300PoundsDown

Wow I just posted about this. We are doing an online Made to Crave Bible Study through my church . Totally free and starting this week. I hope you can come! http://live.mediasocial.tv/cbclifegroups

Hi everyone,My name is Holly and I'm going to be having my surgery on June 28th. I am very thrilled about this and I am so thankful to God for allowing this to happen. My grandmother has blessed me with the money to pay for this surgery as my insurance would not approve it. I'm 400 pounds plus a few so I'm definitely going to be relying on faith, God, and encouragement from others to get me going in the right direction. My good friend had this surgery 2 years ago ( was bigger than me) and has currently lost 250 lbs. He was cured of lung disease (which is a miracle since they say it's incurable), diabetes, CPAP etc. He has been an inspiration and mentor to me. I really hope to get to know others through this process. I also wanted to let everyone know that my church (Community Bible Church in San Antonio, TX) has ONLINE Bible studies. They have 3 pastors with 3 different messages also being put out through the online church website 24 hours a day. This has been a blessing to me as I've gotten so big that I get exhausted trying to go places. I'm also a single mom to 4 kids and at times I don't get to a physical church. So just wanted to let everyone know about it and I will post links for you. Someone just tell me if I'm not allowed to post links. This week we have all new Bible studies starting online. You can join at any time for free just by clicking the link into the class. In fact, I am going to be attending the "Made to Crave" Bible study myself starting this Friday @ 10 Am but there are other times. Made to Crave is looking to be a great Bible Study for those trying to lose weight with faith! We watch the video and then have chat! In addition to that Bible Study, I am going to be leading an online Bible study starting tomorrow @ 10 am on Joy. I lost my mother (my best friend) on New Years Eve and it's been extremely hard. Not to mention being a single mom. But I know we all have struggles so learning more about the joy God provides is something I want to do. Here is the link for the schedule http://live.mediasoc...v/cbclifegroups I am also a moderator at the online church services which go on 24 hours a day with chats at certain times. http://live.mediasocial.tv/cbc Feel free to say hi to me, add me on FB (just tell me you're from this site), and check out my blog. If you have a blog, let me know as I'd love to follow you too So thankful to meet you all!

I've decided to follow my good friend's pre op plan who had surgery 2 years ago and has since lost 250 lbs. For some reason, my surgeon doesn't require it but I'm going to do it anyway b/c I need every advantage as I am at 400 lbs if not slightly over. My pre op diet will consist of 8 Atkins advantage shakes per day spaced out every 2 hours. I will also start drinking water which up until now I don't do. I live from soda. So today is a new day for me!!

I'm having it on June 28th with Dr. Cavazos in San Antonio. He has not given me any specific diet other than 2 days prior. I still want to go on one as I have a lot of weight to lose. Any suggestions?

I have 4 kids and have family coming to stay with me for a week. They are taking most of the kids back with them to spend a month with family at the beach. My oldest who is 15 will be staying with me. I'm assuming that will be all I need in the way of help. With your kids being younger, you might want to plan for 2-3 weeks if possible. That's just to avoid having to pick up the little ones. I sure do remember those days!

I'm going on the 28th so right behind you. I know you're getting nervous but just remember this is going to be the first day of the rest of your life!! I am so excited for you and can't wait to hear how it goes.

I'm in NE side of San Antonio. I'm getting my sleeve with Dr. Cavazos. I'm trying to get into the swing here mentally preparing myself. I'll be having surgery on 6/28. Would love to meet others in the area.

I'm in San Antonio. I'm getting sleeved on June 28th with Dr. Cavazos. I would really like to meet others who have been with him. I am very anxious to learn as much as I can and get myself mentally prepared.

My surgery is on the 28th. My surgeon has not really given me a pre op diet with the exception of 2 days before surgery. My brother, however, was required to go on a pre op diet before hand and his weight loss has been phenomenal. Even though, I'm not required to do it I think I will anyway. So I was wondering if I could get on board with you? Would you tell me what your pre op diet consists of? Maybe we can get through these 3 weeks together!

This makes me feel better b/c I was beginning to wonder!

I will be having my surgery with Dr. Cavazos in San Antonio, TX on June 28th. As of right now, I have no official pre-op diet except for right before surgery. Does this seem right?

Sorry your husband is being a jerk. Reminds me of my ex husband making me carry the carseat in the house (with the baby in it) when we got back from the hospital after I had a Csection. I actually ripped open my incision doing that. I know what it's like to live with someone who is totally insensitive. The lying is no fun either. However, I have learned that getting upset over what they do is pointless. Don't let him allow your focus to be pulled away from YOU. This is your window of opportunity to get the weight off and he knows it. Statistically people who don't take advantage of that will not be as successful. My mother always says "success is the best revenge" lol...so I say ignore his behavior and focus on YOU. Whatever happens will happen. Give it to God and let Him lead you in the right direction but don't let an insensitive person steal this opportunity from you.

