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Tamihott, I found out today that my Companies insurance will not cover any thing for obesity regardless of the health issues it may cause. Though luckily for me I am healthy other than being almost 100lbs over my weight on the height chart. I did make my decision to get banded to live a better life for me and my son… I am currently in the middle of trying to refinance my house to get my ex-husbands name off it. Once that is taken care of I am looking into getting financing for the lap band procedure. I know after all the interest and what not this will cost me almost as much as a car lol, it’s worth it. I’ve been over weight since for 17yrs and my mother is as well I remember the shame I felt as her as a child and shame I felt/feel towards myself. I don’t want that any more and I don’t want my child to be ashamed of me either. Good luck to all of you I really hope you can get it covered but if not you are not alone, it was very hard for me to finally make the decision that I am going to do this being that I am raising my 11month old alone. It came down to the fact that I don’t want to end up losing my life to my weight or not being able to be there for my son because I was to over weight. Just take it one day at a time, good news is you got a pretty cool support group on here to go through this ever step of the way.

anyone have this insurance...waiting to be approved.... problem gained wieght on 6 month diet, but lost it back to original weight. doctors office said i might be denied because i did not do well on diet. do have problems bmi 40 sleep apena high blood pressure borderline diabetic. you think that might help me get oked. thanks

So, I had a surgery date scheduled with Dr. Alvarez in Mexico (self-pay) but it looks like my grandparents changed their minds!! :'( sooo... my mom is putting me on her Work (IRS) health insurance..she's trying to go with BCBS of Texas..i'm not sure which policy yet. But I was wondering if its hard to get approved by BCBS of texas? I have a BMI of 41.2 I have no health problems other than being over weight... And I have been overweight for more than 10 years... And also would there be any chance of me having to do that dreadful 6 month weightloss program req??? Thanks a bunch ya'll!! -Priscilla

It was hard for me to walk right after surgery outside, so I walked from my living room, dining room to kitchen in a big circle, I walked 20 minutes - 3 times a day. Then I started doing it outside. I would say try to walk 20-30 minutes every day, each day that you feel better, pick up the pace. If you have to do it really slow, do it really slow, any amount of walking is better than no walking. It's hard to say how much you should be doing, when we don't know your physical status, how much weight do you need to lose, how many comorbidities do you have, do you have problem with your feet, knees, hip, breathing, etc. There is no set standard you walk until you feel tired.

VerticalSleeveTalk Newsletter Hey Sleevers!Welcome to summer! We hope you’re looking forward to some well-deserved rest and relaxation, to an exciting vacation or to some extra time with friends and family. VerticalSleeveTalk.com is the happening place to be this summer, and we’re always delighted with the kindness, insights and chatter that our members bring to create this welcoming community! Here are the contents of this month’s newsletter: Sleever Poll: Where Are You in Your Weight Loss Journey? Member Spotlight: Meet M2G! Summer Weight Loss: Tips to Help You Stay Focused! Weight Loss Surgery Safety: Hydration in Summer Things are heating up at VerticalSleeveTalk.com, so don’t miss a moment! Enjoy the newsletter, then head on over to the boards to talk about it – and whatever else is on your mind! Thousands of members are online, so come join the fun. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder VerticalSleeveTalk.com Sleever Poll: Where Are You in Your Weight Loss Journey? One of the great things about our community is that our members are all in different stages of their weight loss journeys. So, we’re curious – where are you in your journey? I’m still exploring my options for weight loss. I don’t know if weight loss surgery is right for me. I’m definitely going for bariatric surgery, but am not yet sure which type. I’m going for the sleeve and have set my surgery date (or am trying to get one set). I got my surgery already and am busy losing weight. I am within 15 pounds of goal weight or am already maintaining it! I am not a weight loss surgery patient, but am on VerticalSleeveTalk.com to support someone who is. Other. Choose your answer and tell us more on the discussion boards using this link! Member Spotlight: Meet M2G! This month, our Member Spotlight is on M2G from Colorado. This busy print graphic artist and student struggled with her weight for 15 years with yo-yo dieting. She didn’t have high cholesterol or blood pressure, but got the sleeve because she was “sick and tired of being fat.” Still hesistant to share her starting weight, this 5’6” woman says she was closer to 300 pounds than 250. Her surgery was in July 2010 and she is at a comfortable, non-obese weight! She’s also proud of her husband who’s approaching his two-year sleeve anniversary! M2G says that the biggest difference in her life has been how she feels about herself. She also appreciates the freedom that she has from not being “weighed down.” Now, she’s able to “do normal things” like climbing stairs and tying her shoes without thinking about them. Her great moments come from “not worrying about weight limits!!” She can go do whatever she wants now, such as sledding, going to Water and amusement parks and playing with her kids on the trampoline in the back yard. She also loves knowing that the clothes in her closet fit and look good, and that she doesn’t have to shop in the plus size section of the store. M2G is proud of her husband for getting off of his blood pressure medications after his surgery. The daily grind has been one of M2G’s greatest challenges. She says that hearing people say that “this surgery isn’t a magic bullet” is one thing, while actually living the challenge is something else. She had to learn to make the best decisions for her weight and health instead of trying to justify a cookie or some cheesecake. M2G says that from the beginning, she was grateful for the information she could get from VerticalSleeveTalk.com. Her surgeon was great but relatively new – M2G was only his 15th sleeve patient! As she says, “the forum was a lifesaver. Virtually “meeting” others who had been sleeved, and not only lived to tell about it but who also shared their experiences was so comforting.” She used it for reassurance that her symptoms were normal and also to get recipes and product ideas. Now, she takes comfort in knowing that the forums are always here if she needs them. Her advice for others is that “the sleeve is a tool; use it wisely.” She suggests underfilling the sleeve rather than risking overfilling it. Nearly three years post-surgery, M2G still eats only 1,100 to 1,200 calories per day. She also reminds other sleevers that the journey “has no destination.” You always need to mindful of your diet, and the sleeve will help. M2G, thanks for making time in your busy schedule to be in our Member Spotlight! Congratulations on looking great and on leading a healthier life with your husband! Do you like learning more about our members? Help us keep the Member Spotlight feature going strong by nominating a member on our Member Spotlight forum. You can also nominate yourself! If you’re shy and don’t want to post on the forum, just send Alex Brecher a private message that you want to be in the spotlight. Thanks! Summer Weight Loss: Tips to Help You Stay Focused! You can get off track with your weight loss if you lose focus during the long, hot days of summer. This year’s New Year’s resolutions feel like ancient history; the city streets are emptier because children are out of school and people are out of town on vacation; and in June, the summer ahead seems limitless. Don’t let the long, hot days of summer interfere with your weight loss. Here are a few tips to keep you on track. Set your goals. Make them specific and realistic, and work towards achieving them every day. Pick one or more events to “get in shape for,” and think about them as you’re sticking to your diet. An upcoming wedding, family reunion, vacation or summer party can keep you motivated. Stay positive. We can all feel a little bit down when it’s just too hot, but keep your eyes on the prize. Remind yourself to just take it a day at a time, and think how proud you’ll be at the end of summer when you’ve stuck to your diet. Reward yourself. An ice cream social isn’t the thing after weight loss surgery….but a trip to the beach can keep you cool. Pack a healthy lunch and hang out all day. Walking on the sand is a great workout! Go shopping. The air-conditioned mall lets you walk and window shop. It’s a great time to pick out your dream outfits so you can stay motivated to lose enough weight to fit into them! Don’t fight the heat – beat it! If it’s too hot, don’t exercise outside at high noon. Instead, keep to the cool hours of the early morning or late evening and drink plenty of water. You can also avoid the intense heat by going to the air-conditioned gym, working out at home or walking laps at the mall. Go swimming. Many public pools open in summer, so use the opportunity to try a new activity if you’re not a regular swimmer the rest of the year. Walk or jog in the pool, swim laps or take a water aerobics class. Freeze diet iced tea, lemonade made with a sugar substitute (such as Splenda) or a low-calorie diet juice drink (such as diet Snapple) in ice cube trays. When you get a craving for something cold and sweet, don’t go for the ice cream. Instead, grab an ice cube and save hundreds of calories. Prepare your Protein ahead of time. It’s too hot to cook or bake frequently. Instead, make enough grilled chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, and lean ground turkey for several servings. Refrigerate or freeze your protein so it’s available whenever you need it without needing to turn on the oven or stove. If you follow these tips and stick to your bariatric surgery diet, you’ll see results by the end of summer. Let 2013 be a summer to proudly remember because you did everything you could to lose weight and get healthy! Weight Loss Surgery Safety: Hydration in Summer Everyone’s at risk for dehydration in the summer, but weight loss surgery can present an extra threat. Drinking can make you feel nauseous or too full. After surgery, you can’t have sugary treats like sweet tea or iced mochas, or carbonated soft drinks. Some patients even find that water doesn’t taste good anymore after surgery. So how can you stay hydrated? Try ice water. Jazz up your water with lemon, lime, or mint leaves. Try chilled diet iced tea. Try shaved ice with sugar-free syrup. Make low-calorie cold coffee drinks with sugar substitute instead of sugar. Drink sugar-free Kool-Aid, Crystal Light or another low-calorie fruit drink. Keep a water bottle with you all the time so you automatically sip on it between meals. Drink extra before and after workouts, and sip regularly as you’re sweating. Let your weight loss surgery motivate you to stay healthily hydrated this summer! When you get enough to drink, you have more energy and are less hungry. That’s what we have for this month’s newsletter! We hope it was motivating and helpful. Don’t forget that we’re always happy to hear member feedback, so feel free to contact us! If you ever want to look through the old newsletters, you can check them out, too. Thanks as always for your support! Take care of yourself and each other. Sincerely, Alex ============================================================== If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

I found doing the calculation below really useful and motivating Weight loss Starting weight 112kgs / 17.6 stone / 246.9lbs Banded 12 Jan 2013 Weight 16th June 2013 90.6kgs / 14.26 stone / 199.7lbs Lost 21.4 kgs / 3.34 stones / 47.2 lbs Lost 57% of target weight in 5 months Target 75kgs / 11.8kg / 165.34 lbs From beginning weight needs to lose 37kgs / 5.8 stone / 81.5lbs 33% reduction in overall body weight From 16th June 2013 need to lose 15.6kgs / 34.39 lbs / 2.4 stone to get to target weight So 5 months in I'm over half way in the aim to reach my target weight. I've gone from a BMI of 38 to 31.6 - very nearly 'fat' rather than overweight. I think that the final weight gain will be the hardest but if I can lose a kg a week (2.2lbs / 0.57 stone ) I could be at my target the 10th Oct - my 46th birthday. It's been far from easy but to go from a waist of 40 inches to 36 inches is really great - extra large to large - it's really good to see such distinguishable changes. So yes I think the final weight gain will mean really tight discipline ( I have a soft spot for crisps, chocolate and red/white wine) and continuing my gym / running but seeing what I've achieved in the past 5 months has made me super motivated.

I'm being kicked off my insurance because it's my mothers (I'm currently unemployed) and I'm turning 23 August 7th since I am turning 23 the age where insurance no longer covers (which we didnt know until yesterday) On December 31st I will be taken off. Before we were told as long as my mother could have me on her taxes and I lived with her there would be no problem but there is. So today I called the insurance and talked to the lady I always talked to, she said if we had the doctor's office fax all my past history that I had and weight loss to them that they could possibly shorten my 6 month diet to where it wasn't so close and down to the wire in December. Well they faxed the information and She called back said within a week I should know if it can be shortened. I sure hope it can I don't want to get this far and have to end this whole journey. Wish me luck. I sure hope something works out.:thumbup:

Hi all! I am 4 weeks post-op and I LOVE my sleeve. It takes some getting used to but once I figured things out it seems to be going pretty well. If given a choice I would choose this option over and over again. I think it takes a while before you get your energy level back to where it was but everyday gets better and better. I think we just need to give our body the chance to recuperate after all this is still major surgery. I just had to share something that happened to me today - need to vent I guess. I am 56 years old and was a chubby child, and always overweight most of my teen and adult years. I don't know about anyone elses experiences but I have been discrimated agains for my weight many many times as a child, teen, and even as an older adult. Many months ago before I started this weightloss journey I had a co-worker who embarassed me in the breakroom at work by pointing out to 3 other co-workers at a table behind me that she couldn't sit with them because obviously there was not enough room between my chair and the chair behind me that she would have to sit somewhere else. Now I heard this with my own ears. Talk about discrimination! I figured hey I know I am a big woman 300 #'s at that time but I sure thought they could look at me and see I was a big mama, I didn't need anyone to point that fact out Right? But what I want to know is how come ignorant people like that can be so quick to point out the negatives but when a person does something positive to improve their health and way of life they don't say anything. Since that time I have lost almost 100 #'s and I see this same co-worker after returning to work, I say Hi and she never even acknowledges my weightloss while other co-workers are saying wow you look great! Go figure I guess. But what I figure is Karma will get her someday!! LOLS. Thanks for listening just needed to get this off my chest I guess.

Good for you. I am very happy that you are doing so well and don't worry about that co-worker, she is just plain ignorant. The problem is that some people don't realize how it feels to be overweight and when they make comments its because they are not educated about it, plus who would want to be friends with anyone like that. I look at it like this, if they are your friends before they will continue to be your friend and you don't need their blessing. My youngest daughter goes through this too (she is 9) and I tell her that everyone in this world has some kind of imperfection whether its our weight, acne, too skinny, bad hair...I could go on and on. So we all got something, its just others are quick to judge instead of looking in the mirror. Well anyways sorry I had to vent on this too but again CONGRATS GIRL you are doing wonderful.

Congrats on th weight loss!! SO did u lose all of the 100lbs post-op or did u lose majority of it pre-op ?

Well I think better now than later... if u wait too long you may decide not to get it done. This will be a life style change for you so if u have to eat less and or make better food choices big deal.... It's going to be the summer anyway... and the more weight you can loose between now and july will be more than just a few i'm sure... I would do it now.... but thats my opinion.

yes, I have BCBS federal, they paid and approved second time. the first time their was not enough history of being over weight for more then 2 yrs. as soon as we added that information it was approved...best of luck.

Hi Everyone, It is exactly 3 months today since my surgery, so I would like to give a summary of the main changes and improvements in my lifestyle now. I started with a BMI of 35.44 weighing 213 lbs. I am 55 years old and was having huge problems with aches and pains in my lower limb joints. I need to wear orthotic inserts in my shoes and have stopped wearing high heels. The lack of mobility was contributing to my weight gain, and my weight gain was contributing to my lack of mobility. Both problems were getting worse. Now, I have lost 37.4 lbs since surgery and have a BMI of 29.22. (I did not do a pre-op diet.) I have noticed a marked improvement in my joints and overall agility and flexibility. I still need to wear flat shoes but can now feel comfortable in sandals without orthotics for short periods and also can wear a much greater range of footwear again. I have a wedding coming up in October and hope to be able to wear high heels for the day. I am also sleeping much better recently. I have dropped approx 1 size in clothing from a UK size 18 to a 16, and sometimes a 14 and lost 4 inches from my waist, which was and still is my real problem area. I am enjoying this change in eating habits and newly acquired lifestyle and I am very pleased with my overall results. Regards, Booklean

I do better understand your point, thanks for the post. To clarify, I had already done everything you listed and much, much more. I have been overweight since age 7. I saw 3 doctors before the age of 13. I was on 17 diets before the age of 16. I did WW, Jenny Craig, 6 week makeover, Atkins, South Beach, had 2 trainers, 2 gym memberships, paid for a nutritionist, went to a weight loss doctor, did phen-fen (back in the day before it was banned), phentermine, hoodia, 2-day diet, and the list could go on and on. So I'm hoping that will take me off the list of those who "never gave weight loss a true, honest try in the past." For some reason, I think the severity of the decision for surgery, has kick started something in me that nothing else has. Maybe the risk of the surgery, or the fear of not following the doctors orders and hurting my body did, I don't know, maybe all of it maybe none of it. Maybe somehow it got into my head and "flipped the switch" so to speak I don't know but it worked. I needed to take off an enormous amount of weight and that was just too overwhelming to even think about without LBS. After I took it off, I certainly didn't want to live the rest of my life "fighting my food." I wanted to confidence to eat pizza if I wanted it, just not 2 pieces..only 1. I wanted the ability to go on vacation and NOT have to wonder "can I eat this, should I eat that" etc. I always wanted to be "normal" which to me was eating without restriction or fear. But being able to make sensible decisions and be confident that I am in control, not my mind, not the band, but ME. I like the point you made about not learning "diddly." You stated it perfectly I think. You stated that you had therapy, classes, etc. but it wasn't what you already knew. SO TRUE!! The big difference for me, is instead of just "hearing" it, I "listened" and decided to take action to change. So far it's working like a charm, and I think anyone who has TRULY changed their lifestyle (not just heard what they SHOULD do and NOT do it), but truly CHANGED their lifestyle, life without fills is TOTALLY attainable!! Just my .02

Everyone has an opinion, and I enjoy reading your posts. However, I still don't understand how you can equate learning a new lifestyle with the band vs. should have known it all along. Maybe you're not understanding me, or I'm not understanding you. Either way, here is an example of what I'm trying to convey. All my life I've been told to eat my veggies, avoid sugars, avoid fats, fast food, etc. All my life I've been told I need to exercise to be healthy. All my life I've been told to eat less and I will lose weight. Are all these true? YES! Did I follow this advice? NO! Why? Because that was not what my body was "trained" to do. I "trained" it to eat fatty foods and be sedentary. Did I know that by changing my behavior my weight would change as well..YES. But did I do it? NO. WHY? I didn't know how to start or maintain it and got overwhelmed so I just "threw in the towel" and decided I was destined to be fat my whole life. THEN WAIT...Weight Loss Surgery :biggrin: The answer to my prayers right? I will just have the surgery and won't have to worry about diet or weight anymore, it will just come off...WRONG! Those misconceptions I had before I got educated about the surgery were hard to deal with. But I decided I was serious about losing weight, so I would do "whatever it took" to get the surgery and take off the weight. Fast forward to today. After almost 9 months of eating the way I should to be healthy, and working out the way I should to be healthy, I'm smaller than I've been in over a decade! The band PROHIBITED me from eating large amounts, and the Dr. PROHIBITED me from eating things I shouldn't as it would damage my body from the surgery. NOW that I have done this for this long (many months with no fill at all) I STILL maintained my diet regime and exercise WITHOUT the NEED for the band. HOWEVER, that said, having that "safety net" if I were ever to "fall off the wagon" is WONDERFUL and does help me to stay on track. If you're implying that I could've lost the weight I've lost and changed my lifestyle without the band, you are COMPLETELY WRONG!!!! There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I would've done this without surgery, and I am so thankful it helped me get to where I am. I NEVER had this surgery to use it for restriction alone. I looked for it to do what it was "advertised" to do. Which was to begin with restriction, all the while helping me make better choices. No the band doesn't do that, but the counseling and follow-up doctors visits and support groups DO! I agree that people can "eat around the band" and other things, but I believe that those people are in the minority. People who go to this extreme (surgery) are serious about losing weight and will change whatever needs to be changed to achieve long term weight loss success. This is just my experience and opinion. But please don't assume that because the band "taught" me how to eat and what to do to maintain weight loss, that I could've done it without the band, that is absolutely the farthest thing from accurate I can think of. I understand you way of thinking and reasoning, but in my case, and many others I'm sure, that reasoning doesn't apply

