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So I'm not sure where to put this post since it covers several different topics I guess Before I had my gastric bypass last year, as you all know 1 of the things that you have to do is see the psychologist. So I went & seen her, and she basically took the wind out of my sails. I had a binge moment before my surgery & I made the mistake of telling her about it. She then told me that I had to read a book called End Emotional Eating. I don't emotional eat, but she told me that I had to read this book before she would give me the green light. So then I tried several times to read the book & I just could not get into the book at all. I ended up writing her a letter letting her know that I don't usually binge eat, and that I am NOT an emotional eater, and all that good stuff. Anyway she ended up giving me the green light, and I had my surgery last August. What really upsets me is that I was doing great with the way that I was eating, and had lost weight, even with having quit smoking (I'm still smoke free & at the writing of this post I'm at day 456 (1 year 3 months). Thus far my lowest weight was 235, down from 281 on the day that I started my weight loss plan from the hospital. I had quit smoking on March 8, 2017 & I started my hospital diet on March 27, 2017. When she told me that I had to read that book, and she criticized me with stuff, she honestly threw me into a tail spin & I started cheating here & there, then fell off the wagon totally. Now don't get me wrong, when I had to do my pre-op & post-op diets I did them, with the exception of like the last 3 days of my final stage of my post op diet. We went out for Chinese with a friend of mine who's like my little brother. Unfortunately I guess that I had eaten too much & got sick. Fast forward to now & I'm back up to 250, I'm having more chronic pain that I had been having, and I'm extremely depressed. Trust me, I'm not going to do anything dangerous to myself or others. We also have been having money problems, though as of today things will get a little better since my husband will be back to working 6 days a week, not sure how long that will last, but we will take advantage of all the hours that he's getting. Plus he's working for cash filling sand bags for a pipeline. I NEED to get back on track. I can't keep doing this. We just got back on our medicaid insurance, and now that I've been approved for social security disability I'm just waiting to get on medicare. I want to find a counselor to talk to, but it's almost impossible to find someone that is taking new patients, or that will take medicaid. I just don't know what to do or how to do it. I sleep a good portion of my day, plus I'm drinking cappuccino for Keurig, way too much of it. It's 70 calories per 8oz cup, and I'm drinking 6 or more per day because I'm sitting home constantly. My car is in the shop & hubby is using the car for working. Monday I have to get up at 7 to make sure that I get him to work by 7:30a.m., and I have no clue when I'm going to get my car back from the shop. I'm beginning to feel like I'm a prisoner in my own home & am just really frustrated. We don't have public transportation. Needless to say, all in all, I just feel down, lonely, depressed, and frustrated with so much & I don't know which way to turn anymore. Maybe i f I can find a buddy that I can be accountable to that would help me to get back on track? And I can help them to stay on track as well. Thanks for hearing me out! Lauri

Requirements: 40 BMI or 35+co-morbidity 3-month physician supervised diet within the last year. Must be 3 consecutive months. Must include dr. notes, exercise, weight, height. Mental health evaluation Echocardiogram and stress test if co-morbidity is heart related, mine is hypertension sleep study if diagnosed with sleep apnea Labs (including stool sample for H-pylori screening) Pap test/well-woman/well-man check within 1 year Mammogram within 1 year if 40+ Colonoscopy if 50+ EGD if diagnosis of GERD I must say that my insurance journey was not difficult. Once I had all the documentation, it was turned over to my surgeon on a Friday and I had approval from insurance the next Tuesday afternoon and a surgery daye Tuesday evening! Sent from my SM-N900V using the BariatricPal App

Didn't mean to send that yet! I guess I didn't think about that.... Even though I'm only eating chips and mash potatoes I may not think I'm eating that much during the day but those Calories add up! I do feel like I need to get an unfill I just felt so scared that if I got unfill I would gain weight!

i think you need to change your thinking to how well you have done and loss instead of what you havent and being impatient. you sure didnt get gain all your weight overnight. you are not gonna lose it all that quickly. you need to chill and do exactly what it is you are doing. it seems to be working. so whats the problem??

