Kat817

There's your answer Chelle, send 'em to green!! Just kidding!!! I couldn't resist! We have issues with a friend of DH's always running himself short from payday to payday. Now the difference is, he does pay it back---faithfully on each payday---only to turn around a week later and borrow it back. He drinks a lot of his paycheck...so I figure someday he will lose this paycheck, but til then, DH keeps him going from one check to the next. It is never enough to make nor break us, I just get irritated by it. So I tend to stay out of it. He did ask once to borrow money for a car,and DH laughed at him---and he has never wanted more than the couple hundred he borrows and pays back every other week!!! A niece ask once, and we knew we would never see it again, both of my DH's sisters kids, could not survive if his sisters did not supplement them regularly---so we knew we would never see it again. We told her we had everything tied up with a financial advisor, we could talk to him, but if we withdrew anything it would have to have a contract, and interest to satisfy him. She said no thanks and has never ask again. My best friend had her SIL come to her to ask for money a few days ago, and ask her not to tell her brother---she is in deep with several of the payday loan people. My friend said she would help, but she would tell....just to let her know. They received a huge settlement from a work injury not long ago, and have all kinds of people asking for money----people expect it to be easy--and someone else can work for it. Good Luck--I've enjoyed reading the responses! Kat

Judy mentioned what I was wondering---if you might have a leak. You can ask that your next fill be done with Omnipaque. When your Dr. does your fills, does he remove the fill that is in there, and check to see if it is mostly accounted for? Might be a place to start....good luck! Kat

Walk in to the financial offices with your signed contract in hand. Offer them a copy of it, along with your first monthly payment. If that fails, speak to an attorney, and let them pay for it all themselves, for breaking the contract. Their inexperience in the situation will work in your favor I would think. I would not step down, if they signed a contract with me, I would do everything in my power, and beyond to make them honor it. There are often trouble shooters at local TV stations, who make noise making things right for people. Your contract is your golden ticket to making them re think things. In my albeit inexperienced, opinion. I agree most surgeons do require it to be paid up front, but if they made other arrangements with you, and went so far as to sign a contract, then it seems with you they will have to make an exception to their new rules. I will be interested to see how you get this done---I believe you will!! Good Luck! Kat

Thanks my friends for worrying about Kinsey with me---it's a shame that at 2 she does not know about all the cyber Aunties she has!!! The good (while not being exactly good) news is, my great nephew, Aiden, who was here for the party, was sick the last couple of days with a belly ache. My niece said he did not complain of anything else, just his tummy hurting--just like Kinsey. And while they were here, and we were riding the quads, Kinsey and Aiden were together a lot of that time. So maybe just a bug and it will pass. She is eating a little, she had some mac & cheese and went back to the couch and is back asleep. If she is running fever it is mild....so guess we will just watch and see how she does. The stupid pediatricians office NEVER calls back. cBut there is not a ped. in our area taking new patients....our area sucks so bad for medical care. Anyway, I was going to take her out and rake leaves into the pumpkin bags....but, she is asleep, and I cannot find my bags---guess it is back to looking in case she feels better when she gets up next. TTYL~~ Kat

Yep, I had the panic hit a few times before surgery!! I believe it to be normal. I read things on here, and scoured the before and after thread, for inspiration. I would find a person who had similar stats to mine, and see where I could go! I would see someone with a similar shape, and see the improvement. I knew I needed the surgery, or some miracle. I was scared to death I would die and no one could lift my casket. More scared of that than the surgery! I would not hold much hope for liking the Isopure to be honest. It is not yummy. It is however helpful! I drank it. They also make test tubes of high Protein shots---you can shoot those like a dose of medicine and get on with your life, and sip away at liquid you like---and Water, lots of water. I am thankful everyday I sucked it up, and had surgery. I consider it one of the very best things I have ever done for me. I think you will continue to receive responses from others who had massive panic attacks, and some who may have even backed out, only to follow through at a later date. It was not really a hard decision for me to make, as much as it was hard for me to admit how out of control I was, and how unlikely it was that I could ever do it any other way. It almost seemed like admitting a failure. I am so glad I went through with my surgery---life is so much easier without that 100 pounds---wish I had done it years ago! Welcome, and feel free to vent, question, just talk away any fears, we will do our best to understand and help! Kat

Might be something worth having here at LBT--there are always questions popping up about fill Dr.'s etc. Kat

