Texgirly

hey mom - I would check out some of the posts in insurance. You can even search just that thread for your ins. company for more details from someone who is or has been through it with them. I would also find out from your insurance co. exactly what they will require for this 5 year thing. I know I read at least 2 posts by someone who had to come up with a 5 year history. One of the post said he/she was able to track back their weight history through their PCP. Another one pulled her Weight Watchers records. (you might even try on search on 5 year eight history) Another consistent note you will find in those insurance posts is to be your own advocate. If you have to go to offices to help makes copies, do it. If you have to make the calls to the physicians, make them. Be very proactive. Even my surgeon's office told me that after they submitted, I would get more results by calling my insurance co myself than they would. Think of yourself as the insurance co's customer. They are no different than Best Buy then. Most people would expect service at Best Buy - expect it from your insurance co as well. Hope that helps.

Hey trinity and rosecity - yeah for both of you too. Iam sure you are like me and can't wait either. I am really excited for the next phase. I ahve real;ly been focusing on what I can eat, not what I need to exclude after the surgery. DH is all on board as well. He too needs to lose a few, but foe him it is different. It falls off him like rain! Rose - I am in TX too. In fact, DH use to work in Minola. We go back from time to time for a reunion. Beautiful little city you have there. Trinity - what part of FL are you? I lived in Miami Beach for 9 months back in 2000 for a job assignment. Beautiful, but I don't see myself living there again. I am pretty Southern and MB is not. Very NY or even international. I needed more accents to feel at home.

Good news and bad news. My surgery date is set - March 4th. YEAH! Bad news is that I am nearly down for the count. DH and I are on antibiotics. No energy. Couching. YUKE! I don't think I can pull off Saturday's race. Man I hate waisting the money/missing the race/ and most of all not getting to meet everyone! I am not nearly as sick as Mindy was with pneumonia, but I am afraid 3.1 miles is not going to happen. I will re-evaluate tomorrow and let you know.

Hey Sadie - I am one day behind you - only 1 day of clear liquids before surgery.

WOOHOO - surgery set for March 4th. My approval came pretty fast after a 6 month diet/waiting period. Now I am set. Can't wait. No pre-op diet. How about you? From what I have been reading here, I thought they were pretty much required.

Howdy from Texas, Yvonne! This is a great forum. I have just been approved after a 6 month doctor supervised diet. I am so glad the insurance required the time. I have tried to read as much as possible and I have leaned so much. The other folks on here are so supportive and many are real motivators. Nice to meet you. Have fun!

Well, I have not run in a few days thanks to "the bug." I could not get enough sleep. But I have great news - I hold in my hands a letter from my insurance approving my surgery! :tt1: They received the request on 1/23 and the letter is dated 1/24. And the unhealthy bug is gone, so tomorrow back on the horse I go. Wombat - I am with you here in week 3. How long did everyone stay in week 3 - was it pretty much just 2 weeks? Just wondering.

Well, looks like I am the lone wolf on GEHA - Federal Employee insurance. The cool news is that today I got my approval letter. Yeah!!

Hey Heidi - Like you, I have not been banded yet. I watch the Complications posts and I have been making a questions lists for my surgeon. I am in the middle of insurance approval. Once I get past that and meet with my surgeon again, I will be asking these questions of my surgeon and his staff. To calm my fears, I also look at how many people here have had successful LBs. I think the rate of success is pretty good and the odds are in our favor. But I also feel for the folks here you have had bad experiences. There is real heartbreak in their posts sometimes. But I would rather be informed. Hope that helps some.

Whosya - Happy b-day! Have fun with the game and travel safe!!

Howdy all. Well, No running to report; the bug got me. I woke up all achy and such today. I plan on resting through the bug and get back on my feet in time to head to Austin next week. Hope everyone else is well!!

I have been watching for a few weeks and it does not seem that there are any, but I had to check. I am in Victoria but our 2LP surgeons serve CC as well.

YEAH WANNA!!! Good job. And it does get easier. IMO, you got the hardest part out of the way - you started.

One - you guys are all very inspiring. As for being obsessed - I would rather wen (is that the right spelling? no clue.) myself off of running rather than cake and diet cokes any day of the week. Diet coke was hard to give up. Two - Theater! In the gym! And I thought we had it good with flat screens everywhere. Now I am jealous.

