kgloverii

The person is not very well written. And this could mean they may be a foreign user 'posting' as a patient so they can give rave reviews for their 'doctor' (i.e. employer). LBT is really good about looking at IP addresses.

A WLS exclusion on a policy is VERY hard to override. I hope you have good luck with it. You need to call them and find out how it would be considered 'medically necessary.' If it is a blanket exclusion, then it will be almost impossible to get it covered. GL.

I love teas... Chai is my favorite. I make a Tazo Chai Tea bag, let it steep for 5 mins, and then add 1 pkg of sugar in the raw and 1/2 milk. The best ever... and I get lots of calcium in that way too...

Congrats! I know exactly how you feel! It is amazing how your brain gets rewired when food is no longer a constant thought... Enjoy your new perspective! It truly is amazing!

It all depends on you and your body. I do not have a set amount of calories to 'aim for.' I just eat until I am full, since I am at my 'sweet spot.' Each person needs a different amount of calories for weight loss and maintenance. If I add it up, on a daily basis, I only eat about 1000 calories per day, and am currently losing weight at a VERY slow pace because I am nearing my goal weight. Even when you hit your goal and are in the maintenance phase, you will probably eat less calories than a 'normal' person. A lot of bandsters maintain their weight at about 1200 calories per day.

I occasionally have acid issues now, but it is very hit and miss. I take Zantac when there are issues.

People like making excuses period. A lot of people find solace in not taking responsibility for their actions... and your support group sounds like that. A good friend and I were joking about my new size 8 pants and she said "Yeah, if I had a rubber band I'd wear size 8's too." Coming from her I took it in stride and was not offended. But coming from someone else, well... that's just plain tacky. I now have the TOOL to make wise decisions. My good friend Julie, who had the band done the same day as I have, and I compare notes frequently. She and I were within a pound or two of each other up until a couple months ago, and now there is about 10 pounds difference. She freely admits that she has a love for chocolate and that is slowing her progress. She does NOT blame it on her being older or some crap. That's why I love her. She keeps it real. so many people beat up on others when they see success. There was a lower BMI'er that posted yesterday about how they'd lost 'faster than bypass' and she got railed because she is a low BMI'er and that so she had less to lose so that's why her stats match that, and blah blah, blah. My God. I felt like complete crap. My doc told me the same thing, about the faster than bypass and I knew it was a huge compliment. I had no idea others would look at me and make 'excuses' for my success. I work my butt off. I make good choices. My lower BMI does not make me set up for more success... I'd seriously speak up at your support group meeting and tell them the rude comments are uncalled for and snippy. And then remember YOU take credit for your success. Success is not just defined in better food choices, it is defined in YOU DOING WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. Going to support group, taking an active role in your aftercare. And not sitting on the couch and crying about your lack of weight loss with a tub of bon bons. HUGS!

Happy Bandiversary!

Thank you for the clarification, MacMadame. I agree that Ortiz's business may be factory-like in nature, but it is a competent factory. I enjoyed my 'factory' experience. :smile2:

Long term, we eat the same stuff. Usually, I can't eat breakfast, but love to cook, so today I had the waffle maker out and bacon for DH and the kids and it didn't bother me. There was a little cinnamon-infused maple syrup that dripped down the side of the bottle, that I was happy to test, but otherwise didn't miss a thing. The rest of the day, we all eat the same. I am not interested in running 2 kitchens. Whatever I make that is a lot of bread, like potatoes, rice, pastas, anything like that, I just don't put much of that on my plate... I make a fabulous THICK spaghetti sauce that I don't need the pasta for... or I use spaghetti squash, for the WHOLE family. Your family's eating habits may change a bit... we eat more proteins and veggies... and less Hamburger Helper... and that is good for everyone.

I don't REALLY like self torture, but why do I STILL do it to myself?! I am fairly experienced with the band, being over a year post op... There is a learning curve, but once you 'get it' you pretty much follow the rules... except every so often I still do stupid things... Like today... I made these nifty little BBQ beef biscuit thingies for my DH and kids for when I go to work tonight. They are easy to warm up and daddy-proof. So, they came out of the oven and I decided I needed to 'test' the cooking. Ate 1/2 and got the 'feeling' that I needed to stop. And still, I decided to rationalize, saying "If I just chew the last few bites a lot, it will be fine..." Like I can rationalize with my Band. In a couple minutes I was on the floor, doing the downward dog, trying to loosen up that overeating... and regretting every moment of it. Will I EVER learn?!! :cool:

Guys, this thread is a year old. Kimmee already had her surgery. :cool:

I agree with PPs regarding Ortiz's PR savvy-ness. He may lack in the aftercare department... but I don't think he'd just ignore a patient. JMHO.

