Kat817

Diane---my life lately seems to go from one saga to the next---so it is a joke! I can barely string 2 words together let alone write a book that anyone would want to read!!! As for the hiccups....if I pay VERY close attention, my nose will get sniffly, and then if I take another bite or 2, I hiccup, if I don't stop---it is a PB waiting to happen! So it is a stop signal for me too. I eat similar amounts to what Mandy was saying. I can eat like half a sandwich or a taco....something in that range. I cannot eat much pasta---it fills me up VERY fast---1/4 to 1/2 cup full and I am done! Kids meals are ideal at fast food, I find myself ordering a lot of things on the sides menus...ala carte. Or Rick and I will order and appetizer, and then share a main course. People worry a lot about eating out, and it has never been an issue with me! hair loss for me started about 4 months out and lasted until close to a year, and was severe!!! It was scary! It has however since began growing back, it is not as long as the rest of my hair, I am hoping soon to meet somewhere in the middle!! I am not brave enough to cut it off short like Mandy did!! I tried all the bioten, and nioxin shampoos, and a shampoo from the beauty supply called Folicure---nothing made a difference. Finally I decided my Pantene made what hair I had left feel the best, and thought maybe stressing over it was making it worse. I have lost all my hair before with chemo---so I thought maybe that made me predisposed to losing it. When I lost it with chemo, it was straight and blonde when I lost it, when it grew back in it was darker and curly. This time around what is growing back in appears to be the same hair color and texture as before. I kept my Protein up, and made sure to change up and eat good fats, nothing seemed to make a difference. BUT it is temporary, and will grow back. Mandy is right though watch your drains, and also watch the beater bar on your vaccuum, I almost burned ours up it clogged up with long hair!! My port is up pretty high,and is a low profile -- it has never bothered me much during exercise. I have to be careful when I reach over the tailgate of our truck, it hits me everytime! And while it might be TMI, sometimes it is uncomfortable during sex! So we move! But muscle movement has never made it hurt at all, just rubbing against it, or smacking it ---like when I am hauling wood, or doing some other stupid thing---the latest, loading a cow into the chute, I dropped the branding bar into it---I was worried I really hurt it then--- I bruised and everything!!! But it is all good now! Think it means I should not brand any more cows---don't you think??? Pat hope today took you forward---sometimes the 3rd day is a hard one.. check in when you can!!! Hugs to all my girls!! Kat

Chime in here Jen---anything working? Kat

Sure hope not! For many reasons---and yep some of them are selfish!!! Glad she is doing better though, infections like that are nothing to mess with. Keep us posted! I am off to finish dinner, Rick should be in any time now---wooohooo days off!! Love it! Kat

OMG poor little thing, of course she will be right there in my prayers, they have already been said for her, and will continue. Please let us know what you hear! Jen---any news on the job hunt? How did the interview go??? Well off to vaccuum.........the fun never ends around here! Kat

NO snow here, but we finally made it to a whopping 21 degrees out, and it is after 3 PM!!! When you factor in the wind chill because the wind is blowing hard, gusting up to 30 mph (which may not be terrible but with this cold it is!) our wind chill is 2 degrees the news report at 2 said...brrrrr Good enough that my Mom couldn't watch Kinsey, we have stayed inside all day!!! Kat

If I don't get my fluids in (I don't say Water, because I do a lot of SF decaf iced tea) my weight loss stalls....good enough reason to keep me drinking!!! Keep sipping away, it will become habit, and get easier! Kat

Sounds like we agree on yet something else Laura--wherever we end up I guess there better be a freezer---between our treats and Judy's slushies!!! Kat

The frozen orange juice is really good as far as a sorbet goes. If you have no issue with alcohol...try finding a mixed a fruit juice concentrate you like---I like pineapple orange, and mix in a little amaretto, and pour into small cups and freeze. The alcohol does not allow it to freeze to an ice consistency but it remains a bit softer, though not quite slushy. MMMMM satisfies my after dinner sweet craving in just a few bites. Not enough alcohol to be an issue, and I use 100% fruit juice----so it is not too bad. I like some of these ideas! Thanks!! Kat

