Meekie

Hey ladies, I am a pastor's wife with the band. We are Americans living in Germany and pastoring an international flock. God is awesome. I was banded 29 Aug and am on my way to a better life. Thank you, Jesus, for this band. We will be separating from the military in less than a year and staying here to do God's work. Take care all,

Hey Girlfriends, I had surgery 29 Aug. I have had one fill of 0.7cc. Not feeling too much restriction but trying my best to stay on track. It's a hard thing to do. I've lost 39 lbs. I've hired a personal trainer who has put 5lbs of muscle on me which is good. From 23 Sept to now, I've lost 2 1/2 inches off my waist and 1 inch off each thigh! :laugh: Now, I'm learning to appreciate NSV (non-scale victories). I'm grateful to God that He allowed me to take this path. Let's hear some more updates!

Congrats on your success. May you continue the journey towards your goal. You look great!!!

Congratulations!!! You look wonderful! You actually look like your before pics daughter. Keep up the good work. I was just banded and am still on liquids with no fill yet. Can't wait to start going down.

Hey Guys, I am in Wiesbaden. I've communicated with Armywife and Katja. Good to see you all here, too. I was banded by Dr. Weiner, too. My surgery experience wasn't bad. I hope he gives me a fill. I've lost 21-23 pounds already but I am still on liquids. I am scared to move to solids. I know what kinds of damage my eating habits can do. I heard that Prof. Weiner is the best but I will say he prefers the bypass. I lay in the hospital thinking I had chosen the wrong surgery until my neighbor who has the bypass was admitted for intestinal blockage. Whew, I got my confirmation. Armywife, what foods did you have during your liquid days? I'm bored with chicken broth and applesauce and yogurt with no fruit. Did you move to mushies? He doesn't explain things very well. Can I use slimfast as my Protein shake? It's easier to buy straight from the commissary. How was it when he took out your stitches? Katja, did you have your tummy tuck yet? Hope it was successful if you did. I know I've said alot but I do have lots of questions. Thanks everyone for listening and I'm open to advice from anyone.

Anyone have any good suggestions of foods to buy at the Commissary that are very band safe and friendly? I am still on liquids for the next 3 weeks. chicken noodle broth and apple sauce is getting reeaally boring. Any suggestions? What are you guys doing for clothes as you slim down? I am in Germany and our PX is not the best in the world. We do have a $1.97 rack bi-weekly that I will be raiding every other week as it comes out. :party: I'm down 23 pounds already and down one size. I work in a professional office and need to look professional everyday. What are the rest of you doing? I don't want to put in a lot of money and won't stay at that size for too long.

Chapter means the military discharges you for a standard you have not met. For your son, he could be chaptered out due to weight.

Hi, I'm from SC but currently living in Germany due to military. Family is in Abbeville/Greenwood area. Just want to say hi and that I do love my Palmetto State. All SC bandsters, I wish you much success!

Hello, I was banded 29 August 2008 in Frankfurt, Germany. I am excited about my new journey. Looking for any inspiration and support from other All-Stars. I wish everyone a successful journey and see you all around.

Army here. DH for 24 years. We've been married 13 years and have been to the following: 95-99-Ft. Benning, Ga 99-2005-Redstone Arsenal, AL (That place was my favorite) 2005-present-Wiesbaden, Germany (love it here, too! I was banded here!:smile:)

Hello everyone, I was just banded 29 Aug. I am an Army wife. DH has served 24 years. I am grateful to God for me being able to get this band. I have already lost 20 lbs since the pre-op liquid diet and my stay in the hospital. I am looking ahead to the journey before me. I thank Jesus! I am praying for guidance and the willpower to do this right and to succeed this time. I will pray for you all that we overcome our food addictions, lack of discipline, and minds that make wrong choices. Our minds need renewing in this area. So, be encouraged and I will try to keep the progress posted.

