Band_Groupie

We've had 3 days of rain and it looks like we're going to have 3 more...good for my new plants and all that mulch! We call my Mom the Weather Lady. It’s become an obsession of hers. In fairness, she’s an avid gardener and still volunteers at a local park with beautiful gardens at least once a week (big-wig there), so weather is important to her. If you want to know what the weather will be like today, or even a week out, call her. When we lived in Columbus we got updates all the time when the weather was turning bad and I always knew when it was time to grab the kids and head for the basement (she was appalled our community didn’t have tornado sirens). We live about 3 ½ hours due East of her now, but if the weather is coming from her direction, trust me, she knows when the storm will be reaching us here in Pittsburgh. She has a fancy electronic weather machine outside that gives her digital readouts indoors, but her favorite forecaster is the 24/7 local radar cable TV channel with the electronic/computer generated voice giving you updates. Here we only get ‘The Weather Channel’ and it drives her nuts when she visits that she had to wait until the local on the 8’s. When we moved here my parents gave me a Weather Alert system (they have one of these too…or maybe ‘two’…gotta have one upstairs and down). My Dad programmed it for me (I still haven’t programmed my VHS). You put it in your bedroom and can input different counties around you and program it to blast an alarm and details for any kind of weather (it’s only woken me up twice as I don’t care about the severe thunderstorms or floods up on my hill…just tornado’s, volcano eruptions, and glaciers coming my way, thank you very much). There’s a button you can push to get the NationalWeatherCenter weather (24/7 of course) for your county too…I just look outside. I’m getting her one of these for her birthday and I'm going to have it personalized with her name…just trying to decide between the wall hung version or the stand-alone for her garden...tough decision. My DH is a weather nut too, but for different reasons…when we moved here one of the local channel’s had a cute little locally grown weather gal on it in the mornings and I soon noticed he had a preference for that channel (midlife-crushes are so cute don't you think?). Well a year or so back the gal left for a station in Texas…DH was in mourning for a year…this year she came back to the Pittsburgh station as Chief Meteorologist…they had countdown commercials advertising her coming back…I’m telling you, you would have thought she was reporting pigs were flying or it was really raining cats and dogs he was so attentive (can’t remember what I said a minute ago, but ask him when the weather is on…she’s now on 3 times every evening)! No one can report the 4 months of ‘Snow’, ‘Snow’, and more ‘Snow’ like that gal! I swear she’ll make it to ‘The Weather Channel’ one day and then DH (and most of the men in Pittsburgh) will be in heaven…..hours and hours of Julie Bologna…LOL. I found out she wrote a book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Extreme Weather." I might get it for DH (fitting title), but it better have pics...he’ll be looking for the centerfold (too bad it's of cloud formations).

Great vacation tale...I can't imagine coming home from any vacation and LOSING weight...the power of the band! I heard someone on here say that they get tighter when they fly...swelling, like some people's feet swell when they fly...not sure if it's true, but something you could look into if you fly a lot. Great job on the weight loss, I'm still in my 20's (size), but those 18's are just around the corner! -BG

LOL...I was thinking of you when I saw where she'd been. Yeah, I told DH that she had two kids now...his crush carries on LOL...Did those TX men love her down south?

I couldn't get the link to work, but I'm glad you made it through! Hope everything went really well and you had fun! -BG

Here is a post I did in response to the same question (Realize is supposed to have a great site. I've heard that LB is improving their online support site, but that wasn't a factor for me as I don't use it.). AP Lap Band vs. Realize Band If you do a search there have been lots of posts comparing the two. I did my research and ended up picking the LB, but I know the end results for both as far as weight loss are almost identical. The new Realize C is supposed to make them more equal, but I didn't have access to the new one as it was in trial stages. Many docs are still using the old Realize, not the ‘C’ so make sure you know what you're getting. I still would have picked the LB. Here's another thread on LBT http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/pics-...-c-band-83453/ And Here Is a Post- Question and Answer to it from Dr. C (same doc), from the OH site Post Date: 1/2/09 7:50 am On January 1, 2009 at 12:20 AM Pacific Time, Spoken4 wrote: Hi Dr. C, I am scheduled for my banding next week and my doc offers both the lap band and the realize band. I'm having a hard time finding differences between the two and was curious as to your opinion. Of course I would want to chose the one that would offer the best results with the least rate for complications! Thanks in advance for your expertise! - - - - - - - - - Currently I'd probably recommend the Lap Band, I like it about 55%/45% over the 1st gen Realize band. There is a new Realize-C band coming out soon, we have already put it about 20. I think it makes them both equal in my mind as there are some improvements to the C. Your surgeon probably does not yet have access to the C however. Trace W. Curry, M.D. -- Lap Band, Realize Band, Sleeve Gastrectomy - - - - - - - - - - - Pic/Difference between (Dr. Curry site) http://www.thebanddoctor.com/messageboard_BB/viewtopic.php?p=1501#1501 Differences between Realize-C and Realize: -new pre-curved circular design as compared to previous model which is a straight piece of silicone with a balloon on it, which results in almond shape when locked -larger band accommodates wider variety of BMI's -wider adjustment range, from 0-11cc (roughly 4cc in Realize-C equivalent to 0cc in Realize) -band extender for ease of passage behind stomach (this is tab protruding from the end of the Realize-C, which gets snipped off and doesn't stay in) -unlockable design for easier revisional surgery -radio opaque tubing can be seen better on Xray -one way valve at end of tubing makes testing and preparing band easier for surgical tech I did my own research and decided on the LB (I had a choice of LB or the old Realize that most surgeons still offer, I did not have an option of the new Realize C). Do your research and pick whatever is right for you, obviously they all can work well.

