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Thanks LJM! The time is coming up fast. I knew April would fly by bc of working full time and just so much going on. It seems like theres something going on every night! In fact last night my dd, her boyfriend and I went to dinner to celebrate her passing her state boards for cosmotology and I said I havent' cooked since Sunday! Its been something every night! Just a sample of my week - Monday work, daughters track meet, grab something to eat on the way home - Tuesday work, support group meeting, rushed to the track to walk with friends, grabbed something on the way home, Wed. work, took a quick nap when I got home (exhaustion starting to set in), out to dinner to celebrate, Thursday (tonight) work, daughters track meet, grab something to eat on way home again, Friday work, going to dinner with daughter in law and to the movies, Saturday, will be trying to catch up on the house and hopefully hubby will be home from working out of town, daughters dinner for Fire Queen. Sunday will be church and an afternoon nap! I know you all live life like this too - just a part of being a mom. I just get myself really stressed out when I can't do it all. Like the week I'm recovering from surgery - its going to be so hard to sit home when I know theres places to be. Its just that this is my baby's last year for it all - my last year for it all. Really my last month of it all, when she graduates thats it. Life as I know it will change. The surgery is happening right in the middle of her busiest month, and my most emotional month.

Unfortunately, due to a reaction I had to my anesthesia, I am still in the hospital, but aside from that I think everything is going well. My doctor did come in to check on me this morning and was asking me what all I kept down yesterday (liquid diet) and as I was telling him I saw his eyes get wide bc someone had given me apple juice. It says I can have fat free apple juice, but this was no sugar added and I drank two of them yesterday (4 oz each). I had no idea bc the nurses were bringing it so I thought they probably knew what they were giving me. Oops! I know now and won't do that again, but he was afraid of my body dumping bc of it although that didn't happen. Anyways, hope everyone else's surgeries and few days post op are going smoothly! I will hopefully overcome this postoperative myalgia soon and get to go home and see my puppy dogs. I'd love to hear how things are for everyone else. I am interested to get on a scale, but haven't had the chance yet. Best, Rach

Well.... lol, be ready because we do it a bit differently downunder. There's just not the focus on protein in Australia. A typical day for me is today I guess. I started the day with my regular "green smoothie" - which today was apple, peach, banana and silverbeet blended with water. Its disgusting! No seriously, tastes like the fruit, looks like what you clean out from under the lawnmower but I've been doing this for about six months and have never felt better. I have one or two a day and it takes care of my fruit and veg needs so that what I eat at meals is a bonus. By the way, that amount made up fed DH, me and my daughter, so I didnt eat a WHOLE apple, a WHOLE peach and a WHOLE bunch of silverbeet. But I just cant physically chew and eat that much fruit and leafy greens. It keeps me regular, healthy and full of energy. About an hour later, I had two sardines and some sliced tomato on a piece of wholegrain toast. I had a cup of coffee down at the shops and just got back and had lunch - two laughing cow wedges, the rest of the tomato sliced up on about six small wholegrain crackers. I'm trying for another small smoothie this afternoon. Dinner tonight is going to be zucchini slice - basically an egg/fritatta type dish with egg, zucchini, some wholemeal flour, low fat cheese and probably some chopped up dill I have in the fridge - we'll have that with salad, and I'll have a glass of wine. Yesterday was pretty typical as well - started with a smoothie, had a bowl of organic muesli, then picked at a cheese platter for lunch (cheese, olives, crackers, sundried tomatoes) and we had roast beef and steamed veg for dinner. I guess these days the only real difference from when I was losing is a slight increase in portion size - but still about half what regular people seem to manage to eat. My weakness is picking - lollies, chocolate etc if its around I'll have a bit of it. I'm better at just having a bit these days but pig outs are not unheard of! I guess my personal beliefs in nutrition are not focussed on protein but more on fresh fruit and vegies - I buy organic and I really believe we need TONS of plant foods in our diet, much much more than bandsters can eat. Its the one thing that worries me about life with the band long term, which is why I am motivated to get down a glass of green goop twice a day. For exercise, I run about four days a week - about 6kms usually, and I do an hour long bootcamp session twice a week, which has more focus on cardio mixed with bodyweight strength training.

I second Land's End--and anyplace that sells Miracle Suits. I get suits with underwire, bc they are the most supportive.

