vingotti33

Hey Vee, first off welcome to the group. I do not carry the type insurance that you have but it I would say it would only help you documenting everything. Chances are if that is what your insurance company wanted they probably would have told you. You just want to make sure that you do everything that will get you approved the first time.

I have this same insurance, I provided those docs. I am not sure if they are required or not. I would think your surgeons insurance specialist will know how to get things through. You could get the weight lose log together for the months provided. I am sure they can submit those. Ask your surgeons insurance specialist, they will know.

My recommendation to you is stay off the scale. Especially if you are weight training or building muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat, pay attention to how you look, feel, and inches. You may want to eliminate the pretzels and replace it with protein. You are only five weeks out so you are doing fine. Only hop on the scale when you go to the doctor. Don't be discouraged, stay focused.

I tell people to stay away from scales. Especially if you are weight training. Like Jenn said muscles weigh more than fat. So they scale may stay the same or creep up. Pay attention to how your clothes fit, how you feel, and how you look. Only hop on to the scale when you go to the doctor.

Eat protein, beef jerky or chicken. That will keep you full. You are allowed to eat, just make sure you primary source of food is good protein. I have found when I do that I feel fuller longer. Eating right is apart of weight loss. If you do not eat enough you will not lose. Everything will be fine, eat every three to four hours. Again making protein the primary source.

First off congratulations. make sure you walk daily as much possible. You will have gas pains but they will subside. Keep in mind that right now it is about healing, not about losing weight. I have read a lot of post of people upset with themselves because they are not dropped major weight. They are only a few weeks out of surgery. So make sure you focus on healing, the weight loss will come. Make sure you are getting you protein in and taking multivitamins. That is important to healing. Get you rest and do not lift anything. Most important, follow the rules your doctor has provided. Congratulations again, and welcome to the journey.

That is awesome! I hope that I can start hitting the gym again this week. I miss it, I think once I start doing that then my success will go through the roof.

Flex spending accounts are ridiculous @ times. Some times they make it extremely difficult to get your medical expenses paid for. Your surgeon's team should be able to assist you and make it happen. If you have a high BMI with other health issues it should be simple to retrieve that money. In fact I am not sure why you have to prove anything to them, it is a medical expense. Either way if you have these issues you should be fine. Try to ge things done ASAP, that way if they keep trying to stall you can get things done before the end of the year.

I got banded back on 12/22. I have not found any difficulty conforming to my band. I do not feel hungry within my next time to eat. I eat usually every three to four hours. I never feel like I am starving.

Ben I am the same height as you and when I started I was heavier than you. I chose to have the lapband done. Bypass will have a person lose the weight faster but the surgery is far more extreme. With the bypass/RNY they cut out half of your stomach and re-route your intestines. This can cause malnutrition. From my research I found that complications are more prone with bypass. Fatality rate is much higher as well. With the band it is work, but the band will assist you and aid you to success. It isn't a quick fix, you will have to be aware of the your food choices. Protein being the most important source. Definitely research your options, keep in mind the band is reversible where as once you do the bypass there is no turning back.

B-52 yeah it sounds like we did the same things. I found myself eating on the run, it was easier to hit the drive thru! The worst part was the food isn't even good. Yet we shovel it down our throats! I love chicken and the sauces I put on my wings. Now I grill chicken breast and put a dab of sauce on it when in the mood for it. As far as fast food I steer clear from it. Like I said it isn't good anyway. I take the time to eat the right things!

Good morning to all, I hope all is well. With my journey I have found out how my nutrition was all jacked up. I have faced the reality on how I got fat. I was eating crazy things, I was probably eating over 6,000 calories a day. I see how a Big Mac was over 2000 calories, through in a supersized fry and coke oooh wee. To think that was one meal. I had a thing for chicken wings and beer. I would crush several wings and chase it down with a couple of brews. Working out wasn't apart of the equation, I hadn't truly worked out since my college days. I have to believe that this journey has saved my life. Eating the way I was would have put me in an early grave.

That is great! I just got my first fill yesterday, I am hoping for the same results.

That is awesome! Keep up the great work!