sleepyjean

I wish I could help. Just wanted you to know that I'm sending positive vibes your way. You'll find something soon.

Sadly I had to buy some clothes because I'm pre-band and thus still subject to the painful phenomenon of getting too fat for my clothes. However, for those of you who need new duds because you are shrinking, here's a good chance to buy some new stuff without spending $$$$. The coupon is only valid today and tomorrow. I got 4 skirts and a t-shirt for $125. Go here to print out the coupon: http://lanebryant.charmingshoppes.com/promo/lb/friends_Family.asp

1. Tricia's title did it's job. This is the most active thread I've seen in a while. 2. I visit a lot of online communities and I choose to believe that everyone has good intentions. And on those few occasions when I find myself feeling angry or defensive, all I have to do is remind myself that these are all total strangers and when it comes right down to it, I don't really care what someone who doesn't know me thinks or says about me. There's too much crap going on in regular life to let some faceless, voiceless person on the internet ruin my day.

*snicker*:confused:

I agree. If I didn't have the internet, I don't know how much research I would've (or could've) done. I probably would've taken my doctor's word as gospel and maybe gotten a second opinion. I had a lot more belief in doctors before I had access to all the info and felt I was the best person to make decisions for myself, rather than someone I see once a year. Also, I think some people are just plain desperate to find a solution trust the medical profession such that they look before they leap when the doctor recommends surgery. I researched the hell out of this, but I completely understand what it's like to feel desperate. If you're drowning in the ocean and someone throws you a life preserver, it doesn't matter if it's Hitler or Mother Theresa throwing it to you - you grab that sucker and hang on.

from what i understand, they are MUCH more lenient. As someone told me "if you have the money, you can get a band"

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayy!!!!

I'm waiting for insurance approval, which could be two weeks or two months. In the meantime, I've started to phase in some of the changes the nutritionist recommended. (Drink more Water, no more caffeine, eating three meals a day instead of one). Part of me wants to dive right in with the Protein supplements, but I'm hesitatant to do it. The few places where I've looked for protein powders only have one or two kinds and come in ginormous containers. I already have two 5lb things of whey protein (from an ill-advised fitness program a few years ago), one "chocolate" and one "vanilla" and they are just plain nasty. (PSA to the fitness industry: just because it's brown doesn't mean you can call it chocolate) SO anyway, I'm not sure if I want to spend the money on it right now, especially since I could very well be denied by my insurance company. Does anyone have any advice? Should I just bite the bullet? Are there any powders that are halfway palatable? Does anyone sell this stuff in a container smaller than the size of my entire head? Do you need a blender to mix this stuff up?

Thought I'd get y'alls opinion on this. I saw the infomercial this morning and am thinking of buying it. I HATE strength training and I especially hate doing it at the gym -so I never do. I can get all my cardio without going to the gym, but if this thing works, it could solve a big problem for me. It's easy to set up and switch from exercise to exercise. What do you guys think? Gimmick? Too good to be true? Infomercial Junk? Or actually useful? http://www.mygymdirect.com/

I went for my nutrition eval last week and we were discussing vitamins. I was feeling virtuous already because I'd already switched to chewable vitamins, but then the nutritionist busted my bubble - no more Flintstones. I've been instructed to find a "real multivitamin for grownups." She told me to make sure it had Biotin in it because Biotin helps metabolize fat and carbs and it can help with the hair loss. Hair loss? You betcha I'm gettin me some Biotin. More info on biotin here: http://www.vitamins-supplements.org/biotin.php I have yet to find a liquid/chewable multivitamin that has more than 20% of the RDA, so I'll probably have to get a separate supplement. I don't know if it will make a difference, but thought I'd spread the word in case anyone else wants to try it.

I did it and to be honest, I really regret it. My BMI was 39ish, which I interpreted as permission to go buck wild and eat everything in sight. As a result of my 5 month binge, I’ve gained 25 pounds, I have lots of new stretch marks, and everything that hurt before hurts even worse now. I only needed to gain about 10 pounds, but I went too far. The only benefits I have seen so far are A)my BMI is over 40 now so I’m not an “iffy” candidate anymore and :eek: I am sick to death of food. I’m actually looking forward to going on liquids and protein powders.

It's so funny how this question keeps coming up. I asked the same thing a couple of months ago, thinking I was the only one thinking about that kind of thing. Since then, I've seen the same question posted 3 or 4 times. :laugh

It seems ridiculous, but the thing does weigh 20+ pounds, so maybe that's why. A very valid point It says on the main page that you get the bench, a comfort mat (whatever that is), 18 bands, 4 handles, t-bar, v-strap, DVD and exercise chart. I can't decide whether this thing is totally cool or a total rip off.

