Crystal927

Mrs. CMK I just wanted to encourage you... Sounds like your spirits are lifted today...I know exactly how you feel...I have done zumba over the past two years or so and have the same horrible habit of "surveying" the other attendees and not wanting to be the "entertainment" for everyone cause afterall, I can't move like them, etc. I want to encourage you to keep your head held high and don't let the lies of the deceiver creep in and win! You are SUCH an inspiration and encouragement to the other ladies in that class, and other people outside of the class just by being there and doing your best! Keep up the hard work, you are inspiring others to do their best and not quit. Don't underestimate the power of the Father to shine His light SO brightly through even our greatest weaknesses!! (especially through our weakness and our tough times!) You've come so far! over 80 lbs thats amazing!!! You are loved just as you are, right where you are; you are a princess of the Most High King! Keep shining!! :-)

Hey! I'm waiting for approval from bcbs alabama right now...just mailed off everything a week ago...this is my first, and hopefully only, attempt for approval...will let you know what I find out! Best wishes!

Hey! I'm in bama too! They just submitted my paperwork to insurance this past monday...We had to do mine the snail mail way due to my lack of medical records the past 3 years....so they could take up to 30 days to respond...i'm hoping its sooner than that..but nonetheless i'm on my way!!! hoping to be a late january bandster!

you can order samples of several brands from www.mybariatricpantry.com My personal favorite is the Syntrax Matrix line :-) The "oh yeah" protein, ready to drink...was utterly disgusting though!

You should definitely check out the Syntrax Matrix line...They are fabulous!! haven't had a bad one yet! They have all kinds of flavors and to me they all tast like slightly melted milkshakes. I have the "blender bottle", there are no dissolving issues, and they do not taste powdery or have that funny protein aftertaste. When mixed with fat free milk they average about 32 g protein, 2 g carb :-) I was doing the "trial runs" as i'm still pre-op and wanted to find some that i liked, b/c like you, I don't like many of the shake options. I have found myself actually wanting these!! woohoo! I ordered mine from www.mybariatricpantry.com they actually have samples you can order so you don't sink money on something and then not like it :-) Good luck to you!!!

I started shopping for protein shakes now, while I'm on my 6 mth dr supervised diet. I tried many brands that leave that nasty taste...but I have found a gem...Syntrax Matrix...they have all kinds of flavors! The banana cream, strawberries n cream, milk chocolate, and mint chocolate are my favorites...its not at all like drinking protein, its more like having a treat! Mixed with 8 oz of fat free milk, it comes up to right at 200 calories, 32 g protein, 3 g carbs...I have found myself wanting to drink a protein shake now that i've found these! I ordered them and some other things to just try out from www.mybariatricpantry.com the people there are super friendly and they ship really fast. You can order samples as well...that way you don't have a cabinet full of gross protein that you spent a lot of money on. They also offer specials, so be sure to click on their "specials" tab for possible savings codes! Good luck!!

Hey all I am about a month away from being banded; I have my last 6 mo appt next week! (woohoo!) I have asked my dr about taking biotin and he said it would be a good idea to go ahead and start taking it now. I have super thick hair so I'm not really as worried as I would be if I had thin hair, but I am afraid of the hair loss factor (I've never been put to sleep so I have no idea how those meds are going to react in my system!) I too, read the reviews and people saying that it caused bad breakouts...I have acne prone skin even now as an adult, so I don't need any "help" breaking out...I had also read many people who said that taking biotin helped clear their skin, so I was hoping I would be one of those people. I've been taking (2 - 5,000 mcg) a day for almost a month now and I'm happy to report that I think I may be one of those people! My face has been clearer than it has been in a long time!

204 lbs in just one year?!?! thats FABULOUS! Great job, congrats!!!! I should be banded in Jan and I hope that I have great success like you have had! AH-Mazing!!! any tips??

You look spectacular!!! Congratulations and I can't wait to follow in those footsteps!!

Thats awesome! I'll be cheering her along! You have a splendid day as well

Lee, all I can say is thank you for sharing your sisters blog. I have been reading it for the past hour or so. All I can say is wow, God is good! I'm thankful for her and you and sharing your journeys so that those of us who are a few steps behind on similar adventures may find abundant amounts of encouragement in your stories! Thanks!

Can you send it to me too please? Crystal927@yahoo.com Thanks!!!

