crzytchr

Good luck going through the process. This is the single best thing I have ever done for myself. I feel so much better. I get up every morning and I am not in pain. I look better in my clothes and after losing 80 lbs so far, my self confidence is much higher. I haven't experienced any negative effects and hopefully never will. I LOVE MY BAND!!!!

Mary, it does help to keep your metabolism guessing. They have a ww plan that is called the wendi plan that isn't really endorsed by ww, but it goes on that same principle. Eat 2 days low cal, then a day of high cal, then moderate, or whatever. As long as you throw in an extra 200-300 calories every third day or so, your metabolism is less likely to shut down. I make sure young girls know the dangers of eating low calorie and starving themselves. My daughter eats healthy, but knows that not eating enough is REALLY bad for her body. She has heard the gained 75 lbs in 9 months story before and knows it is true.

I weigh every morning. It keeps me aware of what is going on. If I am up a few lbs in one day, I know I consumed too much sodium and I try to get more liquids in the next day.

My boobs, believe it or not, have gone down a band size but up a cup size. I have gone from a Lane Bryant 6 right fit blue jeans to a 1 right fit blue jeans. All this and I STILL HAVE A BIG OLE ROLL of fat on my stomach. I am teaching summer school to save money for a TT next summer!!!!!

I haven't regretted it for one moment. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself.

I hear different stories on starvation mode, but I know the following from experience: I ate one meal a day from high school through college until I became pregnant with my daughter. I consumed about 700-900 calories per day. All the while, I was still overweight. When I became pregnant with my daughter I ate the suggested 3 meals per day and 1800-2000 calories per day. My body, being the efficient machine that it was, could run on the 700 calories per day, so I immediately began gaining. In all I gained 75 lbs in the 9 months of pregnancy. Eventually my metabolism stabilized and when I became pregnant with my son, I ate the same, if not a little more with him, but only gained 25 lbs because my metabolism had risen. So people can say what they want about metabolism, I know I will NOT lose weight past the first couple of months if I consume below 1000. Since being banded, I have consistently eaten 1200-1500 calories per day and I have lost 80 lbs. Many people lose faster, but I don't feel hungry and I eat most foods that I want, including the occasional sweets.

Name.......................... Start Wt....... Current....... Goal....... To Go 3ShotRoc..................... 345.............. 263............ 220........ 43 Alabubba..................... 464.............. 464............ 400........ 64 Alleycia....................... 255.............. 217............ 198........ 19 Annieemmm................. 200.............. 198............. 170....... 28 Ashleyrenee................ 240.............. 240............. 199........ 41 Barb12590.................. 173.............. 156............. 155.......... 1 Betelnut..................... 295.............. 273............. 245........ 28 Bklyn1984................... 317.............. 241............. 230........ 11 Blaze21...................... 200.8........... 187............. 170....... 17 Blklab70282................. 241............. 241.............. 220........ 19 ChickyAbby................. 314............. 314.............. 270........ 44 Clcort......................... 236............. 200.............. 200........ 36 CountrygirlNY.............. 253............. 217.............. 182........ 35 Crzytchr.................... 237.............. 229.............. 210........ 19 Ewiedbingcott ............ 215.5.......... 211.2............ 198........ 13.2 Fab by 50.................. 215............. 204............... 175........ 29 Fordgal88.................. 199.............. 175.............. 199........ 24 Hdsantoni.................. 252.............. 198.............. 190......... 8 Htaylor1021............... 210.............. 206.5............ 185......... 21.5 itsjustducky................368...............368...............328... .......40 Jazma....................... 261.............. 261.............. 235......... 24 Jeni 85...................... 170............. 170............... 158......... 12 Jennyt71................... 245............. 197............... 170......... 27 Keepingfaith08........... 225.............. 225.............. 190.......... 35 Lalaredd................... 240.............. 190............... 150......... 40 LessJess................... 228.............. 202............... 199......... 3 Letsgetitstarted......... 229.............. 211............... 199......... 30 Libbyjane1976........... 283............... 283.............. 250.......... 33 LilMissDiva................ 251.6............ 247.6............ 227.......... 20.6 Liz_hager................. 158............... 151............... 145.......... 6 LisaRT..................... 254............... 248............... 225.......... 23 Long2BThin.............. 192............... 183............... 169.......... 14 Loveislovely............. 191............... 187............... 169.......... 18 Mair....................... 222............... 220............... 199........... 21 Mamacj.................. 316............... 269............... 233........... 36 Melody_Mary_42f..... 277............... 231............... 170........... 49 MsNickelback.......... 172............... 165................ 149........... 16 Nicolerose.............. 365............... 288................ 260........... 28 Nursemelly............. 245............... 203................ 185........... 18 Onehotmama.......... 272............... 237................ 210........... 27 OneHotMomma........ 285.............. 282................ 250............ 32 Pbpuniser............... 212.............. 212................ 182............ 30 Peachwood............. 251............. 251................. 230............ 21 Picklesix................. 197............. 175................. 170............ 5 Sexylips................. 238............. 238................. 199............ 39 Sadie77................. 277............. 250................. 220............ 30 SillyGoose.............. 258............. 238................. 228............ 10 Simone.................. 182............ 176.................. 160............ 16 Ukcatsfan.............. 340............. 340................. 300............ 40 Workingmom........... 214............. 214................. 175............ 39 ZiggyLove.............. 226............. 202................. 180............ 22 Health4life..............279.............222.2................195..... .. .....27.2

