wombat712

hotmusicmama - I used Spivak too I love the people there. I wish I was local so I could come to all the meetings. I only travel down for fills at this point :eek: tyme4change - I don't think losing weight would prevent you from getting the surgery - especially if you are self pay. I just had an unrational fear of being turned away if I fell below the 40 bmi. That's certainly a question for your doc though! teresa, vamaillady, linda: WELCOME!! I praise God each time I see a new person on this thread You are all in my prayers as is everyone else on this thread!! God is good and I pray that we show His light in us as we go through this journey!

Mine hasn't lost a pound. He needs to lose at least 30 and I don't really care if he does or not other than for his health. He eats his meals and samples what's left of mine which is getting him in trouble I insist now that I'm taking my leftovers for another meal and that's starting to help.

No medical bills/hospitals cannot take money from you. That's the IRS :Banane34: You can pay each bill $5 a month and they can't do anything about it. My sister had almost $250K in bills after her son was born. She got plenty of phone calls but she just sent each bill $5 when they called. I personally would get SICK of the calls. I haven't heard any risk with gallbladder. The only risks I heard about were just from the surgery/anesthesia and any health issues you may currently have. I was the healthiest fat girl around

welcome Joyross and Tyme4change!!! I know the beginning stages of approvals can be trying. I wish you both the best on getting through all the pre-op work!! Joyross - I was self-pay because any treatment is specifically excluded from my insurance. As far as if anything happens, well, they have to help you no matter what. They just may not pay for it. And, medical bills cannot be considered when evaluating your credit. You just may need to go to the community hospital (I'm not sure what they are called). If God can provide a way, then He can provide the means as well tyme4change - are you trying to go through insurance? Usually it's a BMI of 40 or higher qualifies you or a BMI of 35 + comorbidities. I had not comorbidities but just squeaked by with a BMI of 40. My doc wouldn't do the surgery even with self pay unless you met those guidelines. Sadly - I made sure I didn't lose an ounce before surgery incase he wanted to change his mind. God speed on your journey! Hugs and Prayers, wombat <><

Woooohoooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :clap2::whoo: Congratulations LULU!!

Yep - it's cold here in Dallas!! Mary congratulations!! Where are you going for your surgery? I went down to Houston

I take good Vitamins to help out with nutrition (Bariatric Advantage - Nutritional supplements for Gastric Bypass Bariatric Surgery Patients from Bariatric Advantage) It covers most of my needs plus I take a Calcium chew to get that in as well. It's just the food that's giving me fits. I have a friend at work who's going to help hold me accountable and I will help her. She's not banded but really wants to lose weight and is using me as her motivation. YIKES - no pressure!!

I can't do super low rise. I like mid rise - just below the belly button. They are comfy but they do tend to slide down just a tad. I too have to make sure my shirt is pulled down in the back when I'm sitting or I'll be showing undies.

I paid $13,000 in Houston. Dallas was at least $17,000+ anywhere I checked. There is a doc in Colorado that does it for $9,000 but I don't remember who and if it included after care. I love my Houston doc and the price does include all fills for the first year - as many as I need. I've had 4 so far Good luck to you!

Today's going to be our second work out It might be raining so I was thinking of doing it indoors and jogging in place. Will that work?

I'm eating pretty crappy. I make better choices more often than I did before the band but not as often as I should. I eat mexican food all the time. I've been losing weight until the last two weeks. I need to get my crap together and do it right!!!

allheart - no I don't. I used to live in Baltimore many years ago. It's such a lovely area. I live north of Dallas now

Ashley- look how cute your waist is!!! You're getting an hour glass :eek:

good luck with the bodybugg!! I still want one but haven't committed to spending the money for it :eek:

My port was sore for the longest of all the incisions. I think it's because it's stitched in to the muscle to hold it in place. That does go away but I think it's different for everyone on how long it will take. I would hold on to my port if I was bending in a certain way etc to keep it from pulling and that made me feel better. I was too scared to exercise because I didn't want to mess it up. I was self-pay and I couldn't afford to do it over if something went wrong. I just now started exercising (I know - 6 months late on that one :eek: ) The end is near; you are almost 2 weeks out. Keep the faith and walk when you can! Prayers and hugs, wombat <><

I miss diet coke :eek: I have had only 1 tiny sip and I swished it around forever to flatten it before swallowing. My biggest problem is that I just don't drink enough of anything since I quit drinking diet coke. I barely drink a cup of Water a day; maybe a cup of coffee .. and that's it.

Woohooo Donna!!!!! What a great victory to be noticed and to NOT be invisible anymore!! :eek:

Those are aggressive goals sweethot. Good luck to you!!!! I know sometimes it's easy as pie to lose 2-3 pounds a week. And then your body gets different ideas :eek: I wish you absolutely the best!! Please share your secret/plan to maintain that kind of weight loss!! wombat

Can I change my vote ?! :eek: At the time I voted I had never experienced a PB. Now, welll ... I'm getting good at it :rolleyes I'm doing 2-3 times a week or not at all. Once it starts it kindof keeps happening for a couple of days. I'm getting stuck more often as well. I can only assume it's because I don't chew enough. I thought I was a good chewer and the band had never really slowed me down until now.

Woohooo!!! We did our first workout :eek: My daughter was the first to whine Since we are going to a track it's a little hard to keep up with the time not to mention it gets dark so early now. We had to guess and just pick a distance on the track rather than trying to time it. We went an extra 10 minutes because of it IT FELT GREEAT!!!!!

I have a pair of shorts that I have been hanging on to (for dear life) since I was a size 5 (MANY years ago). Other than that I have nothing from the past. My mother gave me a bunch of 12's which I am just now getting into (woohoo!). My sister gave me a pair of size 10 jeans - that's my next goal. I try them on every so often just to gauge how I'm doing. Once I get to those 10's I'm gonna be mostly naked until I go shopping I'm only buying 5-8 outfits at each size to save money. Some things last longer like shirts so I'm really buying jeans a lot. I plan on spending major bucks when I get to goal. Buy my goal keeps moving - I don't know where I'll end up and when I'll be happy but when I get there I'm going shopping!!!!!!!!!

I would certainly wait till closer to goal. I've never been small chested. I would be devastated if I'd gotten the surgery then shrank them up with weight loss and ended up with an A or a B cup. Nothing wrong with that size for those of you that are there It's just not for me. At my tiniest I was a D cup. And besides, my hubby would NOT be happy

Congratulations to you!!!!! I am up a pound after this week but then I've been fluctuating 1-2 pounds for two weeks. At least I didn't gain 5+ like in the past I was the only one NOT miserable after all of our feasting and activities!

Suzzzie you are looking great!!! I can totally see a difference and 20# is awesome!!

Suzziee!!!! I see a difference Look at your back and your hips!! Look how your arms are closer to your side!! It's there (or not there lol) you just need someone to show you!!