Some of the issues I suppose could be jealousy, but I can't think that would be the initial response from people you consider friends! I would be more inclined to think that it scared them! Until you have reason to look into WLS, most of the things you hear about it are negative. There are horror stories, everyone knows someone who had it and did terribly!!! Unfortunately we do some of it to ourselves. Bypass patients say bad things about the band, and some bandsters bad mouth the bypass. And to be very fair, for many years, it was a dangerous undertaking, and only a very last resort. That is just not so anymore. My suggestion would be, that if these people are important to you---a friend you cannot imagine losing, take them to the seminar with you. Let them become familiar with the way things are done now. Teach them that the band is not the easy way out, you must still workat it, and you will need their help and understanding and support to get yourself healthy. If they still balk at that, then I agree, there may be some jealousy or something at work and they are not the friends you had hoped they were. Back 3 years ago, when my friend told me she was going to Mexico to be banded--I about flipped! I had only heard horror stories! I ask questions, and she answered them, I cannot however say I appeared supportive! As she continued to make her plans, I kept looking into it as well, not aware of any of it! It was all new to me, she met someone who had been banded in MX and it was enough to spur her onto research it for herself, and later I used her info and continued the research myself. Even my DD called me on it---thinking she was nuts for going to MX for surgery then turning around and doing it myself!!! Fear for loved ones runs deep---give them a chance to redeem themselves---they likely do not have the info you do. Let them read around here, or attend a Dr.'s appt. anything that helps them understand. Just keep in mind you chose these friends for a reason, and they likely just want you safe. They care about you the way you are---give them a chance to prove their friendship is not based on looks alone. I would hate to think my friend thought I was questioning her because I was unwilling to be fat alone---that had nothing to do with it. I am extremely glad she put the thought in my head, and led the way---but my reaction was based on fear, not jealousy. Good Luck in your research---read lots, and ask any questions you might have. Welcome to LBT! Kat

Good Luck Diane---see ya in bandland!!! Be sure to save some room for Jessica in bandland, she will be here soon!!! Pat our wedding anniversary is the 10th of November. Took us too long to get our chit together to make it 39 years!!! But we'll get there!!! Was cold here too, but dry, and supposed to stay that way through Halloween. Kinsey is so excited, Lindzie too, Connor has not got a clue and refuses to keep his costume on. Kinsey hasbeen down with a tummy ache, hope it is better, after her ordeal last summer, it always scares me! We spent the morning making cookies. It is amazing what a lazy Granny can do!!! We took store bought rolls of sugar cookie dough, and sliced it, then used the end pieces, and formed little stems, attached them to each circle, and voila` pumpkins!!! I wish you could have seen the look on Kinseys face when I made the icing go from the white to orange with just a few drops of food coloring---she was so impressed!!! I am a magic Granny!!! Then she made faces with chocolate chips---most of them you can tell are jack o lanterns!!! I always have a housefull for Halloween---and my DIL says they are coming here and just spending the day, and going trickor treating from here. I love my grandson, but am not looking forward to that---he is into EVERYTHING!!! And either I am the mean Granny or he gets away with it, she does not correct him. I have said things so many times, it just falls on deaf ears. Well, I hope everyone is ok---will try to get back after the next cookies are done~ Hugs--- Kat

I hope your next fill gives you some restriction, that will do wonders for you! Right now you have the band and it is not doing anything to help. Kind of like buying a car, and not having any gas to go anywhere. Hope this helps---and you can keep coming back here for butt kicking support either way!!! Kat

