Jenilou78

I was actually losing hope too, I had to do a second appeal to the IL board of Insurers and they found BCBSIL against the interest of the patient (me) and they were forced to approve me. Keep fighting. If they keep pushing you back, write a letter, do anything you can if you are sure you need and want this. You will get it done. I was right where you were at the end of Sept only I gained 15 lbs from being so depressed then woke up one day and wrote a 7 page letter full of anger on notebook paper and shoved it in an envelope. I was approved 9 days later. Go get em!

The difference between plain old exercising and surgery is your committment level. You don't do this to fall off the bandwagon and anyone who says this is the easy way has no idea. I'm so glad to have this support system of people here that actually understand and can commiserate with what I go through and don't try to belittle the struggle or make light of the adversity obese people face when trying to do something that comes easy to high percent of the population-be at a healthy weight. Don't let anybody talk you out of your goal - not even yourself, and use the people here as your motivation when you are struggling. What seems such a huge hurdle-you will find at least on other person who has overcome it and can coach you through. I'm at 11 lbs lost and will be at 100 lbs lost by this time next year. Goal 150 lbs. Good luck!

I made some bomb cheesy cauliflower soup, blended of course, sweet potato and ham (strained) soup, I add things to the full liquids for flavor aka cottage cheese with taco sauce, ricotta cheese to soups, fudgsicles have saved my sugar cravings, toamto soup in moderation for salts....this is all of your Dr approves. I do alot of protein shakes though, lost a total of 13 lbs in 2 weeks with fluid retention from surgery and starting my cycle as well! Good luck hope you get lots of ideas.

Awesome story, so inspiring. Thank you for sharing!!!!

700 calories seems extremely low, if your Dr is telling you to follow a 700 cal diet you may want to talk to him about increasing that to maybe 1000-1200, theres a certain amount you need for nutritional value, that may be catching up to you. I also am extremely tired but 9 days post op and went back to a really physical and high-stress job on my feet for 7 hours, probably should be taking it a little easier good luck, hope it passes quickly!

My face is fat. I'm going to own it. It WILL be skinny soon!

http://badges.myfitnesspal.com/badges/show/3126/266/31260266.weight-lost-sm.gif" border="0"> MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie">http://www.myfitnesspal.com">Calorie Counter

Congratulations and good luck!

Congratulations!! Hope your surgery goes smoothly!!!!

I use Chocorite, 150 cal 24 grams of protein and doesn't taste gritty-comes in dif flavors you can add to other things like bananas or peaches in the blender as a meal, yum!

YAY!!!!!!!

I also would like some friends jenilou78...was banded on 10/23 tracking everything even vitamins lmao!

I also have BCBSIL and they gave me a hard time. Something plan-specific. They said I had to do 6 months of a supervised weight loss program after I had already completed all the pre-requisites they asked for. I did an audio appeal which they denied based on the fact that I did not have the surgery yet, so I did a written appeal to the Illinois Board of Insurers and they finallt approved-I also had no advocate so I was all on my own. Congrats on your surgery!!!! I finallt had mine last week and am sooooo happy it was approved before the end of the year!!

I am a wee bit anxious about tomorrow It's my first weight in 7 days post op, I have been on liquids 14 days. I threw out my scale when I started this process so I wouldn't be weighing myself every 5 minutes but now I have no idea where I'm at. I have been eating 1000-1100 cal low low carb high high protein and I want to be excited for my weigh in but after years of dieting and disappointing results I just feel anxious. What if my weight stayed the same when I am doing everything right? Say a little prayer, do a "drop the weight" dance, wish on star-here's hoping for positive (negative really) results tomorrow

My biggest help has been myfitnesspal.com where I track everything I eat every day and how long I excersize for. I am just starting the journey but it can't hurt to go back to the basics and maybe see the nutritionist. Getting all the crap out of my house also helped too. My daughter has gotten used to grapes or apples with peanut butter as her bestime snack! Good luck!!!!