Poodles

I did not see the 20/20 show, but did read the article linked by banded for life (Thanks!). It sounds interesting. Since it works by increasing hormone levels, do you ever think they will come up with a pill? They do it for people with menopause and such... Many people focus on the fast weight loss approaches. DS is the new one I hear about the most recently. But everyone I know that has had those surgeries end up with colon proplems, hair issues, and the like. I know the band has it's own set of issues (PBing, erosion, slipping, etc) But at least you can take it out and go back to "normal". Once you cut your stomach you can not be reversed. Those people are "Screwed for Life" if you will...

I have three turtles (TX Maps) Dash, Violet, and JJ. Two dogs, Angel (shepard mix) and Parker (Schnauzer). Two guinea pigs, Rocky and Kipper. About 2 dozen fish, unnamed. One husband. One son. Everyone says I have a zoo! I love my pets!

Fridge box, or colored paper, and overhead is all you need. Trace a picture of yourself, put the image on the overhead (to your height level) and then paint it up. No need to be detailed, I don't imagine, just have the measurements right. A silhouette would be fine for me! Really, for me, I plan to never look back. I try not to look at the size 10 pictures of myself at 17, so why would I look at the size 26 pics of me at 32? I am just looking ahead to the size 14 (goal) me in the future...

I bought the milk thistle at Sprouts, but Vitamin Shoppe, Walmart, or other places sell it too. Noticed on my bottle it has Milk Thistle and dandelion root. If you search about it, which I have today, it says that it can lower cholesterol, but has no medical documentation regarding that. I sure think it works. Like I said I have never seen my numbers that low. Just a great side effect of trying to get my liver in shape! BTW, don't ever take Tylenol on a daily basis. I got off of pain pills for my back, and on to Tylenol and it damaged my liver badly. So much so that the doctor thought I had hepetitis or was a drunk. I don't drink, which is great considering if I had been a drinker and taken tylenol, I would need a transplant. The liver repairs itself slowly, so will be fine. This herb just gives me a little help! Let me know if you try it!

Never before in my life have I had cholesterol below 200. Then I read about Milk Thistle and its effects on the liver. Seems to show healing effects on the liver. I decided to try it since I have some high "liver levels" due to tylenol usage. Well, my liver levels are in the normal range and my cholesterol is 188. That is after two weeks on milk thistle (250mg 3 times a day). I am not a doctor, just wanted to share my experience. Anyone else tried this?

Lap Band Solutions has it all. All doctors visits, medical records, medical clearance, etc. I have been given the "it probably won't be approved" speech because of the lack of 12 months documentation. But I am still hopefull. Said my prayers. Crossing my figures, toes, legs, eyes, and holding my breath. Good thoughts are needed!

I go to my PCP on Tuesday, for my second month of stuff. I am going to give them the medical records request then so that they can at least send two months of things. I sure hope things go smoothly from there. Really wanted to have this done over Christmas break, but don't think that will happen. I can always keep my hopes up though!

Was just wondering if anyone had been approved by their insurance company without a consecutive diet trail. Will letters of "recommendation" from your doctors work? I have dieted for YEARS, just don't have it written in a chart every month. If you were approved, how did you do it? Thanks!

Do you have an example of the letter? Would love to take it to my PCP.

I have done it, but don't have a band yet. Remember you are choosing five things off of the list, not eating everything on the list. Your calories will be right at 1000. Without a band it is hard, but it works rather quickly. When I hit a plateau I go on this for 1-2 days and boom... I have lost 4 + pounds. It is not recommended for long term use. I just thought that cream cheese would be easy on the tummy and it is a perfect fat/protein ratio.

Just wondering. If your insurance pays for the first band and you have complications will the insurance pay to have it removed and then "reinstalled"? Or, is this a one time shot? Anyone have experience with this sort of thing?

Keri, "Pot calling the Kettle black" comes to mind.

I am officially SANE. I have documented proof. No one can call me crazy anymore. I have officially completed all of the tests to be "medically cleared". Had my labs drawn, psych eval, nutritionist consult, and stress test done on Wednesday. sleep study last weekend. The psych test has come in and I don't have to worry about a padded room or straight jacket. Now to wait for the other results and on insurance. They said all test results should be in by the end of next week and then they will send it to lapband solutions to put together for insurance. Wonder how long it will take to be approved/denied? Anyone have an educated guess???

I hate that every picture I have at Christmas has me holding a pillow, present, child, dog, what ever I can to hide my fat belly. I dodge the cameras at school and home. The last picture I have of myself is my childs 4th birthday party (he is almost 7 now) and I am holding the cake (in front of my belly) but you can't hide a 320lb face. I have lost down to 285 now, but I still hide.

Aquamarine Jolly or Lilac Cornucopia here! Really would rather stay with Poodles.

