Aquarius12459

Laurie, if you mixing your own protein shakes and are using water, try adding either a 1/2 cup of the cottage cheese or a 6 oz of either vanilla or plain to the chocolate shake in the blender. It will help make it a little thicker and you really don't taste it. A fruit flavored yogurt would do well in a vanilla flavored protein shake or you could take a RTD one and put it in the blender and add it.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)-Symptoms

Congratulations! May I ask which diabetic meds you were on and what the dosage was? I'm currently on 1500 mgs of metformin a day - 500 in the AM and 1000 at night. Also take a 10 mg lisinopril for blood pressure.

That is terrible. :smile: I've been doing research and that is why I am here and still do not have any affirmative plans to get banded. Still doing research and trying to lose on my own. I am finding that the more Protein you get, the fuller you feel and that helps a lot but still have to eat some food and not just all Protein shakes. This gives me more determination to work harder at losing it without surgery.

Is there anyway that her surgeon can resubmit it to the insurance company and write a letter to her employer? Was thinking that maybe on a case by case basis they could adjust it if it was deamed "medically necessary" as opposed to just wanting the surgery and having co-morbidities? My half sister went though heck and high Water with their insurance company before she finally got the OK for the RNY surgery. She was nearly 500 lbs (long story - 2 knee surgeries that we not successful and then she ended up not being able to hardly walk, let alone exercise) and lost about 50 pre-surgery. She had to submit the paperwork 3 or 4 times because they kept saying that it was "cosmetic and elective" surgery and not medically necessary. This was several years ago. She now is down to around 240-260 range but has probably 30-40 lbs of sagging skin that the insurance company will not approve the surgery to remove the excess skin from her stomach and arms and legs. It is sooooo frustrating because it really should be a package deal if they approve the weightloss surgery.

Does she have any comorbidities or other issues that would otherwise get her approved if it weren't for the clause and is her BMI 40+?

Glad your surgery went well. Good luck to you on the next leg of your journey to a healthy new you!

This thread got me thinking about how much I like the Coffee Coolattas at Dunkin Donuts so I am inspired to come up with my own recipe for one using cold coffee, protein powder, ice cubes and perhaps either some lowfat milk or powdered coffee creamer. Anyone know where you can buy the no sugar liquid flavorings for coffee? I love toasted coconut and almond flavorings.

So how much Water are you currently drinking per day? Do you add anything to it ie: Crystal Lite or other brands? Are you drinking any coffee, tea or broth in addition to the water and how much? I'm currently drinking 33.8 oz bottle and a 32 bottle of water. I add 1 packet of "something" to the 33.8 oz bottle - not wild about crystal lite brand but do like walmart brand grape, cranberry and orange, hawiian punch grape and punch. I have some other generic brand that is kind of orangy. I find, though, that some of these are just too sweet and overpowering so instead of adding 1 to 16.9 oz, I add 1 to the 33.8 oz to thin it out. To the 32 oz water bottle I have been adding lime juice and 2 packets of sweet n low. I love Limeaide. If I don't have the real lime juice, I use a couple packets of TrueLime. Since the weather is just starting to be spring-like, I also have either a 16 oz mug of hot tea or broth a day. Often I have another 4-8 oz of just plain water in the evening when I take my nighttime meds. This is approx 85 oz of liquids a day and does not include the 1 or 2 liquid Protein shakes - 11 oz each.

I hear you! I don't think I could do it at all but it was just a thought and since the weather is getting warmer, I guess hot chocolate seems a little out of season. Good luck tomorrow! I wish you all the best on your endeavor. PS....you might want to post it on Craigs List and maybe let your doctors office know and maybe they can pass the word to some new patients.

Are you able to use any of it post op for the first 4 weeks with more liquid and soft mushies? (rather than waste if, of course)

Good luck to all you tomorrow! :laugh:

BritBrit....are you losing your insurance because you will no longer be covered under your parents policy as a FT student? It sounds like you have other issues that would get you approved for the surgery as long as the insurance covers it. I would suggest that you talk to your primary care dr and get a referral to a couple of different surgeons in your area and then call their clinics and find out if they do in person or webinar information seminars and register to attend with your mother (for support) so that you get all the details from that end. If you would need to be on a 6 mo pre-op dr supervised diet to get approved, it would be best to start that as soon as possible. Get all the details on the insurance that your work offers - the plans, the company and compare it to what you currently have and if your potential surgeon/dr accepts both insurances if they are different companies. He may be able to offer some insite into which would be easier to get approved under. You may only be able to get covered when they have open enrollment periods which are usually in the fall and are effective as of Jan 1 of the next year. Some allow "life changing events" to add or delete a person that is covered. Married, divorced, death are a few. I would think turning 23 and no longer being a student would be one also so that is why I am thinking that you should look into getting your own insurance through work when they have open enrollment as that would take effect 2-3 months prior to you not being covered and you could possibly have the surgery in Jan 2011 right after the holidays. (just a thought and forever thinking outside the box) Continue your Water exercise and try to lose some additional weight. If you are going it on your own, keep reading this forum for ideas and recipes. Try to do a 2 wk liquid Protein pre-op diet on your own to see if you have the willpower and help you jump start your weight loss. (not advocating you continue liquids only but after 2 weeks, maybe use it as a tool a couple days a week alternating with a good lowcal balanced diet in-between).