TownDrunk---you sound like my brother---he said the same thing, he told me when he was a kid in school, and got in trouble, if it were a simple note to be signed he took it to Dad....issue over. If it required someone going in person, he took Mom so she could fix it once and for all!!! My BIL is supposed to bring a couple of books this weekend when he comes from Denver, and I understand one of them to be Obama's. I look forward to reading it. Kat

Did they desire their DD's to grow up to be strippers??? Isn't there some formula---your street name and something to come up with your stripper name??? I originally was going to give Manda my former MIL's middle name, it would have made her Amanda Lynne. My Dad told me I could call the next one a Guitar or A ukelele!! She ended up being Amanda Michelle because of that!!! Kat

I am afraid I don't follow-------I realize this is all being said in jest----but it is moot point to bring up the pathetic job our current leader is doing, but rehashing a decade old issue with Slick Willie is not??? Be an interesting poll regardless, of whether people thought we were better off as a country when Clinton left office or when W leaves...... Kat

Thanks girls! Just trying to do for others what was done for me when I showed up here unsure, and full of questions!! LBT saved my sanity!!! Not to mention that of my family and friends!! Kat

There are some parents who are cruel when naming their kids!!! I actually had a Snow White! Then I had a boy---his last name was Offerley----they named him Jack. Then there was a girl name Aziegha (Asia), and sisters named Misty and Stormy---we teased when she was pregnant with the little boy he was going to be called Overcast. Had a girl once named Reyanagail, and her sister Tasheralynn. And the younger sister to the friend who was recently lost in the snow mobile thing....they thought she would be the last child so named her for everything and everyone....her name? Canyon Dee Jean Marie (unsure of the spelling, French John Marie is how it was said) LeFebevre and then the other parents last name!!!! You should have heard HER try to say it when she was 3!!! I always thought my folks gave me a mouthful of a name til then!!! So I shortened it.... Kat

Ruby I have been told it is not whether or not you will hit plateaus, it is when will you hit them. Everyone does---sooner or later, and sometimes it seems I just break a plateau in time to hit another!!! I based not needing another fill on the fact that I am not hungry between my meal times, I snack on occasion, but the snacking is not actual stomach hunger induced, it is head hunger wanting to eat for the sake of eating! It is my understanding, if you are properly restricted, you can eat most foods, including hard Proteins without pain, providing you have small well chewed bites. I am able to eat meats, and fibrous veggies, I just am cautious with them. I still eat much, much less than I ever dreamed of before my band. I have pretty tight restriction in the morning. I can only get part of a container of yogurt with granola down. Then as the day goes on, my restriction lessens. But I do not get hungry. As long as I drink a lot of fluids, and eat what I consider to be a fairly healthy diet---I don't ever feel hunger. For years I think I confused thirst with hunger. Now I find if I do not drink enough, I don't lose anything! So I drink minimally 60 ounces a day. With that I stay well hydrated, and my weight stalls less. I would base whether you need another fill upon how you feel as opposed to what the scale is or is not doing. But yes, I have gone for as much as 2-3 months with no discernible weight change...constant up a pound down a pound.... Kat

Another issue that has not been mentioned, and was brought up a couple of years ago at my seminar, is the hormonal effect of weight loss. Fat cells harbor estrogen. When we begin losing large amounts of weight quickly, it dumps it into our systems, and all of the other hormones have to work double time to try to balance. It is similar to PMS. Once your weight loss slows, or gets steadier, your hormones will adjust, and the moodiness will lessen. By the same token, you will adjust and the mourning of the foods will lessen. Point being, there is a factual cause to the mood swings, the cravings....all the fun stuff. Hang in there, it does get better. But it might mean in the meantime you may have to work with your Dr, to manage meds you already take to get them to an optimal level. Kat

Seems to me, reading the complication threads, that trouble often begins when the process of having to be unfilled begins. Once you have been overtight, and swell---then it is hard to get back to a point of restriction, without it bouncing from too tight, to no restriction at all. Seems like an evil cycle----one I am terribly afraid of! So if it takes awhile to get the last little bit off, then it takes awhile. I am able to do things I had not done in years, I am in misses size clothes, take no prescription meds. The next 20-30 pounds are just bonus!!! I consider my band a success!!! Kat

