justmel1957

Gosh...its been a while since Ive posted and looks like thats the case for most of us......... So..........its been almost 2 years........how is everyone doing?

Tell the truth.........keep it basic and simple.

Great news!

I am a VA employee, who carries Fed BCBS/Basic option. Approval was relatively simple. No issues. It took them about 20 days to approve (they are allowed 31) but it was a painless process. I was banded May 2008

Indeed willpower is the game in the beginning of this journey. It will get easier for most. Until you get better restriction you will struggle with this. Once you reach a decent restriction you hopefully will find it much easier to let those tempting items go by. I occasionally have a few bites of something sweet and taboo, but am satisfied with just a little. Hang on........it does get easier for most of us.

It becomes very tricky when you get close to your maximum "fill-line". The tiniest of fill can make or break you. It does sound like you are too tight. Try going down .25 and see what happens.

I was banded about a year and a half ago......I have a #10 band which holds 4cc. My fill is currently 3.8cc. I can normally do about a cup of food. I am at goal and have had no trouble maintaining my loss. I consider it to be perfect restriction.

I chose at weight I had been at for years as a young adult. I felt good at that weight and my doc and dietician both agreed it would be a good goal. I would love to weigh about 10 lbs less, but know that is really unrealistic for me to maintain, so am hanging right around 145 lbs. I'm 5"7" so thats about right and a size 10/12 for me.

I can do most anything, but soft bread requires a LOT of work, so I pass it by 99% of the time. No problem with wraps or pasta, just soft bread. I find I really don't miss it at all.

Talapia (just minutes on the grill with a little lemon/pepper) FF Refried beans with lo-fat cheese

FEDERAL BCBS Had surgery in Kentucky so Kentucky BCBS was the approving state even though I live in Illinois. 20 days from submission to approve.

I've had to use Mira-Lax since surgery (1 1/2 yrs ago)......that's just how it is for me...... :blushing: But.....there is no cramping, urgency, etc with this product. All of my MD's approve of its use.