WDW Luver

Yep! That looks good to me! I probably couldn't eat the whole thing but I would get most of it in. Hard to think that in the future we may only be eating a bit of the eggs and feel full. I like your idea of taking a pic of the food now and "then". Another way to track our changes along with the body photos. Wonder if Golden Corral will let me just take pics of the entire buffet?:rolleyes2: :cursing:

Put this behind you! One lapse isn't a lifetime sentence. Pick yourself up, slap that patch on, get back to eating healthy and move forward. You can do it!

I still remember when I found out that I was "obese". I had gone to see an allergist for allergy testing and they had given me a letter to take back to my PCP. I opened the envelope when I got in the car and read: "Mrs. WDW Luver is an obese female, age 25 presenting with symptoms. . ." OBESE????? I knew I was pleasantly plump, probably overweight and maybe even fat. But obese??? Not me. I was only about 175 or 180. That can't be obese, can it? I felt like I had been punched in my (obese!) stomach and all the air left my body. One sentence. One word. And why was it the first thing listed in describing me? That one word hurt and stung and the tears started.:thumbup: But then I got angry. I remember thinking a few things. 1. What the hell does my weight have to do with the fact that I am allergic to ragweed, cockroach dung and cats? 2. Why does he find it necessary to let my PCP know that I am obese? Does he think he doesn't notice? Does he think my wonderful PCP that has been taking care of me for several years is going to read that and suddenly realize "OMG! She is FAT and I just never noticed! So glad the Allergist pointed that out to me." 3. That Allergist is a raging jerk and I won't be going back to him! But now I find out that as I have put on the weight I am Morbidly Obese. Wow. Take a horrible, grotesque and depressing word and add another that is even more awful to describe those of us that have been struggling with our self esteem and weight issues for years. Morbid. That word makes me thing of death. Websters says that it means "characteristic of disease" and lists Grisly and Gruesome as synonyms. Gruesome Obesity. We have all seen the looks, stares, pointing, and whispers over our gruesome fatness. Do we really need such gruesome words to describe us? I know someone with cancer, the most grisly and gruesome disease I know of, but wasn't told she had morbid cancer. My grandfather had a stroke that took away most of his capabilities, but it was never described as a morbid stroke. I had a friend in high school that was depressed to the point of being suicidal. He was never diagnosed as being morbidly depressed. And if all of this wasn't bad enough we have to have comorbidities. Being Morbidly Obese may not be bad enough. Some of us have to have some other horrible condition that our weight is causing to qualify for surgery. Well HA! I may be Morbidly Obese, but I am the healthiest damn fat woman I know! Blood pressure is fine. No diabetes. Cholesterol is great, lipids (whatever those are) are within normal range. I sleep fine with no signs of apnea. I am fit as a fiddle, healthy as a horse and 100%. . . Except for my feet. I have a permanent handicapped tag, the DMV told after renewing the temp one 2x that I needed to go permanent. Permanently handicapped. Cause I am fat. I read about applying for disability and I qualify. Permanently disabled. Cause I am fat. I am in constant debilitating and excruciating pain. Permanent pain. Cause I am fat. Excuse me, because I am obese. Actually the reality for me at this very moment is that I am not MORBIDLY obese. Nope! Yea Me! I am 5 pounds or less away from that. Depends on the time of day that I weigh actually. And when I last peed. And, you know, the other. And if I am wearing my Crocs or Tennis Shoes. Unfortunately for me when I went for the Informational Seminar at the local WLC I had an empty stomach. And I was wearing a lightweight skirt and my Crocs. And I had peed (and the other). BMI of 38.9 Not morbidly obese. Morbidly handicapped. Morbidly disabled. But doesn't qualify for surgery. So now I am in power training. To GAIN weight. I need 5 pounds by next week. I can weigh in again when I turn in the rest of my paperwork. I needed to get rid of 3 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in the freezer anyway. And there was some ice cream. And of course there are a ton of "last meals" I need to have. Aunt Flo will be visiting me next week and she always brings water retention and several extra pounds with her. And I have some heavy jeans and a sweatshirt. And hiking boots. And several sets of keys in my pockets. I have to gain 5 pounds to be approved to lose 100. And that to me is Morbid Stupidity.