My crazy doc said I could just open up the capsule/smash the pill, mix it in with my food and take it that way. But the nutritionist told me today that those are time-release meds and shouldn't be taken that way. Anyone else heard either way from their doc?

I decided back in October that I was going to get banded. But there's a difference between knowing you're going to do it and knowing you're going to do it. I'm curious to find out when everyone else had their "whoa...this is serious business" moment(s). The first time it happened for me was when I went in for the upper GI. I'd had the ultrasound directly before that, but it wasn't until they put me inside that machine for the Upper GI and it started moving that I had that "whoa" moment. The second time was on Tuesday when I went to see the Nutritionist. I walked in there thinking I already knew everything from visiting here. Once the nutritionist starting going through everything in detail and I realized I need to start implementing some changes right now, that was another "whoa moment." And finally, I had another one this morning. I went to trader joe's, whole foods, the grocery store, and the drug store, in search of liquid vitamins, a liquid calcium supplement, and some form of protein powder that didn't make me want to gag. There was little to no selection to be found, and I realized that I'm going to need these special products for the rest of my life...which means I'll probably be buying them online for the rest of my life. Whoa. This is serious business. Yikes. When did it really sink in for you?

That is one of my biggest fears as well. The only other major fear I have is that Blue Cross won't approve my authorization. I honestly don't know what I will do if that happens. I've been saving up for a downpayment on a house and if I have to pay for the surgery, it means I'll be renting for a looong time. I've finished all of my evals and tests and my surgeon's office is planning to submit my info on Monday. I'm back in "waiting" mode, which actually does not bother me (much) because my part is done. It's all up to God and my HMO.

Saw the nutritionist yesterday and she talked a lot about the importance of getting enough Protein. She said to get Protein powder rather than pre-mixed Protein shakes because the pre-mixed stuff doesn't have enough protein in it. (I need to take in 90g each day.) Here's the question: is there such a thing as protein powder that doesn't taste nasty? And where do you find it? My assignment is to try a few different types before the surgery so that I will have already found a couple that I like. Also, she said during the mushies phase, I could eat baby food as an option. That's the first time I've heard that, although I guess it makes sense. Is anyone doing this? My biggest challenge is going to be getting 2 vegetables a day and I'm thinking of trying baby food veggies (*gag*). But the nutritionist is also adamant that I stay away from sugar. Isn't baby food sweetened? I thought I read that somewhere...

Rats. I was afraid you all would say that. Now I have to wonder if my doctor knows what he's doing.

I've been thinking about this since you posted it. Just now, I was on the American Association for Bariatric Surgery website, and this jumped out at me: Surgical treatment is medically necessary because it is the only proven method of achieving long term weight control for the morbidly obese. In my opinion, that says it all.

I can relate. I tend to over-research and over-analyze everything. I'm also incredibly indecisive. I made up my mind four months ago that I am going to do this. This process has been very difficult and frustrating, and when I come here and read about erosion, slippage, lack of restriction and I get scared and think of backing out. But something interesting has happened to me. The closer I get to doing this, the MORE certain I am that I am doing the right thing. I still feel twinges of "Oh my God, what am I doing???" but for me, it always comes down to this: If I could do it on my own, I would have done it already. I would've spent my 20s running around in a bikini on the beach instead of hiding in my apartment with a box of Cookies. I am 31 now and feel that I have lost a decade of my life to this struggle. I will not lose another ten, twenty, thirty years because I was too afraid to believe in the one thing that has ever given me real hope that I can change my life around.

Taking it is a bad idea. Taking it just because it's there is an even worse idea. You spent a lot of money on it, yes. But the money is gone regardless of whether you take it or not. If that stuff worked, you wouldn't have needed the band in the first place. Toss it.

Is there such a thing as a scale that weighs accurately on carpet (as opposed to a hard floor)? It seems like there are a lot of scales that say they do, but do they *really*? Is it as accurate as on a hard floor? The only hard floors in my apartment are my kitchen and bathroom, and both are tiny.

I have a cat. And I refuse to let him get fat. He's not in any danger of that, but when I first adopted him, the vet said to make sure he didn't get bigger, so I definitely keep an eye on his little tummy. It makes me glad I don't have children, because I would probably turn into some diet nazi and preach to my kids that they have to be thin thin thin "so they don't turn out like mommy" and then they'd probably develop anorexia or some equally heinous eating disorder. A random thread, I know. But I'm curious. What's the situation in your house? Are your children or pets overweight? And if they are, has that changed as you've changed?

I think it's a little bit of both for just about everyone. It's not nature vs. nurture, it's nature PLUS nurture.

Did she actually say that? Because if she did, she's either completely deluded, or she has no fear of anyone calling her on it to her face. Count my vote in column B. It's not possible to do pilates when you weigh 300 pounds. It's just NOT. What an insult to the intelligence of every thinking person.