Valerieee

I have yet to try it, but want to hear how you make it! Just water? Do you add ice and fruit? Let me know what tastes best for you. I'm excited and nervous to start these meal replacement shakes, I just want it to taste good!

It was a great experience, and I'm really glad I went. Everyone was extremely friendly, and all had open ears while I cried and talked about my concerns. A couple of gals even gave me their phone numbers and email addresses, which I greatly appreciated since I don't have many people to talk to. I have not had my surgery yet, but Im doing my 6 mo supervised diet. I'm not a full month out, so I have plenty of time to think through everything. Im still stuck between getting the band, and getting the sleeve. I don't know what i'm going to do... I hope this gets easier.

I have an appointment tomorrow morning at 9am with a dietician, then I see a nutritionist once a month after that until my 6 months are complete. I'm nervous, excited, and I'm scared out of my mind. I have no clue how to eat healthy, im terrible at counting calories, and im clueless about portion control. Ive tried eating good this past weekend, and i was so hungry!! I don't want to fail like I've done in the past. That's all I've ever known. I really hope these next 6 months fly by! I NEED YOUR HEEEEELLLLLPPPPPPPPPPP!!

I really hope mine flys by! I've been trying really hard to stay away from all the bad stuff, but I still catch myself wanting to snack on things!!! Ahhhhh I've been walking at work around the parking lot for about 45 mins (on my breaks and lunch), then I walk about 3.5-4 miles at night. Man my muscles are definetly feeling it. Haha I totally used the wrong words, it's a SUPERVISED diet. But hell, I'm still new at this. Haha I'm hoping to lose about 30 lbs at the end of the diet, but we will see

holy moly!!!!!! please share any tips you can give! thats amazing!

I never even thought this would even be a possibility. I went in for the seminar, and scheduled my first apt to kick off my 6 month pre op. The lady that was helping me said "Make sure you check with your HR and see if your benefits are going to change with the new year coming up. We had a lady who finished her supervised diet, and come to find out, her insurance no longer covered the lap band surgery this year." my heart dropped. I really hope this isn't going to be a problem. I called to find out, and apparently they won't know until our open enrollment On November 15. So I will be in the dark for over a month. Just something else to stress about, I suppose. Has this ever happend to you or anyone you know?

What a pain in the behind. Nothing can ever go smooth, There always has to be something. But good luck, and I really hope you are able to get taken care of before the year is over. Keep in touch!

I posted this in the other forums in hopes of good tips! I have yet to try it, but want to hear how you make it! Just water? Do you add ice and fruit? Let me know what tastes best for you. I'm excited and nervous to start these meal replacement shakes, I just want it to taste good!

You know, it's okay! It has more of a mango taste to it! The protein gives it an odd taste, but better than I expected. I'm going to try a splash of pineapple juice in tomorrows shake, hopefully it makes it better. I attempted to make it with the blender, but it turned into foam. Not a great idea. Haha so I just used 16 oz of water, one scoop, and a to-go packet of crystal light orange sunrise. Apparently you can get sample packs through the company.

Sooo I experimented with a blender, yeah... All foam. Haha so I just added 16oz of water, a full scoop on protein, and a to-go pack of Crystal Light Orange Sunrise.. And It turned out okay. Not what I was expecting... But decent.

Syntrax I mean!

I meant Syntrax. ))))

I posted this in the other forums in hopes of good tips! I have yet to try it, but want to hear how you make it! Just water? Do you add ice and fruit? Let me know what tastes best for you. I'm excited and nervous to start these meal replacement shakes, I just want it to taste good!

My surgeon charges a $4500 program fee. It's seemed ridiculous at first, but it includes many things. I get 1 on 1 sessions with a dietician and nutritionist, support groups, cooking classes, things of that sort. They should have let you know at the beginning of your process so you have time to gather some money. Good luck and let us know what happens!

