musicalmomma

I know...the schpeal about 1-2lbs loss per week is expected with the band and is healthiest.

However, when I exercise and eat right, I lose 3+ pounds per week. Now I KNOW once I lose a significant amount of weight and get less and less obese, I should expect the 1-2lbs per week. But shouldn't a morbidly obese person (as I was at the start) expect to lose more than 1-2lbs per week, when eating right and exercising? Is it unhealthy for me to lose 3+ per week @ 237 pounds even though I'm eating enough, eating healthy and exercising? I just don't think it is unhealthy. If I were to still lose this quickly after I reach onderland, I could see reason for concern, but now?

Thoughts?

I also say go for it now...for all of the above reasons. BUT only you really know if you can handle following the post-op diet during the holidays. Do you know what your post op diet will be? If not, ask the office what it is, then make an educated decision.

Hi Angelica. I feel your frustration. You're probably not getting straight answers, because they probably don't have any to give you. The whole insurance approval process is like a big ball of twine...ya can't see the beginning of the ending, but you know it's all in there somewhere and once it's straightend out, it can tie things...lame analogy I know, but...Each insurance company handles things so differently and as soon as the office staff thinks they have it nailed down, something changes or pops up on them that they still need to do. It just isn't black and white. And that stinks!!! Believe me many of us were exactly where you are right now, but it's now a distant memory and the band is doing it's job. Hang in there...it only SEEMS like an eternity. And like Losingjusme said, call the insurance company and ask them where things stand right now. Hopefully they can give you an idea or time frame.

Wow MM!! You look GREAT!!

Awwww....thank you :car:

Question: I am graduating with my masters in december and for graduation my parents are going to get me some exercise equipment since there isn't a gym with childcare around my house. I have an elliptical but I need something else that I can work out on. I was thinking a bike... Also any suggestions for weight lifting? I'm only a little over 4 weeks out so I can't do anything right now and I am not strong to start off with. I want to focus on my arms and abs.

Congratz on earning your masters!!!!! Way to go!!!

Exercise equipment...Hmmm...that's a good question. I guess it depends on what you think you would enjoy working out on. I really don't like working out at home...guess cuz I've been a stay at home mom for so long that I NEED to get out LOL! But...I LOVE riding my bike, so you may enjoy a stationary bike. I don't know how many children you have or how old, but if you only have one or two and their small, you COULD get a comfort bike (I have a raliegh and love it) and a kiddie trailer. Kids LOVE IT! Would they spring for a Bow Flex? That would REALLY work your arms and abs!! Just some thoughts.

Well, I changed my goal...I've been afraid to change if for fear of not reaching it, but afraid NOT to change it for fear of giving myself an "out" on exercise once I reach my goal. Funny how my mind works! But, I've changed it and will do my best to reach it!

Name…………Goal in Minutes…Completed…..To Go

MM………………1000 …………..653…………..347

Captain Danbo……1800………..…445………….1345

Sweetie…………...1000…………...535…………..465

huntersmom……….540.…………...130.………......410

Stephanie42767…..2000………...…955…………..1045

brandotti01..………400…………….120…………...280

Suzzzie……………800……………..0…………….800

toniteach…………..450……………..0…………….450

Gosh I hope I didn't mess up chart...thanks lessnless for cleaning it up :car:

Name....Challenge start wgt....current wgt.....chall. goal.....To go

Huntersmom...... 174.............. 172........... 159...... ..... 13

SWEETY.......... 202.............. 200........... 180............ 20

MJsafari........ 268.............. 268........... 238............ 30

captdanbo....... 211.............. 211........... 185............ 26

PaulaD.......... 216.............. 216........... 199............ 17

Stefanie42467... 206.............. 206........... 175............ 31

Suzzzie. ....... 346.............. 346........... 315............ 31

glindab......... 277.............. 277........... 250............ 27

MM.............. 242.............. 237.4........... 218............ 19.4

finallythin..... 254.............. 254........... 225............ 29

BeckieT......... 259.............. 259........... 239............ 20

Miscontext...... 303.............. 303........... 275............ 28

ja9va........... 207.............. 207........... 182............ 25

wombat712....... 180.............. 179........... 165............ 14

Texasmom5573.... 252.............. 252........... 230............ 22

Waters.......... 214.............. 213........... 190............ 24

lessnless....... 206.............. 199........... 179............ 20

OK...I think I got this figured out...at least I hope.