I bet it's from the 35,000 calories they force-fed you while under anesthesia....

took me about 1 month with BC/BS

Hi there, I had my band done in May 2007. I weighed 205 and am 5'2. I was turned down from BC/BS but had it done anyway. I don't regret it at all. I had some other physical problems but for me I came to the decision because of all the emotional ups and downs. Good Luck to you! Michelle

I am about 8 weeks post op and have about .75 ccs in my 10cc band, I have lost about 18lbs all together and have been stuck at 212.5 for about a week and a half. I go for a second fill in about a week. In regards to you saying that you have had the willpower to eat right and change thus far and hope that you will continue to have willpower after the newness wears off. I am loosing steam and my willpower is fading. I do eat less than before and I have always been aware of the right type of food so I try to make the best choices possible but it is starting to get hard and I am frustrated that I have not lost any more weight. I need to kick the exercising into gear and count my calories but at this point I feel like I am back to the old "start a diet, do well for 4-6 weeks, loose motivation, back to old habits" cycle. I can eat anything and quite a bit of it to full me up. We are also struggling a bit financially right now so my grocery budget is has room for milk, bread and diapers and thats about it so I am eating whatever I can scrape together to make for the family. Ugggggh, I need something to pick me up. Anyways, I just wanted to comment on your concern with the motivation dying out bc I definately have experienced that. Best Wishes.

I was sleeved 8/21. Couldn't eat shrimp until last week. Those who are watching their fat intake shouldn't do this, but I LOVED IT: At whole foods I bought a roll of scampi butter. I added half the roll to one bag of defrosted & cleaned raw Costco shrimp. You can cook it in the microwave, stove or BBQ. We use IronLodge skillets for the BBQ so we don't heat up the house w cooking. Just cook till shrimp is pink. This fed my husband for one meal and i had leftovers all week. The butter kept the shrimp from getting too rubbery.

I doubt that she will be getting a band in Alberta. I would be willing to bet what is happening is that she is getting Gastric Bypass in Alberta or Washington, paid for by the BC government. This is not unheard of, but as far as I know BC does not fund the band, but they do fund bypass. You are correct in that much of the money for health care comes from Ottawa, but really they have no pull in the way that it is spent, as long as it conforms to the Canada Health Act. I highly doubt that she would be getting any surgery paid for by AB if she is from BC. The health care systems in Canada are considered to be provincial. Andrew

Terranne: Hi: Anyone with a weight problem has failed so many times they were in tears and depressed. This is what caused most of us to make the giant step to acqiring a band. I was 303 lbs when I made my decision, I had the band Feb. 01/07 and yesterday I was told the port had flipped and I needed further corrective surgery. The TLBC has a wonderfull followup program and the fills are free as well as they have a nutritionist and support programs. A conference call is now being put in place for out of towners. I am from North Vancouver BC and I did not do a thorough job of researching the issue of fills. The TLBC referred me to a surgeon close to my home. I don't know for sure, but I believe the surgery correcting the port flip is free of charge. I may have to pay for the anetheseologist (sp?). What I am saying, is I would do it again with no second thoughts, but I would be more careful in finding someone close to home so I wouldn't have the huge costs of flying to Toronto. You are in a tough position having to decide whether your family's spendable money goes on you or your husband but did you know that if your family doctor referred you to Alberta, they have a clinic that assesses people for banding. As the medical system is Federal, they take from anywhere. I belong to a support group and one of the ladies in my group is going to Alberta having been referred by her family doctor and the surgery will be paid for by the medical system. there are other requirements that I am not sure about. You may have to wait, but it would be better than doing nothing. Doddie

Baby spoons are so worth it! I found some with a longer handle so it's not awkward feeling. I tried sippy cups and just didn't like them. Tried medicine cups and didn't like them. I just use a glass. And the others are right. You will remember not to gulp each time bc you won't want to! The first time I was so afraid of throwing up ( just sounds soo painful to do that post op)!

I am on my third Mirena, LOVE IT! I took it out in 2006 bc my husband (now my ex) & I decided to have one more. I got pregnant in the first month. Had my daughter and put another right back in.