I am only going by what I was told in the Seminar, but the Dr. said that they generally see an almost immediate resolution of Type 2 with the Gastric Bypass so if that is what you have then you may want to really look into that. It sounded like with banding it is not as effective on that form of diabetes. But otherwise if you are at 37 BMI and have Diabetes then I don't understand why they wouldn't pay. You have the comorbidity. Just remember that the Docs don't always know the ins and outs of insurance. Talk to the person that deals with them everyday. Forgot to mention that age also plays a roll. No idea what your age is, but if you are over 65 then you are less likely to be approved from what I have read.

How exciting. Best of luck. Keep us updated!

Have you talked to your Primary Care Doc or whoever is helping you manage your diabetes? I know in the Info. Meeting I went to they said that Gastric Bypass is much more effective with Type 2 Diab. I think there probably is better results with GB, but that is because in addition to the restriction you get (like the band) you also don't absorb the fat and calories like you used to , which can be good and bad. What is your BMI? If you have a BMI over 35 with the diabetes you qualify with most insurers, but I know nothing about Medicare. Can you call them yourself and find out? Check out the Insurance section of this site and see what other Medicare users have experienced. Look online and see if you can find their policy. And talk directly with the person that deals with insurance at the office you are going to and see what they say. They are old hat at this and should be able to really help you with the process. With any bariatric procedure you are going to get out of it what you put into it. That 50% loss is an AVERAGE. Some lose less, and some lose more! So for those that only lose 10% there are also those that lose 100%. What are YOU willing to put into this to make it work? The lap band is just a tool to help you out. But if you aren't willing to do the work of changing your eating habits and exercising regularly then it won't work and you will be right where you are now, but with a bunch of scars and a useless medical device in your body. Keep us updated on what you find out.

The office told me that if I didn't qualify for the insurance requirements then I won't meet their requirements either. So self pay wouldn't even be an option. I am very hopeful I can "make weight" next week!

I just read all of your blog entries. You have such a wonderful positive attitude! I hope I can keep such a great spirit when I am drinking broth. Your songs and stories are inspirational and a much needed laugh! The spin class story nearly made me pee my pants!

I still remember when I found out that I was "obese". I had gone to see an allergist for allergy testing and they had given me a letter to take back to my PCP. I opened the envelope when I got in the car and read: "Mrs. WDW Luver is an obese female, age 25 presenting with symptoms. . ." OBESE????? I knew I was pleasantly plump, probably overweight and maybe even fat. But obese??? Not me. I was only about 175 or 180. That can't be obese, can it? I felt like I had been punched in my (obese!) stomach and all the air left my body. One sentence. One word. And why was it the first thing listed in describing me? That one word hurt and stung and the tears started.:rolleyes2: But then I got angry. I remember thinking a few things. 1. What the hell does my weight have to do with the fact that I am allergic to ragweed, cockroach dung and cats? 2. Why does he find it necessary to let my PCP know that I am obese? Does he think he doesn't notice? Does he think my wonderful PCP that has been taking care of me for several years is going to read that and suddenly realize "OMG! She is FAT and I just never noticed! So glad the Allergist pointed that out to me." 3. That Allergist is a raging jerk and I won't be going back to him! But now I find out that as I have put on the weight I am Morbidly Obese. Wow. Take a horrible, grotesque and depressing word and add another that is even more awful to describe those of us that have been struggling with our self esteem and weight issues for years. Morbid. That word makes me thing of death. Websters says that it means "characteristic of disease" and lists Grisly and Gruesome as synonyms. Gruesome Obesity. We have all seen the looks, stares, pointing, and whispers over our gruesome fatness. Do we really need such gruesome words to describe us? I know someone with cancer, the most grisly and gruesome disease I know of, but wasn't told she had morbid cancer. My grandfather had a stroke that took away most of his capabilities, but it was never described as a morbid stroke. I had a friend in high school that was depressed to the point of being suicidal. He was never diagnosed as being morbidly depressed. And if all of this wasn't bad enough we have to have comorbidities. Being Morbidly Obese may not be bad enough. Some of us have to have some other horrible condition that our weight is causing to qualify for surgery. Well HA! I may be Morbidly Obese, but I am the healthiest damn fat woman I know! Blood pressure is fine. No diabetes. Cholesterol is great, lipids (whatever those are) are within normal range. I sleep fine with no signs of apnea. I am fit as a fiddle, healthy as a horse and 100%. . . Except for my feet. I have a permanent handicapped tag, the DMV told after renewing the temp one 2x that I needed to go permanent. Permanently handicapped. Cause I am fat. I read about applying for disability and I qualify. Permanently disabled. Cause I am fat. I am in constant debilitating and excruciating pain. Permanent pain. Cause I am fat. Excuse me, because I am obese. Actually the reality for me at this very moment is that I am not MORBIDLY obese. Nope! Yea Me! I am 5 pounds or less away from that. Depends on the time of day that I weigh actually. And when I last peed. And, you know, the other. And if I am wearing my Crocs or Tennis Shoes. Unfortunately for me when I went for the Informational Seminar at the local WLC I had an empty stomach. And I was wearing a lightweight skirt and my Crocs. And I had peed (and the other). BMI of 38.9 Not morbidly obese. Morbidly handicapped. Morbidly disabled. But doesn't qualify for surgery. So now I am in power training. To GAIN weight. I need 5 pounds by next week. I can weigh in again when I turn in the rest of my paperwork. I needed to get rid of 3 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in the freezer anyway. And there was some ice cream. And of course there are a ton of "last meals" I need to have. Aunt Flo will be visiting me next week and she always brings water retention and several extra pounds with her. And I have some heavy jeans and a sweatshirt. And hiking boots. And several sets of keys in my pockets. I have to gain 5 pounds to be approved to lose 100. And that to me is Morbid Stupidity.

