K@t

Hey Cherie,

I dunno if this helps or not, but I heard some people saying that they lost more when they ate a bit more, like around 1200 a day. When you eat to little I guess the system goes into shock and tries to save every little bit. I think u have to find the right balance.

Hope that helps, good luck!

"Ya gotta figger out this one yerself Bunkie" ---no insult intended here...

None taken, it made me laugh :biggrin1:

How much extra weight are you likely to gain in the next 12 months?

How long will it take to lose that? How certain is the reality of "No cost"...and will the surgeon still be there? Will the policy change? etc etc....

Not much, I have gained about 20lbs in the past 3 years, so maybe another 5 to 10 if I'm not careful. Maybe nothing if I keep trying to diet. The no cost thing....well I'm not that certian. I know they pay for the surgery its self, but I may have to pay for the pre op testing, even though I was told by another person who did it, that she didn't pay any thing. I don't think the policy will change,the national health care has worked like this for a while, and serious health risks are always covered, and with a bmi of 40 or higher a person is considered a health risk. (I'm 40.8, so there might be a chance if I loose weight, that I won't qualify any more)

My own bottom line is this: I've had $10,000, and I've had new cars....I would have traded them all to NOT have to have suffered the past 15 years as a zombie derelect tottering only with one foot over the cliff and the other on a banana peel.....but that's just me. Your mileage may vary.

Cheers....

I hear Portugal is absolutely beautiful!!!

My mileage is that I have had weight problems since I was 6. While Portugal IS a beautiful place (come visit us some time) they aren't very nice to obease people, I constantly get stared at, the kids make snide remarks behind my back and its hard to find clothes in my size. (even though I'm a 20/22) And nosey people are constantly asking if I'm pregnant or giving me diet advice, I mean complete strangers off the street! Plus, they would never say so, but I think it embaresses my mother and father in law.

One thing to consider....are you going to want plastic surgery done later? Maybe if you wait the year, you could "save" the 10 k spent for surgery and maybe finance plastic surgery? I know I want to have a Tummy Tuck later...i will defiently need it. I might even need an arm/thigh and booby lift (if there is any left to lift that is)...though I want the tummy the MOST. All of that is going to cost more than 10k, and I know it will be YEARS before I can have it all done. If I had of had to pay 10k for the lapband and then that I think it would have been almost impossible.

This is EXACTLY what the other woman who I spoke to told me. She waited I guess and she said it was worth the wait because eventually she would need plastic surgery and she couldn't afford it otherwise. I don't know if I will need it or not, im 242 and 5´5 I was hoping to exercise and maybe get some tissue massages to help the skin snap back. Plus I'm still pretty young, however I guess there is the possibility that I may want it further down the road.

I really hate the idea of waiting another year, but I also really hate the idea of having to spend all that money when I could get it for free if I just waited. There is no garuntee that it's going to be a year either, that was the average time. It could be shorter, or it could be longer. I would hate to go ahead with the private surgen, and then a month later get a letter from the state saying that they are ready for me. Or on the other hand, wait a year and then never hear any thing when I could have done it the year before with the private surgern. *sigh* I dunno..... :confused: :confused: :confused:

Ok, so here is the skinny on gastric banding in Portugal.

I qualify for the government insurance to pay for my operation. Problem is, it will take about a year on the waiting list before I will get a date. However, it will be totally free.... I won't pay a dime, and it will be done in a hospital about 5 min from my house.

I also have the option to go with a private doc who will do the surgery at his own facility. I can have a date as soon as next month, but it will run me around $10,000.

Hubby and I could get the money if we really needed it and the doc said he would take monthly payments.

So, should I wait a year and get it for free, or should I go ahead with it now and be out the money. It is quiet a lot of money. However, I have 2 big events coming up this year. In September my husband's brother is getting married in a huge lavish wedding with every one attending. It would be a really good time to show off some weight loss. In addition to that I'm finally going back home for Christmas in December and that would be a great time to show off weight loss to my family whom I haven't seen in person in over a year.

I'm torn. My hubby kind wants to go the private way because he thinks I might get better care than a public hospital, but on the other side he hates to part with money, especially an amount that big. $10,000 is almost what I paid for my new car, and it seems a shame to waste that much when I can get it for free.....if I wait.

