TEXASLADY52

imsoglad56 you must work for the State of Texas? That is what I have....I paid $8,000 upfront. I had to pay the co-payment plus 20% on all the pre-tests. I then had to use a COE (center of excellent) doctor and hospital.....which I did.....but the anesthesiologist was not in network and the insurance company would not pay. Had to file a complaint with the Texas Board of Insurance to get them to pay the bill. Insurance company finally came to a settlement with them after I filed, but the bills never stop coming!!!! I had to have a IVC filter put in the day before my surgery at a different hospital.......then 90 days later go back and have it removed. I will be paying on this surgery for the rest of my life!!!

My NUT told me to keep my carbs at 15 per meal. My last doctors visit.....he told me to set down and eat three meals a day.....no snacking and no grazing and I would lose faster.

I didn't exercise at first either...too busy, too tired, too much to do, bad knees...etc....we can find all of the excuses we want. I joined the gym at our local hospital. At first I said there was no way I was going to get in the pool and let anyone see me in a bathing suit. Trainer kept telling me it was the best because of my knees. I took the plunge and got in the pool (guess what ....nobody cares what I look like!).....I walk the pool and stay in it an hour or more! It is open until 9:00 at night and 7 days a week.....low cost also. You can do it....just make up your mind.

I had a hard time at first also. I still cannot stand sweet. Cannot get yogart down. Cannot tolerate sweet drinks. I found I do like Crystal Lite lemonade....it is more tangy and not as sweet. Could not stand Protein drinks at first other than Adkins chocolate Royale.....but it is low in protein. I hated Premier drinks...30 grams of protein....but your taste changes and now I love the strawberry Premier drink (you can get these at a Walmart). My stand by during this time was Soup.....make refried Beans thin like soup and put cheese on top...I still go and get Wendy's Chili because of the convenience and it is high protein. Six grilled nuggets from Chick Fila has 23 grams of protein (I eat these for breakfast). I mix Crystal Light lemonade with GENEPRO and keep a big glass of it at my desk.....I get my protein and Water in at the same time. Most days I get in at least 100-120 grams of protein

I know how you feel!! I think a lot of it for me is two different things....First is the weather.....I am so ready for winter to be over and to see sunshine and flowers. Was snowed in all last weekend.......which if you are not careful....you get bored and want to eat.......Freezing rain today......so dreary!! The second thing is I am going to retire October 1......I am so ready.....so I have lost my passion for my work. Hang in there...you will get through it. You are just going through a lot at this time.

At first it drove me insane reading where some people lost so fast. Then I read about the "Honeymoon Stage" and how the fast weight lost is over. I am a slow loser.....if this is the "Honeymoon Stage".....I hate to see what will happen next. I have had to come to the fact that I am older, bad knees and sit all day behind a desk!!! I get in all of my Protein, Water and Vitamins. I went through a period that my thyroid was like a roller coaster ....had 6 week stalls....lose a little and then stall...even started gaining (this drove me insane because I had failed at so many other diets). Went through three different brands of thyroid medication. Seems to leveled out now and I am dropping weight again....slowly, but I did lose what I had gained and then some. I will probably take more than two years to reach anywhere near my goal....but that is OK....I am getting healthier every day.

Check out the links below......they do medical finance loans: www.americanhealthcarelending.com they do Bariatric lending at a lower interest rate www.carecredit.com

I didn't have the Band but did have a stomach stapling back in the 80's. The staple line did not hold up.....so I had lots of stomach problems over the years and lots of scar tissue. I had my surgery in June and have done great. Just make sure you do your research and use a doctor that has done revisions. I went to a doctor several years back and the first thing he said to me was "I hate revisions...and can't stand to do them".....I knew he was not for me.

I have been hollered at for telling this before...oh well! What got me through is I would take a package of instant potatoes and make it so thin.....it was Soup...add a little cheese. I know there is no Protein, but you are in the healing stage and that should be number one!!! It was so satisfying......I have never liked broth......some say cook chicken and make your own broth and it is better? You can also take refried Beans and add Water to make them soup and add cheese. Just make sure it is real thin and no lumps. I had a terrible time with protein at first also.....Once I hit the soft foods.....I lived off of soups for several months and is still my go to when my tummy is not tolerating very well.