Good Morning- Panda, sorry you are hurting, but it does sound like this is a good thing, it will make conception so much easier if you ovulate voluntarily. Til then, I can only say I sympathize, but don't miss that! My Kinsey is still not feeling well, she is again complaining her tummy hurts. This is like a recurrent nightmare! I want them to ultrasound her, and check her appendix, they seem to only want to make sure she stays hydrated. Poor baby, was in the hospital for the 4th of July, and looks like she might be sick for Halloween. It scares me so bad, she is so small. They said her normal eating, digesting, and passing of waste is normal, so they do not think there is physical abnormalities say in the intestine, due to her prematurity...I don't know, I just know it kills me when she cries because she hurts, and I can't help. Then Manda calls to check onher and cries because she can't be with her without risking her job. I know it sounds bizarre, but the fires in California are taking a big toll on my DD's job here in NM. Teh company she works for is considered a gathering company, they work to get all the natural gas wells into a central pipeline organization, and the gas we drill for here, is piped to CA. Well when the process is interupted anywhere, it causes compressor shutdowns and over pressurized pipes, and under pressurized pipes....just a world of headaches, and government guidelines for containment. So now is not a good time for her to be taking time off. Without knowing Kinsey was going to be sick of course, and with a massive infection, she took a day and a half of last week and had an impacted wisdom tooth pulled. So now she hesitates to try to take more time off.....especially since we don't know if it is a simple bug, that will go away soon, or if we might end up with her back in the hospital---it is so hard to be a working Mom....I am just glad it is me that has her!! She has actually woke up and eaten a cookie. Not the healthiest, but it is food! No complaints of pain right now! yea! Judy, we used to get in the neighborhood of 300 trickor treaters, it is down by close to half the last couple of years. But a year ago, both houses across the street had just sold and were empty, so this part of the neighborhood was kind of darker than usual. Plus there are so many new subdivisions! OMG---they pop up everywhere, with beautiful new homes, I just have to wonder where all these people work, and what they do to afford such homes. It used to be when we would go to a community event, we would run into several people we knew. When we would go to dinner, we would always see some aquaintance, or work associate or such. But these days we can go shoppring, or out to eat, or to a local parade, and know no one. Wierd! We have not always lived here, but we grew up here, graduated HS here, and have been back for several years. Our families have been here for years as well, my Grandpa was mayor for a long time---so I am used to knowing people in our town---seems so strange! Terry---hope things at work settle soon, that is such a hard thing to get past. And it seems just as the reality sets in, the funeral comes along, and it starts all over again. I am so sorry you are having everything hit at once. Is Mom fighting being at the hospital, or is she ok with that? She will feel so much better, quickly with the IV fluids. Wish I could be there to help! I am headed to TX soon, but not all the way to Houston! Our place is about half way between Abilene and Austin. Well I left mid post, and we decorated some cookies. Amazing what a lazy Granny can do!!! We took ready made rolls of sugar cookies, and sliced them, we used the end pieces and made stems, and now we have trays full of pumpkins, and no rolling out! Which is beyond a 2 year old. You should have seen her eyes when our white icing changed colors with just a few drops of food color, you would have thought I performed the greatest magic trick around!! We made faces with other icing, and chocolate chips. Others may not see jack o lanterns in them, but we do! She ate some choc. chips---hope it does ok! Pamela, I used to work the Halloween carnivals at my kids schools. We always had fun. But how you deal with some parents is beyond me! We had a refrigerator box one year, and we painted a giant jack o lantern on it, and had the eyes, nose and mouth cut out, and used it for a bean bag toss. The school kept it, and stored other games inside the box....when my kids left the school it was still appearing at Halloween! Have fun today! Jenn--you got some CS? AWesome!!! Maybe more will be on its way! You did the right thing forcing the issue I think. What a great time to finally get it! I know I read in the paper, it is like in the neighborhood of 60 days until 2008------I have about half my Christmas shopping done. Most of that has been on line. I also picked up some things for the boys (DS and SIL's) when I was in the tool store in Albq. Gotta come up with an idea for the girls!! We bought coats for everyone! I mean everyone, from the parents down! Slowly getting it done, but suddenly it seems like it is looming closely!!! TracyK---I SOOOO understand the skinny legs! Try some junior sizes---I know it sounds like foolishness---but they are cut differently! OK, will catch the rest of you after the next batch of cookies!!! Kat

Terry---big hugs to you, and hoping Mom is on the mend. Jane, what a sweetie you are, I received your card today---I was like a child---yea!!! Something in the mail besides bills, and insurance crap! Thank you so much---it means a lot to me. Jenn---I fully understand wearing it simply because it fits, and it will soon be too big---so why waste money! I agree!!! I just meant I think you would see something you liked the look of, more of what you are aiming for with the weight loss, with a different style. Kinsey was feeling crummy all day, she layed around, was not thrilled about baking, she wanted to watch TV. Not her usual self at all. She spent some time at her Dads yesterday, and I think her schedule gets all out of whack. Poor baby. TracyK, I know exactly what you mean about the 4 wheelers. I used to let him go ride with the guys and not go. Then I started riding it back and forth when we were out getting wood, a couple of years ago, and liked it!!! So now we take them, and go exploring. We are respectful, we don't destroy property with them, but we ride all over the hills---it's fun! Laura---we always have huge numbers of trick or treaters, in addition to all the kids I know that come by. It is a fun night, I think you will enjoy handing candy out to the little rug rats!! Ok off to the shower, going to bed early tonight!! Kat

