Alexandra

Did you hear me use the word "diet"? Oops, yes you did. I should have said "menu." I'm totally with you, tangerine--I will never say "diet" again. The very idea of signing on to someone else's food plan and following a strict regimen is very off-putting to me. Yet in the last year, when I started putting Protein before the carbs in my life, I lost almot 30 lbs. So "protein first" is definitely a mantra I'll remember. And when my intake is cut by 2/3 it will be more important than ever. But I have no intention of avoiding anything, especially chocolate!

Shelly, I think the very nature of bandster life is that we will eat a diet closer to Atkins' than anyone else's. But I for one will resist putting a name on my menu. It's just going to be ME making decisions for myself, with the band to help me. I don't think you'll find anyone saying that high Protein, low carb is a bad way to eat. Whatever you call it, that's the Bandster way.

Hi Cathy, The little picture below your name on the left is called an "avatar." Go to the user control panel ("user cp" button on top) and click on Edit Options. Scroll down to the bottom and you'll see the area where you can upload your avatar photo. It's got to be tiny, only 50 x 50 pixels. If you can't reduce your photo yourself let me know and I'll be happy to do it for you. Just attach it to a forum message and I'll grab it from there.

I have never run in my life, except one lap around the reservoir in high school. I almost died. I have dreams in which I'm running freely, though--so maybe I really do want to. Someday, I'd like to chase my daughters through a meadow and not die doing it.

That sounds about right. I totally understand about your first comment, though, about feeling like fat had beat you down. So far only one person I've told has had a reaction like I'm a loser taking the easy way out, and she has come around. (She hasn't known me very long so she didn't understand my lifelong battle.) The negative reaction most people have is "oh my GOD! How can you risk bypass surgery--people DIE from that!" Then I have to take the next 20 minutes to calm them down, and start the education process from scratch. Your cashier might have had the same reaction if all you said was "surgery." Maybe we should carry little information brochures to hand out when we're asked and don't have a half-hour to explain.

This struck a chord with me, what you said about people resenting you as you lose weight. I have a really evil cousin-in-law who, when she found out about my plans, said "I'm going to hate you if you get skinny!" And the scary thing is that I really don't think she was kidding. She is thin herself; however, she is the sort of person who can't feel good about herself unless she's bashing someone else (most often, her husband). So when I hear a comment like that I just consider the source and move on. I honestly don't care if she "hates" me later on. She's the one losing out.

Hi Chris, I know just how you feel--I'm sure we all do. What helps me is remembering that with the band I won't be monitoring my intake ALONE. There will be a physical assistant there to say STOP, that's TOO MUCH; or, more to the point with me: SLOW DOWN. All my life I've wished there was something that would tell my brain that I've had enough before my stomach does, because my stomach could never be relied upon to send that message at the right time. That's what I'm counting on the band to do, and I'm convinced it will change my life for the better.

I'm not un-jazzed about the band, just reluctant to spend so much time talking about *me* in general. Who knows--maybe that will change with weight loss too!

Everyone says prefill stage is the worst, but I plan to get through it by remembering what's REALLY the worst: pre-BAND stage! For the last year I've been reading about people frustrated with with their pre-fill loss and wishing that was me. Soon it will be, I guess, but I doubt the feeling I'll have is frustration. Opportunity, that's what it is!! I'm looking forward to being able to say I'm plateauing at 230, or even 270! Since I'm currently plateaued in the 320 range, we'd be looking at a huge improvement!

Hey Robin, What's involved in running the insurance board? I might be willing to take it over, if you really need help.

Wow, Julie, what a transformation! You're beautiful in a whole new way. This gives me a glimpse of how cool it will be to see what I really look like, 100 lbs from now...

Hi Helen! We're almost band-buddies, since my date is August 20. It's astonishing how fast the time goes, it's now only 3.5 weeks away!! I have two kiddies too, and I know that's why there never seems to be enough time in the day. How old are your kids? I have two girls, 2.5 and almost-5. Good to see you here, let's stay in touch!!

Wednesday, you are the bomb! Did you ever have any interest in sports before losing all the weight? I can't imagine my getting involved in running no matter how little I weigh, but I did play volleyball right up until my first baby was born and I'd love to get back into that for real. So how did the running start with you? A new thing, or revisiting an old thing?

Thanks for the replies! I love the analogy of a pacemaker--somehow that's easier to embrace than a restrictive band around my stomach. And yes, Robin, I can totally relate to your image of childbirth and beyond. (Although sometimes I find myself wondering if I should have taken THAT step, too! ) The rewards will all be worth it. Everyday I'm becoming more aware of the ways in which my weight limits my life. Thinking about how that is going to change erases my doubts, even at night.

I too read about people who lose a lot right out of the gate, but I'm not worried about it at all. The band, as we all know, is designed to work AFTER a fill and not necessarily before. I figure any weight at all taken off before my first fill is just a bonus, and your bonus is now 14 lbs in about 9 weeks. That's a good rate of loss even for someone WITH a fill! You're off to a great start, quakergirl, and now that you've had a fill you'll probably start to see those numbers dropping soon. Good luck!!

You're more than welcome! I can't wait until my avatar has a similarly slender look about it.

Nevermind, I just resized your photo. Here it is! Now just right-click on it, save it to your computer and follow the instructions for uploading it to use as your avatar.

I'm not sure about the signature pic--I've never tried to do one--but the little picture below the name on the left is called an "avatar." Go to the user control panel and click on edit options (or whatever it's called). Scroll down to the bottom and you'll see the area where you can upload your avatar photo. It's got to be tiny, only 50 x 50 pixels. If you can't reduce your photo yourself let me know and I'll give it a whirl.

Backwards intestines? Wow. That sure sounds encouraging, Ginger, you alien. All the best to you and I can't wait to hear your good news!

That's good to hear--I was really worried about how I was going to break my water chugging habit! If all I have to do is slow it down, I can handle that.

Hee hee, Robin! I'm so glad you asked because I was going to. Most people call me Alex in the real world but I use my full name online just for this reason. Alex, seeing your name all over this board was a little disconcerting but now that I know you're male it will be easier to get over. Cheers, Alex (the girl)

Wow! That's the first chink in the armor I've ever heard of--that's wonderful! I think there are significant reasons one would choose banding over bypass, and mentioned a couple in my appeal letter. I particularly cited my prior experience with very rapid weight loss (Optifast, blech--75 lbs in 12 weeks) and described the emotional and physical upheaval it caused. I wonder if that would have counted as being "unable" to have the bypass? Good luck, and please keep us posted!!

Oxford's been wonderful for banding. I've only heard good things about their quick approval process. There are docs in both the Freedom and Liberty networks who do the surgery; whether or not a referral is needed depends on the type of plan you have, not the doctor. yep, for Band candidates, Oxford insurance is a wonderful thing. Sadly, as far as I know it's only available in NJ, NY, and CT. In NJ (and maybe elsewhere, I don't know) they also offer individual plans, which are actually competitive with group plans in NJ. Amazingly, the premium went down in August!

I gotta say I love this format. View New Posts is my favorite feature and makes it possible to keep up with stuff. Check it out if you don't already use it: the link is on the top right of the home screen. I'll be telling my contacts about it, don't worry!

That's an interesting article, thanks for posting it. I didn't know that about Brian Dennehy! He's one of my favorite actors, partly because he's always impressed me as being very intelligent. Now I know he is!! --Alexandra