Liz1531

I keep hearing everyone saying that lap band is only a tool and it's up to us to lose the weight. Honestly, can you lose part of the weight by just getting the band? I'm am thinking once I'm banded I will jump on the "It's just a tool" band wagon and truely understand what you all mean. If it cuts down portion size and helps us to feel full longer isn't that the "magic" we're looking for? As well as not gaining weight back. My problem is sweets. I know that I can easily eat around the band, but won't it help me by keeping me from eating 10 donuts instead of a normal persons one? I am scheduled for the 31st. Based on everything I've been reading it seems that I will not lose a thing and maybe this is just another (VERY EXPENSIVE) diet scheme. Any advice is welcome. Also, I need to lose 10 pounds by my surgery date and can't stop eating everything in sight. I am majorlly suffering from last meal syndrome. Please tell me I'm not alone?? :help:

Thank you everyone! I really appreciate the response I've gotten on this topic. The way "the tool" is spoken about in some posts just makes me think I am destined to fail. I can't wait to be part of the "Bandster" club!

I need to lose 10 lb by surgery date. What did ya'll do to lose weight preop?

It's so obvious what she did to lose weight. I feel bad for her in that she didn't want the world to know because she was ashamed and by lying about it, everyone is talking about her anyhow. I can totally understand her reasoning though. No one in my family understands including my husband. They all think I'm just too lazy to do things the old fashioned way. I don't care to have everyone look down on me so I am also not telling anyone and when they ask what I did I will tell them I am on the "I don't eat diet". That's kind of the truth, right?

I got 100% financing thru a lender that my doctor works with. They have a link on the website. My credit isn't great either. It's a low 600. Unfortunately the interest rate is a bit higher because it is a no colateral loan. My payments are $235 month.

Hey I think we were seperated at birth. I don't know what moderation is when it comes to sweets. I can live without bread and pasta and eat healthy, but when it comes to sweets I am so out of control. It's all or nothing. I need to mlose 10 pounds to get banded on 08/31 so count me in!

I used to work in a hospital in billing customer service. The advice I'd always give is to pay first and disput later. This is best if you're worried about your credit. I would certainly report the doctor even if you don't have proof. An investigation would probably be just the fire under his @** to sing a different tune.

I was only asked to lose 10 pounds not be on a preop diet. However, my doc did have a link to Optifast which I purchased a 1 week preop diet of 2 shakes in the morning and one prepackaged meal for dinner. It's only 500 calories though and I'm a nursing mommy. I am going to try and throw in a few healthy snacks with it. I really should eat AT LEAST 1000 calories per day to keep my milk up.

Can a milk shake count as part of a liquid diet?

I was just wondering not because of the lap band... but because I'm having a prodedure tomorrow in which I was told to fast for a day and have only liquids (just nothing red). I have NEVER in my life fasted so I was sooo hungry today I had two milkshakes. I hope this doesn't mess up my test!

My insurance (Kaiser) won't cover lap band at all. They will cover gastric bypass w/ only a $250 copay but will not even cover a little bit of the lap band which is a much cheaper surgery. My BMI is 39 and I have no other problems so I am instantly not approved. They recommended I go to their weight loss meetings (Medifast) which will cost me over $100 month in weight loss shakes. Kaiser won't pay any part of the Medifast program either. Something wrong with this picture? $30,000 for Gastric Bypass or a few hundred for Medifast or $8500 for Lap Band... hmmm!

Thanks for that advice! I know I can do it if I have to....

My doc said I have three choices. 1. Three slim fasts a day 2. Two slim fasts and one lean cuisine 3. Atkins Do this preop to lose 5% of body weight. For me that's 10 pounds

Finally.... someone like me. It keeps running thru my head that I must lose 5% by the end of next month and it's not coming. Instead of diet I want to binge my way to the operating table. This is so hard. I keep hearing people go on a liquid diet... oh no! I couldn't make it 1 day on liquid. Unless milk shakes count?

I love the tampon comparision! lol

Thanks for the advice. I am thinking when I say something to my nosy coworkers about being on a diet or whatever they watch EVERYTHING. I am just going to order something. Push the food around pretending to eat and then eat the soup. I'll be no one will notice. If all else fails.... my tummy will suddenly hurt and that will be my explanation. Thanks everyone... I was so stressing about that.

P.S. All set for 08/31 w/ Dr. Otriz and I think I will be traveling alone. Any other patients of his out there?

OMG I can't believe how excited most people are. I am scared to death. I am such a baby when it comes to pain. I did have a baby recently so hopefully it won't be as painful as that. I guess I am also scared that it won't work, that I won't be diciplined enough and I will be paying this giant bill for the next five years for nothing. My husband and family are all pretty nay saying about the whole thing. Please let it help me or my hubby will just kill me...lol

I am considering WLS and was wondering if any bingers have had trouble not binging after WLS?

08/31 Dr. Ortiz

My DH and other family members don't seem to understand the struggle and problems I've had all my life. I told my DH today I am getting the surgery and he basically said I'm just too lazy to do it the right way. I have worked so hard at diet and excercise to lose in the past and gained it ALL back with a baby. I can't begin to say how depressing this is. I know I will always yo-yo without an intervention. Anyone else have this problem with family? At this point I just want to drive myself to the appointment :cryand not even tell anyone....

Kaiser here only pays for the Gastric Bypass. I just checked last week. They are taking names of patients interested in lap band as they are working on adding the service. However, the doctor in charge of this new program called me and already told me I don't qualify with a BMI under 40 or maybe it was 50??? My BMI is 39. Also, I don't meet the criteria for the bypass as I am a low BMI patient w/ no medical problems. It's a real bummer that if I just gain 50 pounds I can get the Bypass w/ a $250 copay but without the extra weight they won't do anything for me.

I am in San Diego and have Kaiser. I am not 100% happy w/ them. They pay for bypass but not lap band. My copay for having a baby is only $250

I can't say why I am fat. Is it because my dad HATES fat people and I ALWAYS knew that? Is it because he'd make me excercise at a young age and make me throw away candy if he caught me eating it? Is it because my parents divorced? I can't say. I know how I got here though. I have a compulsion that I have never told anyone about. I can remember being around 12 or so and hiding with a can of frosting. I can remember trying to sneak junk food in the buggy and then taking it out of the bag and hiding it before my mom every noticed. I feel like a crack addict when on a binge going fast and quietly before anyone notices. Eating (almost always sugar) until I get my "fix". Afterwards, I feel out of control and disgusted. No one knows about this bad habit of mine. It's disgusting and I don't know how to stop. I did lose a LOT of weight on Atkins and looked awesome. Then I got married and pregnant and have gained all back and then some. My husband never knew me as overweight and is not understanding of why I want to be banded. He thinks this is a new problem brought on by pregnancy. I can't bring myself to tell him about "the binging".

Too funny... that's exactly what I told him!!!!