Jenn---look at you Girl!!! Awesome change!!! I'm with the girls, it is amazing the change in the look as well as the feel in a different style jeans. I actually found a few pair I like lately, now that I began looking at the larger junior sizes. They are not any smaller---dammit! Just a different cut, cut narrower through the hips. Someday the size will go doooown! No call from the Dr today-----will call him tomorrow. Phone will be back~~~ Kat

Now TracyK I know that looks nothing like you----!!!! How are we supposed to recognize you when we get together if we go looking for her???? And another thing.....OF COURSE you can't wait, you will be a total skinny mini by then!!! I won't be, but I can't wait either!!! Kat

My grandma (I miss her more than words can say) swore til her dying breath, or cough, more exactly, that her smoking had not impeded her health in any manner! I know there come a time in the last couple of years of her life, that she had to realize that simply was not true---but at that point we had a quality vs. quantity issue. If she quit smoking then, she still was not going to live another healthy 20 years. It boiled down to the fact that her smoking was something she enjoyed, and the stress and difficulty associated with quitting smoking, was quite simply not worth it. We left her be, we left her smoking and smiling! I realize weight is a different issue, we are comparing apples to oranges....but I do realize what you are saying--and in my mind it relates to the smoking. When I quit 16 years ago, cold turkey, no one thought I could do it---even me at times. But I did! My quality of life improved, and I was proud of being able to say I had quit. I found all kinds of improvements in my life personally, as well as like I say being very proud of what I did. But that did squat as far as helping me convince my best friend to try again to quit!!! She smoked for 16 more years, finally quitting last year! We know that the extra weight is not healthy for us. Smokers know the cigarettes are bad. We have all heard we need to relax, that stress will kill us....and about all we do is stress over that too! I think it is a personal point you reach, or may never reach for that matter. When you take charge and either lose the weight, or ditch the smokes....whatever. Just like you decided you really could be happy enough in your current home. Right now I am happy enough in my current body. I hope like you do with your house to follow through and acheive what I want to do---but it is not of the utmost importance right this time. Thanks so much for the well wishes. Will keep you all posted on how things go. Kat

YAY for you Michelle---my computer still knows it is the boss, not me!!! Dangit, I bet Judy left, to get her fill, and shop the outlet stores, without my wishlist for the stores!!! Pamela--you crack me up!!! I too am somewhat of a girly girl, at least for all the things, I do or have to do!!! My FIL is always commenting, on the fact that I even have make up on when we brand or split wood, whatever!!! I don't wear tons of makeup, but I usually put it on!! And my foundation doubles as a sunscreen, so especially to do those things I use it---he has been married to a woman who has NEVER EVER put any make up on!!! I imagine that is why he notices!!! He laughs at my painted nails...and his mouth hangs open when you mention spending hard earned money for someone to cut your toenails!!! Which was his attitude when I mentioned the whole pedicure!! He finds me a little hard to take! BUT I am the only female he had for years to help, now he has my DIL. Anyway--if you don't wanna ride the quads you don't have to!!! My nephews had soooo much fun on them! Tracy, saw you and Judy posted on the before and afters...way to go! Y'all are doing such a great job. I look forward to losing some more, and am a little relieved to know why it stalled out so suddenly. One of these days I'll get going again, he assured me. Today I hope to hear from the endocrinologist. He is supposed to let me know if the injection is an option for me. If not I see the surgeon on Wed. Looks like I will try to postpone surgery until middle of November. Don't get me started on that though!! Well Kinsey and I are going to make some cookies, and maybe we will have enough! She loves to bake or help me cook. Part of tomorrow, I have my grandson too, and nothing gets done other than following him around!!! So we better get busy!!! Hope I haven't waited too long, she was playing with her Fisher Price little people, but she might have gone to sleep---crazy kid! TTYL~~ Kat

