Apples2

Thanks everyone!!

Hi Jill. Just wanted to wish you luck. Kind of cool that you are doing it with your friend. Make sure to follow that band rules with your eating and things should work out fine for you. Take care.

BrandyII. Thanks for your concern. As I stated above, my son is doing better. He does have resources he can rely on and will and has used them when necessary.

My son is actually doing a lot better this week. He went to Memorial Day services this morning. I think the toughest part for him was being in the midst of everything when his buddies were hit. He has a huge advantage in that he will pour his heart out and talk about it. I think that is half the battle and it helps him to work through things when it gets to him. He's strong and he knows that this is something that will revisit from time to time. I hope and pray that things will continue to calm in the middle east. God Bless all who gave their lives and God Bless their loved ones.

I was just barely 40 BMI with some comorbidities. Every ins. company is different but mine took my beginning BMI and weight. I was required to do the six month diet also. My surgeon encouraged weight loss and my ins. company also encouraged it during that time period. I had not trouble getting approved. Just a couple of days. Jump through the hoops...do what is required of you. The six months actually gives you time to wrap your head around the life change after banding. Do as much research as you can during that time. By the time your surgery date comes, you will have a clear understanding of what you are in for. Good luck and take care.

I have told some of my friends that I will be banded. I am sure that it will spread to people that I don't care to disclose it to but will just keep them guessing. Most time I don't feel like getting into a discussion about MY BUSINESS with just a casual friend or acquaintance when I am asked by that person how I am losing weight. I'm not keeping things completely secret but I don't want to give information about being banded cuz don't want to be judged by someone that really isn't a part of my life.

OMG...I didn't mention that I have two sons. 27 and 25. One farms with us and the other lives in Daytona Beach and is a flight instructor. Our baby is a black lab named Tanker..7 years old.

Kat, good to see your pretty face back here again. Happy to hear that you are home and up and about some. Wishing you a speedy recovery. I look forward to your updates on your PS. Thank you for sharing. As I am sure you know, it paves the path for us thinking of eventually going down that road. Take care of yourself.

Great to hear that they nabbed the guy. I hope the victim is able to physically and emotionally get back on her feet again soon.

Luu, just have faith that everything will turn out just fine. Let us know what you find out. Good luck to you!

Julie...he'll be just fine. He probably has a better handle on it than his old momma. As a parent of a 27 yr. old, there's only so much they want you to do for them. I am very fortunate that he spills his feelings to me. When my sons were children I always told them they could voice their opinions as long as they did it with respect. Boy...did they voice their opinions!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the post.

How true, Pix. When you marry someone in the service you marry the service also. Talked to my son a bit ago. He's doing OK. Just needs his space sometimes to get through it all. He is such a great kid. Works hare, takes care of his buddies and sometimes forgets he needs to do the same for himself. My younger son (25 on June 3) is also in the service. Both enlisted when they were 17 and needed our signatures on their contracts. I never, ever tried to talk them out of it. They talked about enlisting since they were young boys. The service is not for everyone but I would like to see boot camp for most young people. lol!

Cathy, about that boy toy issue...you can always dream! Nice to meet you

I am unsure if the person in the commercial is an actress. There are b/4 and after photos. It's the first ad I saw for lap banding. Every once in awhile when I go thru this forum's b/4 and after photos, I expect to see her pop up!

Chris, thanks for the response. Saw the photos but for some reason the captions did not come through and thus my question about where they were taken. Isn't it just beautiful up there? My son lived in Homer for 2 yrs. and we visited. It was breathtaking!

You just gotta admire Pix and all the young women who are here holding it all together. Not only is she going through that, she had weight loss surgery on top of it all.

Good news, Cathy. I have been thinking of you and wondering when you would get some answers. Good luck with your surgery!

You look great. Can really see your weight loss. Congrats!

Hey Pix, as I have communicated b/4, appreciate your husband and admire you for being he backup back here at home. My son is also laid back. When I talked with him last night b/4 sending him home he stated that if he felt he needed to for for counseling, he would. He's one that most of his buddies lean on when they are having some issues with it all. If I felt that he needed more than just some time off of work to chill out, I would make sure of it. Thanks for your response

It would be worth a try to see if they will accept a different type of weight loss six month record such as Weight Watchers. It's worth a try and would be a lot less $ than the $200 per visit. Just a thought

One of things my son walked away with was a true pride in what they did for the Iraqis while they were over there and what is still being done. He has so many stories about the children and how they and their families are affected every day by this war. Some of the things that still haunt him have to do with the situation these families (especially the children) are in. Thanks for your comment

I have BCBS of MN. My surgeon's office coordinator turned my paperwork in after three months of a medically supervised diet. I was denied and the letter stated that I would need to do a full six months. After the six months I was approved in a couple of days. Go of the six months and then send in for approval again. Good luck

I used to buy the jar candles...any old kind. Now I burn only soy candles. We remodeled our home and have a lot of white or light colored walls. Not wanting to soot them up. We pulled borders off of our walls b/4 the remodel and could not believe how sooty our walls were from burning the reg. candles. It's been seven years of burning soy and have not come across any soot. The fact that we raise soybeans comes into play with my decision also

Thinking of you, Kat. Take care...wishing you a speedy recovery

Wow Chris, Not a Dec. bandster but just wanted to comment on your photos. Did you do a cruise? Where did you go in Alaska?