CruiseGirl2011

I was banded in July of 2011 -- best thing that has ever happened to me!!! I have lost about 40 lbs thus far with the band (had previously lost 20 for a total of 60) and this is wonderful.

The weight comes off slowly for me (compared to others) and I am very happy with this. I am feeling better than ever and am very proud that I have succeeded at weight loss. My Dr., Scott Bovard is also so very proud of me and continues to tell me, the band is a tool, you are the one doing the work.

Any way, Merry Christmas, the gift of good health!

Wow, how great! He and his staff are awesome.

Just want to tell anyone considering surgery in Raleigh, NC that Scott Bovard is the best. He shoots from the hip and expects hard work from his patients, which he has gotten from me. I am down almost 30 lbs since surgery in July and could not be happier. He is the best!

Just want to tell anyone considering surgery in Raleigh, NC that Scott Bovard is the best. He shoots from the hip and expects hard work from his patients, which he has gotten from me. I am down almost 30 lbs since surgery in July and could not be happier. He is the best!

So very happy for you and hope to join you soon. I have gotten to where I only weigh at surgeons office and don't go back until sept 29, it is a long shot, but a girl can hope, can't she?????

Yeah!! Congratulations on your success!!! Thank you so much for sharing!

Thats the GYM at 5 am right? Sounds great and you are certainly motivated, I cant wait to get back into the gym to shed the pounds best of luck!!!

Yes, the GYM at 5 a.m., will post examples of recipes. But my WONDERFUL SURGEON pushes Bill Phillips "Eating for Life" book, which you can easily find on Amazon.com -- this is my whole regime -- so for example, dinner tonight is Yellow Fin tuna with cilantro, jalapeno, tomatoes, green peppers, lemon and lime.

Will post back more.

You are doing M A V AL I S !

Just be careful with the Gum. You might want to see how your surgeon feels about it.

If it's fine,,, then enjoy.

Sorry, meant GYM!!!

:woot:

Well, banded on 07/14 and am now down 19 lbs!!! I'm tired of messing with the ticker so will go with the old fashioned way. Just wanted to let you know what is working for me. Am getting close to Onderland!

I had my first fill on 08/15, which was 5 CC's -- the doc came in and said, you ready to turn this thing on??? Since I was down 14 since banding, that was very exciting. I can feel restriction and go back for a second fill in two weeks from that date which will be 08/29.

What do I do during the day?

Breakfast shake -- have fallen in love with Synthra vanilla Bean and Fuzzy Navel (Peach), I mix with ice, splenda, and benefiber, and fruit. I also have JD Robb's chocolate power, it is a light chocolate taste and wonderful. Why did it take me this long to figure this out??

snack -- either Greek Yogurt with fruit or cottage cheese with fruit or salsa

lunch -- lunch recipe from Eating for Life

Snack -- another Protein Shake, I will blend it all up without the Protein powder, don't mix until ready to drink

dinner -- dinner recipe from Eating for Life

How do I handle "cold things" during the day? I am extremely busy in my job, so I bought a cute cooler bag at Target, my actual bag is a bit larger that this: Snacks and lunch in and they stay cold all day, I go from floor to floor for meetings. I do have to travel some and on those days generally take a shaker bottle and Protein Powder and mix as needed.

I am going to the gum several (3 - 4) days a week, even am up there at 5 a.m., but I am succeeding!! Will keep you folks posted.

Hey there!! I have BCBS of North Carolina and I didn't have to do anything but prove 5 years of obesity in my medical history. It was considered as any other medical surgery. I do not know how Kansas is, but I would almost guarantee that it's covered. I am 28 and my BMI was over 40 as well. Hope it works out, you won't regret it!! Good luck

How long did your insurance cover fills? I am in NC and had my first fill today. I have lost 15.5 lbs in one month and am very happy!