Help guys, what would you do??? :help:

Wow! That must have made you feel good! How come I didn't know you when I lived in Tampa, I went to USF there for 4 years. We could have had some fun together!

-My good story- When I first moved here to Portugal I went to a new salon with a friend. They did my hair all up, gave me a scalp massage, all the good stuff. Afterwards, hubby picked me up and we went out for dinner. I ordered a diet coke and here in Portugal they usually bring a can or a bottle (they aren't to big on fountin drinks) and on the can of diet coke was a picture of Shakira. The waiter brought the coke and then pointed to the can and said.....look its you on the can!!!! :biggrin1:

Hey guys,

I'm a newbie too, but this is what I have read in other posts. You should drink LOTS of Water in between meals to keep yourself hydrated. If your body is already well hydrated through out the day, then you won't be as thristy during meals. I too fear this will be a difficult thing to over come, but I think really you just have to bite the bullet and try to make it a habit. Just try to get in as much Water and liquids in between meals as you can.

I'm so gonna do the ebay thing after I get banded. I have so many things that it's insane because I buy tons of clothes and most are bran new and I never wear them because they never fit properly. Thanks for such a great idea, I never would have thought to ebay it!

I have been selling my too big things on Ebay and that has paid for me to buy things that fit properly. I am getting ready to list about 4 hampers of things in the next week or so. I am starting tomorrow and listing until I run out of things to list. Last time I made over $300 and cleaned out my closet in the process. I am using the money from these sales to buy myself something really nice on my vacation. I already have a really nice summer wardrobe and I even have some things that are several sizes too small for fall and winter. I am lucky I have a local resale shop that sells everything for a set price, jeans are only $3.00 a pair no matter the brand name. A few weeks ago they had a buy one get one free an all womens clothing and I bought about $150 worth of clothes from my current size down to a 10. I am in a 14 or slim 16 now. I have from 24 to 16 to sell next week, look out Ebay here I come. ~Mandy

You can sell used clothes on ebay??? how does that work? I have bags of stuff here, and I'm at the point of thowing them in the trash because no place here will take them as donations because they are such large sizes.

Well, I have many of these stores where do i even start.

-I had a crush on a guy in 5th grade and he and his friends laughed at me and called me a fat bitch. (pretty deep stuff for a 5th grader) he got his due in high school though, he got some girl pregnant and got hauled off to jail for having sex with a minor!

-I feel so ashamed when people pat my belly and tell me I need to work on that. Every one from my grandmother, to my mother in law to complete strangers on the street have done that.

-When I went to McDonalds the other day, the guy at the drive in knew who i was. :faint:

-I've been asked if I was pregnant numerous times, to many times to count. I was once away from work for a few days for a fair, and when i came back a regular customer looked at me and said, your back so soon?? what about the baby...she thought I had gone to the hospital to give birth.

-Every time i get on a plane im afraid the seatbelt wont fit me and ill have to ask for an extension.

-probably the worst is from when i was a child, 6,7,8 and my dad use to sing to me "fatty fatty 2x4 can't get through the kitchen door." I knew there was a reason I loathe that guy.

There was a really good one I had thought of as well and now i cant remember i'll come back and edit the post if i remember.

*I remembered...... I went for a boat ride with my husband and my cousins husband who is a very fit Army captain. My cousin didn't come because she had to work. We got pretty far out and found a really nice place that had clear blue waters, but no land near by. It was really hot so we decided to swim. We all jumped off the boat into the Water and had a nice swim. It was only after I was ready to get back in the boat did we realize that the boat had no ladder to get in. My hubby and my cousins husband pulled theirselves in no problem. I tried getting in, but my foot slipped on the propeller and I sliced it open. I tried 3 more times with their help to get in but couldn't do it. I felt my strength drained, and it started raining. I was afraid sharks would smell the blood from my foot and start coming near the boat. I was near tears when finally the army captain had a brilliant idea. He formed a rope ladder from some rope on the boat and haulled me in. Amen for army training!

