sandiegokate

Congratulations!!!!!!!!! You are all an inspiration to me, I can't wait to start my journey.. hopefully soon! :-)

Sorry I missed you all today!!! I hope I can make the next one. We're moving offices that week so I don't know if I can make it then either. I will try though!! Hope it went well!

Ubermom, I have heard of the 5 day pouch test.. go for it!! I hope it gets you on track. Also, for journaling I really like Sparkpeople.com. Their "my nutrition" tracker is very similar to weight watchers except it is calories/carbs/fat instead of points. WW is a monthly fee but this is free! You can search foods that other people have entered also, making it easy. EVERYTHING is in there... Anyway, maybe it will be a help for journaling. Good luck.. we're all here for you!! Katie

My doctor is Dr. Bhoyrul at La Jolla Surgical Associates. I went to three seminars and really liked his personality and he has a good reputation from what I can see. He used to be the head of surgery at Scripps Green and then went out on his own for bariatric medicine. He will do my surgery at Alvarado, as my insurance covers it there (otherwise he uses a surgical center used for orthopedic procedures I think). I have started to slowly add Protein shakes to my diet now, thinking that I will slowly transition to the pre-op diet and beyond. I don't have a specific date yet, but I should know this week! Possibly the first couple week of August. I'm looking forward to it, that is for sure!! I am also looking forward to meeting you guys. "IF" I can, I will try to make it there on Wednesday, but probably not this week. Have a great rest of the weekend! Katie

Hi Guys, So sorry I won't be able to meet with you guys next week!! I planned on taking Monday and Tuesday off work and I will need to be there Wednesday morning to put out some fires. Anywhere in Mission Valley works for me. I am just east of the stadium in Allied Gardens. The library area sounds great! It just depends on what I have going on at work as to whether I can get away on a weekday morning, I work 8-5 or so. I do have news to share though!! I just got word today that insurance is approved and I just need to schedule the date!! I am having the lapband "installed" by Dr. Bhoyrul. So far I really like him and his staff. Any suggestions for my pre-op phase as I get closer to my date? Thanks,

I am starting my journey, hope to be banded in early August. I will join!

I LOVE my Magic Bullet!! It isn't only good for Protein shakes but to grind coffee, make margaritas:thumbup: salad dressings, scramble eggs, you name it! I am thinking I might buy a 2nd one for the office. I have used it so much more than any blender because it is so easy to clean. Best of luck!

OK, this is a funny thread, but I have to say there IS some truth to what the lady said in the nail salon! Maybe she saw the same show I did in the morning. A couple of weeks ago, on Good Morning America they showed a NEW procedure that is being tested that is non-surgical. They go through the mouth down the esophagus and work from there. Here is a link to the story: No Scars: New Obesity Surgery Goes Through Mouth - ABC News Sounded really cool, but will be a while before it is mainstream.. I'd rather not wait! By the way, my mom thought I was going to have a tube sticking out of me to do the fills too..haha!!! So, there is sometimes a bit of truth in the banter that goes on! :tongue_smilie:

Hey Smitten, I had my psych evaluation on June 1st too (by your post I assume yours was June 1). Did you see Dr. Steres? She seems nice. Have you gone any further? I just received a call from my insurance so I assume Dr. Bhoyrul's office submitted paperwork. I am thinking I will schedule the procedure the first couple weeks of August, we have an office move that I don't want to be weak for so I think it is best that I wait until that is complete. Good luck to you! Katie

Hello Everyone!:bat: I have been thinking about the band for close to two years. I finally started doing the research and went to three different seminars for the procedure here in San Diego. In the end, I chose Dr. Bhoyrul and he will perform the procedure at Alvarado Hospital. So far I have found him and his staff to be very compassionate and competent. I asked other people, on this site and others, about their experiences with him. Along with my own research and comparing him to others, I decided to put my faith in him. I had my first consultation on April 30th, the day after my 45th birthday. I suddenly moved into a new position at my company and had to be in NJ for 3 weeks a week later (got back last Friday), and I can say after all the eating out at restaurants I am READY to have some restriction and to not eat so much. I have my psych consult tomorrow, I think I'm pretty sane , most of the time anyway, and should get an "A-OK". Then I think I just wait to make another appointment with Dr. Bhoyrul and have my surgery scheduled. Not sure if there are any other tests I need. I think I'm set! Wish me luck! I don't know when my surgery will be, maybe end of June or sometime in July? I'm starting to get excited though and looking forward to being a part of the weight loss success I see on this website. I also look forward to meeting others here and sharing in our successes and frustrations. :smile: I have more than 100 lbs to lose but I will take it one pound at a time. I, like most here, have spent my entire life dieting, sometimes successful, but always gaining it back and usually more over time. Best of luck to all here.. I look forward to moving ahead in my journey and getting to know as many of you as I can! :cool: Happy Losing to All, Katie

Wow.. congratulations Slenderella64 and to Peanutbnd too!! I hope to get pregnant, I am single and was planning on using donor eggs due to my age (I turned 45 last month), but you guys give me hope that I possibly COULD have my own. Need to find that guy though.. that has been my biggest problem. I wish you both happy, healthy and uneventful pregnancies!! FYI.. there is a great forum for over 40 and pregnant: fertilityover40.com Lots of good people there! :party:

Oh, it hurts.. but, it is just for a second. :smile: It depends on how thick the forest is though. :cool: The first time I had myself so worked up about it, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I had imagined it to be. Make sure you exfoliate a lot afterward and use an antibiotic cream or something to prevent ingrowns.. atleast I get them and it isn't fun or sexy! Go for it...:bat:

Hi, I went to Dr. Bhoyrul's seminar and met with him the end of April. Due to a job change I had to postpone anything further until now. I really like him and his staff. Have you met with him yet? They have a very good reputation and program from what I can tell already. They provide all the information in your consultations. I imagine I will get banded in the next month or two. I can't wait!