Chancie

I'm a self pay- and my surgen has the BLISS insurance. I paid my fee in full the week prior to surgery and have not had to pay anything since- All my visits are covered, my blood work etc. I had to spend 5 days in the hospital instead of 3- all covered. I believe the BLISS insurance covers everything for a year... Leaks included. As kayKay stated, your surgen has to be part of this plan. I'm not sure how everyone else's surgens are, but with mine- you are a "lifetime" member- all nutrisionist-phscoligist run support groups- and exercise consultants are free.

Welcome!!! And congratulations on your babies and Surgery date! You'll need all the extra energy with twins!! They look adorabale in that pic! Keep us posted on your progress!

I was worried about this too... I use to "guzzle" everything! But in the beginning it was a hard adjustment, but after hurting, you LEARN. Now at 6 months out- I still can't "guzzle" but I can take really big drinks that satisfy me. You'll do just fine, it's adjustments like something as small as drinking that we have to work on. I find that I want to drink with my meals now, but have to really work on not doing that, or drinking too soon after a meal.

Geeze.. I wouldn't know... havn't dated in several years!! I'm ready now to start dating again.... but not even sure how to go about it! I live in a small town and with my work schedule, it's hard. I really hate the thought of growing old by myself!:sad0:

Congrats to EVERYONE!!! I too LOVE this thread!! Dange- Thats too funny 'bout the pants!! Good thing you were at home!! 1) I think one of my favorite NSV is being able to paint my toenails!! I could hardly bend over before to even clip them! 2) I can also put my cars seat all the way front- and still have room between the steering wheel and my belly!!! And I can even put down the arm rest now! 3) When going to a restaurant, not worried if I can fit into a booth! 4) Being able to wear summer dresses and feel like a lady! There is so much more... but thats what comes to mind right now.

I also wanted to say I finnaly got the courage up to make an album here.... I was taking face shots, and can see the difference now looking at them. I hope each and everyone of you that are getting ready for this surgery the best! You will be very happy with your decision to do this....... and if I can do it......... ALL of you can too! I feel like I still have a long way to go, but it is working. And I can't believe it has been 7 months already!!! Time flys when you're havin'fun!! LOL

Thank you my VSG Family!! I had a few days off work and I was cleaning out closets, and I always look at "before" and "After" pics on OH.... so I tried on that outfit and I was in SHOCK.... I guess it finnally hit me... I HAVE lost weight... almost a whole person! I am gonna keep that outfit, but I boxed up all my other things to donate. One thing is for sure, it gets expensive when you lose alot of weight fast.... I have to wear certain colors at work, so it's hard to yard sale. I can only wear white or blue shirts, and grey, black and brown pants. Plus I'm tall.......5'8" I did buy a sewing machine, it was on clearance for 40 bucks! gonna try to take in some pants that are already too big for me ( just bought them last month!! ) Wish I knew someone who had this surgery that lives close so I could share my clothes with them!

Kinda strange when I saw these.......... mixed emotions.... how did I get like that in the first place? I don't want to go back there either.... That was the same outfit I wore here..... This is what I wear to work now.... I hadn't seen my youngest son in 6 months.... he knew about my weight loss surgery, but when he seen me.... he cried... he actually cried. I got worried at first and asked him whats wrong? Do I look sick or something? and he just replyed how good I looked, and didn't dream it would be this drastic, but he was happy for me....I guess it was a shock, but he's really happy I am getting healthy, and making the lifestyle changes that a I am. I still have 50 pounds to lose, it is getting harder... but I look at these and it helps......

I want a tattoo tooooooo!!! I'm not sure exactly what I want or where I want it, but I want it to have my beginning weight.....as a reminder....Got a long time to worry about that no where near goal....

I'm not selling right now... I want to but my boys want me to keep this house. It's just tooo big for just me... 2300 sq. feet! I am redecorating, painting and just all around "cleaning" it up a bit.. doing things that being overweight kept me from doing. It's a good time to buy, not sure about selling.... I would like to have a small 2 bedroom home.

You might be surprised that you don't like it, I tried to drink a beer on the 4th of July ( I use to LOVE a cold beer ) a few sips and that was enough.... it tasted awful! I'm staying clear of all of it for now.... I'm an addictive personality, and use to drink too much. So I thought it best to stay clear of it and I don;t miss it so far.

Doqninsocial- I didn't mean to sound like it's not a serious issue in the begining...it is! And I understand your pain, honest- I do. When I was 18 I had my jaw broken, and had to be wired shut for 10 weeks.... it was torture to sit with friends and family and sip "protein" yes- I cried, ran from the dining room or restraunt several times. That was the beginning of weight problems for me. And this time time my jaw is not wired shut, and now that I can eat more I have to make the right decisions. They are still difficult for me to do. So I am being tested daily! Everything that you said is so very true.... My sanity was tested right out of surgery because of my pain, my emotional stability is being tested because of head hunger. I don't need to be 6 months out to be tested. You are tested from the first day you decide to have this surgery. It's just a little easier to "cheat"- make excuses, eat what you aren't suppose to. Thats why I am seeking some therapy, because I AM thinking like this... why do I want to "cheat"??? Why can't I use food for fuel instead of using it to "comfort" me? I want to succeed- and not fall back into bad habits- Thats one of the reasons I chose to stay away from certain foods that others that have had this surgery eat- I can't because I am weak in the fact that they are 'trigger' foods that I can't stay away from. Bread, Pasta,rice, potatoes- I had chocolate that I thought wouldn't be a problem since I wasn't a "chocolate" junkie prior to this...... BUT NOW........ a big problem. Sometimes the typed word doesn't come off like it is meant to- so if I offended you I apoligize- it was not my intent- As I hope this one doesn't either- but your reply opened my eyes to some of my own issues.....