Many times in many threads, I have referred to the fact, that I have not made many of the changes that some of you at goal have. I have stated that I am not willing to make that much change at this point in my life. The phrase I commonly use, is that I am not willing to give up my todays for a possible tomorrow. By that I mean, I am not one of you who is willing to cut calories to a bare minimum and exercise for hours each day until I get to goal, then relax a bit and enjoy it. I DO understand how difficult that may be for some of you to understand. It has to be as frustrating as trying to get a 2 year old to taste something you know they will like, and will be good for them, and they just clamp their mouths shut! We all come at the decision to try the band, from different directions. From those experiences, we developed different feelings towards our weight, our appearance, and our lives in general. As a woman who has been nearly 300 pounds, and bald as a cue ball, with skin a deathly gray, living with cancer--to be 185 pounds, and have nice skin (although more wrinkled than I would choose!), and my hair grew back. I was happy. Will it be nice to be at the goal weight I chose? Sure. Is it the most important thing to me? Not in the slightest. I recently found out I have another battle to fight with the cancer beast, a minor one...in the overall scheme of things, but still a setback. Do I regret the days I took my granddaughters to get ice cream cones, and had one with them? Not at all---that was my fear--THIS is my fear----that yes the band would work, and I would struggle, and not eat with my family and put all my attention in that direction, and forget to enjoy each day with them, and then possibly not have the tomorrow with them. I know me. I tend to fixate. If I begin counting calories---I stress putting a single thing in my mouth I do not know the count on. I have to force myself to be moderate with many things---this being one of them! How long it will take me to get to my goal, I really have no idea, and when I get there, I may change it. I may never actually get to the exact number on the scale. I do know my weight loss journey is not over. But I find my journey being more of a cross country long distance race---up some really wicked hills lately!--more than a sprint race. It will happen, and I am glad there are bandsters coming around that HAVE made goal, regardless what the goal is. If your goal is to be 100 pounds or 200 pounds, knowing it can be done and is being done, is an assurance that I too will get there. Kat

Busy weekend here too---will be back to chat tomorrow, off to bed now!!! (((HUGS)))) Kat

Big difference Denise!!! You look so much younger as well!!!! Time to pick one for your new avatar!!! Of course I am computer challenged, don't ask me to help make it!!! Looks like you have the picture thing down though!! You are doing great---gonna be a hot Grammy!! Kat

Hi girlies--glad we are back up and running! Was such a busy day yesterday, I wasn't aware of it til I turned on the computer, and my email was there with y'all in it!!! I liked seeing those there too!!! Tracy---yes,you can call me anytime at all!!! I will help fend off the blizzard....just don't speak to my DH about it---he will try to rationalize a blizzard!!! Man is an ice cream fanatic!!! Pamela--- that is too wierd I dreamed about you and TracyK too!!! I was teaching you to ride a 4 wheeler---like it is something that needs to be taught???!!! Hilarious, we were all out on the farm, and Tracy's DD looked EXACTLY like my oldest Granddaughter, Ally!! I have no idea if in my dream you even looked anything like the pictures I have seen of y'all, I cannot remember anyone looking anyway but that Macy looked like Ally!!! I have no doubt we were all beautiful!!! Terry----wanna run away from it all and go ride the 4 wheelers with us? I know, so much of what you are going through is totally not something to joke about. I hope your Mom is doing better. Is there any type of respite care where you are? When we had to hire someone to stay with my Grandma for awhile, we went through the local nursing program at the college. We had several people willing to spend the nights, they could study...she seldom needed much at night, but we couldn't leave her alone. And then we had a couple of women who worked for a respite care that come in. We found them through a woman we knew who worked with hospice. I know where you are coming from with your boss' son, it was just last week we buried one of "my" kids, my daycare kiddos. I stood at that funeral, surrounded by huge numbers of young kids---it is soo sad to lose them. Hang in there this week, sorry DH is being unhelpful. A few days ago, I would have said lets put him and Rick on a raft and send them down river! But Rick redeemed himself today---hope yours does the same! We met up with the family for breakfast. Was pretty nice, did not have to deal with the bitchy __________ much! Will have to send y'all an explanation email on that---found out I am not alone here. Must suck to have such a lame life, that your best entertainment is following the life of a 47 year old woman!!! Glad I have always found more important things to do---and made my own life! Then again my life is sooooo much better than this persons---or more technically these persons--plural! Oh well..... Anyway, we had breakfast, and took my nephews who are city boys born and bred, to the farm! We toured the cows! And then we got out the 4 wheelers (I swear to you, the thought come from my Violet dream!!!) My 4 nephews, ranging in age from 4 to 12--were in hog heaven! We rode them all over. When they left, Rick and I took them and went riding for a little while. Then we come home, and I went to my brothers for a little bit, to see some things he had done to his house---usually Rick always goes over with me, but he begged off, to watch football. When I come home, he told me to suit up---we were going riding! I had wanted to go earlier, but thought he was watching football. So we rode up into Colorado on the highway, and then turned off on a side road, that comes all the way back, but it runs down by the river. There is a man made lake out there, that is just beautiful, one of the local marine shops uses it for showcasing and test riding the boats. Today it was empty of boats, and full of geese, heading south! I was kind of surprised when he pulled off down to the lake. (****side note---crap---Rockies just got washed out of the series!!!---they were massively over played---but was fun watching!) Anyway, we get down there, and he opens the trunk on the bike, and he had a blanket, and he had some cheese and crackers that we had made to have if anyone come over to the house, and some bottles of cider we had bought last week at a roadside stand. We watched the geese, and snacked, and talked,and I got an awesome neck massage....and the assurance from him that he knew I was going to be ok, but he would be here for me every step of the way. He had been very distant about my diagnosis---and it hurt my feelings soooo bad. Guess he too had to digest the news. He said he did not know how to act---act happy that it was not as bad as it could have been...but yet he could not act happy---it is still serious in his opinion. Or to act upset, and have me thinking he was afraid I was not acknowledging how serious it could be. He too felt in a no win situation I guess. But we sat there under a huge canopy of gold leafed Cottonwood trees, and found a place to connect on our dealing with things! He actually did it to thank me for doing what we did for his Dad, and coping with the things involving that!! Wonderful way to end our weekend. One of our friends who come down from Denver is very, very heavy. He was telling us that his employer, Qwest, has now implemented a ruling at work that you either get your weight under control, or you do not work for them! He is seriously worrying about it! He has probably 150-200 pounds to lose. He would not consider the lap band he said because he cannot imagine only eating a tablespoon of food at a time. I told him, I definitely eat more than that---and he has watched me lose it. So it just so happened he sat next to me at breakfast. By the end of the meal, he was rethinking his options. My SIL being unable to eat, and puking 10 times a day minimally, etc. had swayed his opinion on the band. I told him everyone has different reactions to the band, but hers is the worse I have ever personally seen, or damn close to the worst I have ever read about on here. I invited him to the site to look around, and I would not be surprised to see him be banded! Well, I need to get the coffee pot made for morning, and pick up some things. We come home last night, and our power had been out at some point yesterday, and it trashed our cable box. It will not power up. So we had to pull the TV out of the wall unit, and change up the cable connection so he could see the last of the game!!! Which would not be too bad with a normal TV but Rick bought a 60" screen TV!!!! LMAO! So I have a mess!!! A TV that size does not get moved often, so when it is out, I clean!! Will check with you guys tomorrow. And once again TracyK---as well as all the rest of you---email, and phone are both free to all of you to use!!! I would love it! Talk to ya tomorrow!! Kat

