ReneBean

WaHoo!! Hooray for approval! Congrats on being approved, finally! We are all thinking good thoughts for an easy surgery and a speedy approval. Check in after the surgery and let us know how you are doing! Hugs!

Is it your company that excludes the surgery? Or your insurance company? Or have you just not documented Medical Necessity of the surgery well enough? I would call the insurance company first - to see whether they can shed any light on the details of the declination. If the insurance company doesn't cover the surgery for ANYONE - you probably won't be able to do much. Likewise if your company has an exclusion in their contract with the insurance company - it will take something close to an act of God to change that. In addition to talking to your HR dept - you should contact the insurance company to get clarification on this point. Who, exactly, is saying this surgery is for Physical Appearance - and why. Maybe you can send them more documentation on the severity of your co-morbidities. Good Luck!

Yeah - they don't like you to be weakened by illness when they do surgery on you. Take whatever remedy you can to get over the cold before the surgery date.

Hey - I didn't even get to wear a pad... They just put a sterile cloth under me on the table. EEEEEWE. Of course, I was passed out at the time - so I didn't care. After I woke up - I got to put my own duds back on - which was fine. The folks at the surgery center made me very comfortable about the whole thing and I didn't feel self conscious - well not much, anyway. I am sure that you will be just fine, Auntie F or no. Hugs!

Hi Kimberly I have my one yr Bandiversary next week - and I am down only 36 pounds since the actual surgery + the 16 pre-op pounds. (52) I am discouraged - but not with the band... I am discouraged with myself because I have not really be counting calories or exercising like I know I should. There are good things that have come from the slowness of my loss: 1) I have had only 1 PB so far, 2) I have all my hair, 3) my skin isn't as baggy as I was worried it would be. 4) It takes a long time to recognize what "too much food" really means - but I am learning. 5) I have had lots of time for mental adjustment to being smaller - and I AM smaller, despite the "small" amount lost. My doctor is NOT going to be pleased when I see him next week - but I really don't care. I gained weight over the span of a lifetime. I don't think it's very realistic to expect to lose it all in the first year. Besides, having eaten mostly what I want and not having exercised much, my life has been very normal - no starvation, no deprivation. And - when I hit a plateau - there is always some behavior I can improve to break through it. I always assumed it would take me three years to get to goal. I figure I am pretty much "on plan" for that. I certainly will need every minute of the 3 yrs to get my "eating less" habit in place. Don't be discouraged. As always, it is up to you to do what must be done - but the band will help you do it - and help you maintain what you lose. Gastric surgery - $15,000 Gym membership - $300 Weighing less than 300 lbs for the first time in 10 yrs? Priceless. Hugs!

Anybody there to Heimlich you? That's all I can think of. Some people have used carbonation to pop stuff. If you have any soda - you could try that. Sorry!

Sounds like a good goal to me... I expect that by my next wedding anniversary, I will be able to fit into my gown. That will be exciting. After 18 yrs - being able to fit back into that will be GREAT. I guess I will have to make my hubby take me someplace fantastic! :]

Hey Andrea Appetite changes - the size of the tissue inside the band changes. Be sure it's really belly hunger - and not just head hunger. If you continue to be ravenous for more than a week - schedule a fill. Good Luck!!

Hey Y'All - Sorry about the food porn, yesterday. Little did I know it would drag on into today.... My bad! Today I am back on plan... and I went to the gym last night and did my 30 minutes to burn that cake off. (DH tried to flake - but I dragged him along). Today I am eating leftover chili - in a moderate/normie quantity. Tonight, it's back to the gym for more burn. Mary - Geez - Tamales are like food porn for me... I love Mexican food in all it's incarnations. Mmmmm tamales....anybody have a great recipe for THOSE in the crock pot? :] Betty - you have to catch me first! I figure with your bum foot, I have a pretty good chance to avoid being slapped. :] That chicken recipe sounds yummy! I might have to try that one, myself. (Dh does MOST of the cooking at home - but once in a blue moon, I knock myself out with something exotic) Sherry - I love the idea of saucing up the Cacciatori and throwing in the noodles toward the end. One pot cooking at it's finest. Gosh, with all these great recipes, I might have to start cooking more! Of course, I should probably swear off eating, all together! I have been afraid to look at MY scale. Congrats (whispering) on your loss. Darcy - I won't lie. It was really good. Sorry it would not have mailed well.... Kat - I had fish for dinner, too. We had a little IKEA picnic. I had purchased several items from their little grocery section this weekend - herring in curry sauce was one of them. It was pretty good, if you like that creamed herring. We also had two kinds of cheese (Fontina & PrAst - the a has those little dots over the top) [both excellent]; some salmon pate that comes out of a tube like toothpaste (very good!) and a variety of crackers. To add crunch, I sliced up a cucumber. It was very nice. Cindy - What can I say? I haven't been very dedicated to the cause, lately. I get motivated for about 5-10 minutes every 2-3 days. Not really conducive to the whole weight loss concept. :nervous Good luck with your quilting. It will be really nice to have those quilts that your DM & DGM worked on. I have an afghan from my great aunt that I treasure. The good news is that great Quilting takes practice - but it isn't rocket science. :] Eileenie - boo, back. xo. Well - I am going back out into the flow to see what there is to see. Hugs and Love to All!