I'm with you about getting rid of the clothes I have, but I keep thinking that if i wear a smaller size, i can fit more clothes in my closet, so I look at this as an opportunity to get an EVEN bigger wardrobe!! :dance:

Wow thats a great NSV. I wonder why your son started to change his eating habits? For whatever reason he's doing it, its something to be happy about! Congrats!

that was funny....the damn dog. I didnt think it was possible to hate animals, but i can totally see ur point. i would tell hubby he has to bathe the dog every week and he has to play with it, and he has to replace all the plants and flowers he chew EVERY time the dog chews it, and he has to not only pay to replace the childrens clothes, but take the kids clothes shopping to get new clothes. See how long the dog stays after that!

great video! I showed it to my mom...*hint hint mom*

Thanks :biggrin1: I'll keep every one posted. BTW Jessiebear I ment to ask you, I saw a bunch of your recipes on the food thread.....are they all lab band friendly, or where you just posting good recipes?? :hungry:

Thanks Pam,

That was some good info. I guess we will have to wait to see what Kimber wants to do.

Hey All,

Thanks for such kind words. I'm so dissapointed right now. I went to the doc and after I told him what I was there for he said, you have the wrong doctor?!?! Apparently here you have to go directly to the surgen. You don't even need any other doctor to refer you. So I don't know any more now then I did before I went. I made an appt. with the surgen, but it's not until March 8th because he's out on vacation! :confused: I'm so tired of waiting I wanted to know something now! Now I know how all of you waiting on insurance papers must feel! *shrug* well here goes another 2 weeks of waiting.......:phanvan

This is my first gift exchange of this type, can you guys give me some guide lines, like what range is acceptable to spend on the gifts etc.?

*bump*

Come on people PM me with your choices, we already have 6 matches!

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to say thanks to every one here on LBT that has been so kind and supportive these past two weeks. It's really because of all of you that I decided to take the necessary steps to get the band. :couch2:

I am seeing the doctor tomorrow to get all the details. I know I'm just at the start of the process, but this is a big deal to me. It's like I'm taking the plunge and really going for it. I met two other people here in Portugal who also had the surgery, and I was told the local hospital here has performed a number of gastric banding procedures and that the staff there is excellent. The bonus is that the government insurance here will pick up the tab. The down side is I have to be put on a waiting list, so I'm not sure about my date, unless I can find some connections at the hospital it might be difficult, but my husbands uncle is a doctor here so he may know someone.

This is a hard step for me because I can't tell my family (my mom, sister, grandparents) who I am closest to and to whom I usually tell everything. I tested the waters by telling my sister I was *thinking* about doing it and I showed her the before and after thread here. The next thing I know my mom is calling me up telling me how I better not get any surgery, that I just need to diet more.

I'm just glad to know that I can come here to get the support I'm going to be lacking from my *real* family for awhile. Many thanks to everyone.

teehheeee :clap2:

Thankyou so much K@t for taking over my pen-pal idea. I have had alot of personal issues recently and have been unable to follow up with it. I really appreciate it and I hope everyone has fun.

I hope you don't mind, every one was ready to get stuff started. This was a wonderful idea you had! :first:

Things are going pretty well, so far 5 matches. Just remember to PM me you choices, also, if you don't care who you get matched up with, PM me that to, because then I can pair you up with other people who don't have a choice as well.

Trish I'm adding you now.

I am afraid of GERD and ruining my esophagus.

My mom has GERD (not band related) and she just doesn't eat after 7pm at night and that seems to stop any problems she has.

So far I have 3 matches set up, and a few others who have made request, I am just waiting on confirmation from the requested ones.

I'm removing people after they are requested. I have also added a few new people. But remember guys, just because your on the list doesn't mean your going to get matched, you have to PM so I know who you want! I can just start matching people up randomly if you like. Let me know.

ohh...i wanna i wanna! Count me in, I'll pm my address..

(ps. sorry in advanced to who ever gets me because of the shipping, just try to pick something light because shipping cost is about the weight not the size of the package)

I'm seeing the doctor on friday. Here in Portugal there aren't many hoops to jump through, so I'm hoping to get a surgery date some time in April.

I think I'm mostly afraid that I won't loose weight or that I will be a slow looser. I am only going to tell my hubby's family here in Portugal before the surgery and then my family after. I am only going back to the US to see my family at Christmas, so hopefully by then I will have lost a lot and I can justify having the surgery (to them).

Congrats on your new job!!! Things will only start looking up from here!