It depends on the coverage your employer has for the group. I had BCBS of LA and it covered my surgery. I had a qualifying BMI and with my surgeon, all I did was give past diets I had been on with approximate dates. I could have provided past weights with dr visits, but it wasn't requested. It depends on your coverage and you won't know until the insurance person at the surgeon's office calls and checks. My case handler was knowledgable enough that she basically told me what was required by me just giving her my insurance name. I was approved in days and had surgery within 3 weeks of my consultation. Good luck!

You need to follow whatever your surgeon tells you, but it will probably be nothing over 10-15 lbs for at LEAST 4 weeks. If I am not mistaken, your port is stitched in place and you need to let that heal. You may have to listen to whining and let him climb up on chairs and just give a hand when he gets down until you are cleared to lift him. Practice this with him now, so he can get used to it. Let him know what a big boy he is when he is able to get up by himself. Lifting him early could possibly do damage. Just discuss it with your surgeon and see what guidelines he/she gives you to follow. Good luck!

I was only 3 weeks from consult to surgery, so mine was about the same. My surgeon didn't require a preop diet, so I actually gained a few lbs from consult to the day before surgery. My BMI was 50 the day of and is 36 now. Oh, and even though I didn't diet, I did practice taking smaller bites and chewing my food well. I also stopped drinking with my meals and cut out all carbonated drinks prior to surgery. It really helped.

Thanks kimaly, and I will say my prayer at 3.

You are right, it will pass, but dangit, I felt like crap for about a week after banding also. I couldn't get out of bed by myself, and I was miserable. Now, I feel fabulous! Some people just bounce back quickly, and other do not. We seem to be in the "do not" category.

Can you start over? Sure! The thing that has helped me more than anything else is using an online site to journal my food each day. It takes a little time to start, but now I only spend about 3 min a day inputing my food for the day. You will be surprised at what you consume each day and where the calories are coming from. You may find you are eating more than you think, or even not eating enough. I consume 1200-1500 calories per day. If you want to begin again from scratch, I would suggest the 5 day pouch test. It should get you back on track. Then after you have done that, you can see how you feel when you eat foods again. What sticks? How much before you are satisfied? How long before you are hungry again? This will help you determine if you need another fill or maybe you have been too tight all this time. Try the pouch test and let me know what happens. It can jump start weight loss. Surgical Weight Loss 5 Day Pouch Test Cindy

Those dang drains!!!! Thinking about drains is what may keep me from having the tummy tuck I need so bad.:cool2: Good luck at your appointment today, and I hope he/she takes your drain out.

I have been where you are now and I will tell you that when your stepdaughter is older she will understand more about what is going on. No matter how angry and unfair things seem, try to not bash mom in front of her. Your stepdaughter will thank you. My stepdaughter is now 25 (married her dad when she was 7) and she calls me mom and doesn't speak to her own mom. We went through everything you are going through and lots more. My stepdaughter wanted to live with her dad and myself but her mom wouldn't let someone else raise her child. She was more worried about what people would say than about what was best for her daughter. But on the issue of the myspace, just REALLY supervise if you think she should have one. It can get dangerous. Also, please don't let your stepdaughter think she can start playing y'all against one another. She is entering the teen years and will definitely try. Hopefully her mom will wake up and you can start working together to raise her instead of separate. Unfortunately we were never able to get to the point.

It sounds like you are totally getting screwed. I bet if you checked for the self pay fee, it is less than 20K. They totally inflate what they charge because we have insurance.

