kathystrick

Hi and welcome to LBT! You might want to check the Insurance and financing thread for info on Aetna. I have BCBS PPO and it took about 3 weeks for pre-authorization. Have you seen a copy of Aetna's policy on WLS? Is your Optifast pre-mixed or powder? I know the powder would last longer, but the pre-mixed usually have a pretty long shelf life too. Did you check the packages for a "Use By" date?

Don't be so hard on yourself! I know if you are anything like the rest of us, you have gone through all the diets and exercise programs and losing just to regain. You have probably gone through every possible scenario of ways to lose without having to resort to surgery. But you know what? For some people, surgery is the only way they will ever be able to lose the weight and keep it off. That is a hard concept for some to understand. The battle to lose weight and keep it off is a long and hard fought one. The realization that surgery is the only way that is likely to ever happen for you is also a difficult one, IMO. You know why you made the decision and you know why being healthy is so important to you. Making other people understand those reasons is not important. A year from now, when you have your band and are well on your way to reaching your goal, it won't matter how you got there. I see around the boards that a lot of people have to deal with the comment about "taking the easy way out". We all know that is so untrue. We still have to diet and exercise, just like anyone else who wants to lose weight. The difference? We can do it without feeling hungry all the time! Good luck and stay strong!

Hi and welcome to LBT! Your fear is natural. I think at some point in the process we all fear something. Your fear is not of being healthy and living a longer life; your fear is of the unknown. You don't know the person you will be when you lose the weight and that is scary to those of us who use our big bodies to shield us from people and their cruelty. Once you lose the weight, you won't have to "hide" from people and their hurtful ways. You will have the confidence to stand up for yourself and not be ashamed of all the things you couldn't do as a fat person. Your life will improve in ways you never imagined. The only thing life can be is better because YOU will be better. Get healthy, grab life by the horns and just run with it! I wish you much luck and success.

Congratulations and good luck!

Yep, sure is! If you have trouble finding it in your grocery store, there are some really good and easy recipes online.

Mine was only about an hour too, but I know a lot of people here ahve ahd them take much longer.

Oh, let it flow! Feel free to vent anytime!! That's what we are here for. Six months is a long time to wait for surgery, but by doing the pre-op diet, you are already working towards a better you. You said you have been big all your life. So you have already waited 22 years to start this. What's six more months to wait for surgery? You have already started the journey by doing the diet and pre-op testing. The rest of the time will fly by faster than you can imagine. Just hang in there, keep your chin up, and keep up the good work. That 3 pounds will be 10 before you know! From here, the only way to go is down. Good luck!

Wow! You are all moving right along. You'll be having surgery before you know it! Good luck!

Ellen, Congratulations on your decision to take this step for yourself! I am 38 and wish I had had this option when I was 21 with a 1 y/o son at home. Our time together during his growing up would have been so different. You will never regret your decision to re-take control of the beast called weight and your life. Good luck to you and let us know how things are going!

Good luck with getting your approval!

Hi Felicia and welcome to LBT! Congratulations on your upcoming surgery. Good luck to you and keep us posted on your progress!

Hi, Amelia and welcome to LBT! The first thing I would suggest you do is check out the FAQ section. There you will find answers to alot of your questions. The answers you can't find there, feel free to post and someone will get back with you in a snap. Good luck!

Great idea! Thanks for sharing!

You are doing the right thing by dealing with those head issues now. I have been working on the same thing! The way I understand it, anything you add to Water (such as Crystal Light), as long as it is sugar free, still counts as water, so you are in luck! Congratulations on giving up those sodas too. You should see some weight loss just from that! Hope you don't have to wait long! Good luck and keep us posted!

Hi Beth! Doing really well with the weight loss. Keep up the good work!

Hi and welcome to LBT! Congratulations on your awesome weight loss. Great job!!

Congratulations on your surgery date and good luck next week!

You're almost there! Keep us posted on how things are going and let us know when you get that date!

It won't be long now! Congratulations!!!

I work at a high school now. Teenage boys are just the worst, even though I am a grown up. They get a good laugh when they hear my desk chair squeak. They like to say it's screaming, begging me to get up. I have also had them talk behind my back about how tight my jeans were.(Which they really weren't. They were stretch.) They were taking bets on how long it would be before the seams popped and the button popping off and killing someone.

Congratulations on your date! WooHoo!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you!

Congratulations on the weight loss and welcome to LBT!

Hi and welcome to LBT! I am pre-op, so can't answer some of your questions, but I am going to give a couple of others a shot. First off, I would check out the FAQ sections. Those threads will answer a lot of your questions. Also, if you can't find the answer to any of your qustions there, post away! There is always someone hanging out here willing to lend a hand. Good luck!

Hi Debbie and welcome to LBT! I'l keep my fingers crossed for you and be sure to keep us posted on your progress.

Hi Jim from the "other" Carolina! Congratulations on your approval. My doctor has also mentioned doing the Realize band, but not sure yet. Where are you from in NC? My hubby is from near Whiteville, about 40 minutes from Lumberton.