Well it would appear that I now have millions of fans on the edge of their seats waiting for me to explain how I got here. The silence is deafening. . Last Thursday should have been a great day for me. I had tackled a project that I involved things I enjoy. It also involved several hours on my feet over 2 days. Wednesday was the prep phase, Thursday when it happened. It should have been great. I had lots of help and they had piles of praise for me for how well I had done things. The compliments just kept on coming. I should have been on Cloud 9. Instead I was in HELL. My feet hurt so bad I was fighting back tears the entire day. I couldn't enjoy the event because I was just counting the seconds until I could go home and get off my feet. When I finally did pull into the garage at home I just sat in my car and cried. :crying: I just couldn't get out and walk into the house. I contemplated crawling because my feet hurt so bad. I am not sure that I can imagine worse pain. I finally pulled myself together and limped very slowly inside, got some ice and sat down with my feet up and the ice on them. . . and cried. I was in a full blown tumble down a very dark hole. Exhausted, in great pain, hungry, and depressed. The phone rang. I don't answer the phone when I am in this sort of mood. But I looked at the Caller ID just to be sure it wasn't one of my kids calling from school. It wasn't. In fact it was "Private Name Private Number" I NEVER answer those. Certainly I wasn't going to answer it in the mood I was in. I don't want to talk to anyone, much less deal with a telemarketer. Let the machine get it. I answered it. I have no idea why. Absolutely none. And this Private name, private number was my bff from back home. I haven't talked to her in several months, save a few passing pleasantries on Facebook. She was calling with some news from her family and after we got past that we were chatting about the kids and our lives. Then she dropped a bomb on me. "I have to tell you something that I haven't really told anyone" :confused: "I got a Lap Band a few months ago. I am doing really great. I have lost a lot of weight and am exercising and am feeling so much better." :eek: I then commenced to do what I do best, talk! I asked her all sorts of questions and she told me all about it. We said good bye and my brain kicked into overdrive. Could I? :confused: Would I?:confused: Should I?:confused: I have never, ever, ever, ever up until that very moment EVER contemplated surgery as an option. NEVER.:thumbup: I hate needles. I hate surgery. I hate anesthesia. I practically had to be knocked out just to have my babies. My last foot surgery I cried for 2 days before it and tried to cancel. Those were things that I had no choice. No way I would ever consider electing to have a dr cut into me and do stuff to my insides to help me lose weight. That is just crazy talk! Or is it? I did what I always do. I went on line. I started reading and thinking and reading and thinking and reading and thinking. Then I reached out to my closest friends that have been by my side through these last few years of hell. One has had GB, the other's husband had GB. Believe me, they were :eek: that I was now thinking this. This was Thursday. Friday I went to dinner with my GB friend and we talked all about her experience. She showed me websites, she discussed all she knew. She gave me the name of her local dr. I went home and decided to discuss it with DH. I am emotional and impulsive. He is analytical and thinks things over very carefully. I expected him to think I was crazy and immediately :thumbdown: the whole idea. Instead he listened to me very carefully as I very seriously laid everything out. Some things he had no idea about, like my extreme incontinence issues, or the rashes and sores I have been getting in the fat folds. Of course he knew about the feet! He kept a very open mind and said lets look into this further and learn all we can and then we can make a decision. But ultimately this is your body and your life and YOU have to make the decision and I will support you 100% in whatever you want to do. Did I mention that I have the most wonderful hubby in the world?:wub: Monday afternoon found us at the Informational Seminar held by the local Weight Loss Clinic. Today I have seen my PCP and have his full support and approval for anything that I need. In 5 days I have gone from Weight Loss Surgery not even being on my radar, to beginning the process for approval and having it done. Impulsive much??

