TexasBecky

What a creative bunch we are! Crazy Ates is perfect. Judi, I hope you can figure out how to make us a banner. I'll proudly display it. I thought I would be banded in July too but August is looking like a great month with a great group. I'm all for starting an exercise challenge too. It really does seem to be very motivating for many of the successful bandsters. I have my vacation behind me (I'll remember it as the last fat vacation) and am really starting to get excited now. August 2nd seemed like so far off when I first heard that was my day, but now it is really closing in. My pre-op diet starts next week on July 19.

Sharon2U, maybe your doctor's office is very confident that your particular insurance will approve the band. My pre-op appointment and nutrition class weren't scheduled until after I was approved and my surgery date was set. You might try posting this question on the main forum or the insurance thread to get responses from more experienced people. Good luck

Thanks for letting me put my two cents worth in. You guys are really motivating me. I'm going to go for a walk in the morning and get this ball rolling. It certainly seems that the exercisers are getting great results. I have always enjoyed exercising in the past, but it was just part of some weight loss scheme I was on. When I stopped the diet I also stopped the exercise. Now I want to get back into exercising for the mental benefits as much as the physical and make it a permanent part of my life. Does it just blow your mind that you are now runners? Isn't that just for thin, healthy, energetic, motivated, and disciplined people? Oh yeah, you guys are all of those things! Becky

Or the "Crazy Eights"! Congrats to you and your friend. It would be great to have a friend to go through this with. That's why I'm on this forum. I need all the support and encouragement I can get. Good luck to both of you.

Julie, That is probably why there is such a problem with addiction transfer after people have lost large amounts of weight. When dieting, losing, gaining, etc., is no longer the focus and eating is no longer an outlet for emotions, people start looking for something else that feels good or takes their mind off their problems. I think that those of you who are enjoying running and other forms of exercise are on the right track though. Do you find that exercising does a lot for you mentally as well as physically? I know you've said before that you waited a while to start running. Did you start walking first? I'm going a little off topic now but, how did you get into the exercise groove after banding?

:notagreeI've been lurking around this forum because it is just so great. I'll be banded August 2, but like so many, I have lost lots of weight many times, but just couldn't keep it off. I think it is a good idea to start working on the keeping it off part now because that is a lot of head work that I've never been able to do. I think when you spend years in a self loathing mode it is a huge adjustment to start liking yourself just because you lost weight. A therapist told me once that I have to find new things to do with all the mental energy I spend hating myself everyday for being fat. I see that you guys are having some of the same issues I always have had when I got close to goal weight (never made it t goal). Maybe it is possible to start liking myself for reasons other than outward appearances. Maybe I could treat myself with the same respect and compassion that I show to others. What a novel idea.

Don't get discouraged! 30 lbs in 7 weeks is a great loss. I have no experience (will be banded August 2), but I've been reading this forum a lot and maybe you need a fill. I'm sure others with experience will respond with good advice. Just don't get discouraged. You are on the path and off to a good start. Much success in the future, Becky

My surgeon told me that across the board, the likelihood of some kind of complication with a lapband is 20%. Yes, that is pretty high, but he is talking about over the life of the band people who have some type of minor or major complication. I think serious complications are much more rare. Has anyone else heard other stats?

I have been pleasantly surprised to see that not all the folks on this forum are very young. I've read lots of success stories from people over 50. There is a thread called "How is the lapband for people over 50?" under general topics. I wish I knew how to make a link to it. Does anyone know how to do that? Anyway, look for it out. I'm sure you'll find lots of encouragement there. Becky

PigsRFlying, My pre op nutrition appointment is July 17 and that is when I'm going to start the pre op diet. They haven't said anything about starting now, so I'm still over-indulging almost every day. I know I'd be better off if I started now, but I wouldn't be getting the band if I could do it on my own. Two weeks before surgery is going to be hard enough. Have you other August bandsters started your pre op diets?

Congrats! That is such great news for you. I've been following your posts and I know this is a big deal. Did you win an appeal or change insurance? Will you be getting the same kind of band you had before? I'm getting banded for the first time on August 2nd and can't wait.

We are constantly going to have to deal with temptations - some by deliberate saboteurs and some that just come our way with no ill intent. I know it is frustrating, but probably better to deal with your own feelings and reactions than making an issue with your future sister-in-law. I don't think it is a good idea to put your fiance in the middle between you and his sister. Knowledge is power. Now that you know she is going to try and sabotage you you will be prepared to resist her evil schemes! Good luck.