Don't worry, the 2 week diet will do wonders for your liver. It is not unusual to gain weight during the approval process (I gained 15lbs). Just do what your doctor says and keep coming back here for support, as well as, a good local support group. Congratulations! Looks like you will have the luck of the Irish on your side. =) Shawna

Hi y'all.. .guess what??... I can log on here and finally post what I have been been reading from other for a year now..I HAVE A SURGERY DATE!!!!!! YEAH!!!!! March 17- St. Patrick's Day!!! I wish y'all could see the smile on my face as I am typing this- But, with that comes this great shadow of doom- the preop liver shrinking diet. I understand I need to drink liquids and eat one low fat meal a day such as grilled chicken and a salad. Will this work? I haven't been on the scales but I fear I've gained about 20 pounds over the last 9 months waiting to get my dr visits and preapproval done. Do you think I will be put on hold for the weight gain? And again, should I be able to do my liver anygood with a 2 week liquid diet? I feel like a fool.. help!:confused:

I didn't qualify through my insurance, because I didn't have a five year documented history of a BMI over 35. However, my situation was different from yours. I didn't have a gap in my documentation, I had lost 90 pounds "on my own" in 2010/2011 and gained 80 of it back by July of last year. So even though I was back over a BMI of 40, my BMI had been well below 35 for a big chunk of the previous 5 years. I really felt like my insurance company was punishing me for at LEAST trying to lose the weight on my own before resorting to surgery! My options were to stay fat for 3-4 more years so I had the 5-year documented history or self-pay. I chose to self-pay and spend those 3-4 years as the fit and healthy person I am now!

I am in Banderville !!! Things were running a bit late yesterday so I didn't get my band until around 3 in the afternoon. Iwas scheduled for 1:15. So far everthing seems to be going good. Mostly sore, not actual pain. It was something for me crossing that plateau of getting the band, now on to the loosing. Two of the incisions kept bleeding a bit last night so put a extra gauze pad on each one and now they are fine. Yes, it does kinda feel like I've been beat up a bit. All the people that work at Northwest Weight Loss Surgery are great! A big :clap2: THANK YOU :clap2: to everyone there. :biggrin1:

So, in preparation for this surgery, I have finally downloaded My Fitness Pal and actually tracked my food for several days. I missed one day with my family, but I have tracked a total 6 out of 7 days. I hate tracking. I'm sure I'm not the only one. I hate having to be accountable and most if all, I hate having to be so damn honest with myself about what I am eating. I have done tracking before on my "Weight Watchers" app which was pretty cool with the extensive database of good food , but seeing the WW logo always annoyed me. I like My Fitness Pal. It has some nice articles too. Still, I struggle. I am not yet making the best choices. I do okay, then make a poor choice. Today I got coffee from Dunkin Donuts on my way home and got a stupid pumpkin muffin and ate it in the car while driving. I wanted SO BAD to just leave it off the log (then I wanted to delete it)...but it stayed. For me, THIS is a small success...being honest with myself. I can pretend to eat well in front of people, but I'm only fooling myself, and what good is that. I need to get serious about shrinking my liver and I know some of my recent food choices are not supporting this goal. I have a little over 2 months before surgery. I am worried that I'm not going to do well with long-term post-op because tracking can be such a b**ch. I'm not too worried with initial compliance, but long term compliance. I don't want to gain it all back once things get comfortable. I know the sleeve is "just a tool", but I want to make the best of it. Just curious...was anyone a little scared to be thin? (That might be another whole thread) Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