I mostly "lurk" on these boards, but anyone that could suggest that this is easy is so terribly misinformed. I have fought the weight battle for years and finally feel that I will accomplish thIs because of my extreme effort. So ANYONE that thinks different is wrong. Please do not reply to me if you do not agree.

All positive folks, best wishes to you!

Banded on 07/14/2011

Down 16.5 lbs from pre-op diet

165 goal weight, 51.5 lbs to go!

I'm so glad to hear you're feeling good. I'm going out to eat tonight for the first time (PF Chang) and I'm nervous about it. I've already looked at the menu online and I know what I'm going to order I'm like you - I'm just not focused on the scale. Although it is nice to lose the weight when I do, I have to remind myself that it will not magically melt off every day. My main concern is getting good nutrition and being healthy. The pounds lost are just kind of a bonus at this point. I'm having fun with my blog. It is so nice to look back to when the journey started and to read my thoughts and things I've discovered along the way.

Amy

Can I ask what you got at PF Changs? I am going there next weekend and was wondering. Thought about wonton Soup? How did it go?

Keep these ideas coming until we can join you!

Banded Thursday (07/14) yesterday at 9 a.m. Weighed 222 yesterday morning. Left hospital at 2:20 and had still not been able to pee. Don't leave the hospital without doing this. Had to go back to urgent care last night for a cath. Had nothing but IV liquids and Water yesterday and weighed 228.5 this morning. There is still 6.5 lbs of Fluid in me and I am finally starting to pee but it is like I am learning how to.

I had low-fat yogurt for breakfast, (my dr. allows this) anf just had a sugar-free popsicle. Doc said I did great. The nurse anehesist said to me yesterday. Happy Birthday to a new life!!

Surgery tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. So very excited.

Day 13 of Pre-Op Diet and I have lost around 10 lbs!!! Being banded on 07/14 and cannot wait.

I'm sending positive vibes to everyone -- there has been some doubt and negtativity on the forum and I am trying to pump it up a notch!

I struggled with weight my whole life and am looking forward to have a tool that I carry with me everywhere to overcome this, who is with me??

I am going to a support group meeting tonight at my surgeon's office and am looking forward to that. He will ahve me on "Eating for Life" within 3 - 4 weeks of surgery and plan to be a model patient. Get it model!! Not like a real model, but a good patient. This is worth it.

Hey guys, sorry for my absence the last couple of days...I love this site but the administrators have got some serious login problems, seeing as how 3 of us in this thread alone couldn't log in. I finally got in using my username (not my display name or email address), if anyone else has the problem. I thought I was going to have to recreate my whole profile, which really p!ssed me off!

Welcome to our new members, Moe-Moe, Meerkat135, Erica Pizzi, Wanttobeskinny22, Banded Karebear, GinaJmm4...sorry if I forgot anyone. Here is our updated list:

No date yet: kychick1294, 30Something (JeVona), nickieredd79

June 27:pkjjm31049

June 30: Nechama L

July 1: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, Banded Karebear, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy)

July 5: AlyGurl (Aly), MassMom01527 (Steph), Allison0927, Harvest Farmer, wannabe21bmi (Kate), Kim from CT, blackmajyk, Xtinabrown13, Ecinaj, Wanttobeskinny22

July 6: lizzy21050, crash878905, Lorelei, Kimiky, Diana1980

July 7: nesportsfan, hokdo, songbird5769, Short and Chunky, LisaB68, pinktink, dare2bthin

July 11: dixiechick, honeybunny, Jessica43082, hlong1985, Breezybbyy

July 12: BandedApril (April), merlina, mfrancis

July 13: CurlyDiva, Tammy A, Lisa_MC, Ginasjmm4

July 14: crystalddm, BandItOrLoseIt, MassMommyRebecca, schmidty42, NewCruiseGirl2011, Denise'sjourney, Meerkat135

July 15: Shauna Deanne, Corize, JohnnyBoy, Labella624, Moe-Moe

July 18: Colee85, Bandmebaby!

