Bandme08

Yeh Kerri! I was wondering when your first fill was going to be!! So they do the first fill under floro? How weird! That barium stuff tasted horrible, Ive heard- just stomach it, I guess! I'm so happy that you got an aggressive fill! 5cc seems like a lot, seeing as people on this site seem to be happy with a 05 or 1.0 cc fill! I guess with a 10c band, there is alot of wiggle room! Also, that means that youve lost enough so far for there to be room around that band! Way to go!! I had my 2nd appt with Nate today, then I have my final consult with Dr McKee this Friday! I'm not sure if they said that they would have my date for me on Friday, or if they would submitt it for request for time on Friday.. Oh well- One thing I did find out today, is that my brand new stupid scales at home are wrong!! They were off by 6 lbs! I got weighed today to make sure I wasn't in danger of being within 5 lbs of beginning wt. My scales at home had me 6 lbs heavier!! She told me what the wt was, and I was shocked! 18 lbs down total since the initial appt in Feb.I still feel like I should have lost more by now, but I think, and they all agreed, that my protein overdose for 4 weeks prob put on more wt than lost. Oh well! Just wanna get the show on the road! Good luck on your mini goal! You'll make it! Later! Sarah

Hey Kerri- Best of luck with rejoining the gym! Nate was awesome! He took my routine at the gym and showed me how I can ramp it up with the ball( oh my god, talk about sore!!), and the bands. Man, they tell you not to do full body workouts 2 days in a row- now I know why. I did 2.5 hrs at the gym on Monday, not knowing what Nate was about to put me though on Tuesday! I am just today, beginning to be able to walk again- I ripped tons on muscles in my legs and calves. Plus throw a 13 hr shift running on my feet on Tues and Wed at the hospital! My legs are spent! But, they were so knotted up , that I could feel the muscles formed underneath even more! Well, what Nate does, makes the gym look like sissy work!! If I had balls, they would have been busted! SO, how's it going with you?? You have a b day coming up in about 3 weeks!! Yeh!! Keep reaching for your goal. You'll get there! Take care, Sarah

Kerri- Good to hear from you! How's it going??? The 4 miles is on the treadmill at the YMCA- then I go to the Nautilus equipment, and do that curcut for about 45 min to 1 hr- Yeh, I'm exhausted afterwards, but this is the only way I can see to stay on task- I fugure if I constantly overdo it, then on days I can't get motivated, I won't feel as bad- prob not the best approach, but oh well! Hope all is well with you! Keep up the good work- talk to you later Sarah

Hello everyone! I just called my ins co and they said I was approved yesterday!! For being a not so patient person, I must say this whole process has mad me be patient to the end! Now I need to wait for a date! I have been walking 4 miles a day, but the nutrionist said that walking isnt going to help my wt loss at all, that I need more wt bearing excersise- So I joined the gym, and I must say, I',m addidcted! I never thought this big ugly body would be addicted to exersise! Is there anything else anyone can suggest that I do to pass the time by? thanx for the support!

That's why they tell you to eat your protein first, then the rest of your meal if still hungry- I have been, unknowingly, overdosing on protein drinks! I' ve been drinking 3 a day, with 50g in each! The calorie count, which I never even thought of with the protein drinks, added up to a whopping 600 calories a day!! plus, too much protein can do a number on your kidneys!! Man, the things we find out after the fact!

I hear you! My insurance approval took 4 hours- it took longer for my surgeons office to get the paper in the mail!! The next month looks to be a busy one with trainer appts and final consults- maybe banding in June...Man would I love a cancellation and be able to go by the end on May!!:thumbup:

Uhh, I'm thinking the only "fleshy"area below the bikini line is... the Mons!! oh man, Don't you dare put my port there! Imagine where they might try to fill it from!! Wait for it... Internal ports!! (not just intramuscular!) That would be about as much fun to have filled as your anual exam! no thank you, I'll take the abdominal wall over "my little sister" anyday!

LMAO!! Too funny! SO, you obviously weren't embarassed to be seen by others in your unders, so why be embarrassed to be seen necked by the OR crew??? Too funny!

I hope you have a great time at the wedding! Just look at how far you've come! Keep up the good work!

