PrettyThick1

Mark...snap out of it! First of all, your weight is unhealthy and it is killing you a little more every day. There is no food on earth that tastes as good as being healthy feels. You are young compared to many of us on this journey, which is all the more reason for you not to give up. Imagine how great life will be 2, 5, 10 years from now when you are at a healthier weight. Try new foods, there just might be a healthy addiction you can substitute for fried rice. I don't want to give up several of my favorite foods and it hurts to think about that sometimes but then I remind myself that all of those goodies are the reason why I am now diabetic and have to address this critical matter now. You should think about all of the health hazards you will avoid by getting the band - high blood pressure, diabetes, joint pain...you know the list as well as I do. When you weigh that against the absence of things that were not good for you to begin with, the choice becomes a bit easier. Don't give up...keep going, you loved fried rice but it didn't love you back. Trust me.

You look amazing dollbaby!!! (sorry, it's the Cajun in me...LOL).

This is the kind of post that starts your day out right! I haven't gotten my band yet, but yours is one of the most uplifting and exciting post-surgery stories I've read. I've also found some very cute appetizer plates and tiny silverware and you're right, it makes you really want to use them - so dainty! Kroger sells tiny utensils that look like real silverware and I can't wait to go and buy a box of those, too!

I did B-12 shots as a part of one of many weight loss attempts. It helps for about the first week or so, it provides sustained energy but honestly it didn't do much else for very long either. Are you taking your vitamins? I would suggest going to a health food or nutrition store and grabbing a liquid B complex (6, 12 and one other number) and vitamin D (start with 1,000 iu).

I hate to be the bearer of bad news dear, but if you could maintain your weight loss on your own you would have done that by now. The sudden "motivation" you have is part adrenalyn, part excitement and part necessity. If those things were removed, would you continue to do what you have done to lose those 10lbs...of Water weight? Yup...you heard me right, you've lost Fluid - not an ounce of fat yet. I'm only telling you what I've had to tell myself, I've tried a number of things that were temporarilly successful, losing as much as 60lbs (phentermine, water, beladona) and gaining 50 back over a 2-year period once I quit taking the pills. If it were me, I would get the band and not think twice about it. Especially if your insurance is going to cover it. Good luck! Keep us posted!!

P.S. - you only need to lose 10 - 20lbs. prior to surgery. If you could lose 20% of your weight on your own, you wouldn't need the band...now would you? Trust me, the preop diet will get those pounds off...if you follow doctors orders.

Welcome aboard Mom! I also mulled over having the surgery for a few years...convinced that the next diet I tried would work and I could finally lose the weight and keep it off. That didn't happen and here I am today, just shy of a month from being banded. My entire process has been: April 9 - Scheduled Appointment with True Results, Houston April 11 - First Appointment/Initial Consultation - all testing (blood, urine, EKG, respiratory function test, etc.) except Psych eval completed on this visit, approximately 2 hours. April 13 - Psych eval completed. April 22 - Psych eval report submitted to True Results. April 26 - Package sent to BCBS for final approval. April 29 - BCBS Approval! April 30 - True Results receives approval letter, submits to surgeon. May 6 - Surgeon's office calls to schedule Preop and surgery - bump in the road, doctor has a tight schedule and is going on vacation...delay! June 4 - Preop appointment June 19 - Surgery scheduled. So, had it not been for the doctor being overbooked and taking vacation, I cold have had my surgery as early as May 17. No big deal, I realize I am still going through the "emotional phases" of this process and to rush into it would have been a mistake, so I look at it as a blessing in disquise. Yes, I wanted to hurry up and get it done so I could see substantial results by mid-summer, but that's okay. Thanks to the decision to get a band, I expect many more great summers and bathing suits than I would have without it. Good luck to you my friend and please keep us posted!!!

Houston pre-opper #2 is fine, how about you?

No worries...you qualify and I don't think there is any insurance company that will turn you down based on your BMI alone.

I had to buy Hibicleanse for a procedure last year - word of advice, buy the Walgreens brand, it's $5 less than the name brand and has the exact same active ingredient.

I'd like to take a minute to both congratulate and wish everyone having surgery this week the best of luck! Keep us posted on how you are doing and we'll keep the positive vibes flowing your way!

Don't be dismayed. I haven't been banded yet, but know from prior weight loss attempts that every body is different. You've seemed to hit a plateu before you got off to a good start. Examine what you are consuming. My advice would be to bump up your Protein - like starting on a 52g (2 scoop) shake within 20 minutes of you waking up in the morning for about a week. This will shock your system and give our metabolism a jump start. It's one of those things, when you body gets going it's going to melt quickly. I've heard that you shouldn't really expect a huge difference until about the 3rd month. Good luck to you and keep in mind that you have to find out what it is your body wants...the sugery was the right thing to do. Without it you might not have lost the 10 you have so far, but rather gained 10.

One day at a time! You haven't come this far to let one short week of liquids sabotage the mental preparedness you have developed. Think of how fast the weeks have gone by in the last month or so. You can do this!

if it helps at all, I'm sure it's mostly Fluid. Go back to a liquid diet for a few weeks and try to get jumpstarted again.

Seek help from the state and county you live in. If you are vomiting blood, you have a very serious issue. Is there a "gold card" or medicaid program you can qualify for? If all else fails, act like you are dying and go to the ER. I know here they cannot turn you away. Please keep us posted dear.

Well, finally heard from the surgeon's office and my procedure isn't going to happen for another month. I'm trying to stay positive about this, realizing that my timing isn't God's timing and He knows what is best. I have never been the most patient person in the world, times like this make me feel as if I am being tortured. AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!

Congratulations on surviving cancer!

I think it has more to do with the amount of weight you need to lose. I have friends who have gotten the lap band and 2 who have gotten the sleeve. Not to scare you, but I've seen much more devastating injuries/hospitalizations with the sleeve. Do your homework and realize that any procedure is going to require you to do your part. With the sleeve - the stomach can regenerate itself over time and I witnessed one of my coworker's near death after eating the wrong thing with the sleeve. If it were me, I would try the least invasive procedure first. Read what others have had to say and make your decision then. If you go with the sleeve, be prepared for skin hanging...everywhere, especially around the midsection and the thighs. With the lap band, the skin has a better chance of keeping up/tightening with the fat loss. I thought about the sleeve, too but the recovery is no joke.

Welcome! Ask any questions you'd like...that's the beauty of the site.

Good luck! My biggest hurdle will be not drinking while eating. I've always taken a bite and followed it up with a sip - my entire life. Not doing so makes me feel like I will choke.

Your BMI automatically qualifies you through BCBS and it's subsidiary companies, without any comorbidities.

I'm sure that was accidental. This site is pretty much open for anyone to view... or so I thought. That's a bummer.

Oh wow! I'm going to find out what my out of pocket will be before agreeing to it. I think it will be worth waiting a couple of weeks and traveling to Dallas to save money. Who were you originally going to have it done by in Houston? What is Dr. Hollis' contact information?

I love your sense of humor Missy and I have learned so much from you since joining this site!

That could be risky on the psych evaluation...I don't think I would try that.