So I haven't had my surgery yet but I'm posting this on the post op thread bc I want to hear from those of you that have. I have spent a lot of time on this site and while it has really helped me put some of my fears behind me, I still have this one major one that is lurking around in my head driving me crazy. Most of the post I have read seems that people are a lot smaller than me. They do great after surgery and have no trouble reaching their goals. I am 518 lbs and 5'9. I have been over weight my entire life but this is my heaviest. I have tried many different diets and I'm always able to loose but then I hit a snag and then usually gain all of it back. I'm dedicated to this decision and have a really good support system. My husband, family, and close friends are all in my corner 100%! I'm 28 years and I still have tons of things I want to do before I leave this earth. If I don't do something that will not happen. So my concern is with me being as heavy as I am is it possible to get to goal. I'm terrified of having the surgery and loosing 100 or even 200lbs and then not being able to loose anymore. I understand the major changes I have to make and I'm on bored. I just don't want to go through this and still be morbidly obese. Any thoughts on this is greatly appreciated. BTW I'm terrified that I have actually put my weight on here, but I feel safe here. Hopefully that's the case.

Hi, So I’m 10 days post op and in liquid diet phase and it’s dreadful. My plan as per my dietician is 4 weeks of clear liquid 4 weeks of puréed phase and 4 weeks of soft foods before real food.I am fed up with my food now and want to have some real food. How do I overcome this?

Hi, Grider, If you have BCBS Fed, the contract runs from Jan 1st to Dec 31st. I have been on it for years now and the benefit calendar year has never changed. I am not sure about BCBS of IL. I am hearing some nightmare stories. Hope this helps. All the best to you. Melinda

After months of research I'm going with Dr Francisco Gonzalez. He's with BajaMed Group. I don't want the experience of being herded through like cattle being tagged. I'm sure this is going to piss people off with me saying that. Google him. His records and achievements speak for themselves. No, your not going to see his name plastered up on here BC he doesn't pay all of the tons of money on advertising and supporting these forums to promote his name. He doesn't need to. Period. I'm paying 6300 and have been on touch with my surgeons from the get-go. I'm also vlogging my entire experience at YouTube.com/shesstrangelynormal. Ultimately, if u wanna stand in line all day like cattle being tagged, go with someone else and pay 4500-5000. That's not for me. Ugh

I just wanted understanding of how to have a man understand at 11pm when ur friend is with friends and their kids are gone and my kids are tired a d asleep didn't need to be drove 30mins to hand deliver tickets when he was driving by our house this morning. He said he didn't want to get up to give them to him. I just don't understand how when he's been sick this entire week I've took great care of him. But I get sick vomit get attitude bc I'm walking slow and then told I don't like his friends bc I just wanted ro cone home a d lay down. Sorry I just wanted to be vent bc my feelings where hurt when I do so much fo someone I'm treated like that. That's all.

