Band_Groupie

7 pounds! Woot! Now there's some motivation! Good luck Friday! -BG

Hang in there April Bunny you're going to do great!!! -BG

Hang in there guys...tell or not tell, all that matters is the ones who truly love us will be there to support us through this. As we make headway towards our goal our happiness will be contagious and our happiness will benefit our loved ones as well.

Tried both buttons for blogs (at the top) and neither is working. I get a blank page when I click the blog button.

Best wishes tomorrow! I love your post op diet...mine's 2 WEEKS liquids, 4-5 WEEKS mushies, but I'm not complaining (not pre-op diet here). Let us know how you're doing!

LOL...oops sorry, not funny....but Aunt Bea...LOL! Glad I don't look like anyone...I got Goldie Hawn a few times, when I was thin. Hey MsCarly, did you get your date today?

Congrats tx! If they didn't have you do this yet, I'm sure it's not a requirement (many here had to do upper GI stuff, and I didn't, every doc is different). Ask your doc if he even offers both bands, many don't (Lap Band or Realize Band). I would also ask if he offers the new Realize C band, as that may make a diffeerence to you. If he does offer both, send me a shout out and I'll give you what I found out (I've selected the LB, and I did a post on one of the threads here in the April group).

I'd check your specific policy and I'd talk to the insurance person in your surgeon's office, but here's my advice. I only needed one comorbidity (of the big ones, like hypertension) treated with medication to be approved with a BMI between 35-40 (I also only have hypertension treated with meds.). So if you fell below the 40, I think you'd still be fine. You absolutely do not need to lose anything (both AGH and Magee actually told me to keep it between 5-10 pounds and not to go below the 35 BMI), but if you gain even one pound they can deny you. If you have a pound or two wiggle room between where you are and the 40 BMI (just to be safe), then I'd try to lose those 2 pounds by the 6th month. I believe it's also OK to go up some months as long as you don't gain for the total. Let me know if there's anything else I can help with. Highmark's the best...I sure feel fortunate to have them!

Hey Thin, I don't know what your docs diet includes, but like I said before, mine don't want me to ever drink a protein shake. I'm just trying a few for when I'm on liquids to make it easier on me (so I'm actually cheating if I do this), but that doesn't mean it can't be done without these shakes...ie. 8 oz. of skim milk has 8g of protein. There are protein shakes that have sugar, but they probably have lots of carbs too (my super-skinny 19 yr. old bought a tub thinking he'd 'bulk up' until he tasted how gross it was LOL). Getting protein the first couple of weeks following surgery shouldn't be the focus (as my doc says, you've got 'plenty' of nutrients for your body to survive a few weeks, you just need hydration)...and after that you've got tons of high protein mushies to chose from. So I guess I'm saying, it shouldn't be a big deal if you never use a protein shake. Personally, I don't get why some here on LBT are still drinking these every day years later...it kind of defeates the purpose of the band as they are slider foods...if I wanted to do that I would have gone on a protein shake diet...my sister did that once...so did Oprah LOL...obviously NOT a lifestyle change (they both gained it back).

Yeah, the longer I ready people's stories, the more certain I am that this is true. For them it's always the last 75-100# that take forever to get off (what we have to lose). I know it's true with me whenever I've done diets. I lose faster at the beginning and it slows to a creep as I reach goal (your body gets used to living with less calories so it slows your metabolism to match). I plan to switch up my calorie intake to keep my body guessing and I'll try never to go into that 'starvation mode'; 800 or less cals., as that halts weight loss. If you find any other tips...please share them! We'll get there, but just don't get discouraged when the higher BMI group is losing twice as many pounds per month. We'll all reach the finish line in our own time!

I just bought some to try today. Although I'm not supposed to drink these after I get to solid foods, I want to keep some around for liquid phase after fills in case I can't get enough Protein. I thought I'd test some now as part of my self-imposed pre-op diet. Just a note: I've found with the powdered ones you have to do some calculating yourself to compare these evenly (ie. with unjury powder once you add the skim milk they recommend it has 4-5X as many carbs. as the low carb brands below). With some powders you can add them to Water, but some don't like them this way...I'll have to try them out. I bought some pre-made ones today (all are 11 oz. containers). They need to be shaken a lot and served ice cold. I've only tried 2 so far: -Target Brand, chocolate, texture was good, but they come in a metal can (other 2 below come in cardboard) and they have a tinny taste. I also don't like the nutrition: 170 Kcal, 24 carbs and only 10 protein. I won't be buying these again. -Atkins Advantage (low carb), milk chocolate (I also bought; Mocha Latte, and Dark Chocolate Royale), thick and creamy, good taste. Nutrition: 160 Kcal, 4 or 5 carbs, 15 protein. -EAS AdvantEDGE (carb control), chocolate fudge, haven't tried it yet but I like the nutrition info: 110 Kcal, 4 carbs, and 17 protein. I'm interested to see what others are using and what they're mixing the powdered ones with. Thanks for the thread!