So I get a blog here? I have never blogged before. Hmmmmm, I do love to talk so maybe this is a good thing. Does anyone read these things? Well, who am I? 39 year old SAHM mom, that has my own Travel Agency at home, and substitute teaches when I can. Active in the PTA and other organizations my kids are involved in. I have an amazing, patient and loving husband and 2 daughters, 13 and 9. Teen girl attitude has invaded my house.:wub: Oh, and I am overweight. Apparently not just overweight, OBESE. God I hate that word. It has to be one of the grossest, most ugly words in the world. I actually prefer just FAT over obese. I have been fighting this fat for 20 years. I am not even sure how I got here. I guess a combination of some emotional issues from childhood, and a lot of bad choices. I hate to exercise. But I also hate to sit still. I love to go places and do things. Come on! Let's go to the park or a museum, or for a walk, or to the beach, or shopping or. . . I have tried it all. Nutrisystem, Weight Watchers (3x), Jenny Craig (even worked there!), Atkins, South Beach, Slimfast, Dr Phil, Oprah, and all sorts of crazy stuff I came up with on my own. The weight comes off but not much before I give up. Then it all comes back on and brings extra with it. About 6 years ago I started having problems with my feet. Heel Spurs? Bone Spur? Plantar Fasciitis? I got several different diagnosis and treatments. Stay off your feet, use crutches etc... Things got a bit better for a year or two but then the pain came back. I found a great podiatrist and with stretching and ice and cortisone shots I had some relief. But each time it came back it was worse than before. Finally I had exhausted all conservative treatments and the pain was so bad that I couldn't walk at all without horrible pain. Surgery was next. One simple procedure, a few days recovery and I would be back on my feet. Didn't happen. Things got much worse. I was now confined to a wheelchair to leave my house. Just walking from the couch to the bathroom was excruciating and I would cry the entire trip. Time for Surgery #2. More intensive but will fix it and you will be pain free. Nope. Didn't work. Well, I guess it did some. I could get around the house on my feet for a few minutes without the horrible pain. But still needed a wheelchair when I was out. By now it had been nearly 2 years with this pain and I had gone from active and always on the go to sitting on the couch not going anywhere. Of course depression set in. And with no activity and depression eating the weight got higher. I finally decided I was done sitting around my house and we found a used scooter that allows me to at least be independent and get out of the house. 38 and using a scooter.:tt2: My first podiatrist and I parted ways amicably. I was still in tons of pain and he wanted me to see someone else that had been in the field longer. New doctor and on to surgery #3! Still recovering 7 months later and still in pain. But all along I have been told that loosing weight would make the most difference. I did lose 20 pounds last year, but it made no difference. So of course I gave up and gained it back, along with its friends. So here I sit at 228 pounds. Feet are in so much pain that I can only stand or walk for about 5 minutes. You would think that the idea that this is what I am facing the rest of my life would be the kick in the pants to make me change my eating habits and lose the weight and keep it off. So why doesn't it. Hmm, this was a lot to read for one sitting. I will stop here and continue later. This last week has been a whirlwind of emotions, research and revelations. I will discuss that in the next entry.

