JoannMarie

I can identify! My lab work is scheduled for Nov 26 - the day before our Thanksgiving. I'll be preparing the dinner this year (with help from DH, DD and DIL) and will enjoy the meal and the day with everyone. But thinking about next year will definitely be on my mind. Having everyone here will be very hard - even with the help it is a long day. Next year will be a different story. I am excited about the coming changes.

Welcome FStop! Congratulations on receiving your date! Goose - hope the cold is doing better. They are so annoying. Hope everyone else is okay. I've been out of town for a couple of days and have a lot to catch up on.

I'm glad you are here, Mary. I've found this group to be very supportive. I'm still waiting and learning, and my LBT friends have been a wealth of information about day-to-day living with the band. I hope everything works out for you and you have your band soon. God bless you.

Welcome Goose! Okay - I guess as of now the name "Holiday Belles" is out! Remove that one and add in "Holiday Hotties" instead. Your are right, guys absolutely can be hotties! Sorry to hear about the postponement of your surgery date, but we're glad to have you in our December group. Also sorry to hear you have a cold. That's miserable - I just got over one myself. Try Mucinex (sp?) for the congestion - I was surprised at how well it worked for me. Glad to have you join us.

Hi Tas31. Welcome to this group. I am not on Optifast now, but I have done that program in the past. In fact, I've done a couple of the liquid diet programs. They work great, but they are very hard to stay on long-term (and that's what I did). The last time I lost 40 pounds in 5 months. The last 2 months of that program included vegetables and fruit and I still lost, though not as quickly as with the liquid only. It is just as difficult to keep that weight off as any other diet - in fact probably harder. I began to slowly gain very soon while still in maintenance, though I was still exercising and tracking my food. I continued in the classes for 5 months after the diet - everyone in the class was gaining slowly no matter what they did. For me it was not a long term solution - obviously, or I would not be planning for the band. I think our bodies hold on to every scrap of fat for as long as they can, and when we go back to a diet that provides real food, the body says, "well, thank goodness she came to her senses and is feeding me again, now we can get back to where we belong." and the ride begins again.

Marilyn, what great news. I'll bet things start moving very quickly for you now. Bless your heart, you have been through it all, haven't you. You will remain in my prayers. I hope to hear soon that you have a date with a laproscope!

Some of the ideas I had: Winter Wonders Holiday Belles December Stars I think we should keep it fairly short and I was thinking about using the holiday and/or winter theme... Any other ideas? We could also wait until we have more folks getting their December dates. No hurry - we have a few weeks.

Hi Kathy - welcome to December! I think most of us have come to this decision after a lot of research and consideration - at least I hope there has been a lot of both. It's not an easy decision, but the research I have done has convinced me that it is right for me. (I would not presume to make that choice for anyone else!) I hope you begin to feel more comfortable with your decision. Probably as you feel comfortable, your husband will feel better about it, too. I agree mental preparation is very important. I've become an avid LBTalk fan in the last few months. I think we hear a wide range of comments and encouragement here, and it helps me a lot. I worry a little about pain and discomfort, too - but immediately my mind goes to my knees and ankles, and I know that pain is a lot more of a problem for me because it is with me all the time and is only going to get worse if I don't lose weight and keep it off. That's just me, of course, and has been part of my own mental preparation. Good luck to you on your journey. Hope you stick around and play with us...

Hi Carol, I agree it's kinda hard when everyone has been banded and we're just looking in. After a while I decided to go ahead and respond anyway. I figure they can get to know us a little before we are in their boat with them. I did not talk a lot with the surgeon about pre surgery diet. She did say I would be on liquids for a week before surgery, but did not elaborate about what kind of liquids (I suspect the clear ones!). I am calling their office this week to get a little more information about that so I can have everything on hand. They have not mentioned any weight loss prior to surgery. I am watching closely and practicing the small bite/chew-a-lot techniques. My weight has been pretty stable for the last 6 months after going up some after my knee began to give me fits. I'm also starting an exercise program - slowly right now, but pick it up as I go along. I would like to have habits in place before December. What's your pre surgery diet plan?

Wow! I'm so excited someone answered my post! I was a little disappointed to be waiting another 2 months, but it's been this long, I guess it can be a little longer. I finally put a ticker in my signature block - chose a winter scene since the big day is in December. I haven't heard from you for a while. Have you been on other threads, or just got tired of being the one without the band? I confess sometimes I feel just a bit envious of the folks that are on their way, but I know my day is coming - and now we know when! Yay for us!

Cori, this is exactly what I'm going to do! A friend I worked with for 8 years shopped this way all the time, and she had a great figure and a constantly changing wardrobe. She spent Saturdays shopping the consignment shops with her mom, and had a great time - and designer fashions that changed all the time. In the 8 years I worked with her, I don't remember her ever wearing the same outfit twice! Once she got started with this method, she was basically exchanging her clothes each week (or month, whatever the time-frame was), because she was putting the older outfits on consignment and purchasing the newer outfits at a much reduced price with the money she was paid by the consignment shop. She had an interesting - kinda Bohemian - style, and an ability to put great looks together - it was fun to see what she would be wearing each day! Anita, I want to be like you when I grow up! Go shopping and make it FUN!