Welcome, Spark! Congrats on starting the process. If you have questions - feel free to ask them - but most have probably already been answered if you use the search feature. Hang out here, read lots and enjoy the journey!

Spydr - for you, I think insurance probably would cover the apron removal - but not the full TT with the stitching the muscles down and all that. I am with you - it will be necessary - but I want some vanity work, too. I stayed in the US for the band - but I am thinking I may have to go to Mexico for my "cosmetic" surgery. :]

***FOOD PORN*** chocolate eclair cake. Rich chocolate cake with creamy pudding filling - Mmmmmm. I managed to give most of it away - so I don't have to eat more than I already have. Oh - and for those of you who actually LIVE in New Jersey - I am scheduled to be back in February: February 19 - 23. :]

Hey All She's ba-ack..... OK I have read everything - and I love all of you - but I will never make it to personals in what is left of my lunch hour. Wednesday - we grabbed a slightly earlier flight home from NY on standby - made it home at about 5:30-6:00. DH and I at dinner at Ojeda's (mmmmmm - mexican food) and headed home for some quality time. Thursday - a little grocery shopping, sleeping late and lots of quality time with DH. Friday - my big 42nd birthday.... slept late, drove up to OK to the Casino and spent too much money eating at the buffet & playing the penny slots. That place is pretty cool - but I have never been in a Casino that doesn't serve alcohol before... I didn't think they even had those. :] Of course it is the last bastion of the hardcore smoker - so I had to wash my hair & clothes when I got home to get rid of the delightful Eau d' Ashtray. Despite the second hand smoke and the complete lack of alcohol, a grand time was had by all. Saturday - Shopping, shopping and more shopping... We had lunch at Ikea and picked up a corner-shelf for DH's Office. I also got a lovely skirt at Walmart, which I am wearing today. Sunday/yesterday - reading, tv and other forms of hibernation. Overall, it was a truly fabulous 4-day weekend. Thank you all so much for my Birthday wishes. I couldn't even get online while I was out - the signal was either very weak, or gone entirely. I was only able to read a little before the signal cut out. I am really celebrating my BD again today. My desk is festively decorated with purple, yellow and red balloons and streamers. Of course, my co-workers have spent the last 45 minutes shooting rubber bands at the balloons with varying success in their attempts to pop them... Can you tell I work with a bunch of younguns? I also intend to eat cake - so don't try to talk me out of it. *sigh* Talk about the road to hell... I had every intention of being good and pure for the entire month of January. Yeah, right. Whatever. So, it looks like I may have to revise my signature UPWARD if I can't get the 4 lbs off by the time I go into my Doc for the annual check up. Let's hope that I lose 4 lbs of puffy in the next couple of days, OK? I guess going to the gym tonight will help with that. *sigh* Well, my lunch hour has sped by, what with reading the 4 days worth of news. I hope our sickies are feeling better. Love and Hugs to all.

