coolcrystal

LOL, you crack me up!! We go out to eat sometimes, but we've been trying to make healthier choices, like Vietnamese Pho. Which is basically a bowl of broth with chicken and bean sprouts in it. And some noodles, but I only eat a few of those. Its very filling and low cal and I'm not tempted with the chips and salsa. God, i want to go to a mexican restaurant so bad, but I know I can't do it and stay away from those yummy chips. The way I look at it, is, that I've lost 23 pounds since February 16th. That's still really, really good. So, I can't let myself get depressed about it. I hope this fill tomorrow will help, but gosh, I'm scared. I hope it doesn't hurt.

Yeah, I haven't posted in a while because I'm just so depressed. This is my first day to come here in like a week because I feel like I've fallen off the bandwagon. I can eat whatever I want and my first fill isn't until tomorrow. And even then, my doctor puts the smallest fill known to man in the band, so who knows if it will even work. I haven't lost anything nor have I gained anything. Well, I gained two pounds, then I lose two pounds. I gain two pounds, then I lose two pounds. Yesterday was the first day I had something really naughty since being banded. I had some strawberry shortcake for easter dessert and some of those mini-robin eggs. Even though I know I can eat whatever I want, I've been good and not had any cheeseburgers and pizza and all that stuff... but then I messed up with the dessert. Anyway, I just need to get out of this depression here. I realize I've still done good and once I feel restriction it will get better.

That's awesome!! you have less than a month to go!! congrats to your current weight loss so far.

*I am only 21. Im 5'5 and weigh 220. My BMI is 37. Will I qualify? No. Not unless you have some co-morbidities like diabetes, etc. I do have a friend that found a doctor to perform her surgery when she was 226 pounds, but she went to about 5 doctors to find one. *Does Insurence cover the lapband? Yes and No. Some do and some don't. It depends on what company you have as your insurance and if the company you work for approves it. I think you would have a difficult time getting approved though. *How much does it cost? Depending on where you go - 7-8K in Mexico, 12-16k in america. *How happy are you with your results? Was it worth it? I'm newly banded, but so far, yes, I'm happy with it and my results so far

It sounds like you are taking one of those steriod 6-day packs in tin foil. They are specific with when you need to take them. Steriods are very tricky things and require to be taken throughout the day, or at least those 6 day packs are.. it seems weird, but you really should follow what it says because it can cause your body to react weirdly if you don't.

I have this surgery date... My progress.... well, until I get my first fill, I have a feeling I won't have much more progress. Right now i"m just maintaining this current weight. Not losing or gaining. And thats only because I haven't been tempted by eating any fast food, hamburgers and things of this nature, though I did have mexican food the other day and felt guilty... Luckily my first fill is on Monday...

I completely agree!! I'm freaking out big time. I'm able to get everything down really well... And I was bad on Saturday night. I had a sour cream and chicken enchilada and like 10 chips and salsa. I promised myself I wouldn't do that, but I did. Sure enough, I gained a pound the next day. I worked hard yesterday to lose it and I did this morning, but with all my up and down, I'm still stuck on the same exact number~!! During the week I keep on a strict plan and I follow it very well. I just need to get back into that... I have zero restriction right now... :mad2: I can't wait till the 25th when I get my first fill, even though it will be so little I doubt I will feel anything.

Eating out with my mother in law yesterday was tough. She's morbidly obese as well and has even gained another 20 pounds since I last saw her. When she sat down she couldn't look at me for a while.. I don't know why... and then when I got my food she was watching every bite I put into my mouth. I think she was doing this because she is interested in the surgery and she wanted to see how much I could eat. I ate half a wrap and some lettuce dipped in hummus. This is nothing compared to what I use to eat, but it was very filling. Afterwards she said she's glad I can still eat regular food. BUt then I had to let her know that I hadn't gotten my first fill yet, so I wasn't fully restricted. I do feel some restriction, but not much.

First day back in the saddle, aka gym! I'm not suppose to start any heavy exercising until Monday, but since I have a gym at work, I decided to mosey on in there and test the waters. I had been doing light walking at home, but I really wanted to do weights, crunches and heavy treadmill stuff. Good news! I did the circuit twice, leg presses included AND, I did some crunches. I started slow to see if the port area would hurt, but it didn't!! I'm so thankful. I did about 20 crunches to start off slow and not push it, but not once did it hurt or pull. I did stretches, leg lifts, and 25 minutes on treadmill as well. Hopefully my doc won't get too upset, but shoot, if I feel good and my incisions are all healed, I don't see why not~! Hopefully this will tighten me up so I can prepare for any major saggy skin. I do have a major headache now though radiating from my shoulder.. Push through.. push through.. :biggrin:

I'm the same as MacMadame. Mine will be billed as an office visit, so it will be a $25 co-pay for my fills.

