ProudGrammy

@Katie Hasen welcome to the group newbie it is hard to understand how a person is speaking/tone of voice thru a computer monitor. i KNOW that @Sosewsue61 was talking to you in a normal way/tone - she was giving good info - that's all - no ill will intent was said/or meant. With a few exceptions - all OP on this board are obese or morbidly obese - if they/we weren't considered obese - we wouldn't have needed/had WLS. most everyone on the board had/will have WLS for their health. diabetes, BP - orthopedic reasons. due to my weight i had each knee replaced because of my "small" LOL excess weight. As OP lose weight, they usually do look better - that's the icing on the cake from WLS. health comes first doctors are choosing to perform fewer and fewer lap bands. too many problems "might" happen in a short time - or one year + later. i think the lap band will become extinct in the near future. i believe the balloon is very new - not that many stats on outcome/long term success. you can't/shouldn't weigh too much for this WLS . this is a fact too. OP will drink a little alcohol when their doc approves. could be 3, 6, months, one year. all docs/NUTS will give different advice. so yes, you'll be allowed to drink. PO many peeps have different reactions to alcohol. it takes very little alcohol to make you feel tipsy!! i don't think there are any limitations with physical activities. walking, jogging, running jogging, football etc. getting dizzy, this would probably occur to anyone who overdoes activity. you will be told to drink at least 64oz water/liquids - and then eat protein (chicken, fish) etc. veggies are very important to eat. (some diets are diff. - advocating no carbs or.....) not sure what LOL ask your questions - read the boards - you'll see posts referring to something you wanted to also know. you also should explore the SEARCH button in top right hand corner. knowledge is power !! most everyone here is very nice, thoughtful with their responses et al - you might see a bad apple on the board - just go to another orchard good luck with your decision on WLS. we ARE here to help kathy

i also noticed that mainly pre-op OP attended the support group. (out of necessity for insurance) i wish there had been meetings for OP that were early post op+, would have been nice to learn more from speakers, or others that were more experienced WL patients. in other words - groups not beneficial to me/didn't attend (docs office did initiate) the groups) kathy

Unlike my friend @jenn1 and many others - i rarely exercise. the benefit for me as seasons change - i drink soooo much more water as the temp climbs high. i love spring & summer kathy

@jenn1 @Stella S @Julie norton @CowgirlJaneand yours truly @proudgrammy look at us, a bevy of beauties reminiscing from where we came it's amazing how far each and everyone of us have come julie and her successful lapband take the blue ribbon at 11 years PO here come jane & kathy - neck in neck at 6 years look at Stella run after 3 years jen coming up the rear approaching 2 years- getting an honorable mention look at all us go!!! we're aces!! all of us crossing the finish line wait, wait - there is more to follow - MAINTENANCE here we are! we all look as good as we feel, health and happiness are all they are cracked up to be. NOT all problems are fixed with weight loss/GOAL - but it sure helps facing life with "less" of us!! kathy ps any other VETS that see this, please hop aboard!

@hdbuttahz good thing to dislike eating preservatives they are no good/not healthy for anyone 25 lbs down!! that's marrrrrrvelous keep up the great job newbie kathy congrats

@Stephi7626 look at you in your LBD glad you are not hiding anymore behind your "foster grants" time to show yourself - when you got it, flaunt it! keep up the good job kathy congrats

@AnnieGreen why in the world are you surprised? i'm not i always knew you would make it to GOAL improved health, feeling and looking great too the "fun" keeps going thru maintenance. you've come this far, you'll do great you are aces!! kathy congrats

attention all lappers it must be hard hearing OP criticizing your band no disrespect to lappers personally - just expressing what we've heard about the band continued good luck to allll lappers, and everyone else!! kathy

@Sarahrosesb bummer about insurance issues causing surgery delay it's been a week since your update, any news from insurance? glad that you came to the wise conclusion to have sleeve instead of lap band. having time to go back and forth debating about WLS can be a bad thing. too much time to think and change your mind daily, even hour to hour! take a breath, flip a coin - kkkkkidding LOL i "vote" to have the surgery i was sleeved 6+ years ago - never looked back good luck with your decision kathy

@Creekimp13 happy to make your acquaintance nice to be able to match a pretty face with a name. great pic of you and family keep up the amazing job kathy congrats

