nip50

I had salad tonight with dinner. Still love it and don't have a problem with it. What I tend to do is alternate the grains and vegies. I just can't eat meat, vegies, and grains at one meal. Some nights might be meat and vegies, the next night might be stir fry over brown rice or I might make a thick soup with legumes. I like to have hot cereals, like oatmeal or rolled/cracked wheat at breakfast also. I try to get some fruit in as a snack, like grapes or cantaloupe with some nuts or cheese.

I already have to go to the doctor monthly due to taking coumadin so he just documents it everytime I'm there. He also has documented the different perscriptions that I've used for it and that it always comes back. With my doctor doing this, I'll have a full year of documentation by the time next spring comes. If you don't regularly go to the doctor I would wait until just a few months prior to getting approval and see your pcp. You also need to make sure that he documents it. Oh, one other thing my insurance wanted was documentation showing that my weight loss had been stable for at least 3 months. I didn't meet this guideline because I still want to loose another 20 pounds or so.

My insurance will cover it if it is medically necessary. Some of their requirements are documented treatments of rashes for 90 days, 18 months post op, and a bmi under 30. I tried getting it done this summer but I'm only 8 months post op so my pcp will continue documentation of my rashes and I'll try again next spring and have it done next summer. I need it in the summer since I work in a school system.

Pattic- if you're plugged up, try some Miralax. I find that it works quite well. I've tried justs about everything and I find that this is the best for me. I used it for a day or 2 and then I'm fine for 10-14 days and I use it again. This is an ongoing problem for many of us.

Countrygirl welcome to the group! We're glad to have you and congratulations on your upcoming lapband. My best advice for you is to follow the guidelines. If you follow these you will be very successful. You'll be on sugarbusters for the 2-3 weeks prior to your surgery and that's very important. If you can tolerate the sugar busters its a great way to eat once you're banded also. Everyone on this site has been very happy with Dr. B and his staff, they're very supportive. As you think of questions, just ask away, someone here will be happy to answer them. Good luck and I look forward to hearing from you.

I agree with JJ, love the Tostitos spinach dip, especially with chicken.

I'm like you, I find the daily plate very confusing. Just can't seem to get the hang of it. Most people seem to like it best, but you might try fitday.com also.

I agree with the last post, you might not be eating enough and also not chewing thoroughly. Try tracking your calorie intake for a couple of days, fitday.com, thedailyplate.com, etc. You probably need at least 1000 calories a day and make sure you're getting your protein.

AuntLucy's list was great, but one other thing I would check on depends whether you're self-pay or not. I was self-pay and I wanted to know what would happened if the banded slipped or the port flipped, how would I pay for it? My doctor assured me that they would take care of it, that was a big relief to me. Oh, one other thing - are fills included in the surgery cost or how much are they?

Shiny - I agree completely. It's been magical for me also, at times I feel its too good to be true. The lapband has been an answer to many of our prayers.

Well I lost what I gained and one extra pound. That gives me 6 days to loose 3 pounds for my goal. Probably won't happen, I haven't lost that much in weeks and weeks, but I did have a small fill. Can always hope anyway. georgia girl starting weight: 244 current weight: 244 challenge goal weight: 234 pounds to go: 10 Leslie2Lose starting weight: 226 current weight: 224 challenge goal weight: 215 pounds to go: 19 nip50 starting weight: 193 current weight: 188 challenge goal weight: 185 pounds to go: 3 jbrad71629 starting weight: 201 current weight: 201 challenge goal weight: 190 pounds to go: 11

Doobee - Welcome to the group. I probably won't be going to the meeting, it's a little far from Douglas and with the price of gas I'm trying to minimize my travel, but anyway, I just wanted to say Hi. Were you banded in Savannah?

Sida - Sorry about the insurance. I also have BCBS of GA and they're correct. No way. The only way they will pay is if the company you work for paid extra for a waiver to cover weight loss surgery and so far, I haven't heard of any company that has done that. What part of GA are you from? I'm down south in Douglas and was banded in Albany by Dr. Bagnato, self-pay of course. I had part of the money on hand and borrowed some from a relative. Can you do it self-pay? It is so worth it. I don't regret it for a moment.