I have been to 2 consultations with different surgeons. The first one said they take out 85% of your stomach. The second surgeon is the one I like better but he said they take out 75-80%. To be honest, my main concern is that they will not take out enough of my stomach. This may seem like a dumb question but I am self pay and I don't want to go through all of this just for them to not take out enough to matter. I know that I will be working at this but I want the biggest advantage. Anyone have an opinion on this?

Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes I am a big sweets eater. However, I've been doing research on DS and RNY malabsorption component and neither looks like a good deal to me. With the RNY it appears to wear off after awhile and for some it never seems to take effect. With the DS I've been reading that a lot of people have severe issues and nutritional deficiencies. Almost like trading one evil for another. I think the sleeve is going to be what I choose . I went yesterday and found out i weigh 395. Close to 400 as I had guessed. Thankfully I have not actually seen 400 yet. He wants me to lose 30 lbs and so my goal is going to be to get serious about losing some of this weight on my own before surgery. I think the more i can get off on my own prior to it, the more successful I will be. In hte past, I always felt hopeless but now that I know I can get this surgery whenever I want to for hte most part...I think I have the hope that I need to get serious about it. We shall see!

I know how you feel. I've been given the insurmountable task of losing 30 lbs before they will schedule me a date. I was sent home with a large bag of protein powder and told to drink 2 shakes a day plus a lean meat/veggie at night. If I could do that, I would not weigh 395 lbs right now. However, I realize at this point that i have to find some inner strength and do it. I know that even the surgery is just a "tool" as everyone says and I think I have to prove to myself that I do indeed have it in me to do this. If I can prove to myself that I can fight off 30 lbs wihtout surgery then by the time I have it, I will be on my way. This was my first day which ended in defeat and a big cheat. Tomorrow I will just go at it again. I'm not even scheduling surgery until I've got 30 lbs off of me. So for me this is war! lol...

congratulations!!

I am trying to decide between the sleeve and the RNY. I know it is just a tool and we have to work at it. I am just afraid that the sleeve will not be enough for me due to my weight. i have more than 200 lbs to lose. More like 250. I am a self pay so I don't want to do something that will not be enough. I am goign to see the surgeon tomorrow to discuss it but would like feedback from those who might be in similar boat. Thanks in advance.

My brother got the lapband 1.5 years ago and has lost 200 lbs. He loves it and is a huge advocate of it. So I guess it works for some people. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Well I finally have the go ahead to get surgery. The problem for me now is choosing which one . My question is this....I have heard that for some super obese people certain surgeries are not as effective. Does anyone know about this? Please be honest. I need to pick the right procedure for me. Thtanks

Those of you flying, did anyone purchase 2 seats? I am pretty big and have not flown b/c of my size. I am 360 pounds. wondering if I need to buy 2 seats.

Good luck!! I am probably right behind you on this. I can't find anything comparable. My question is whether you had to buy two seats for the plane. I have not flown in years due to my size. I am 360 pounds and I am pretty sure I will have to buy two plane seats. I don't want to risk it and then get tossed off the plane b/c I don't fit or something horrible. The idea of being on a plane at my size with their small spaces really is upsetting to me. It causes me anxiety I don't fly for a reason . I have not flown back to see my hometown family in 8 years b.c of my size and the plane so I really feel that this is going to be a drawback for me.

I called the health insurance broker myself and she was quite helpful. Told me that Aetna told me it was employer exclusion b/c they probably that that was the case. Apparently Texas mandates some kind of across the board denial for the first time (and this seems to be more for small employers than large companies she said) She said that I should appeal it and keep at it and see what happens. Apparently my employer has no interest in trying to exclude me from it and neither did the health insurance broker .It's some Texas hoop I need to jump through. So here I go. JUMP!!

I was told by my insurance (Aetna) that there was an employer exclusion . I emailed my employer to ask why. He got more info and forwarded me the response he was given. Here it is.. This is the answer from our insurance broker about your inquiry. You may pass on my answer to your employee. On fully insured plans in texas none of the carriers cover lap band or gastric bypass. This change happened about 5-6 years ago. It is not an option you could have elected. It simply is not covered. You can refer to your actual policy to find the exclusion. Some years past this benefit became widely abused and as your employee pointed out- it is very expensive. So the carriers stopped covering it. All the carriers. It is unfortunate because some people really would benefit from it. It is considered elective and in many cases-if the person does not change their habits-short term or even worse life threatening. So please assure your people that this was not a decision trinity made or even could have made. Does this sound right to you guys?? Doesn't this seem to say that IN TEXAS there are NO carriers that cover lap band or gastric bypass?? As if some state law was passed across TX that no carriers are allowed to carry it. Something sounds wrong. Please give me feedback. Thanks!!!!

You do have to cover the flight right?