I have had 2 fills--the last one being in July of 06!!! My restriction has definitely lessened from what it was in the 2-3 months following the fill, but it has settled in, and I am still restricted as to how much I can eat, that I must chew well---but I am able to eat any food I choose to eat. meat is not an issue. I feel good where I am. Tight enough to remind me---not so tight so as to run my life! I might get the last 25 pounds or so off faster if I were to get another fill, but I am going with the old idea of "if it ain't broke---don't fix it!" Sounds like you are doing great!!! Keep up the good work! Welcome to LBT! Kat

Wow!!! I had no idea it would hit that hard on the pocket!!! Then it would me too--I have at least that far to go too... I laughed out loud seriously at the flower wrapped bed posts. Rick works with this guy Eric, he is a former pro football player, did several years with the 49ers. We ran into his wife at the day after Thanksgiving sales, and she told us she hit a slot at the casino the day before and won like 3K, and went that morning and bought a new canopy bed set. So the guys at work razzed him to no end, and for Christmas they gave him a box with flower swags for the bed posts!!! Yeah a bit flowery for this Comfort Inn girl!!!! One time 2 girlfriends and I took off with a total of 7 kids, and we went to Phoenix, then to California, did the Disneyland/Universal/SanDiego Zoo thing, went over to Tijuana, then back through Vegas,(where we met up with my future son in law at the time. We had to wait for him to do a news clip, the plane he come in on, almost crashed, landed without landing gear!!!) Then we hit the Grand Canyon on the way home. It was a great vacation! Took almost 2 weeks. Did fine, until about 80 miles from home, and we lost a Water pump on one of the vans we took. We ALL piled into one van and made it home to get parts! We had so much fun! Seems like it is time for another girls only vacation!! But.....for me to consider it an option, it has to be financially do-able and over a thousand bucks aifare----it isn't. Anyone ever been to Yellowstone---or Mount Rushmore? Although again, airports are not plentiful..... Bike Week sounds fun....but I really think my DH, who at this point in time owns 7 motorcycles not counting ATV's---would float me in on his river of tears at not going himself!!! Kat

OK, I will admit hike is a relative term. There is a paved road you can drive up, and WELL maintained trails!!!! There is not searching for foot holds!!! Would not be surprised by now to find handrails all the way up!!!! But for now I gotta go mop up my tears---Tracy is laughin' at me!!!! Kat

Be safe Chris, lots of people here thinking of you! Kat

I think I'd send it back to whoever sent it to me, and ask that they practice his approach, and use their self control to keep their opinions to themselves! Other than that, yep---I'd smack him too!!! Kat

I go to Canon City to my fill Dr. Not too sure we wouldn't run into similar problems though with lack of a decent size airport to fly into, closer than DIA. Back when we were battling with Ricks ex---to fly in and out of Co. Springs or Pueblo was almost twice as expensive as out of Denver---but then you have the drive---and car rentals expense as well as meeting up with people in order to do it affordably. But don't ya know it would be an acheivement to come back to LBT and say the Violets hiked Pike's Peak!!!! Kat

I have no experience with Humana, but can give you an overall idea of what I have seen required here on the site. Most will require you to show a 5 year history of obesity---which you can do with any Dr. records that show your weight. You could have gone in with allergies, if they weighed you, it is documented---and will work. Most require a set BMI. Average is 40 with no co morbidities, and 35 with. Co morbidities being high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes, joint problems, high cholesterol, etc. Some require a time (6 months to some a year) of medically supervised weight loss attempts. You will be required to see a Dr. each month, and consult often times with a nutriotionist. Some do not require this at all. You can call the number on the back of your insurance card, and they can tell you what the requirements for your particular plan are. They should be more detailed than saying it has to be deemed medically necessary---they should have guidelines stating what falls in that category. Keep in mind, that someone elses experience with Humana may not be the same as yours it all depends upon the policy your employer bought. Some employers do not cover WLS even if the insurance company offers it. Once you find out what is required you can begin gathering things to submit. Some allow you to send photos, or letters on how this would improve your life, how strong the familial patterns are etc. If they don't give you any other information, I would get a package together to present to my Dr. so he could see it IS a medical necessity. Take candid photos, detail what each family member has wrong due to obesity. Show what all diets you have tried. Consider adding how your weight has crept up through the years, and anything you can come up with to make your point. Stress the fact that you are currently morbidly obese, and how that restricts your ability to obtain life insurance, and how it lessens your abilities to advance in your job.... Sell yourself! Go to your consult, hit a seminar or 2, study up on the surgery, it is not the easy way out. It does make the way out easier though! Be VERY prepared, so when your Dr, asks you questions, you can answer them with knowledge. The more you know going in, the better off you will do! Good Luck! And welcome to LBT! Kat

