Swan56

So awesome that your husband is willing to help as well! Mine has been a little grumpy with the lack of intake but I think he'll be okay...

Thanks for the luck tntbelt! I definately have needed it the first few days but it's getting better. Tomorrow may be VERY rough though - I promised the kids I'd bake sugar cookies so they could decorate them for their teachers. The smells right out of the oven will be ridiculous but luckily cookies was never really my weakness anyway - I'll be fine ...

Thank you Cunner! I'm glad to hear that your wife has agreed to do more in the kitchen to help you (especially with temptations). That seems to be the hardest time for me - while my husband cooked for the kids it was still hard seeing it when i was STARVING! LOL I read all these posts about people being so hungry on the preop diet and thought to myself, "I should be good, I don't eat a lot to begin with..." boy was i wrong. But when people say, it gets better - it does. I'm sure you're right about peak "suck" right now... but tomorrow will be better. It's gotten better for me atleast. I guess the good thing for me, my kids aren't mine biologically - I have two stepsons and they're with their mom the week before Christmas. So we only have them a few days this week and then get them back Christmas Eve - so it's not tempting to want to eat what they're eating. I HATE when they're gone but at least it'll be a little easier on me foodwise. Good luck on your journey! Keep in touch and let me know how you do

Hi everyone! Was invited to join you by Indiogirl55 when searching for a mentor. I am fairly new here (11/23) and haven't officially started my journey yet. I start my preop today, have all my tests done on Wednesday, and am scheduled to be banded on 12/27. I'm pretty excited and very much mentally prepared for the preop (of course it doesn't hurt that my husband volunteered to basically follow it with me ). I'm 29 - will be 30 tomorrow. I've been heavy as long as I can remember. I'm the "healthy fat girl" if that even makes sense. But it's not hard to be "healthy" when you're young. It's this excess weight that could kill me though in the long run. I have an excellent support group - but am dreading breaching the subject with the dad again. He is basically against ALL surgeries. I have to though, before surgery. I think he deserves to know. Anyway, wanted to tell you a little about me. I look forward to getting to know you guys and your stories

Congratulations on your success!

Hey - insurance required me to lose 10% of weight from my heaviest documented weight. Luckily I didn't have to be weighed in ever week. My heaviest weight was in March of this year when I took part in a "Biggest Loser" program at work. Luckily my team decided to Water load right before we weighed in so I was actually heavier than my real heaviest weight. Yep - kind of cheating but that was before I knew I'd be doing this and it actually helped me here. Granted - you can only hold so much water before you feel like you're going to explode!

So today is the day I start my preop diet. It seems pretty typical - from what I've read. I'm mentally prepared for it but since I work this jacked up shift - I had my last normal meal just before midnight. I didn't go wild - it consisted or a turkey with provolone on wheat, strawberry greek yogurt, and a banana. I will have a protien shake in a few hours and then it'll be my bedtime a few hours following that. I'm actually pretty excited. I can't believe I'm only two weeks away. Luckily I have an amazingly supportive husband who is doing most the preop diet with me. <Yes ladies, I realize how blessed I am with this!> Just hoping I don't hit too many road blocks (and cravings). Having my big 30th birthday party this Saturday - so I'm a little nervous about that. But i have told my closest friends so they will ward off the evil doers LOL Any advice?

WOOHOO for your big day - but I really wish I hadn't read this post LOL. I know you already told me it was bad but...

I haven't heard anyone say this before but I couldn't agree more. Everyone says - LB is a tool, you must work with it, etc. But allowing yourself to change mentally before you go through the change physically could really give you a one up. I start my preop diet today (12/13) - the day before my birthday. I will be on it during Christmas too. I am mentally prepared to go without because I know the reward that is coming. I kept telling myself that I was going to have this big meal and a birthday desert on 12/12 and then I caught a stomach bug on 12/11. I'm actually glad I did (although I hate feeling like poo). I don't need that big meal or that birthday desert. I'm changing my life. I'm going to enjoy so many more (birthdays) because I'm committing to this. Congratulations on your success! I will be joining your ranks soon

I haven't been banded yet, so this isn't from experience, but judging from other similar topics - everyone has said use Niacin. I think they said that helped and it only lasted a few months. Good luck!