For a 24 year old cashier at Camping World, this fee is killing me. I can't seem to wrap my mind around it. I had to be rushed to my doctors office because I had a panic attack yesterday. My heart was beating hard and fast, i was really shakey, and my nose started bleeding out of nowhere. I was terrified, I thought i was going to die. The doctor asked what I was stressing about, and this surgery is the only thing that has been running through my mind ever since my insurance approved. I've researched different surgeons in my area, and im stuck on this guy. I know he's right for me, and all the feedback I have read has been positive. I just don't know how I'm going to do it. Im just barely building my credit, and the only money I have to my name is going to cover the $2000 deductible. ahhhhhhh!!!!!!! i should start washing peoples cars in daisy duke shorts and raise some money. I dont know how far that would get me, but hey, my pearly whites (legs) need to get a tan anyway. im done ranting, thanks for listening. need your car washed? :DDDDD :biggrin:

Oh wow that's great! I wouldn't even know where to start to try and find an online job. Sounds amazing though. Thanks for responding. I just really hope everything works out and I can start my new life!!

ive been wondering if it is possible for the doctor to disqualify you from having the lap band if you lose weight during the 6 month pre op nutritionist visits.. can they assume that you are able to lose that kind of weight on your own and keep it off? how much weight did you lose in your pre op diet? whether it was 2 weeks, or 2 months.. im curious!

Hey everyone! My name is Valerie and I'm 24 yrs old. I've been lurking on this site for quite awhile now, and finally decided to join up! I have the typical story of being overweight my entire life. From the time I was in elementary school I remember my mom would bribe me with trips to Disneyland if I lost a certain amount of weight. No matter what the prize was, I could never lose the weight. I've suffered through the cabbage soup diets, and slim fast shakes. I've spent tons of money on personal trainers, and gym memberships. I can't get over my food addiction. I would work out for a few days, then the pain in my knees and ankles would take over and I would just quit. I thought my ticket to sexy town was here when The Biggest Loser was holding auditions in Los Angeles. I had my pictures developed, my DVD recorded, but of course something had to happen. A few days before the auditions, I was in a terrible car accident which gave me major back problems. So with all the pain and depression, I continued to gain weight. I told my parents that I was researching into the Lap band, and I got two completely different reactions. My mother was so supportive, saying that she would help me as much as she could. My dad let me have it, and this is a small portion of what he told me. "How about you just stop F'ing eating? Give me that money and I'll just staple your lips shut!" I guess for somebody that hasn't dealt with weight issues, it seems like an easy thing to do. Nobody will ever understand unless they have gone through it.. I know this procedure will be the tool I need to help me start my life. I'm too young to be 255lbs and miserable. I decided to get the ball rolling and called my insurance company! I was approved, and I scheduled to go to a seminar on Sept 30th! I will then schedule my first apt with a dietician since my insurance requires 6 months with one! That gives me time to scramble for the $7500 I have to pay out of pocket. Haha yikes! Has anyone done the 6 month program before thier surgery? Did it help kick start the weight loss? I'm extremely nervous, but excited at the same time. I want to put my life of blood pressure meds, jeans and sweaters behind me! I hope you guys can welcome me with open arms and help me through all of this. I don't have many people rooting for me, so I need all the support I can get! :thumbup:))

This absolutely terrifies me. Plus on top of that, you aren't suppose to vomit because it could cause problems with the band! Ahhhhh Is this only temporary? Will I ever be able to eat or drink normal? I haven't been banded yet, but I have so many questions! I was laying in bed last night and I was thinking about all the things you guys have posted both good and bad... And I honestly chickened out. I could not picture myself drinking only liquids, or not eating all those foods that caused me to be where I am today. I woke up this morning and said, "what the heck was I thinking? I NEED this." somebody please reassure me that my life will be normal after surgery, and all of the hunger and pain will be worth it! :rolleyes2:))

@Pammyl- Hey! How did the surgery go? You healing up alright? I definetly know to keep this procedure on the downlow and let only the closest people to me in on the secret! Plus I don't wants everyones eyes on me constantly expecting me to shrink dramatically. Talk about pressure! I hope your husband stuck around and helped you out after the surgery. Some people just need to understand we need that extra push to get us on our way.

You know, I'm not one to ever bad mouth my parents,but I just expected him to be supportive. He was always the first one to call me a pig, or to tell me I was about to explode. Why wouldn't he want me to do something positive for myself? He sees the medicine I have to take every morning and night because of my blood pressure. He sees the pain I'm in all the time. I'm not getting the lap band for the hell of it. I'm doing this to live, and he just doesn't seem to understand that. I guess just as long as my mom is there for me, that's all I could really ask for. Thanks for responding, I really appreciate it! I'm glad I actually have people to talk to, that completely understand what I've gone through, and what I'll be going through in the future. :thumbup: