jetti

ugh...I hit my 1 year mark today and while I am happy with where I am at I still need to lose more. gotta keep going and keep pushing!!!

I would first suggest finding out if your insurance covers the surgery. Then research a doctor - or 2 - in your area. you can attend the info seminars held by the doctor and they are usually very helpful in telling you what needs to be done. My PCP really had nothing to do with me getting banded except that I had to see him every month for 6 months of doctor supervised diet required by my insurance. good luck

pickles, chocolate milk, peanut butter...just a few of my recent odd cravings!! so much better then the McDonalds, Doritos, soda cravings of the past!

michaele you are doing fabulous and im sure you will hit your Feb goal and your hubby will be sooo excited to see you! I use to listen to pandora at work and then they went and blocked the site so now I just download a bunch of my CDs and listen to those.

congrats on surviving!!!!

I started out going 3 days a week so that I didnt kill myself right away. I felt very self conscience at first but I stuck with it and kept pushing myself. I now go 4-5 days a week and would go more if my schedule would allow. I keep myself going back because I know I am work the effort and I found something I like to do. I mostly do classes - 2 or 3 a day at 45 mintues each - and over time I got more and more comfortable. I notice the difference in myself on what I am able to do but it feels great when others notice too. One of the instuctors/trainers will randomly give me a compliment and that keeps me going! I also go to an all female gym so I dont have to worry or think about the "hottie" in the corner staring at the chubby girl. Find something that you enjoy and it will be much easier to stick to it. good luck

riane I used Dr Bertha and loved him and the entire staff. they do performed surgeries out of St Peters in New Brunswick but that is as far south as they are. their office is located in North Jersey - Florham Park. I would recommend going to the seminar for all the doctors you are interested in and pick the one you feel most comfortable with. I went to 3 different seminars before I decided.

happy belated birthday Diane!!! Dont get so down on yourself!! I think we all hit a wall at some point and we dont know what else to do. this is the reason most of us got the band in the first place. The band works great but after awhile we get to comfortable with it and we know how to work around it. its very easy to work around it when you are not at your good restriction fill. at the beginning the band is new and I know I was afraid to break it. I still have that fear but I think we dont think as much about it as we did in the beginning. I read a thread the other day about this 5 day pouch test - or something like that - and it seems like a really good idea to get back on track with the bandster rules. I am definitely looking at trying it if when I weigh myself on thursday and im still stuck at the same spot. good luck to all of us on this rollercoaster ride that is life!!!

welcome to the NJ thread Megs!!!

not all insurances require the ultrasound and upper GI. I didnt have either one of those so it just depends on your insurance and sometime your doctors requirments. riane - have you gone to the seminar for your surgeon yet? most of the time they will tell you what they require and what is required by your insurance. Good luck to all of you on the journey to being banded...its was the best decision I made!

Im in north jersey but as michaele knows I am willing to travel to meet up. I work every other weekend but would love to do something on my day off. Jettibear78@aol.com

thanks Sherry!! It is hard going to the gym especially now that I am working the second job but I know that I wouldnt be where I am weight loss wise if I was going. And I love the fact that I actually have muscles in my arms and legs. I may even have ab muscles but the belly fat/skin is covering those. No need to get down on yourself!!! we all have our struggles and just have to keep working on getting past them...take it day by day that is all we can do.

in my opinion they are both great doctors and their entire office is very helpful! there is so much info on this thread but if you have any questions feel free to ask and i can try to help ease your nerves.

It was soooo worth it!!! I had been thinking about it for so long and I am glad I didnt wait any longer! I was a little nervous about my surgery but it really hit me when I was on the operating table and that is when I started to cry. My doctor and nurse helped me calm down and 3 minutes - at least it was 3 minutes in my mind - I was waking up in recovery on my way to being the same me but in a different package!!! best decision I ever made!

welcome to the board and good luck on your journey!!!

congrats on the 8 pounds Darcy maybe this is a good kick start for you!! On tuesday at the gym I was talking to one of the instructors/trainers that I really like. She is always very encouraging and when she tells me I look good I actually believe her. Well on tuesday she was telling me that I was looking good and I said the scale was not being nice - not going up but not going down - and she said well I can see that you are still losing inches and you are gaining muscle which will affect the scale. so now that is my story and im sticking to it :-) I am a little bummed about the scale but at the end of the day I am still really happy with my results so far. I have vowed not to weigh myself again until 11-6 which is my 1 year anniversay. I was weighing myself everyday a few times a day so it got out of control. also about 2 weeks ago I decided to revalutate what I am eating and I realized that I was snacking and picking way to much and not on good stuff like fruits but on chocolate and cookies and cakes. So for the last 2 weeks I have not snacked and quess what...IM STILL ALIVE!!!! and no I was not snacking because I was hungry but because I love sweets. when I was first banded I would treat myself every so often but for the past 2 months or so - since I got back from vacation - treating myself became a every day act. So fingers are crossed that the scale starts to be my friend again. I have my 1 year follow up on 11/19 and I will be happy and proud of myself no matter what the scale says its better then the 277 it said when I started this journey. sorry for yammering on and on its just one of those days :-) Oh and it feels so good to hear compliments from my parents and other family memebers. they never put me down before but to see and hear their reactions when they see me is just so encouraging especially when we tend to put ourselves down more often then not. Ok I am not yammering...for now

Im 5'8" and stated out at 277 wearing either 24 or 26 pants and 22/24 shirts and Im now down to 192 and wearing either 14 or 16 pants and L or XL shirts all out of the "normal" size sections. it feels very good not to be able to shop in good ol' lane bryant anymore!!! congrats to everyone on your weight and clothing size loss

the only advise that I can really offer is to use a heating pad for the gas pains - its really worked for me. Walking is also helpful for the gas...just walk around the house to keep yourself moving. and just remember that it will get better soon.

I am always up for a NJ meet up!!! I work every other weekend at my part time job but we can always figure something out

ugh it seems that weight is a problem for most of the ladies here on the NJ thread :-( mine is not going up but its not going down either I am stuck at 191-193 for the past few months. I know I did it to myself for a while because I was picking on the wrong things but I have finally gotten myself back together or at least I hope I am back. So hopefully the scale will be my friend next time I step on it. I know I will not hit my 1 year goal but I am still pretty happy with where I am at right now. I know I will hit that goal soon and then it will be time to set a new one. I go back for my 1 year follow up next month so I will ask my doctor what weight he thinks I should be at....we never discussed that. I am also going to ask him where my damn port is beause I still cant find it - not that I really search for it.

I am almost a year out and 86 pounds down and I still have no idea where my port is! I have not really went searching for it but I have felt around a little bit and cant feel anything. I go for my 1 year check up in a few weeks so I will be sure to ask my doctor where it is.

Michaele you look great!!!! Having met you before you had the surgery I can see the difference not only in your body but in the smile that is coming off your face! WAY TO GO!! :-)

Chat rooms???? there are chat rooms here??? wow you learn something new every day. I will have to search and check those out tomorrow when I am avoiding doing work :-)

good luck on finding another doctor...its always good to have one just in case you want to go for a check up, fill or if something doesnt seem right

hi!! please dont give up! 17lbs lost is better then 17lbs gained. have you tried talking to a nutritionist or keeping a journal of what you are eating? maybe you are not eating things that will keep you full longer and that is why you get hunger? sorry i dont have much advise but just keep strong and you can make it work