Actually, just the opposite for me...I'm trying to work on practicing patience. I'm trying to prepare myself for "Bandster Hell"...you get the surgery and then there's a long period where you're starving the restriction comes and goes with fills and it's really all up to you to 'diet' again until you get to the Sweet Spot (many people gain weight during this period). I'm preparing myself for the fact that I probably won't have good restriction until the holidays, maybe shorter, maybe longer (I've seen some that took a year to get there). Hang in there...we'll all get to that skinny image.

I felt the very same way. Once you decide you want the surgery then you want it right now. The 6 mo's. took forever, but it did give me plenty of time to research and start dealing with my food issues. It would have been nicer if I could have actually lost weight during the 6 mo's. so I could have delt with the food issues and head hunger even more, but I do feel really prepared now. Just a few more weeks! Keep doing the self-analysis. I found just asking myself "am I hungry" when I caught myself going for food or standing in front of the fridge has helped a lot.

LOL...I blogged about this one too...I was in one Urologists office (sitting with the sheet over my naked lap) and the Dr. & nurse went on for about 10 min. talking about how I didn't need this. It was exhausting trying to convince them...I finally said "I don't carry my weight up top, it's all in the lower half...take a look at my fat behind when I'm ready to leave." I was SO not getting up off the table to moon them. Yep, they were in the hall when I left.

I've been looking for some kind of announcement that things are under repair, but I can't find one. Today smilies and some people's avatars are x'ed out and the colors/lines are messed up on some pages. Has anyone seen an announcement about this?

Hey Bunnies! I'm just north of Pittsburgh (but we've lived in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Philly too), Married 27 years on April 23, 3 children DD-21 (graduating college May 3), DS-18 (Graduating HS June 5), DS-13. I'll be turning the big 5-0 on April 27, and my DH turns 50 April 28. I'm a stay at home mom now. Used to work in business improvement processes for a Fortune 500 (lots of travel, hard with kids). I have an Art Ed degree and taught for 8 years, so mention arts & crafts and I'm there! I have 3 sisters and a brother, and I'm the skinny one. 2 have diabetes, 1 has had 2 strokes and my Dad has had several heart attacks. I can see the handwriting on the wall and I want to get healthy. I was 5'9" and 130 pounds when I got married and I was teaching 8 aerobics classes a week at the time...LOL, if they could see me now. I gained weight with each kid and have done the major yo-yo for 20 years now each time gaining back more. I crossed the 200 mark about 5 years ago, lost it, then gained +...the usual. I'm not worried about losing a major hunk of the weight, just worried about gaining it back...again...sigh. I write an almost daily blog here on LBT and it's been very cathartic for me, especially because I'm not telling anyone but DH. I'd encourage anyone to start one, even just to document your progress. Come visit me sometime there!

It's a great feeling isn't it? Welcome!!!!!

I'm afraid of gaining the weight back once I've lost it...it's happened so many times before.

Hey moonbeam. I'm right at the 35 BMI now. I've blogged about not telling anyone (but DH), and besides the WLS docs & pre-op docs, I've only ever told 4 doctors and 5 nurses (all not part of the WLS). I got the same reaction from every one of them "You're not heavy enough to need WLS!", even after I told them I need to lose 80-100 pounds they wouldn't believe me...I never convinced one that I need this even after I told them about my terrible family history of diabetes, stroke and heart attacks...glad I'm not telling anyone else! I've done the yo-yo in a major way (like you, losing up to 50# each time) for the last 20 years...I want off this ride! I'm not worried as much about losing the weight as I am about keeping it off. I just developed hypertension this past year, I'm glad I'm taking care of this and getting healthy...just wish I'd done it the first time I rode the roller-coaster up the hill. You're not alone! There's several self-payers that are in the 30-35 BMI category on LBT too.

I sent a message to admin. on the tech forum a little while ago that this is happening. Hope they fix it fast.

The deal is done! Got my approval tonight!!! Only took about 48 hours!!! This week just keeps getting better!!!

Woot! As if this week could get any better! Break out the champagne for everyone...oops, all you pre-banders (won't be drinking that after LB). I got my approval in about 48 hours! Highmark PPO Blue (BCBS of Western PA if anyone needs help with them). I couldn't believe Patti (insurance gal at the Surgeon's office) called me at 5:05pm...stayed late to call me, and get this she was laughing at my screams of glee and said 'You've been such a pleasure to work with!' (Does she remember me- the April Fool with the fax machine screeching in her ear on Wed.?) I kissed her behind on the spot...made my weekend. I'm off to do my April Bunny hop dance!!!

Alright Pete! Time for new pics!!!!

Thanks gals! pv- Yeah, sexy like the dumpy bunny trying to hop! Hef here I come! -BG

You're welcome...I had fun finding pics of bunnies for the blog today, but I'm probably going to start receiving loads of porn spam for googling "playboy bunny" LOL! Your Bunny name is really going to fit now! (You too JT).