Chrisann

My best friend is a guy and I now think we've been friends for so long because I was fat. Now that I want to make a change in my life, he became negative. However, I told him off, like I stated above, and he has become more supportive although not 100%.

My answer is straight out, I have no willpower, and I have tried every diet in the book. This is my decision and mine alone, if you were a true friend you would support me.

In one of my previous weight loss tries, I was on doctor supervised medifast, back when I was 22, and it was all liquids. I had a rough time the first couple of days, but took the chocolate shakes and blended in strawberries. I know it wasn't approved and all, but it made it go down a little smoother. I lasted all of 6 weeks. Now I have been drinking slim fast 3 times a week for breakfast only, for the past 6 weeks. The Vanilla is pretty good, and if you are a coffee drinker, the cappucino is pretty good too. I dread the liquid diet after the surgery, but I dread being put under for the surgery more.

Well today, the candy, Cookies, cake, treats and stuff all showed up. In the pantry area, near the supply closet. I resisted until 1:00pm, and just had a bite of the cake, and threw the rest out. I did take a handful of black licorice pieces, but I know you can't eat too many of those. So, I figure the fork full is enough, and so far I am not wanting more. The licorice is still on my desk too.

I would not subject myself to the bariatric surgery unless the doctor expressly said I had to do it. That is major surgery with lots of stuff inside you getting cut and resectioned. You drop weight fast, but you don't learn how to change your eating habits. My feeling on the band is that its less invasive and you learn how to eat again making it more successful.

I am the Benefits Administrator at my company. I called the customer service dept, not my rep. The customer service people didn't even answer the questions. I then called the rep, and told him about it. I now get all the answers about the lap band surgery directly from him. Your HR dept should call their direct rep with the insurance company, or at least email that person and BCC you. This is another case of the irresponsible training that insurance companies give their customer service reps. If I wasn't a BA, then I would have taken the answers of the CS people. But I am too much of a driven person who doesn't take Bullshit too lightly. Make the HR people in your company earn their salary.

GNC online has the protein drink on sale too.

I was with my ex for 12 years when we decided to get married. We started dating in college, we were both 19. He got abusive, physically and mentally in year 11, but still we planned the wedding. A month before the wedding, he left his wallet on the dresser open. I went to close it, and out falls this paper with a girl's name, number and date on it. The date was the previous weekend when he was supposed to be working while I was visiting my parents in upstate NY. Needless to say, I didn't mention it to him, just called her. Turns out, he had met her in the Summer, it was now November, and she thought we had broken up. I never saw this. So, in the end, I threw him out and called off the wedding, not because of the abuse, but because he was cheating. It was just 3 weeks before we were supposed to be married.

My answer would have been "fine, how's your weight loss program going? You're looking a little out of shape."

Make sure your medical plan runs on a calendar year. I just found out that mine runs on a plan year, which is July 1 through June 30. Also, if your primary care physician can show you have had many attempts at weight loss, and he/she has documented it over time, that should help. I had my psychological and dietician visit in Sept., my surgical consult early October, and they wanted me to schedule the surgery in November. My work schedule is preventing that, so I scheduled for January. Any money I spent so far out of pocket is carrying over too.

Thats great to know. GNC has the 6 pound can on sale and I didn't want to buy that much and then throw it out if I didn't like it. But since you are the 4th or so person who said they liked it, I will get it. I am a wimp in this dept too, because I tried Nutrisystem and hated the food, same for Jenny Craig.

The company I order the office gifts for our clients from, and handmade chocolate company sent me Dark Chocolate covered Pretzels. I didn't even tell anyone at work. I took them home tonite and ate just 3. Its been so long since I ate candy, that it made me nauseous and gave me a headache. So I rang the doorbell for my sister upstairs and gave them to her. So I guess that is a small victory for me. The people at work have been keeping their candy hidden, and it was nearly 6 weeks for me to have a piece and it made me sick tonite.

Oh, and I am using the next 2 months to wean off my trigger foods and read what everyone here has to say, both pro and con. I find the before and after pics and stories the most inspiring.

They usually work with you. I had my meeting with the doctor in early October, but elected to have the surgery in January because of my work trips planned and of course the parties in December. I didn't want to be on mush during those cause I knew I would want to cheat. Also, my mom's Christmas Eve fish extravagenza is to die for and I wanted one more year of the overindulgence.

