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Thanks everyone for the input! This has all been really helpful. I do plan to continue with my journey, made my appointment with the nutritionist again for September 18th, I am hoping to maybe get them to ok surgery for this coming winter while I am on winter break from school. they said that I would have to start the 6 months over, but maybe because i was doing weight watchers they would consider that to be okay? I am hoping so, I would love to have a better looking body for graduation...haha. @ K8walsh Thank you so much for the detailed respond! I love knowing that there is someone with such similar problems and feelings! Congrats on your weight loss, I am so excited to start, I just want to get it now!! I'm glad you brought up the other surgeries too. Your reasons for not getting them are the same as mine. I am awful with taking meds consistently so the less needed the better. I also dread the idea that a food that I once enjoyed so much I can no longer eat. I have heard of several people having tastes change, and they can't eat things like fish, or chicken because it makes them feel sick even years after surgery. Now I know that I should want to not be able to eat everything i could, but if something were to happen like me not being able to eat chicken....I would never eat. I LOVE chicken, haha. the biggest thing that im excited about is like making food and not being able to eat as much, If i get hungry I can eat a little more and feel out and not binge as soon as I get home! were you in a lot of pain after? how long were you out of work for? -Heather

well, the place I have the worst saggy skin is my mons/FUPA. It looks terrible, like someone stapled a bunch of deflated, wrinkly chicken skin to the front of my crotch. I'm actually thinking about letting the hair grow out in front (I usually shave) because I think that will camouflage it better. Other people may be looking forward to boob lifts and tummy tucks after they finish weight loss, but I may be pulling off a bank heist to afford a mons lift somewhere down the line. So I guess what I am saying is, beware the alternative!

My husband works out of state 48 of the 52 weeks a year. We normally try and plan things like this. But this all happened so fast, that he'd already had his schedule / flights/ ...... booked 3 weeks out. I told him to go on and go b/c I had a girlfriend that was taking the day off to come be with me. Well.......I just found out that she will be leaving shortly before noon to go take her son to Sophmore orientation. They won't even take me back until 10:30 ish.... So I won't even be out of surgery before she leaves!!! this was one of the main reasons for her being there, so someone would be with me during surgery and then they could call my hubby with the report afterwards. I am so bummed. Our oldest daughter lives an hour away and has our 16 mo GS, so a hosptial for hours is no place for her/him to be. Our youngest daughter is 23 & still lives at home b/c she has multiple health probelms. She isn't even staying at home alone while I am in the hosptial and until hubby get home Friday afternoon, she is going over to a friends house. I am at a loss as to what to do. Suggestions?

Don't give up just yet....if you have an associated co-mobility such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol then you have an argument with your provider. Also pick up the book "Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies" there is a section on what to do when the insurance company doesn't agree with your physican decision. My BMI was less than your and I was just banded with insurance approval this Monday. I am sore as all get out, but do NOT regret my decision. Good luck.

Girls- what kind of problems did you have with your period after surgery? I've had a couple early and now for two weeks long. I've heard abnormalities are normal for weight loss, but need some reassurance.

When my PCP sent the weight loss center my referral he stated that I had been on numerous diets over the last 4 years...My insurance co also requires at least a 6 month diet. My case has not been sent in for approval, but I am praying for a good outcome. I really liked the post that said that bandsters are involved in a "waiting game". That is soooo true....Hurry up and Wait....Hurry up and Wait! Kimberly

I didn't tell anyone except my husband and 1 best friend. I do hair so I didn't want it to be shop talk for the next year. I mostly didn't want everyone looking at me to see if or how much smaller I was everytime I saw them. I am 7 days out and have lost 14lbs. No one has even noticed yet. I had to go out last night couldn't blow my friend off any longer. Met for an hour and I got there first and ordered a cranberry/water with a lime for effect!! Just sipped slowly and it looked like I was having my cocktail. I thought about telling her now that it's said and done but really wasn't ready. I'm kinda enjoying my little secret!!!