Hello everyone my name is Ellie and I am about to get a sleeve on September 29! This was all very sudden and unexpected unlike some folks who have researched this for many years and gone through a long qualifying process, I have stumbled onto this procedure through a very roundabout way and in a matter of weeks I was approved. I am 37 years old and I weigh 270lbs at 5.8", I am hypothyroidic, I have sleep apnea and I'm prediabetic at this time. A Little history: In 2007 I weighed 273 pounds! I had mild sleep apnea but aside from that I was relatively healthy. I had the Lap band procedure done mostly because I did not like the way I looked. But the band yielded very little results, despite 13 fills and unfills to adjust, I never achieved an ideal restriction and was always hungry the weight that I did lose was because I was starving and working out and then I plateaued at about 245 pounds. Then I got pregnant in 2009 I decided to take all liquid out of the band (complete unfill) so that I could eat tons of vegetables and fruits. Funnily enough during the pregnancy and the one that followed I actually lost weight!? I guess something to do with the baby and the restriction I felt because the baby was pushing against the the band. At birth I was 214lbs. But as soon as my children came out in 2010 and 2013, even as I breast-fed, I was completely ravenous and the pounds returned at an alarming rate. So I have found myself right back to where I started at 270 pounds. Only this time mother nature has not been so kind... I am prediabetic and my sleep apnea has returned with a vengeance! On a day to day bases I ache and hurt like an old rickety roller coaster! I feel like I am walking through Jell-O all the time everything has just slowed down. Even so, being busy with a three-year-old and a five-year-old and being a full-time working mom I put myself in last place and have not focused much on trying to lose the weight. It's basically been, whatever I need to do to make it to the next day! I have ignored the aching that my body feels on a day-to-day basis and how hard it has become living and getting around at this weight. I have ignored the emotional and social impact of my weight, or maybe ignored is not the best word, more like drowned out with more food. And I experience some of what most mothers will relate to, I don't want to be in pictures with my children because I feel like I ruin the pictures with my presence. But even all this did not bring me to a decision to refill my lapband or do anything about it until a few weeks ago... In unrelated events I twisted funnily and managed to cause harm to my port. I was in severe pain like having stitches after running but the pain never went away. So due to that event, I finally went back to see my bariatric surgeon and upon further examination I was told that my port had ripped out of my muscles and was now flipped. Great! It was then that my surgeon told me that my options were to repair the port and try the band again or do something different. He recommended I try the sleeve because if I was initially unsuccessful with the band chances of me being successful the second time around were slim to none. I had heard about the sleeve before but never really in-depth. I also have gallstones and have had two attacks which I feel is not enough to warrant surgery but my surgeons seem to think differently. They say the gallbladder wall has thickened and that it is a matter of if and not when I will need to have it removed I hate surgery I do terrible with general anesthesia it takes me hours and hours of tortured nauseated foggy horrible sickness and pain to come out of it. And there is nothing I want more than to avoid having to go through another surgery. However My surgeon sent me to other surgeon who specializes in lap band revision who said he could perform all three surgeries at one time!! He would take out the Lapband remove my gallbladder and perform the gastric sleeve. And we are close to maxing out our yearly insurance maximum out of pocket, so if approved these procedures will be completely at no cost to me!! If I have to go under the knife anyways, I reason, I might as well get as much stuff done at one time, so that I don't have to go under the knife several times. I have not had too much time to do research on the sleeve or get emotionally prepared for the journey ahead but I have spent the past few weeks ferociously researching and ferociously reading up on it and doing a lot of soul-searching realizing that given my Freewill to eat, I am killing myself by being morbidly obese. My doctor submitted the proposal for surgeries to my insurance and I prepared for a long wait. However a week later I found myself getting approved by my insurance and my doctors office saying September 29 is available so start your diet now!! WOA????? No time for food funerals, no time for that last binge, no time to take a cruise which I love to do because of all the deliciousness, and no time to deliberate too long. I do have an option of doing it at the next available date in November but that would be very close to holidays and who knows what other circumstances could arise to prevent me from having the surgery at that time. It seems like all the factors have aligned together perfectly... my job is willing to let me go for that period of time the surgery will cost me nothing I can do three in one surgeries and I can have it relatively soon so that I don't have an agonizing time to wait and stress about it. It's like it's now or never. Most reviews I've read have people saying they wish they had done it sooner. I have already started my pre-op diet which means I would've only been on it for 10 days versus 12 like most people. And unlike most people rather than being on full liquids I have been placed on a South Beach supercharged phase 1 diet that includes lean meats, low-fat dairy and vegetables. I am finally wrapping my brain around what is about to take place mentally emotionally and physically. I have stocked up on many things and thanks to all you wonderful sharing caring people that have taken time to share your journey I have had a chance to very quickly catch up on all the information that I will need to be successful. But I'm so scared and so nervous not even about the liquid diet following surgery , (although, my coworker who got the sleeve weeks ago says that she is hungry all the time), or anything like that but of the surgery itself of being under Anastasia, of the pain I will feel when I wake up, and I wonder if I will miss the stomach that God gave me with which I was born...I'm sure all these things have crossed your mind too. And because my Lapband failed I fear that if this procedure does not work for me and I shall be that one anomaly for whom this did not work, there is not much else to be done. And since this is so life altering and Permanent, I don't know where to go from there if it does not work out for me. I know...I know...not thoughts I should be thinking .., but I'm being candid and sharing from the deepest parts of my heart the secret fears that I have, I would never admit to anyone. Any words of encouragement advice, solidarity, anything will be so very much appreciated at this time! Like many of you my weight loss journey is a very personal and private one and I don't have much support from the few friends with whom I have shared this information. I am sorry this has been long, but the welcome letter encouraged that we share details about our experience and I hope that Sharing this much will give you a more in-depth insight into my personal journey struggles and fears. Sending you blessings and green lights, Ellie

Does anyone have the surgery codes for bc/bs? I have a friend who really needs them. Thanks! * I have UHC and have my codes... but I still need to lose about 75 more pounds before I consider those surgerys.