In regards to being scared and/or emotionally ready: In a way, I kinda feel that without the surgery, I would probably just hover around 260#...I tend to maintain for months at a time, give or take. I feel that, in a way, the much more rapid weight loss with the aid of VSG will lead me into an arena that I haven't been in emotionally in quite some time, if ever. I feel that losing some of the weight is a bit like an accelerated cocoon. Without the surgery though, I've never really had the success needed to even GET to the cocoon stage. Who knows? Maybe I will enjoy being a thinner adult...I feel like once I have the opportunity of knowing how it feels to be thinner, that it will encourage me to maintain any weight that I am fortunate enough to lose. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App Yes I agree with u too...see I was abused and si my therapist is coming from the idea of hiding my self in my fat si going to be skinny is emotionally scary... I overall feel the benefits outweigh the risk I agree. As you go through the process, you can address these issues as they come up. But as far as being "emotionally ready"? We've been "emotionally ready" dealing with issues of being fat. Based on logic and what I've read, our issues and problems don't go away, but we will most likely need to find other ways to soothe ourselves than with food. I'm glad I already have a therapist to help me through these feelings. Best of luck on your journey! I think this group will also be quite helpful and supportive as we navigate these unknown waters of weight loss. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

Hi there I had my thyroid gland remove in 2008 and I was 16 stone before had it removed and then I put on 8 stone in 10 months then got referred for surgery and then as soon as got a date found out I have type 1 diabetes, so had to weight till it was under control so then went back in to see doctor and I was going to have bypass but would not do it so they said band would be better had band fitted dec 2012, had 3 fills I'm up to 7 1/2 mls in 14 ml band and still not restriction, and really upsets me cause I don't think it going to work. Day of surgery I was 20.7 and now 17.10.

Has anyone ever had Thyroid issues and ha the hardest time loosing weight, and then gets the Lapband....did you actually lose weight. Im getting Lapband next week and hope this will help me in loosing weight. I have had my Thyroid removed and cannot lose weight. It took the Dr. 2 yrs to regulate my levels. Before, it was removed I lost 70 lbs on my own.

Hello twinstwice! Welcome! I am being banded in Monterrey on July 17. Who was your doctor? I would love to hear your experience and get some advice. I am going by myself so I feel like I need to be extra prepared!! Congrats on your great weight lose!!

Drink more Water. Exercise more. Get rid of the "grazable" food. Force yourself to ONLY eat from a plate at the table - do not eat standing up, in front of the TV, away from the kitchen, or eat anything you can eat with your bare hands. Serve yourself a normal sized portion, then step away from the food. Plan your meals so you eat a few ounces of dense Protein every three to four hours - it will keep your appetite under control, and if you aren't hungry, you're less likely to binge or graze or overeat. Focus on how you feel before putting anything into your mouth - are you truly hungry, or are you eating out of habit or boredom? The thing about the band is that it won't stop you from overeating, or from making bad food choices. All it will do is dim your appetite, so you can use your common sense and willpower to control your eating, and promote your weight loss. If you take your focus off of food, and develop new habits, your weight loss will amaze you. If you allow yourself to repeat the bad habits that got you fat in the first place, you can guess what results you'll have. Your band gives you a great opportunity to change your life, but in order to do that, you need to actually change your behavior. Old habits die hard, and this is a prime example. Good luck! Dave

I went to see the doctor and he would not fill my band. I have not seen him I'm over a year and I'm ready to move forward. I gained the weight back. He said there is 4.5cc already. To watch my eating and come back in one to two months. I'm cash paying so that was a waist. Plus I went to him for help. If I could do it I would of. I want to change surgeon. I called office m anager and no reply. I'm ready to start asap. I bought my shakes and vitamins. Family supporting me. And dr. Denied me. WhY? I feel desperate.

That's great for 1 week out. I always lose weight in my face first. Hopefully the double chin!!!!

Try not to step on the scales every day. I know that is hard but your weight can flucuate from day to day. Last week I didn't lose any pounds but when I check the body fat calculator on my weekly weigh in at Curves, I had lost three pounds of body fat. Muscle weighs more than fat. Your body may just be adjusting to the weight you have already lost. Did you measure before you started your journey. I'll bet you have lost inches. Let yourself heal! Drink plenty of Water, walk when you can, follow the food plan your doctor has given you and look for the NSV's that are coming your way. One of these days you will step on the scales and suddenly lots of pounds will be gone. When I started mushie foods the scale stopped moving for a few days. After a few days my body got used to the new foods and started losing again. Hang in there! You are doing fine.

