MeredithMcFee

Congratulations Crystal. That has to feel so good. Although I haven't done any PO measurements, {waiting for official 4th week next Tuesday to measure} I have definitely noticed inches lost in my clothes. My big problem is from my hips down and around, to my mid thighs. I am losing weight from my face to my waist, then from my mid thighs down so the big problem stands out even more! And of course, I know that will be the last to go or diminish anyway and I'm good with that. I would love to wear one of my smaller size tops but it just accentuates the bottom area too much and I'm just not comfortable with that at this time. Speaking of that, time to get on the treadmill and walk it off. :-)

Yeah back, Elizabeth! Glad you got it and it's all working for you. Give me time to figure out how to sign you up as a friend on there too! I'm a child of the 60's and still learning all this modern technology. No kids in the house to teach me. Other then google, texting, emailing, etc. I take a little longer figuring things out. I did download "myfitnesspal" to my droid as well as lapbandtalk as well. I'm having fun playing with this new "toy" and watching the progress even if its the first day! :-)

Sharilo, thank you so much. After reading your reply, I recalled that you answered this previously on here but didn't realize it until now. My mind is go crazy between the two accounts and also setting them up on my Droid. With perseverance, and support from you and others on here I will get it! Besides, it keeps my mind off of food. LOL

How do you link the account {myfitnesspal & FitBit}? I just got mine yesterday and trying to figure it all out. Unfortunately there's no manual in the box although I can pull it up online, however, that takes time. Also no customer service # on the website to call. I submitted a request online but that can take a few days. I'm veklempt! :-)

You are an inspiration to all here. I am 3 weeks out PO and started working out the week after surgery. I started slow in the treadmill and did a slow mile but now I'm up to 3 miles of walking and jogging on the treadmill 3-4 times a week and 5 min on the elliptical and trying to work up the time on that as well. I also enjoy Leslie Sansone's "Walk away the Pounds" video's that I alternate with the treadmill, etc. I feel I have lost more in inches but haven't measured myself yet PO. I'm waiting for 1 month PO and then measure myself.

Thanks to everyone here saying they liked the FitBit better I researched the two and felt the same way and ran out today and bought it. Went to our nearby Bestbuy but they only had the blue ultra. I rather have the pink one so had to drive a good 25 miles to the closet BestBuy and got the pink one. :-) Charging it up as we speak. Getting familiar with the website. Can't wait to start to use it tomorrow morning. Thank you all for sharing. This is a great support group I must say since recently having my lapband surgery 3 weeks ago. I'm learning so much information for all.

oops, meant to say 2nd PO. Had my surgery 1/27.

I just saw my Dr for 1st PO a few days ago and she said exactly what Love the NewMe said. Not to worry as long as it's not red or or the suture line is not closed.

Being that I'm new to this and 3 weeks out PO, what is the couch to 5K program consist of? I am doing 2 miles on the treadmill, alternating with Leslie Sansone, Walking videos and got up to 3 miles the other day and feeling good.

Wondering if there are those on here who were "blessed" {not} with cellulite on their thighs prior to surgery, if so, after losing weight, { I have to lose 75lbs in all} with exercise, has it diminished to some degree? I realize it can be due to many reasons, age, {I'm 57} hereditary, { my mother and her family} and a host of other things. A neighbor of mine who is 59 lost a good amount of weight within the last year on South Beach and she has been spinning and has said she has lost alot of cellulite due to spinning. Being that I'm just 3 weeks out from surgery, down 15lbs, and seeing inches melting away on me, my cellulite looks worse at this moment. I know, in the big scheme of things, losing the weight will be the best part, but just wondering.

Congrats Nicole, you're in inspiration to the rest of us January Bandsters. I'm down 15lbs in 3 weeks but no I lost more in inches what with my clothes. I'll take both! Keep it going!

I saw this on the news this morning. They actually encourage people over 300+ to come in and get a free triple bypass burger! You would think the photo of the man leaving on a gurney after eating one and going to the hospital would be a wake up call but some people just haven't hit their bottom I guess.

Erin, I had my surgery Jan 27th and feel the same way as you. I feel I can eat normally for the most part but am trying to eat in small increments because I know it's what we need to learn to do. Every so often I feel a restriction from eating something, perhaps I didn't chew it enough but no rhyme or reason. Last night I got Chinese shrimp and had a few which went down with out a problem, then a little later had another one, and either I didn't chew it enough, or I was full and didn't realize it but I had to walk around a bit and walk off the discomfort in my esophagus. Interesting. I'll be interested to hear if anyone else has had the problem we have re: able to eat alot. I have to say, my weight has stayed consistent for the past 3 weeks fluctuating back and forth from a loss of 15-18lbs but I'm also exercising a good 2 miles a day on treadmill and elliptical as well as alternating days with the Leslie Sansone videos. Today I got up to 3 miles in 40 minutes.

