Maggie63

i work for the Department of the Navy as a civil servant (no wise cracks here about gov't workers) lol...i have been all over the world with this wonderful job, including 8 months in iraq a year and 1/2 ago. i am getting ready to go to new orleans to assist with the katrina relief efforts there.

Two. The one I picked came highly recommended. There are only a handfull in my area. Really just two practices with several surgeons in each.

Jenna- I have already paid for my surgery out of pocket. I am now trying to get reimbursed. When I first called my insurance company they told me I would be covered. It was later that I was denied. They also denied me calling lapband surgery "experimental" I need someone to help me prove it is no longer considered experimental. That is why I need a lawyer that is experienced in this business. If the cost of a lawyer is to high, I will continue to fight on my own. Anyone that has anything they can tell me about these two lawyers (or any other) i would appreciate it. Thanks for your advice!!! M

Veritas- Your story really hit home for me. I, as well as my close friends who are overweight, struggle with those questions every time we get together. How did we let this happen? How could our bodies gotten so out of control? Everything else in my life is just as it should be. Why can't this be? For me, lapband was the first step. Since my surgery the scale has not been going up. This is the first time this has happened in years. I know I will be successful. Everyday I learn a little more about self control and eating to live instead of eating cause the food is there. Thanks for this thread. I think it will hit home for many people. I was mortified at the thought of being naked on the table too. : ) My doc and all my nurses were men. It will be over before you know it, and you will be on to your new life!! Good Luck. Let us know how it goes!!

my weight issues have everything to do with me. the ONLY time in my life i have been thin is when i starved myself. feast or famine for me. for the first time in my life i am TRYING to eat not because of emotions or good taste, but because i need it to stay alive. good poll cheri!!

it is changing my outsides but not my insides. although i feel great with how i have done so far, i still struggle with eating for eating sake...instead of eating to nourish my body. it has got me going in the right direction though....and has me thinking more about what i put in my body. it is a tool!!! i could easily eat around it. you have to know that before going in.

no loss this week...still at 251......but i feel great : ) nsv...went shopping all day with my mom yesterday....did not tire out. made turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes for family visiting....ate my turkey first, small amount of mashed...and that was it (usually i would eat till i wanted to explode)......

steady at 251...no loss this week... NEXT WEEK WILL BE BETTER

51 days out and down 30 ish lbs i feel amazing. there is no doubt in my mind that i would have continued to gain had i not done this for myself. i am getting ready to go to new orleans for 6 weeks to support the katrina relief effort there. 30 lbs ago it would not have been possible. i was just too uncomfortable...my knees would not have allowed me to be on the go for 12 hours a day. my weight was keeping me from doing the things in life i wanted to do. is it always easy? no. but i would do it again and again. very happy bandster here!!!

i am a new bandster (surgery 2 Dec 05) i have PBed 4 times over the last 5 weeks. just little ones, i slimed, then threw up a bit and felt fine after. yesterday i had one that was terrible. i had a tuna sandwich at lunch. i could not eat the whole thing, so i brought it home for dinner. i ate it too fast....and threw up 3 times. it was horrible. i feel very sore this morning. planning on fluids for the weekend. for me, it is all about eating very slowly. i can eat about anything, but i can not rush it, or i am in trouble. (pre banding i was a sprint eater....i would throw something down my throat in record time....that was a behavior i knew that the band would help me get away from...and it has) the only thing that concerns me is that the golfball feeling or a pb is what stops me from eating. i am not getting the full feeling after i eat. i am hoping that comes after some more fills!! best of luck with the band. it is the best thing i have ever done for myself!!

congrats jess...you look amazing!!

current weight 251 (-1 from last week, -4 total) nsv this week was walking 3 miles with friends over the weekend without having to be hospitalized after : ) yippee!!

Current weight 251 (-1 from last week, -4 total) went to visit family over the weekend....this is usually bad news for me....we like to eat. : ) i did great and even walked 3 miles 2 days with friends. i will be better about drinking water! i will eat more protein! i will go to the gym!

vines-you are one of the reasons i joined this site and did my research on the band. i was so blown away by what you had done, and you were so nice when i had no idea what a "thread" was or how to navigate in lapband land. you look great, and are appreciated by lots of people : )

i have an appointment to have a first consult for a breast reduction...my boobs have never been firm (even when i was thinner) ....my sis had it done and the downside is that for her at least, she lost all sensation in her nipples...that is a downer!!! i would also have a tummy tuck and whatever else i could afford!!!!

thanks for your post and the great input. this has been on my mind for a while. i just had my first fill and feel no restriction. it is interesting, i hear you all talking about that "full" feeling stopping you from eating more. i do not have that at all. i have really had to work at eating less. what usually stops me is a pain in my chest area if i am eating too quickly...i stop then but am usually not what i would call "full" i only have 1cc in a 5cc band...looking at your numbers, maybe i need a few more fills till i get there.....i know patience is a virture.... : ) best of luck jessie bear!!! thanks again for the post!

i can slip into a meeting late after rushing to get there from my office, sit down, and answer questions in a normal voice. prior to surgery, i would have to sit for awhile not being able to talk or breath because i rushed from my office to the conference room. it was very embarrassing!!!

congrats cheri!! great job!!!! : )

i agree that weight is not always a good a good measure of health or body structure (although i agree it is good to have a goal..something to work towards). i am 5 feet 5 inches, wear a size 10 shoe....and have small but very chubby fingers (i call them my snausages). at 200 lbs i am a size 14/16 and feel pretty darn good. my ideal weight would be 160...where i would probably be a size 8 or 10...but i do not feel the need to be THAT small (since i would only be able to eat a meal weekly to stay that size it just dosn't make sense to go there : ). i agee with jqpublic that it all depends on where you feel comfortable!!! good luck lisa!!!!

kel- that is amazing...i can't wait to send out pictures like that....you look GREAT (so does your mum)!!!!!

weight day i started challenge 255 current weight 252 although i feel great about how i have done so far, my hunger has really come back strong, even though i just got a fill : ( i will work hard to overcome! i will drink my water! i will eat Protein first! i will exercise!

starting weight for me is 255. current weight is 252. can someone tell me how to bookmark threads so i know which ones to go to for posting weight? i am in a couple of challanges and it would be easier if i didn't have to search for them!! nsv - i work on a navy base which is quite large. usually i drive everywhere. yesterday i walked to the bank with a friend with no problems...it felt great!!

i just had my first fill (1cc in a 5cc band) and i feel restriction on and off....sometimes i have to stop right away, other times i feel like i can eat whatever i want. i hope my second fill gives me a bit more restriction!! mm

i am in...threw out all the "bad" stuff from my home today, going grocery shopping to buy better stuff!! have an appt at my gym to get measurements and a workout plan!! thanks for the motiviation : )

i felt pretty good 3 or 4 days out. the most pain came from my port area. it took a good week or so for me to get out of bed without a lot of pain. it is very clear to me now (1 month out) that the band is a tool. if i wanted i could eat around it easily. you have to commit yourself to it....why go through a surgery and all that goes with it if you are not willing to commit to a lifestyle change? just my two cents. i love my band and i am sure you will too : )