Jenn31MA

Hi again, I actually just finished my 2nd behavioral class yesterday and I saw the NP last Friday as well and all my testing is done i just need to lose the weight. She scheduled me to see her at the end of the month and as long as i am moving down. To help lose some weight i started drinking Slim fast for Breakfast, having a salad for lunch with Protein and special K or a lean cuisine for dinner. Its only been a few days so i haven't seen a change plus i am going to try to only weigh once a week! I am sorry that you've been having to deal with all issues and hopefully the meds will help. As far as Lahey like i said I love it there so far and everyone is really nice. They have the information sessions once a month..i believe the first Monday of the month and this is mandatory. I found the link to their site if you haven't found it yet but it tells you everything you need to know for their program. http://www.lahey.org/Departments_and_Locations/Departments/Medical_and_Surgical_Weight_Loss_Center/Step-By-Step_Guide_to_Surgical_Weight_Loss.aspx As far as the costs go for surgery I am unsure of that as all i cared about was the surgery being covered and i am only responsible for my deductible ($1,000.00). That is weird though that MGH is twice as much as the other two hospitals. Keep me posted as well on which hospital you choose!

I live in Mass with Tufts insurance and I have called a few times to see if the sleeve is covered but they can never find anything or dont know what I am talking about. When i had my first appointment at the hospital the NP stated that she has had some patients with Tufts and have it be covered. My question being does anyone on here have Tufts and have had it approved?? Its a new procedure thats being covered in New England and I guess they have only been approving it for the past year or so. My next appt with the NP is next month and I might ask her for the billing code as the customer reps at Tufts are pretty much useless lol

Hi Trueme, I noticed that your in Boston (i am in Waltham) and i was curious where you are going for your sleeve? I am having mine done most likely in August at Lahey in Burlington. Good luck with your liquid diet and look forward to reading your progress.

You look incredible ! Congrats on the weight loss and winning the makeover

Woohoo Look at you!! I bet the ladies love you ..congrats!

You fluctuate about 5lbs throughout the day so i would only weigh yourself in the morning after you've gone potty. Remember clothes weigh 1 to 2 lbs too depending upon what you're wearing etc..so weighing yourself naked helps. Good luck!

I had my gallbladder out years ago and my attacks were horrendous and lasted days. My pain radiated from my back all the way to the front...and i found that using those heating pads (the beaded ones you can heat up in the microwave) in the front and in the back helped a little. For the most part i just had to deal with it but the heating pads did help me. Its an idea and seemed to be the only thing that helped me fall asleep. Hope you feel better soon!

I am unfamiliar with that term...did you mean laproscopically??

So i started this journey the end of January and had my consult in March. I have since seen the nutritionist twice but i cant seem to lose weight. I feel like i am self sabotaging myself becuase not only havent I lost any weight...ive gained about 4 lbs. I dont have a surgery date yet and i wont until sometime in August but they wont even schedule one until i lose 15 to 18 lbs. Im super disapointed in myself since last summer i weighed about 30lbs less and the bulk of my gaining weight has happened since November. Im scared that I wont get my self together and lose the weight so i can even qualify for the surgery. I am hoping I am not the only one who has felt this way but its hard and as a way to cope i turn to food. I dont eat junk, thats not my problem, but im HORRIBLE with portion control which is why i want this surgery in the first place. I just wanted to share this with someone as I dont really have anyone else that has a weight problem to divulge my fears and dissapointments with. I need a kick in the a** to get the ball rolling but only I can do that. Getting this off my chest helps a little bit and I am glad to have found this forum.

i understand where you are coming from and i am required to do 2 weeks of a liquid diet prior to the surgery so i would figure the bulk of the weight would come off then!! I see the surgeon next month so i will see where i am at that point and discuss that with him (i wont be sleeved until August sometime).

I am the same way! and then it turns into Friday and Sunday. I dont know where my motivation has gone lately...sigh. I am proud that i started working out again this week ..at least its a start!

I saw that online but i wasnt sure if those were the correct codes. Thanks!!