Aww thank you! And congratulations on your success so far! I start my preop Monday. I think I'm mentally prepared for it but know I will still have struggles. I'm going out to eat for my birthday tomorrow (it's Tuesday) so hopefully that'll help the no cravings thing. We will see.

Hello Blair and welcome to LBT! I'm due to be banded on 12/27 and am really excited! I'm glad you found this website too and hope it helps!

Do they require it? My insurance (BCBS of TN) won't pay for it until the surgery is approved. So basically I had to pay the $225 out of pocket and they will reimburse me now that the surgery is approved. You may want to check into that...

THANK YOU! I actually don't go in for my testing until next Wednesday (12/15) but I'll be starting the preop on Monday (12/13). What day is your surgery? And yes, we will keep in touch and help each other through. It's going to be an emotional life change and we're going to need all the support we can get

I totallly agree - this site is so helpful! Have you checked out any of the member pictures in the Gallery? It's really great to see the before and afters... so encouraging. Good luck with your insurance stuff! I hope the letter is enough...

I'm being banded on 12/27 too I asked that the preop diet be emailed to me since I have to start that on December 13 and my appointment isn't until December 15. The first week is 2 protien shakes (no more than 200 calories and atleast 15g of protien) and one meal. They gave a list of frozen meals that are acceptable or 4 oz lean protien (fish, chicken, turkey, ham) and 1/2 cup of veggies. Then the second week is 4 protien shakes. I can supplement both weeks with sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicles, and broth (beef, chicken, or veggie). And I have to drink at least 64 oz of Water a day. I don't know if yours will be the same or not but that's what my guidelines are. Hope it helps!

Hey! I know how frustrating insurance companies can be... they have hoops and hirdles and all kinds of road blocks. From what I have read (and i don't have any experience with Cigna or Tricare) most insurance companies are pretty good at approval first go round. And if you are denied - they have to give you a reason and then you can appeal it. So you wouldn't have to start all over - just get the information they are lacking to approve you. I wish you luck! TRY to be patient ... i know I wasn't so good at that part

Hello and welcome! Sorry to hear about the nasty turn of events that have caused your disability and weight gain. My husband suffered a severe work injury four years ago that has left him disabled. I understand the toll that can have on someone, both physically and emotionally. I wish you luck in your journey. I'm sure March will be hear before any of us even know it. I am due to be banded on December 27.

lol - i bet that got his attention!

I didn't have to do the 3 months diet but I was required to lose 10% of my weight before surgery. So I guess it could be better or worse - depending on how successful the diet is for each person... lol Either way - just glad I got approvod. Congratulations your date! It's great to know next summer we will be more comfortable in cute summer clothes (and a bathing suit).

So excited you were approved today! And are having surgery on my birthday nonetheless lol. I'll have to tell Dr. Spaw wednesday when I see him that I have "met" one of his patients. I'm so excited! I watched a few of her videos - they are really good. I don't know what I have the nerve to do the youtube thing but i know it is encouraging for me. Maybe I should - to be encouraging to someone else.... a thought.

Well it's official - i am a December Bandster! Got my call today and my tentative date is now set - 12/27. I'm super excited! I'm sure the nervousness will kick in soon as well - lol

I can totally understand the emotional aspects of the journey. At my psych visit, the psychologist told me that previous experiences in my life could come flooding back again. That my weight could have (and more than likely was) a defense mechanism. Losing that would be like opening myself up all over again. Having a degree in psychology helps me to understand that part. I know I'll have to deal with the emotional part throughout the weightloss to be successful. One day at a time, one obsticle at a time, we will get through this! Congrats on your success and your six month anniversary! Does anyone treat you differently?

I have BCBS - but it's not federal.. a local government plan. I was approved in 11 business days. Granted it was also during the thanksgiving holiday. I've been happy with BCBS but I have heard good things about Cigna as well. Good luck!

My appointment went really well too. I was required (by insurance) to do two different bubble tests - around 550 questions in all. The psychologist basically went over those tests with me made sure I had an understand of the process. He told me I was good at putting my game face on and pretending everything was okay when deep down things were bothering me. That my defense mechanisms have given me a strong spirit. He also warned that my weight loss could change relationships and bring back memories (abuse). Weight is a defense mechanism in abused children and he said if I wasn't fully aware of the situations that it could come back to haunt me. My advice - be honest, be true... facing your issues will help you in the long run.