Their Perfectly Protein Vanilla Chai is TO DIE FOR. MMMMM

Before surgery, I drank 8 Diet Cokes per day. I cut it cold turkey. I never realized how HUNGRY Diet Coke made me... Once I cut it out, it was amazing how much less hungry I was. I have cut artificial sweeteners completely and now if I want SWEET, I eat real sugar... in moderation of course. I am more satisfied with sugar. If I eat artificial sweeteners I am hungry all day... Just something for all of you to think about. Diet Coke, my favorite, is an EVIL EVIL drink. Glad it is gone... FYI- Here's an interesting article... Can Sugar Substitutes Make You Fat? - TIME

Thanksgiving is a great time to take your focus off food, and instead enjoy those family interactions, and family fights... Maybe even start a family fight by trying to explain to Aunt Bessie why you are not going to be eating any of her fruitcake. Unless you are on liquids, you can enjoy anything you want, just a bite or so of each, and enjoy that turkey. My favorite is pumpkin pie... eat it without the crust... mmm... and if you want to be a 'little bad' take an extra little dollop of Cool Whip... it won't kill you... :cool:

Just as an FYI, my doc told me that a complete loss of restriction OR total restriction is a possible sign of a slipped band. Severe reflux often accompanies this. I'm praying it is nothing. Hang in there.

Amen to that! I got crows feet! I was happy to see them...

I love Miralax... but it is not cheap. Warehouse clubs are the place to go for that stuff... BTW- I found a box of dried apricots at Walgreens for $1. That is a deal!

This is a good lesson for when you are banded later on... Drinking is a REALLY good thing. Why? I learned the hard way. For some people, when they get dehydrated, their stoma thickens (I know, sounds contradictory, but it is true!)... Why care? A thicker stoma means MORE restriction. I got myself into a bad predicament where I was dehydrated, couldn't eat cause I was so restricted, and thus PBing a ridiculous amount... The PBing makes your stoma swell, also. It was a vicious cycle. And so I was even having a hard time to drink. It was horrible, and I could not get the dehydration under control. I couldn't eat, and around and around I went for 3 weeks until I FINALLY got the fluids in...

I am currently at 6.1 and am 'sweet.' Every single person is quite different, though as we can see from the poll!

What a great idea to commemorate your journey!

The band works for me. If I stop losing for over 3 weeks, I have a discussion with my doc. We evaluate my situation and decide if I need a fill, if I am on a plateau or if I am doing something to sabotage myself. Once you get to a 'sweet spot' you'll be less food obsessed (I no longer have any food obsessions whatsoever), and you'll have the ability to make smarter choices without an emotional 'tie' to the food. I eat what I like. I stop when I am full. And I keep slider foods out of the house, and don't drink while I eat. Works for me...

Some docs go by the statistics. Some go by their experiences with their patients. Some are just optimistic like crazy. And some, are anti-band and make you feel like a loser for choosing that procedure. I have a bit of a different situation, because I had my band placed by Dr. Ortiz in Mexico and found aftercare locally. My aftercare doc has had less than stellar results with his patients. He was honest about it with me. He told me that he hardly does bands anymore and prefers RNY or Sleeve. But I told him that I am not just anyone and he's been fully supportive. He gives it to me straight. And he watches in amazement as I defy his expectations. I like my aftercare doc cause he's been forthright and honest. He may not have had patients with the best stats, but I have GREAT stats. Lap-Band is different because you MUST have a relationship with your doc in order to have complete success. You MUST work your band. You must follow-up regularly and make sure your dialogue with your doctor is complete and honest. No room for being embarassed or shy. YOU determine your success. If you can handle a surgery with slower initial results, and want to be a decision maker in your care, the Lap-Band is a great TOOL. But, if you don't want that, and you want a little easier of a route, then there is nothing wrong with another form for WLS. Do your homework. Look at all of the options. And if you decide that the band is for you, get your doc on board with your philosophy or find a new one. You need your doc to be your biggest cheerleader, not someone who says "I told you so."

KT, Wow... what a story! I am so glad you were persistent with your doc and refused to give up. Many wishes for a full recovery and lots of weight loss success!