laurenwhite82

Thought Id post on here too... Im about 70 lbs down in these pictures, lost about 5 more since then. Wanna lose 70ish more. Kinda in slump at the moment....trying to work past it!

I have a concert coming up and had nothing to wear so I decided to go hunting in my parents closets thinking I might run across something. I pulled out a dress that I wore my senior year in high school (almost 10 years ago!) and it fit! Its even a little big! Its gonna be weird to be smaller than I was in high school!

So i thought Id post some pics... My weight loss has gone rather slowly but im getting there. The first pic is around 260ish...a little smaller than my heaviest and the last is right around 200. 70ish to go!!!

She has still *never* seen Russia though. She knows very little of Russian politics. Being next door will not be a reminder that the world is small and we should all get along. I'm sorry. Watcher....I got that from a friend as well....very interesting. The educational differences alone are astounding. No one can dispute that.

Come on people....she talks all the time about her foreign policy experience being that she can "see Russia" from Alaska. In fact, there is only one area in Alaska where you can see Russia and she's never even been there. The town is called Little Diomede and it is on the very edge of the Bering Strait, directly across from Big Diomede which is technically Russia. Here, 35% of the population lives under the poverty line and there is no hospital. Citizens are required to go to Nome for heath care. The only politician who has been to this area is Senator Ted Stevens (aka not Sarah Palin). There are many areas of our country that border Mexico and Canada. I am sure that many people here live in areas where they are able to see these countries. Does this mean they have foreign policy experience? On another note...her grammar is terrible. Maybe it is "elitist" of me to want a vice president who has a high mastery of our language. If so, then so be it. Some of the grammar is an act to appeal to a certain type of voter, which is quite condescending. It is mind boggling that we as American's want someone who is on the same level as ourselves running our country. Scary really! It really undermines all of the acomplishments that women have made when this one very visible woman feels the need to "dump on the cute" and "hick it up" when she is being challenged. She is, in effect, super gluing the glass ceiling back together when she does this. For the love of all things sacred, she gave a "shout out" at the vice presidential debate. Need I say more. There are many qualified Republican women, however, she is definitely not one of them.

She uses her femininity as a crutch when she is under pressure. Things like winking at the camera during a debate are actually setting back the modern woman. If you don't see this, I really don't know what to say.

My boyfriend ate an entire McDonalds Cheeseburger meal in front of me plus 2 cookies. Granted I had given him permission earlier, but I took it back when he walked in the door. I was sooooo mad!!

I was banded on Monday and have the same pressure. It has gotten better but its not gone yet....seems to be more common in people who had a hernia repair. Is that the case with you all?? Hope it goes away soon. It is worst when I lay down flat in bed. I barely slept in the hospital because of it. Good luck to everyone just starting out. Ive only had a few fleeting moments of "what the hell did I do to myself!!!" How about you guys?

I had to do 5-6 slim fast or optifast shakes a day for 2 weeks. I could also have broth, salad greens, sf jello, crystal lite, etc. The slim fast shakes were making me sick so I cut back on them and have been eating more greens and broth. I actually feel a lot better even though im technically eating fewer calories. Im not really all that hungry either. I started the diet on Monday, Aug 25th and have lost 6 pounds already! Crazy!

Im on day 2 as well. I feel kinda pukey too. Im doing slim fast and Im not really sure how im gonna do this for 2 more weeks. Luckily, I can have a small salad with lunch and dinner. The headache is not as bad today. Hope these 2 weeks go by quickly cause slim fast is yucky! I feel like everything suggested to me for the pre op diet has been sickly sweet....anyone with me??? Im gonna get some broth and put unfavored unjury in it at night as a substitute for one of the FIVE slim fasts I am supposed to drink a day. Gag!:thumbup:

I also told anyone who would hear me. Hope it will keep me motivated. Plus, I was gone so much for appointments and stuff, I felt like I kinda had to explain myself....at least to my supervisors. Most have been very supportive and those who haven't or have been on the fence, I informed them about what I was doing and they kinda backed down. (When they figured out that, yes, I had done my research and am ready to do this!) Im pretty much an open book anyway....dont keep secrets well. Hopefully telling everyone wont come back to haunt me.

Add me in!! Im on Sept 8th at NYU with Dr. Ren. Also, I just found out yesterday I was approved by Cigna (in 2 days!). Congrats everyone!

My hospitals insurance coordinator just called me and....Im approved!!!! Im so excited. My surgery is at NYU on Sept. 8th with Dr. Ren!

Oops...didnt read!

Also, there are liquid fish oil packets from a company called Coromega that taste pretty good. Not fishy at all! They come in packets about the size of a ketchup packet and they have 3 flavors (lemon-lime, orange, and chocolate-orange). I got a sample from my PCP and decided to order them. I just ordered from the website, but I think some stores carry it too. There is a list on their website of stores that sell it. I got a 90 pack and it was close to $40.

Yay!!! Congratulations!!! Its about time.

Well, here is what I wrote.... "I am getting kind of nervous about the timeline here. I start my liquid diet on the 25th. I already have the time off from work for the date scheduled and my mother already has a plane ticket to come in to help me recover. I don't mean to be pushy, but can you tell me when this will be completed. I know Cigna tends to take a while to make decisions, so I appreciate your help pushing this along." Hope its not too mean, but seriously, come on! Do your job! Mom- My paperwork (as you can see) has not been submitted so I really have no advice for you other than to keep lots of documentation and do everything they ask, just like they ask for it. You shouldn't really have issues if you meet their qualifications and follow their guidelines. Jonny- Thanks for the advice. I will call Cigna today to see who will handle the claim. Good idea! I hope this goes quickly....I really get tired of harassing people so they will do their job efficiently.

I received my surgery date at the end of July and I was told my paperwork would be submitted to Cigna right away since they tend to be rather slow in making decisions. A week after I met with the coordinator, I e mailed her to see if she had submitted my paperwork....she had not but said she would do it last week. E mailed today to see if it had been done, of course not. I am worried she is going to run it right up to the line and I will not get approved in time. My mother is flying in to take care of me after surgery and I am gonna be mega pissed if I dont get approval in time due to this. I am trying not to be a pushy b****, but its getting hard for me. Any suggestions of what I should do?? Thanks in advance for the help all!

I will be banded on September 8th by Dr. Ren at NYU Medical Center!!!! Yay!!!!

I thought maybe it was just me....Im so worn down from all these tests and appointments. It doesnt help that my work is kinda pissy when I am gone too much. I already did the psych, nutritionist, a physical, 6 months worth of appointments with my general practicioner, and endoscopy, a sleep study, and a pulmonary function test. I have a surgery date so all I have left is the pre admission testing (which takes about 2 - 2 1/2 hours) and one other small blood test. Its just exhausting chasing around making sure everyone got everything they were supposed to get. Not to mention, they are about to submit my paperwork to Cigna, so stressing about that too. Ahhhh! I hope I make it to September 8th without jumping out my 12th floor window at work!:biggrin:

Thanks all! How do I get the samurai thing in my signature??

I'm getting banded on Sept 8th as well! Congrats. Hopefully the time will pass quickly and the insurance gods will smile down upon me!

I hope someone answers this....I have asked before but no one seems to know! I will more than likely be in a similar situation. My office fills are much cheaper than that though....thats ridiculous!

I just found out that I have to stay overnight...I dont wanna (in a whiny voice)! My dr requires all of his patients an overnight stay. Sucks, but oh well.

Weird! Have you considered calling the American Board of Psychologists to report his behavior. Im sure they would want to know. My BF is a Psychologist, and those things just are not okay...