Can your doctor give you a referral or a list of doctors within a 100 mi radius that performs the lap band surgery so that you could either check them out online or call their clinic to find out? Also, I'm not familiar with medicaid procedures......do you get an option of being on some sort of HMO like the Seniors that are on medicare do?

Just noticed these at the bottom of this page.... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f82/free-healthy-cookbooks-23247/

There are some interesting topics and recipes shared in this section/forum food and Nutrition - LAP-BAND I do remember some comments about some cookbooks but not sure which threads they were on.

Looks/sounds like you have great start. Keep up the good work! :laugh:

Interesting. I have some posts on here where people put their morning scoop of chocolate protein powder in their coffee to make it mocha-ish. Perhaps switching to at least a half-caf would be beneficial? Just thinking out loud.

radink, my sister had the Bypass surgery. She lost a lot of weight fast but it left her with a lot of sagging skin and unfortunately, her insurance refuses to approve the surgery to have the excess removed. Due to other complications/issues, she was nearly 450 lbs when she had the surgery and now down to about 250 but I would say a good 35 is skin. If you choose GBP, make sure your insurance company will approve the surgery for the tummy tuck and removal of the excess skin. You lose much slower with the band but I believe that gives your skin more time to shrink naturally (not to say there won't be some excess).

I was born in 1959 and was given up for adoption at birth. I was adopted and released at age 3 months due to having conjunctiveitis as a newborn. I love my adoptive parents but they are both very thin persons and here I am or was the cute chubby kid that grew into the cute fat adult with a few years of being a sexy thin person in my early 20's thanks to large amounts of Dexatrim, excessive exercise and starvation eating. My parents were told when I was adopted that my biological mother was 5' and 200 lbs or so and that there was a chance that I would also be short and heavy. I'm 5'2" and presently 260 lbs. At my highest I was close to 310 back in 2005 and have somehow managed to lose about 50 lbs and keep them off. I'm a nervous eater so when things weren't so hot in my life, I would eat - anything. Throughout my childhood I was fairly active riding bike, playing outside, softball, kickball and running around the neighborhood with the neighborhood kids and marching band in highschool. My mother took me to doctors for my weight starting around age 7-8. I was put on some synthetic thyroid meds and something else. I also suffered from severe constipation for years. (This was resolved at age 25 after I had lost 95 lbs and it was discovered that I had a deformed coccyx and it was pinching off my large intestine at the bowel area. I had surgery to have it removed and it was the best thing that I have done so far.) My mother claims that if she would not have taken me to the doctors, I would be heavier today. I'm not sure that is the case. She kept tight reigns on what I ate - at least what she saw me eat. She wouldn't let me have chips, cookies, I had a half sandwich for lunch with a half slice of lunch meat and an apple. Many of the kids I ate lunch with probably would have killed for lunch meat but I would have killed for their peanut butter and jelly whole sandwich. I got food from other sources and sneeked money out of my piggy bank to school in my shoe so that I could buy candy at the penny candy store across the street from school. If my mother wasn't home when I got home, I was in the potato chip can and cookies and sometimes even had a whole slice of lunch meat depending on how much was left. I truly think that I would not have done some of these things if I was allowed to have them in small amounts or as a treat. Who knows. I do believe in genetic predisposition though. When I was 30, I found my biological mother and family. My mom had given me information and encouraged it so that we could find out any health/medical information and see if anything ran in the family. I had an adoption support counselor make contact for me and found out that the day she called, was the day that they were burying my birth mother. I had 2 half sisters though and my birth mother had a sister and 2 brothers that were still alive. It took a couple of years and finally I received a letter from birth mothers youngest brothers wife. It was warm and inviting and eventually I was able to meet everyone, including my 2 half sisters that were 11 and 12 1/2 years older than me. That aunt and uncle have 2 adopted kids themselves -a girl my age and a boy a year or 2 younger. Over the years it has been a struggle - yo yo dieting - up down, down up. I'm afraid to try things like Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem and weight watchers because they tell you what to eat or limit what you can eat and you have to visit and get weighted. I have aversions to being shamed if I gain a little and not given enough credit for when I do lose. (At least that is my opinion that stems from the childhood). My willpower is low. I'm not sure having surgery is the way to go because I feel like I should be strong enough to do this on my own. Surgery is so permanent (I know that band can be removed but what is the purpose of getting it if you have it removed?) and I would never have a gastric bypass. My half sister had one after she went up to nearly 500 lbs due to bad knees and knee surgery that didn't take and couldn't exercise. She is back down to around 240 but can't seem to lose more. The insurance company won't approve the surgery to remove the excess skin which would be about 40 lbs. Personally, I think that is cruel to do that to someone. It should be a package deal. Anyway, I couldn't stand to have that be me. I would rather be heavy than have all that loose skin hanging down. (I love you Ruthie). Sadly, our older sister Sandy passed away almost 4 years at age 60 of a heart attack brought on by uncontrolled diabetes high blood pressure. I myself am diabetic but pretty controlled with just glucophage and borderline high bp that is under control with a low dose of bp meds. So, I decided to research out the LAP-BAND®®®®®® because I understand that since you lose slower than with gastric bypass, that your skin has a chance to shrink and isn't as bad, however, I'm 51 now and not 25-30 where things are still more elastic. I attended an online webinar last fall presented by the center/surgeon that my pcp referred me too. I had almost made up my mind to go through with it but then I learned that it could take up to about 6 months or so before one would have surgery or that I might have to go on some other diet for 6 months before my insurance would determine if they would pay or not - even though being diabetic with high bp and knee/joint issues should get me approved. I mentally couldn't handle that as I am of the nature that if I decide something, I want it to happen relatively fast so that I don't change my mind. So that is where I am right now. Not sure I want to commit and not sure I have the willpower to do the 2pre/2post weeks of liquids only and then my mind goes into the "what if I am one of the ones who has issues and problems afterwards forever"? I don't think that I am strong enough to be able to handle that. I found this site March 13 after I started looking into more information. My best friend called me and said she was going to have the surgery and was supposed to go for her first consult March 18. I sent her the link to this site to be supportive of her decision. She called me on Tuesday and said she changed her mind and wasn't going to have it done. I've created my own diet plan using the liquid protein, high protein, soft/mushie foods, lots of water and calories limited to 800-1000 to see if I can stick to it and see where I am by May 1. I'm still considering LAP-BAND®®®®®® surgery but I need to know that I can have the willpower to do this. If I have lost enough on my own so that I can start walking daily 30-45 mins on the treadmill and continue the diet, then maybe I will be strong enough to get off the excess lbs that I would like to get off without the surger. I have thin cartilidge in my knees that at the moment at my current weight they (knees) don't allow me to do any extensive walking other than in the stores as they go out of place and sometimes swell. I've decided to use this forum as a support for myself - for my diet my way and perhaps live vicariously through those brave persons who have already made the commitment. I truly wish the best of luck to all you on this life changing endeavor and hopefully you will all be able to be my inspiration. Yours Truly and :eek: Pat :mad: and :waytogo:

It sounds a little like you aren't really getting quite enough calories and protein. Do you eat regular eggs? If so, have you considered trying the egg beaters that are made from mostly whites. I buy costco brand. They are 30 cal serv with 6g protein. A serving is = to 1 egg. I make mine with about a Tbs of finely chopped onion and green pepper if I have some, 1/2 small can drained mushrooms and a tsp of grated parm cheese. I use 3 portions of egg beater and scramble it in a non-stick pan with cooking spray. That is 18 g of protein. This seems to stick to my ribs quite well. Also the egg beaters are cholesterol free, unlike regular eggs. How about a 100 calories of some sort of high protein as a snack when your kids are snacking in front of you? There are some protein powders or drinks that would give you 15-20 or so g's of protein for around 100-150 calories. Just a thought. Good Luck. :frown:

Won't you lose some weight with having the excess skin removed? Perhaps it would be enough to hit your goal if you are under 20 lbs to go.

YES. Even if you weren't banded, eating too little can slow your metabolism down as it will adjust to whatever the calorie intake you are eating. If you are under 1000 a day, try adding an additional 200-300 calories with a lot of extra grams of Protein like a Protein shake after you work out. If you are in that range, try going back on the liquid only high protein pre-op diet for a few days to shake it up it bit and continue drinking your water/broth/crystal lite or whatever 600-800 calories a day. Maybe do this one day a week. Also, eating smaller meals/amounts of food more often through the day to feed continuously should help also. Good Luck :frown:

I too visited your pictures and you look fabulous! I am also 5'2". For myself, I could be very happy at the 140-155 range (I'm a little on the chest heavy side and trust me, I still run a D cup even at 135 -140 or so and would be a skeleton under 125 from previous experience). Your doctor is a jerk. Are there are clinics in your area that do lapband surgery? Maybe you should consider confronting him and asking for a new referal as you are not getting the support you need and what he is saying to you is NOT TOUGH LOVE in my book. By losing slower though, you are giving your skin much more time to tighten up. If you would have had the bypass, you would have lost real fast and had a lot of flabby excess skin and then maybe you would have been approved to have the tummy tuck and skin removal surgery. However, some insurance companies will consider them cosmetic and not approve them as part of the weight loss package/procedure. One other thing, are you peri or menipausal? I see you are mid 40's so that could also be a factor in your slower weight loss and fluctuations. If you are plateauing, could you jump start every couple of weeks with a couple days of the pre or post liquid only diet of high Protein shakes, lots of Water, Clear liquids and about 600-800 calories max? I wish you much luck on completing your goal. :frown: