Skinny_Jill

My doctor is not aggressive and I don't mind. I am losing at a slow rate but it gives my body a chance to adjust to the weight loss. I was only on liquids for 2 days and then soft food for 4 weeks. I didn't lose much weight but I felt good and had energy. My doctor wants me to learn how to eat healthy and make a lifestyle change. I would love to lose faster but I know this is the best way to do it ... for me.

Many insurance companies require a medically supervised weight loss program for 6 months or longer. Your doctor needs to keep good notes and you need to go in once a month to weigh and discuss your progress. You could start that process now. I know you don't have insurance but the price of an office visit each month until then would be worth it. That way you will have that part out of the way once your insurance kicks in. I don't think the surgeon will care if your spouse objects. There are people on these boards that had the surgery without their spouse knowing about it.

I was only on liquids for 2 days and then mushies for 4 weeks. I had no problems.

I am losing inches in my butt and legs which is a good thing. I know my stomach is going down too. I can also see it in my face. I can actually pull my jeans off without unbuttoning them. That is very cool. I know my boobs will shrink but I haven't noticed much yet. :clap2:

Leena, You should be very proud of your weight losss. You are doing great! You accomplishments are inspiring!

Not me. I've always tried to eat as little as possible around others. It didn't always work. Now if anyone asks I say that I had a late breakfast and am not very hungry.

Tell them you are concentrating more on being healthy and weight loss is just an added bonus and that you are trying not to focus on the numbers. Let them know you will tell them about any milestones you hit along the way and thank them for their support.

I did become morbidly obese while drinking Diet Coke. I don't like "real" coke. It did not cause me to become obese, the food did. The thousands of calories I ate each day.

The nurse said my port was deep but she got it. I had to push my rib cage up and that helped. It shouldn't be so deep they can't reach it. If it is your doc messed up. Good luck!

Everybody is different and can tolerate different foods. You just have to chew, chew, chew and see which foods you can tolerate.

We can do it!!! name ............. starting# ..... current#........goal#......togo# Hollyberries.......... 298............ 298.............. 285........ 13 Momto1(Wendy)... 241............ 241.............. 229........ 12 Hungryforchange.. 227............ 227.............. 215........ 12 Cagstorm (Craig).. 360............ 360.............. 345........ 15 Teresajo............. 252............ 212.............. 205........ 7 Skinny_Jill............195.............195...............180..........15

I was on a low carb diet before surgery. I lost 5 pounds and surgery was a breeze.

Hi Wombat, I see that your doc is also Dr. Spivak. Were they helpful when you asked for the bill and the letter? By the way, great weight loss!

The information below was copied from Internal Revenue Service relating to tax deductions for weight loss surgery. I feel that is deductible and plan to deduct as I was self pay. Weight-Loss Program<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay to lose weight if it is a treatment for a specific disease diagnosed by a physician (such as obesity, hypertension, or heart disease). This includes fees you pay for membership in a weight reduction group and attendance at periodic meetings. You cannot include membership dues in a gym, health club, or spa as medical expenses, but you can include separate fees charged there for weight loss activities. <o:p></o:p> You cannot include the cost of diet food or beverages in medical expenses because the diet food and beverages substitute for what is normally consumed to satisfy nutritional needs. You can include the cost of special food in medical expenses only if: <o:p></o:p> 1.The food does not satisfy normal nutritional needs,<o:p></o:p> 2.The food alleviates or treats an illness, and<o:p></o:p> 3.The need for the food is substantiated by a physician.<o:p></o:p> The amount you can include in medical expenses is limited to the amount by which the cost of the special food exceeds the cost of a normal diet. See also Weight-Loss Program under What Expenses Are Not Includible, later. <o:p></o:p> Operations<o:p></o:p> You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay for legal operations that are not for unnecessary cosmetic surgery. See Cosmetic Surgery under What Expenses Are Not Includible, later. <o:p></o:p> Cosmetic Surgery<o:p></o:p> Generally, you cannot include in medical expenses the amount you pay for unnecessary cosmetic surgery. This includes any procedure that is directed at improving the patient's appearance and does not meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease. You generally cannot include in medical expenses the amount you pay for procedures such as face lifts, hair transplants, hair removal (electrolysis), and liposuction. <o:p></o:p> You can include in medical expenses the amount you pay for cosmetic surgery if it is necessary to improve a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or a disfiguring disease.

