silvers320

I was a BMI of 41 in July of 2008. I am currently at around 29.5 - a loss of about 100 pounds. I still have 20 or 25 more pounds to go. But I dont think that is going to be an issue. Unlike the many diets I have tried and had some success with (only to gain back more)- the band truly is a lifestyle adjustment. I think some cold feet are normal, I think. My cold feet didnt set in until after the surgery. I asked myself --Why did I do this? I could do it on my own. I must be weak. Now, I wouldn't change it for the world. I will admit I am one of the rare people that has had some port problems. All manageable, but point being - I will still do it a again in a NY Minute! Good Luck

I watched Desperate Housewife's this week and the concept of a porn name came up. The idea is its the name of your first pet and then the name of the street you grew up on. So I thought the same concept would be fun for naming the band - although with a twist. So my idea is your favorite food as a pre bander and the name of your first car. So that makes me Entenmann Supreme!

I vote for wait, you dont want it to interfere with your ability to do the Chicken Dance!

Everyone is talking about the how much she cares for these kids. She was on Dateline the other night and they were filming inside her house - which was gross! Not just messy with kids stuff, as will happen when you have kids but dirty. If this is how she keeps her house when she KNOWS the TV crew is on its way - what kind of mess is it the rest of time! As for plans of TV shows and book deals. I plan on leading the charge against whatever networks and publishers sign this woman. Yes, its partially her abuse of a system that needs to be reworked that bothers me, but its the also the fact that she put her wants over the needs of her 6 children. I also think the doctors license should be revoked. And don't even get me started on her back trauma. Think about this for a moment, this woman had no issues problems, etc racking up easily 1,000,000 worth of medical bills - their estimate not mine. And yet how many people come into this room every day and cry because they want to change their lives with WLS and can't afford it. Why are her choices more important then an obese persons?

Pre Surgery 1. Bring a pillow and an insulated mug (for ice chips) for the ride home. 2. If you live alone make sure you move your 1st week food to the top shelves of the refridge. Post Surgery 1. The mental part requires some work too. Your making a huge change, its more then just a pant size. 2. The value of this website. I didnt find it until about 3 months after the surgery. 3. Follow your Doc's orders to the tee. I did, but I see more and more people on here who are eating solids 2 or 3 days out. I think these first weeks are important not only for healing but for "retraining" yourself how to eat.

I can understand being upset with your mother. However, don't write her off so quickly. On one hand you should consider yourself lucky that in your mid -30s your mom is still with you. You should try to look at it from Mom's point of view. She is more then likely of the generation where love was shown thru food. Try taking to her about your concerns for your DD health and get her on board with the family's new healthier ways. Wow - I feel like Dr. Phil!

Guys, I have done really well on the Couch to 5k but I am looking for something to do on my non running days. I am looking something like the podcasts from Couch to 5k but for spinning. Anyone have a suggestion?

I don't know the doc, but I have been to the hospital a couple of times. I thought the service and level of cleanliness was far greater at Vassar Bros then St Francis. No one in the area was really doing banding when I started looking into it so I went out of the area.

WOW! I guess your entitled to your opinion but let me say this. The site is designed so that you can avoid the areas you have no interest in. In the real world do you only discuss one topic with one group of friends? I think not. The fact is people become friendly on here and as in the real world they elect to discuss multiple topics. In the 8 months or so that I have been on here, I cant say that I have seen anyone be deemed for a silly question. What I have seen is people who are too lazy to research and want information spoon feed to them. I have seen people get snipped at for that as they SHOULD! They are adults making major life changes, and should be committed to educating themselves

As you weight drops you might what to think about saying: I am watching my portions, eating healthier, and working out more. All of which will be true. Not everyone needs every detail.

I lived on SF pudding with protein power added, might not have been the most balanced but of the things I tried it was what tasted the best. As rough as this period is, think about this- 8 or 9 weeks of hell to get back to small amount of real food vs a lifetime of yo yo dieting and being unhealthy. I figured I could do anything for 8 or 9 weeks. Good luck

It seems, if I understand that you have insurance and the approval is done! That's the hardest part. Take it for someone who fought over a year for insurance approval. So congrats. I know that my insurance was billed about 35,000- and paid somewhere around 16,000. I was then charged I think less then $200 between the hospital, surgeon etc. You have to do what's right for you but make the decision based on the best thing for you- not out of frustration.

Not really a list of bring with you items but things I wish I had done differently: If you have things on the bottom shelf of the refrig - move them up the night before. Bending will be rough for the first couple of days. Same goes for other areas of the house - if your socks are in the bottom drawer thats going to be a problem. Take pics of yourself. I know no one wants Fat pics or thinks "oh I must have some around the house - I have been fat for years". The fact is when your are at a plateau pics to remind yourself of how far you have come will be very helpful. And the fact is most of us have avoided pics for years! I went home the same day and was very dry mouthed. I wished I would have had a large insulated mug (like a DD coffee mug) for ice chips from the hospital. The pillow is a biggie for the ride home.

I was out xmas shopping yesterday, and had to eat lunch, out. So I went to Wendy's for the first time since being banded. Its not my favorite anymore but it was a busy day. I thought when I got home about my typical meal before surgery (which I was usually still hungry from) vs what I ate yesterday. Thought I would share: Before - Baconator Meal/ FF & Diet Coke - 1,300 calories After- Jr. Cheeseburger/ Small FF (ate about 1/3) - so I figured at the Wendy's website -350 calories max. No wonder I was busting out of my 44 pants!

You didn't say why she thought they would deny, so I assuming because you didn't have visits 5 and 6 - because the doctor is hospitalized. I know that my 6 months were actually closer to over 8 or 9 months - so if the doctor is planning on coming back you do that. Good Luck

Doublewall, I don't not IF fighting the denial will help get it approved but I KNOW that not fighting it is certainly not going to get it approved! I know is frustrating but take some time and work on the appeal. You have nothing too lose and everything to gain.You can get most of the information on the internet. I don't know if your state as a level of appeal but mine did and that's what worked in my case. Good luck.

At the end of the day, you have to make the decision that works best for you. But here are some of the things I thought about: Lap Band - reversible, no food was completely off limits (later learned that carbonation is bad), less invasive, less risky ( in terms of # of deaths per surgery) and adjustable. Bypass - not reversible, not adjustable, higher risk of death during surgery, food issues (dumping with sugar). Do what's right for you. Good luck.

Its not Westchester but its close - Greenwich CT, Dr Molinelli - I highly recommend him. His office staff is ok - not great so you have to stay on top of them but he is great. I am down about 85 lbs since late July so your goal is reachable. Good Luck.

I did the 6 months for Atena - the first denial came quickly after the 6 months was over ( I would guess within two weeks). It took an appeal which took somewhere between 30-45 days to get finally great approved. It turns out not everything had been submitted or was lost -which caused the first denial. Make sure you document everything. Good luck

Guy- here are a couple of things that work for me when I it a wall: 1. I kick up the calories for a couple of days - then go back to my normal diet. 2. I kick up the protein -either thru shakes or those tubes things. 3. I know you said your doing an hour of cardio but I was just reading in Mens Health about doing less cardio with best results - by doing internals - I think it was the May or June issue. You can check it out online

So I have some questions: I read on here somewhere there are "issues" about soy for men. Of course that's all that was said. I looked on line and can't find anything. I don't use a lot but I actually like the taste and convenience soy milk. What's the deal with Carbs in food - there are good carbs and bad carbs. How do I make a smart choice when looking at a label as it relates to carbs? Thanks for the help