Thanks Mommy - I will try it! Good tip. Do you do the bike, then stretch, then hit the treadmill?

Wow yall! this morning I took off to the gym and thought I would never make it back out. I was about 2 minutes into the warm up when the most amazing shin splints popped up. I managed to finish the warm up and started stretching - wow it hurt!!:rolleyes2: MY shins and calves were on FIRE! So, after stretching, I worked my way to the treadmill and started the regular workout. After about 2 minutes, I started to run. Managed to get in about 1 minute then went back to walking. That was my minute of running and I walked the rest of the 20 minutes. When I was finished, my PT came over and we talked about it. He says it could just be one of those days, could be the new shoes, could be tired legs, lack of Breakfast, lack of hydration. Basically, he didn't have an answer other than to say I needed to go stretch really well. So I did. I can still feel it now to some extent. Low mileage day, but I did try.

OMG Whosya! The two of you are too cute on that cover. What an awesome journey for the two of you. I bet your girls are super proud.

Mindy - so sorry to hear the ill is spreading like wildfire in your home. Just rest and get better. If we have learned nothing from each other - running will always be there for you. Welcome Wanna! As you can tell from many of the posts - this is a great, supportive place - and we are all in different places in the program. Come on in!! Headed out to start week 3 tomorrow. I am excited to test the 3 minute mark. Ok - and a little scared, but mostly excited. I don't think I have shared this - kind of funny: My gym has a Biggest Loser contest going; me and my co-workers at Habitat formed a team - Building Babes! We build houses - and we are building babes. Told you it was kinda funny. Anyway, tomorrow morning is weigh in. I tested their scale on Sunday and it looks like I may be coming in 7 lbs. lighter than my first weigh in. Yippee! The contest is 2 months long and we are in week 3.

Yeah - another runner! Welcome mommy!

Good luck jazzy! Can't wait to see updates. As for the ticker thing, click on mine to get there. Set up a new one, from there it is pretty self explanatory.

Well, I am married now, just past the three year mark this month and I will be 38 on Tuesday (he is 34 by the way - so don't rule out a younger man.) No kids with no plans for them. We love being the crazy aunt and uncle. I met my husband when I was 32 and totally thought I was Bridget Jones - well except for the whole drinking and smoking thing. We married 2 weeks before I turned 35. No disrespect to anyone who married their high school sweetheart or just married younger, but I am SOOOO happy I married in my 30's. For both of us, this was the way to go. We both admit that if either of us had married earlier, or for that matter met each other earlier in life, we would never have been as happy as we are now.

Howdy all! Mindy - sorry to hear you are down for the count for a while - take care of yourself. the flu and pneumonia have been running rampant down here for about 2 weeks now. I am scared to even shake hands with people at this point. Welcome Big as Life! So Tuesday is my birthday (not the news) and went went to Houston for a quick shopping trip (there is nothing in Victoria - still not the news.) I made a stop at Luke's Locker running store and was fitted for a new pair of running shoes. They were awesome at the store. And I ended up in pair of Brooks Dyad 4 - right at 90 after tax. :biggrin: They feel so awesome. And I found out why my feet sometimes go numb when I am running. The answer is so simple I am flat embarrassed. My shoes were tired too tight! All of that said, if you have not been to a running store to be fitted, it is well worth the time and money. I learned quite a bit just from the lady who fitted my shoes. OK - gotta run - really, I am going running in my new hardwear! Here is wishing a great Sunday to all.

Well done Whosya! Glad to hear from you, too. So are you a Packers Fan? You kinda have to be right? As someone who has been through the C25K Program - can we ask some questions about your running? How often do you run? What is your longest distance? How long can you run without a walk break? Just wondering.

Lulu - you are not alone. Last weekend this Cowboys fan got rained on with cheering and smack talk from my own husband. He is a transplant to Texas, loves the Giants, hates the Cowboys. Hates them more than any team out there. So of course this weekend I plan on getting my run in before rootin' for Brett and the Pack.

Wow you guys are funny! I am in week 2 and so far so good. Feels better every time I attempt - which is awesome. I have one more week 2 run, then on to the treacherous week 3. I also got some news today - my surgery request has been sent off for insurance approval. I am on my husbands Federal Government GEHA insurance. The procedure is covered, now I wait to see if I am approved. My doc office feels good about it.