Kelsy

Does anyone know the best way to tone your upper arms? I HATE my upper arms and i want to tone them when i exercise. I've been lifting 10lb weights everynight trying to tone the bottom flabby of my arms.... So far I notice only the top of my upper arms feel more toned. I was looking for some equipment to help me with this.... I want to wear tank tops but won't because i feel my arms are gross. Are these any good? (see below) I notice some say "light, medium, heavy" for the resistance.. I never used one of these.. Has anyone else? Any advice on how to accomplish this (ridding arm flab) is greatly appreciated! THANKS

I've been looking to buy an exercise bike. I am debating between a sit down one or the upright version - both are in the $200 range. Does anyone else here own an exercise bike? How well does it work for you?? Any tips would be helpful. Thanks

Hello, You don't have to do anything before getting the fill. It appears each hospital/surgeon has different rules to follow after receiving a fill. My surgeon suggests going back to liquids for 3-4 days, mushies 3-4 days.. then on to solids again. You can lose anywhere from 5-10 lbs within that short time. It helps control the intake of food as well and gets you adjusted when you first start feeling the restriction again..(even liquids were making me so full!). Also, Your band needs time to heal after it's been filled. I usually do the whole 4 days of liquids and 4 days of mushies as recommended by my surgeon. Good luck!!

Hey, I have a question, maybe someone here can help. I recently (as of a few weeks ago) stopped taking my birth control pill. I of course bled for a few days which is a side effect when you stop taking it. Now, I've recently been feeling very sick. Lots of nausea and literally NO appetite at all. It comes and goes in waves. I've also been feeling very tired and shakey, my hands shake sometimes too. I can barely eat anything without it making me feel so sick. I had a fill about 2 months ago and have had no problems. It's been a couple of months and I feel like NOW I have tons of restriction out of nowhere. I feel like I can't eat anything and what's worse is I don't even want to! Even with the fill, my appetite was not completely surpressed. Lately, I don't even want to LOOK at food. I try to eat and take one bite and I throw it out. Is this normal? Could it be stress?? A friend told me that any side effects from when you stop taking birth control should not last longer than one week. It's been about 3 weeks now.. Any thoughts/advice?? Thanks

I have an appt there in about another week. I think I might just hold off and see what they say. I'm pretty convinced it's symptoms from having stopped taking the pill. But it's been so long! I wish it'd stop already.. I don't think I'm pregnant. I sure hope not.. I've been safe, So I'd be shocked to hell If I were! Thx : )

At my appt a couple of weeks ago, The nutritionist told me that there is a new Psych lady. Guess they finally took those surveys/suggestions into play about the old one.

Hey, I was banded in Feb 07' and lost 77lbs since being weighed last month. But now, I'm having terrible pains in my stomach. I don't know if it's a hernia or not.. But if I breathe in our out, it hurts. Also if I suck my stomach in or push it all the way out just to see, I have pain. I'm trying to figure out what it may be. I wonder if it's because I sleep on my stomach, or because I had food stuck and threw it up. (however, these symptoms were happening before I threw up.) And I also started a birth control pill last month. I just don't know what's wrong. Advice, Pls!?

Thanks : ) It's hard work but I am really determined this time around! I really laxed on the summer.. but I know how easy it is to gain during the winter. I'm being really controlled and it feels so good.

Hmmm,, My Signature isn't changing!! I tried twice. Anyhow, I am down 70 lbs!!!! And I have another fill.. A total of 7cc's in my big band!

I went to my appointment yesterday and am really surprised that I LOST weight. I went on 2 vacations and swore I would gain or was at a stand-still. I am back on liquids for 3-4 days.. It'll do me good. I feel so determined now ..Esp with Halloween and the other holidays coming up!

I LOVE this BB Season! I think it's been very entertaining! Evel Dick makes the show awesome. Plus, CBS knows that is why their ratings have gone up so much.. They've been pressuring Jen and them to vote to keep Dick. Dustin needs to go, I can't stand him. Don't they realize if they want to win they need to pick the people they consider "bad" to the end? I was laughing so much when Dick was banging on the pan over Dustin's head. I watched it again on YouTube. I watched ALLLL of Dick's rant on YouTube, CBS didn't even show half of it and it was unedited.. Too funny! If you like spoilers go to Joker's Updates - CBS BB8: Big Brother 8 USA Live Updates, News, and much more. .. They give good ones, minute by minute. AND you can always go on YOUTUBE.com and search Big Brother 8 or BB8 and click on "recently added" and a lot of people post videos from their live feeds so we can see stuff that doesn't show on CBS. I hope ED stays... We'll see, can't wait for tonight's episode!