Well, today was a fabulous day... I got to lunch with Eileenie - it was only at the cafeteria in my building - but the company was incredible. The time just flies when we get together and gab. Then tonight my co-workers and I made the Charthouse run. Mmmmmm. Those people know how to cook Ahi Tuna... They just sear the outside and leave the inside rare. It's like eating a fine steak - without the cholesterol! :] I also had the Avacado, Mango & Crab stack appetizer. It's good - but better in the summer when the avacados are creamier and the mangos are sweeter. The view was stunning, same as always. Tomorrow, we are off and we are trying to sneak onto an earlier flight so we can trim a few hours off our day. Then, I get a glorious four day weekend with my most beloved. Mandy - I did it, too. I ordered my bracelet. Thanks for the Link. Betty - we had a great time! One of these days I am going to have to stay the weekend in NJ so we can get together and REALLY gab. :] Darcy - If I can EVER stop connecting the Travel concept with the Eating With Abandon concept, I will be a very happy camper. When you don't slave away at the dieting thing, a few days of eating with abandon can blow out the progress of the whole month! I can say that I have only indulged in one dessert since I have been here - but there is always the obligatory Cinnabon at the airport... *sigh* Oh! Maybe I won't do that - we are leaving from LaGuardia - and I only get grabbed by the Cinnabon's in Newark. *Whew!* That was a close call. Cindy - Ooo the Mail Girl. Does your hubby have you wear a special costume?!? LOL! I really enjoy my travel adventures. I was pondering that very thought as I gazed upon the skyline of Manhattan while drinking a Metropolitan Martini this evening. :] Jules - Hi Sugar!! How's the new gig? I was really excited the first time I learned that I would be travelling here and that I was going to be close enough to meet up with Eileenie. It was the coolest! Still is. :] Eileenie - we are going to have to DO something about that boss of yours. Maybe we'll have to make him an offer he can't refuse... :] Sherry - Have fun Schmoozing your account. Hope you get LOTS of rest. You need your beauty sleep to think of fabulous things to say all during lunch. :] Kat - Thanks for the reminder. Having your health and mental faculties is having a lot indeed. Hugs to you and your brother. Marcy - Hi!! We have all been where you are. Don't let fear of hunger keep you from this surgery. Truly - once I started to get fills, I was never hungry again. And remember - you have suffered hunger and deprivation on every diet you have ever been on. You can handle it for a few more weeks. Hugs & Welcome! Anne - Hugs to you and your brother, too. Hope you are feeling a little better. Are those antibiotics working for you? Chris - Thanks! I'm betting you're pretty cute, yourself! Of course, I don't think we have any pictures... (subtle hint there, in case you missed it! LOL) Well, somehow time has passed quickly and it is way past my bedtime. I will try to check in from home - but that internet connection is not very reliable... Hugs and Love to All. Wannabe JG - Peace Out.

Heck, we ARE kinda cute... LOL!

Hey Kathy I was a newbie the last time you were around - but I remember you. I fought the insurance company - got my band and have lost 50 lbs including my pre-op diet. Nice to see an "Old Timer" back for a visit. Good luck and congrats on getting your fill again. Hugs!

You Totally ROCK!! Congrats and good luck in the new "Maintenance Phase" of life. :]

When I had a fever, my band got very tight and I could hardly eat. For the most part - you can eat Soup and stuff, so it makes little difference, overall. Hopefully, you won't get nauseaus enough to throw up - but if you are all healed up from surgery, you should be able to withstand a little heaving, especially if there isn't too much food in your system. Pump liquids and if you are throwing up repeatedly - get to a clinic or emergency room for some anti nausea stuff. Hugs and feel better!

1700 is probably fine - particularly if you are exercising. Remember - when it comes to losing - faster is NOT always better. Any more than 2 lbs per week, and you are probably damaging yourself a little bit. Take it steady and easy. Plus, if you hit a plateau at 1700 calories - you can always drop back to 1500... but if you are at 1200 or lower, it is very hard to adjust any further downward. Hugs!

Hey Ariel... Sounds like there won't be much choice but to tell SOMEONE. Maybe you could pick the person? You don't have to stand up in front of the class and demonstrate, do you? Good luck! Be brave. It can't possibly be the most embarassing moment of your life, can it? Hugs!

Happy Monday! I swear, it's a darned good thing that I am not staying for a full week, here. If I ate like this for a whole week I would gain 15 pounds instead of the five I will propbably gain on this trip. *sigh* I will be lucky if I can be at the 295 that I weighed when I was sick by the time I go visit my doc. I am just praying that I have been retaining Water due to TOM and now due to flying. Think good thoughts for me to at LEAST get back down to the previous low poundage before Feb 6th! Tonight we went to Isabella's in Manhattan. The food was really good. The service was good, too... but the chairs were like torture devices. I guess they don't want anybody to linger over coffee... :] Betty - Yeah, I probably would have made the effort for that much stuff, too. I never let them put anything down... if they lift it off the spindle, I take it from them! Great job on the exercise! Darcy - those measurements are important. I was feeling pretty down until I took my measurements last week. I might not have lost a bunch of weight - But I have lost inches... Wahoo! Great work getting to the Y! Eileenie - See you tomorrow for lunch!! Mary - I am just keeping my nose clean, my head down, and my mouth shut. That tactic has worked for me for the last 15 yrs - I figure it will work for me now. Stay Warm Chica! :] Cindy - so are you an E-Bay mogul, or what? You seem to be a busy bee with all that shipping! Yes, Eileenie and I are having lunch tomorrow! WaHoo! Cass - you go, girl! Keep up the great work! Sherry - Oh the joy of meetings... ICK. I love 24, too. DH records them and burns them to DVD - that way, we can watch with no commercials. The only drawback is that we only get to watch every four episodes! I have to tell you, the show is so much better without commercials! :] Luv2Blab - Congrats on your surgery date! Pull up a keyboard and tell us about yourself! Are you a Jersey Girl? Or just a wannabe JG like me? Anne - sorry you are under the weather! Hope you and yours feel much better, soon! Well, I have to get a little sleep tonight... Hugs and Love!