Julie, this is a great topic. Whenever I've lost weight in the past, self image has been a real problem, always leading to regaining the weight. I won't even be banded until Augut 2, but I'll be looking for this thread when I start passing for thin.

Hi August buddies. Is everyone getting as anxious as I am? Most days now fear is my main emotion. It isn't fear of the surgery as much as it is fear of the whole lifestyle change and possibly failing at weight loss again. One minute I'm very optimistic and the next I'm afraid this won't work for me. My weight has been up and down my whole adult life and it is hard for me to imagine something that is finally going to work for good. Is anyone else feeling this way? Am I already sabatoging myself with my thinking?

Since I got my surgery date I've been eating more than ever. Besides the nerves about the surgery I'm also feeling like I better eat now while I still can. But I've been stuffing my face constantly. If I keep this up I'll gain another 10 pounds before I get to my pre-op diet. Has anybody else gone nuts eating before their surgery? Any tips on how to stop?

Hi Bummed. I'm in the Dallas area too. Dr. Mark Watson is doing my surgery on Aug 2 at UT Southwestern. I'll go for the nutrition class on July 17. I'm like you, really excited and just ready to get this done and stop the yo-yoing up and down. Good luck to you. Is your pre op diet all liquid? Mine is going to be high protein, low fat, no carb I think.

My insurance (BCBS of CA) required the psych eval but had no specific requirements about who did it or what was necessary - just a psych eval for bariatric surgery. I asked my doctor's office for a referral and they recommended a PhD who would do a complete assessment (4 hours of testing and evaluation) for $500. I was ready to sign up but it was going to take a month to get an appointment and then two weeks for the results. I made a few phone calls and found a Licensed Professional Counselor who was experienced with the psych evals for bariatric surgery (one hour eval for $100) and she could get me in the next day. I checked with my insurance and they said the LPC was fine. She got the report in within two days and I was approved a week later. If I'd gone to the PhD I'd still be waiting and I'd be out an extra $400. The moral is, if your insurance and your doc don't require the full blown "assessment" don't put yourself through it.

Karendepaola, My psych eval seemed to be mostly about whether I had realistic expectations, i.e. the band is not magic but a tool that requires much effort on my part, etc. Also wanted to make sure I had no history of anorexia/bulemia. It took an hour and was really very conversational (making sure I'm not psychotic or delusional). I'm sure you will do great. Let us know how it goes. Good luck

Thanks for all the advice. I'm trying to do better - at least not gain between now and my preop diet that will start on 7/19. Glad to get the caffeine info now too. Anything that causes such god-awful headaches when you come off it can't be a good thing. Hopefully when I get some of this weight off I'll have more energy without the caffeine. Sounds like coming off while on pain meds is a good strategy.

I thought I was going to be a member of the July group, but got my date today and it is August 2nd! Yippee! I am so excited and ready to start on this journey. Alexandra, I've been reading your posts for a couple of months now and I'm so happy to hear that things are going to work out for you to get rebanded. Did you win an appeal or did you decide to self pay? Anyway, I'm glad to be in the August group with you. I know you have alot of experience and are a wonderful source of information and support.

I knew I was going to have to give up soda, but coffee too? Why no caffeine?

I'm sorry you are feeling so bad about all of this. I understand how you feel. Unfortunately, many people don't understand how sensitive the whole weight issue is for us. I also know from experience that it is difficult to ask someone to lie for you. It is one thing to tell a lie yourself but another thing to expect someone else to lie for you. My husband just will not do it. He is willing not to volunteer information but if he has to lie he just can't do it. Try not to let this get you off of the focus on you and your weight loss journey. The only person you can control is you. Your husband and inlaws may not support you the way you would like, but the most important thing right now is for you to focus on you and taking care of yourself. When you have lost all the weight this will seem like a minor bump in the road. Good luck.

Wow! I just posted about the same problem. I am scheduled for July 26 and I can't stop eating - worse than my usual bad eating habits. I don't have any answers but I know how you feel and hopefully someone will give us some good advice. Good luck.

I'm a new member from Texas too! I just got the word today that my insurance has approved me for the lap band. Yeah for Blue Shield of California! It has been a very simple, straight forward, and quick process, for which I am sooooo grateful. My doctor is Mark Watson at UTSW. Hope to be banded in about 6 weeks!