Kamie

Meagen don't worry girl! You have lost a lot of weight already! Of course it is our nature to always want more, but just think of where you might have been had you not gone down the path of the lap band. I know I haven't gotten my surgery yet, but from reading about it there seems like you can have that kinda stuff happen. You know what you are eating has the added benefits as being really healthy for your heart, skin, and overall body. Working out will make you strong and athletic. Keep up all the great work! Even with the stall, you are still a huge mentor and inspiration for me!

I accidentally posted this blog 2 times and I can't delete it?

I accidentally posted this blog 2 times and I can't delete it?

So I went to my consultation with Dr. Schwartz on Monday morning and it went pretty well. I have completely decided that this is my time to make a change. The lap band will be a great tool for me. I need to stay inspired to change though and I am hoping that LBT will really help with that part. My boyfriend says he is going to help me with working out and making sure to stay very diligent. We are going to make sure to photograph all of the various stages so that I can realize what a drastic change I am making. The changes that I have seen everyone making here have given me the strength to know that I can do this too. Next up I have some steps to take for insurance approval. I have United and whast the doctor says that they are requiring is a note of medical necessity from my PCP, my medical records of weight for the last 5 years, the psychological evaluation, and my most recent blood work. I have scheduled my appointment with my PCP which is on 7/22. Seems like a long time to wait to me, but my doctor's office is sort of a pain. My doctor is very, "you can just do it one your own," so I actually think this could be the most difficult step. I have called my doctor previously to get medical records and I just need to go in and fill out some paperwork. I don't know whether I am supposed to send the stuff to the surgeons office or keep it myself? The surgeon uses a specific psychologist that does not accept insurance payments and it is $150 for the visit. I can go to a different one, but he says it may really save me some time this way. This entire process is just a little confusing still. I do not have to do a pre-op diet except for the week before which is a protein shake for breakfast, one for lunch and a dinner that is 1000 cal or less. I guess the hardest thing for me right now is just to try and still eat well. I really have been doing a great job at least maintaining my weight this past year. I lost about 15lbs at the beginning of 2009 and have kept it off, which is abnormal given my past 5 year trend. But now I am just trying not to let myself get the whole idea of eating my last meals that I will never have again. I mean I don't even have a surgery date yet so this could be a really scary thing since it could be months and months until I get approved and get banded. I would love to start losing weight now and that would just be a bonus and then a tool with the lap band just when I need it. I guess I do want to have a few things that I will be missing, but lets not get out of control considering it is not all systems go yet. I was d=following Dr. Ian Smith's 4 day diet and really feeling great so maybe I will do that for the time being as best as I possibly can. It would be nice if I could get down another 20-30lbs before my lap band. You know...get the ball rolling!

So I went to my consultation with Dr. Schwartz on Monday morning and it went pretty well. I have completely decided that this is my time to make a change. The lap band will be a great tool for me. I need to stay inspired to change though and I am hoping that LBT will really help with that part. My boyfriend says he is going to help me with working out and making sure to stay very diligent. We are going to make sure to photograph all of the various stages so that I can realize what a drastic change I am making. The changes that I have seen everyone making here have given me the strength to know that I can do this too. Next up I have some steps to take for insurance approval. I have United and whast the doctor says that they are requiring is a note of medical necessity from my PCP, my medical records of weight for the last 5 years, the psychological evaluation, and my most recent blood work. I have scheduled my appointment with my PCP which is on 7/22. Seems like a long time to wait to me, but my doctor's office is sort of a pain. My doctor is very, "you can just do it one your own," so I actually think this could be the most difficult step. I have called my doctor previously to get medical records and I just need to go in and fill out some paperwork. I don't know whether I am supposed to send the stuff to the surgeons office or keep it myself? The surgeon uses a specific psychologist that does not accept insurance payments and it is $150 for the visit. I can go to a different one, but he says it may really save me some time this way. This entire process is just a little confusing still. I do not have to do a pre-op diet except for the week before which is a protein shake for breakfast, one for lunch and a dinner that is 1000 cal or less. I guess the hardest thing for me right now is just to try and still eat well. I really have been doing a great job at least maintaining my weight this past year. I lost about 15lbs at the beginning of 2009 and have kept it off, which is abnormal given my past 5 year trend. But now I am just trying not to let myself get the whole idea of eating my last meals that I will never have again. I mean I don't even have a surgery date yet so this could be a really scary thing since it could be months and months until I get approved and get banded. I would love to start losing weight now and that would just be a bonus and then a tool with the lap band just when I need it. I guess I do want to have a few things that I will be missing, but lets not get out of control considering it is not all systems go yet. I was d=following Dr. Ian Smith's 4 day diet and really feeling great so maybe I will do that for the time being as best as I possibly can. It would be nice if I could get down another 20-30lbs before my lap band. You know...get the ball rolling!

Oh man! Everyone's posts are so great, so many of those things are what I want also. But here are some of mine from today: Snowboarding with my boyfriend!:thumbup: Walking into a regular store and trying on whateva and oh my gosh, it fits...no wait it's a little too big! Swimsuits! My wedding day somewhere down the road!