Howdy, Y'All... I am here in beautiful Fort Lee, NJ - woo hoo! One of the NJ Wannabee's is actually visiting the state... Of course, I am only here until mid-day on Wednesday - then I have Thursday & Friday off for my Birthday. No huge romantic plans... actually, we are planning to clean out the garage. Somehow it has been overtaken by tons of "stuff". I can't even tell you what all is out there - but I am here to tell you - EVERYTHING MUST GO! I almost hated to leave Dallas today, it was so beautiful and we are going to get freezing rain HERE tonight. Didn't we just get done with all that? *sigh*.... Oh well. Whatcha gonna do? Mandy - glad to hear the surgery went off without a hitch! Hope you are up and walking pain-free soon! Hugs! Sherry - Hugs! Hope that acid thing does NOT happen again. I got so far as unplugging the three sections of the tree from each other - but I didn't actually take it down... When I get home, I guess. Glad you were able to resist the puppy faces... The couple sitting next to me on the plane today had a tiny terrier in a little puppy box. It was the cutes little thing ever. I just couldn't have a dog like that cause my cats would eat him! Not to mention having dogs is just like having kids... They have to be taken care of.... cats pretty much take care of themselves. Betty - sorry you had such a crummy day. I hope you get some R&R soon. Hugs!!! I am not sure it would be worth going back to Walmart - unless it was a lot of stuff. :] Cindy - AAAAAAHHHHHRRRRRRGGGGG! Surrounded by boxes and boxes of Girl Scout Cookies? That sounds like a nightmare I had recently.... Darcy - Up until now, I haven't ever really LOOKED at the mileage on the eliptical or the bike... I will check on it the next time I head to the gym. I know that so far in the month of January, I have been five times and done 30 minutes or more each visit. I will translate that into miles the next time I go. Eileenie - I had a friend who put her pedometer on her ankle - since it did not show any movement when she wore it on her waist. The ankle worked for her.... Cassie - Wah Hoo!!!! 6 inches is great! And the scale movement is a good thing, too. More important is that you are learning to live without constant PB's. Those things are bad! Mary - Hope you get your snow day. It seems like your whole state should be shut down by now! And haven't they taken your DexH's license, yet? How many wrecks can one guy have? Geesh! Patty - Stay Strong Sister! I am sure that you will find and in-network doc and get your approval. Hugs! Hope you got out to D-land today! Kat - Surprise! You have an elliptical! If you weigh less than 250 lbs they are pretty affordable. Of course, if you are trying to get one that will take a 350 lb man, well, that's something else! I am a little bit leery of spending any extra money right now... we just had some layoffs at my company on Friday - so all major purchases are on hold for the moment. Everyone seems to think that the first ones are just that - the first with more to follow. DH has to do the bills and see if we have any money in savings. I certainly won't be taking on a payment for anything... so if I can't pay cash, I ain't getting it... *sigh* Dianne - I am thinking good thoughts for you and for your MIL. Hope the other family can help. Hugs!! Well, it is far too late for me to still be up. I Love you guys. I'll check in again tomorrow night. Hugs!!

