*slim*

I am staying on plan today because I want to be below 200 lbs by the new year! I have a long way to go, and a short time to get there... Sorry, I just love that song.:redface:

When you figure out how to do it, let me know because I am struggling with that.:redface:

Think of it this way, every pound you gain now, is a pound you will have to lose later.:w00t: They don't come off as easy as they go on. Now is the time to slowly start making the changes that you are going to need to make for after the band. It will more difficult if you wait until after having the band to make the lifestyle changes that you need to be successful. Good luck on your lap band journey!:redface:

This is a question that ONLY your doctor can really answer. The quick answer is NO because the reason for the liquid diet is for your stomach to heal with the band around it. If the healing is not done correctly, you are more at risk for band slips and complications. Call you doctor before making any diet changes that you are not scheduled for.

Congrats! :biggrin:I remember fighting with BCBS, and they can be tough! Continued good luck on your journey!

28 pounds is fantastic!

How awful for you! I wondered how you were doing. I hope that they are able to get you cleared up soon!

That's ok. Freaking out is allowed. I am sure that I will be right there with you! Let the freaking out commence! jk You are going to do fine. It is just a matter of us getting in more calories I think. I think we are taking in so few, that our bodies are scared spitless. I don't know about you, but I was consuming somewhere around 2500 calories a day at least. Now all of a sudden I am getting 500? We are going to get over this hump. P.S. I forgot to say happy birthday to you too Debbie.

How rude! :thumbup: They could have at least had YOU a cup of pudding or something for you to "enjoy" while they had your cake. That's just mean. I am sorry that they did that to you. This is hard enough without the cake temptations. I feel your pain. I pretty much felt awful yesterday after trying to force more calories in. I will admit, that must have done something because I lost a pound. I can't believe how excited I was about that one pound. I know, how sad am I?:crying:

I don't know about the rest of your life, but my surgeon says they will do a port revision once I have lost a significant amount of weight. I guess I can understand why they don't use the smaller port to begin with because it would be hard to find under the fat. That being said, you are probably swollen around that area and that is making it stick out more than it will. I know, my port site looked like a huge egg, but now almost 2 weeks out, it doesn't stick out as much as it did the first few days. I hope that it goes down enough for you to be comfortable with it being there.

Hi. You will find a lot of information here. I have found that if you have a question, you will more than likely find someone here to answer. Good luck on your journey!

I am sorry, it must have me. I will take it back, not gladly, but I will.

Me too! My short term disablity was approved through October 23. I go for my first fill on that day. I am glad that I will have to do liquids the next day since it will be my first day back at work. I don't want to PB or slime on my first day back to work.

You are so NOT alone. I can't even stand the smell of them. My surgeon also allowed me to blend ANY soup and whatever went through the strainer, I could have. I don't know if you have ever looked at blended/pureed soup with veggies or something in it, but let's just say it looked like it had been digested by someone before. gross

I would recommend the pill prep. That is much easier to deal with. You still drink a lot, but not that gallon of gross stuff. If you have a problem taking pills, it might be possible to split them in half (they aren't that big).

I did 7 days of clear liquids. I am now into my 7 days of full liquids. At the end of this 7 days, I will have been on liquids 24 days (including 10 days of pre-op liquid diet).

What does your check list look like and where did you put it? I am struggling to get my water in. I was never a drinker of much of anything (water, soda, milk, etc).

You just need to keep it in perspective. Everyone's weight loss is going to be different. There are people that know that this is hard work and are following their doctor's instructions to the letter and still aren't losing weight. It doesn't mean that they won't lose weight, it just means that their experience is going to be different. We didn't put the weight on overnight, so we can't expect it to drop off overnight.

You should visit chattanooga some time. Not that were are the mecca of travel destinations, but we aren't too bad. I had a cousin that was a pastor in Johnson City, but lived in Knoxville. i never got to visit. I love your ticker.

I was charged two fees. The first fee was $95 (my part from $250) which pays for the consult, filing insurance, some kind of online educational class, and my pre-op class. I still had to pay $95 to the hospital for the nitritionist visit and psych evaluation. The second fee was $1000. I have no idea what exactly it covers (apparently not much since I still have to pay for fills), but he was the most experienced surgeon under my insurance. The other doctor under my insurance only did gastric bypass until this year. He did my gall bladder surgery and did NOT do a good job when it came to my incisions. So out of pocket to my surgeon's office was $1400 ($305 was my 10% co-insurance).

All I can say is WOW! What an awesome job that you have done!:tt2:

I made lentils today. They were a great hit. :thumbup: Thanks everyone that responded with recipes.:tt2:

Do you like the Muscle Milk products?

I won't get to get a fill until October 23. I do get to start mushies Thursday and I am so glad because I am starving. I wish that I could get my fill before I start them so that I don't over do it. I hope you do well with your fill.

That is so good. I really hope that I can feel that way soon.