July 19: Mrs. Schultz

July 21: NomersCat, Coco's mum, Rock4Light401

July 22: razzcat

July 25: cat lady, dropsizes (Mary)

July 26: Serifa

July 27: Healthy4Ever

July 28: Erica Pizzi

July 29: ButterflyM, PungosMama

Shauna

Shauna:

Glad to know it was not just me. I did; however, have to recreate my profile so am now NewCruiseGirl2011 (I added the New to the list above). Thanks for keeping this list up.

Being banded on 07/14 --5th day of Pre-op -- have hospital (anaestesia) and pre-op visits today and will post back. Looking forward to egg-drop Soup on week 2 post op!

Hi Everyone,

I was banded on friday, July 1st and was home the next day by 1:00. The pain was pretty bad the first day but has gotten a lot better since then. As for the gas pains... walk, walk, walk, it really does help. I am now on the liquid diet and feel pretty good. I'm actually not hungry.... FINALLY! LOL

To all you other July banders good luck. Here's to our "New Beginning".

^{_{I'm actually not hungry.... FINALLY! LOL}}

^{_{She said, I'm actually not hungry . . . . . such inspiration!!!}}

Got my pre-op appointment tomorrow! Ugh SOOOOOOOO many questions!!! I'm making a list of things to ask so I don't forget anything!

Will you share your list of questions? My pre-op appt is tomorrow at 1:00. Today is day 5 of pre-op and I am down a few lbs (3 to be exact), I am on Optifast and it is not too bad!!! I bought berry flavored Protein bullets and will get additional Protein Shakes from Walmart. I also have ordered my Vitamins that are chewable from WalMart, great prices and they ship to your door free.

To those who haven't gotten it yet, I highly recommend a book called Bandwagon by Jean McMillan...it's on Amazon.< /p>

Shauna

Shauna:

I ordered this the other day and should have it this week, can't wait!!!

NEWCruiseGirl2011

Hello all, CruiseGirl2011NOW NewCruiseGirl2011 due to login problems. Being banded on July 14. Look so forward to sharing stories with you all.

Welcome to our new members, Labella624, Diana1980 and Serifa!

Here is our list of members that were banded yesterday, July 1st: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy)

Let's keep out eye out for them and hope they come back and post soon! Thanks to those that have already posted how they are doing.

Here's our list:

No date yet: kychick1294, 30Something (JeVona), nickieredd79

June 27:pkjjm31049

June 30: Nechama L

July 1: jenjaw, nancy2011, amjcal, Tracy N, xlstan, Wendy Muehleisen, ahassan, KevinM, lifeisjustbeginning2011 (Amy)

July 5: AlyGurl (Aly), MassMom01527 (Steph), Allison0927, Harvest Farmer, wannabe21bmi (Kate), Kim from CT, blackmajyk, Xtinabrown13

July 6: lizzy21050, crash878905, Lorelei, Kimiky, Diana1980

July 7: nesportsfan, hokdo, songbird5769, Short and Chunky, LisaB68, pinktink, dare2bthin

July 11: dixiechick, honeybunny, Jessica43082, hlong1985, Breezybbyy

July 12: BandedApril (April), merlina

July 13: CurlyDiva, Tammy A, Lisa_MC

July 14: crystalddm, BandItOrLoseIt, MassMommyRebecca, schmidty42, CruiseGirl2011, Denise'sjourney

July 15: Shauna Deanne, Corize, JohnnyBoy, Labella624

July 18: Colee85, Bandmebaby!

July 19: Mrs. Schultz

July 21: NomersCat, Coco's mum, Rock4Light401

July 22: razzcat

July 25: cat lady, dropsizes (Mary)

July 26: Serifa

July 27: Healthy4Ever

July 29: ButterflyM, PungosMama

Shauna, you are such a great inspiration, day 3 of pre-op and doing well all things considered (14 day)

I felt so great when I made it on the list of July bandsters.