Well first of all, welcome to LBT! While it sounds like you may be taking in too much food at a time, for weight loss, it is going to be very difficult during this time without proper restriction. Regardless, the nurse should be throttled! At the very least I would mention it to the Dr. The suggestion of Protein shakes, if they are low cal, can help, the heaviness of the shake, and the protein do work to make you feel full for a longer period of time. I found that I had to seriously drink my Water during "bandster hell" time, or I would overeat. It is risky stretching the stomach if you overeat for extended periods of time is how it was explained to me. So as hard as it is, it is time to just draw on every bit of willpower--or won't power--that you can find. It is hard, it is depressing at times, thinking that you can eat but can't at the same time. Find some very low cal items you can snack on when the urge hits, and change up your habits. The time you are in now, is when I began my walking---when I was to the point of standing in front of the fridge trying to find something---anything to EAT--I would get out of the house, and take a walk. It did two things, saved me from eating, and burned calories too! Besides the eating issues, when you really think about it---2 pounds is such a small amount, it can be done by what clothes you were wearing---a difference in the scales---how much you drank before the appointment. 2 pounds is a negligable amount, and I believe the nurse overreacted, and that is too bad. As obese people we have had more of that than we ever needed---you should not have needed to hear it from her---so sorry you had to deal with her. Good Luck, and just try really hard to keep your meals small, and more frequent if you have to have something, just don't stuff the pouch til you hurt. Another good way to avoid eating when you shouldn't be is to come here and look through the before and after thread---what inspiration----makes you want to succeed, and is proof that you can. And when you are logged on looking at the before and after, you can holler at some of us for some support,and help---we have all been where you are....and survived!! You will too!!! Hope your fill goes well!!! Kat