WELCOME to LBT! Congrats on the WL! -BG

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Sara Emily- Great idea! Shopping money! I'll have to do some lots of 'vintage 80's' LOL! KV- I'm sure he/she will never be coming forward to let us know!

Deb, I've found that my surgeon's office (person that handles approvals/deals with them every day) knew more about my insurance coverage for this than some of the ins. co. people I talked to. So I wouldn't proceed without more information as it may mess you up for appeals later if you need them. I know you want this answer fast, but take a few days to get your ducks in a row. I couldn't tell from what you said whether your call to insurance confirmed that you do have a bariatric policy or if they just gave you a general answer for approval times. So I'm not sure you've done this, but the first step is to get a copy of your insurance policy bariatric coverage. Call them and ask for it today; they can fax it to you (mine directed me how to print it online). Every policy is different depending on what coverage your employer bought so it will be hard for you to find someone here with the exact same thing (I have BCBS and coverage is different state to state and even within areas of the same state). If you do have bariatric coverage then look at the requirements carefully. Most people with a BMI between 35-40 (you and I) have to meet extra requirements than those over 40BMI. I had to follow a 6 mo. diet (some more, some less) and exercise program with monthly visits/documentation from my PCP. I also had to have at least one (some need more) of the 5 big comorbidities (your policy will probably only list examples, but these are the only ones that usually count: diabetes Type II, hypertension, sleep apnea, obesity related heart problems, high cholesterol) and I had to show medical treatment for it (I take meds for hypertension). My PCP letter of medical neccessity had to say certain things and your surgeon's office can help with what that is. Your policy/insurance company should also be able to tell you exactly what your coverage should be. Mine covered a percentage of everything and then once I met my deductable for the year they covered 100% (surgery cost me about $2000 plus some med costs total). Send me a PM if you have any more questions and good luck on this! -BG

Since no one was too appalled (and there are other savers out there and those who WISH they'd saved) I'm taking that as a license to wear these if I want...and I'm taking pics of me in some of my 'fancy pants' as I work my way down the rack...my neighbors are going to think I've finally lost it (can't wait for the ones with the fringe going down the seam, hey, they were in! Ooo and I have ones with stars and a matching sweater vest!). Well, I'm at least going to try them on to make me feel skinny! Lena- Jeans have got to be HARD to resew!!! I remember making jeans into skirts (yeah that hippy look) and they're so thick! You go girl! ...And I swear that Dude has a dog on his head!

First NSV this weekend...FINALLY (35 pounds and no one had noticed!). My next door neighbor whom I haven't seen this winter noticed as we were out working in the yard (called me skinny...not!). Details if you want them from my blog HERE.

Holly, First WELCOME to LBT! You're in the right place as we're all in the same boat! Lots of great, helpful people here! Good luck on your journey! -BG

Go to page #9, post #128 on this thread. Have fun!

'Slow and Steady' is the low BMI'ers mantra (I'm currently at a 31.5 BMI)...we just lose it slowly, period...and all the high BMI'ers will be a low BMIer/slow loser someday, so comparing yourself to others is just hard. If I can get that 1.5-2 # per week they advertise I'll be thrilled to keep that going. I've lost huge amounts of weight quickly on many diets...yep, it's motivating, but even more motivating is the fact that I can tell myself even if I only lose 2 pounds a week THIS IS THE LAST TIME I'LL EVER SEE THOSE 2 POUNDS!!! I've found that setting realistic long term and mini goals is motivating me. I've given myself 2 years to lose all the weight and have set mini goals as I go along...ones that are acheivable given my amount of fill and where I am in this process. We'll get there...it's not a race, it's a lifestyle!

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'Slow and steady'...There's the motto of the low BMI'ers...and the good news is you're now one of us JA!!! We'll get there!

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JA- Your weight loss continues to amaze me. You're doing an awesome job!

Congratulations on getting back down and I'm amazed you only gained two pounds through all that (I gained your two pounds this weekend...wine + cooking great holiday foods + no restriction = pounds = unhappy me).

"Last Supper Syndrome"...completely normal. These last few weeks will fly by. Take one new change at a time and don't beat yourself up if you can't do it all perfectly. Don't worry, the weight you had to gain will come off along with many of it's friends (I'm down 35 now total). You're doing fine, and you will succeed at this! -BG

Just catching up on everything here. Awesome first blog!!! Blogs help a lot...can't eat while you're typing, makes the day go faster, and I learned a lot from others and mostly from myself, or really about myself...it's always a surprise what comes out when you sit down to type...it's been a good mirror on the food issues. Happy blogging friend! -BG

I'm in the same boat...lost most at the beginning, then a pound or 2 a week...but I gained 2 pounds this long weekend. Have you had a fill yet? I don't get my first one until 6/2 and have 0 fill in. If you're clothes are changing, maybe it's just muscle weight you're gaining...or maybe a plateau?