Great News here! If I learned anything from my former Employer/Dr, never take "no", "don't", "can't" etc. etc. for an answer. If any of us came back to him re: negative's here, his saying was always, "that's not acceptable". haha. Back to the drawing board we would go and 9 times out of 10, exhausting all avenues, he would get a "yes we can" response. Keep on top of the coordinator to follow through and get the appeal out asap. After all, it's a win-win for you and the surgeon to have the surgery done. Good luck and keep us in the know.

Valentine's day was an odd one for me. I always like to set the table with white plates and red napkins, candles,flowers, etc. and make a nice meal and dessert. Fortunately my DH was scheduled to have arm surgery today and didn't care to have a heavy meal last night or I would have made him something special. We ended up eating in the family room and eating separate meals. He a lean cuisine and me some pureed chicken. It was somewhat anticlimatic for me. However, it was nice to step on the scale this morning and see that the numbers didn't go up but stayed the same. My husband just scheduled his lapband surgery for March 16th so I'm excited about that.

I give you a lot of atta boys for yesterday. Dunkin Donuts is my weakness and I'm not a sugar person perse. On the way home from surgery, not eating for a good 36 hrs, there's a DD on the way home that is on the corner next to a traffic light. Typically, it's a right on red but for some unknown reason, we had to sit and wait for the light to turn green. Not easy sitting there looking at DD and all that it had in there. AND red velvet cakes of any kind, omg, that would've killed me there and I would've broken down for sure. You go girl!

Nicole, I am sooooo a "music" person. I have a playlist just for exercise music and you are correct, as soon as I plug in my Ipod, I am dancing to get into my gym clothes. I've been on the treadmill and elliptical everyday now for a week, powerwalking/jogging for a good 35 min. And the beat goes on........

I'm sorry. It sounds like you exhausted all avenues.

I would ask to speak to a supervisor. I work in medicine and understand how that all goes. Until you hear it from someone higher up, I wouldn't stop there. Good luck.

Elizabeth, how funny is that? Do you think the hospital was in cahoots with the commercial in some way or another to give you the incentive for the future? haha Notice, I'm still online here, haven't gotten on my treadmill but now have Nutrisystem on now. Ugh! I was slow moving today and now I need to get my butt off the chair and get on the treadmill. How are you feeling? I hope you're getting better with the antibiotics.

I'm on the back end of the month, only 2.5 weeks out PO. My 2nd f/u appt with my surgeon will be this Thursday. I was told at that time I would find myself being more hungry but still will have to wait the 5-6 week fill. I'm learning alot from those of you who are a few weeks ahead of me, re: exercise, drinking, and breaking down and having cravings. I am a salty person. Sweets are not my major issue. Speaking of GS cookies, a week after I had my surgery 3 Girl Scouts came ringing my doorbell! ha! I bought the cookies and told them once I pay for them, they can have them! Even though I'm a "salty", that doesn't mean I won't eat the sweets! I also do jogging/power walking on the treadmill and realize it might be a little too much for me as it takes a lot out of me after I shower and ready to get on with the day. I too think I'm burning more calories and not taking in enough calories. I've also been reminded on here that the first month is for healing, not totally losing weight and I guess I just have to be patient and just walk on the treadmill. Doesn't help that while I'm writing this, Brazillian Butt lift and Zumba is on TV! I can't wait until I can really rev up the workout and that's a good thing.

Call the dr's office and ask them for the CPT code {computer procedure code} and ICD.9 code {diagnosis code} used for the lapband surgery. The codes describes the particular procedure and the reason for it. Call your insurance company and ask them if those codes are covered under your program. Ideally, try to find a surgeon who participates in your plan so as not to have to put any or little money out for the surgery. After that, if you schedule with a surgeon, you'll be required to go through pre-op testing with other specialists. Do your homework and find a specialist who also participates with your insurance to keep any additional costs down. Good luck.

Elizabeth, I'm so sorry to hear this. I was actually wondering about you as I haven't seen you on here. I was actually going to check in with you today but got busy cleaning. Do what ever the Dr tells you do too. Do the antibiotics bother you stomach with all that's going on?

Although I'm just 2 weeks out today from having the surgery, I agree with Jean. I am a thyroid Cancer survivor 8 yrs out and was fortunate to find a wonderful and knowledgeable thyroid support group online such as this. I was on there day and night learning all about the disorder and now years' later, I throw an eye in there every so often. I help out if it's something I can relate to, if not, I just keep up with things. There have been times when I've had an issue and I was right back on there looking for an answer or get some grasp of it prior to seeing my doctor. I'm just grateful for all those who have gone on this journey before me who are still here helping us out with tidbits of their journey whether we can use it or not. From what I see, there's so much positive on here then negative. The glass is half full or for me, 3/4 full! Jean, I just ordered your book yesterday and can't wait to get it to learn from your journey.

I too was banded the same day as you and so far, I don't see much negativity. I even opted out of going to the first support group meeting tonight as I feel I get more out of this group, good, bad or indifferent. Basically, I take what I need, if it applies, and leave the rest for someone else to learn from.