Trixie, I am so sorry to hear this. You might try talking to HR . See if there is another insurance option you can switch to in the next enrollment period. Or if they would consider adding the WLS Ryder to the policy for next year. You may have to wait longer but at least you can get all your ducks in a row and be prepared if they do approve it.

hi! I am new here too. There is a thread for us in the Hampton Roads area in the Support Group area for USA/Virginia. I just started this and went to the Informational Seminar yesterday. Are you seeing Dr Clark or Terracina or someone else? Great luck with your surgery! Keep us updated on how it is going.

Well it would appear that I now have millions of fans on the edge of their seats waiting for me to explain how I got here. The silence is deafening. . Last Thursday should have been a great day for me. I had tackled a project that I involved things I enjoy. It also involved several hours on my feet over 2 days. Wednesday was the prep phase, Thursday when it happened. It should have been great. I had lots of help and they had piles of praise for me for how well I had done things. The compliments just kept on coming. I should have been on Cloud 9. Instead I was in HELL. My feet hurt so bad I was fighting back tears the entire day. I couldn't enjoy the event because I was just counting the seconds until I could go home and get off my feet. When I finally did pull into the garage at home I just sat in my car and cried. :mad2: I just couldn't get out and walk into the house. I contemplated crawling because my feet hurt so bad. I am not sure that I can imagine worse pain. I finally pulled myself together and limped very slowly inside, got some ice and sat down with my feet up and the ice on them. . . and cried. I was in a full blown tumble down a very dark hole. Exhausted, in great pain, hungry, and depressed. The phone rang. I don't answer the phone when I am in this sort of mood. But I looked at the Caller ID just to be sure it wasn't one of my kids calling from school. It wasn't. In fact it was "Private Name Private Number" I NEVER answer those. Certainly I wasn't going to answer it in the mood I was in. I don't want to talk to anyone, much less deal with a telemarketer. Let the machine get it. I answered it. I have no idea why. Absolutely none. And this Private name, private number was my bff from back home. I haven't talked to her in several months, save a few passing pleasantries on Facebook. She was calling with some news from her family and after we got past that we were chatting about the kids and our lives. Then she dropped a bomb on me. "I have to tell you something that I haven't really told anyone" :cursing: "I got a Lap Band a few months ago. I am doing really great. I have lost a lot of weight and am exercising and am feeling so much better." :eek: I then commenced to do what I do best, talk! I asked her all sorts of questions and she told me all about it. We said good bye and my brain kicked into overdrive. Could I? :cursing: Would I?:cursing: Should I?:cursing: I have never, ever, ever, ever up until that very moment EVER contemplated surgery as an option. NEVER.:rolleyes2: I hate needles. I hate surgery. I hate anesthesia. I practically had to be knocked out just to have my babies. My last foot surgery I cried for 2 days before it and tried to cancel. Those were things that I had no choice. No way I would ever consider electing to have a dr cut into me and do stuff to my insides to help me lose weight. That is just crazy talk! Or is it? I did what I always do. I went on line. I started reading and thinking and reading and thinking and reading and thinking. Then I reached out to my closest friends that have been by my side through these last few years of hell. One has had GB, the other's husband had GB. Believe me, they were :eek: that I was now thinking this. This was Thursday. Friday I went to dinner with my GB friend and we talked all about her experience. She showed me websites, she discussed all she knew. She gave me the name of her local dr. I went home and decided to discuss it with DH. I am emotional and impulsive. He is analytical and thinks things over very carefully. I expected him to think I was crazy and immediately :cursing: the whole idea. Instead he listened to me very carefully as I very seriously laid everything out. Some things he had no idea about, like my extreme incontinence issues, or the rashes and sores I have been getting in the fat folds. Of course he knew about the feet! He kept a very open mind and said lets look into this further and learn all we can and then we can make a decision. But ultimately this is your body and your life and YOU have to make the decision and I will support you 100% in whatever you want to do. Did I mention that I have the most wonderful hubby in the world? Monday afternoon found us at the Informational Seminar held by the local Weight Loss Clinic. Today I have seen my PCP and have his full support and approval for anything that I need. In 5 days I have gone from Weight Loss Surgery not even being on my radar, to beginning the process for approval and having it done. Impulsive much??

