*slim*

b-baked spaghetti fake out (thanks Georgia Girl) l-strawberry nutrigrain bar d-faked out pizza (portabella cap as crust)

I haven't actually dealt with it completely yet. I am going to a counselor that deals specifically with people with eating disorders and emotional eating issues. So far, I have just been having some major shouting matches with my husband and mother (the two people who send me to snack the most) instead of just accepting whatever they say. Neither of them like it, but I am trying to avoid a binge session with cake or Cookies. I don't have any restriction yet, so I could probably get those things down easily.

I get my first fill at my 4 week appointment on 10/23 I split my protein bullet in half myself. It does leave a little bit of an aftertaste when you drink the whole thing. The only time I use the whole thing now is in Jello. Let me know what they say about that bottle. I really like it. If they tell you it should be ok, I will go buy myself one.

The pre-op diet and when to start it are based on your surgeon. They ususually start anywhere from a few days to up to 3 weeks prior to the surgery. My surgeon gave a 2 week liquid only diet. Every surgeon's diet is different. Just check with them on what your diet is to be and when to start it. Good luck on your journey!

My biggest difficulty has been getting control of my emotional eating. When you can't eat to stuff the emotion, you have to actually deal with those emotions. If you are an emotional eater, you want to start finding another way to deal with emotions before you have surgery. Also, if you are a constant snacker, you want to start curbing that whether it is with walking or doing something else constructive. Good luck on your journey!

I have the protein bullets. They taste ok in crystal light. I have also made jello with them. Another trick that I have been doing to get protein is adding non-fat milk powder to things like my coffee in the morning. I drink sugar free carnation instant breakfast. I think if it is only the protein, I will be ok.

Teri, I hope that you have seen or talked to the surgeon. Hopefully he has said everything is fine. Keep us posted when you can.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Alex!!! :frown::confused::Banane34:

Way go to go!:confused:

That seems odd that they said it wasn't a problem at your pre-op class, but then said that everyone loses some hair at my pre-op class. Oh well, it was even in a book that I read about gastric banding. It said that although some people swear by taking biotin, that in truth nothing but time will help. Some women on this forum have sworn by the biotin too. Thankfully, the daily vitamin that I take has biotin in it. I guess time will tell how much hair I actually lose when the time comes.

I like the look of that bottle, but there is one problem. Dr. Ponce says no straws. We inhale too much air with each sip. You might want to show it to them before you actually use after surgery.

Brooke does look bad. She hadn't cut her hair when I went in last week, so it isn't the hair that is making her look that big. I have never seen Dr. Fromm. It doesn't sound good that he didn't at least pretend to have interest in what you were saying as the patient. I wonder how long he has actually been doing the surgeries. Maybe that is why he has not heard of the hair loss. I know when I went to my pre-op class, the hair loss was mentioned. They actually said it was due to the trauma of the surgery on the body. They said that every one experiences it to some degree. I hope that you see some improvement in it soon.

How awesome Debbie!

That is a good idea.That gves me a good excuse to go in there. I have been wanting to go there since before they moved the store. I pass there everyday taking my son to school on that side of town.

I'm glad that you mentioned that. I just went to my insurance company's website. They have the EOB for my upper GI and my surgeon. They paid all of the upper GI. They paid all but $182 for the surgeon. They had already had me pay $305 for my part so they owe me some money.

Yeah! It is a small victory, but I victory all the same!

I SO wanted to. Remind me not sneak up on you!:biggrin:

I chose the lap band because it was the less invasive procedure. I had never heard of the sleeve when I started researching. My insurance only pays for gastric bypass and lap band anyway. I didn't like the side effects and permanency of RNY. Also, I have a friend that had it done, and she has gained quite a bit of her weight back. All she can do now is either have her RNY revised, or get lap band on top of it. I would rather just get another fill.

Thanks She. Truer words have never been spoken.

I looked at my insurance companies website today. They show that they have received and processed my surgeon's charges. The insurance company shows my part as $180.22 out of $9,100. I was already charged by the surgeon's office $305 which they said was my part left from insurance. Has anyone ever had this happen? Were you given a refund of any of that money?

I just had this for dinner tonight! I will be eating this again!

I can only dream of that kind of refund. I am glad you were able to get that much back. Were they as fast giving it back as they were taking yours?

Thank you for posting this. I have been so concerned about the fact that I am not losing at the rate that other people seem to be losing. I should remember that this is not a race. Thanks for the honest portrayal. You look awesome! Keep up the good work.

I am glad that you are doing ok. It probably is a good thing that you know what to look for now, so that when you get your fills, you will recognize what some of us probably will not (being too tight). Hopefully you won't have to worry about it. Continued success!

Thank you. I called them and she said exactly what you said.:biggrin: Who would have ever thought I would get money back!