I love quiche! and have been looking for a good recipe! Gonna give this a try!

Sounds like fun Tiff! A friend at work was just telling me about this! He's a thin guy and said that it is a real work out! Just don't think I'd use it... my son has a Wii maybe I'll just borrow his :drool5:

CONGRATULATIONS!! Great weight loss! Guess I'm the only one that likes the protein drinks! LOL I like the unjury because they're not tooo sweet, but now I also like the bodyfortress cookies n'cream in my morning coffee.. couldn't drink it by itslef because it is sweet, but is great in coffee!

Hi Tiff- I just looked at your pictures.... and you look GREAT!! :drool5: Your face almost looks like two different people! Very pretty I might add!

I'm a scale "Junkie"..... I weigh everyday, and sometimes I weigh after I come home from work. This is what keeps me accountable. In the past, I hated the scale and would turn away when the doc weighed me. And I never had one in the house when my weight was the worst. The day I came home from surgery, I stopped at the store to get my scripts filled, and I bought a scale that day. I can't imagine going a month without weighing...it's too scary to think I might gain too much to set me back. I have gained 2-3 pounds and then lost them, but what if I didn't notice them each week? It would end up being over 8 pounds for a month and that would depress me.... so daily works for me. I have measured since my consult visit, and I only do that every Monday. Whatever works for you and your OCD is what you need to focus on.

Downinsocial, Being so early out from surgery, you won't have hunger and "head hunger" isn't a problem at this stage because you CAN'T eat. The further out you get, the more you can eat, then is when the true test comes in. kromrider- I'm glad you got out of an abusive situation, and now it's time for you! You are going in the right direction, and getting help is great. I havn't been seeing a therapist, but am looking for one now. This is more than about losing weight with alot of us. There are different issues that got us the way we are, and I still havn't figured out mine. There's alot to chose from, but I want to get to the core and try to get as healthy in my mind as I am trying to get with my body.

Oregondaisy- That's the problem I have at work.... there is a girl there that ALWAYS has chocolate... I never was a big chocolate fan, my big butt came from meat and tators LOL... but NOW.... I LIKE chocolate... and thats where i have been messin' up. Like a dummy... I tried a piece... actually HOPING it would make me sick, but nope.... it didn't and I LIKED it:scared0: So I have cheated, but am back on the "wagon" and realize like everyone else, I'm not gonna beat myself up over this, I can't say I will NEVER have another piece of chocolate for the rest of my life... thats just not realistic. But I can focus better, and try to make beter choices. So now what I do is have a bag of beef jerky at my desk... and when she pulls out the candy I'll reach for a piece of jerky... it takes a long time to chew and takes my mind off the candy..... and I LIKE jerky:wink0:

I too like to eat, now at 6 months out... I am getting more "head hunger", and have made some bad decisions. Thats probably why I'm at a plataue... not losing, yet not gaining either. I have so much more energy now that the weight is coming off, that when I'm at home it's not a problem, for one thing.... I don't keep any junk in the house. My problem lies at work. When I'm home I clean, and I've been redecorating and just going thru closets, things I wanted to do before but just didn't have the stamina to do it! Yes... you will probably miss food, but you won't miss being overweight. You'll just have to like tif said, make the right choice.... eat to live, don't live to eat.

I'm Jealous!!!:001_tongue:

Yep Xbander- My surgen is the one who perscribed it for me, and he let the anasthesoligist (sp?) also know I was on it. The pharmacy told me that some people have suicidal thoughts, and that was one of the main concerns with chantix. I had no effects from it. But it did make it ez, I wish I had stuck with it. I'll try again when I'm ready....

Yep.. I'm a smoker too, but my surgen wanted me smoke free for at least 30 days, and i was so afraid I couldn't have the surgery, I QUIT. He wrote me a script for chantix and it was ez. Yet, I went back to smoking, quit for about 3 months, the chantix kept making me vomit ( so I thought ) and my stress level was up, all bad excuses, but I went back to smoking. I'm hoping to make that one of my next goals, but I gotta want to do it.... and I WANTED THE SURGERY!

WOOOO HOOO!!! CONGRATULATIONS! WOW!! Thats FANTASTIC! Such good news! I'm at a standstill... trying not to get frustrated, but so close yet soooo far away! LOL Again, congrats!!

Thanks everyone... Sorry I didn't get back sooner... but compture problems. but fixed now! Was on dial up and computer got sooo slow, so now I'm on verizon broadband and I LOVE it so far! Couldn't walk today:mad: Got two BIG blisters on my heels, and hurt like ( BLEEP ) Hoping they're better by tomorrow!