bbbanded

I forget what I ate, but I cheated two days before my surgery and was fine. You'll be fine, just try to control the food intake for a while. Soon enough you'll be eating it again, in smaller portions of course. Good Luck!

I'm not sure if anyone has said so yet, but the Atkins Advantage shakes are veeeery good. I've had vanilla, which is better on the warmer side, strawberry which is not good at all, Caramel latte, that one is pretty good, good to have in the AM instead of coffee, its made with real coffee and actually tastes like a lite caramel latte, and the milk chocolate is the absolute best! I don't like chocolate drinks but it tastes like a chocolate milkshake, except not as thick. All shakes are 15g Protein and 1g sugar. So worth it!

The best part? That I want to celebrate by going to the gym, not eating a million course meal! Its been a long time, but I did it, which means I can do it, and anything else I put my mind to. I have never been so happy in my life, I have to take my nails off but thats the lest of my worries, I just, its a great feeling!

After 9 long months of having insurance change, and fussing with insurance yadda yadda, I got the call this morning that I was finally approved!!! Surgery for May 11 is a go! I can honestly say, Ive never been so excited in my life, for anything!

Thanks everyone! Just an update, I picked up the prescription this morning and it wasn't bad at all, I'm going to stick with what the Dr recommended

My primary doctor says I'm anemic, sigh. My nutritionist gave me liquid Iron, and the PM prescribed me iron tabs, not OTC. Here are the negatives: I don't eat meat, or well, I've been trying not to I haven't for a while, and I don't want to interfere. I've smelled the liquid iron, and I cannot bring myself to indulge. I don't really want to take the prescribed iron either. Does anyone know an alternative? I mean push comes to shove I'll take the pill because I need to be healthy, but I'd like to know if there is anything else I can do beforehand.

Officially down 20 lbs, and it seems like the whole world is noticing! This feels awsome, I'm 3 weeks away from surgery and excited as ever. Took a leave from the gym for a while but I'm in action. Two must be my lucky number haha, got a 2% raise at my job, not much, but its a part time job, and I'm in college, I'll take anything I can get! Anyway, I've been doing so well! Sad note, I got a dog a week ago, fell in love with her, and now shes back at the shelter It's ok shes in a good place. hmmm what else...Boyfriend , Franky that miserable pia, gotta love him. Blah I think thats all, Im working right now, or hardly anyway. Bye guys

I didn't see these comments before, thanks guys! MadisonPA, I think if you start now, before the surgery you'll have no problem at all. I can't tell you how many things I will not touch, that I once loved, because it's just not worth the calories! Good luck!!!

Baby got back + Me on the elliptical = Dynamic! Try it!

Lost 3 more lbs, two more months and then surgery! I used to have these "pockets" of fat under my boobs, I'm young I can say boobs, and they're gone!! My calves are getting toned, theres an indent in the side! My back is smoothing out! My face is slimming down! haha Sorry, just really excited. My skin is lightening and my cycle came by it self this month! I wanted french bread pizza today, two slices, saw it was 470 calories for one, said nope! had turkey bacon, an egg with egg whites, and weight watchers toast. I don't think I've ever felt so good!

I'm still fighting. They changed a few things though, they have me on a 1500 cal diet, with excersize 3 hours a week. All of that is simple no complaints, but I also have to document anything I eat. **insanely time consuming**. And I can't gain anything, I think I made a mistake losing 6 lbs two weeks ago though haha. MY new date is 5/11/12. Crossing my fingers!

Thats exactly what I said, but I won't complain because at the end of the day, they kind lose either way.

Part of the pre approval requirements was a psych eval, when I got denied one of their reasons was because the evaluation was border line. Now, I know it may make me sound crazy being bothered by it, but I mean come on! I was so offended, and slightly hurt.

Did 45 minutes on the elliptical today, non stop, back and forth between an 8 incline and a 4, and back and forth between 200 resistance and 60 aww yeah! 30 minutes on the treadmill, at a speed of 3 and a 5.0 incline And very reluctantly 30 minutes on the stationary bike, in hill mode. Yet no scale movement! sigh...I guess on the plus side, this morning in the shower, I noticed my calves have slimmed down substantially. I'm on my special yogurt and apple diet yet again, have to be less than 317 at appointment on friday! Feels like I'm getting discouraged!