Hmm.. I think I'm at a stand still. I weigh myself ONLY at my MD appointments and I like it that way.. However, I could usually tell when I've lost weight by my clothes.. I'm pretty much stuck in the same clothes (down 3 sizes) with no loose feeling at all ! MY next appt is Sept. 6th. I know sometimes you can just STOP. Plus I haven't been doing that well with what I'm eating.. Since my 2nd fill, I can not handle bread as much.. Which is a good thing I suppose, but I love it. ! And I have slowly been getting myself back on track. I can feel / see bones that I never could before and I feel some toned muscle in my upper arms..I love all that.. Needless to say I have been SLACKING and I am mad at myself.. I need to get back on track and get my mind focused. A few times, I've had severe pain in my chest, like burning/uncomfortable feeling.. Does anyone know what that is? I hate it and it's awful!!

Hey Margie! Good luck with the psych lady... She was violating HIPAA all over the place and had other patients folders open in front of me with their name and their photograph. THEN when the woman before me left.. She was telling me some of her business, I was like uhh.. THEN she got on the phone w/ an out of state insurance company and was arguing with them about a patient and spilling all of HIS business! She did apologize for that because it was near Christmas and they CX'd his surgery at last minute.. It was really important, but she could have asked for me to wait outside or something. I work in the health field and I KNOW she could get in SERIOUS trouble for this. Needless to say, I felt reluctant to tell her much of my business. You'll have to grab a test off her door and fill it before you get inside her office. It was really easy and she scored it with me there and saw her circle "normal" .. shoo! Needless to say.. It was quite an interesting appt. I was also deficent in B12 and had to get a shot for it at my PCP (which they did).. And I take iron and flinstone vitamins too.. plus a calcium chocolate chewable at night. After the surgery when I had my bloodwork done again, Dr. S told me that I don't need another shot of B12 and they'll just see if it stays the same. Did they put you on a pre-op diet or just tell you that you need to lose the 10lbs?

Hey, I recevied my second fill last Thursday and during my appointment the doctor had asked If i had any vomiting or heartburn and I said no, because I haven't. NOW.. .I have been getting a lot of heart burn after I eat.. Yesterday it started and again today. It's really painful and feels like chest pain. I took a tum yesterday and it was better.. .Now here at work, I ate an egg and am experiencing the SAME heart burn feeling.. What is that?? I thought I'd ask here first before I called the doctor. :help:

I wonder if it may be too tight, I am eating SLOW, taking my time and chewing... But it's like the first COUPLE of bites and I feel it. I will do even smaller portions and go even slower and see if it helps. If not, I guess I'll call my doctor.. Band MAY be too tight.

ok thank you! it doesn't last long, but I wanted to be sure it wasn't too tight.

Hey Everyone! It looks like everyone has lot around 50+lbs (give or take) ?? Just from look at this last page anyways lol. AWESOME! I went to my appointment yesterday and everything went good ! Now I don't go back until Sept 6th. I got another fill yesterday.. I didn't think I would get one because I had lost 15lbs from April til Now. I don't feel hungry at all, A good thing because my first fill didn't work at all! And I just miss eating... I don't miss this liquid stage at all ! But I am very happy with my results so far.. I seem to be losing weight in the right places.. woohoo!

yup and it's kinda crazy too because you go through this whole "last meal syndrom" and you can't even do that! but it's okay.. I ate a brownie the day before my surgery : ( .. Bad, I know. And I don't encourage it! It's just what I did.

You have to go on a diet 2 weeks before the surgery? I never had to.. They only gave me a paper that said I need to "eat lightly" for the first 2 days before surgery and it gave some examples. Unless they've changed it since a few months ago o.o Maybe a strict diet is a good thing! Either way, good luck ; ) DR. S is great!

Well, It's almost june and how am I doing since having had surgery alittle over 3 months ago? I think i'm doing pretty damn good. I was a size 24 pants and am down to an 18/20. .. And I was in a 30/32 shirt and am down to a 22/24. Woohoo! I have a lot of energy.. And I exercise all the time. I am slowly getting to where I want to be. I know I have lost atleast 40lbs since my last visit on April 12th. I only weigh myself at my appointments which has helped me A LOT. Some of my clothes are way too big and it feels great. I did have my first fill on my last appoinment which did not last ! I am seriously hoping for a fill on my next appointment which is in the end of june. We'll see !