I am like you....i like my Water cold. I have a BUBBA jug.... bought it at Walmart. It is 52 oz. I stop at a convenient store in the morning (free ice) and I sip on it all day. There is always ice in it at the end of the day. I make a big glass when I go to bed (I drink water all night)......there is always ice still in it in the morning. Although I found I drink more water when I drink water straight out of a regular water bottle. I don't know why but I chug it down and I get in more water than sipping. I am very fortunate that my boss's wife had surgery a year before I did...he insisted that I get a refrigerator for my office......and I am glad that I did.

During my liquid pre-op stage I drank a lot of Atkins. It was thick and fillling. I loved the Dark chocolate Royale. I even drinked them after surgery when I was having problems finding a Protein drink that I could tolerate. Now I drink GENEPRO...it is oderless and tasteless. I mix it with Crystal LIght and sip on it all day. I could not stand the taste of Premier after my surgery.....it was too chalky for me. I love them now.....your taste keeps changing.

I went to a birthday party this past week at a pizza establishment. I ate the salad bar and then just ate the topping off of the pizza.

I went through the same thing! Some smells still get to me and my taste buds have really changed! I have always liked hot and spicey foods......now the least bit of black pepper is too much. There is also some foods that I cannot stand the texture of them in my mouth.

I fixed some mashed potatoes while I was on liquids.....the same kind. I fixed them so thin it was like a Soup. It was a wonderful change to broth. It sounds like you might have over ate or ate too fast. Remember to eat slow and small bites. It is best at first to eat with a baby spoon.

I have done the exact same thing. My stalls last up to six weeks and they are one right after another!! At first it drove me insane because I wasn't losing.....my husband would say how could you not no more than your are eating??? I still get discouraged.....I would be lying to say I don't....but I keep doing what I ams suppose to and my body does what it wants to.....hopefully someday it will all hit!!! I have lost quite a few inches when I was losing pounds.....but dang I would like to see those scale plunge!!!

I have had constant stalls from day one! Some last as long as six weeks. Most times I still lose inches. The most important thing you can do is follow your plan....do not compare yourself to everyone else......we are all different. I recently started gaining....got so depressed and upset....thought her I go again and another failled attempt.....went to the doctor and my thyroid was way off. I have had to learn....I am older...I have different health needs....I will get there...it just may be at a slower rate.

Dr. had me to open up the omeprazole first few months. It wasn't the best tasting and the little granuales went everywhere but it worked.

Read your policy or call in and have them to tell you how it reads. It is all based on what your policy says. Mine had me to do a 3 month.

Bob off of Biggest Loser was on one of the Morning Talk shows.....he was asked point blank how many gained their weight back? He told them at least 90% did!!! If I had a dollar for every pound that I lost and then gained back.....I could go ahead and retire!!!!

I buy them from Schwans......I like it because I can fix these when my family is having Pasta. Add a little Ricotta and spaghetti sauce and you have a delicious meal.

I do the same thing. My husband asked me several times yesterday what my problem was??? Why was I so irritable? It seems like everything gets on my nerves. I get so nervous I can't stand it. I get mad over the least little thing. At first I thought it was sugar withdraw.....don't know what it is now???

I had an emergency hysterectomy back in 1993. All of my hair fell out (90 days later). Dr told me when there is a shock to your system car wreck, death, divorce...emergency surgery....etc.....can cause your hair to fall out. He had a big long name for it and it occurs 90 days later. Your hair usually all grows back. Mine had a finer texture and there was a thin spot on top of my head.

BLOSSOM59

I have never mixed it with Water. I have mixed in nearly everything else. You can read and hear a lot of negative but I love it. In the past when I have had surgery my hair fell out so I was expecting it to this time, but my Protein has stayed high and none of my hair has fell out .....in fact I think it is thicker and has more body. It has worked out great for me!!! I drink it with Crystal Light.

I have never mixed it with Water. I have mixed in nearly everything else. You can read and hear a lot of negative but I love it. In the past when I have had surgery my hair fell out so I was expecting it to this time, but my Protein has stayed high and none of my hair has fell out .....in fact I think it is thicker and has more body. It has worked out great for me!!! I drink it with Crystal Light.