That is what I figured! Darn. I guess I need to do entry #2 now since I know that someone read it!

Isn't it though! Especially since weight can vary 5 pounds from 8am to 5pm. I was just at my PCP's office and I weighed 4 pounds more there than I did at the WLC yesterday at about the same time. The difference? Different shoes, I had eaten before I went, and needed to go to the bathroom.:smile: PCP thinks it is rediculous also, but not much we can do about. I did realize that I will be being visited by Aunt Flo next week which always gives me a good boost of a few pounds so I may be able to do this!

Thanks. I have read that and it is what is scaring me! It does sound like the BMI had to be over 40 for 2 years. But I am in Virginia and I also heard that they have a rule that may superscede the insurance regs. I read it but don't understand it. This is all so confusing. I guess I will just see if I can get more information from the insurance person at the WLC.

I am just beginning to research this and have read tons and tons of stuff but the one thing I haven't found the answer to is if the Lap Band surgery is done as an outpatient or if you have to stay over in the hospital? Does it depend on your dr and/or your insurance? Thanks!

So I get a blog here? I have never blogged before. Hmmmmm, I do love to talk so maybe this is a good thing. Does anyone read these things? Well, who am I? 39 year old SAHM mom, that has my own Travel Agency at home, and substitute teaches when I can. Active in the PTA and other organizations my kids are involved in. I have an amazing, patient and loving husband and 2 daughters, 13 and 9. Teen girl attitude has invaded my house.:thumbdown: Oh, and I am overweight. Apparently not just overweight, OBESE. God I hate that word. It has to be one of the grossest, most ugly words in the world. I actually prefer just FAT over obese. I have been fighting this fat for 20 years. I am not even sure how I got here. I guess a combination of some emotional issues from childhood, and a lot of bad choices. I hate to exercise. But I also hate to sit still. I love to go places and do things. Come on! Let's go to the park or a museum, or for a walk, or to the beach, or shopping or. . . I have tried it all. Nutrisystem, Weight Watchers (3x), Jenny Craig (even worked there!), Atkins, South Beach, Slimfast, Dr Phil, Oprah, and all sorts of crazy stuff I came up with on my own. The weight comes off but not much before I give up. Then it all comes back on and brings extra with it. About 6 years ago I started having problems with my feet. Heel Spurs? Bone Spur? Plantar Fasciitis? I got several different diagnosis and treatments. Stay off your feet, use crutches etc... Things got a bit better for a year or two but then the pain came back. I found a great podiatrist and with stretching and ice and cortisone shots I had some relief. But each time it came back it was worse than before. Finally I had exhausted all conservative treatments and the pain was so bad that I couldn't walk at all without horrible pain. Surgery was next. One simple procedure, a few days recovery and I would be back on my feet. Didn't happen. Things got much worse. I was now confined to a wheelchair to leave my house. Just walking from the couch to the bathroom was excruciating and I would cry the entire trip. Time for Surgery #2. More intensive but will fix it and you will be pain free. Nope. Didn't work. Well, I guess it did some. I could get around the house on my feet for a few minutes without the horrible pain. But still needed a wheelchair when I was out. By now it had been nearly 2 years with this pain and I had gone from active and always on the go to sitting on the couch not going anywhere. Of course depression set in. And with no activity and depression eating the weight got higher. I finally decided I was done sitting around my house and we found a used scooter that allows me to at least be independent and get out of the house. 38 and using a scooter.:cursing: My first podiatrist and I parted ways amicably. I was still in tons of pain and he wanted me to see someone else that had been in the field longer. New doctor and on to surgery #3! Still recovering 7 months later and still in pain. But all along I have been told that loosing weight would make the most difference. I did lose 20 pounds last year, but it made no difference. So of course I gave up and gained it back, along with its friends. So here I sit at 228 pounds. Feet are in so much pain that I can only stand or walk for about 5 minutes. You would think that the idea that this is what I am facing the rest of my life would be the kick in the pants to make me change my eating habits and lose the weight and keep it off. So why doesn't it. Hmm, this was a lot to read for one sitting. I will stop here and continue later. This last week has been a whirlwind of emotions, research and revelations. I will discuss that in the next entry.