Well, It's almost june and how am I doing since having had surgery alittle over 3 months ago? I think i'm doing pretty damn good. I was a size 24 pants and am down to an 18/20. .. And I was in a 30/32 shirt and am down to a 22/24. Woohoo! I have a lot of energy.. And I exercise all the time. I am slowly getting to where I want to be. I know I have lost atleast 40lbs since my last visit on April 12th. I only weigh myself at my appointments which has helped me A LOT. Some of my clothes are way too big and it feels great. I did have my first fill on my last appoinment which did not last ! I am seriously hoping for a fill on my next appointment which is in the end of june. We'll see !

I felt a bit nervous having the surgery.. I mean, I was scared and worried because I had never had surgery before in my life. I had to see the anaesthesiologitst ? And go over some things and get my last minute details. That went well and didn't take long. Thank goodness! Before I actually went in.. I had to fill out a form and specify if I want a private room and would have to pay extra money. Uhm.. NO! I forgot to mention in the previous post that I had to put down a processing fee of $500 and a $100 fee for the psych nurse. That is ALL I paid. I went out to buy all the products I would need for the liquid stage.. It was hard, but I got it done. Feb 12th..Day of my surgery - - -Of course aunt flo arrives JUST IN TIME for my surgery. I was embarassed because ewww.. Who wants to deal with that mess and have surgery! But they said it was okay. Shewww..Thank goodness I didn't have to reschedule. My surgery time was for 1:45pm in the afternoon.. I wanted sooner but it was booked! Around 7am someone called my house from the hospital to say that there was an emergency and the OR was take and we'd all be pushed back .. .So to wait at home and they'll call me when it's time. I was annoyed slightly because I had been waiting and waiting and now this? Plus I could not drink, not even a sip or eat anything and I'd have to wait all day since the night before?? blah. Finally, I ended up calling around 1pm or so? And they told me to come down and I got there .. Ended up waiting a bit in the waiting room and finally got into the prep area. The people were sooo nice. I had a warm blanket and changed.. I waited a long time with my mom and I noticed someone scheduled before me hadn't even gone in yet. Hours .. and i mean HOURS later. I was so dry mouth and impatient.. I was NOT scared, NOT nervous .. nothing! My mom kept saying she was so proud that I was so relaxed. The surgeron came out to check on me.. Asked a few questions most importantly "Did you gain any weight"? And I said NO. And he said Good, Cause I'd cancel the surgery right now".. Whoa!! He apologized for the hold up and said it wouldn't be too much longer. An hour later .. maybe? I think it was like alittle past 6:30pm.. The anaesthesiologist came out and did the vitals, etc.. And gave me the anti-anxiety meds. My doctor was so ready he was like getting mad at the dude ! Cause he was taking him time and my surgeron just wanted to go. I remember kissing my mom before I went in and being rolled down the hall. I slid onto the OR table and layed back.. I was watching them prep everything and next thing i knew.. I was passed out. I didn't even get to count back or anything ! I woke up in recovery feeling very sick.. I felt like I had to throw up and I knew it was just the side effects from anaesthesia.. And I get bad motion sickness. Plus I had a terrible pain in my chest so they ended up doing an EKG to make sure I was okay. And I was... I vaguely remember one of the doctors pushing on my damn chest before I passed out. Anyhow, I was wheeled into my room ..And was so HAPPY that it was a private room! I didn't request one. I just lucked out.. They put the TV on for me and I remember seeing CSI Miami on tv. So I knew it was after 10pm. I rang the nurse bell and requested my mom. They said they tried calling her cell phone and got no answer. So I grabbed my phone, tried calling her and I didn't get an answer either. I kept saying "She is looking for me, find her" .. And I said this because she had told me she would wait until she saw me AFTER surgery and then leave. I ended up calling my house phone and my mom answered! I started crying saying "WHY DID YOU LEAVE"? And of course she felt bad and wanted to come right back down. She explained that the Surgeron had came out when i was done, Said everything went perfect and I wouldn't remember any of this and she can't go into the recovery and would wait hours for what? Cause I wouldn't know if she was there or not. He suggested it'd be best to go home. But left the decision up to her naturally. After talking to my mom.. I was okay..Hung up and passed out. I remember feeling a lot of pain and being woken up even few hours.. UGH what a pain in the ass! I thought I could just sleep and relax. Uhm, NO! The next day, I had trouble just lifting myself out of the bed.. That sucked. They had said after doing the swallow test, I could go home as long as I could hold the liquids down. I did the swallow study and it was fine. Man, My mouth was SOOOOOOO dry - I felt sick. Finally I could drink water! I used that spongey thing to keep wetting my tongue and was sucking on it, lol. The nurse who came on duty was a nurse I worked with at my job! She had left and I didn't know she was now at this hospital. She was so nice ! And I tried to take tylenol and threw up.. : ( It was really late too.. After 5pm so they suggest since my surgery was pushed back and everything was done so late, that I stay and extra night.. I called my parents and told them. The next day, things were slightly better.. The anaesthesia had a BIG effect on me. I hated feeling dizzy, nauseous.. etc. I tried to swallow again and it actually worked ! It stayed down. It was finally time for me to go home. I called my dad to pick me up and what do you know.. It was a blizzard or something going on outside. He came and picked me up.. And I finally got home. My parents had brought me balloons, a teddy bear, slipper socks, a fleece blanket, card and a few other things. I was so happy : ) I spent the next few days relaxing and resting most important. I remember struggling with the fact that I could not sleep on my stomach and it sucked because i HAVE to sleep on my stomach. While sleeping. I was trying to turn over and lay on my stomach ..and I'd remember waking up in pain. It was tough.. I was just concentrating on getting my protein in each day.. I didn't feel like eating, I wasn't hungery so even the liquids.. I was like No.. But I did it ! I knew i HAD to. I was out of work for an entire month and I have a desk job. A long time, huh? Oh well.. ! I enjoyed the time off, lol. I ended up exercising at the very end. I tried in the beginning but couldn't do it.. Anyhow, That was my surgery odeal !

