GayleTX

http://store.bariatriceating.com/featuredrecipe.html opening page at bottom....click on titles. ------------- Before & After - Living & Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery by Susan Maria Leach With 100 High Protein, Low Carb recipes for a Healthier, Happier and Slimmer You. (HarperCollins 2004, hardcover) You can get it at less than half price at Amazon.com or sometimes less than that at eBay. The recipes are more 'everyday' regular food than those in the book you mentioned. There is also a lot of great advice for success after wls, too.

Texasgirl...greetings from the top of Texas. The doctors at the seminars I attended all said UHC is the easiest company to get approval from. Gretta.....I did a lot of doctor shopping and research on the drs in DFW.....so far have had a great experience with the ones I chose. I did all my pre-op testing with Dr. Maese, a cardiologist who specializes in wls patients....has been in it longer than most people. His office did all the paperwork and submitted it. He also does my fills and charges just the co-pay. He uses floroscope each time and it is totally painless. The surgery was with Dr. Richard Benavidez, a very experienced lapband surgeon. As I have said before, I've had haircuts that were more traumatic......no problems at all, not even a gas pain. My surgery was at Wise Health Center in Decatur (my insurance requirement....they are very experienced there). There are a number of good DFW surgeons but that is just my personal experience. Your success will depend largely on your own behavior after the surgery.....most people don't realize you have a lot of restrictions regarding foods afterward. It's not the 'easy way out'. Best wishes.....

I have BCBS TX PPO.......each group that has a policy, tho, has its own agreeemnt with the company so it's not the same for everybody. My clinic did all the testing and submissions for me and then assigned me to a surgeon. BCBS balked only at the part about 12 mo. supervised diet ...... the PCP's I'd seen had not made good notes. Judging from the posts of others they seldom back down on this so you might want to go ahead and start on it if you don't have it. Other than that, they required psych eval, sleep study, blood work, caridology exam. I think that's all. It may vary depending on your health factors. Don't bother sending them research.....they know. BCBS told me in advance exactly how much my part would be to pay and that's exactly how it went. Since surgery, I have had to pay only co-pay for my fills but every surgeon/clinic seems to bill that differently. You might ask your doctor's office now so you won't be caught by surprise. (If I had gone to the surgeon's office, it would have been $150 per fill, no insurance accepted. Instead I use the clinic that did my pre-op and it's co-pay only). There are many people on this board who have used Dr. Spiegel so you should be able to get some specific answers. I also see his name a lot at ObesityHelp.com. Best wishes!!

Wonderful to see some tangible PROOF, isn't it! Keep up the good work!!

The Magic Bullet works great as long as it works.....their reviews on amazon as far as holding up are bad, though. I got a little 14$ Hamilton Beach personal blender...crushes ice very well, holds 16 oz, you drink out of the cup itself. Cleans easier than my big blender, crushes the ice better, too.

The concept is great and in a more well-to-do part of the country it works great. However, in the two towns I've lived in recently , it is a pain in the neck. People say they are coming to pick something up....they don't show up. They say they want something you have...IF you'll bring it to them or mail it to them!!! They come and get something they claim they need badly ......you see it in the local greensheet the next week for sale. However.....it's a good idea and I see lots of neat stuff to be given away in other cities.

You don't have to be a member on this board or any other board to read and learn a lot about the people who post. I just now went googled "dianechef'......got several links to check you out........hmmmmm.....I see you're concerned about your boobies, I see you bought some coins on eBay, I see how much y ou weighed to begin with.........and that's without ever opening up this board. We are ALL out there for the world to see......all our pictures, our scars, our flab, our words, our fears, our occupations, pictures of our houses, our kids........and for those daring people who use their real names - no privacy left at all. Google yourself and see.

So happy for you! Especially since they are eliminating your program! I sent my entire career working in small rural schools who are struggling. Most paid state base only. Art classes consisted of play dough and crayons.......and the kids brought their own. TAKS has ruined the whole idea of 'well-rounded education.' My DIL teaches in a wealthy district in the north of Dallas.....I'm in awe of what they have there! Best wishes to you!!!

One of the things that really hurt my mother after my dad died was seeing what the coronor wrote on the death certificate beside "Cause of Death" - he wrote "Obesity." Not any reference to coronary problems (which he'd had since he was very young and NOT obese)......just 'obesity.' They could just as easily have written "Nicotine" . I don't mind Morbidly Obese.....it helps me remember why I had surgery in the first place. I came near death one to many times and I'm just not ready to anybody to fill in the blanks on my death certificate yet. I'd rather they write as my Cause of Death: 'She was VERY VERY OLD!!!"

rainbow......my DH was a power plant control room operator for 27 years. Got 'downsized' and retired too young. He loved the work.

I'm a school counselor, work mostly with troubled children and their families, learning disabled kids. Work mainly for school districts (circuit rider....travel 3 counties), but have done private practice in past. Also taught at the university level in summers for several years. (Shhhh.....also a private investigator for judges/lawyers (family court).

