Brandy~

I have seen it at the Safeways here in my town.. I haven't tried that flavor yet though.

Congrats! I cannot wait till I get to post results like that :embaressed_smile:

Ok when I began this adventure 6 months ago I had never heard of crystal light and if I had I didn't remember it. I got so tired of hearing the dietitian talk about it and how you should use crystal light and put unflavored unjury (Spelling? ) in it for Protein.... I finally went and got those to go packs. It was love at first taste. Before I never drank Water EVER... Now I can't stop. I only use about 1/2 a pack tho in 24 oz or else its so sweet I can't drink it. I have found tho I get heartburn something fierce with it when normally I don't... anyone else have this problem?

Congrats!! I can't wait till I get to announce mine from the rooftops :thumbup:

I would start right where you are... Go through all the Pre Op surgery threads read the questions posed and the answers... You can truely never have too much knowledge. I had to wait 6 months before my surgery so I have just spent the whole time reading up on what to expect and adjusting my lifestyle to fit it before i get banded :thumbup:

Congratulations! WOw I cannot wait for this Eureka moment :thumbup:

It doesn't sound silly at all... we must do what works best for us. If I was you I would wait for a time like you said that you won't be stressed and you can just kick back. I am sure that your healing will go much smoother. I am just taking a week off work even though I have a desk job and I am going to just lay around the house. My work knows I am having surgery but they don't know what kind... they offered to let me take a couple weeks off but I want to come back to keep my mind off things :biggrin:

Hi Michele (your name is spelled the same as my friend :biggrin: I did the same thing... it was almost like those commercials where someone smacks you in the head because you could of had a V8! I can't believe I waited this long, suffered this much, and now I am here.... I read anything and everything on this forum. The doctors keep making comments to me about how informed I am and how tehy haven't had someone with so much knowledge and it's all from here. I have a 6 month diet requirement... I went into it being complacent and about 3 and 1/2 months into it I woke up and thought... Oh jeez if I am doing whatever I want now what makes me think I can be banded and lose?? So here I am taking the pre op stuff much more seriously! You're 100% Right... Do not waste the oppurtunity!

I checekd with my insurance and was told they only need 10 days to make a decision so I hope when I submit on 4/2 that they get to work on it asap haha. My surgeon said he might be April to get me banded by the end of April if the insurance comes through.

I am in the same boat as you :biggrin: I have BCBS and I am 14 days away from last appt! I didn't jump on the weightloss wagon as fast as I should have... I waited till the last 1.5 months.. I plan to lose about 10 more tho before surgery maybe even more if I do a liquid pre op. I agree I didn't think I needed the 6 months to adjust but I think looking back it gave me alot of time to learn things that might have came up after being banded :thumbup:

This is the age old question and there is no one that really knows.... we have all heard it both ways... The good news is.......... They use the weight to submit for insurance approval from your first appt. I too am on a 6 month supervised consult program. I have finished 5 meetings and will go to the last one in 16 days. What I did was the first month I blew the diet ate what I wanted... Second month I cut out of of the fast foods and sodas around the third month I started thinking I will take it a little more serious and I lost about 5 pounds a month since.... so I now look at it as every single ounce I lose now I will NEVER have to lose again... This is a great way to jump start your weight loss. I wouldn't begin starving yourself or anything I would use this as a time to prepare your body for the lifestyle changes that you're about to make. Embrace this oppurtunity to change your life and in the meantime read up the forums to gain knowledge Happy bandings!

Very awesome about your consult... and congrats that your tests came back well. When I heard the 6 months supervised diet thing from my insurance I was sooo heart broken. The good part is though in the meantime I found alot of support from this site. I really don't know anyone on here personally or have I made a connection to anyone but they will all jump in and give their support the minute you need it. Fill up your 6 months with knowledge... it's the greatest gift you can give yourself to prepare for this lifestyle change. The band is a tool and if you use it right you will find a whole new healthy you. I wish you much luck in your banding journey and I hope you have a great seminar tonight

wow wide array just as I figured. I might be too impatient to wait to find out and might have to call and ask lol Thanks everyone :shades_smile:

I have done so much research regarding all the life changes and such that I will have to make that I never stopped to think too much about the surgery. I should be getting near the end of this pre op adventure soon! Hooray! Now my question is: I understand I will probably have 4 incisions that are smaller and one larger one for a total of 5. Did your doctor use stitches or staples or something else? I wont see my doc again until I get preauth from insurance so I was hoping to see what the doctors are using so I know when I go in to meet with him.