Nothing much going on in my corner of the world---ignore any extra c's, I did not get in to exchange the keyboard. I shopped, but chose not to get that mixed up in the ordeal!!! I got all the items for the punch, got some ribbon for the balloons---fabric for the tablecloth. The fabric looks like a quilt, made up of red, and blue, gingham check, and bandana print, as well as solid squares. It is very cool looking. I think I will edge it and give it to Connor for a lightweight cover. Kinsey has a sheet she uses, because she has to be covered to sleep! I finished up the table decorations, my SIL and I did. We give my FIL a hard time because he uses duct tape on EVERYTHING!!! He has even went so far as to tape a pair of coveralls as opposed to coming in and changing when he ripped them!!! So we always give him duct tape in one form or another. He even has a wallet made from duct tape. So my SIL and I did a flower arrangement, and we even took some daisy style flowers and covered the petals with duct tape, and then taped the can we made the arrangement in---it looks good---pretty funny!! We even made the bow from duct tape! The cake is white, with big black spots---like a cow. The balloons are white with cows on them---all of the tableware is red & white. We rolled the forks in the napkins, and tied them with artificial barbed wire. We have bales of hay, that we are putting around, and then tomorrow night the kids are going to use it for a hay ride! We looked at all these western/rustic things and decided the punch bowl looked ridiculously out of place, so off to the feed store we went, and bought a small galvanized tub! With a big service type ladle---looks good now! Family will all be in in the morning. There are over 20 coming from Denver. We told him today they need about 4 more bales of hay, so Rick loaded them in his Dads truck---so he is supposed to meet them there to drop it off tomorrow at 2 is all he knows!! After we do the cake and party with friends and all, then the family is gathering and going to dinner. It was all working well, then he went and got this damn job!!! Which I hate, but I think it will do his kids in Denver good to see that things are not easy for them. They want to buy them a group gift of a big screen TV for Christmas---we want to do something more practical---but that part of the family is not known for practicality!! Michelle---love the pics!!! Can't wait to see you in person! Laura, girl you are looking good!! Lucky you--your belly is going away so well!!! Not so lucky for me!! Costume is cool! I do not dress up! I have tons of people in and out on Halloween, I always have food, and fresh baked cookies or cupcakes---hot chocolate, and coffee. It is not unusual for us to have 20-30 people milling about. My DIL informed me she is coming and just hanging out, hoping to get to see my oldest grandkids. I am usually excited about it---but this year, I am not so much. I am fighting depression. This is a small issue in the overall scheme of things, my thyroid is, but it is affecting a lot of things in my life. I am not sleeping well. I am afraid to eat when I am alone, because I choke so easy. And my vision is getting so much worse, I am in a panic the last 2 days. I want it fixed, just in case it doesn't get better afterwards....I want to see. I am incredibly short tempered. I made Rick mad complaining about Connors messes, and that I am going to be chasing him all day Halloween. But my DIL----when someone else is around to run herd on him, she just sits on her butt, and lets them, she does not correct him, she does nothing! He takes it personally---I really am not put out with Connor but with his parents! Our son does better if he brings him around, he watches him, and makes him mind, but not his Mama. Put our pumpkins on the porch, and hung the witch and skeleton, and put candy out on the table, and with all my scarecrows around it looks nice and festive for the company to come. I am not as good as Michelle---my big thing to DO---was I changed the sheets on the extra bed!!! WoooHooo!!!! No paint, no room swaps!!! Well I think I will head off to the shower, so my hair can dry before bed. It sure doesn't take as long as it used to! I hate that. Wish me luck tomorrow. It will be a looooooooooong day of hearing how well my SIL did with the band, and people wondering if I will lose any more weight....it is never easy anymore. I hate that the weight loss changed her sooo drastically. I know it has truly made me obssessive with not being that way though! Everyone have a good night, and enjoy your Saturday! It is supposed to be really nice here, which will be good for the kids and their hayride! Check with y'all when I get the chance! Kat

You mean you won't miss all those horrid horizontal stripes??? WTH is wrong with designers???? And while yes it is off topic--but related to that--back when I was in plus sizes, the style was short shirts, tight---nothing with the length in the shirts I needed. Now I am in Misses clothes, and the long length, almost maternity look is in-------aaarrrggghhh!!!! My newest NSV-----my Dr in filling out my paperwork for a referral over some recent medical issues wrote me down as a 47 yo woman avg. build. YEEEHAW nowhere on it did it say morbidly obese anymore!!!! Kat