We have new digital scales also and have been frustrated with the variance. We've decided two things (which have already been mentioned but just wanted to give our experience): 1) you have to wait a few minutes between each use (same with our electronic blood pressure cuff and electronic glucometer) 2) the grout in the tile can make it uneven. 3) they like to torment you!! Ahh, the joys of technology!!

Yep, I think everyone feels that way. "Everyone's wrong except me and thee And sometimes I wonder 'bout thee."

My cardiologist was the first one to mention LapBand to me....however, when I went to my PCP to start the process and ask for a letter, he acted somewhat interested....then when I got the letter it said he would not recommend me, I needed to try WeightWatchers. We moved shortly thereafter, got a new PCP; he didn't seem at all interested (I realized later it was lack of knowledge) and made some comment about mortality rate of gastric bypass in men, etc. I proceeded on my own, went to cardiology clinic doing preops for Lapband, got my own surgeon, etc. When I went back to see PCP a few months later he was very interested in what I had done, had apparently done some research, and is now being very supportive. I've taken him literature, his nurse has asked lots of good questions, etc. We don't have many options for PCP's out here on the rural route, so I decided I'd just have to train him up the way I want him!!

Tamryn.....I PMd you the info on Carolyn's doc just in case she does not see your post. He's also my cardiologist and does a good fill job. Has offices in Ferris and in Highland Park. A real pioneer and a real pro in this business. (Dr. Fred Maese)

Tamryn.....I PMd you the info on Carolyn's doc just in case she does not see your post. He's also my cardiologist and does a good fill job. Has offices in Ferris and in Highland Park. A real pioneer and a real pro in this business. (Dr. Fred Maese)

Four months ago I couldn't drive myself to the gym.....couldn't fit behind the wheel. Three months ago I couldn't walk from the car to the gym door by myself. Two months ago I couldn't go more than 10 minutes on the treadmill (but I was proud of that!). Two weeks ago I said, "I've reached my limit - 20 minutes." And TODAY I walked 26 minutes!!! ( And I'm driving myself around town, too!) What next??!!

People that go into painful detail when telling a story... Example: We got there at 3:22, not it must have been 3:25 becasue blah blah blah, or no wait...it had to be at least 3:30 because blah blah blah and then we stayed on the 4th floor, no maybe it was the 5th, it was going to be the 7th, but then blah blah blah so I guess it was the 4th floor ......etc etc......you get the picture!! WHO CARES!!!!

I saw her and Wynona on Tv at a concert of some sort a few months ago......what a team! So sad that talent like tha is kept silenced because of the package it comes in.

And THAT is what this is all about!!! That is just wonderful and I am so happy for you. Keep up the good work!!

Hi.......I saw this at bottom of your post: Apron Surgery: 07/07/06 with Dr. Cardenas in Monterrey, MX Lapband Surgery: Sometime in September with Dr. Sanchez in Monterrey, MX You mean it's possible to have the apron removed before the LB??? :faint: Why didn't somebody tell me that before I had mine??? I would love to get rid of this bag hanging clear to my knees !! I know at my age it's not going to 'firm up'...it'll be with me till I can get someone to take a knife to it. Maybe I can do it now? I've lost about 50 lb but have another 100 or more to go. Might have to do it again later? Best wishes to you.........

At this stage you don't need to be worrying about carbs or calories.....just eating foods (liquids ) that will help you heal. Refried Beans are a staple of most wls'ers and bean juice is a great choice. I'm 8 wks out... one of my favorite meals is beans mixed with turkey chilli and a stick of LF cheese. There is excellent eating guidance from veteran wls folks on bariatriceating.com.

RaeK.......your Ticker tape has just almost exactly the same numbers on it as mine at this point. Sure seems like a long haul to the right end of the tape, doesn't it! But I figure I'll be the same age two years from now whether I'm fat or thin, so might as well get there thin! And maybe when I get there, I'll be wearing dancing shoes and not orthopedic lace-ups!!

Hey, ya'll........Wish I lived close enough to join in on the support groups.....they sound like fun!! I'm north of Dallas (almost to Oklahoma but don't tell anyone!). I was banded by Dr. Benavides at the Decatur hospital March 27. Dr. Maese did all my pre-op testing and is doing my fills (had one so far, another one next week). I'm feeling great!! Hi, Carolyn.......I've met you at Dr. M's a couple of times. Good to know we have such an expert on here that we can turn to. You were a deciding factor on where I would begin my process.

I think I'd 'adjust' to a body like Sara's much easier than any of the others. It's also more realistic a goal for most of us. And she is a cutie, besides!! I've been trying to think of someone else..it's very disheatening how few "normal" -size celebrity role models there are out there. It's interesting that three of the most popular personalities, though, are all normal size or normal-plus......Ellen DeGenreus, Rosie O'Donnel, Oprah Winfry. Hmmmm....