laurr925

This really isn't a before or after, but I've had this skirt for like 5 years now. I could NEVER wear it the way I wanted to because it always pulled over my stomach and looked terrible. Well, I needed an easter Sunday outfit and I figured let me try that skirt on. And guess what? It fit better than the day I bought it. My mom could not believe it! So I'm posting this under "In Progress" haha. I'm down now about 38lbs and it feels awesome.

Another 3lbs down, so thats 6lbs in total! Another 7 and I'll hit my goal :smile: With a little over three weeks I'm pretty optimistic

Also, when i first went to talk with the surgical coordinator there, she told me that most patients with BCBS get approved. If you want, heres a timeline for your info: Feb 08 - started thinking about band March - Sept 08 6 month diet Dec 08 - NYU Seminar Jan 09 - Psychiatrist, Nutritionist, and Surgical consultation (all through NYU) Late Jan 09 - BCBS Approved Feb 2 2009 - Surgery! Of course, you could probably start the process now and have surgery in 6months, but I waited around thinking about things a lot so it took me a year!

I have Empire BCBC and was approved. I had to do the 6 month doctor monitored diet though, so if you are seriously considering it, I would get working on it now! I don't think the NYU office takes GHI, I could be wrong. Once I had everything together, it took be less than a week to be approved. I would go to NYUs website and look at the dates for the Info Session - you have to go to it and you will get a LOT of info there!

So I started going for my fills with Gaspar, I have been going at 3pm and the office is nearly empty! (I guess I'm giving away my secret here) But I haven't been there for more than a half hour, which is really great!

this is my first time posting on here, i think it will make me pay a little more attention to what i am eating. Yesterday: B: Greek Yogurt, with Strawberry (130 cals, 10g protein) S: 1 slice American Cheese (70 cals, 4g protein) L: 4 or 5 oz Tuna Fish w/ 2tbs Light Mayo (260 cals, 26g protein) D: 2 Eggs poached with cheese (230 cals, 12g protein) S: 1 scoop Haagen-Dazs Vanilla frozen yogurt (200 cals, 9g protein) Total: 890 calories, 61 g of protein, probably around 31g of fat. I really need to not eat cheese! It's my weakness, and the low fat kind really does nothing for me. Damn.

as usual, everyone here looks amazing. its just so inspiring seeing how good everyone looks

um yeah. i have been avoiding the mall at all costs lately, bcs i am a compulsive shopper, but i KNOW i dont want to buy anything until i am at my goal weight. then im getting myself an entirely new wardrobe!

im with everyone, its hard to try and drink 64oz of fluid. especially when you have a small bladder like me! but i try and mix it up, not just drinking plain water. i have an assortment of crystal light mixers on my desk at work, this way i dont feel like im just drinking water for the sake of drinking water.

as of monday i am down 3lbs. not too bad, but i definately need to keep working! i had a fill monday so it will probably take the edge off the hunger that i have been dealing with for the past two weeks! when i weigh myself on sunday we'll see what this week brought! good job everyone!

I had my first fill in March, and I was doing well until about the third week after - I was ALWAYS hungry. I knew I had another fill coming up so I tried to take it easy and make good food decisions. I ended up losing 10lbs last month, but I have a feeling it ALL was in the first two weeks after my fill. I just got my second fill on Monday and I am feeling better. I am not as hungry as I had been so now I am just working on getting into a solid exercise routine and slowing down when I eat.

I need a good challenge. Something to motivate me to exercise more... laurr9925, Current: 253, Goal: 240, -13 lbs by 5/5/09

Thanks Cassie! I have been honest with a lot of my friends, and I have come close to telling others - I think I just chickened out. I don't know why but I guess I'm just afraid of their reaction. I am planning on telling one of my closer friends soon, and I think at some point I will tell everyone. I just don't know if I am ready for it yet. Mostly I think I am afraid of failing and then having to explain why.

I was banded at NYU, like many others here. Dr. Fielding has said many times (at support meetings and info sessions) that he supports anyone who wants the band, and if having it in Mexico is your best option he will do follow-up care in their office. I would contact them to find out the particulars, but I love it there. Everyone in the office is so friendly and helpful. The place is busy but its nice to talk to people in the waiting room. I have the nurse practitioner there do my fills and such and he is an absolute gem.

good luck to the both of you! hope everything goes well :w00t:

in the spirit of mr rice guy, im going to post some backwards before and after pics as motovation. also, since ive noticed weight loss in my face, i figured id post a recent picture (plus i havent taken any full body pictures lately haha).

wow! i love this thread because it really makes me excited for the day i can post my own before & after pics :confused:

i know how you feel because i am constantly put in these situations because of my friends, most of whom dont know ive been banded. they always want to go out to the bar and eat crap food. at first they would ask "hey lauren u want a wing or some fries or some mozzarella sticks" and i would just say no, that i already ate, that im watching my weight, etc. they were persistent for a while telling me that one wing wouldnt hurt etc etc, but by now, a month+ later they have just stopped asking. i know its hard because at our age its normal to go out and socialize but its a commitment that we've made and i try my best to stick to it. you shouldnt worry about what others think of you. im no saint though, and i have drank a few times. one or two drinks over a course of the night, i factor the calories into my daily intake, and i try not to beat myself up over it. try not to feel guilty, and just try and be strong. if some drunk girl is forcing you to eat her food, tell her to shut the eff up. or if you are nicer than i am, just say no. people might tease you or talk about you at first, but after a while they'll give up. like jane said, take advantage of this new tool youve been given! good luck

yeah the gas pain is the absolute worstt i know. gas x didnt help me at first, but i kept taking it hoping that eventually it would kick in. if you have a heating pad, try that - i know it relieved some of the pain for me especially at night when i was laying down. if you dont have a heating pad, dampen a kitchen towel (or anything bigger than a washcloth really) and put it in the microwave to warm it up and use that. walking around will help too, i just walked around my house every half hour and that got the gas moving around and started breaking it up.

Hey! Congrats on your approval! I had scheduled a surgery date before I was even approved by my insurance because the surgeons office was so confident I would be approved. I had my consultation with my surgeon on January 7th, and while I was in the office I sat down with the surgical coordinator to schedule the date right there and then. It all depends on your surgeons schedule and how quick they are to figure out a date. If you don't hear from the surgeons office within the next few days, I would call again. Be persistent in trying to find a date because I've heard from others that sometimes it takes a while for the office to get back to you.

Yeah I have to say that the Smartfood Cheddar Popcorn is amazing. I try and get the small "reduced fat" bags for the movies or I buy a bag and measure it out. One Cup of reduced fat smartfood white cheddar popcorn has about 100 calories, 4g Protein, 5g fat, and 15g carbs. Not the most healthy thing but definitely a good alternative to movie theater popcorn.