Okay, so my name is Kamie and I am in Tucson, AZ. I live with my boyfriend of four years and my younger sister. I have been overweight for about as long as I can remember, but I gained about 80% of my unwanted weight during the last 4 years of college. I am now at 265lbs which is actually about 20lbs less than what I thought from awhile ago. Since I am only 5'2'' this puts me at a very high BMI number of 46.8! That is really scary to me and has led me to the option of Lap Band Surgery. I have tried and tried at everything I can think of. I have done weight watchers, weight watchers online, personal training, nutritionist, the 4-day diet, LA weightloss. I usually lose substantial weight and then I miss a meeting or a payment or I overeat...you know how it goes. The things that have brought me to this crucial moment are recent changes based on my weight gain. I can't shop at regular stores anymore...I hate shopping online and don't find clothes that fit my style at the "plus size" stores. I wear out my bras and underwear more quickly than ever. I am having trouble being active at all anymore. I am usually tired. I feel left out of society. My dad just recently had a heart scare at the age of 51. Needless today I am ready for a change. I want to be healthy and find a better way of life. More than anything in the world I want to stop my osession and constant thought of food. I know that the Lap Band is only a tool here and I hope to find others along the way. Well, I have my consultation with the surgeon on Monday, so 4 more days. I will keep you posted!

Okay, so my name is Kamie and I am in Tucson, AZ. I live with my boyfriend of four years and my younger sister. I have been overweight for about as long as I can remember, but I gained about 80% of my unwanted weight during the last 4 years of college. I am now at 265lbs which is actually about 20lbs less than what I thought from awhile ago. Since I am only 5'2'' this puts me at a very high BMI number of 46.8! That is really scary to me and has led me to the option of Lap Band Surgery. I have tried and tried at everything I can think of. I have done weight watchers, weight watchers online, personal training, nutritionist, the 4-day diet, LA weightloss. I usually lose substantial weight and then I miss a meeting or a payment or I overeat...you know how it goes. The things that have brought me to this crucial moment are recent changes based on my weight gain. I can't shop at regular stores anymore...I hate shopping online and don't find clothes that fit my style at the "plus size" stores. I wear out my bras and underwear more quickly than ever. I am having trouble being active at all anymore. I am usually tired. I feel left out of society. My dad just recently had a heart scare at the age of 51. Needless today I am ready for a change. I want to be healthy and find a better way of life. More than anything in the world I want to stop my osession and constant thought of food. I know that the Lap Band is only a tool here and I hope to find others along the way. Well, I have my consultation with the surgeon on Monday, so 4 more days. I will keep you posted!

ParrotheadCathy, Thanks, I am really glad I found this thread because that was the exact straight forward information I have been looking for. I have been to my first seminar and my consultation is on Monday. I am actually getting less nervous and more excited. I am ready to make this change and this commitment. I am slowly starting to try and eat/drink more like I have heard you need to post-op just so I can start committing. The hardest "food" thing for me is not eating and drinking at the same time, but I like tea and Water so much more than food so I guess it may be in my favor? I already workout at low-moderate levels depending on the week and have a boyfriend who is training to be a firefighter who is really supportive in this way. I just can't wait until I don't have to plan a night-time scheduling for swimming and can go whenever I feel like it! Thanks for all the info! I know this won't be an easy journey, but in my experience most rewarding one's are not.

Its actually so funny that you said that, because I just recently did my pros and cons list about 5 days ago and my pros list was at least four times as long. I keep thinking about how many things I miss out on and continue to miss out on everyday. I went shopping with an old friend like 2 weeks ago and I just felt like a failure the whole time because she was wondering why I wasn't trying things on. I didn't want to say, " oh ya because nothing will fit." My boyfriend/future man's family are all really fit and healthy and I wish so much I could relate. I wish that I could swim with them and travel with them. No one realizes I am scared I won't fit into whatever they do. I guess I am just ready to fit!

I am just in the deciding phase now and anyway the soda thing has me a little worried, but I know that giving up soda instead of continuing to give up my life will be worth it. I am actually most worried about the effectiveness. I am worried because I eat for many emotional reasons and not always when I am hungry. I actually never feel full...like a bottomless pit. What are the differences (and I am sure this sounds naive) between dieting with weight watchers, la weightloss, jenny craig, etc. and utilizing the band as a tool? It seems like everyone on here just finds the motivation to work hard, what is the difference in motivation before? Why does the band just bring it all together? Thanks for all the information everyone, this site and all the people on here are making me realize that I DO have the power to make my life more healthy and happy!:thumbup:

Hello Lisa and Maple! My name is Kamie and I am still in the deciding phase of this whole process. I am 23 and I weigh 275lbs give or take. I have been overweight since I was about 8 years old and have tried everything imaginable. I am really serious about this and I have been to the seminar with my live in boyfriend. I am not afraid or anything I just need to talk to someone else in the same situation as I don't know anyone who has even thought about lap band. I know it would improve my life I just don't know how to follow the process. I too have United Health care coverage and was told the same thing by the Dr./Surgeon. I find your excitement very encouraging and just thought I could use some advise. Thanks and cheers to your headway in the process!