Sooverit!

Hi Terry: Congratulations on your recent banding! Good for you! You sound like you are doing great. I see that your BMI is even lower than mine! (36) and your goal weight is 5 lbs less than mine but our ages are the same. How did you get approval for surgery? Was it difficult? Did insurance cover it? I bet you feel great with the 11lbs off. I haven't lost weight in ages..only gaining here since I turn 45 especiallY !

AS they say if we know our history well the chances of repeating it are less. I think if I find out WHY I overeat ...is it compulsive overeating, is it low blood sugar, is it a combination of a hundred things...:help: probably but to know sort of gives you a feeling of control. I am starting a program or doctor supervised diet that will give me reasons (which are mostly lables I know) why I over eat.

Dear Janine: If you don't mind, may I ask what your other Health complications were with your 36 BMI that gave you the green light from your insurance company? I* know it's a matter of time before I get Adult Onset Diabetes as it runs in my family. I wish I could do this on my own but I can't. I came back from a Japanese Restaurant with my family and felt so incredilby stuffed and for good reason we love to eat sushi like there's no tomorrow. My husband runs everyday tho and my son is only 18 and my daughter is 10 but could lose some weight. I fear my eating habits wore off on her. I hope I don't miss being able to eat like this! thanks for reading this far

Monica: I sent you a message and it vanished it was warm and fuzzy but now it's out in the universe some where! :rolleyes Maybe it's not posted yet? I just wanted to ask you as I forget in my last write, but do you exercise daily? I know when I walked with a combination of sprinting even not being banded my appetite for sweets/carbs went right down as soon as I stopped the ice cream cravings came back.

Dear Monica: I wish I knew how to post those cute faces I would give you one huge (as the universe) hug. You are not alone and so many people have eating disorders. I think the lap band is still a good idea because as you are learning to find the cure to your eating diorder at least you won't be gaining weight. When you have tackled this problem and you will tackle and conquer it you will have the band to prevent you from gaining weight after you lose. You know what happens after any weight loss without the band! Please keep us posted on your progress. You did NOT make a mistake. This is just the beginning of your path. Love from the universe!! hugs & XXX Mar

Dear BB: How are you now 4 months post banded? Are you able to eat solids? How much weight have you lost? Have you ever gotten a second fill? Hope you are feeling better. Marg

Hi Boo...I'm with you I have lost a lot of weight but gained more. With each gain I am more heartbroken and frustrated. All the effort I put in only to see it wasted. I love what one of your replyers said about putting in effort at the gym and the band help us to be assured it's not all in vain. I felt like that too so often ...I would work almost daily for months and months then get hurt or just get distracted and gain it all back very quickly. At least with this "aid" you are assured you have some control and will invest more into weight loss and health...at least I think I will ! I have a long road to go tho if I want to be covered by insurance (cigna). I need a 6 mo doctor supervised diet which I'm starting on monday...then which I'm thinking I will gain even more after the 6months and then finally...be qualified!! :faint:

Hi Candle: I have Cigna Insurance and Dr. Geiss' office was nice enough to refer me to HealthBridge in Syosset near the Hospital. I have an appointment with a Dr. Edelman. He has been written up in the media and on new programs for being the first to offer a program for the overweight & obese that tackles the problem from all angles...nutrition, physchological, excercise,etc...it sould be interesting. I would be shocked if they told me something I didn't know as I've been trying to lose weight deligently with diet and exercise for 10 yrs since my last pregnancy...and of course the same old down 20 up 25 down 25 up 30 ...you konw the deal I know. My BMI is on the lower side and I am not on meds but I feel if I have this 6 months under my belt it's like insurance for when I do go on meds...if at all. Best case sceniaro this place works and I don't need the lap band...but I'm not getting my hopes up ....again. Where are you going for your DSD?

Hi there, I live in Huntington, New York and have a consultation with Dr. Geiss in Syosett as well. With my insurance, I will need to be on a 6 month doctor supervised diet before being approved.

Hi Elizabeth are you still on this site? I see you posted last year at this time and your doctor was Dr. Geiss I have an appt. with them next week. Was wondering how your experience was and how are you doing now a year later. thanks so much Marg

Renebean: You are an inspiration. I loved reading about how you walk with an "energetic bouncy gait". I am so happy for you and your lighter body! Thank you!@ Marg

That doesn't sound slow to me at all! When you are the non banded your just happy to not gain weight this month!

Sounds like you were on a doctor supervised diet? I think it may mean more money for everyone if it's a structured program. I'm starting one next month!