I am in the not telling catagory also. DH of course knows and is 100% supportive. I won't tell my girls ages 9 and 13. They are used to my crazy diets, me taking pain meds for my horrible foot problems, and my having stomach issues that have me in the bathroom for hours so they won't suspect a thing! I am hoping I could schedule for the week they are both at camp, but if not then I will tell them I need to have some tests (like colonoscopy) done at the hospital. They know that anything with anesthesia, IV, needles etc puts me in bed for a week. The one person that I will absolutely never tell is my mother. She is extremely judgmental of my weight, and is part of the emotional reason that I am where I am! She harps on me all the time about my weight. If she knew about this I would never hear the end of it. The only people that know I am considering this are some very close friends. But I also have a lot of friends that I don't want to tell. Only one could be a bit sticky because we go out to lunch as most of our social get togethers. We are very close but she also has loose lips and I only told those that I know I can trust. Not sure what to do about my inlaws. I love them dearly and they are extremely supportive of me. But this just feels like something so private I don't want to share, at least not now. We do spend time at their house for holidays and visits and my father in law is an incredible gourmet cook. But they also have experienced my diets and I have had to take my own food or make special requests in the past and they always accomodate me. Since this will be so similar to South Beach I will probably just tell them I doing that. If I am not eating very much at the time then I will just blame IBS. MIL has it also and totally understands. I would gues that I will tell them eventually. I am figuring I will just know when the time feels right. Haven't decided on my sister. She is a pharmacist that wears about a size 2. She was actually a very chubby child but hasn't had any problems since she was a teen. We have an understanding of "don't tell mom", but I am not sure I want to put her in that position of keeping my secret from our mom. I figure that I would rather be cautious and go slow with who I tell. I can always open up later. But once it is out you can't take it back.

Yea, I will be in heavier clothes, hiking boots, with my pockets (and my stomach!) stuffed next time!:thumbdown:. The 5 I need to gain takes that in account. There is only so much clothes I can wear!

Found out that my dr. does out patient. I have to say that I am not sure how I feel about this. Of course it is always nice to be at home in your nice comfy bed, but it is also nice to have that pain pump if that is done. But in my experience if you are just on pain pills it is better to be at home and not at the mercy of the overworked nurses. And it can be good for the family to not be taking care of you that first night, but when they wake you up at all hours to get vitals in the hospital that is annoying. So I will roll with whatever happens!

Well, I went to the Informational seminar and I don't qualify (for insurance purposes) at this point. :frown: But I only need about 5 more pounds to push me over the 40 BMI so I will probably have a fun week! :biggrin::beer_yum::cake::lurk5: and then go back next week and get reweighed. I went on an empty stomach and was wearing a thin fabric skirt. I will definitely be full and wearing jeans and heavy shoes next time!:wink: Is this just stupidity at it's finest or what??? I have to gain 5 pounds just get the help I need to loose 100. I guess the cleaning of the pantry and freezer will begin tomorrow. I need to get rid of the frozen Girl Scout Cookies and the Ice cream anyway! I did decide that I want the Band over GB. And apparently Dr. T is using the Relize Band unless you specifiy the Lap Band.

Okay, I have read the thread now! I guess I should have specified that I was going to the WLSC seminar with Dr. T. I have a friend that goes to him for follow care from GB done before she moved here and recommended him. From all I have read it sounds like it is a good choice. Luv, thanks so much for your "books"--you have really said a lot of great and thought provoking things. Something that I am struggling with is how do you decide between a Band vx Gastric Bypass? Or does the dr decide for you? It seems that I am reading that you submit your paperwork to the insurance and then get approved and then get a surgery date and THEN meet with the Dr for the first time??? This seems a bit strange. DH and I have so many questions and concerns. I am certainly leaning towards doing this (still unsure) and think Band would be the way I would go, but really I don't know and need a lot of guidance.

YEA!!!:thumbup: I am so excited to find this thread. I am just beginning to consider this option and am going to the Informational Seminar tomorrow with DH. I have been looking for information on the doctor's and what to expect. I guess now I need to back up and read the thread!