The pic of me sitting on the couch was this past christmas, 285-ish.

The pic of me standing is tonight.

I also have Anthem BC/BS (of WI). When I first called the insurance phone #, they also told me WLS was excluded. When I talked to the HR benefits dept, they said it WAS covered because they paid for the WLS rider.

I'd advise contacting your benefits dept in HR before going any further. You may be covered, but the person answering the phone is spouting off generalities. If it's not covered, there are other ways...loan, 2nd job, Mexico (combination of all three).

Best of luck to you.

Musical I'm sure ppl are starting to notice since your jeans are falling off!! LOL Sorry I couldn't resist!

Yeah, and these granny panties aren't too flattering either!

Keep up the good work everyone!!!

Name…………Goal in Minutes…Completed…..To Go

MM………………..750 …………..517…………..223

Captain Danbo……1800………..…445………….1345

Sweetie…………...1000…………...480…………..520

huntersmom……….540.…………...100.………......440

Stephanie42767…..2000………...…640…………..1360

brandotti01..………400…………….25…………...375

Suzzzie……………800……………..0…………….800

toniteach…………..450……………..0…………….450

Yep, I'm in the same boat. I recently dropped ten pounds over about two weeks and for the last week...NOTHING!!!

I think our bodies need to adjust and the loss stops for a brief time...then BAM there goes another 2-4 pounds! I sure hope my scale moves soon before I go mental! lol

I'm afraid I won't be able to eat popcorn. I will really miss it....

Actually, popcorn goes down too smoothly for MANY. I know I can eat LOADS of it. So I stay away from it for the most part. I have had it twice since surgery and boy oh boy did it go down smoooooth.

Don't know if that helps or not :eek:

you are right, the band is a tool. if people use it properly (eat right and exercise) then it works better for them.

if people are sucking down milkshakes and whatnot, then they wont lose weight.

i am not saying that we have lots of people here doing that, but i've seen it happen. you have to use your band as it was designed - as a tool.

yes, it sucks "dieting" at times and it really sucks getting up at 4:20am to go work my @$$ off, but it is working.

:clap2: Sooooo true!!! :clap2:

It's a GREAT tool...and I DO rely on its restriction...BUT there is no way on earth I'm going to rely on it to get me past head hunger and cravings. That's all up to me. So, yes, there is a lot of head work, eating right, and exercise that must contribute to my weight loss.

I am SO thankful that I can't clean my plate any more and I can't have seconds. That is all thanks to the band! But I am the one that isn't eating tubs of ice cream...I am the one that isn't having bags upon bags of chips...I am the one that's not demolishing boxes of Cookies...I am the one that hasn't seen an empty candy bar wrapper in months...I am the one getting up at 4:30am to swim at the Y...I am the one riding my bike...That's ALL me :eek: And that's why I SHARE the credit for my loss with my buddy, the band :clap:

Whoooops...I checked the wrong one...I should have checked 1-2cc's with some. I accidentally checked 1cc with some.

I have 1.3cc's, some restriction, unhappy at my weightloss rate...but to be fair...I'd only be happy if I were dropping 5lbs per week!! haha! I'm actually on schedule for loss, but I'd like it to be faster.

I personally don't mind my close friends or family inquiring...because I know they love me and support me...BUT...