Hi Jason-- I began my lap band journey by calling the number on the back of my insurance card myself. They can tell you what the requirements are in detail for your individual policy. If whoever you reach refuses to do that, ask for a supervisor. Before you ever get sat down to the phone, get yourself a notebook---and each and every time you speak with someone, note who it was how long you were on hold---and exact detail of what they told you. In my case, they outlined the requirements for it to be covered. 5 years of documented obesity---a BMI of 35 or a raised BMI with 2 co morbidities (high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, etc), and 12 months of medically supervised weight loss attempts with involvement of a dietician. Now keep in mind my insurance has relaxed big time since 2 years ago! Once I had knowledge of what I needed, then I went to my Dr. I told him I was doing this, and I would need copies of my records to prove the obesity, and would like his help in gaining the 12 months. Then his office staff was aware of what all we needed---and we began developing a packet of information to submit to the insurance company. We copied my medical records, requested records from other Dr.'s who had treated some of my personal comorbidities (ortho for joint deterioration)--I actually took pictures, and left with my Dr.s office to include in the packet. I went to our pharmacy and had them print out the last 2 years worth of my prescriptions, showing all the medical issues I was treating. The better you present your case, the better your chances of getting approval. Many insurance companies do a first time automatic denial, do not be afraid of appealling that decision. Just be sure to follow what they require to the letter! That was my downfall!!! I was 10 1/2 months into the 12 month medically supervised diet attempt when I was in a car accident that hospitalized me, and it trashed my 12 months----it has to be consecutive--listen for key words such as that. Take the first step and call your insurance provider yourself, or get your HR person involved at work, and find out if it is a covered benefit, and if so what is required for them to cover it. Then just begin filling in the needed info, and your Dr. should be able to help then, when they know what all is needed as well. It is time consuming for the Dr.'s staff. Sometimes they charge for filling out forms. But the more you show them you are serious, and they are not wasting their time, the better they will work with you is what I found! Good Luck!!! What part of NM are you from? I am in the Farmington area. Welcome to LBT!!! Kat

Awww Jenn he is adorable---like I told Pamela, keep your handsome boys away from my pretty little granddaughter!!! We don't need her tempted at 2! Pamela--after all the years of daycare, I could co-author that book without problem! My DD and I were laughing---OK I was laughing, she was holding her jaw and telling me to stop---about one of those moments today. I was telling her what Kinsey had said, and she reminded me of her most embarassing moment with a kid. I have a bonus child--Megan--I began caring for Meg when she was 5 1/2 weeks old, and she still stops by at least once a week---and she is a sophmore in high school now. She come to my house long after I quit the day care business, or she no longer needed someone to babysit her---but this was what she did with her life---after school and during breaks, she lived here!!! I am actually her legal guardian should anything happen to her parents. So Megan was with us all the time. She is 12 years younger than my DD--so Manda was her hero---as a baby if she got in trouble her hands went in the air and she cried for Manda---and was rescued! So one day when Megan was about Kinsey's age of 2, we had her in Walmart, and she had to potty---so Manda took her while I stayed with some other girls I had at the time. There was a long line in the restroom, and Manda was entertaining Meg so she would make it, and finally a stall opened up, so they went in together....and the line continued to form behind them. She let Meg potty and decided to go herself---when Megan screeches "Manda you have hair on your butt!!" She said you could have heard a pin drop for a fraction of a second, and then the ladies in line and in other stalls just cracked up. She said she was tempted to stay in the stall for an hour and make them all clear out! She was still red when she brought Meg back to me!!! Now when you tell the story, it is Megan it embarasses. She is the same 12 years older than Kinsey that Manda was with her, so we tell her we are going to let Kinsey get even for Manda!! Like you know, when you are that close with kids of that age, you hear ALL kinds of things! My c is still making appearances, so guess the keyboard goes back, I tried hitting it with the canned air, nothing changed----I can't stand looking at it, so I delete it! Rick had the chain saw pop up and nick his leg today, nothing serious, but he had to use it to prove his point about why he hates for anyone to go alone. I made him mad when I made some sort of smart aleck comment about yeah they have no one to show them what not to do then....ooops!!! Tomorrow I have to get all the stuff together for this party---and I guess I will help Rick put some roofing paper on the car port at his parents. Nah, I am not going to get started!! Will check back with all of you in the morning!! Kat

Another happy Aceves patient here---sorry I can't help with any info on Dr. Zapata. Welcome to LBT---I am sure you will soon hear from some patients!! Good Luck in all your research---my band was one of the very best decisions I ever made!! Kat