Dorr185

Remember me? I was supposed to have the surgery on 12/24, but instead I had it last Tuesday, 1/22. Feeling really good.

I had the surgery Tuesday, I could have went back to work Wednesday without a problem, but I might as well take the time, since I'm getting paid for it. So I'm going back to work after my two week check up.

I get banded on Christmas Eve. I dunno how much I weigh right now, if I had to guess, I'd say 280. Last year I was at 426, got down to 280 with diet and exercise. I want to band to lose the last 100 and more importantly to make sure the weight stays off for good. Four days away and I'm still not nervous yet. I was even brave enough to watch a boatload of "when surgery goes wrong" shows on TLC last night. LOL

I've never met a single person on Atkins who didn't get vegetables. The actual plan insists on vegetables actually.

I just saw this program about a man who went from over 1000 pounds to less than 200 without surgery.............and then he gained it all back! I honestly think I can do it without the surgery, in fact I am sure I can. I've already lost 130+ with diet and exercise. But this band is my insurance that I will definitely keep the weight off. Why leave it up to chance? I've actually stopped losing just to qualify for the band, and once I got the insurance approval started to drop again. I think it can be done without the surgery.........and it can be done with the surgery. I also believe the route you take to get there is completely unimportant. To each his own.

I'm getting banded on Christmas Eve!

Thanks! Your ticker is looking mighty impressive. I hope I do as well as you have.

Hello everyone. I start my pre-operative diet today and my surgery is two weeks after that! I am going in for bloodwork and an Upper GI today. I took a picture this morning to track my progress, you'll have to forgive my apperance, it is 6:00am! Hope everyone is doing well............

I'm a gay! My surgery is December 24th. I'm looking forward to it. Did the pre-op today. I weighed in at 292. Which is terrible, but considering last year I was around 425 I'll take it. Lost the first 133 pounds with diet and exercise, getting the band to help with the last 100 and more importantly to insure I don't gain it back. What else..........I'm 23 years old. I posted a picture of myself in another thread. Search my posts if you are interested in putting a name to the face. Glad to meet you all.

I lost 130 pounds with Atkins. It's a great plan........the rest of this post may sound silly, so forgive me. I dropped from 426 to the 290's with Atkins and exercise alone. I know I can drop down to my goal/healthy weight without the band as well. But I stopped the diet and didn't drop or gain a single pound because I wanted the band anyways. There is a part of me that knows I can drop the weight without it, but an even bigger part of me that knows that without some type of restriction, I'd likely gain it all back. I'm definitely getting the band as a method of controlling/maintaining my weight...........but Atkins has proved to be the only way I can lose weight. I got approved for the band and I'm very excited about it. I think the band + Atkins + exercise will be the key for me to completely get the weight off and keep it off. Since I'm kind of new here, I'll post a picture. The first picture is me at my heaviest (around 420) and the second picture is me now (around 290) I hope to drop about 110 more after the band.

Hello, I've been reading these boards but this is my first post. I have Anthem BCBS so I thought I'd share my store here too. So basically, I followed the less is more approach. We sent in 4 pages, a one page letter from my doctor, a one page letter from my pysch, a one page write-up from the nutrition counselor, and one page from the surgeon. Sent it in on the 19th and got approved on the 26th. I truly think not sending in all the extra paper is why I got approved so quickly. I wouldn't recommend sending in anything they don't ask for. Anthem BCBS PPO only asks for a PCP note, Nutritional counseling (a simple letter will do), and a pysch eval. (a simple letter will do). There is also a form they have for the surgeon to fill out. It was so quick and easy I was surprised.