Jesusislove

Hi, BrandyII, it is going to be alright. I know you had the surgery in hopes that you would lose weight the way you wanted to. The bible says "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but when the desire cometh it is a tree of life", that means when we do not see that which we hope for we become discouraged. Then that leads you to eating more of the things you should not eat. It is okay to say the band is not working for you, that is your personal experience with the band. When the desire cometh means that you will and you can lose the weight, and when you see that, it will give you more hope and you are going to be one thin and healthy chick. Whether it be another method or with the band. I was a sweet eater too, but I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me" You can do this! I will pray for you that God will direct you in what to do from here. Be blessed and be encouraged.

kat817, do you have a green chile soup recipe? Anyone else?

congrats, and I can relate.

Hi, I am tricare prime south region and I was approved for the band on March 20, of this year. The band is now approved as of 12-2007 and is retroactive back to February of 2007. I was banded on 4-14-08. It is a change in the policy manual, but the manual may not be updated, but I called the boss in January and she said they must still honor the change. It should have been updated universally at all tricare offices. Yes it is approved if you meet the criteria.

Hi, if you are 100lbs overweight you must have a co-morb. If you are 200% of your weight you need no co-morbs. You never know who will get your records at tricare and to send it in with nothing(co-morbs) may get you a denial. My doctor did the whole nine yards and basically guranteed me approval, I was approved in 2 1/2 days. Mine was high blood pressure and knee pain. Yes my records and file was sent in. This is in the tricare prime manual, now if you are champus, it maybe slightly different.

Hi, I believe that we are ready, more ready than we will ever be. No person should have ever been judged by the color of his skin, but by the content and character of his heart. America is learning this, I think we have grown.

Hi, been a while since I posted. I take spinning/cycling classes at the gym 4-5 times a week for one hour. I had my first fill yesterday and missed this morning's class. I feel a little gaseous. I will go Saturday and possibly to tommorrow's class. I love cycling, it challenges me and pushes me to limits that I thought I could not acheive. I had surgery on 4-14-08, I was 261, I am now 222, I lost this without a fill. I believe that prayer and cycling helped me to accomplish this amount of weight loss. I am shooting for 200lbs by way of being on the road again. Go cycling! I want to join a real cycling club now, I believe I am strong enough.

God is a good God.

Hi, I had my first fill with the realize band and I am keeping water down, but I am burping. I feel big time restriction, I was given 3cc. I am hoping and praying to God it is not to tight. I will be on liquids for days, then soft foods. I think I will be okay, I heard that you can be swolllen after the first fill.

I had my first fill yesterday since my surgery on 4-14-08, I started at 261 and now weigh 222. I lost that much without a fill, almost 8 weeks post op. Okay, the fill did not hurt one bit, better than I expected; however, I am burping up gas on my liquid diet, uncomfortable gas feeling in upper stomach. I will be on liquids 2 days and soft foods 1-2 days as well. Anyone else experience the gas after a fill? When does this sensation or uncomfortable feeling go away? I am keeping liquids down and plan on following the new diet to a Tee. I am thinking of drinking some hot liquids to se if it will help. Thanks for any comments.

Hi, one addiction leads to another, if not brought under control. Let's not leave out that it is an illegal drug. There maybe worser drugs, but it is still illegal in the US. I pray none of this is done in front of children. That is my two cents.

Hi, hang in there and yes, go to the doctor. My port hurt for a while and today it is much better. Is it a tugging pull, that hurts whenever you position yourself the wrong way? I would say give it at least 6 weeks, see the doctor too. Be Encouraged in the Lord.

Hi, pre op I lost 12lbs, after banding on the 14th, 17lbs, a total of 29 pounds, no fill until May 27th.

Hi, so gum is a big no, no? Did you swallow a whole piece of gum or chewed gum?

Hi, you will continue to lose if you use portion control. I really can not get rid of all carbs out of the house because I have small children; they can still eat. My children are eating healthier because of my diet. If I do eat something that is carb/ or a sin, I make sure I use portion control. I have lost weight and have not had a fill. My fill is on May 27th. Portion control and count your calories. Like today, I had two regular slim fast, I do not like the optima and canned splenda peaches with lite Cool Whip. Total calories as of today 520, I can eat a little bit more for my dinner, can't wait. I will have a can of tuna (in water) to get most of my protein.

Congrats! Be blessed.

When I was younger, I was full of wonder and a lot of the world seemed magical. Surely that couldn't have happened without a creator?! But as I grew up, I began to learn more about how the world works and realized that I was just being naive. My wonder came from lack of knowledge. Which is not to say I don't have wonder any more, but it's a different kind and not one that leads me to "feel" the presence of a Higher Power. Then I decided that even if there is a God, you have to do good for goodness sake and not because you want to please him or because you fear him. Also, whether is a God or not, I see no convincing evidence that there is an afterlife. I think when you die, you die. Once I realized it didn't matter if there was a God or not because believing had no impact on my behavior, I began to see the world more clearly and realize that the very idea of a Creator is flawed. It was all based on feelings and not on logic. If you can't get a system without a creator, then you can't have a Creator without a Creator. There can be final Creator --it's like looking at yourself in a mirror with a mirror behind you -- each mirror reflects the image in the mirror into infinity. Hi, Madame, thanks for your response, I will respond at a later time.

Banded 4-14-08, I am 4 wks out and I am hungry but I can bearly get anything down. I would be too scared to try popcorn. I am on normal foods, 3 meals a day and two snacks. I can bearly eat chicken, unless it is boiled, I love any kind of chicken, so that is alright with me. I can eat a baked potatoe mushed up real good. I can eat but not like horse, I start to hurt or feel pain if I overeat and I have not had a fill yet. It is on May 27th. I am averageing about a 1-2 lbs loss a week since April 28th, a total of 25 pounds. I would suggest drinking Propel, that is what I do all day. It is only 30 calories a bottle and it has vitamins. Soups are great, but no big chunks at your stage, I am going to try those recipes above, sounds good.

Hi, Macmadam, What caused you not to believe in God anymore?

Hi, my hospital was not on the list, but they added it after it was approved. They will approved non listed facilities.

Hi, my surgeon did the test anyway, this maybe somethng new with tricare. I am sure after a while they will not approve them so quickly anymore. They will start adding other requirements.

Hi, yes, they will reimburse back to Feb 07.

I agree with both Losing it and neverB4.

I was banded on the 14th and I am now officially on the road again with my spinning/cycling class at the gym. I started back Monday, so refreshing and energizing. I was like a mad woman getting revenge on fat. I am thinking about joining a outdoor cycling group or something, I have never done that.

Hi, out of the 17 years, have you ever been to church with her or any church functions? I am trying to help, I am getting to a point soon. From a personal view, there are not many people in my life that I have been around for 17 jyears, that has not become a Christian (To God be the Glory), not saying they had to become one, for I am nothing without Christ in my life. I remain humble in that aspect. However, if you love someone you do want them to be saved or become a Christian, not to satisfy you, but for them to please God. Her husband does not seem that bad, because he has accepted you being her friend this long, I have seen worse. Don't put all the blame on him, she has input too. One of my closest dearest sister in Christ was a drug addict and now today she is a great woman of God, I did not toss her because she was not saved, to God be the Glory. We have been friends for 17 years. This made me think of her.