Kat817

I go to Canon City to my fill Dr. Not too sure we wouldn't run into similar problems though with lack of a decent size airport to fly into, closer than DIA. Back when we were battling with Ricks ex---to fly in and out of Co. Springs or Pueblo was almost twice as expensive as out of Denver---but then you have the drive---and car rentals expense as well as meeting up with people in order to do it affordably. But don't ya know it would be an acheivement to come back to LBT and say the Violets hiked Pike's Peak!!!! Kat

I have no experience with Humana, but can give you an overall idea of what I have seen required here on the site. Most will require you to show a 5 year history of obesity---which you can do with any Dr. records that show your weight. You could have gone in with allergies, if they weighed you, it is documented---and will work. Most require a set BMI. Average is 40 with no co morbidities, and 35 with. Co morbidities being high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes, joint problems, high cholesterol, etc. Some require a time (6 months to some a year) of medically supervised weight loss attempts. You will be required to see a Dr. each month, and consult often times with a nutriotionist. Some do not require this at all. You can call the number on the back of your insurance card, and they can tell you what the requirements for your particular plan are. They should be more detailed than saying it has to be deemed medically necessary---they should have guidelines stating what falls in that category. Keep in mind, that someone elses experience with Humana may not be the same as yours it all depends upon the policy your employer bought. Some employers do not cover WLS even if the insurance company offers it. Once you find out what is required you can begin gathering things to submit. Some allow you to send photos, or letters on how this would improve your life, how strong the familial patterns are etc. If they don't give you any other information, I would get a package together to present to my Dr. so he could see it IS a medical necessity. Take candid photos, detail what each family member has wrong due to obesity. Show what all diets you have tried. Consider adding how your weight has crept up through the years, and anything you can come up with to make your point. Stress the fact that you are currently morbidly obese, and how that restricts your ability to obtain life insurance, and how it lessens your abilities to advance in your job.... Sell yourself! Go to your consult, hit a seminar or 2, study up on the surgery, it is not the easy way out. It does make the way out easier though! Be VERY prepared, so when your Dr, asks you questions, you can answer them with knowledge. The more you know going in, the better off you will do! Good Luck! And welcome to LBT! Kat

Never been to Atlantic City! I was trying to keep in mind several things at one time!! The biggest advantage to the gambling places, is multiple attractions, they usually have pretty affordable accomodations, and have transportation at hand. The last time we went to Vegas as a group it ended up costing me less than $300.00 total! And I won over $800. on a nickel slot!! We booked far enough in advance to avoid the hiked up rate when the conventions booked, and spent under $75.00 for a 3 night stay...on the strip! Now they have some awesome deals going down on Freemont street, they are trying to revive the old Glitter Gultch stretch. The buffets are always affordable in casinos--even though we do not do justice to a buffet, they usually are cheap!!! I agree that to try to schedule everyone in a narrow time frame in order to make a several hour drive---is going to be difficult. It would be nice to fly in, and grab a motel shuttle, or a cab---and be done! The only time I was in Phoenix, I found it a lot like Denver! Keep in mind it was years ago, I had kids at home! We always did the same things on vacations---amusement parks, zoos, sporting events....Which is why we totally enjoyed Denver---they have professional sporting events year round!!! They also had 2 big amusement parks....funny car drag racing, figure 8 stockcar racing----all the things my DH and the kids flocked to! And my SIL was there, and she and I would shop and do whatever else!!! I had the same arrangement in Phoenix, we had friends living there, so never had to gain knowledge in how expensive the motels etc were! I have never been to Chicago, or anywhere in Florida, or Tennessee....or many of the places suggested, so I am in for any of it!!! That's the thing with kids, for years you plan vacations they will love (thinking of Michelle!) and then when they move out on their own, you plan vacations to go see them!!! Of course Manda spent 4 years in Hawaii, so that was a hard vacation to take!!! Glad they are all within a few miles now! Would hate having to chase down my grandbabies!!! Kat

