tweenwaters

Merry Christmas to all the TLC Edge band family!! I've been holding steady but the weight loss is not happening right now. I think these last 30 lbs will take me a long time to lose....but I will NOT give up until I reach goal! Working outside of the home for the first time since my kids were born has been a new challenge with eating enough and drinking enough Water....which is why I think my losses have slowed. Gotta keep the metabolism going! Anyway...just wanted to stop by and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Healthy 2009!! Remember that Jesus is the reason for the season....God Bless.

Hi fellow TLC band buddies:) I'm here....plugging away at this weight loss. It's REALLY slowed down but I've not had a fill since May 1st. I've adjusted my goal weight b/c I don't think it's a realistic goal anymore.....so I'm shooting for 140 instead of 130. I'm at 161, as of this morning. Started at 229, so I'm pleasantly surprised with band-life! It's hard work but I feel SOOOOOO much better. I'm wearing size 12's now...started out wearing 20's! Going to the chiropractor monthly now instead of several times each week. My goal is to reach 150 by January 17th....my 1 year bandiversary. Not sure if I can do it....but I'm going to give it my best effort! Hope ya'll are doing great! Please update when you get a minute or two:) Blessings all.....Happy Thanksgiving (a little early)

Thank you Cynthia:)

Hi all~ I've been away from the message board for a month or so and wanted to say Hello and see how everyone is doing. Since August 1st, I've been working again....and have really been drinking a lot of my protein bullets and carnation instant breakfast shakes. I was on a plateau but it seems to be moving again:) YAY!!

Hi Pat:smile:~ You are soooo right....it is all worth it. The weight loss is worth all the stress this one incident is causing. Wish I had been able to get in there for my last free fill.....haven't had one since May 1st and BOY oh BOY do I need one. I guess I'm just ticked b/c it was all discussed and prearranged last week and then someone else called insurance to verify and now the "cat is out of the bag" and UHC won't pay for even an office visit.....ARGH!! The girl at the office screwed up....so that makes me mad b/c it was already taken care of. Thank you for the kind words Pat....I appreciate you're support and understanding my frustrations being a self=pay patient as well. Best wishes to you for this fill on Thursday! Remember to take it slow with all liquids....then mushies and don't give in to the head hunger (my worst problem at night when the kids are having ice cream!!!). If I have a spoonful to taste...I don't feel like I'm being deprived and get a quick sweet fix! Hope this is your "sweet spot" on fills and it takes you a few months to need another adjustment. Good luck!! Stacey:biggrin2:

Hi all~ I'm here to vent today....so forgive me while I blow off steam. I couldn't get in for my last free fill w/ TLC edge b/c we were going out of town and they only do them in Plano on Thursday/Friday I believe. So I had called Dr. Kim's office at North Hills, got it all squared away to just pay my $30 co-pay and they would bill my insurance for an office visit. Supposed to go to Dr. Kim's office for this fill TOMORROW and get a call this morning that UHC won't pay for my fill......NO S**T Sherlock...I am a self-pay...UHC denied me REMEMBER??? The office screwed up and now UHC knows I've had this surgery and will not pay whatsoever. Dr Kim's office says that I will have to pay what they charge their cash patients....$200 w/ fluro or $100 w/o......Going from a planned $30 co-pay to $100 or $200 is a big deal to me. I'm royally ticked off right now! Basically, I'm going to have to call TLC and try to schedule my fills again w/ George at their rate of $80 for fills....which I think is still too high. I'd be happy to pay $50 for the fill and 5 minutes that it actually takes.......I'm so mad right now that I think this computer is about to overheat from my fingertips!

Thank you Cynthia! I appreciate your reply and the phone info:) Thank you for the kind words~~ I LOVE my band!! many thanks~ Stacey

Cynthia, I called Hope on Friday to schedule my last "free" fill before my 6 month bandiversary but never got a call back. Is there a number that I can call Monday morning to make that appointment? Also want to schedule my 6 month check....is that with the nutritionist, doc, nurse??? Not sure what to do from this point on.... Thanks for any guidance.... Stacey

My insurance denied me...so I was a self-pay...used TLC Edge surgery center which is an out-patient center. My surgery was @ 2:30....and I was realeased @ 5 pm.....no complications.

Many prayers sent for Joan as she heals....God bless her. Thank you for posting this for her Linda....you are a good friend. Please keep us posted on Joan.... blessings~

Happy 4th everyone:) Cowboy...hope the parade goes really well and that you have a fantastic time!!

YAY....congrats! That is fantastic! Have a safe trip and enjoy yourself!! BTW...I made it to the 1/2 way club too:) Isn't it a HUGE milestone? I've never felt such reward and pride....it's awesome!! See you all at goal:) Keep up the GREAt work!!

I have 6.6 cc's in my 10 cc band......GREAT restriction!!!! LOVE my band!!

