Dragonwillow

Oh I so hope I won't ever be too tight to drink my water reguarly....working out and sipping water just doesn't work well. I'm a bit nervous about tomorrow now..but excited too...really want to get the restriction started.

Karah had her 6 year check up today. Everything was good except her growth. I have to take her back in 6 months. If she drops anymore off the curve then they will start investigating more. She is like in the 5% for height and like 15% for weight. But the promblem is that she has dropped, from 15% height to that. Anyone know any way to stretch a kid? The doctor asked what and how many times a day she eats...so going to keep track of her calories for a week to see. Though just figuring it into my head she eats enough calories. As much as me if not more.

So was this your first fill? Just wondering if there is any hope of getting restriction from the fill tomorrow. Planning on doing the liquid thing for two days and then soft foods. Chucky Cheese said I can't bring any food in...isn't that stupid...since I'll be paying like over 200 bucks to them anyway. I may take a yogurt in anyway...just put it in my bags. Is the food police going to arrest me?

If we are going by cuteness Dr. B is cuter than Dr. V...Though I do tend to like tall men. LOL I think I have a crush on Karah's assistant teacher from Germany. Course Kristen once had a male assistant ...also from Germany that was pretty cute too. Of course I'm OLD to these guys, they are college age...not to mention I'm married...lol.

LOL the kids have figured out I'm an addict...lol. They ask all the time now...don't ya want to stop for a parfiet....lol. Of course they get an ice cream. It cost 2.17 if you get a parfiet and an unsweet tea...lol, see addict.

I am very happy with Dr. B...don't get me wrong...just frustrated at the non standard payment thing. I really like the nutritional program that you get with Dr. B. I don't think I would have lost what I have without the monthly one on ones with the nutritionist. I liked Dr. V too, was very disappointed that he changed the practice when he did. Both are good doctors...with somewhat different styles.

Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better. Don't worry too much about the exercise until you are better. You don't want to have a relapse. Paul introduced me to the mac today...well he did a long time ago, but I hadn't used it much. I said something about wanting to do a web page and or blog for my pictures and ramblings. So he showed me how. So now I have a webspace! Check it out when you guys have time. I think it looks pretty neat. Oh and I got the girls pictures made today in their asian shirts. They turned out great...so spent too much money on more pictures. I will get them scanned in soon so I can share them.

You have EXCELLENT insurance. A few of us have United Health care and they have been very good about approving the lap band and covering fills. Good luck and welcome to NC group. What doctor are you going through?

Wow I'm so cheap, will have to continue to buy my workout gear at target. Stuff looks nice though...just can't afford paying 54 for a pair of pants to work out in.

Oh Angie, sorry to hear everyone is sick. Hope you all get to feeling better. I think we are good for awhile here, everyone finally seems to be better. Hubby is the only one that never got it. Take it easy and get plenty of rest if you can. need to get your fill before your fill...thats next friday isn't it?

I'm addicted to fruit parfiets from mcdonalds. I really need to check out what the calories and fat are on one of those.....I've been having them for Breakfast on days I work. It's gotta be better than the other choices. Okay looked it up 160 calories, 2 grams of fat, 31 carbs (wow thats alot of carbs isn't it?) 1 gram Fiber, and 4 grams of protien. Not too terrible for a Meal Replacement? It is 5 oz so technically I shouldn't be able to eat it all but I can.

Yep I told them.....I said I had a friend, same insurance and hasn't had to play any to dr. b when filled and told them I had another friend that they got preapproval for and she just had to pay the copay. They looked at me like I was crazy. I got a bit frustrated with it...and was irratated and other than pay it I didn't see an option. Karen, yeah I knew about the upfront cost with going with dr. Bauman, though I thought I was only responsible for the hospital part upfront. Dr. V's office charged me an intial fee just to review my paperwork. I asked for that back when I felt forced to switch doctors and I've never recieved it back. I felt it should have been refunded because I wasn't given much choice, they initially didn't tell me why Dr. V was leaving....only that he was and they couldn't do my surgery that his patients were being referred elsewhere. If I had of went with Dr. B originally I wouldn't have had to pay that fee. At least the 200 paid to Dr. B and the 198. to the hostpital I will get back from insurance. Overall it sounds like the Dr. you picked has the least amount of upfront costs.

Speaking of Girl scout cookies........mine come Thursday. If anyone wants any...or knows anyone that wants any please let me know. I ordered way to many because I was in my brochotis induced insanty when I the leader called for my daughters sales. I now hwve 11 CASES of cookies coming that come to find out hubby didn't sell any at work, and daughter only sold a few at school. Not to mention the fact that I'm going to be doing cookie booths for the next month! urgh.

Picture people....they have a coupon on their site for a free 8x10 or free 10x13 and free sitting fee. Also if you joing their club which is like 30-40 a year. You get 3 10 off coupons and 3 free sheets.

Well apparently there are different rules for everyone. :eek: Because I paid 200 dollars to Dr. Baumans office today. Then when I called tp preregister at the hostpital I was told I'd need to bring the 198 on friday. It sucks, really really sucks. Especially when I KNOW my insurance covers it. And today, they couldn't even tell me how long before they would be refunding the money. It's crazy. I called hubby, because I got a bit frustrated in the office, and I think the girls saw that. But I called hubby and he says not to worry about it.