I weigh over 600 lbs what advice you give me statred my weight loss jounery

Hello fellow Pal I am on the pre-op journey along with you, I just got scheduled for my surgery Sept 15th! I have been researching all the most budget-friendly options as well. Protein shakes & all the supplements are definitely pricey & a big consideration when you're on a small budget but I'm hoping purchasing less in groceries will help offset the cost. I found a few things for myself that may help... First off, each doctor has different guidelines and requirements, many doctors require you to purchase a specific brand protein and Vitamin supplements for pre/post op. Unfortunately, the doctors requirements are often quite expensive & must be factored into your surgery cost & as far as I know, most insurances do not cover this portion. You'll have to check with your own Dr/insurance. Early on, I checked into the "Insure" program I found on this site that offers to get your protein shakes covered by insurance & gave the info. to my Dr & nutritionist who checked into it & discovered they are largely a scam! The protein shakes they offer are "Premier Protein" anyway, widely available at costco (cheapest) & I've found them at Walmart, Winco & many other stores, depending on your area. I tried the Premier Protein shakes (30 gm protein in 11 oz), I like the chocolate one pretty well, tried the strawberry too & just didn't like it as well. This is one of the most inexpensive brands I've been able to find. The cheapest I've been able to find works out to be about $1.20-$1.50 per shake (that's for my area in Northern California). I've also tried the Syntrax nectar (personally I like having fruit flavored options better than most the other powders). I discovered something not widely advertised, the company offers a "variety sampler" of 1 packet of each of their 15 flavors for $17. I ordered this & got it, tried only 1 so far (not horrible but I tried the cherry & that just won't be my flavor), but that's when I started hearing all about how my taste-buds could change after surgery so I decided to wait to try the rest of them after surgery. 23 gm protein each. If I decide to go with the Nectars, it will be cheaper to purchase online, about $35 or more for a 2lb/30 serving canister. If you want to order the "Variety Sampler" you order directly from the company - you can take a look at their Facebook ad here: https://www.facebook.com/officialsyntrax/photos/pb.139333966120689.-2207520000.1440194636./770066349714111/?type=3&theater However, one of my favorite recent finds is LiquaCel, it's 16gm protein in only 1OZ! In fruit flavors, it's a concentrate that you can either take straight if you just can't choke down more (especially post-op), or dilute in liquid. You can get them in individual packets for $1.50 each or 32 oz bottles for $34. So far I like these the best for taste! I've tried the orange (undiluted) & the lemonade mixed in Crystal Light lemonade & I liked them both far better than the powdered protein shakes. I have the other 2 flavors too, just haven't tried them yet & I just ordered more. However, I know that after surgery taking it straight in the concentrated form may be too strong for me, but it can be diluted in less liquid than traditional protein shakes. You can find them here: http://www.procarenow.com/search.asp?keyword=LiquaCel&search=GO As far as vitamins/supplements, this has taken even more research... for me, I found ProCare Bariatric Multi-Vitamin chewable, very similar ingredient amounts to Celebrate brand, only $12 for a month supply & it includes Iron. I checked them with my Dr. & she was good with these. They are from the same company as the LiquaCel: http://www.procarenow.com/Bariatric-Complete-Chewable-MultiVitamin-Once-Per-Day--Formulated-for-Roux-en-Y-Vertical-Sleeve-Duodenal-Switch-30-Day-Supply_p_10002.html For Calcium, I am having a really hard time with the soft-chews, they all taste like chalk to me. Once I am able to swallow pills again, which my Dr. is OK with shortly after post-op, I found Puritan's Pride calcium citrate +D "miniatures". Smaller pills than the the more common huge horse pills, if they're still too much for me after surgery, they can be cut, crushed or disintegrated in applesauce. It works out to be 200 mg per tab, so I'll need 3 tab 2x day to get 1200 but I can handle tablets better than chews. 3 bottles $17.50 6 for $35 (6 mo. supply). Available here: http://www.puritan.com/calcium-citrate-337/calcium-citrate-vitamin-d3-miniatures-033195 I'm also going to be adding Biotin gel tabs from Costco post-op, hoping to prevent hair loss & the Dr. will let me know if anything else needs to be added after blood work is done post op. These have been all my best finds so far. Hopefully some of these can help. This is definitely no easy journey and affects every aspect your life, including financially, but I'm trusting it will all be worth it & at least I'll have a life! My mother & grandmother both passed away in their early 50's & both morbidly obese when they died -- I am planning on breaking that cycle! It is such a big help to get support from all the others who are going through the same thing or have been there! Just imagine how much better life will be at this time next year! All the best on your journey! Warm Hugs, Kristina

Hi Everyone! It has been 2 weeks since my file was submitted to insurance for approval. I received a letter from my insurance company stating that they need additional information which I passed along to the insurance coordinator today. I had to switch programs in the middle of my 3 months of medically monitored weight loss and other insurance requirements due to 2012 and 2013 insurance changes so I'm hoping they get everything they need from both programs. Wish me luck!! Wendy

Weightloss is going to depend on a lot of factors. The obvious factors are, your initial weight, activity, intake, and band size. The band has to be filled slowly over time to give each person their just right amout of restriction. The greatest benefit with the band is that it is a more natural slow loss and the band is adjustable. If you loose 10 pounds are you going to keep it off? With the band, you can control if you are going to keep it off. LB patients don't have malnourishment or dumping which makes a great diffrence.