Hi! I havent found anyone yet that really has the same insurance but there is NO way to bipass the 6 month program. You basically just have a 10 minute call with a health coach once a month for 6 months straight and then they issue a completion letter and thats all that Tufts requires you to do really. You need to have your PCP fill out the form you can find on line and you just fax it to Tufts and I received an acceptance letter with a day. You will then have a first call with the health coach to get all your information and they are basically just there to check on your progress and see how your doing. My coach even said that she knows people lie to her and she isnt there ot judge anyone but that to use her knowledge as she is there to help us. I found out about the I Can Change Program when i went to Laheys information session since Lahey is affiliated with Tufts Hospital so a good chunk of their patients have this insurance. My NP said that she is almost positive that they cover the sleeve but everytime i call they have no idea what im talking about but i swear that ive seen that they do as an update done last year on their website. I see her on Friday and she said she'd look into it for me so I can let you know!! Im hoping to have my sleeve done in August but I am currently having issues trying to lose the 10% of the weight i need to before they will do it but i sitll have about 2.5/3 months before then so I hope i get my stuff together! What made you choose MGH? I was going to do Beth Isreal or Lahey and Lahey was just easier getting around and they are Level 1 hospital so i choose them after the great reviews I read about.

I know I start my eating behavioral classes tomorrow..im required to go to four sessions in a row so im hoping maybe these will help. The part im dreading is this coming Friday is my 2nd appt with the NP and i dont wanna see the disapointed face when she weighs me in. I dont see the NUT until 6/28 so i have a while to try to prove to her that i can lose weigh on my own (which i have i just dont know what my issue is right now!). Thank you LDallas for your wishes and the same to you! Hmmm PEvette thats a good thing to know..i think ill stock up on gum! haha whatever works until i get my brain and body working towards the same goal

I was actually thinking about trying this and then maybe chewing gum to help with the fact im not physically eating...i think its the chewing that i like...i hope this works for you!!

haha that was awesome...thats one thing im scared about when i finally have the sleeve is the looks if i decide to tell them.

Upping your calories a bit to like 1000 to 1200 calories would help with your stall too. Our bodies tend to go into a starvation mode when its not getting enough but from what i read (i am not sleeved yet) your doing good getting as much as you are in at 3 weeks! Keep up the great work and i hope to be doing as good as you when i hit that mark!!

You look awesome!! You can really tell in your face and you have a cute little shape! I cant wait till i get my shape back instead of a huge belly. Im not due to be sleeved until July/August but you're a great inspiration.

Well i know you mentioned you need to up your calories, which i would recommend becuase 600 to 700 is too low if you are working out as well (I would try to aim more towards 1000 to 1200). As the previous person stated try to eat foods with more carbs or higher levels of calories. Your motivation to work out the way you do is very inspriational and i wish you luck on finding that balance of food vs working out so that you have the energy! Keep up the great work.

Wow congrats!. I have to agree with everyone else and say you look years younger.

hahaha this is an awesome post. All i can say is that when women lose weight they release a ton of hormones. The fat in our bodies store the hormones and it appears that its working to your advantage haha I mean i honestly wouldnt complain about the extra horniness and embrace it. Who knows maybe it will level out at some point...or not!

Everyones skin reacts differently i need to lose about 115 lbs and im freaking out ill look like a dripping candle. I am only 31 so im hoping that helps and i plan on using firming lotion and toning with exercise and last resort ill utilize plastics lol Good luck!!

As wierd as it sounds and im not sure if you can tolerate it (i havent been sleeved yet) but i also read that having a glass of chocolate milk after a workout is good for your muscles. This would give you the extra couple hundred calories you might need and give Calcium...its a thought! i know some people become lactose intolerant after they are sleeved. heres the link... http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/healthy-eating/superfoods/chocolate-milk-after-workout/

I would try to up your calories to around 1200 a day. Since you are working out you are burning calories and if your body does not get enough it will go into "starvation mode" and you wont lose weight as your body will hold onto all the fat. I read that by upping your calories a few hundred or so will jump start the weight loss again and since your working out you dont have to worry about gaining weight! Good luck and congrats on your weight loss so far.

I decided on Lahey becuase it was easier than going into Boston for all the appts and I liked their program there a lot. I havent been sleeved yet but hope to be end of July or August. I currently live in Waltham but im originally from NH. Im sorry that you were denied the first time and i hope your appeal works!