@Myaiku_Kuraitani GOAL!!!! that's great!!!! terrific pic maintenance is tricky - but if anyone can be successful, it will be you you are aces!! good luck kathy congrats

@honeyedlife once in a while you might get a worm in an apple. disregard. throw it on the ground where it belongs. Most of this orchard is beautiful. - please stay on the boards. all of us started like you. Newbies trying to learn more about WLS, ask your questions - people will usually give good respectful answers. share their experiences, make suggestions - and tell you where to go!!! (referring to other board sites) LOL give us another chance - just like you - we're worth it!!! group hug, group hug!!!! kathy

@ladyj70 you/me should never "settle" on anything. you came to the wise conclusion that the sleeve is a good WLS solution for you. (NOT saying LB is bad, just saying IMO the sleeve is grrrreat) call the clinic back - they might be able to tell you how long it will take for approval. hopefully it won't take too long for the approval. "God Grant Me Patience, Just Hurry Up About It"!! LOL good luck kathy

@Danbug74 ice cream is a "slider" - it goes down the hatch easily. No problems. you are able to eat a lot without a prob. you won't get that "full feeling". Don't do it!!! Popcorn. potato chips, cookies, goodies etc.- your tummy can/does tolerate these foods easily. unfortunately these and other foods do not make it onto the hit parade. (or NUTS approval) LOL It would be great if high protein chicken/fish were sliders!! LOL - we can never have enough of those. don't "test" the water on any food. don't see how much food you can eat. too much of anything is no good. lllllong time ago - when i was a newbie - i went threw pantry/cupboards and tossed all the "bad" stuff, that way i wasn't tempted. also do the same with fridge and freezer (ice cream , hint, hint) congrats on your pre and post OP weight loss of 72 lbs!!! you are off to a terrific start. good luck kathy

@Chel1 woo hoo party dance keep up the good job kathy congrats

@Ashley RN hey bud - welcome to the group. rolling red carpet out for you. long road ahead of you, ups and downs, enjoy the ride- IMO - WLS is worth any prob or discomfort you might have. in other words "the end justifies the means" - close your eyes, take a "nap" while the docs give you a heads up on a new life. good luck - kathy

@melsabells BIG NSV weeding being overweight, it was difficult to bend up and down working in my garden. knees hurt, became out of breathe etc. as i was losing weight - weeds would "run" when they saw me coming. kathy

@melsabells hey Tex, that is one question i never thought to ask my doctor! not laughing at you, i'm laughing at with you!! you exert a lot of energy with a push mower. don't think you would/could do that for a while. check with doc when the earliest you could mow lawn would be - don't mow til your new little tummy is fully healed, and you are not feeling/tired/weak.- you don't want to hurt yourself good luck with sleeve WLS next week speedy recovery kathy

@SleeveinIL short and sweet answer - maybe/sometimes 6 years ago when i had my sleeve, my primary (Medicare) wasn't paying for the WLS the sleeve. they said it was experimental. That was IT, period, end of sentence. - (btw - sleeve is now covered by medicare!!) i had many phone "discussions" with BCBS (2nd ins. from my office) about them allowing (paying) for my WLS. in the end - sleeve was covered and paid for completely - hospital too!! if you are told NO the first time - don't give up, try, try again!!! good luck kathy

@OmaJ hi tex!! you are 4" 10' - losing 50 lbs - you probably feel 10" tall!! keep up the great job good luck kathy

@dreamangel1974 i think the good news outWEIGHS the bad news sorry about having to go to ER, dealing with problem - now getting heads up to sleeveland and pre-op. not knowing all the facts, this situation HOPEFULLY/PROBABLY won't effect WLS. good luck - kathy

@Ken S. testing 1... 2... 3... 4... This is her resident technical support rep. Underpaid, Overworked, In other words, DH. you get the idea... I think we have her back on as proudgrammy with no space. We'll see what happens when this is saved. Tom

@frust8 @ROFLMAO i didn't recognized you!!! did you do something different to your hair?? Looks nice what's in a name either way - who luvs ya baby?!! kathy

@frust8 dude/dudette glad you are glad to be back - i'm glad to see and welcome you kathy