This is a HUGE victory for me....even tho techically it does involve the scale.....I weigh 1 lb LESS then my hubby!!!!! I have not weighed less then hubby for 10+ years!!! I'm soooooo excited:)

sure thing.... call TLC and schedule your appt with George. He rotates to different offices, so figure out which office you'd like to get your fills done at and make an appt there. I do not reccommend the Hurst office... read back in this link for comments about that office, if that is the one you were considering. I prefer to go back to TLC in Plano for my fills. George is GREAT and will walk you through it step by step....he's super! The fill itself doesn't hurt....they will put "cold spray" on your belly first before using the needle to find your port. After yor fill....stick to your liquid diet for 24-48 hrs...and you will do fine. Don't get frustrated if you do not have much restriction though....it takes time and several fills to find that sweet spot. I've had 3 fills so far and seem to be just about there.....might get a tiny fill this month. best of luck and keep posting...we'll help you along the way.

that is great to know....thank you!! I had no idea...and will absolutely keep all my paperwork and letters from my doc (that I used to submit to insurance before being denied). If we could possibly get som of the money back...that would be a HUGE blessing:) I love my band and think it's the best money I've ever spent!!! so either way...it's a win/win:)

Hi Stephanie, Stay on track with your pain meds.....so not miss a dosage for the first several days....if your pain gets too much to handle...it is hard to get it back under control. Keep sipping your Water, crystal light or whatever Clear liquids you are on. Hang in there....the time will pass quickly and you will be healing faster each day!!! all the best:) Stacey

I'm sorry you are having a rough time and pray that you & your hubby can fight the insurance company and get his disability insurance working. Hang in there....the weight will come off....you need to put your hubby first right now, so just take it day by day. What can we do to help? We've missed YOU too:) Welcome back!

Hi Stephanie....congratulations and welcome to bandland!!!!! We are here for you with help or support along the way. My best advice for your at this point is to start at the beginning of this thread and read what we each posted at the beginning of our banding process. Many of us had different experiences ..... I didn't have the gas pains that others said were so horrible...but I think I have possibly slimed more then anyone else!!!! YUCK....need to slow down and chew, chew,chew....or i get stuck!

I hear you both on the added calories and sugars with smoothies....Jamba Juice or Smoothie King. It was just a treat...a b-day gift card...and I was pleasantly surprised with how good it was with the added whey. Every once in a while, especially in this summer heat (TX)...it's nice to have something yummy for a treat. Thanks for the website for the soy protein...I will check it out right now:)

You know, I could kind of tell that you got your feelings hurt with Cynthia's comment.....I would have as well and done the same thing you did.....put up a wall and tried to pull away and go it alone. I promise, I would have done the same thing. YOU are better then I....you came back and want to keep going and recognize that we are all in this same situation together....and can help each other! I read on a different LBT link...the new one that has "band buddies" and "coaches"....someone who is at goal and has been on here for a couple years (can't think of her screen name)....she said that she would help anyone who asked but they needed to be willing to take her "tough love" and "real" advice and suggestions. She would tell it straight and not beat around the bush on what works and what doesn't work. I think Cynthia was just trying to do the same thing about the meeting....it's there for us, we just have to take advantage or it and learn from all that TLC has to offer us. With gas prices so high....driving from Fort Worth to Plano isn't at the top of my "to do" list....so I haven't made it to a meeting either. You know what scares me now? On July 17th...that will be my 6 month band anniversary and then I will have to pay for my fills. I had a fill on May 1st and don't think I can handle anymore in my band right now....so I feel like I have missed an opportunity for 2 free fills...(June & July). I'm losing at a slow but steady rate....it's slowed WAY down from the beginning...so what do I do? Do I make an appointment for a teeny tiny tweek fill before July 17th? Or is that me just being greedy?:thumbup: OK....let me know what you all think!!.......ALL my response is on purple....even above in Pat's original post.....I lost her end quote somehow and it showed up this way.....sorry if this is too confusing to read. ~~Stacey

thank you:) I will have to find some soy protein shakes and bars to try this week....I get tired of the same bars. Luna bars are my favorites and the EAS brand are my least favorite. What brand do you shop for and where can I find some soy shakes and soy bars...I've never looked for them before.

don't give up....this next fill just might be "the one"...so keep your chin up:) ~eat &/or drink your Protein first...I still live on Protein shakes daily for Breakfast and have found that getting back to the New whey protein bullets the past several days has helped the scale to start moving again. Your posts are always so uplifting to others....so let "us" help and encourage YOU! all the best!

I will have to check out soy protein and see how I can add that to my diet....any suggestions? My kids and I went to Jamba Juice last weekend to use a gift card someone had given me for my 40th b-day.......anyway, the kids working there said whey protein has a flavor and would change the tast of my smoothie.....so they suggested I try soy protein added instead. I did...it was GREAT!

I would suggest trying New Whey Protein bullets (24 grams of protein & also 42 grams).....keep your protein up each day, even if it's liquid form....and the weight should really start dropping. Not sure what you were able to eat since you had a hard time swallowing....my fill on May 1st was like that. I basically had to stick with protein shakes and soups b/c I would get stuck and slime on hard proteins. Make good choices with foods and eat/drink protein first before anything else......that is what has worked best for me. Good luck:)