Hey all- YEHHHH!! Just scheduled the rest of my appts! 5/6/08 with Nate, 5/13/08 appt with nurse, and then 2nd appt with Nate , and my final consult with Dr McKee is 5/16/08!! They said that I should know my surgery date by 5/19 or 20, and the actual date would be within a month of that...I'm hoping for a couple of weeks, rather than a month! My insurance approval took about 4 hours. It took 1 day for the ins company to mail the letter to the dr.. pretty quick, when all is said and done! I have so much going on in May between this and stuff at work and home, I hope it will all go really quick! At least there is a band in sight!! Going to the gym to jog my 4 miles and work out for another hour- Talk to everyone later- Sarah

Hey Kerri and all- I just called my Ins co and I was approved yesterday!! :thumbup::thumbup:They are mailing the forms to the office so they can schedule the remaining appts with Nick and the pre op stuff!! FINALLY!! Can't chat long- i'm at work, so I just thought I would spread the news!! Sarah

Hi Kerri- Well, an update- still nothing from insurance...But, I went on an 8 mile hike with my boy's scout den on Saturday, and I was really sore for the next day or so... but, I felt really good about myself that I DID IT! 8 miles on this ol bod isn't an everyday thing, ya know! lol.. So, it got me energized enought to look into joining the YMCA and doing the excersize equip. and cardio equip there. Turns out, since I'm already a memeber, I can use it free anytime! everyday, I do 2 miles on the treadmill, and 2 miles on the bike, for now. I'm sure I'll increase by 1/2 mile or so every week. I'm down another 6 lbs since I began on Monday... prob water wt, but we'll see- the scales budge down about 2 lbs every other day consistantly. I feel like i'm becoming addicted to working out! Who friggin knew! So, enough about that- Did you get your new scales the other day? What food stage are you at now? You must be happy to be able to eat somewhat normal food by now, I would guess- Any problems so far? I know you have a fill coming soon- good luck with that! Take care, and happy losing1 Sarah

Kerri= I'll have to try that insurance link thing- thanks! Yeh, it's funny- I'm not worried as to weather or not i'll be approved, it's WHEN! I am not a patient person, and I have had to be more than patient lately, between the whole process of the lapband, as well as a new relationship I began in January- again, I need to wait for others to be "ready" (he's not divorced, YET, and both of us are too damned moral to persue anything until he is- next week hopefully is his divorce "court date" - god it's been 6 years since my divorce, and I'm ready to go on! So, on the phone every morning and night we are... for the past 4 months. come on and get that divorce already!!) and I'm getting to my breaking point! On the other hand (there are 5 fingers)... lol. , No, on the other hand, I cant figure out how to change my ticker on here, but since I've stopped od'ing on protein, I am down another 5 lbs this week- so, i'm down 15 lbs total so far... I'm not counting the 20 lbs I lost when I got sick- it all came back- water weight. I am only going to count the pounds I have honestly lost on my own. I am also down from a size 22/24 pant to a 16! I dont have any clue how 15 lbs could do that much, but I guess it was the protein adding muscle, which weighs more than fat, you get the picture- the weight hasnt' melted much, but the jiggly has. sorry bout that- had to say it! Well, good luck with the new scales- I'll bet they will be good to you! Post new pics sometime- your progress is encouraging! Later! Me

Hey Kerri- Sorry for the 2nd plateau. Don't give up, it'll happen, and when it does, it'll all drop off at once- Don't forget, with the protien, you are apt to gain muscle, which weighs more than fat. Do your clothes fit any differently? I'm sorry to go on about the office, but you hit the nail on the head- the later in the process, the slower it goes!! Huh, I thought it was just me being a pestering brat!! Misery loves company- how's the Isopure and chicken broth!! Later- sarah

Hey everyone- I'm getting really discouraged! The office still hasn't submitted to insurance, because they don't have the final write up from the dietician- she's been sick. They said they would prob. submitt at the end of next week... Then, they said that it would take aprox 30 days because of the ins I have. I have been told by alot of people that the ins I have only takes a few days- we'll see... I'm just really gettting aggrivated at the whole process. I know they say it's a 4-6 month process, but come on! I have had more delays and mis information than I care to have! They only had to say this: " Well, hopefully we can get you in before the surgeons go on vacation this summer." I am about to call them and say screw it, I'll go self pay- this just seems like it's taking so long to do nothing! Sorry to rant and rave- i'm just really getting tired of this " game". Later- me.

