*slim*

I no longer have boob do (stomach sticking out more than the boobs do)! I had been so discouraged about the scale that I had not noticed that there were still changes. I know that is minor, but it has been a long time since I looked down and saw something other than boobs and belly. :thumbup: Where else could I come and be happy to announce something so embarrassing?!?!

Welcome to bandland!

It really depends on where you get them. You can pay for singles at about $3.50 from GNC. The cheapest case that I have seen comes from supplements.net here is the link New Whey Liquid Protein 42g - 12 Vials by IDS Sports, Supplements.Net.

I made a really great crustless pizza yesterday. Preheat over to 350 degrees. 4 very larg portabella mushroom caps 20 oz can Italian style tomatoes 2 cups Italian blended cheese 3 T chopped basil 2 T minced onion 1/4 cup chopped pepperoni 2 T roasted garlic 1 T olive oil 1 T dried oregano coarse salt 1. scoop some of the flesh from inside the mushroom caps. 2. place them on a cookie sheet. 3. in a bowl, mix the cheese, basil, onion, pepperoni 4. in another bowl mash the garlic, olive oil, and oregano 5. fold in the tomatoes 6. spoon over each mushroom then top with the cheese mixture 7. bake in the oven until the cheese melts and the mushrooms have softened. I just used jarred pizza sauce instead of doing the tomatoes just because I don't really care for tomato chunks. It was really good though. I was able to eat about half of one mushroom, but I don't have any restriction yet. I am sure you can substitute any meat that you want. I used turkey pepperoni for less fat.

Best wishes to you too! It does help to come here and see other people in the similar circumstances. It's good that you are not weighing yourself. I drive myself nuts weighing everyday!

I am glad that you made it through the business lunch. I am so scared of those right now. I am glad that you are doing well.

Thank you for asking that. I wanted to know, but couldn't bring myself to ask.:smile2:

You can be Pollyanna if you want. God bless you too!

I haven't actually dealt with it completely yet. I am going to a counselor that deals specifically with people with eating disorders and emotional eating issues. So far, I have just been having some major shouting matches with my husband and mother (the two people who send me to snack the most) instead of just accepting whatever they say. Neither of them like it, but I am trying to avoid a binge session with cake or Cookies. I don't have any restriction yet, so I could probably get those things down easily.

The pre-op diet and when to start it are based on your surgeon. They ususually start anywhere from a few days to up to 3 weeks prior to the surgery. My surgeon gave a 2 week liquid only diet. Every surgeon's diet is different. Just check with them on what your diet is to be and when to start it. Good luck on your journey!

My biggest difficulty has been getting control of my emotional eating. When you can't eat to stuff the emotion, you have to actually deal with those emotions. If you are an emotional eater, you want to start finding another way to deal with emotions before you have surgery. Also, if you are a constant snacker, you want to start curbing that whether it is with walking or doing something else constructive. Good luck on your journey!

Teri, I hope that you have seen or talked to the surgeon. Hopefully he has said everything is fine. Keep us posted when you can.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Alex!!! :frown::confused::Banane34:

Way go to go!:confused:

How awesome Debbie!

I SO wanted to. Remind me not sneak up on you!:biggrin:

I chose the lap band because it was the less invasive procedure. I had never heard of the sleeve when I started researching. My insurance only pays for gastric bypass and lap band anyway. I didn't like the side effects and permanency of RNY. Also, I have a friend that had it done, and she has gained quite a bit of her weight back. All she can do now is either have her RNY revised, or get lap band on top of it. I would rather just get another fill.

Thanks She. Truer words have never been spoken.

I just had this for dinner tonight! I will be eating this again!

I can only dream of that kind of refund. I am glad you were able to get that much back. Were they as fast giving it back as they were taking yours?

Thank you for posting this. I have been so concerned about the fact that I am not losing at the rate that other people seem to be losing. I should remember that this is not a race. Thanks for the honest portrayal. You look awesome! Keep up the good work.

I am glad that you are doing ok. It probably is a good thing that you know what to look for now, so that when you get your fills, you will recognize what some of us probably will not (being too tight). Hopefully you won't have to worry about it. Continued success!

Thank you. I called them and she said exactly what you said.:biggrin: Who would have ever thought I would get money back!

I looked at my insurance companies website today. They show that they have received and processed my surgeon's charges. The insurance company shows my part as $180.22 out of $9,100. I was already charged by the surgeon's office $305 which they said was my part left from insurance. Has anyone ever had this happen? Were you given a refund of any of that money?

That's ok, you can keep her locked up today. I now know who all I can call when the time comes.:wink2: Congrats on your bandiversary! I am glad that they are putting the rush on for you! I know with your surgery day coming soon, that you were worried. I am glad it is working out!