Moe128

Wow! Great article, anything to get the word out is helpful...although, I love the way they say "refill" like the fluid leaks out. The comments in the blog after were typical of what people think of overweight people everyday, it really irritates me that people think they can make a snap judgement based on what you look like and that goes for more than just weight...Moe

Congrats on the dates everyone! Prayershawl, it will be great being in the same month! What a big difference it makes having all this support:) Moe

Welcome! What part of Maine? You can go to the USA section and click on Maine and they will give you a good idea of what hospitals cover it and you can get some info on where the seminars are. I know that Portsmouth, Maine Med, and a hospital in Bangor do them, but the folks that have already been through it in your area are the real experts:smile: My numbers (Except the age you are 10 years younger:wink_smile:), but my BMI was just 40, I weighed in at 256 and I'm 5'7" too, with no major issues, the same things like joint/ back pain, but nothing that would be considered a co-morbidity. I just got approved and my surgery is August 1st. My only advise is to go to the seminar and then weigh in ASAP. If you lose too much weight prior to the first official weigh-in, than it might bump you below 40 and you might have an issue with the insurance. Good luck and let me know if I can help you in any way. Moe

I have done it finally...I have been putting off my "before" bathing suit pictures, so I went and put my bathing suit on and took the side, front and rear photos. UGGGHHH! Great motivation... We also did my measurements, which was funny. My DH has a small engine repair business and I am NOT a seamstress so we had to use a tape measure from the shop:laugh: They don't bend really well, but it worked. Someday prior to surgery I'll pick up the right kind! I'm glad to have it done. i did up a chart that has the 21st of each month for a year and I'm going to try to do my measurements each month on the same day as well as take photo's each month. We'll see how it goes! One week from Friday! All my friends are calling me for "one last dinner or one last lunch" I've been pretty good though. I will do a couple of dinners of my chosing before surgery, but I'm on a mission now, so I will hopefully be good.

I am under my two week point and feel like two sides of a coin. I am freaking out a little, but I am so PSYCHED! My doctor requires that you lose 10% of the total amount of weight you want to lose total, I have 106lbs to lose, so I had to lose 11 lbs. They won't even let you schedule the surgery until it's done and if you come in for the surgery and you gain your weight back, you won't get it done that day. I lost 13lbs, maybe a little more so far and I'm on a mission to lose as much as I can. I have dinner with a couple of girlfriends tomorrow and I'm going to eat what I want, but other than that I've really been good. It has been tough, but the pressure they put on you keeps you honest. The surgeon also told me that statistically the more weight someone loses before surgery, the more successful you will be after. I have been having a lot of problems finding Protein drinks that don't taste wretched and don't kill my lactose intolerant system. I ordered unjury, because this one works and isn't too bad tasting. I'm going to look at some of the soy formulas and see if I can find one that works. Any suggestions. Enough ranting, the important stuff...I'm married to a very supportive husband and have 5 and 9 year old boys. I told my boys this weekend, because I wanted them to hear it from me. I didn't go into too much detail, but just told them the doctor will make me sleep and then put the band in place so I can lose weight and be healthier for play time. They were both fine with it. I'll talk to them again right be for August 1st to make sure they don't have any questions. I look forward to watching everyones progress and I look forward to getting to know everyone:biggrin: Moe

I'm sooo with you! I have a weight gain of 4-5 lbs when "aunt flo" comes to visit. It's so frustrating because they just look at you like-ya right...

We've got 50+ people coming to the house this weekend for my son's birthday party...I've already got a TON of veggies and I'm really proud of myself for not breaking into the two bags of Doritos on the counter in the kitchen. I can hear them though..."Moe-were in her all alone-come and get us"...UUGGGH! My experience with Protein shakes turned ugly this week when i tried GNC's products...I'm still finding it tough to find something that doesn't taste like a$$ that doesn't have me in knots all day...I just ordered some unjury and I'm going to try that without the GNC stuff and see how I make out. Does instant carnation Breakfast have protein consentrate in it? THis lactose intollerance thing is a pain. This group is going to be a blast. I'm freaking out that surgery is two weeks from tomorrow. I'm having a green mile moment..."Walkin the mile"

A fellow NH person! What town do you live in? I'm just north of Rochester in Milton Mills.

