Angelyco

Hey all. I've been avoiding the WLS world for some time now because I just feel like a failure. I haven't had a fill since last January (2011), I keep telling myself I want to lose just a little bit (10 pounds since my last weigh-in at the doc) before getting a fill so that I don't feel so awful...and all I did was gain some. I'm still under my starting weight, but this sucks. I do really well when I have a fill, but without the insurance paying for it, even $150 seems like a lot out of pocket. In other news though, my husband and I just bought our first home a month ago! So at least life is moving forward even if my weight loss isn't. At this point I would honestly consider converting to the sleeve, but my insurance doesn't cover ANYTHING weight-loss related.

I'm still here..and still struggling. I did get a fill back in January, but haven't really lost anything, just bouncing back and forth over a couple pounds. I'm so jealous of those of you who had really excellent results.

Some insurance plans also require a 6-month supervised diet before surgery, it all depends on your plan. For me, I just had to do the psych eval and nutritionist, then scheduled my surgery, which was 6 weeks out from then just because of so many other surgeries booked at the same time. During that 6 week wait was when I saw the pulminologist and my primary doctor had to see me and fill out paperwork saying I'm okay to have the surgery.

My BMI was about 71 when I had the surgery. Yes, 71! I was 444 lbs (5'6"). I already knew I wanted the band when I first went to my doctor, and he NEVER mentioned having bypass instead. He had no problems with my weight as a candidate for the band. It's all a doctor's personal preference on what they want to operate on and what they believe will be successful. I've been banded 2 and a half years and I lost about 70 pounds, then bounced back the last few months, but it's not the band's fault - I have had a horrible time getting the fills I need. When I have restriction, I lose weight.

Hey Junies! It's been awhile and I've been hiding. Some of you have done SO well with the band that I feel like a failure most of the time. After my gall bladder surgery in May, I've gained. From the surgery itself, I lost 10 pounds and gained it right back, it was probably just fluid anyway, so I try not to count that. Besides that, I've regained about 26 pounds. I had gotten down to 371, now I'm back up to 397. I haven't had a fill since Dec 2009! My company switched insurance providers last year and they don't cover ANYTHING weight-loss related. Today I finally called my doctor's office and it turns out that it's only $150 for self-pay to get a fill done in the office. I have an appointment with my doctor next week, he may or may not be able to do the fill right then (I might have to schedule another appt for it). I wish I had called sooner, I had no idea it would be that affordable. Here's to a new year, I'm not going to set any concrete weight loss goals, but I do hope to be under 300 by the end of the year!

I was really starting to like Rick, too. This was only Week 5 and there is SO much game play going on, I'm getting really tired of it. It makes the show less interesting. The girls totally could have teamed up against Frado or Brendan, I was hoping they would. I really thought nobody would vote for Rick, but I guess threats are more important than helping your team.

Tina. Scraped by last week, begged to go home at the beginning of this week, decided she definitely wanted to stay, then got eliminated anyway.

There is too much crying this early in the season...

First, I would just like to point out that the guy who won the weigh-in is the one who had bypass surgery. Interesting, eh? He apparently lost 70 lbs with it before he came on the show. I don't like how they did the weigh-in and elimination this week. I DO like how the weigh-in was a surprise and nobody could prepare too much (we've all read the articles of former contestants and the stuff they did before weigh-ins). However, having a challenge to determine the two to be up for elimination is bullshit, in my opinion. The people who are more in shape for that particular challenge will always get ahead. Beyond determining the top 8 and bottom 8, your weight-loss is pointless after that. Yeah, sometimes the eliminations are unfair if someone has just one bad week, but I can already see how people who are in better shape would try to throw the weigh-ins in different ways if they are confident they would win the challenge. Of course, this is all assuming that this is how eliminations will be determined for the rest of the season.

vlp, the first episode is already on NBC's website, you can watch it online

I just got a chance to watch the first episode tonight. I actually did notice scars on at least 2 or 3 people before they actually MENTIONED the one girl who got vertically banded. They didn't mention WLS for anyone else, but I definitely saw the scars. My opinion is that in the early years of the show, they must have turned away people who had WLS because they didn't want to bring it up on the show, didn't want it thrown out there as an option, or just had a very low opinion of the people who tried it. I think with the success Ron had with the show vs. bypass, it seems like they found the perfect weapon to bash WLS. Sure, they didn't -really- talk about it much with Ron, but those of us who are educated on the surgeries picked up on it. I still firmly believe that Ron only did as well as he did on the show because he was FORCED to eat right--Dr. H even said that his pouch was intact and still the size of an egg. He had an advantage over other people there, in my mind. Anyway, just to chime in about the conversation going on, when I was in high school, my doctor would often talk about what's available for weight loss, but at that time (10-12 years ago), there was really nothing safe enough for my age. Bypass was really the big thing back then, LapBand wasn't really heard of in my area, and my doctor said bypass was just too dangerous for me. I wonder if he would have recommended the band if it was an option then. I actually went through the opposite of some of you - my mom was constantly trying to get me to stop eating so much, we NEVER had junk food in the house, not even sugared cereals. Because of that, I always felt deprived and I started sneaking food whenever I could, but my mom basically kept inventory of everything we had and would constantly accuse me (rightfully so) of stealing food. Once I started working and babysitting and whatnot, I bought my own junk and fast food and such whenever I could and ate in secret. When I was in college and on my own, I ate all the food I wanted because I finally could. I think even if I could have had the surgery at 14 years old, it probably wouldn't have worked for me because of this environment I was in. Unfortunately, I'm STILL trying to break the habit of buying bad foods, eating in secret, and hiding it from my husband. I usually end up telling him about it, and he's never mad about it, but I just don't know why I can't stop doing it.