For all of you, I could not be more excited.

Ok, I need to vent...so if you don't want to read...please skip over my post.

Today has been awful...day four of my pre-op diet. That is enough to make the day crappy. Got to work, boss brings in Bagels and cream cheese. Then had three CPA's come in for an audit of our retirement plan. OMG...I wanted to kill them. Then someone orders pizzas for everyone for lunch. I'm sitting in my office and all I smell is sausage and cheese pizza. I really wanted to kill someone. Auditors take up so much of my time I missed my shake time by two hours....starving. Finally get my 2:30 shake at 5:30 (after being and 1.5 hours late on my second shake). Auditors finally leaving. Now I have to stay late to do the work I was suppose to do today, but didn't have time. So, 11.5 hours later and no lunch break...I finally make it home. All I want now is a piece of roast beef and to go to bed. Instead, I will probably have my last shake and go to bed.

I don't know if I can take 12 more days of this. UGH!!!!

Nighty-night July banders. Best of luck and well wishes to all tomorrow's banders!!! You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Ahhh, I had the same type of day yesterday which was day 1 of pre-op diet. Had one on the way to work, people came in from out of town, didn't get the second one until after noon, tied up in meetings, forgot to take the third one home with me, so didn't get 3rd until around 5. My neighbor (who doesn't know) CALLED AND INVITED ME TO MY FAVORITE pizza RESTAURANT. I declined, said I was too busy, and now she thinks I am mad at her.

I am committed to this, I (WE) can do anything!!!

Nechama, it is great to hear from you and I'm so glad you are doing so well!

Tammy and Aly, so sorry you had such bad days! I'll be on pre-op starting July 5th and will be joining you guys in the struggles. I feel lucky my doc is only making me do 10 days instead of his usual 14!

How is everyone else doing on their pre-ops?

Shauna

I am on day 2 of a 14 day pre-op, so am doing well. I started a journal and want it to be positive. My 34th anniversary is tomorrow and we have dinner planned at our favorite restaurant and I will go to that, That was planned prior to the surgery but will be very mindful of what I need to do. Have two 4th of July cook-outs (one on Sun and one on Mon), but am going with confidence to handle any situation. I have a spreadsheet-type project plan that outlines the weeks pre and post op and what it boils down to is that I can have "diet as tolerated" on August 20. (I count everything). What that means is that in a mere 50 days I will be there. 50 days is not even a drop in the bucket as to thousands of days I have been overweight! So, no sweat!!

Welcome to all our new members.

For those getting nervous or having cold feet, I made a list of reasons I'm doing it (and emailed it to my family). This really helps me when I wonder "What the hell am I doing!?". List is:

1. - My health is deteriorating rather quickly due to my weight. I am now pre-diabetic, have sky-high cholesterol and triglycerides, and fatty liver. I want to be around to see my grandkids!

2. - I took my son to Legoland and after 1 hour my feet, knees and ankles were killing me. I was in pain most of the day and couldn't enjoy myself. This has been going on for a decade.

3. - I spend 90% of my day thinking about my weight and how ugly I feel. This affects me in psychological and social ways that are hard to understand if you have never been obese.

4. - After losing 50 lbs. the year before last, I have put 30 lbs back on in the last year, and will probably gain another 30 this year if I don't get this done. This despite working out 4-6 times a week.

5. - This surgery is especially effective for over-eaters like me, who have problems with Portion Control.< /p>

6. - My weight has been a constant struggle for 25 of my 39 years now. It's time for something to change once and for all.

7. - While I could probably lose the weight myself, I'm clearly unable to KEEP it off, which is one of the benefits of the Lap Band. You keep it indefinitely, but is fully reversible if there are any problems.

8. - The surgery is done laproscopically so it is very minimally invasive. It leaves 3-4 tiny incisions.

You are getting me way too excited and rooting for you!! I start Pre-op diet in Thursday amid tremendous stress at work, thank God for my family support system.