Thanks! I'm glad to be part of this glittery group:w00t:

Thanks I think I've got it:)

How the heck to I get one of the August All Star glitter banners? Can someone clue me in, I'm not tooo computer challenged, just don't know where to begin...:cool2:

Hi All! Well I got my date today! August 1st, so I'll be with the group going first. I am SO EXCITED! The friends that I have told are excited too and the first thing they say is "we have to get together for dinner before":tongue2: My doctor's office said the "beginning of August", I guess them meant it. I am a little nervous, but I'm still on cloud nine. I have heard so many stories of people not getting their dates for so long, that I am VERY grateful to be going two weeks from Friday...OH MY! I look forward to checking in with everyone as the date gets closer so we can freak out together:wink_smile: Moe

I am lactose intolerant. I can take cheese and some dairy, but things like milk and ice cream do not make my stomach happy. This is a pretty new condition and ice cream was my favorite food! Maybe it's a blessing in the long run, but the thought of having to live on the protien shakes for a couple of weeks is not a pleasant thought. Has anyone come across this issue and found a lactose free and low sugar shake that doesn't taste like a$$? :thumbup: Any help would be greatly appreciated!

You are NOT a failure. We all struggle with this and that is why we are all here. It's hard to read someone's mind when the expectations are not clear. I would ask for another surgeon and explain the situation and go from there. Keep the faith sister! We are all behind you. Moe

I'm headed there tonight, so I'll ask for some more info on that. Thanks a lot for the heads up! You are right, these things are too expensive to find out they taste like a$$ when you get them home:) Moe

Wow! Great advise everyone-thanks:biggrin: I just came back from a week of camping (where I actually lost 4 lbs!!!) so I didn't have access to this, so it's great being able to read all the replies! I saw my nutritionist this week and she said to look for whey products that have the "Whey Protein isolate" as the ingredient and not "whey protein consentrate". I like the advise to buy samples though and I have. So far they are great and I've had no probelms, but I'm still not going to buy stock in them until I figure out what I can handle AFTER surgery...I tried the lactose free "Equate" brand (Walmart) and that was actually really good, but I think it was too high in sugar, so that one might be out. I will look for a soy product that tastes good too. I was surprised by the lactose free milk, it actually tasted pretty good and like real milk. I'll also have some lactaid on hand. Right now I have a pretty mild case and I'm a little worried how my body is going to react after surgery, but at least I have some options! My favorite food that I could eat every meal/every day is ice cream, so this has been a blow to that and I can't help wondering if it was some devine intervention:wink_smile: Thanks again for being willing to share this info with me I really appreciate it! Moe

Absolutely Vagasgirl! I will need all the help and suppport and prayers I can get! We "All Stars" will need to stick together, pre and post surgery! Moe

I'm so ready! The waiting has been brutal! I'm ready to start and the pre surgery diet has been good for me to see the weight come off, but it is a good reminder that I won't have to be hungry all the time after! I'm psyched!

Hey Everyone, I've been holding off replying until I had more information. This has been quite the process, but my insurance paperwork is submitted and the nurse, who wasn't supposed to tell me, said it would be the beginning of August. I have had to lose 10% of the weight that I want to lose. I lost it, but the trick is to keep losing until surgery. If I gain the weight back, I would not be able to have the surgery until I lose it again:scared2:...I'm down 12.5 lbs:) I thought that was pretty good considering we just got back from a week of camping!!! That was interesting to say the least! I'm really excited to hear everyone's stories and watch all of the progress!

I found a lactose free Equate brand-Walmart that tastes really good, but it's high in sugar...I'm sure that we are not the first ones to run into this issue:rolleyes:

Thanks! I am going to the one on the 23rd. I'm psyched:)

I just looked at your join date and realized you have probably already been banded:) I'm still waiting...