Last weekend, I went to a wedding (my close friend's brother). We drove 4.5 hours to get there (mainly to see my friend who I hadn't seen in over a year). Well, the next day, my friend's dad and his new-ish wife, invited us to go out on his yacht for the day. So, of course DH and I jumped at the opportunity. His wife, who I met for the FIRST TIME, and NEVER told that DH and I had surgery...was commenting all day with crap like "Oh you can only eat a teaspoon at a time" and "We should go 'here' to eat, they have a salad bar with cottage cheese, so you guys can eat". I finally looked at her and said politely, I can eat anything you can eat, just less of it. That finally shut the biotch up! My friend was SO embarrassed and apologized for telling them about it. She told them because SHE is having WLS next month and brought us up in her discussion with her dad.

Some people have NO cuthe!

I've read this post a few times and just can't get past the feeling that the surgeon is full of sh*t.

Have you contacted your insurance company? If not, call them and tell them to send you the portion of your policy that contains weight loss (or bariatric) surgery criteria.

It just seems weird to me, for a surgeon, to be so well versed in your particular insurance. My surgeon doesn't know one insurance from another, and I've never had a doc that knew anything about coverage...they all left that up to their office staff. Unfortunately, there are surgeons that are only after the big bucks and RNY is twice the money (or more) than LB. Also, many surgeons aren't too comfortable with LB yet.

So, after you get the criteria from your insurance, in black and white. Take that with you to other consultations/seminars. Remember, your relationship with your surgeon will be for years to come and you want to be comfortable with him/her.

Best of luck to you :eek:

I get hiccups too...but only 3! Weird!

I've been banded since 6/1/07 and there's nothing I CAN'T eat, as long as I take small bites and chew, chew, chew.

Suzzzie & Stef...Although it sucks to be stuck, at least we're not alone. AND the scale HAS TO move eventually...heck, my jeans are FALLING OFF!!! :eek: People are starting to notice, so that's nice too :clap:

Gosh...I feel STUCK! I'm swimming EVERY DAY for at LEAST an hour (except Sunday). I'm eating well. I just wish the weight would start to drop already!!!! Grrrrrrrrrr

I think I may increase my goal. I have been looking for a job and thought it might be hard to get in exercise once I start, so I was conservative with my estimate. I found a job that fits perfectly into my schedule so as I get closer to 750 minutes, I may add some more time...we shall see!

Good job everyone! Keep up the good work

Name…………Goal in Minutes…Completed…..To Go

MM………………..750 …………..392…………..358

Captain Danbo……1800………..…445………….1345

Sweetie…………...1000…………...237…………..763

huntersmom……….540.…………...100.………......440

Stephanie42767…..2000………...…400…………..1600

brandotti01..………400…………….25…………...375

Suzzzie……………800……………..0…………….800

toniteach…………..450……………..0…………….450

Way to go Ed!!!! That's fantastic!! You must feel like a million bucks!

My opinion is the question has nothing to do with the band, per se, so it's really your decision! Meaning, it's empty calories, but there's nothing about being banded that changes your choice whether the benefits of alcohol outweigh the calories. You can absolutely still have it and since you're cutting your cals from food, still lose weight. You'd just lose faster without it, which would be true without the band as well (again b/c empty cals).

But if you want to have it, it's completely your choice! You may find that you want it ndow, but you get kind of addicted to losing weight and that the payoff of losing weight faster will, at some point, outweigh your desire for those calories.

Good luck. You're going to do fine.

:clap2: VERY well put!

Julie...you're only 13 pounds from goal????? WHOOO HOOO!!!! You go girl???? Have some b4 & after pics???

Are you taking TINY bites? Are you chewing to a fine paste? And yes, bread can cause you to get stuck.

This was a HARD lesson for me to learn. It took me almost three months to finally give in and realize that I HAD to eat MUCH slower, take MUCH smaller bites, and chew MUCH longer. It's a tough transition...but it's worth it

Ok so my band holds 10ccs, I just had my 2nd fill and my band has 6 ccs in it. In the next 2 fills I will get 1 cc each for a total of 8 ccs, all they have left is 2 more ccs and my band will be filled to capacity. What is going to happen as I loose weight? they can't fill it more than 10 ccs!

I had the same question...so I re-read the post after reading your question...here's the answer...at least I hope it answers your question

"Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater. It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill."