogurt that is low sugar and high in protein. I've never been a plain yogurt sort of girl, but this stuff is amazing! It goes down easily and my stomach isn't cramping and gurgling. Yeah, success! The food has helped clear my head a little bit, which has helped the general lethargy. It's really easy to forget to eat and forget to drink, which is a big no-no. It's odd to not feel hungry and to be uninterested in food. Still not regretting my choice, but I can't wait for the initial after surgery healing to be over with!

Had an appointment with Dr Fox today and he is happy with my progress. He asked me what my secret was. I was thinking "what are you smoking?" and I told him following your instructions. He grinned and said "That is what I wanted to hear". Look at Dr Fox being funny. He is a great guy.