You know one of my goals is to get certified as a personal trainer and work with patients that have had major weight issues as I have. Over the years getting advice from the personal trainers and other gym"perts" at the gym has been hard, since I never felt they related to what its like to do a pilates class with a big roll of fat in the way making some of the move seem like they are impossible. Or to do a cycling class at 260lbs. Heck it has taken me more than 2 years to dare walk over to the free weights rather than stay where I belong on the machines (where i tell myself the beautiful people only go in my head). I do know this, I have been obese for a very long time, struggling with my weight since I was 12 years old. I am likely to turn into one wild chick clothing wise when I finally get near goal! LOL My teenager is afraid I'm going to start stealing her clothes......I might!

You know...in some ways the band is harder. Don't gasp yet, hear me out. Everyone is watching for you to drop massive amounts of weight...or at least it seems that way. And guess what, the foods that are EASIST to eat are the ones we aren't suppouse to eat. The foods that we have to chew and chew, the solid protiens that if not cooked just right tend to get stuck are the ones we are suppouse to eat. The band makes no difference when I eat crap like M & M's, chocolate, ice cream...ya get the point. I don't get stuck on the non diet foods. I get stuck on the things like beef (hamburger YUCK), dry chicken, shrimp. Now the lapband can make dieting easier...but as far as I'm concerned, I'm still dieting...I just have less choices physically.

Diane you rock, not only are you being so strong yourself through this but you are taking the time to make sure everyone else doesn't get too panicd about their bands. I'm so proud that you are one of my Nc lapband buddies. :clap2:

I had an interesting conversation with the fitness director at the gym I work at today. I work out quite a bit, more than the average joe for sure. I'm at the gym 5 days a week at least, sometimes more. Last week I did 7.5 hours of t-shirt soaking cardio, and 3 hours of weight training. I think my average calorie intake a day last week was around 1300 calories. I gained 2lbs....actually I gained 6lbs, but 4lbs came off over the weekend so I'm guessing it was Water weight. Anyway I was talking to the fitness director and telling her this. She said, well maybe you aren't eating enough. Okay, maybe. I really want to get my metabolic rate checked soon. Get this...she eats around 1800-2000 calories a day, and runs 30 minutes 3-4 times a week. She didn't mention if she did any weight training. So lets review, she eats 500-700 calories MORE a day than me, and did 2 hours of cardio versis my 7.5. She weighs maybe 110 soaking wet? The lapband is not the easy way out, because as you can see above I am working it hard. I try to stick mainly to protiens, I don't drink any calories except the occasional protien shake. Overall I'm eating healthier than I have ever eaten in my entire life. I'm a bit on the frustrated side right now because of the weight gain. I had someone say something today that implied that this was the easy way and it kinda of bugged me...mainly because I don't think this is the EASY way.

Oh I posted all three poses on the picture thread. The girls are actually going back wed to get their pictures made in their Asian shirts that I bought them in San Fran.

Hi Courtney...welcome back. I was banded about 3 weeks after you and I haven't had a fill yet. I'm getting my first on Friday. Actually going up to the office tomorrow to pay all the fees. I'm really confused on it. Because I know my insurance pays for fills. I was told the hosptial required us to pay their fee and then we would get it back from insurance. Did you have to do this the first time? I was also told on the paper work they sent me that I would have to pay Dr. Baumans full fee...instead of just the copay. I'm going tomorrow prepared to pay out $400. but I'm really hoping to not pay that much. I too have United health care..choice plan through Wachovia. I really hope you can join us on the 18th. I'm suppouse to be selling Girl Scout Cookies that day...but I'm really hoping that someone else (adult) can supervise for a couple of hours till i get there.

We just got pictures made this last weekend....for once I don't hate them simply because I'm in them. I guess that's a NSV?!?!?! Kristen my oldest in the back, Me and hubby Paul, and my youngest Karah Me and hubby, I think the first professional pictures together since our wedding? Another of hubby and I, I love that I look so slim hidding behind hubby LOL...the fatest parts are hidden.

That's great Diane. Are you with United Health Care too? I was hoping there wouldn't be any promblem with insurance. Thank Goodness. I think you should post the story. What happen to you is apparently VERY rare, but you have been a trooper.

We had family pictures made this weekend. I think they turned out good.

Hmm...my first tattoo (only so far) ended up being much bigger than I had originally planned. I was a little worried about the pain. It took about 2 - 2 1/2 hours of tattooing. It wasn't bad at all. You know how when you fall and scrap a knee or the palm of your hand. It stings but it doesn't throb. It kinda of burns but it's not unbearable. That's how I thought it felt. Everyonce in a while he would get to a sensitive area (usually closer to the bone) and it was a bit more intense. To be honest, the pain of getting the tattoo is nothing to how it hurts the next day. . But then its all better after that. When I got my tattoo the high from it was better than any drug. I was practically bouncing off the walls with endorphins.