Agreed :w00t: I think I want Koli to stay and Daris to go. I didn't care for Daris's attitude about his weight gain, it's like he didn't really care.

Just an update, I ended up in the hospital this weekend and had my gall bladder removed Monday. I just got home today. While the surgery and recovery is much better so far than the band, having a drain REALLY sucked! All I want to do now is sleep.

I was a little disappointed in the makeovers, it seems they got to choose their own clothes this time and it was really to their detriment. The guys looked MUCH better, but Ashley didn't seem to have much change - maybe she didn't want a new hairstyle? Who knows. I did notice though that people whose partners went home, the partners didn't come for makeover night. I wonder if they're trying to keep their looks under wraps since it's getting close to finale time. I'm officially tired of Sunshine, I want her to go home. I think I want Koli to win, first time all season I'm hoping for someone. I think I'd be happy if Ashley won though.

I've wanted the yellow team separated for awhile, but what really pushed me over the edge was this weeks challenge - every time O'Neal fell while trying to chase a calf, Sunshine screamed. Your dad is a big boy and can decide if he wants to actually TRY to help or not. I thought I might like Sunshine but I just plain don't anymore. Not that I really wanted her to go home over O'Neal, but after all the BS and crying they went through, she was being so selfish when it came to the pleading to stay on the ranch. She KNEW her dad would ask everyone to vote for him to go, she could have at least acted like she would have given up her place for him. She's thin now, he still needs it more than she does - that's not to say that I wanted him to stay, I think he was holding everyone back with his knees, I'm just saying. I felt awful for Ashley. She had a pretty good week, and she was happy not to have fallen below the line with one of the yellow team, but she had to act heartbroken because then both of the yellows fell together. I don't know if she was really heartbroken her not, but she said herself that she didn't want to go below with either of them. Her moment of happiness was taken from her because of the yellow drama. Can't wait for the makeovers!

Hey Junies, I wish I had good news to report but the last few days have been a nightmare. Thursday night, I had super bad pain in my back and stomach, it reminded me a lot of the gas pains right after surgery. I was so afraid something happened with my band (slippage, etc). I went to the ER and I was there for 12 hours, where I found out that I have gall stones and I had an attack from them. My band seems to be okay, but this means if I have another attack, I'll have to have my gall bladder removed. I seriously don't want another surgery. Gall stones are like punishment for losing weight! No fair :thumbup:

Through the entire episode, I couldn't help but think "When is makeover week?" Some of the guys REALLY need one! I thought the challenge was probably the most difficult one they've ever had. Not only was it dangerous - sure, they had harnesses, but if you even drop a few inches you could bang your head on the metal ladder thing or on a big pile of wood (or the concrete, like O'Neal) - but I personally wouldn't have the guts to climb a pile of wood, THEN pull myself up onto an awkward hanging latter. I'm not surprised Victoria went home, and of course SHE says she was working her hardest, but she definitely wasn't working AS HARD as everyone else. I think Jillian was right that she just can't handle the stress of the ranch. She looks pretty good now though, I'm happy for her. I don't know if anyone else caught this, but Bob was so mad after Sunshine's weigh-in, his eye actually twitched! I found it hilarious. I gotta say this...Michael looks so funny when he runs. Sometimes it looks like he's just powerwalking unless they show his lower body. I'm really starting to wonder who is going to make it to the Final Four (I personally wouldn't care about the Final Four...I'd want to be in the final three! Duh!)

