DaniEcho

SAMs club has the GNC Total Lean shakes. The Swiss chocolate is good and the case of 12 was pretty cheap.

That's what Tricare did to me. I was just over 100 pounds overweight. They put me on the 6-month diet and as soon as I lost to 99 pounds overweight they said I didn't qualify for the surgery. But if I hadn't lost any weight, they said I wouldn't have qualified because I had to show I could lose weight. I ended up self-paying for the band back in 2007 (didn't work) and now thankfully my insurance has approved me for a revision. I can my own insurance through my job now and don't have to rely on my husband's Tricare. It was an awful experience.

I started my pre-op diet Monday and lost 9 pounds in 5 days. Today is harder for me for some reason. I can only have protein shakes, broth, jello, and I get one pickle pear a day. So random, but it gives me something to look forward to.

At my job it's kind a ritual to have a 3:00 Starbucks pilgrimage. I now get the Trenta Black unsweet iced tea instead of the frappuccinos. It has a fraction of the caffeine and no calories, although after my surgery I may just have to start bringing a pitcher of decaf tea to work. Maybe I'll just go along for the walk :-) To SBX and back gets me nearly 1,000 steps on my fitbit

Hi RDub - It's coded as secret, so it's not supposed to show anywhere. I was worried about that too. You may want to read up on the Secret groups though. The name is October 2015 Sleevers if you want to try to search it

BTW, If anyone wants to join a Facebook page for October 2015 sleevers, please message me your email address.

Hi All - I'm scheduled for a band to sleeve revision on October 19th with Dr. Scarborough in Houston. I've created a facebook page for October Sleevers. Please send me your email address if you'd like to join. The settings are secret, but I named it October 2015 Sleevers. Best of luck to everyone!!!

My surgery is October 19th also, so I start my liquid diet on October 5th. One of my coworkers has been very successful with his sleeve. He lost 200 pounds and is maintaining his goal weight. When I asked him about food funerals, he said, "eat your favorite meals, throw a funeral for your old fat self and Celebrate a life well lived! That is the mentality I went in with and it has served me well – no looking back." I know everyone is different, but I have been having my food funerals - guilt-free. I haven't gained weight, or binged, but if I feel like eating something, I do. Monday I'm going to start weaning myself off my Coke Zeroes and caffeine, and trying out different substitutes. Other people have different approaches and that's fine. It's nice to read the boards and get advice and encouragement from others, but in the end this is a very personal journey. You should do what you feel is right for you. Best of luck to everyone!

I got my band in 2007 at my highest weight of 249 (self-pay was $17K in Ft. Lauderdale). I got down to 205 the first month, then developed a terrible cough. They totally unfilled the band and put me on Nexium, and I gradually gained back to 245. I never lost the cough, and I recently went in for an EGD and was told I have polyps in my stomach from the Nexium. My insurance has approved a revision and my surgery is scheduled for October 19th. I'm pretty nervous, and this board has really helped me. I am really scared that this won't work either. I have researched as much as I can, joined a gym, and I'm trying to stay positive, but even my family is asking why I think this will work when the band didn't. Best of luck to you all, and thank you all for your posts.

My date is October 19th, so I start my pre-op liquid diet on October 5th. So glad to find this group!

Aetna took about a week to approve my revision. First they requested more of my history. Then they followed up with the surgeon about my hospital stay. I was stressing but it worked out ok. Good luck.

Doctor Scarborough was recommended to me by several coworkers and my doctor. I'm having a band to sleeve revision. Was approved by insurance and now waiting to schedule my surgery. Good luck!