Hey Green - I live in South Georgia down in Douglas and was banded 8 months ago. It sounds like you're doing pretty good so far. The amount of exercise you're doing is quite impressive. So many of us have problems with that area. The eating properly is much easier for me than the exercise. I try and do the treadmill 4-5 times a week for 30 minutes and that's about it, but I did just get my old bicycle down from the rafters and cleaned up. My DH is off next week so we're going to try and take them out a couple of times next week. I noticed on the georgia site that someone was trying to get some support group meetings put together in the Atlanta area, have you thought about joing them? I don't have that option down here in Douglas, so I rely heavily on this site. Good Luck and keep up the good work.

I had a 10:00 appointment and was out around 10:30. Sorry I missed you, I almost asked if anyone was going in today, next time I will. This was my first time meeting Leslie (who took Elizabeth's place) and I really liked her. I hope she sticks around. It's nice that she's been banded too. She knows what we're going through.

I'm also wondering whether I'll make mine or not. I know it's water, but I'm up 2 pounds. This hasn't been a very good month for me. I did get a fill today so hopefully it'll help, I just hope that it was enough.

In regards to being home - I know what you mean about the different wards. I'm orginally from Oregon and my husband was raised in Utah and now we've been in Georgia for the past 14 years and that's been a struggle. The Church may be the same, but the people sure are not. I said when we moved here it was like moving to a foreign land. I'm in a fairly small town where most people are related to everyone else in one way or another which made it difficult. Anyway, there were two wards in the county and it didn't take long to figure out where we fit in the best. Sometimes it is a real test of faith to make it work, but fortuantely we did. Now for the fills, I get one tomrrow and can't wait. I've only had 2 so far and am definitely ready for one. This month has been a real struggle. Good luck to all of you.

I love my band, it's better than I ever imagined and would recommend it to anyone. I've been overweight for all of my adult life and couldn't seem to manage this on my own.

I can eat just about anything I want, just smaller portions. I do eat steak and about the only things I have much trouble with are white bread and white sticky rice.

Cranberry, I had my lapband performed by Dr. Bagnato in Albany, GA. My only comment about Mexico is you might have a lot of trouble finding someone to do your fills in the Atlanta area. Most of the doctors won't see you if you were banded somewhere else. Check the Georgia link and see what some of them have to say about fills. Good luck.

Too little food can be a problem. There has been times that I've had low carb Protein drinks just to up my calories. If you're not eating enough your metabolism slows way down and your body wants to hold onto every calorie. When I feel that's happening I up my calories for a couple of days and that seems to trick the body into easing up. Some people will regularly have one day a week when they eat more and splurge a little and that will usually prevent that from happening. That also helps them from feeling deprived. Be careful with those 100 calorie packs and puddings, I wouldn't have them everyday. Try and slip in some fresh fruit and/or nuts some days. I was gone last week and managed to maintain my weight, it can be done. I made sure I had healthy Snacks available and watched my portions and I did eat most everything I wanted. Went out to breakfast, chinese food, pizza, etc. In fact I ate out at least one meal everyday I was gone. Good luck on your vacation and have a great time!

This site really is a big help. Most of us don't have support groups to go to and use this instead. I don't know what I would have done without it. It really helps to keep me focused. In regards to your fill, I would go in an talk with them. Some have said that even .1cc has been enough to make a difference and some even say that you can loose some to evaporation (I haven't experienced that yet). When you go in, ask them to check your level. Have them pull out what you have and see where you are, a lot of people find they don't have as much as they think for some reason or another. I myself am going in next week and plan on getting a small fill. They say that just loosing the weight can loosen up the band and I think that's what I'm experiencing.

Sheryl - I don't have my insurance through the school system. I have BCBS of GA and they also have an exclusion for WL surgery, but they will do the pannectomy if it came be proven medically necessary. Your insurance might also, you have to have at least 3 months treatment showing skin rashes and back aches, 15-18 months post op, and 3 months stable weight. I might have gotten it this summer except for the 15-18 months post-op so I'm going to try for it later. That's the one they're really picky on. If you read up on the cosmetic surgery section, you'll see quite a few who have had insurance pay for it.

WOW!!!! You're looking so good.

I don't have the problem with the eatting too much (I really watch that), where I really notice my restriction is when I don't chew thoroughly enough or eat something I shouldn't. That's when I get the sudden reminder that it's there. Hope your hernia repair is healing nicely and that you're feeling better.