One of the pharmacists at my job, same one that ridiculed me over my tattoos, asked what I was putting on my face, because it's apparently getting lighter. my answer? Nothing! I have something called Acanthosis Nigricans, something that has to do with my weight and my skin being whatever color, google it. But with weight loss it goes away. I'm going home VERY happy today, why did I wait so long to make this change? It feels great!!

When I did mine, I just so happened to have been taking a new medication, and I ended up resurfacing the only meal I had that day. But, I'm not sure if it was from the med or the endoscopy. Granted when my mom did hers, shes 36, she was fine the rest of the day. Eating is fine I believe. The most of it was how it went, one minute I was getting something put around my head to keep my mouth open, the next I was in a recovery room with cranberry juice and lorna doones. They don't let you leave until a nurse physically sees someone there to pick you up, they also have to sign something, then you go home. You can't drive. Thats about the most extensive part of it. Not bad at all.

Things are good! Although, every so often I get the idea I'm trying to lose weight for the wrong reason ( not health related, more for visual effect). But I like that I'm doing well for myself, I mean c'mon, how can I complain that I'm losing weight? So I'm at work today, and the day receptionist says to me "Tiana you look thinner, that diet is working!" Thanks barb! Then my dad comes do make sure I got to work alright, and he goes, what are you doing, losing weight in your face? Thanks dad! I never see it on me when I lose weight, I only go by the numbers I see on the scale. Blah and those dont move very much. But I'm down to 318 so I must be doing something right. Hoping the scale gives me good news again on friday! My boyfriend broke up with me, for reason I cant verify...whatever, but I'm using that as more motivation to lose weight and look good, he can see what he's missing out on . Anyway, I'm on a roll. I met these things called sweat, and resistance, we're pretty good friends. They know whats good for me! Less than 70 days til the next surgery attempt, I have a feeling they'll deny AGAIN but I'll keep trucking on, I'm doing alright thus far.

Thanks so much!

I have Omnicare PPO, which I guess is like an exclusive plan through my company.

apparently I lost 6 lbs in two weeks. 13 in a month. as much as I dont think its under the best circumstances ( on the days I go to the gym, oh yeah I joined a gym, I only eat yogurt apples and water) but thus far it's working for me. At the weigh in though. my nutritionist did not seem as happy as me probably because I shoooouldnt be losing so much if I want the surgery. Speaking of the surgery, I sooooomewhat think I under estimated myself in the sense that, I never really, FULLY tried to lose weight. Like yeah I had a gym membership last year, and I used it but I still ate the same way. Now I work out 3-4 times week AND I eat a lot more reasonably. Never felt so good about my health though, I've noticed that those little races I have with my siblings to the car, now I can keep up and by the time I get to the car Im not wheezing. Its a great feeling that I caant explain. I havent gotten around to running at the gym yet, but I do outside so I'll take that. Sprained my ankle back in September, starting to feel that again every so often. Oh aaaaand I spent 40 minutes on the bike, just 15 on the elliptical and 60 mins on the treadmill. Needless to say, I'm very proud of my success. a word from the experienced Make natural energy, I tried a red bull on top of a 5 hour energy, just doesnt work, dont do it.

After dissappointing ( pretty sure thats spelled wrong), news that my insurance denied my surgery I kinda fell off the band wagon. But got right back on, I determined if I could'nt get assistance I'd try AGAIN to do it myself. Then spoke to my health center again, and they started me on a 1500 cal, supervised diet with exercise 3-4 times a week, 2-3 miles w/ weigh ins bi weekly. I havent been doing my best on that either, but I get my tax return tomorrow, and I whole heartedly intend to renew my gym membership. I loved the gym and I love losing weight! ha So as of 2/7/11 I was 324.9. I think I'll take it! I think thats all.

No I feel ya, that's exactly what I thought! Like if I lose too much they'll think I can do it on my own. Eek that'd be bad!

Thanks sooo much, I actually prided myself onn the fact that I lost 3 lbs in a week, without the band!!

Called my surgery facility, surgery is def. cancelled for Friday, BUT I got a new date. The insurance wants 6 months supervised dieting with NOOO weight gain. I gained back in august, september, and october, but maintained from november through now, so I get to use Novembers documented meetings! Now I have to wait until April, which is fine, And the surgery is May 11th. I was down for a few days but I'm not the kind of person to stay that way, so I called and asked the question, yaaaaaay for being an adult!

Amerihealth is what I used to have so I know they covered it but I have Omnicare PPO now. I appreciate you looking it up . I think it may be state to state, because someone I know that works closely with the company actually advised me to file for it.