I felt a bit nervous having the surgery.. I mean, I was scared and worried because I had never had surgery before in my life. I had to see the anaesthesiologitst ? And go over some things and get my last minute details. That went well and didn't take long. Thank goodness! Before I actually went in.. I had to fill out a form and specify if I want a private room and would have to pay extra money. Uhm.. NO! I forgot to mention in the previous post that I had to put down a processing fee of $500 and a $100 fee for the psych nurse. That is ALL I paid. I went out to buy all the products I would need for the liquid stage.. It was hard, but I got it done. Feb 12th..Day of my surgery - - -Of course aunt flo arrives JUST IN TIME for my surgery. I was embarassed because ewww.. Who wants to deal with that mess and have surgery! But they said it was okay. Shewww..Thank goodness I didn't have to reschedule. My surgery time was for 1:45pm in the afternoon.. I wanted sooner but it was booked! Around 7am someone called my house from the hospital to say that there was an emergency and the OR was take and we'd all be pushed back .. .So to wait at home and they'll call me when it's time. I was annoyed slightly because I had been waiting and waiting and now this? Plus I could not drink, not even a sip or eat anything and I'd have to wait all day since the night before?? blah. Finally, I ended up calling around 1pm or so? And they told me to come down and I got there .. Ended up waiting a bit in the waiting room and finally got into the prep area. The people were sooo nice. I had a warm blanket and changed.. I waited a long time with my mom and I noticed someone scheduled before me hadn't even gone in yet. Hours .. and i mean HOURS later. I was so dry mouth and impatient.. I was NOT scared, NOT nervous .. nothing! My mom kept saying she was so proud that I was so relaxed. The surgeron came out to check on me.. Asked a few questions most importantly "Did you gain any weight"? And I said NO. And he said Good, Cause I'd cancel the surgery right now".. Whoa!! He apologized for the hold up and said it wouldn't be too much longer. An hour later .. maybe? I think it was like alittle past 6:30pm.. The anaesthesiologist came out and did the vitals, etc.. And gave me the anti-anxiety meds. My doctor was so ready he was like getting mad at the dude ! Cause he was taking him time and my surgeron just wanted to go. I remember kissing my mom before I went in and being rolled down the hall. I slid onto the OR table and layed back.. I was watching them prep everything and next thing i knew.. I was passed out. I didn't even get to count back or anything ! I woke up in recovery feeling very sick.. I felt like I had to throw up and I knew it was just the side effects from anaesthesia.. And I get bad motion sickness. Plus I had a terrible pain in my chest so they ended up doing an EKG to make sure I was okay. And I was... I vaguely remember one of the doctors pushing on my damn chest before I passed out. Anyhow, I was wheeled into my room ..And was so HAPPY that it was a private room! I didn't request one. I just lucked out.. They put the TV on for me and I remember seeing CSI Miami on tv. So I knew it was after 10pm. I rang the nurse bell and requested my mom. They said they tried calling her cell phone and got no answer. So I grabbed my phone, tried calling her and I didn't get an answer either. I kept saying "She is looking for me, find her" .. And I said this because she had told me she would wait until she saw me AFTER surgery and then leave. I ended up calling my house phone and my mom answered! I started crying saying "WHY DID YOU LEAVE"? And of course she felt bad and wanted to come right back down. She explained that the Surgeron had came out when i was done, Said everything went perfect and I wouldn't remember any of this and she can't go into the recovery and would wait hours for what? Cause I wouldn't know if she was there or not. He suggested it'd be best to go home. But left the decision up to her naturally. After talking to my mom.. I was okay..Hung up and passed out. I remember feeling a lot of pain and being woken up even few hours.. UGH what a pain in the ass! I thought I could just sleep and relax. Uhm, NO! The next day, I had trouble just lifting myself out of the bed.. That sucked. They had said after doing the swallow test, I could go home as long as I could hold the liquids down. I did the swallow study and it was fine. Man, My mouth was SOOOOOOO dry - I felt sick. Finally I could drink water! I used that spongey thing to keep wetting my tongue and was sucking on it, lol. The nurse who came on duty was a nurse I worked with at my job! She had left and I didn't know she was now at this hospital. She was so nice ! And I tried to take tylenol and threw up.. : ( It was really late too.. After 5pm so they suggest since my surgery was pushed back and everything was done so late, that I stay and extra night.. I called my parents and told them. The next day, things were slightly better.. The anaesthesia had a BIG effect on me. I hated feeling dizzy, nauseous.. etc. I tried to swallow again and it actually worked ! It stayed down. It was finally time for me to go home. I called my dad to pick me up and what do you know.. It was a blizzard or something going on outside. He came and picked me up.. And I finally got home. My parents had brought me balloons, a teddy bear, slipper socks, a fleece blanket, card and a few other things. I was so happy : ) I spent the next few days relaxing and resting most important. I remember struggling with the fact that I could not sleep on my stomach and it sucked because i HAVE to sleep on my stomach. While sleeping. I was trying to turn over and lay on my stomach ..and I'd remember waking up in pain. It was tough.. I was just concentrating on getting my protein in each day.. I didn't feel like eating, I wasn't hungery so even the liquids.. I was like No.. But I did it ! I knew i HAD to. I was out of work for an entire month and I have a desk job. A long time, huh? Oh well.. ! I enjoyed the time off, lol. I ended up exercising at the very end. I tried in the beginning but couldn't do it.. Anyhow, That was my surgery odeal !