That is so awesome! I'm very excited for you!! What an accomplishment in such a short time :-) You deserve that blizzard! and, it is true how funny things taste when you haven't had them in so long... isn't it. lol

20k seems pretty high for the lap band surgery. I live in Dallas and you can find a good surgeon here to do it for 15k, which includes a year of fills and appointments in the price. Perhaps you should try to find it cheaper in your area. If you could find it for 15k, that would only be 3750 out of pocket for you and yes, it is totally worth it to take out of 401k especially if you can do a 401k loan like I did. They take the money out of my paycheck every two weeks and all interest just goes back into my 401k, so I'm just paying myself the interest. Best of luck! :angry_smile:

Yeah, I have an idea for you.. why not just eat a piece of grilled chicken or fish with some veggies. I promise you, it won't make your liver get large and slippery.... I hate to be rude, but I'm sick of these doctors making their patients do this stupid liquid diet before banding when you don't need to! Just don't eat any carbs or sugars and you'll be fine. Its sad that doctors force their patients to starve. I lost 13 pounds in 9 days doing this. And, I always felt full and satisfied. And before people start saying "she needs to do what her doctor tells her to do".. don't bother. This is just my opinion and my doctor's opinion and several other doctor's opinions.... She can do what she wants to do in the end.

I feel so stupid... I went to my first doctor appointment after being banded and what I thought was my port right behind my incision is really the stitches and stuff that hasn't desolved yet.. he said the port is an inch below and under all my fat and I can't even feel it in there yet.. lol. this whole time I've been having people feel my "port" but it's not my port. HA HA.

Gratz Angie! I'm so nervous about my first fill. I wonder if it will hurt and my doctor starts off REALLY slow, so I doubt I'll feel any restriction until 3 fills at least.

I know this sounds weird, but it worked for me. I was stuck on a plateau for a week and I was told to eat something "bad" and that will jolt my system to start losing again and sure enough after eating a fajita and three chips I weighed the next day and I lost 3 pounds. Then, On the Biggest Loser the trainer said that once a week the competitors are allowed something "bad" to eat after weigh in and it keeps their bodies from going into starvation mode and quenches thier temptations. So, if you eat good all the time, or undereat, maybe you should have like some pizza rolls or something like that. Obviously this is only a suggestion that worked for me, but it's worth a try.

I can't believe you aren't on solids yet.. WHAT?? my doc did one week of liquids. one week of mushies. and now I'm on solids... you've been banded for two months.. Um YES, you are ready for solids sweetie.. OMG. this is ridiculous.

I had my surgery at 10:30 am and was leaving the hospital at 4:45pm the same day. I've heard of one day stays with people who have heart issues or diabetes but three? never heard of it that long. Yes, you are still sore by day three, but it's not that bad to where you need to stay in a hospital. Heck, I was outside walking up and down the street on day two.

If you pick an american doctor, find one that has a price that includes all fills and appointments for at least the first year. That's what my doctor does. he charges 15,000 for everything and all fills and appointments for a year. I'm sure there are several other doctors out there that do that too. Also, I have a friend that got financing and she pays like 350 a month for 4 years for her band. It's like a car payment.

I have Dr. Fox with True Results at Medical City! He's really good.. I like him.. My best friend has him too and has lost like 120 so far in a year...

I wish my doctor was like that. My doctor needs to see me once a month for the first 6 months, then every 3 months after that. Then after a year two times a year.. UGG.. he wanted me to set my first fill up exactly 4 weeks after and after that, every 3-4 weeks until I reach proper restriction. Because he likes us to reach restriction very slowly. He said it might even take 4 fills for me to reach proper restriction.... The good thing about his requirements is, if you are cash pay, all fills and dr. visits are free for a year. But, since I'm insurance I guess we have a different deal and I have to pay my co-payment of 25 bucks each visit and fill.

Here I am day 17. Doesn't look much different from day 7 actually. I think it looks a tinge redder.

I use to have acid reflux before getting banded and now I don't. Just from the weight I've lost already I sleep better and don't have that acid stuff come up. It's been great. Good luck.

And those guys are so smug.. UGGG, it bugs me. I like Dan, but he can be a smart allick too sometimes and act like "of course we won, we are better" attitude. I wanna say, "no, of course you won, because you're a bunch of men".. It is odd that BL hasn't adjusted this problem at all and this is what season?? Most shows will adjust for these types of issues.

I can already tell you that you are not 40 BMI and over. My sister couldn't get approved at 238 and 5'6". I think her BMI was like 38 maybe because she didn't have any co-morbidities. Yours is probaly like 35 or 36. Maybe if you had some co-morbidities like diabetes they would approve you.