EVERYBODY CALLS ME: Becca MY PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS INCLUDE: Husband Jason, 2 boys Brayton (8) & Christian (3) NON-HUMAN FAMILY CONSISTS OF: Sam, the big dumb dog (black lab) and Cayla (the Sam-hating cat) I LIVE IN: Indianapolis OCCUPATION(S): HR Director (for which I get paid) / Mom, Housecleaner and Weight Loss Diva (all volunteer) AVOCATION(S): Reading (read 125 books last year - including almost all classics I had not yet read). Used to scrapbook like a mad thing, but golly that takes time!! FAVORITE EXERCISE: Ummmm....what was the question? Oh yeah...well, does makin' sweet love with my husband count??? I COLLECT: Dept. 56 Dicken's Village Lighted Houses. As a teenager, I worked in a beautiful Christmas store for a few years, and used to say to myself, "gosh darnit, when I grow up I'm gonna buy myself some of those pretty things." I now have about 20.

Oh, OK, keep me posted on how you are doing. I am so ready to lose this weight once and for all, that I am actually excited about going for surgery!! Do you have to do a special pre-op diet?

All, Hey - I wanted to let you know that moved on to step 2 of the process at SMMC. I got the list of all of the appointments I need to make. I do not have insurance approval yet, but at least I can finally get the ball rolling. I have been waiting for almost 2 months, so I am jazzed to be heading the right way. John

EVERYBODY CALLS ME: Rhonda MY PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS INCLUDE: Daughter (10 going on 35) & BF of over a year and my lovely mother. MY NON-HUMAN FAMILY CONSISTS OF: My little girls, yellow lab and white boxer I LIVE IN: Houston, TX OCCUPATION Administration AVOCATION LBT! And, flowers, gardening, my pets, writing, reading, board games. FAVORITE EXERCISE: None of it! But, walking and weights if I have to. Yardwork, when I really get into it. I love swimming, but haven't been because I'm too fat! :tongue_smilie: I COLLECT: Dried flowers and mountains of magazines.

I find that sometimes when I can't get hardly anything down I will chew the food and then discretely spit it into a cup without swollowing. My finace thinks it gross (and a waste of good food) however I feel that it satifies my mental issues of loving the taste of food without gaining the weight. Am I the only weird one who chews and spits? Ginger

Boy is this thread is timely for me. I'm at a point where people are really telling me how great I look and not to loose anymore weight. I don't tell them I still have a few # to go, it's not really any of their business. But, my point is that when I stand in front of my mirror in the morning after getting out of the shower and see all the abuse my body has taken, its hard not to let that detract from how hard I have worked to get where I am. In some ways, my mind starts playing head games with me that if I get down to "x", then maybe it will look better. Mind you, I know better. I do things like pulling up "the girls" to see how that would improve the sagging tummy thinking if I were able to afford a boob job how much that might help knowing I can't afford to do arms, thighs, arms, boobs and tummy. I will have to rob my 401k to do this even when I decide to, but plan to weight a year so my body has a chance to adjust to the large loss in weight. Anyways,just had to comment that you are not alone. We have our own skeletons to deal with, but I have always found this board to be a great place to come to and know I am not the only one struggling with something as I go through my journey.