Candace! that's exciting!!! I'm right there with ya, just have one more appt to go in December. Then its all up to the insurance folks. I, like you, am very nervous that for whatever reason they will deny me. But I'm trying to be positive and just know that everything will fall into place! Good luck girl! keep us posted!

Good afternoon all! Has anyone had to go the route of sending in a letter from your primary care dr with pictures for the last three years versus the records for the last three years to show that you have indeed had the require BMI for that long?? I'm kind of in a pickle and am starting to panic. I am a little over one month away from being finished with my 6 month dr. supervised fitness/diet. My insurance also required documentation for the last 3 years. However, the last 3 years i've only been to the urgent care (who moved locations), another dr (office is closed now), and the orthopedic who didn't weigh me. The first two are really giving me a HARD time about sending my records over because they are in "storage". I'm starting to panic because I don't want this to hold me up. Its like, being "healthy" is now coming back to haunt me on the medical records front. If I can't get that documentation, my insurance will take a letter from my primary care physician along with photos from the last 3 years. I dont' really want to go this route because it takes alot longer to get approved, and my current primary care physician is new to me (just 5 months now) so I'm not sure if he can vouch for the last three years that he hasn't known me. ANY help is appreciated, hoping someone was in a similar situation and can put my mind at ease, almost in tears! I'm SO close!

Hey! I'm in mobile as well! who did your surgery??

Congratulations!! I can't wait to "officially" be in the banded losers club :-) Still got just over a month on my insurance required 6 month deal...SO excited!! Keep up the good work, and welcome!!

Thank you so much!!! Right now i'm just counting down the days! I have already cut out sodas - almost 5 months since my last swallow yay! If everything else were as easy to let go of as the sodas surprisingly were I'd be doing good! I've also started taking chewable vitamins everyday, and have tried several brands of protein shakes until I found some that I like, and have replaced breakfast with shakes everyday. So, was there anything that you wish you had known beforehand that you know now? My biggest anxiety comes in having never even had an IV or been put to sleep. I don't have a fear of needles or anything...just the unknown ya know? I fully trust the Dr as he's a family connection so I don't have to worry about his qualifications, trustworthiness, etc...I'm just a worrier! I get so excited reading your and everyone else's success stories! I have an idea of where Leeds is, I have a sister that lives in B'ham, she's in nursing school at UAB. So great to have finally come across people in alabama!

Oh wow!!! 30 lbs in just over a month! amazing! Hope i have similar results! I am in Mobile, and Dr. Ringold is going to be doing my surgery. So do you live in the B'ham area?

hey bamagirl...I'm in Alabama, haven't been banded yet, still got 2 months to go for insurance approval. Where are you in the process?

Hey!!! I am also in the process, still have 3 months left, looking forward to a mid-late January surgery date. I can't wait!!! It does seem far away at first but believe me, I can't believe that almost 5 months have already passed since I went the seminar and my first appointment!

Congratulations! thats amazing!!! I should be finished jumping through insurance hoops and be ready for surgery in January...and hearing that you were banded in Jan and here on Oct 1 are down 122 lbs just flat out excites me!!! Keep up the good work!!!

I wish it were tomorrow! Trying to make the most of all of these months though and shed some poundage before I go in...BUT still...I am impatient and ready lol

So I've got 4 months left in my 6 month supervised diet/fitness deal for insurance. I have already cut soda's completely...haven't had one drop since May 28! I am starting to dry new recipes that I believe will be band friendly, and have started trying various protein drinks to see which I like and which I don't so that I'm not having to do that all at the same time as the pre-op diet. So my question is, other than trying to drink less/nothing while eating and concetrating on chewing every bite very well...what are some other things that I can be doing that will make this transition easier when pre-op diet gets here and post op?? Some things maybe you wish someone had told you that you would've done differently going in to get yourself more prepared? Thanks for any ideas/help!

I am blessed, I am not on any medications! praise God! I have started taking vitamins...I got the chewable kind so that I will already be used to chewing up those chalky things! So I'm assuming any pain meds or anything they give you post op is liquid? or will i need a chopper for post op meds?

Wow, I've never heard of this before but I just looked it up, thats really awesome! I definitely will have to order me one! thats even better than my marked up bottles haha Thanks for the tip and continue to share if you think of anymore! When is your surgery?