I'm 34 weighing in at 252 lbs. I've struggled with my weight my entire life. I've finally had enough, the day I could no longer strap into my favorite roller coaster was the day I started looking into weight loss surgery. I've decided on the gastric sleeve and am currently waiting to schedule my sleep study and attend the mandatory seminar for qualifications for my insurance. This is an amazing place to read information and I'm grateful to you all!!! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using the BariatricPal App

All I can say is I wish I would have had the surgery when I was your age! When I think of all the things I would have done and enjoyed and risked if I had gotten rid of this weight ten years ago!!! Good Luck!

I am still early in this VSG road and still have a lot of weight to lose; however, I think that I need to tell everyone here who is looking for pro's and con's to surgery about my story. I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2007 - I went through years of not taking care of myself which resulted in me becoming insulin dependent a year ago. I began a treatment regimen of 30 units of Humalog before every meal and 80 units of Lantus before bed. I was also taking Byetta 10 mcg 2 x day and Glyburide and Metformin. After meeting with a nutritionist and finally understanding how to eat, my blood sugars were under control with all of the above meds. It was an exhausting daily routine and My A1C in Jan-2012 was 8.8. Now, 10 weeks post-op I had my A1C retested on June 1st and it was 5.8 (pre-diabetic) or completely controlled. I take .....NO DIABETIC MEDS since going home from the hospital..... (only one dose of insulin since surgery and that was when I was in the hospital) this alone has made this surgery worth it. I have lost 52 pounds and if I never lost another pound (not going to happen) it will have all been worth it. If you are diabetic (insulin or non-insulin dependent) and overweight, I encourage you to look into this surgery. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself and my health. Debbie

I was banded 12/29. I am only weighing in once a week, on my weekly bandaversary. My husband bought me a Weight Watchers scale a few days before my new life began. I lost 42 lbs on WW and 3 lbs on pre-op liquid diet. I promised myself I would only weigh once a week just as I did the 6 months I went to WW. I don't want to be a slave to the scale.

So was this an extra large person... or just an extra fatty liver? When I had my consult with my surgeon he told me that he wanted me to lose 35 lbs because at the weight I was the day of the consult (354 lbs) I might be pushing the limits of the tools. Now, I know I'm super obese... but I found it hard to believe that I would need to worry about being opened up, and I have lost about 10 lbs with 2 weeks left before surgery. Does fasting or liquid diet within the few days before the surgery really help reduce the size of the liver?

I used to work for a weight loss center and we had a client we weighed her, then she said wait i need to go to the rest room first and i will be darn if she wasn't 5 lbs lighter........

It's a new procedure they do called. And plication. My surgeon just asked right b4 i went in if I wanted to do it. They fold the rest ur stomach n half so u lose the weight alot faster. I would look it up if I was u. That was a bad explanation lol

It is really important to move to mushies then solids. Its not a good idea to eat all liquids. Maybe one protein shake a day but not all day long. It deafeats the purpose of the band to consume too many liquids. You may see a slight weight gain when you move your diet to mushies then solids. That will come off when you start getting fills. Good luck.

My doctor didn't mention that at all. He was concerned that I get in all my protein that is it. I eat carbs from day one without a problem. I did lose a little slower though. Its probably for optimal weight loss.

Have you discussed getting banded with your therapist? Although you haven't had much success with "just" therapy, her/his input is worth considering. I'm also a compulsive overeater, but I think that the band is going to be a very effective tool in dealing with that-along with continued therapy. I've also been honest with the surgeon about my issues, and he feels that the band will be the right choice for me. You do have to understand that the band itself won't be a cure-all; you can find ways to eat around it if you really want to. I guess my best advice is what my therapist has told me-make sure you have a good support system in place, and know that you need to keep working on your emotional issues as well as your weight. Whatever you decide, you're not alone in your struggles.