Just want to note that I know it's probably annoying for those of you who are "pros" to answer these types of questions over and over. But it's very helpful for those of us who are researching the band. Thanks for the insight into different levels of weight loss.

Hey everyone...so, I'm thinking about this whole lap band thing. My situation is this: I work a ton, I usually have 4 days off a month...been working on paying down the debt (Dave Ramsey!) and dealing with my constant up and down weight loss battles. I do really good for 5-6 months, lose around 50-60 pounds and then something changes in my life and my routine fails and BAMM!.........the weight is back on. It's not like I live on pizza and beer. I actually care what I eat, I like working out, swimming, running, doing aerobic classes. I really think my body is just screwed up when it comes to maintaining or losing weight. Obviously, it's not like I don't eat bad sometimes, because I do...and sometimes I eat too much of something. Does everyone ever feel like your the only one working so darn hard to lose weight, all the time! Because I do, a lot! My good friend can order two dinners when we go out and he basically has been within 10 pounds of his current weight since I have known him for the last 6 years. There is just something different about him. I'm so happy my daughter does not seem to be taking after me. I was always chubby as a kid. And I loved playing sports...football, basketball, tennis, you name it. Most of my pictures growing up, you see me...fat, skinny, fat, skinny...back and forth my whole life. Now, though, it isn't going to the skinny side anymore. I'm willing to work hard, I just want to keep it off forever if possible. Let me know what you think, Have a great new year. I'm going to a bariatric seminar at my hospital next Wednesday. My wife is a little skeptical right now, understandable though. We'll see what happens.

I went to a "reunion" of sorts - people who I worked with on a very big project about 15-18 years ago. I was a "young woman" in my 30s then, but due to obesity aged beyond my years. Now, we are all a little older, a little mellower and for me ALOT thinner. I have been at goal since Feb 2013 so most people hardly remember what I looked like before - in fact somebody at the party mentioned that (I still work with her so she has seen me alot). It was uncomfortable at times to get all the remarks, and I felt like my former 9retired) boss was uncomfortable around me (happened last time i saw him too, shortly after getting to goal). Since so many people post about being uncomforrtable about people noticing their weight loss, I thought i would share two specific stories that came up at this party. First, a lady that has always been thin, beautiful, tall blah blah blah. She made comments about how she had seen my face in pictures, but never really got a look at my body and just went on and on about how much I have changed. The longer and louder she got, the more defensive I started to feel. I recognized it and made the decision to do what I decided in 2012/2013 about work colleagues - these are people that respected and included me even when i didn't feel I deserved it, so I am going to suffer through some of their current rudeness knowing they are just expressing alot of things they don't know how to express in the best way. It was like... deep breath.... I can get through this even when she said "I think you are about half the size you used to be!". I told her that was the truth, I lost about half my size which of course is an indirect way of giving people an idea how much you lost. But seriously, when you used to be in the 24W-32W size range and are now single digit sizing - it is not exactly a secret is it!?! I knew her intentions were good, this lady is also a horse rider and she never made me feel like I was too big to be involved with horses or any of those kinds of things. Anyway, it was difficult for me, but the end result was getting invited on a trip to Hawaii with her and a small group of "girls" that were on that same project! Why didn't she invite me before? Well, to be honest, because in the past i could be standoffish/separate myself from others and often refused invitations etc from work related people especially. I am thrilled to be going and they are thrilled to have me. Second, the host of this event is a few years younger and was actually a single guy when I worked with him. Anyway, he is super outgoing/outrageous type of personality so he was really over the top vocal about how much I have changed. I could tell it was even making other people I work with (who are well over the shock) uncomfortable. Finally, one of the guys i work with said in response to his gushing about how different I look "yes M, you already said that". To which M replied, "but what i haven't said is not only do you look great from losing all that weight, you somehow turned out hot!" That got nods of approval and good laughs all around. It was a boost for me as I am 10# over goal, and of course notice my waist isn't as small as it was a year ago etc but i am still doing great. Moral of my story - well, there probably isn't one, but at least for me embracing other people's reactions to my epic physical transformation is part of my epic internal transformation. I have always felt I am a person with integrity, honesty, but this having to face stuff like this has forced me to dig deeper for a level of transparency and trust of others that isn't always comfortable. The thought that helps me alot is the knowledge that these SAME people accepted me, advocated for me, promoted me, respected me, worked with me and did alot of other great things even when I was morbidly obese (as they should of course!)