America the Beautiful Words by Katharine Lee Bates, Melody by Samuel Ward MIDI sequencing provided by Melody Lane O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress A thoroughfare of freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law! O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife. Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine! O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for halcyon skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the enameled plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till souls wax fair as earth and air And music-hearted sea! O beautiful for pilgrims feet, Whose stem impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till paths be wrought through wilds of thought By pilgrim foot and knee! O beautiful for glory-tale Of liberating strife When once and twice, for man's avail Men lavished precious life! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till selfish gain no longer stain The banner of the free! O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till nobler men keep once again Thy whiter jubilee! O, say can you see by the dawn's early light |ye - through What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming? |by Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, |bright stars and broad stripes - O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? clouds of the And the rocket's red glare, The bomb bursting in air, |bombs Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O, say does that star spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, |On Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? |now conceals, now discloses Now it catches the gleam Of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: |on 'Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! And where is that band who so vauntingly swore |are the foes / are the hosts - That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, sweepingly A home and a country should leave us no more! Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. |This - his No refuge could save The hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! O, thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand |And - foemen Between their loved home and the war's desolation! |homes - war's Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, When our cause it is just, And this be our motto - "In God is our trust." And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave |O long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! The following stanza was written by George Spowers around 1824 in an attempt to redress the balance of the anti-British sentiment in Key's third verse. However, it was also considered to drag the National Anthem into unnecessary politics, and is rarely sung. But hush'd be that strain! They our Foes are no longer; Lo Britain the right hand of Friendship extends, And Albion's fair Isle we behold with affection The land of our Fathers - the land of our Friends! Long, long may we flourish, Columbia and Britain, In amity still may your children be found, And the Star-Spangled Banner and Red Cross together Wave free and triumphant the wide world around! Probably the best known additional stanza was written by Oliver-Wendell Holmes during the Civil War, and was intended to decry treasonable acts against the US flag. When our land is illumined with liberty's smile, If a foe from within strikes a blow at her glory, Down, down with the traitor that tries to defile The flag of the stars, and the page of her story! By the millions unchained, Who their birthright have gained We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained; And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, While the land of the free is the home of the brave. Last update: 22-Mar-00 ©1996-2004 Mike Todd

Thank you so much Kat for your thoughtful response. I know exactly what you mean by eating to sustain healthy life in contrast to the "other" way. When I am on a great diet and feeling the first 4 weeks of enthusium that is just how I feel, the way you do now all the time! Something happens tho to my mind and I just go off the deep end or "fall off the wagon". I see that the lap band prevents you from falling?

Wow good for you Lianna and great weight loss! Do you feel like a new person? You sound so clear about this and it helps me alot as I have almost the same amount of weight to get ride of as you did. One day I think this is exactly what I should do then the next day I think I'm being nuts. I think that if I had a health issue it would be a no brainer but thanks to your letter...it reaffirmed that it is only a matter of time before I cause as you said "permanant damage to my body" Thanks for the great response. Marg

Everyone's story sounds familar esp. Futurer. My parents were health freaks too and obsessed with weight. I was thin until I got preganant late in life. As far as emotional eating Wellbutrin works well for this type of eating. I tried it for 2 months and lost many inches but then it stopped working and I was back to compulsive overeating, as tho I was making up for the 2 months I had stopped. I know I need someone to keep me on track so I'm hiring a personal trainer who is also a friend well at least that's my thinking right now. Dr. Oz says we need a team of people to get us well ....or eating normally. That includes phychologists, friends, nutritionists, trainers, and sometimes pharmacutical. Who has the time or money for all of this...not me but I was willing to spend $20,000 on an out of pocket procedure with the Lap band. I think the lap band is the most healthy option in the long run. I am currenlty taking Phentermine and it is helping me a lot and exercize which I always overdo when I'm doing it. Both are not really healthy choices. I am convinced the lap band is probably the healthyist way to go but it's not available to everyone.

Currently the reasons are hormones and slowed down metablism after late age pregnancy combined with compulsive overeating and in born big appetite. Bad habits over the years and recreational eating as well.

She died from obesity complications.

Dear Jachut: Thanks for replying! I want to move to your beautiful country! You must feel great being so much healthier now? HOw long did it take you to lose 34 kg? I know I will be given a hard time here...we are backwards...you only get treated if you are sick if you are well you are ignored. Prevention is not subscribed to here which is so foolish ofcourse! My twin sis died last year in her sleep she was only 47 and obese. Iwonder if they will look at that? Thanks again !@ take care, Margs

I mean snacking!

Dear Eyespy: I am at the same stage as you are, and I have an appointment on the 20th of April with a Dr. Geiss here on L.I. Have you seen a doc yet? I have the same fears as you do. My biggest fear really, is that I will have huge withdrawal symptoms from food! That I have used food recreationally for so many years; as in snaking that I wonder if I will go through some pretty tough times during this period of life long abstinence. :-}

Hi Kat: Loved reading your post. One of the things that stood out for me is the fact that you eat only 1 cup of food at a sitting!!?! Yikes I can not even imagine eating that little at one time now. I am not banded and realizing my portion sizes are what got me obese in the first place. Did you go through any food or over eating withdrawal. I feel like food has always been a drug for me as well as I just was born with a large appetite! thanks Margs

Hi NYers: Haven't gotten the proceedure yet but I am in the seriously thinking and making appointment stage. Anyone out there at this stage? I haven't met with a doctor yet regarding the Lap Band. I am so fearful I will be turned away as my BMI is only 35 without complications. It's so funny that I have to be sick to be treated with this preventative proceedure that will prolong my life and keep me well!! I wonder if they would consider my twin sister who died in her sleep last year at age 37 of morbid obesity complications?:think Any thoughts any one? Marg

Hello everyone: Technology c a n help people, and this is one example. Not only is this surgery amazing but this site is in that it can help people cope with all the changes that must take place. How about the "lower" BMIers? I would love to know if the decision was more difficult and also more expensive if your insurance doesn't cover it. Has anyone had regrets? Are there any surgeons who will do the proceedure if you have a 35 BMI but NOT on meds yet? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Morgan