Headed into a long weekend here too. Rick is off the next 4 days. We had planned on going to Denver to the Stock Show, and to see family. But now my Mom is sick, and with Dad just having surgery, not sure whether we will go or not. I missed my favorite part of the weekend anyway---so if we don't go it is ok. They drive Texas longhorns through LoDo--Lower Downtown Denver---right through the big financial district! It is so ridiculous looking, all these longhorns amid the tall buildings, and the suits mixing with the horsemen, and cowboys! The stock show is lots of fun, but I always end up spending a fortune! Preparation keeps me on track much more than writing it down. If I plan ahead for having things available for snacking---separated into serving size if necessary---keeps me from overdoing! If I go to the kitchen and can grab a yogurt, or something ready at hand--I am less likely to binge on something not as good for me! And with grandkids, I always have a houseful of not good for me things! My DIL got irritable that I never had Cookies for Connor, so she buys them and leaves them here----and I know you will find this hard to believe but the only one I have seen eat any is her! If I buy a brick of cheddar cheese, if I will take and cut some up in small diced squares,and fill a few zip locks with it, then I can grab it, when I leave out to go somewhere, and Kinsey and I snack on it, as opposed to her wanting chips, and Granny having one or 2!!! I buy chicken breasts in bulk, so when I cook them for something I usually will dice up an extra and cook it in garlic and olive oil. We like it, Kinsey likes it so much better than popcorn chicken, she tries peeling the popcorn chicken!!! I think it all goes back to how we each learn differently----we each will have strong points in how we approach the weight loss. The way some learn by hearing, others doing....makes sense. Ok, makes sense to ME!! Today I plan on getting as much done here at home as possible to free us up this long weekend if possible. I had plans to meet my friend Marie for lunch, but we tend to sit and yack for an hour or longer over tea after lunch, so I usually leave Kinsey with my Mom. With her being sick, I may cancel---she is good in restaurants, while she is eating, but I want to concentrate on my friend, not on a 3 year old--------and they tend to be the center of attention in those situations! So guess I will do laundry, and mop--all the fun chores!! It is not supposed to get anywhere near above freezing today. Our highs will be in the 20's. Not a day to do anything but stay by the fire anyway I suppose! Guess I will go get my elliptical time in! BBL~~ Kat

That was the general feeling I got from Judy's post too TracyK----was kinda hard to tell though!!!! LOL Morning girlies! Kat

In my opinion it is SOOOOO much better to have a little cum on your coattails than all the blood on your hands our current so called leader has. Not sure exactly who I will support yet, I am still watching and considering, I am just thankful beyond all belief that the current joke cannot be re elected. Maybe now we can regain some respect, and credibility in the world, and quit acting like terrorists ourselves! Once again....this is strictly my own opinion!!! Kat

Movie was a blast!!!! There was a young couple say 16 or so. Then 2 other women with a young boy about Kinsey's age, and that was it!!! We raised the arms between about 4 seats, and made ourselves a nice sofa!!! It is stadium seating, so she could lay there with her head in my lap and watch. We got a medium popcorn and 2 small drinks, and I brought the pop corn home well over half full, for her to snack on tomorrow. We snuggled and giggled, had a wonderful time. She tells me "Granny I really love you with all my heart!" One of the women with the little boy tells me, "that just brought tears to my eyes! I think I will take her home with me!" Rick and I have been ebaying knives tonight. He collects old American made fixed blade knives....he spent too much $$$$!! Now we are off to bed. Great day here! Jen, I agree with Suzanne---we are here for that!!! We all come here to get support! That means you too! OK---I am off to bed! My resolution is hanging so far---getting more rest, and I DO feel better!!! Hugs~~ Kat

Look around---get some ideas and share them!!! Kat

Well, that seems like the million dollar question!!! When Michelle did the original vote, it ended up with a tie, so I suppose we need to hear from people to let us know if they want to fall back on another one of the originally voted on plans, or formulate a new one. Then we can move from there. Luckily we are not planning this for next week---so we can wait to hear from ones like Judy who is out of town, to make a decision. Til then we need to hear from everyone to get a consensus on what to do from here. Where we decide, will pretty much tell us whose lap this will fall in to!! And yes TracyK there are some awesome parts of NM, it is a state that has some of most kinds of scenery you would want to see....it is also very big----not as big as TX by far, but would still take a full day to drive from one end to the other!!! My area is nice enough, not the prettiest in the standard sense---very remote, and full of wide open spaces. Not sure everyone would appreciate it! But it is ALWAYS open to each and every one of you! ANYTIME! So even if this get together is not done here---if any of you are ever anywhere close---or want to plan a trip this way---you are WELCOME!!!!!! There are lots of mountains, and dessert type lands, native ruins, and petroglyphs....but many of them require 4WD to fully explore and enjoy! As for the shop til ya drop crowd.....my home is a massive dissappointment! Dirty Rotten Shame too!!! So in answer to what to do next....I guess my answer would be....I dunno! Kat

So glad it all went well Pat----was thinking about you!!! ((((gentle hugs)))) and continued prayers for healing! Kat

Well I know this will make lots of you jealous---but I am off to the movie. I have plans with a 3 year old for an encore of Alvin and the Chipmunks. She has taken an early nap in preparation without a whimper, so we are off to eat a taco, and see some Chipmunks!! Catch y'all later! Kat

If you have never been to Texas it is an experience all of its own! They are PROUD to be Texans!!! They have the state flag on everything, roofs to business' are painted like the flag, clothing, those pop up shades....you name it! But you also see almost as many confederate flags----especially if you end up passing a cemetary you will see tons of confederate flags! But as a rule, you would be hard pressed to find people any friendlier overall. And Lady Bird Johnson, saw to it that the state highways are bordered by wild flowers! It is a beautiful place if you catch it before it dries up in the summer!!! Kat

Laura the next tip in the article to make you recover from a feeling fat day was to wear a belt! So you are ok! Coming from a Granny sitting here in jeans and a sweatshirt!!! And a blue sweatshirt no less....like yours many sizes too big! I can't stand the ones that fit right now, the neckline rubs my incision, and it is hypersensitive....so it is either V necked--or too big!!! My cancer was not detected with a pap smear, although I had several abnormal ones. Mine was found in a biopsy done following hospitalization from a hemhorraging episode---I had 3 of them. My cancer was in the uterine lining. Endometrial cancer---often referred to under the umbrella of uterine cancer. I had dealt with endometriosis for years, so when they did my hysto. they took over 8 hours cleaning things up, because the endometriosis causes you to bleed outside of the uterine cavity is one of the causes of pain. So they had to clean tissue from all the way down between my kidneys, since it was potentially cancerous. I was also given a strong round of chemo followed by standard for the type of cancer I was Dx'd with. The endometrial tissue had covered most everything, so they took it all, both ovaries, everything. I told them for years something was wrong. Then one visit...ONE with a young new, Canadian Dr, and it was found and scheduled for treatment. Maybe it was coincidence, but it made me mad!!! Kat

Scratch the Gay, and you describe me....and I pay taxes there, so I hope not!! LOL Kat Yep we laugh at the buckles....in fact the bimbos running around the rodeos----we always called them Buckle Bunnies!! But I personally believe it is a tombstone for a dead _ _ _ _ !!!! Kat

***TIP OF THE DAY*** Combatting the Feeling Fat Days We all have them... Red Does Wonders Have you ever noticed that certain colors make you feel a certain way? Green, for instance, can calm you down. Yellow can lift your spirits and bring a shot of joy into your heart. And red can work magic because it is the color of courage, strength, and power. And believe me, when you are having one of those fat days, a little courage helps a lot. Only yesterday I was feeling grumpy, pudgy, and tired. I took off the beige shirt I was wearing and slipped on a red blouse instead. Just looking at it made me feel more alive. It wasn't an instant cure, but it did remind me that strength and power are qualities I already possess, qualities so near that I wear them literally on my sleeve. My mother says red is a happy color. Red also evokes bravery and the ability to separate from what's keeping you stuck, which is important to do on a feeling-fat day. The truth is, feeling fat has less to do with last night's bread pudding than it does with your old beliefs about the connection between fat and self-worth, and between the size of your body and what you feel you are allowed to do or say or be. Wearing red supports the idea that your past does not rule your life. It is a message to your psyche that says, "Though I ate bread pudding last night, and my stomach is awash with ripples today, I am still allowed to be strong and powerful. I am still allowed to be loved and love myself. So pipe down." If you've avoided everything red because you are convinced that wearing this color makes you look terminally ill, the word on the street is that with the proper shade of red, anyone's skin will glow. Consider magenta, burgundy, fuchsia, or ruby. Or try shades that sound like romance novels: cherries in the snow, forever berry, or russet moon. But if you are steadfast in your anti-red stance, or if you need to wear sober uniforms to work, remember that you can adorn your toes, nails, and lips with red. As those who have spent years in retail therapy know, the operative word is accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. by Geneen Roth --Prevention Magazine. I seriously find a difference in attitude based upon what I am wearing! Have a great day girls, and remember you ARE powerful! You ARE strong, and you ARE loved by your Violets!! Kat

San Antonio's River Walk--Remember the Alamo is totally awesome!!! We still have to figure out a way to transport Jennifer!!! If it involved a cute Texan in "Wrangler Butts drive me nuts" tight jeans---it would be even better! We go to one of the Art Fairs in the little town near where our place in TX is--I love them! If gambling is still on some minds, there is always off season Atlantic City......cheap! Kat

Pamela----IMHO, if you are not planning to have a child...HYSTERECTOMY!!!!!!!!!!! It would be a serious toss up which surgery I am most thankful for, it or my band, and y'all know how much I love my band!!! I wish I had forced the issue when I first began having problems and abnormal paps. But they balked, and wham then I ended up with the seriously bad testing and found out I had cancer! I wish I had done it years before, and saved myself the Dx and all it entailed....the fears, and the chemo.... I was not planning any more kids, I was done with the plumbing! I have not had issues with lack of hormone, that cannot be easily addressed. Way TMI for the forum--but PM me if you want!!! Feel better girls---so sorry you feel crummy!! Kat

Looks like for the time being, we are back up and running---WTG Alex!!! Kat

Laura this is posting in the wrong thread-----all of our links are sending us here by mistake! This is the introduction thread.....go figure! Kat

Michelle---if Laura's Dad cannot make plans ahead, is the cabin still an option? It would allow us to include Jenn again....and fall in with Judy's original plan..... One way or another we will figure this out. I'd be up for Palm Springs! Or y'all could head to the 4 corners!!! Kat

Laura----tell your Dad there is a Hawaiian shirt in it for him!!!! LOL Kat

Laura----tell your Dad there is a Hawaiian shirt in it for him!!!! LOL Kat

He does not want to go? He could gamble!!!! We'll figure it out don't worry--we had fall back plans.... Kat

Did I get all my work done? Well yeah pretty much! Cleaned the fridge (there were growing science experiments in there!) Cleaned the microwave---I blew up melting butter yesterday! Paid my bills--bought stamps---and mailed said bills! Carried in firewood. Read a Dora the Explorer book for the bazillionth time. Washed the storm door--it gets 2-3 foot high hand prints all over it! Grandson was here last night, and smeared BBQ sauce! Glad it was just the door. My DIL refuses to watch him. And since it was her feeding it to him I think it is her place to watch! I could go on....but they were boring, mundane household junk I had been putting off! Like the bills---how stupid is that??? I usually just do mostly online banking, but if it is something I need to write a check for I do it when it comes in, so I don't forget--I had not forgot, just opted to put it off!!! Lazy! Jenn---see you here! Whats shakin'? Any news on your court hearing??? You been in my prayers girl! Rick called and he wants chili dogs for dinner. He very , VERY seldom asks for anything in particular, and he is not picky---so I usually try to fix what he asks for.....but chili dogs??? He said someone brought one in at lunch---and it looked good. Fun! I don't do real well with chili like that, it gives me massive heart burn sometimes. Will hope for the best. Pamela--you did good today avoiding the sugar!! I have done ok with the eating thus far, nothing to brag about, but nothing to seriously confess either!!! I have drank plenty today, so that is good. Well I am going to go and refill my tea speaking of it! Will check with y'all later! Hugs!! Kat

I am all over LBT! I like the support, and the friendships I have made here. When I come here I can obssess about my weight, whether it be gain or loss at the moment, and discuss my band without boring or irritating all the unbanded people in my life to death!!!! Yeah, the Dr. actually took me to the "little room" and told me my husband was bleeding out, and would likely expire (oh how I hate that word anymore!) in the next 10 to 15 minutes. He had had open heart surgery 2 months prior for a failing valve, and the local cardio Dr's office did not correctly monitor his coumadin---which is a blood thinner, and they had him so thin, that when he vomitted due to a reaction to an antibiotic, he tore it both sides! And his blood simply would not clot! Following that he had to have 2 endoscopic surgical procedures to cut and remove stuck food, and even the Dr. said they were teeny bites! But they doubled his Nexium for a few months, and eventually proper motility returned....thank God! It has now been over a year and he has been problem free. He is also not on coumadin any longer which was the worst of the problem. I have been present at many a slaughter being a farm girl, and I had never seen so much blood! They were so surprised he pulled through it, he had Dr.'s & nurses coming in just to see if he really did survive with his faculties in tact! And he did--he is as much of a smart ass as ever!!! So glad your son is doing well also!!! And Lisa---glad the coke helped! So much better than an unfill!!! Not to mention likely a lot cheaper!! Kat