Every Doctor is different. After fills I am on mushies for 2 days and then back to regular food.

I am very picky and thought I would hate the Protein drinks but I love chocolate unjury. It is great. The unflavored is okay but it I can always tell smell it when I add it and it bothers me. The chocolate Unjury in 8 ounces of milk tastes like chocolate milk. No weird smell or texture. I also like the vanilla. I did mix the unflavored in squash casserole and mashed potatoes and it wasn't too bad but I don't like it in liquids.

M aunt, who is one of the sweetest people I know, said to my mom "Jill has always been pretty but she will really be beautiful now" when she found out about the surgery. I know she was trying to be nice but some people just don't get it.

Back when I weighed around 170 and I was shopping with a friend in the petite section because I am 5'1" a lady stopped and looked at me and said "you know this is the petite section." I looked at her and said "yes, petite means 5'4" and under." So rude! Not a compliment at all but I wanted to share. The best is always "You have such a pretty face."

I know we can do this! I look forward to getting to know all of you during this challenge! name ...... starting# ....... current#.........goal#.......togo# Rainer...........264................264..............248.........16 wombat712....154.8.............154.8............140.........14.8 LessnLess......172................172..............164.........8 metawnny......252................252..............240.........12 Skinny_Jill......221.................195.............180..........15

I was scared that I would blow it and over eat or that I wouldn't be able to eat and would drink my calories. It is much easier than I thought it would be. I have a good attitude and I am being carefull and eating much less than I think I could at this point. I could eat what ever I wanted before my 1st fill and I did at Christmas. I got my first fill on 12/27 and the head hunger was bad but I got over it quickly and now everything is great. I am eating small amounts of food and I am satisfied. Don't get wrong, I still think about all that food that I won't let myself eat but I can handle it. I was so afraid that I wouldn't be able to cope.

I have a 10 cc band and had no fill at surgery. I could eat way too much 3 weeks after surgery. I got my 1st fill one week ago today which was 5 weeks after surgery. I got 3.5cc's. It has made a difference but I think I need more. I had a couple of instances where I didn't chew well and had a pain in my back. I can't chug water but I can drink at a normal pace. I am being very careful so I don't get stuck but I think I could eat just about anything.

If I read your signature I would have seen that you have 6.5 cc's in a 10 cc band. Anyway, I would like to know how restricted you were before this fill. Congrats on the loss! You are doing great!

I bet you are tired but at least you got the fill. How many cc's do have now and what size band do you have? How was your restriction before this fill? Were you able to gulp Water? I got my 1st fill one week ago today. I can't drink water fine but i can't really gulp. If I don't chew well I get a little pain in my back. I haven't had anything get stuck and I am eating much less than before the fill and I stay full longer. I have 3.5 cc's in the small AP band (10 cc's).

Hollyberries, 60lbs! That is fantastic! Congratulations! I am really loving my first fill. I have really learned to eat slower and chew my food. Before my first fill I could eat whatever I wanted and as fast as I did before but now I can't. I eat less than half of what I used to and it takes me 3 times as long to eat it. It doesn't bother me at all though. I thought I would hate that but it hasn't been bad. I can really taste my food now. It is very hard to not drink while I eat but I will learn. I take a few small sips but I don't think it is enough to wash the food through the pouch or I would be hungry sooner. I love my band too. My life is really changing.:biggrin1:

My fill didn't hurt too bad. They did not numb it at all. The needle hurt for a few seconds and then there was no pain. She had to stick me 3 times to find the port. It wasn't bad at all.