Hey All Sorry I dropped off the face of the earth, there for a day or two... Let's see... Monday, I hibernated. It was lovely. (it always is). Tuesday I went to work and started training the newest addition to my department. She will cover my desk while I am in NY so that when I come back there won't be a week's worth of work waiting for me... at least, that's the theory. I have my doubts. She was SUPPOSED to start on Jan. 2nd so I would have 3 weeks to train her before I left. First she had car trouble, which kept her out of the office for THREE days - then she had "emergency surgery" which kept her out until Tuesday January 16th. It just happened to coincide with her daughter's wedding.... This does not bode well for being able to rely on her to cover my desk. *sigh* What's WRONG with people? Oh well. I suppose that having her do anything will be better than the nothing that was done the last time I was out. Wednesday I hibernated at home. The roads from my house were bad enough that I couldn't get out of the alley without slipping and sliding... and since my office closed anyway, I just stayed home. I would have checked in more, except that signal I have at home comes and goes - and it seemed like everytime I tried to post a msg yesterday, it went... Oh well. I had it all typed up - but I couldn't send it. I have gotten so far behind that I am going to just tell everybody how much I love you and leave it at that. Hugs & Love to all. I must admit that I have not gone to the gym. I did spend several minutes on both Monday & Wednesday wishing I had already purchased the infamous elliptical machine. I think I would have used it both days - but since I didn't have it, I couldn't use it - and I didn't want to venture out into the cold. Call me the flake queen.... I have been trying to eat lots of veggies. I have eaten way more than my share of raw carots, cawliflower and cucumber in the past several days. I am going to have to stop for produce supplies on my way home tonight. I really LIKE veggies - especially with a nice low-cal dip. Of course, it would be better if I didn't eat cake in between - but whatcha gonna do. I am all puffed up right now due to TOM and other assorted things and for whatever reason I just don't care right now... so I ate a peice of cake. *sigh* Well, my darlings... I have to get back to the whole "Training" thing. It would help if she wasn't quite so argumentative - but I guess it takes one to know one. I like the board because then I never interrupt anybody by accident. I KNOW that I tend to talk, and sometimes I talk over people - but it's hard to stop myself. At least hear - If I am argumentative, it's on purpose. :] I will pick up with personals again tomorrow. Hugs and Love to All. Stay warm!

You should see your doctor - even if you don't want to admit to eating the bread. I hardly think that eating toast could have caused permanent damage - unless there is more that you aren't telling us - but if you are having odd pains, your surgeon should know. Please remember that complications from this surgery are not usually severe, UNLESS THEY ARE IGNORED. Go to your physician. Tell him about the pains. Don't tell him about the bread, if you don't want to - but go and make sure there is nothing majorly wrong. Losing weight is important - but not worth your life.

Ah Sunday... a day of rest..... We thought about going to the gym, since the chances are good that it could be closed tomorrow due to ice - but we decided that 5 times at the gym this week was enough. So I am sitting here drinking coffee watching the home shows. I love watching those shows on TLC and Discovery and HGTV. My big plans for the day include taking down the infamous tree and watching many hours of mindless TV. Chris - hope you feel 100% better, soon. So, how is the new place? All moved in, yet? All unpacked? Sorry about the PB. I didn't like MY experience with that at all... Hugs! Darcy - sounds like your meds might be helping a little... I haven't seen anybody get excited about poopcicles and housecleaning before... lol! Of course, you have to watch out for that crafty Ice Cream... It will sneak past you when you aren't looking....And congrats on a smoke-free year. I gave up the evil smokes quite some years ago, myself. I figured being fat AND smoking with a family history of heart disease was just a little bit too suicidal... and I couldn't seem to control the fat at the time... so the ciggies had to go. Mandy - I am glad you had fun at the Bandster meeting and at your game night. Don't feel too bad about eating in front of that gal. I am sure you weren't the first and she still has the whole post-op time, too. She will have to suffer thru worse than a group meeting before it is all said and done. That radar looks a little scary... way to much icy pink. Snuggle down and stay warm! Cindy - your advice is always welcome - and never boring! :] I am really thinking hard before I get another fill. At least for the moment, if I exercise a little self control - just a little - I can eat appropriately without any suffering at all. So, maybe this is perfect. It would be NICE if I had a hard-stop point, but maybe not nice, if you know what I mean. It would be a double edged sword if I HAD to stop at a certain point. Right now it's just Easy to stop. I think I will try to take advantage of that before I get another fill. :] Patty - Sorry about your smoker dilemma. I can see where telling her she couldn't smoke OUTSIDE in her own yard might be a little tricky. Are there windows you can open on the other side of the house?? I know it's a pain but I can't think of anything else... Maybe she will quit, too. New Year's resolution and all that. Maybe THAT is why she hasn't been out. Hugs. It will all work out.... Kat - you were a smoker, too? Seems like a lot of us did, huh? Yes, I saw you following me, yesterday... LOL! I was just surfing and watching TV. This wireless connection is sporadic - but it's nice to be able to use my laptop. :] How was the Grandbaby's birthday party? Well my dears...DH is looking for some love and attention, so I have to go. Hugs and Love to All!!