Hello Sleeve Sisters/Brothers...!!! I have been sleeved for going on 3 years, come Dec. I still LOVE my sleeve and my sleeve STILL LOVES me..!! I have recently had a LBL (LOWER BODY LIFT) and I LOVE my new and improved shape...I hope to have my inner thighs and under arms and back flab removed, along with the flapping bat wings clipped within the next year or two...X...keeping everything crossed for all of this..!! LOL Having the sleeve was the best decision I have ever made, for my health...I have told many people who have asked about my weight loss and I am amazed that everyone< (MOST EVERYONE) thinks...OH HOW SCARY AND AWFUL..!!! Yet, they still struggle with their weight and their FOREVER weight loss diets...THERE IS THIS AMAZING TOOL THAT "WILL" HELP THEM, BUT THEY ARE BLIND TO AND SCARED TO TAKE THE PLUNDGE TO A BETTER WAY OF LIFE...When I heard about the weight loss surgeries, over three years ago, I quickly started researching and decided on the sleeve...It was a struggle to get the money together and to have my families support...My husband was the REAL problem, but now, he is in total shock and aww, of the transformation..!!! My only regret, is I did not KNOW about it in my younger years or just waaaay sooner...!! If you areon the fence, get off and GET THE LIFE YOU HAVE ALWAYS HOPED FOR...THEIR IS LIFE AFTER OBESITY...I'M LIVING PROOF..!!! HUGS TO ALL..!!!! ((((((( ))))))) FLOWER

Is a marathon not a sprint and don’t compare your weight loss to others. Some are faster losers and others are slower but for most of us just stick to the plan and the weight eventually Does come off.

I guess it depends on a number of things. Insurance requirements: I had 6 months of PCP supervised Weight Loss appointments. Once I finished all of my requirements: PCP visits, psych appts (1 for testing, 1 for clearance and 1 more within 3 mo of surgery) Nutritionist, exercise physiologist, EKG, Upper GI, Sleep study x 2. It was submitted to my insurance, they generally don't schedule (through my clinic) until you are approved through insurance, but I had a special circumstance so they "penciled" me into a date I needed. So From my first appt until I knew my surgery date was around 6.5 months.

Sorry I have to laugh at your post...sounds just like my mom. The whole telling strangers in a restaurant and I, too, am known as the WLS daughter in her community. To tell you the truth, though, it really doesn't bother me. I am more comfortable accepting compliments and talking to the people that do know than I am facing the people that don't know because I feel guilty about lying if I don't disclose my "weight loss secrets". Oh it's not like I kept it a secret. I am very open about my situation, but when I mention it to a waitress I am discreet about it, not my mom, she is loud and makes sure everyone around hears.

I'm not so worried about who my mom tells but rather what she thinks and how it affects her. Before she retired one of the ladies at her work had gastric bypass. She got real sick and was unsuccessful with her weight loss. She actually gained weight. So now this is what she has in her mind when she hearts wls. Today my mom tells me how she went to the Dr. And has been diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure and arthritis. My great grandma died of diabetes. I wanted to tell her about how in June I will be getting the sleeve surgery done . I wanted to share with her all the stories and people I've met who have been successful and who are not sick anymore because of surgery . But I felt her out a little and brought up a friend of mine from my job who had the sleeve a year ago and how he had health issues last year that have disappeared along with over 100lbs. She said that she completely disagrees with surgery and it's dangerous. I couldn't tell her. Maybe after I've had surgery and shown how it works and that I am OK afterward she'll look at it differently. ?? I don't want her to be sick and I don't want to die from diabetes some day. But I don't want her to worry about me on top of her stress with her health.

madam rev.....glad to hear that your hair is coming back. I remember when you were in a deep blue funk about it for a while. I am just at four months, and my doc said last week that it's my turn to watch the tub drain. hmjdreamingbig.......madam rev is always spot on. You can take her advice seriously.

Wow! What a change! You look very sexy! Now with your new body, will you give pregnancy a try again? Just wondering cause you said you gained weight on all the meds trying to get pregnant? Of course, maybe now it will happen for you without meds due to the weight loss? Whatever the case, I'm so happy for you & can't wait to post pics of me before & after!

Hi and congrats on all your losses !! I am going for my consult this month and have been reading alot here and learning alot.........my ??? now is----what does the right amount of restriction or the "perfect fill" feel like ?? Thanks & hoping for your successes soon !!

Hi Katie, Welcome!! You might want to check out: http://www.rnytalk.com/topic/2315-what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-weight-loss-surgery/ lots of good information posted by one of our own. Good luck

Hi Debbie - Congratulations on your weight loss! Welcome!

Today was suppose to be my weight day but I was so scared to see no weight loss that I didn't weight myself, lol. It has definitely mess with my head. Since I have not been losing weight the past weeks I feel FAT, i'm not seeing the wonderful progress I've made I just see what needs to improve. I know logically that's crazy. I was able to fit into a dress that i've not been able to fit for years and that made me very happy and I have to remind myself of that. We give that scale too much power over us.