I finally decided to blog about the process / ordeal of my journey in weight loss. I've suffered with my weight since childhood. It's been up, it's been down.. You know, the usual. Finally after all the diets and trying to lose weight on my own with little to no success .. I found out about the Lap Band from a co-worker. She had just went in for surgery for the Lap Band and I had never even heard of it ! When she came back to work, she filled me in on all the details and gave me lots of information. I made an appointment around the end of September 07' with my PCP for my physical (I was long over due) and told her then that I was interested in getting the lap band. She agreeded and said it would be excellent for me. I asked her to please call in the referral and she said she would after my blood work came back, yadda yadda. I got home and went on the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's website and read about the surgery. I called and asked them to please mail out a processing application to me. I received the app in a couple of days, filled it all out and faxed it over via my job. I asked them to call to make sure they received the fax and they told me they did and I would get a phone call in the next couple of weeks (WHAT??) I didn't want to wait that long! Luckily my co-worker told me they just say that, but i'll be sooner and she was right. In the next couple of days, I believe.. I received a phone call to book an appointment. I was thrilled and ready. Before I went to my appointment. I had attended a seminar held by Dr. Schneider on Thursday @ The hospital. My mom accompanied me and we soaked up a lot of good info! The place was PACKED. There were people standing and sitting on the floor.. I was amazed at how many people were there for the surgery (both gastric bypass and lapband). On to my appointment... I had to fast before I went in and was to meet with the RN (who would do an EKG and go over my paperwork) And I was to meet with the Director MD of the program. A girl who was due for a fill arrived late and my appointment got shuffled around and I ended up meeting the RN and the Nutritionist (both whom were very nice!). Then I had another appointment a couple of week later with the Director / MD and the Psych Nurse. Both went well.. The Psych nurse was abit loopy ... She was friendly, but odd. I filled out a questionare and she completed it with me there and circled "NORMAL" ... wohoo! They weighed me on my first visit and i was like OH GOD.. I hated it. Then by the time of my next appointment.. Thanksgiving and Xmas had just rolled through so i knew the outcome would be bad. They weighed me and I had gained an additional 14lbs. : ( They were not happy, but stressed that I need to get back to the weight i had first came in with. And I met with the nutritionist a second time, I believe.. And She gave me some pointers which helped because I went back to my original weight! Between the times of my appoinments I had made it to a mandatory second seminar where the same things were said.. So we didnt' stay the entire time. And during my last appt. the psych nurse (last person i saw) asked If i wanted a specific surgeon and I asked for Dr. Schneider because he spoke at both seminars and he did my co-workers lapband and It just seemed fitting. After those were done, The entire group (nurse, director, psych nurse, nutritionist) get together to decide if i am good for the program and if so, they'd submit it to the insurance company and wait for approval. I waited and then received a phone call from BIDMC to set up my date with the SURGEON! YAY. That means I'm approved b/c the surgeon won't meet canidates unless they're approved, why waste his time, you know? I met him with a group at first.. And then we met one-on-one to ask any questions, etc. Finally.. I booked my date with the scheduler... And it was for Feb 12th 2007. I'll write about the surgery later on !

I finally decided to blog about the process / ordeal of my journey in weight loss. I've suffered with my weight since childhood. It's been up, it's been down.. You know, the usual. Finally after all the diets and trying to lose weight on my own with little to no success .. I found out about the Lap Band from a co-worker. She had just went in for surgery for the Lap Band and I had never even heard of it ! When she came back to work, she filled me in on all the details and gave me lots of information. I made an appointment around the end of September 07' with my PCP for my physical (I was long over due) and told her then that I was interested in getting the lap band. She agreeded and said it would be excellent for me. I asked her to please call in the referral and she said she would after my blood work came back, yadda yadda. I got home and went on the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's website and read about the surgery. I called and asked them to please mail out a processing application to me. I received the app in a couple of days, filled it all out and faxed it over via my job. I asked them to call to make sure they received the fax and they told me they did and I would get a phone call in the next couple of weeks (WHAT??) I didn't want to wait that long! Luckily my co-worker told me they just say that, but i'll be sooner and she was right. In the next couple of days, I believe.. I received a phone call to book an appointment. I was thrilled and ready. Before I went to my appointment. I had attended a seminar held by Dr. Schneider on Thursday @ The hospital. My mom accompanied me and we soaked up a lot of good info! The place was PACKED. There were people standing and sitting on the floor.. I was amazed at how many people were there for the surgery (both gastric bypass and lapband). On to my appointment... I had to fast before I went in and was to meet with the RN (who would do an EKG and go over my paperwork) And I was to meet with the Director MD of the program. A girl who was due for a fill arrived late and my appointment got shuffled around and I ended up meeting the RN and the Nutritionist (both whom were very nice!). Then I had another appointment a couple of week later with the Director / MD and the Psych Nurse. Both went well.. The Psych nurse was abit loopy ... She was friendly, but odd. I filled out a questionare and she completed it with me there and circled "NORMAL" ... wohoo! They weighed me on my first visit and i was like OH GOD.. I hated it. Then by the time of my next appointment.. Thanksgiving and Xmas had just rolled through so i knew the outcome would be bad. They weighed me and I had gained an additional 14lbs. : ( They were not happy, but stressed that I need to get back to the weight i had first came in with. And I met with the nutritionist a second time, I believe.. And She gave me some pointers which helped because I went back to my original weight! Between the times of my appoinments I had made it to a mandatory second seminar where the same things were said.. So we didnt' stay the entire time. And during my last appt. the psych nurse (last person i saw) asked If i wanted a specific surgeon and I asked for Dr. Schneider because he spoke at both seminars and he did my co-workers lapband and It just seemed fitting. After those were done, The entire group (nurse, director, psych nurse, nutritionist) get together to decide if i am good for the program and if so, they'd submit it to the insurance company and wait for approval. I waited and then received a phone call from BIDMC to set up my date with the SURGEON! YAY. That means I'm approved b/c the surgeon won't meet canidates unless they're approved, why waste his time, you know? I met him with a group at first.. And then we met one-on-one to ask any questions, etc. Finally.. I booked my date with the scheduler... And it was for Feb 12th 2007. I'll write about the surgery later on !