ReneBean

That one just makes me laugh. The one I HATE is this one: "When is a diet pill worth $153 a bottle?" My response is NEVER!!! I hated that commercial with a passion. Now I hate the new generic version: "If you are significantly overweight, you have probably seen this commercial..." Like skinny people couldn't see it? Hello!!! You couldn't get away from that stupid commercial. The Nutrisystem people are just going for a different Target Market these days - The Normies, the Vanity Pounders. Whatever...

The Six Month Diet thing is just so the docs can be sure that Surgery isn't your FIRST attempt to lose weight. Now, almost everyone who is overweight has SOME history of dieting - so even if you don't have the Doctor Supervised thing - you can always point out a life-time of history. Nice of your Doc to be so encouraging - but, I guess they have to deal with reality - and sometimes, the reality is bleak. Get whatever information the company wants and get the package re-submitted. I had to fight Blue Cross of CA all the way to the State Insurance Board - but I got my approval. Don't give up. Every time we win, we make it easier for the next person - not to mention getting coverage for ourselves. Hugs!! :]

Yeah - both Miss Piggy and that Hippo are SEX SYMBOLS - considered beautiful by those around them - and they have GREAT attitudes and body-image. Seriously, it could have been LOTS worse. Hugs!!

Alex, That totally ROCKS!! Skate On, Sister!! You are an inspiration!! hugs!

Ah, the joys of Vicarious Living Thru DeLarla... Such experiences we get to enjoy!! Sorry Lisa - but I will never get on THAT particular Bull. I like the kind I don't fall off of... But look out, Crystal - my Belly Dancing days may soon be at hand. Love you guys!! :]

I can't help you with the 4 yr thing - but unless your employer specifically excludes or your policy specifically excludes, then you have a chance for coverage. I was denied, appealed, denied again and then submitted to the State Insurance Board for an Independent Medical Review. The Review Board over-turned the insurance denial... It can be done. It isn't a QUICK process, but it can be done. PM me with your e-mail address and I will forward my appeal letters. Good Luck!! :]

You could drink soy milk - or make shakes with Soy milk & soy protein powder. Or you could mix soy protein with Juice.

Hon, you are not quite 30 and you weigh 300 lbs... I only WISH there had been LapBand surgery available to me when I was 30. Ask yourself some questions - and be as honest as you can. 1) Do you have the stamina to play with your two year old like you want to? Can you chase that baby around the house without gasping for air? 2) Can you have sex with your wonderful husband as much as/they way that you want to? 3) How much weight did you gain during pregnancy? Planning on having more children? If you aren't 100% happy with your answers to those questions - don't wait. Take a chance on a better life. You can still have more children and gain less weight doing it, with the Band. Trust me, Ten years and another 65 lbs down the road, it doesn't get any better - and your body deteriorates over time. Diet & Exercise (the "traditional weightloss method") get much harder with age. Don't wait until your youth is truly gone and you have Venous Stasis or Adult Onset Diabetes or High Blood Pressure...or any of the other myriad of things that can happen to overweight people. Your risk of death from heart failure is probably higher right now than your risk of dying from this surgery - even at 29 yrs old - even if your ekg is normal. I am nervous, sure. But I have another ten years of experience living in this spongy sHell - I KNOW the potential benefits far outweigh the potential risks. And what are you going to do when you are 40 and your daughter is 12 and she wants you to play soccer or baseball with her? If not for yourself, then do it for your family. They deserve the joy of a happier, healthier Mom. Hugs!!

IF a board of trustees and decide against - they can be swayed to make an exception... put the money down on paper and show them how their costs will be lower if you lose the expected 50-60% of your excess body weight. Any conditions that will go away? Medications you won't have to take? If you are willing to just put it out there and explain why it is important for you and your family, they might allow it. Good Luck!!

Sorry Buddy - BCBS is tough in any state - but TX seems to be particularly difficult. Did they say they needed more info? Or did they specify that you don't have enough diet history? It could be that your doc didn't submit some particular record they are looking for, in which case you just have to get it and try again. If they denied you for lack of diet history, you can appeal - but be prepared for it to take a long time. It took from September to LAST WEEK to get my insurance approval - I had to appeal and then appeal to the state of California insurance board for an independent medical review. **Also - if your BMI is over 50 - you have a real fight on your hands. That is why I was denied - BCBS policy says anything over 50 requires one of the other surgical procedures (Bypass or Duodenal Switch). Feel free to e-mail me with your e-mail address if you want to see my appeal letters. Good Luck!!

Do you have a 401k you can borrower against? They usually don't ask too many questions because the loan is secured by the 401k...

Dang!! My Sister-in-law is moving to Texas - and wouldn't you know it - she arrives on the 28th!! BUMMER!! I have to miss the swap! :[

Yes, Eileen - The Saloon. See you there!! Mornin' Pat! If the maid is smoking the good stuff, maybe I have been tipping too high? rotflmao. :]

Another glorious week in Mortgage Lending OVER!!! WHEEEEEEE! I am really excited for a multitude of reasons. I get to sleep in tomorrow, I get to meet a couple of swell folks for coffee and whatever in the morning. I get to go HOME. And on Tuesday, I get to have my pre-op consult with Doc Fox. Yee Haw!!! Cindy - glad to be of help. You can get wi-fi access in all kinds of crazy places, nowadays... truck stops, hotels, coffee shops... Even if you don't have internet in the cabin - you might be able to get it closer than you expect. Sherry - Hope hubby is feeling better! The underwear thing is pretty funny. I wouldn't begin to know where to start, either. Betty - is your computer all back up to snuff? Please tell me that you at least get to relax on the weekend... Hurray!!! Congrats on the 2nd interview. I just know you are going to get the perfect job! Anne - Stay strong against the junk food!! And congrats on getting back on plan with the three pound thing. Sorry about the whole boob-doc business.... I had my first Mamo this year. Oh Joy. Oh Rapture. And just to make it exciting, they called me back for a sonigram.... Fortunately it was nothing - but I had an exciting day or two. Try not to get too panicked - no matter what. Eileenie - guess who is picking up Zan at the bus stop tomorrow morning? Yep - that would be me. See you at 11!! Patty - Congrats on the Disney Pass.... And watch out for those Scary Phone Men... Keri - sorry about the nasty period. The only benefit to being morbidly obese is that I don't have them but maybe quarterly - or for even longer spans. I suppose I will have to get used to the idea of normal body function again... bummer. Dianne - you party animal... What have you been doing every day & night?? hmmmm?? I feel the way you feel about dogs for my cats. It's just not a proper day without petting a cat. Doc - congrats on the walking. Love those "things" with the DH, don't you? I always end up crying, too. What is it about husbands? You can't get their stinkin' attention until you cry, I swear. Thank goodness there is usually some good communication afterwards. I think cashews in bed would be cause for some serious ass kicking, if I couldn't eat any!!! Zan - I can't wait for tomorrow!! See you in the morning. Pat!! That's why I don't watch those kind of news shows.... I just live with whatever germs that may be present in the room - and tip the maids well. I haven't had any problems, so far, and I always have plenty of clean towels. :] Of course, tonight I came into my room and it smelled kinda funny - not really strong or anything - just a kind of light skunky odor... It took me several minutes to figure out that it was probably POT. I expect the gal who does the turn-down service must have been outside for a lil' smoke before she did my room. Oh My. Well kids, it's off to sleepy land for me. For some strange reason I am feeling oddly relaxed... lol! I will check in again after I get home... maybe not til Monday - I have been gone for a week, after all... Love you guys!! :]

Hi Little One, Welcome!! I can't help too much with your questions, as I am still waiting for my surgery date - but I just wanted to say HI and maybe some of our more experienced Bandsters can chime in. :]

Go Leatha! Go! Go! Go!! You'll look hot in that swimsuit in no time at all! Congrats! :]

Welcome to LBT and congrats on your new band! Good Luck and don't forget to check in with us and tell us how you are doing. :]

Jess! You Sexy Thang, You!! Work that Band!! I love to see Band Success Stories - and I would have to say that yours is one of them!! Keep up the great work and you'll be a supermodel in no time. Hugs! :]

Hey Princess!! Happy Day!!! Hope you have a great one!!! :]

Depression Sucks!! Big Hugs, Hon.

Jealous!! Congrats and Welcome. I can't wait to get my band!! 36 lbs ROCKS! Work it Baby! Work it!! :]