Never been to Atlantic City! I was trying to keep in mind several things at one time!! The biggest advantage to the gambling places, is multiple attractions, they usually have pretty affordable accomodations, and have transportation at hand. The last time we went to Vegas as a group it ended up costing me less than $300.00 total! And I won over $800. on a nickel slot!! We booked far enough in advance to avoid the hiked up rate when the conventions booked, and spent under $75.00 for a 3 night stay...on the strip! Now they have some awesome deals going down on Freemont street, they are trying to revive the old Glitter Gultch stretch. The buffets are always affordable in casinos--even though we do not do justice to a buffet, they usually are cheap!!! I agree that to try to schedule everyone in a narrow time frame in order to make a several hour drive---is going to be difficult. It would be nice to fly in, and grab a motel shuttle, or a cab---and be done! The only time I was in Phoenix, I found it a lot like Denver! Keep in mind it was years ago, I had kids at home! We always did the same things on vacations---amusement parks, zoos, sporting events....Which is why we totally enjoyed Denver---they have professional sporting events year round!!! They also had 2 big amusement parks....funny car drag racing, figure 8 stockcar racing----all the things my DH and the kids flocked to! And my SIL was there, and she and I would shop and do whatever else!!! I had the same arrangement in Phoenix, we had friends living there, so never had to gain knowledge in how expensive the motels etc were! I have never been to Chicago, or anywhere in Florida, or Tennessee....or many of the places suggested, so I am in for any of it!!! That's the thing with kids, for years you plan vacations they will love (thinking of Michelle!) and then when they move out on their own, you plan vacations to go see them!!! Of course Manda spent 4 years in Hawaii, so that was a hard vacation to take!!! Glad they are all within a few miles now! Would hate having to chase down my grandbabies!!! Kat

Headed into a long weekend here too. Rick is off the next 4 days. We had planned on going to Denver to the Stock Show, and to see family. But now my Mom is sick, and with Dad just having surgery, not sure whether we will go or not. I missed my favorite part of the weekend anyway---so if we don't go it is ok. They drive Texas longhorns through LoDo--Lower Downtown Denver---right through the big financial district! It is so ridiculous looking, all these longhorns amid the tall buildings, and the suits mixing with the horsemen, and cowboys! The stock show is lots of fun, but I always end up spending a fortune! Preparation keeps me on track much more than writing it down. If I plan ahead for having things available for snacking---separated into serving size if necessary---keeps me from overdoing! If I go to the kitchen and can grab a yogurt, or something ready at hand--I am less likely to binge on something not as good for me! And with grandkids, I always have a houseful of not good for me things! My DIL got irritable that I never had Cookies for Connor, so she buys them and leaves them here----and I know you will find this hard to believe but the only one I have seen eat any is her! If I buy a brick of cheddar cheese, if I will take and cut some up in small diced squares,and fill a few zip locks with it, then I can grab it, when I leave out to go somewhere, and Kinsey and I snack on it, as opposed to her wanting chips, and Granny having one or 2!!! I buy chicken breasts in bulk, so when I cook them for something I usually will dice up an extra and cook it in garlic and olive oil. We like it, Kinsey likes it so much better than popcorn chicken, she tries peeling the popcorn chicken!!! I think it all goes back to how we each learn differently----we each will have strong points in how we approach the weight loss. The way some learn by hearing, others doing....makes sense. Ok, makes sense to ME!! Today I plan on getting as much done here at home as possible to free us up this long weekend if possible. I had plans to meet my friend Marie for lunch, but we tend to sit and yack for an hour or longer over tea after lunch, so I usually leave Kinsey with my Mom. With her being sick, I may cancel---she is good in restaurants, while she is eating, but I want to concentrate on my friend, not on a 3 year old--------and they tend to be the center of attention in those situations! So guess I will do laundry, and mop--all the fun chores!! It is not supposed to get anywhere near above freezing today. Our highs will be in the 20's. Not a day to do anything but stay by the fire anyway I suppose! Guess I will go get my elliptical time in! BBL~~ Kat