Moon: I think normal depends on the surgeon. Mine normally does 4ccs at the first fill, but I didn't want that much. fatgirl (not much longer): define uncomfortable. If you are having trouble drinking fluids or swallowing, no, that isn't normal. Call you doctor. If it just feels different and tighter when eating, then yes, that is normal.

I haven't had a numbing shot with either of my fills. I don't need it. My fills haven't hurt at all.

Well, dang, Cynthia I hope you get to feeling better. You may want to call your doctor and make sure you haven't broken anything. I hope your arms bounce back better than mine. Jello has NOTHING on me. I swear I can hear them flapping in the breeze when I move them. :thumbup: Oh well, at least I look better with clothes on. Good luck and please call your doctor to get some xrays. I will be praying for you.

AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!! It is teacher appreciation week and yesterday was chocolate day. My students are hardly EVER sweet to me (just kidding) but they did indeed bring me chocolate. I even got a box of goo goo clusters:ohmy:

Ok Lisa, you are updated. Name.......................... Start Wt....... Current....... Goal....... To Go 3ShotRoc..................... 345.............. 263............ 220........ 43 Alabubba..................... 464.............. 464............ 400........ 64 Alleycia....................... 255.............. 217............ 198........ 19 Annieemmm................. 200.............. 198............. 170....... 28 Ashleyrenee................ 240.............. 240............. 199........ 41 Barb12590.................. 173.............. 158............. 155.......... 3 Betelnut..................... 295.............. 273............. 245........ 28 Bklyn1984................... 317.............. 248............. 230........ 18 Blaze21...................... 200.8........... 192.8........... 170........ 22.8 Blklab70282................. 241............. 241.............. 220........ 19 ChickyAbby................. 314............. 314.............. 270........ 44 Clcort......................... 236............. 200.............. 200........ 36 CountrygirlNY.............. 253............. 217.............. 182........ 35 Crzytchr2004.............. 237............. 230.............. 210........ 20 Ewiedbingcott ............ 215.5.......... 211.2............ 198........ 13.2 Fab by 50.................. 215............. 204............... 175........ 29 Fordgal88.................. 199.............. 175.............. 199........ 24 Hdsantoni.................. 252.............. 202.............. 190......... 12 Htaylor1021............... 210.............. 210.............. 185......... 25 Jazma....................... 261.............. 261.............. 235......... 24 Jeni 85...................... 170............. 170............... 158......... 12 Jennyt71................... 245............. 197............... 170......... 27 Keepingfaith08........... 225.............. 225.............. 190.......... 35 Lalaredd................... 240.............. 190............... 150......... 40 LessJess................... 228.............. 228............... 199......... 29 Letsgetitstarted......... 229.............. 211............... 199......... 30 Libbyjane1976........... 283............... 283.............. 250.......... 33 LilMissDiva................ 251.6............ 247.6............ 227.......... 20.6 Liz_hager................. 158............... 151............... 145.......... 6 LisaRT..................... 254............... 248............... 225.......... 23 Long2BThin.............. 192............... 183............... 169.......... 14 Loveislovely............. 191............... 187............... 169.......... 18 Mair....................... 222............... 220............... 199........... 21 Mamacj.................. 316............... 269............... 233........... 36 Melody_Mary_42f..... 277............... 231............... 170........... 49 MsNickelback.......... 172............... 166................ 149........... 17 Nicolerose.............. 365............... 288................ 260........... 28 Nursemelly............. 245............... 203................ 185........... 18 Onehotmama.......... 272............... 237................ 210........... 27 OneHotMomma........ 285.............. 282................ 250............ 32 Pbpuniser............... 212.............. 212................ 182............ 30 Peachwood............. 251............. 251................. 230............ 21 Picklesix................. 197............. 187................. 170............ 17 Sexylips................. 238............. 238................. 199............ 39 Sadie77................. 277............. 250................. 220............ 30 SillyGoose.............. 258............. 238................. 228............ 10 Simone.................. 182............ 176.................. 160............ 16 Ukcatsfan.............. 340............. 340................. 300............ 40 Workingmom........... 214............. 214................. 175............ 39 ZiggyLove.............. 226............. 202................. 180............ 22 Health4life..............279.............222.2................195..... .. .....27.2

Yeah, it was the upper GI preop test I am talking about. It was 2 cups full:crying:. I could probably handle a couple of teaspoons, but a couple of cups!!! Jeez.

I would rather have a fill done every day than do the barium swallow again! The fill, to me, doesn't hurt at all, at least not the ones I have had done so far. The barium swallow was the most disgusting thing ever. I felt like the biggest baby ever. I even had them put the garbage can next to me, because I really thought it was coming back up.