Howdy folks! Another glorious day in NY - DONE! Yippee, that much closer to Saturday. Pat - Oh yeah, I am getting the vision... tight leather pants and a leather halter. Got any tattoos? Come on, we know you must have been a wild child at least once in your life... LOL! OK, OK, we'll stop. But it is just such an incongruous vision that it makes me laugh. I just can't imagine you dressing anything like that (without laughing) because it seems SOOOOO "not Pat". Good luck with the hiring thing. So many of the young folks these days just DON'T have any work ethic. And you just fee free to vent whenever you want to. That's why we are here. Paula - that add is just crazy-tacky - but boy would it get your attention on the freeway. Yikes! Too funny... Patty - Yay for Life Experience! I think they just mean because you actually HAVE kids, you are more likely to know when it's no big thing, and when you should call the ER. Besides, there is something comforting about a Mom that a 21 year old chickie cannot possibly duplicate - and that's what you need in a school nurse. Betty - GO MAVS!! I am such a "root for the home team" kind of gal. And I opted NOT to do the whole NYC downtown dinner thing tonight. I have big black circles under my eyes because I never sleep properly in a hotel, even a nice one. The downtown thing just seemed like too much. Eileenie - any ideas on things to do on Saturday? **IRA - We can always have coffee right here at the Pearl River Hilton...or I can come to you. I have the vehicle thing covered. You can reach me to make plans at 845-735-9000 - rm 201 Cindy - yesterday was some kind of a fluke on the internet thing. Today they queried me for my name and room number. $5/day for internet at the Pearl River Hilton. Of course, countless other hotels do offer free internet, so you can choose your hotel accordingly. Well, friends, I have to go and scrounge some dinner. hugs!

He honestly thinks you can re-learn a lifetime of bad habits in 6 mos? I think it would be a miracle to learn proper eating habits after a year or two. Besides - the balloon works by keeping your stomach inflated big. When the balloon is gone, there is all that empty space in there that is used to being full...all the time. That would want to be full...all the time. I looked at that HARD for a while - but decided against it as a short-term solution to a long-term problem. Sorry DH is not being supportive. I just told my husband "I am getting this done". I then went on to explain that I needed to do it - for me - and I was hoping for his support - but I was going to do it, no matter what. Good luck!

Ah My Lady of the Vines... We know that you are the most wonderful of women. How could we think ill of you? Besides, everybody loves a spokes-model... Now, I have to believe that tantruming burns a calorie or two - all that energy expended... Rail away, Darlin'... It's GOOD for you. :]

Cindy - this is my first foray into travelling with the lap top - but of course, this is why I bought it. I am sure that each hotel is different - but at the Hilton, they have their own network. You just View Available Wireless Networks - and (this is key) log on to the right one... I wasn't able to get in touch with you guys last night because I picked the wrong one... Anyway, once I got connected to the correct network, it just zipped me to a netscape page and off I went. I am gambling - because the front desk told me several wrong things - so I don't know if this is costing me money or not... But, I am hoping that the front desk was right about the fee, if they were right about anything. He said $5/day. It might even be free - since I never passed through a gateway, or told them my room number or anything. I'll let you know when I get my bill on Saturday! Anyway.... As for a meet - I would love to have coffee or lunch or shopping or whatever with any and all of you that can make it out this way. My only restrictions on Saturday are that I will have no vehicle - and I have to be on a plane at 3:55 pm - so I need to be at the newark airport NO LATER than 3pm - and that would be rushing. Where can we go between Pearl River and Newark Airport?? Chime in folks, I know nothing... Patty, I am sorry about the blood pressure. Lay off the salt, and be sure you get where you need to be in plenty of time to relax for 5-10 minutes before they test you again. Hopefully it will be down low enough to suit them. Oh - and I think keeping your head from popping off can be considered a job requirement... :] Ira - I would Love to have coffee with you. Friday night, or Saturday morning/mid-day. You pick the time and the place. Pat, we're just having some fun with you on that outfit... It was all that talk about Sturgis and the girls who don't know how to dress. I'm not exactly sure how we got to designing an "outfit" for you - but it's all in fun. Keri - how are you doing? I love those relaxing days too - but it sounds like I get to indulge in them just a little more often. I have been eating everything since I got here... Last time I traveled alone - so I had a WHOLE lot more control over my life after the workday was done. This time, I am travelling with my boss and two co-workers. The Boss Man is wining and dining us every day for lunch and again for Dinner... Last night we had heavenly Italian food at Il Fresco. Tonight it was Japanese grill at the Mt Fuji. Very nice... Tomorrow night we are going into Manhattan - we haven't decided where - but it should be fun - if fattening. Then, on Friday, the boys all fly home - and I will be FREE to visit with my NJ friends. (but without a vehicle). I may just rent a car and have them bring it to me at work on Friday. That way, I won't be so lame on Saturday. I could even pick up Zan at a train station... Yeah, that is sounding better every minute. So, New York & New Jersey - Anywhere between Pearl River and Newark... Friday night or Saturday. What's cool? Talk to you later! ***Oh - I almost forgot - on Monday - DH and I went to the gym - I did a record 21 minutes against the Evil Eliptical! WOO HOO!!!