Just a few thoughts on the last few episodes... I thought it was hilarious that Melissa made it back on the show only to get beaten sooo badly, Sam beat her to the buzzer and the challenge just proved how much everyone hates her. Also, she said she was a lawyer, which explains a LOT in my opinion. One thing I noticed during her episode and was reminded of this week is that usually Alison says "You are not the biggest loser and it is time to say goodbye" but with Melissa she said "You are not the biggest loser and it is time for you to leave." I think that summed it up pretty well, especially since there were no goodbyes anyway. I think Drea is dating someone from the show...I haven't heard any rumors, but it was something she said to Bob this week "I never thought I'd find love" which I imply to mean that she did and she's surprised about it. Just a thought. I'm really trying to pick someone I want to win but I can't. If I had to, probably Sam or Koli. I think Suze Orman predicting Sunshine to be the winner just put a big target on her now. I was happy to see Danny back, he looks great! It was awesome seeing him exercise with the trainers again. I loved seeing the trainers dragged through the mud...literally :thumbup:

Hey Junies! I've lost 70 pounds now, it's nice to see some bigger numbers, even though I still have a looong way to go. Some bad news though, my company switched health insurance in February and our benefits were supposed to stay the same. When we switched I did check that my surgeon is still in network, which he is, so I thought everything was fine. While looking up some other benefits last week, and after a long discussion with the United Healthcare folks, I found out that our new plan does NOT cover ANY bariatric or weight-loss care. The only thing they'll cover is if something -medical- goes wrong and it needs to be fixed or adjusted. Even LapBand defects (leaks, slippage, etc) are not covered. I can't see my doctor for visits and I can't get fills. Thankfully I'm good right now with restriction but what about 3 months from now? 6 months? My office manager said she'll see what they can do next year but we outsource our human resources, so that company invests in the insurance in bulk, usually can't pick and choose options. Hopefully it will all work out, there is a Fill Center USA about 90 miles from me if absolutely necessary, but I just hope nothing goes wrong that needs attention.

Wow, it's been quiet in here. I've been super busy the last few months, we moved into a new apartment. I lasted posted January 9th, and I was 390 then. I didn't weigh myself again until after we were done moving (mid February) and then I was 382. I am now 376, down a total of 68 pounds. 14 pounds in 2 months doesn't seem like much, but when I didn't lose anything for basically a year before Christmas, I'll take it! But this means 26 pounds since my fill on 12/21. I haven't had another fill yet and I don't think I really need one yet. I have restriction, but I've developed a bad habit lately and I keep eating more to push food through the band to make room in my pouch. I wonder if I got another fill I would PB instead of being able to push it through, and I would really prefer that. I wouldn't keep eating if I thought I would get sick. I do still PB once in awhile, but usually only when I eat too fast or didn't chew enough. I need 32 more pounds to hit 100, and our bandiversaries are coming up, but part of me is afraid to set it as a goal. So far I have failed every short-term goal I've set for myself. I'm currently reading the book "The Rules of 'Normal' Eating" and from the two chapters I've read, I think it will be very helpful for the eating problems I still face. Last night I started walking again, I did about 1.25 miles around my neighborhood, part of it uphill. I meant to go further but I'm bad at judging distances. Today I went out to my normal walking path and did 2 miles. DH and I are going to be doing a 5K Run/Walk at the Bronx Zoo on April 24, and I plan to be ready for it, even if I just walk the whole thing! I know I can do 3 miles pretty easily, but it gives me a reason to get my booty out and train. Hope you all are doing okay!

I haven't posted in awhile but I've been keeping up with the show. I'm soooo happy the green team is gone, they were freaking bitchy. The radio show I listen to had Jillian a few days ago and the DJs asked what Miggy's problem was, why were both of them so angry all the time? Jillian said she thought it was because they were Puerto Rican and came to the US and they feel like it's everyone against them, and they carried that attitude to the show - and I can see that, because no matter what happened, they thought EVERYONE was out to get them. The DJs also asked about Michael, because he seems so unpleasant, but Jillian said he gets better later this season. I'm not sure who I'm rooting for right now. I never really latched on to anyone this season. I think whoever said it was right - The Tara Machine ruined the show and I can never love anyone as much as her!

Not much to talk about so far this season. As for the red chick, from the previews for next week, I think she loses a TON next week because of her water-logging this week and last, Jillian gets pissed about it, and they showed the woman saying "I don't regret my decisions" or something like that.

Erik from Season 3. They showed him at the end of last season in a special BL episode going back to some of the past contestants. Yes, he lost about 200 pounds and gained it all back. Bob visited him at his house to confront him about it.

Happy New Year, Junies! The scale didn't move at all last week and I was afraid the plateau had already hit again, like it always does when I lose weight after a fill, so I was avoiding here and my blog. I got on the scale for the hell of it this morning, and I lost 4 more pounds! Down to 390 now. I wish I could tell you the last time I saw that number, but honestly, years ago I went from 340 down to 285, then I didn't even see a scale again until I hit 407 - I never even saw 390 as I blew past it. I'm so happy that I don't have to say I'm 400 pounds again. And I NEVER will again!

I lost about 4 pounds this week I was surprised though because stayed steady for a week and thought I was plateauing again already. So apparently what I'm doing is working! If I can keep it up, I can still make my goal.