Wires strapped to your body, goo all in your hair, things shoved up your nose, and extreme paranoia...they are watching... Ready for Halloween? Or... a sleep study? This was the weirdest experience of my life, a blasted Sleep study in Richardson, TX. It took 30 minutes to hook up all the wires, glue things to my skull, and put things up my nose. Then it took about an hour for me to fall asleep. You must sleep on your back or they will wake you up and put you on your back. That was the hardest thing. ***News Flash*** I snore! The tech would not tell me anything else, except that she did not notice me stop breathing much. (how much is much?) She said that the doctor will interpret the things and get back with me. I asked her what they do with the tapes of people sleeping, and she said she sells them on Ebay. (joke...I hope) So, don't pick your nose, scratch your hinney, or heaven forbid pass gas in your sleep. That will just make the tape more valuable on Ebay! The goop in my hair took three shampoos to get out. Actually used Palmolive, then regular shampoo. Palmolive cuts the grease you know. Wanted to share the experience so that everyone could lbe prepared if they have one coming up. It really was no big deal. Just a little weird knowing people are watching you sleep...

I understand the PBing thing, but My question is this: What happens if you get the flu, food poisoning, or the like? Slippage is a bad thing I know, and vomiting effects that. Do they give you a permanent perscription for antinausea medicine?

My OBGYN put me on a low carb diet to regulate PCOS symptoms three years ago. He also put me on Glucophage 500mg once a day. I was cramping so bad and bleeding so much they were going to do a hystorectomy(sp?). I would go for months without a cycle and then WHAM I was in bed dying for a week. After I went low carb, keeping carbs under 80 a day, my cycles straightened out. I am regular with a 28 day cycle and only cramp on day two and those are under control with Valerian root. I am very glad that I stuck to the diet and think it will really help me when I get the band. I already eat Proteins, veggies, and very few carbs. My best advice for the infertility and PCOS is to go low carb and see what happens. It will also help with the IR. I go by the Atkins approach, but my OBGYN likes South Beach better. Figure what ever works is best, and Atkins works for me. Good luck!

***singing**Hello, I love you, won't you tell me your name? Hello, I love you won't you jump in the game? Anyone want to chat? Join me on the chat site!!!

I edited the above post, because I know I start too many threads, so thought I would put this in to "bump" it up to a new listing.

What is the Fat Fast? WARNING: This method will not help you lose weight fast! Only try this if you are metabolically resistant. The Fat Fast diet is structured especially for metabolically resistant people. It's designed to push your metabolism into ketosis. You will eat a 1000-calorie a day, 90% fat diet by dividing the food into small portions and eating them at different times of the day. Try dividing 1000 calories into five 200-calorie portions. SUGGESTIONS FOR 200-CALORIE PORTIONS ARE: 2 oz of sour cream, containing 1 tbs. of caviar, served on 3-4 pork rinds. 2 deviled egg halves, served not in the whites, but on pork rinds. Graham Newbould's Pate for Royalty (2 oz.) served on the soya bread. 2 oz of chicken salad made with triple the usual amount of mayo (of ham salad, egg salad, shrimp salad.) 1 oz of the above in a half avocado 1 oz of macadamia nuts (or walnuts, or other nuts that fit the 90% fat criteria. 2.5 oz of whipped heavy cream, artificially sweetened, with ground vanilla Beans 2 oz of cream cheese Remember, you are not trying to eat a gourmet meal plan, but are trying to push yourself into ketosis. I have tried it and it works, but it makes me VERY hungry. But I am not banded yet.

Has anyone heard of the Atkins Fat Fast? There is a list of food you can eat to total 1000 calories a day for three days. This is to break past a plateau. The foods you can eat have the perfect fat to Protein ratio. One of these foods is cream cheese. I was wondering if on the Mushie stage you could eat cream cheese? Since it has the perfect ratio wouldn't it be good to eat during that stage? Just wondering. I do think I could actually stick to the 1000 calories after being banded!

I have been going to the gym for the past few years. Swimming mostly, but when my back starts to hurt badly I stop going for a while. My printout of logins shows an everyother day log in spirt with a month long absence. But I have gone on Sunday and tonight to workout on the treadmill. That will keep a log too. I want to show my three times a week to the insurance so they know I am trying. My chiropractor has written a note stating that I can not do high impact exercises and has documented my history of back pain, so I am hoping that will help too. I have moved all of my pre-surgery tests. sleep study on 10/21 and other tests on 10/26 (psych, stress test, and nutritionist) so maybe we can get this ball rolling more quickly. I still need lots of prayers! I would love to get the band as my Christmas present to myself! I can only hope BC/BS will agree quickly! Thanks for all of the support!

5'7" and 294...

Thanks everyone. At least I am normal (for a bandster). I did get back on my diet today. Carbs make me truly ill, and I should know better. Guess that the 46.4 will just look all the better when I put a lower number beside it, like you ladies have. Your words have really given me hope. Now to be approved. Please pray for me there too. I would like to have it done for Christmas/New Years, but that may be pushing it.