Has anyone else had this problem, and if so, how can I reassure? The situation is, I have been seeing this great guy for about 4 months now- He is only one of 4 people that I trust enough to tell about my upcomming surgery, and he is my biggest supporter. My big problem is, that he was crushingly hurt in a past relationship, by her wanting to be an irresponsible carefree "teenager" again, and went back to the party scene, leaving the family behind. Now, that I am doing this for my health, and to look on the outside the way I feel on the inside,:tt1: he is petrified that when I loose weight, that I will want to "be young again," and he is afraid that his relationship history will repeat itself, and leave him, to join the party scene. I have told him that I am not one to party, or hang out in bars. How can I rassure him that I am not going to change who I am- just what I look like, and how I feel about myself?

Thank you, everyone for your support and advice! Before we met, we had been talking on the phone for 2 months. Then we began to describe ourselves.. He's, well, tall, dark and handsome, and really in shape. Then I described myself- long pause on the other end.. He then told me that he is attracted to "small women" (he was trying to be nice about it). BUT then in his next breath, he said "but, you know, I love you for who you are, and what you look like dosent matter."- over the next few weeks, the conversation has gone back to that matter, and he indicates that I have shown him what true love is, and what I look like wont' change the way he feels about me. Never has he said "well, someday you'll be thin, with the surgery" He actually was very concerned that I was doing this for HIM so, I could make him happier being thin- I told him that I am doing this for ME- and that I had started the process before we met, so that made him more comfortable- 2 months later, and we are doing great together- He actually thanked me for not being a skinny thing, because it has taught him that it dosn't matter what you look like, but what' s inside that matters- This never would have happened if we had met in person before talking online and on the phone for 2 months before we met. THat's why I know he's a keeper- he has converted from beign a person to judge someone by their looks, to looking at the person from the inside first, and loving them for who the are. We thank God everyday for bringing us (soulmates in the truest way) together!

Long2bfree- I know he wont sabbotage my efforts- I have too much into this to let anyone ruin it for me. He is my biggest supporter in this- he's just afraid to be hurt again. I have told him that I am NOT his ex, and never have been anything like her. That is comforting to him, knowing that the party scene isnt anything I have ever been into. I am a mother of 2, and am much more responsible than she ever was. He knows this! Thanx for the encouragement and warnings!

Start to adapt to your new way of eating! Chew, Chew, Chew! You can start to imagine your new portion sizes, and get rid of everything you can't have! Just my $0.02

Hey, how about this one- being handed a regular sized johnny in the hospital instead of the supersized ones! And, not having to have the blood pressure cuff put on, just to hear a sigh, and "I'll have to get the bigger cuff!"

Carol- congrats on your wt loss! Are you still considering the Band? I have tried, and succeeded in many wtw loss attempts on my own, just to gain it back- more power to you for your efforts and stamina to go it alone, if you arent' getting banded- Good luck!

Gnc also has multivitamin w/calcium in powder form- Mix with milk- MILKSHAKE!! FYI Thanks for the list! Very helpful, hopefully, soon!

good luck with the band- we're all here rooting for you!

Ok, I guess I was lied too- again! I called bc/bs to see what the status of my approval was, and they hadn't received it! While I was on the phone with them, they called the office to confirm the fax #- She said that it would be faxed on Monday, because they were waiting for the 3rd nutritionist report! WFT?? They told me, in front of the nutritionist, that she was submitting it to insurance as we spoke! Maybe after I left there was some hindsight, and they wanted it to be approved the first time, so they are waiting to be sure they only have to submit it once!? I dunno- I'm just really frusterated! My wt loss really slowed down, which I didnt' understand, because I am excersizing like, 1.5 hrs a day, and eating right, and drinking my isopure... The dietician looked at my intake, and, because I was drinking the protien drinks as well as meeting my protien goal with food alone, I was drinking, with the drinks alone,per day, an extra 300 g of protien and 650 calories! OMG!! I am on protien overload, as I am getting 80 per day with food- with my personal goal of 76 a day. She was really concerned about my kidney function after overdosing on protein! All is fine- I checked- one of the bene's of working in the lab... Anyway, I hope everything is getting better for you! Are you on solid regular food yet? Man, to feel human again, or for the first time is going to be awesome! Take care, chat later- Sarah

Connie, I have Turbo Jam- It's awesome! I don't like the music she jams to, so I just crank my own tunes on my I pod, and go to it! The weighted wrist bands are great for increasing endurance, but they are not made to be comfortalblly fitted on larger hands/arms, so they do need to stretch a bit- I think they were designed for someone like the trainer! Oh well- keep lots of Water nearby! Have fun! Sarah