TracyC

Awesome. Congratulations.

If you don't get the answers you need from your doctors office, you might want to contact these people: Lindstrom obesity Advocacy and the email address is walter@obesitylaw.com. My doctors office uses them to fight insurance appeals. Not sure how it would work from an individual standpoint but I did nothing other than sign an authorization form. The doctors office forwarded my medical records to them and they dealt with the insurance company directly. I had a response from them within two weeks. And whenever I had questions, they were quick to respond via email. Good luck with whatever you decide.

That was an awesome article. I needed to read it. I've now printed it and will refer to it often. I know this band is a tool, but find myself wondering occassionally, why I can eat as much as I can? Isn't the band working. Frustrating really. This article is a wake up call for me to be more accountable to the band not the other way around.

173 again.

Congratulations and Happy Birthday.

172, still. Going on six weeks with no change. So unhappy.

Sent the request.

Will eating spicy foods burn more calories?

Name - Tracyc Goal weight for March 30 - 168 Weight on March 1 - 172 Age - 39 Dietary Goal - Follow lap band eating rules Exercise Goal - work through the 30 Day Shred (3 days down already) Personal Goal - Learn how to say no to others and put my health first Date Banded - 11/18/11 Total weight loss - 42 lbs (since meeting my doctor back in July of 2011) Favorite outdoor exercise/activity - Camping but it is too early for that.

I agree, no pulling.

Congratulations. You look so happy in today's picture. Loving the smile. Best of luck and continued success.

Thank you for the great instructions. I was thinking I'd never figure this out.

Jenny Bee, my question to you would be, how are your clothes fitting? Sometimes the scale is not your friend.

I love spicy hot foods. For lunch today I brought in pinwheels (flour tortilla, shredded chicken, jalapenos, tomato, taco seasoning and reduced fat cream cheese) but I can't eat them plain like that. I add Franks red hot to the them. I am sweating more now than after a strenuous workout. I would hope it was doing something for me. I might be burning some calories, just reaching up to wipe the sweat from my brow. LOL

I just heard back from my doctors office. They use the Lindstrom Obesity Advocacy to appeal insurance decisions. The email address is walter@obesitylaw.com. If you don't get the results you are looking for with your doctors office, perhaps an email to this office is worth the time. It won't cost you anything to ask questions. Like I said before, the office is in California so you may have to wait a few hours for a response depending on where you are. It certainly can't hurt. I wish you good luck as you push forward.

I just emailed my doctors office. They use an attorney out of California to appeal insurance decisions. When insurance denied my surgery, the doctors office contacted the attorney in California and he handled the appeal with very little to no effort on my part. I can't put my finger on the contact information for the attorneys office, hence the email to my doctor. I will forward the information to you once I get it. I hope it helps. The attorney is a former WLS patient himself, so he knows what you are dealing with. I hope the information helps. I'll get it to you as soon as I can. Unfortunately, I just sent the request (4:30 on a Friday) so I probably won't have it until Monday. Try to enjoy the weekend.

Tracking everything you put in your mouth helps more than one can imagine. If you are honest while doing it (and seriously, you are doing it for yourself so why not be) you will see patterns and trends. I was amazed to realize that while I was eating healthier foods, it wasn't helping because I didn't have the portions under control. Also try weighing out your portions. I've never been one for weighing my food, but did so last night. I was surprised to see what constituted a portion of extra sharp cheese. To see the reality of it, and to compare that with what I would normally take as 'my' portion was a huge eye opener. Sometimes, even when we make better choices, we over do it with the size of the portion. Tracking will help make you more aware of this potential problem. Don't give up hope and best of luck.

Great job. Congratulations.

Still at 174, I didn't go anywhere this entire month. Come on fill number 3, please do the trick.

To be able to walk into Victoria's Secret and not buy anything. Not because I couldn't fit in their bras/panties, but because I chose not to.

When I was diagnosed with diabetes I had an epiphany. Logically I knew it going to happen, but the doctor actually saying "you are diabetic" really threw me. At 39, I could and would deal with it, but my 5 year old son ate the same garbage I was eating. I was afraid I was sentencing him to a lifetime of dealing with this disease. That made me an unfit mother and I can't and won't accept that. Since meeting my doctor last summer, my entire family eats much healthier than we ever have. My son is more active than he was and I am able to keep up with him. 40 lbs to go, but I feel successful already.

Up two, I hate this yo-yo garbage. Thought I would be getting away from this way of losing weight. Come on restriction, next fill March 7th.

The last month has been a pretty long plateau and I've been getting down on myself about the scale not moving. Today I reminded myself that it isn't always the scale that tells the picture. I did a little shopping and not only was I able to shop in the Misses department, but I bought a dress I would never have touched before. Completely out of my comfort zone, or so I thought. Couldn't wait to get home to try it on for the boyfriend. Big success. Can't wait to wear it. I feel a nice evening out in my future. I find that I enjoy shopping now, trying on clothes and pushing my own boundaries. I have painted toes, that I can see, and feel more feminine than ever before. I don't know if it makes sense, but instead of trying to 'blend in' and not be noticed, I want to say "look at me here I am". Looking forward to the next stage in my journey. I will reach goal that is a promise I've made to myself that I don't plan to break.

My post op diet was the same as yours. 2 days liquid, 2 days mushie then regular consistency. My doctor wouldn't do the first fill until six weeks post op. I thought the time would never pass. But you know what, it did. I tried to eat sensibly and work on how and what I was eating. I did ok, about 12 lbs from surgrey date to first fill. Stay focused, listen to your body, not your head and I'm sure you will come out on top. This is a marathon not a sprint.

When I asked my doctor what a realistic weight goal would be for me, he shrugged his shoulders. I mentioned that the 'standard' said for 5'2" a weight of 125-134 is ideal. He said and I quote "that is crap, they don't know what they are talking about". I laughed but expressed to him that I've put a much needed vacation on the line. We are saving for a fancy vacation that I've promised myself when I reach goal. That being said, I was attempting to make sure my goal was attainable. Sigh, so I'm shooting for a good BMI and will know when I'm happy to look in the mirror that I've made it.