rms78645

I too think this should be a last resort, not a first. I think that dieting should have been attempted. My niece has seen what I have gone through and now she wants gastric. She has never dieted, never exercised and doesnt want to have to work so she doesnt want the band. It makes me crazy! I have tried and tried to get her to see that nothing will keep the weight off without working at it. But one of my best friends was banded 2 years ago and she doesnt think that having dieted should be a pre requisite. She thinks that she wasted all those years dieting to no avail. I see that point too I guess.

I too think this should be a last resort, not a first. I think that dieting should have been attempted. My niece has seen what I have gone through and now she wants gastric. She has never dieted, never exercised and doesnt want to have to work so she doesnt want the band. It makes me crazy! I have tried and tried to get her to see that nothing will keep the weight off without working at it. But one of my best friends was banded 2 years ago and she doesnt think that having dieted should be a pre requisite. She thinks that she wasted all those years dieting to no avail. I see that point too I guess.

I say get a fill too! I can eat pretty much anything and don't have issues as long as I chew. I can only eat a few bites of anything. If I truly listen to my body I am satisfied and I stop eating. I have lost 13 lbs since my fill 3 weeks ago. I haven't tried bread though. Pasta and rice work fine.

I have been lurking around here, reading everything thats written but didn't have much to add! I am doing well. Finally got proper restriction and the weight it cming off nicely. I am hoping to hit the 50lb mark tomorrow. I am struggling to find energy for my workouts though. I need to make a point to have some protein later in the the afternoon so I can get a workout in. How have you been?

I guess I am confused? what was added? Nothing went into any file anywhere. This is taking on a life of its own.

I havent ever been told about gum either. The only thing that I remember being told is to not drink with meals and no carbonation. Did I miss something?

Thanks Faith! I should have known that someone would take issue with me but my point was only, submit what you have and go from there. My insurance company states those same requirements but didn't actually ask for them. Maybe my drs statements that I had been battling obesity for the 13 years he has known me, that we had run thyroid tests, that he had prescribed phen fen when it was out that I had been on every diet in the land to limited avail was enough to get approval. I have no idea why I was approved without it but I was and I count my blessings everyday that I was able to get my surgery paid for. Its the best thing that ever happened to me and I wish everyone could get their insurance companies to pay for it. God knows most of us pay enough in premiums to feed a small village in a foreign country!

The forms were never requested, that was my point. Eventhough my insurance stated that 12 months were needed I was approved without anything besides a letter from my surgeon. I fully expected to have to wait until I had 12 months worth of actual visits. These weren't medical records actually. They had no letterhead. They were notes typed by me stating what exercise and food plan I had used and what I weighed those months. There was nothing false about them. No records in my file were created. There was a thread started on this website back about 8 months ago from a gal that had done this and I thought I would try it. Ended up I didnt need any of them. Apparently sometimes companies that need 12 months will accept 6 months or 9 months worth. I was guessing I would have to provide acutal medical reconds, in which case I would have had to wait until we could do that, but while I was waiting I was seeing him every month so I would have 12 months of actual vistits with him.

Actually nothing was ever turned in so its kind of hard to be insurance fraud. Thanks though. My OBs initial letter stating my long term struggle with obesity and my surgeons medical necessity letter were enough information for it to be approved.

My doc said if he found one during surgery he'd fix it and it would be no major problem. Wow. Sorry your Dr won't. Good Luck!

Oh man! How I can relate to those feelings! Try to focus on the fact that you are being banded again in less than a week and the process will begin again for you! I can't imagine how hard this has got to be. Hang in there, it will be over soon!

I got out of the 12 month requirement. I have no idea how but my obgyn wrote a letter stating that he had been seeing me for 13 years and the I have had battled my weight that entire time. While I was going through the process of submitting it to my insurance and getting all my tests I created 9 months of visits that my dr was willing to sign off on and if push came to shove I would have waited until I got 12 months worth. It didnt. I was approved 1st time through. I started from my last yearly physical and had seen him a few times for some other issues and we filled in the other months and he signed them. Good Luck.

It does make sense and I wish I could lose weight that way. I have a desk job but when I am not here at work I am pretty active. I was working out for an hour a day before my surgery. Since then I have not been able to get back to that level for long periods of time. Part of it is my kids' schedule, part of its me. I need a wife to take over my household responsibilities so that I can spend the time on myself that I need. I have been pretty agressive with my fills in order to find my sweet spot and I wonder should I maybe have worked out harder instead of using the band to do alot of the work. I guess this fill will losen and I can try it both ways to see which one works best. Thanks

me too! me too!

So you have never had a problem getting 1500 calories in? I can't possibly get in 1500 calories, I am not hungry. I would have to force myself to eat. Its really not a thought most of the time. Now this is a new predicament for me, I got my last fill on May 9th and I think I am at my sweet spot. I can eat just about everything but in tiny quantities. Which was my goal when I was banded. I was hoping that I wouldn't have foods that I coundn't eat. I have not eaten bread however. I am just uninterested. Will I losen up and be able to eat more eventually? I am on my 4th fill and was banded 1/12.

That is an amazing amount to lose. I am having a hard time working out because my band is so tight that its hard to get more than 500 calories in a day. I have been taking naps during the day and thats not like me. I got a good treadmill workout in this am but its the 1st of the long weekend. I am just not hungry. There is alot of discussion about starvation mode and I hope it really doesn't exist. or that short term it wont be a problem. I think this is my sweet spot because I truly have no appetite. 3-4 bites and I am full. So while I am thrilled with that I would like to be able to workout.

<p><p>I am having a great dilemna this whole topic. I just got proper restriction and I can't get in more than about 600 calories. Some days less. Never seems to be more. I am losing nicely but I have limited energy for exercise and I am concerned about my body going into starvation mode but I am not hungry. I have bought some protein bullets to try and up my protein intake but I don't want to eat/drink them. I am truly not interested in food much. I try to eat protein 1st but I don't always. It seems that I can eat anything, nothing doesn't work, which I am happy about. I would love to go through life eating tiny portions of everything. I hope that starvation mode is a myth but I do know that my workouts are feeling the affects of my lack of food. But if you aren't hungry what can you do?</p></p>

<p>Everyone is doing such a great job! I feel exactly the same way about people thinking that surgery is the easy way out. I guess they aren't in the gym with me everyday (well 5-6 times a week) or making proper food choices with me. Or with me when stuff that I used to eat gets stuck and nothing will work for that meal, so you just go hungry and try again later. Or on days when everything will work. I love my band but I sure wish she'd make up her mind on what I can and can't eat any given day.</p> <p>This wasnt the easy way out. This was a tool and we still have to make sure and eat the right things and get to the gym or this tool can fail.</p> <p>Sorry, it's been on my mind and stuck in my craw too!</p>

Congratulations! I cried when I was approved! That is so awesome!

Me too on the Hip Hop Abs. Its totally calling my name!

It will pass, I promise. I went to work the Monday after having surgery on Friday. I was a mess. I did it, but it was stupid to do. You will feel better, I promise. For me it was 4 weeks before I was 100% normal, energy wise.

She is beautiful! congrats

This one you mean?

I had restriction after my 2nd fill and now it seems gone. Not totally gone but most of its gone. I lost .3 of my first fill of .5. I would bet I have lost some of this 2nd fill too.

Isn't it the most awesome feeling!? Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!