I also had my surgery in Oct of 2022 and I'm like dead center in the hair shedding phase and it's made me so sad bc i have always had really nice hair and I've lost so much 😭

Hi guys and gals, I'm a newbie and went to my first seminar 2 weeks ago. I was told I have to do the 6 month dr supervised diet/weigh in for bc/bs of AL. How long after your last weigh in does it take to get the approval letter? Thanks to all who respond!

Well this will be short out of frustration. When I weighed my self Wednesday I was sitting pretty at 188, when I did my official weigh in on Friday I was at 190.1, for a total weight loss of -1.5 this week compared to last Friday (and since I'm being 100% honest with myself I'm going with my Friday weigh in Number not the lowest number I saw during the week). NOT A HAPPY CAMPER. In fact I was so frustrated I waited until noon and re-weighed myself on Friday and still no change. I had to leave for a trip at 1pm on Friday and got so distracted I ended up running behind and running out of time to update my numbers or blog on here (hence why I'm updating today in stead of a couple of days ago). The only silver lining to my numbers going up and down so much in a few days is that I KNOW THE CULPRIT. I'm not regularly going to the bathroom. THe past 3 weeks I have been, suddenly something this last week changed and I haven't been able to go in about a week or more, and my body is obviously reacting. Things I'm doing to combat the situation: 1) Taking a probiotic EVERY DAY to get back on track. 2) I'm doing dissolvable miralax in my coffee every other day. 3) Taking a vitamin every day. Drinking water is not a problem, nor is working out. I've got those two things down solidly. But when your body isn't working properly there is no way your going to see effective weight loss. I even feel bloated right now. It's an icky terrible feeling of being desperate and wanting to shed the toxins out of your body with no idea when it is going to happen. Frustrating. I should be thankful I'm not in a full blown stall, BUT I workout soooo many hours a day, only seeing a -1 bs weight loss AND FEELING bloated is just a big fat NO GO. So I'm focusing on taking my medicine, hoping I get some regularity back and crossing my fingers this week is better than last week. Height: 5'9 Heighest Weight: 216 Current Weight: 190.1 (Total weight loss since surgery -25.9 lbs) 1st Goal Weight: 169 Sleeved: (8/17/2012): 216 lbs Week 1 (8/24): 204.8 (-11.2) Week 2 (8/31): 200.6 (-4.2) Week 3 (9/7): 196.8 (-3.8) Week 4 (9/14): 193.5 (-3.3) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 9/17/12- 1 Month Anniversary w/Pics Posted in Blog Week 5 (9/21): 191.6 (-1.9) Week 6 (9/28): 190.1 (-1.5)

I have wrote on here before about my marriage issues. I don't know where else to turn bc my friends and family want me to leave my husband A little background information, We are high school sweethearts that got reunited after my first marriage. He was the one that got away. But during that time he got addicted to marijuana. I always dabbled too, but it was more social for me. After a while, I started smoking 3, 4 times a day. My weight started going up and up. Finally I got it under control, but hubby has not My kids are now smelling it, it's causing major fights between us. Financially it's killing us too. My husband has left countless jobs, wrecked numerous cars and has a family history of alcohol ism and I see him going down that path too We fight constantly bc I keep trying to control everything, which then leads me exhausted mentally with my children. I feel my 11 year old gets the brunt of my lack of patience. I work 40 to 65 hours a week. I cook, clean, run all the errands while my husband sits back and does bare minimum. He is finally working in an amazing job, but surprise surprise he hates that too. He plans on leaving in a year when he gets called for another job. However, this job drugs tests. When I write this all out, I feel like the answer is to leave. Well have him leave. We have been going to therapy for over 4 years and he has made very little change. I don't know what to do. I feel so good about myself. I lost over 120lbs. I got my plastics too. Everything is great but my marriage. I gave him an ultimatum It's us or the drugs. But if it's not the pot then it will be alcohol. I just need help from other married folks. Should I get divorced again, should I try to make this work. I do love him but not all the drama he brings to the table. Thank u for letting me vent

my port is soo painful! It is still swollen, dr said it is normal bc it is sewn extra good to the muscle. Yuck!