Oh man... My surgeon won't schedule a date until I get preauth :thumbup:

I take tons of medicines.. I am going to have to look at them again I hadn't really thought about this.

Which BCBS do you have? I have BCBS of Minnesota and mine requires that I attend 6 meetings one per month with either a medical doctor or a dietitian and follow a diet designed by them. I have made it through 5 months so far! I have 17 days till my last appt. Good Luck

What testing he requires Is there a required weight loss does he do a pre op liquid diet How soon does he do fills after the band what brand of band and what size phsyc eval? Support groups and or exercise groups through his center :mad2: Good luck it's not as scary once you do the initial visit :cool:

Heard it time and time again from people on this board.. In life it seems were always waiting on something! They are right. I have BCBS of Minnesota and I was required to do a 6 month diet with a dietitian or a doctor. I have been seeing my dietitian. I am 19 days away from my last appt!! Believe me it comes faster than you think.. I wasn't able to see the light at the end of the tunnel till a couple weeks ago when I went to my 5th appt it made me realize I was almost there. Everytime you start feeling down or anxious just come on here read the boards and make some posts. I do that to make me feel better sometimes and I browse through the before and afters. Make mini goals for yourself now too I found that helped even if they are small. Remember most of the doctors use the weight from your initial consulation when they submit to your insurance... so while you're going to these appts start making the small changes so that when you are banded it's not instant life altering! I have only lost 10 pounds in 6 months but thats 10 pounds I NEVER have to lose again they are gone forever. Start practicing putting your food on small plates so you eat smaller portions, try getting on a schedule of taking a couple walks a week, replace 1 meal with a Protein Shake, etc. In no time you will be getting a call with a surgery date! Good luck always exciting when you begin the journey.

Yes thats exactly what it's like without it... I really could possibly lose my job if I have to go without it. I will have to call into work constantly because of it and I have to always carry extra clothes it's a horrible thing.

I started looking around reading on it after reading your post.. Here is what I found Benefits of Biotin Biotin benefits include its crucial role in energy metabolism. Biotin acts as a coenzyme and carries carbon dioxide. It also plays a role in fat synthesis, amino acid metabolism and glycogen synthesis. It is suggested that biotin benefits people with diabetes by helping to break down carbohydrates and lower blood sugar levels. It is possible that biotin benefits hair by keeping it shiny and helping it maintain color. Weight loss may be another biotin benefit, as the Vitamin is essential in the conversion of carbohydrates, fats and Proteins to energy. Symptoms of biotin deficiency are hair loss, a red scaly rash, depression, lethargy, and numbness and tingling in extremities. Biotin side effects should not occur when it is taken within recommended amounts. If biotin side effects do occur, they can be reduced or eliminated by lowering the dosage or taking biotin with food. Sounds like it plays a strong role in weight loss. I guess you would have to determine if you are taking in enough with just what you consume or if you think you would need the supplement. Maybe take it during the healing process? The hair part though it sounds like if you have a biotin deficiency this supplement will help you from losing your hair which is the same with Protein. I might consider using the biotin in a small dose along with my required protein just to be sure that I am receiving all the nutrition.

Ok my doctor hasn't mentioned it to me yet... But in my consultation he mentioned that I would have to quit taking a couple medicines a month before the surgery... My major concern without going into alot of detail is I take birth control to control periods.... I don't need if for any other reason since I have my tubes tied... However, without the medicine I am almost home bound with periods that are so heavy and never ending that they are disabling. Has anyone else been in my shoes? If you don't stop the medicine what happens? I should add last time I went without the medicine my period was 16 days straight.

There is no reason to put off being banded. I would be banded asap to begin a new healthy life. You are going to have to learn how to eat properly whether you do the surgery now or later.... The bags wont be a problem I am sure carrying those. You have 2 months heal up before you go on the trip. Go on the cruise have fun... but this trip will probably be different for you and you will find more joy in the things you do with your family than you do with food. It's a whole new love affair.

I had a rant I was gonna post about how you shouldn't do it Tom... Then I found your post about waking up, feeling better, and Being 3 lbs lighter. Congrats on the 3lbs you lost! I have one more appt on 4/2 then I wait to hear from the insurance and then start my liquid diet... I am making it a positive thing. I want to be able to jump start the loss before the band... that gives you motivation going into the surgery. Each time you're tempted just think of how bad you wanted the band and what great benefits this new found life will give you.

Holy cow.. I just had to say I was just looking at all your pictures and that is really awesome. Congratulations to you as well on the new you body