My best friend, who is like my plantonic husband is completely non-supportive, and it hurts. Hang in there and ignore him. He rides me for getting rid of the junk food he loves in the house and the fact I have no soda there either. Says I am going to look sick and not attractive when I lose the weight. Amazing, he never said I was attractive in the first place. But still, he is a big man himself, around 6'4" and at least 375. He just doesn't want to understand. That is why I say hang in there and try to ignore him. Keep the liquid diet going when he is around, show him that you are serious. No one should compare past experiences of any other thing to trying to lose weight. Why would you opt for ELECTIVE SURGERY and go through the steps to do it right if you weren't serious now?

You know, I never even thought about my clothes. Was concentrating so much on the lap band and diet, forgot that I have to buy interim clothes for after the surgery. I have lots and lots of work clothes as I wear suits and dress clothes every day except Friday. When do you know when your clothes are too big? After all, I never wore anything tight or form fitting. I know when they are too big, you look worse than you are.

I think the veggies are to give you the chewing feeling and even chewed give a little substance in the stomach. I too have to do a liquid diet 2 weeks before the surgery. People here at work swear by the fruit smoothies as Meal Replacements so I will sub that in between the slimfast, veggies and broth. Heck, I might even do the whole thing sucking on ice pops. I think I will have the most problem at home, work has people that know what I am doing and will watch me.

Congratulations to both of you. Its such an inspiration to see photos and hear the success stories, because when you are contemplating the surgery these things help so much.:whoo:

My Doctor wants me on a liquid diet 2 weeks prior as well. My BMI was 47. I still have a few months to go, so I am trying it out a couple of mornings a week.

I am fat, not because of overload on Snacks, Cookies and soda. I am fat because I have no willpower. Sure, grill the chicken, I'll have 5 or 6 pieces. Oh, rice, give me a salad bowl full, oh, now I want more. Ice Cream, who needs a bowl, I can eat out of the container. It took me 3 days of eating out of an ice cream container to finish a half gallon and eat that instead of dinner. I could eat 3 cups of rice. I could eat on occasion, a can of pringles. But generally, just keep eating more than a regular portion size. Consistently. Every diet failed for me because I couldn't stand measuring stuff. I didn't like the taste of the packaged foods, Nutrisystem and Weight Watchers for example. A co-worker buys a whole bagel and only eats half. The other half is wrapped, I would get it. lunch in the kitchen on one of our clients? I would get 2 or 3 sandwiches. It was there. I saw it, I smelled it, I wanted it.

At my Consultation, I was at 325. BMI of 47. Started to eliminate the trigger foods, and dropped a few pounds. My doctor said the band is ideal for me. I didn't argue. The idea of the RNY makes me want to stay fat. I am 5'8" tall. I have to go on a liquid diet 2 weeks before the surgery though.

I did loads of research, almost a years worth before I took the plunge. I was referred to Dr. Ren by my regular doctor. Then did the research and all roads came back to her. My mom was having some thoughts about the surgery and lives most of the time in Florida. Dr. Ren called her up to talk about the surgery, and I am 40 years old. So far, my experiences with her have been good. Now, just waiting for the surgery.

My family was in on the decision the whole step of the way. My coworkers were told once the surgery date was set. I am eating regularly, but weaning off my trigger foods. I figure by the time I am banded, which is just 3 months away, I won't crave these items. I am going to enjoy the steak, shrimp and lobster over the next few months since it seems that it will be close to a year after the banding before I can eat those again. I started on Slim Fast, 3 mornings a week, and like the vanilla and Cappucino right now. The guys at work swear by Protein smoothies, so I will try those next.

Swedish Fish: Chewy candy shaped like fish, no fat, but mostly sugar, with a good unique taste. My office mates so far, are going to be very helpful to me when the surgery rolls around and have promised no candy or treats near me. I have no willpower, so if I see it, I will eat it.

Hi, everyone. I am scheduled to be banded on January 21, 2008 in NYC by Dr. Christine Ren. I am planning to go back to work on January 28. Is that enough time? I don't know if I can take more time off than that.