Hello All, My name is Meekie, 38 years old. I work as a secretary for the US gov't. I was banded 8/29/2008. I am currently living in Germany due to military. I have 3 wonderful sons ages 12,11, and 9. They are the main reasons I'm banded to keep up with them athletically. I coached my youngest son's soccer team for 2 seasons and found out it is something I enjoy. I want to do more of it but I don't want to let 298 lbs of me stop it. I contemplated for 2 years to have this surgery and I am sooooo glad I did. I am just home from the hospital today. Germans keep you 3-5 days. I begged my way out on day 4. I'm down 18 pounds since the pre-op liquid diet and my surgery. I'm finally 279 again. I'm still bigger than I was pregnant with my youngest son. I told my co-workers and people around me here. I haven't told my family back in the States yet. I'm tired of being the biggest in the family and all the "fat" jokes. I'm tired of not being able to share clothes with my 2 sisters and mother. My family would not understand. I have a black chihuahua named Sammie. I'm a pastor's wife and I love Jesus with all that is in me. I want to start a tread with all the things we sisters want to do once we've lost the weight that we couldn't gracefully do with the weight. Love you all,

I'm approved to see Dr. Weiner!!!! My appt is 11 Aug. I'm soooooo excited.

What kind of clinicals?

What I did was tell my PCP that I was interested in WLS. She took out a paper and went down a list to see if I met the requirements. The first time I asked, my PCP told me I had to try to lose 15-20 lbs to see if I could lose weight. She said I had to come into the clinic and weigh monthly until I met that requirement. Well, I heard from another girl who saw a different doctor that she didn't have to do that so I made an appt with that doctor. That doc went down the list and saw that I met the requirement. She went through my medical record and saw that I my weight was up and down for the past 2 years and said I met all the requirement. I'm more than 100 lbs overweight for my height with no co-morbidity. She immediately gave me the referral to take to tricare. (I'm overseas so that makes a difference with the next step). Tricare told me yesterday that I'm approved to see the WLS surgeon. My first consult is 11 Aug. From there I should get a surgery date soon. Hope this helps and I wish you much success in your journey.

I got my date to see Dr. Weiner. It is 11 Aug at 3:00. That is also my son's birthday. I will be doubly happy to get a surgery date that day as well!! What should I expect? Wish me much success!:biggrin:

Martinez75, Did you get approved? Hope so.............

Thanks for the info. I'm calling tomorrow to see if they have approved a consult with Weiner. I turned it in a week ago tomorrow. Oh, please let it be ready. I want the band b/c the gbp scares the heck out of me. I've started walking 15 min. in the morning and 15 in the evening like the website suggests. Hopefully, my date will be soon.

Hi all, I'm Meek. I'm an army wife for 13 years. DH has been in 24 years. We're stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. I have 3 lovely boys and we love Germany. If any of you others get the chance to come overseas, do it. You'll never get an experience like this again. I'm hoping my band will be approved for me to see Prof. Weiner in Frankfurt. I definitely meet the BMI criteria and the number of years of being obese. :thumbup: (Can't wait until that word no long applies to me.) Pray that my road ahead is smooth. I have a friend here who Weiner turned down for the band. She has to do gastric b/c of scar tissue from c-sections. Anyone heard of this? I had 3 c-sections and that scares me. Take care all!

Hello, I'm in Wiesbaden. Sorry I fell off the map here. I wasn't going to do the band but have changed my mind. I turned in my request for approval on Thurs. How long did it take for tricare to approve you and get you in to see Prof. Weiner? I'm hoping before labor day. How long was your liquid diet? Thanks for any help.

I am right there with you armywife. I am just playing the game. I have to go to nutrition, see the psych doc, and go for those stupid weigh-ins. But, if it means it's one step closer to me being banded, then so be it. I'm glad you held your ground. Keep us posted if you find any short cuts and I'll do the same. Hooah!

My rep says that they do. They just started in January 08. She is waiting for my PCM to sign off on the paperwork. My PCM is the one giving me a hard time. She says I need to go through 6 months of supervised weigh-ins, psych eval, and nutrition before she will sign off. She says I need to lose at least 10-15 lbs on my own. I am soooo disappointed in that. If I could do all of that, I wouldn't need the band. Please stay in touch, even if you have to PM me and let me know how things are going for you.

We are in Germany, too. I went to my PCM last week and got a referral. I went in to talk to the lady at tricare who is helping me because of the language barrier. Tricare in Germany has liasons to help with the language barrier. I received a call from my PCM who told me I needed to see the nutritionist and psych doctor. The liason called Dr. Weiner in Frankfurt and made me an appt for an evaluation. My appt is not until May. That's how far booked they are. But, I am seeing the nutritionist at Landstuhl. Where are you in Germany? I'm in Wiesbaden. Stay in touch to see if we can walk through this together.

Did tricare pay for it?

Were you banded there? Do they only accept patients in their region? Can anyone fly there with tricare and receive services? I have tons of questions. Trying not to self pay. thanks,