Halloween, there is a thread on LBTalk for Slow Movers getting to goal (or something similar to that). Thread starter is from the UK and jump started her weight loss after a year or so of frustration. She has added more Protein to her diet in various ways and it has worked for her. Check out that thread and see if her story can help you get to your goal. Her first post is quite long and it indicates that in the title of the thread. Maybe her ideas can help you out. Good luck to you. I'm with the others who encourage you to enjoy your success and be kind to yourself. I'm concerned about being a slow loser myself - have always had that problem - I know I will have to extra patient with myself. I am thinking of this as a lifestyle change with no time limit. The band will be there to stay, and I don't have to be in a hurry, just keep working toward healthy food in limited quantities. It will happen.

A call from my surgeon's office this week cleared me for a surgery date of December 4th. I'm excited and I'm looking for others who have a lapband on their Christmas list. Come join me in my Quest for holiday party ideas for those of us on clear liquids! Does this mean I can't even have eggnog??? No Christmas Cookies??? We should be able to think of some fun and interesting names for our December group. Any ideas are welcome! Winter Wonders Holiday Belles (might be a bit sexist...) December Stars _______________ (your ideas here...)

Marilyn, you are in my prayers. Thank you for your update. I think of you so often and pray that everything will work out for you and you will have your surgery soon. You have such a great attitude and your love shows through your words. God bless you.

Blanca, I am so glad you are on this thread. You will find a lot of loving support here. Obviously, I did not know your mom, but knowing most moms as I do, I am sure she is pleased that you are taking this step for yourself and your health. She has always wanted that for you. I am praying that your surgery tomorrow goes beautifully and your surgeon's hands are guided by God. I also pray that you will be kind to yourself and understand how your Father loves you and helps you to be your best. My mom has been gone for 12 years now - it seems like it could not possibly be that long. She is with me every day, though, and I am so thankful she is my mom. You do have some tough days ahead, but know that the Holy Spirit walks with you. God bless you.

Thank you for your kind words, Rosey. I feel blessed every day - cold or no cold!

Well, I have my date! Surgery scheduled for Dec 4th! I don't think it has sunk in just yet. Probably blocked by the head cold I seem to have developed. New for me - I have had maybe 2 colds since retiring 4 years ago. I'd forgotten how yucky they can feel... I had my second sleep study Saturday night - started to feel the cold coming on 2 days later. I can't help but wonder... Ah well, minor setback. Now to think about Dec 4th and whatever I can do to make this all come together and work!

I am so sorry to hear this. On the Medicare website it very clearly states they cover bariatric surgery with the qualifying BMI. I don't understand why a Medicare advantage plan would not pay. I have the regular Medicare with a supplemental plan for the amounts of a covered expense that Medicare does not pay. The surgeon's office assures me MC will pay the hospital charges and the surgeon (though I know MC does not pay as well as most insurances). Supplementals have to cover whatever MC covers. Please appeal this decision! If they were not going to pay, you and the surgeon should have been told this before you were very far in the process. Sounds fishy. Don't pay anything until your appeal(s) has been resolved. Is there a legal aid group nearby that you could go to for advice?

You are all great! Thanks so much for your support. I will keep you posted - hopefully later this week...

Hello to all, I heard from the bariatric coordinator yesterday afternoon. Apparently I have been cleared for surgery, and my chart is on its way to the scheduler for a DATE! I should hear from her early next week. After all these months of waiting it still seems like she was talking to someone else - one of those "out of body" experiences - haha. I am hoping for an early date, of course, but am left a little bit nervous...

I can't go this month. I volunteered to provide refreshments for my quilt guild this month. I will plan for either the SM group or the northland group in October. I really don't want to give up my 4th Thurs - have been in this quilt guild for about 10 years! Have fun and learn a lot!

I did have to take this test. I don't know if it is a new rule or an old one, but it was required as part of my psychologist evaluation. It took about an hour. :redface:

Oh, Marilyn, what good news. God is indeed in control and hears our prayers. All of us are blessed with this news because it give us just another opportunity to praise and thank Him. I hope the news continues to be positive, and you can be banded soon.

I'm so glad to hear this worked out for you. You should not have had to go through all this, but you did a great job. Congratulations. And - congratulations on your weight loss. You are doing great!

Hi Pegg, Welcome to this thread. You will find a lot of support and encouragement here, and on other threads as well. I can help with one of your questions. As of early 2007 Medicare (and the supplements) pay for bariatric surgery. However, they do require that you go to a "Center of Excellence" for your surgery. Be sure to check with the surgeon where you are attending your seminar to make sure they are certified as a center of excellence. If you go to the Medicare website they list the centers by state. Search under bariatric surgery and look for facilities. The website is huge and not the easiest to navigate, but keep at it and you will find it. Good luck as you begin your journey.