Man, this might as well have been a post by me 13 months ago, or even just a week ago! I have BEEN there, I think we all have at some point. I have lost 128 lbs but there are days when I feel as fat as I ever did, there are times when I look down and all I see is my big fat gut, straining against my sausage tight pants and feel like it was all a waste, how warped is that!! It is easy to get lost in the weeds, to get fixated on still being fat because, I am still fat! Both Lane Bryant and Avenue carry size 12 pants, which is what I'm currently in, so technically I am still wearing plus sizes, after 18 months and 128 effing pounds lost! I am still the biggest woman in my yoga classes, still get referred to as voluptuous and curvy (nicer words from the nicer people) and it is incredibly disheartening to see my batwings and shriveled-balloon inner thigh skin. But! I just have to remember that this drama is playing out in my head, not reality. That I have a normal healthy body that does not stand out from the crowd for its size. When I was "only" 50 pounds down - and it took me 3+ months to get there!- I was wild with impatience. 50 is a nice round high number so when we achieve it we know that "real" weight loss IS possible, that this isn't going to fail like every other diet, and it is such a high number that we suddenly realize that maybe our dreams just might come true, and it is so thrilling and delicious that we just CAN'T WAIT, and it's torture. Right around 50 lbs is when I started obsessively visiting clothing retail websites and virtually window shopping, filling my cart with size 12's. It would be another 12 months before I would actually see that size, which might have depressed me had I known that, but here I am, actually wearing a size 10 today (Gap pin stripe curvy cut trousers) and just a year and a half ago I remember the thrill of pouring myself into a pair of size 20's, which had looked miniscule to my pre-surgery eye when I was a 26. So my rambling point is this, try to achieve patience, keep your nose to the grindstone with exercise and diet and even though it will feel at times to be like trying to run through molasses, suddenly one day you will be running without breaking a sweat, and you will be wearing clothes that are snug on purpose! Chin up, boobs out - it's showtime!! =)

Yes, first be proud of your accomplishments. You have come a long way in a short time. You're edging in on halfway to goal and yes, every pound you've lost is one gone forever. That said, I get it. We all do! I'm at goal, I'm quite small and there are still days (particularly when I'm emotional or moody) where I feel like a fat person. Why? Because we've gotten in the habit of being mean to ourselves, we're incredibly hard on ourselves and sometimes, we have unrealistic expectations. I lost 108 pounds and yes, I hate looking in the mirror and seeing all that skin. What? Did I honestly expect to shed all the weight and still love my abused body? I'm at goal. I'm small. It's amazing what our damaged self-esteem can make us feel - I'm in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and I'm considered plus size here. I can look in the mirror and know that I'm small - but still feel BIG in comparison to the local ladies! When people stare at me here, I always feel self-conscious all over again, even though I know in my head that they're staring at me because I'm obviously not Central Asian or Russian, and because I have visible tattoos! It's weird the way our brains work and it takes a long time to get over some of these things. Hang in there. I was right where you are now in November of 2010. I was a few months out from surgery and down about 50-60 pounds. Yes, I was thrilled to be the size I was but honestly, I was stalled out for nine weeks around that time and felt like I'd never get smaller. It was right around this time that I was just starting to have people notice the loss, too, and it wasn't all the time, either. The reality here is that it really does take a lot of loss to start seeing size changes when you're plus sized. For me, I didn't lose the first pant size until about 30 pounds off - and then another after 20 more pounds. It wasn't until I was in non-plus size clothes that I could lose a pant size after dropping only 10-15 pounds. Once you start seeing a real difference both in the mirror and on your clothing tags, I'm sure you will feel a little better. As for whether or not people are considering you that large person I wouldn't be so sure. I was horribly self conscious when I was larger and always felt that anyone laughing or smiling near me was laughing at me. I hated going out in public and I felt like the fattest girl in the room every time. I was always looking around for other girls my size so I'd know how I measured up to the other women. After I shed a lot of the weight, I realized that it was all me. Nobody else had the issues with my size that I had. It was actually kind of egotistical of me to think that everyone was looking at me, anyway! I can say that if you hang in there and keep on working at losing the weight you'll recover some of yourself. You'll start to feel a bit more confident each time you see your successes and you'll hopefully shed some of the self-esteem issues. It might help you to talk to someone like a counselor, too. Take care, ~Cheri