WannaBe1/2TheWoman

Band_Groupie: Don't worry, it will come off. I also gained this week Lingling - I'm at 263.4 (up 3.4 from last week). It was a bad week, but the good news is that I have my pre-op orientation next Wednesday and will get my surgery date at that time. HOPEFULLY, I'm less than 2 weeks from surgery!!

Congrats on your weight loss and getting rid of your diabetes meds! Metformin is some nasty crap, isn't it?? Twice a day, I take 1000 mg of it, and now I just think "Hopefully in a few weeks, I won't need this anymore!" Thanks for the information and encouragement!

BMooney, It will be so awesome if we can lose our meds too. I don't have my date yet - will get it on 4/29 when I have my pre-op orientation day - and am hoping it will be the first week of May. Stay in touch and let me know how you're doing!

Lingling - I was still at 260 on Friday. Nothing gained, nothing lost. Sorry I didn't post earlier. What is a flash hotel??

Lingling, that is awesome - 20+ lbs in a month is wonderful! And you will keep it up because this has to feel so great, and it will motivate you to keep losing! Keep up the good work!!

Lingling, thanks so much for doing this! After reading this and seeing all in one place, how well everyone is doing, really makes me more motivated now! :thumbup:

You all are so inspirational! I will be banded in early May and SOOOO hoping to get rid of my diabetes meds. I take 2000 mg dailly of metformin and 8mg of glimiperide. My last a1c was 8.0, so I have alot of work to do, but reading what you have experienced is very uplifting for me. Good job everyone!

Lingling, it will come off....you'll see. Just keep doing all the right things and it will come off.

Can I use 260 as my current weight? I don't own a scale, but I will get one tomorrow.

MrsMitch, I'm so sorry for your loss. Hang in there, we're here for you.

Hi Guys, Is it okay if I join the Friday weigh-ins? Even though I'm no longer an April Hopeful? :thumbup: If so, here are my stats: Highest (2/12/09) - 266 Surg Consult (4/6/09) - 260 Thanks for doing this, Lingling! Everyone have a great Easter weekend!

Lingling, Thank you! That is very sweet! If only my surgeon hadn't had the nerve to take a darn vacation, I might have made April...LOL...Just kidding... Anyway, best wishes to the rest of this week's bunnies...I'll be thinking about you!

Hello All, I haven't been banded yet, but will be in a few weeks. This is kind of embarrassing to ask, but am wondering ABOUT how long after surgery that I might feel well enough to re-introduce sex to my exercise regiman? Thanks for any insight you can give.

Well, I got great news today....and I got not so great news today. The good news is that my insurance company approved me for surgery!! It only took 48 hours after they received the last paperwork on Monday. The bad news is that I won't be banded in April.... The WL Institute that I am going to doesn't schedule you until you go to the day-long pre-op orientation, and they only hold 2-3 a month. The next one is on the 15th, but it is full, so I have to wait till the 29th. Chances are very good that I'll get scheduled for the first week of May, but this means that I'm not a Bunny Bandster...:tt2: So, I hope you all don't mind if I continue to hang with you anyway... and I'll change my Bunny Banner. PharmaGirl, can you remove me from the "April Hopeful" list? Thanks.

LOL...Lingling, you are so funny!! I'm happy to hear that you've jumped back into a normal routine and are enjoying yourself! I keep reminding myself that food does not need to be the focal point of our lives....we don't need it to have fun. As long as we can have a glass of wine!! :smile: You all are such an inspiration....thank you for being here! Have a great day!

Kellster: I will keep my fingers crossed for you. I am in the same boat - "April Hopeful". Today, I met with the surgeon, and he said I was a perfect candidate. I don't require any more testing, etc. So, my nurse coordinator will submit this final certification to my ins company (Empire BCBS) and I wait.....! I am still holding out hope for an April Banding - for both of us!

Oh Hannah....I'm so sorry that you are having a hard time. Hang in there, girl....it'll so be worth it when you get past the surgery and the post-op diet. Keep reading the stories on here, and looking at the pictures!! You are going to feel so good and be so HOT!

Sissy, how was your first day back to work? I am hoping to be out no more than 2-3 workdays and a weekend.

Smilan: Isn't that strawberry NASTY? I took 3 sips of that stuff and figured if it all tasted that bad, I was doomed! LOL. Thankfully, the chocolate was good. I've also got samples of vanilla and the chicken broth. I thought I'd mix up the vanilla with some fresh strawberries, or a spoonful of SF/FF pudding mix, as JayTee said. I need to get out this weekend to a Target, Walmart and GNC so I can really figure this out.

I have tried a couple of the protein supplements that you can buy single servings of, and am trying to figure out what I want to stock up on before I need it. (I've tried Top Care and Unjury, and they were both good. Although I hated the strawberry Unjury, the chocolate one was good). Please tell me what brand/type/mix you found that you like. Thank you, in advance!

So far, my journey with the insurance company has been so easy, it is scary. I have not had the waiting times, the 6 month diets, the hoops to jump through....so, my fear is that I am this close, and something will go wrong and they won't approve me. Even though I talked to one of the insurance coordinators at my Ins. Co last week and she said "It looks like all we need is certification from your surgeon, and you should be good to go." I still will be so relieved when I get the approval!

Hi Everyone - so good to hear that you're all doing well. You make me so excited to have my surgery - I can't wait! Lingling, I can't wait till you post before/after pics and we can see you shrinking out of your black dress! :smile2: Keep up the good work and congrats on doing so well!

I'm not at the pre-op diet stage yet, but when I am, if anyone asks, I'll tell them I'm trying a new diet. I only go to lunch with a few people from work - they are close friends - and they are the few people at work that I've already told about the band. In the future, I may tell more people what I've done. I just don't want to tell everyone now, and wish I hadn't.

When I met with the dietician and she told me that I would have to give up soda, I was horrified. I almost changed my mind about the band. I love soda - and my addiction is to Diet Mt. Dew. I started my day with it, and usually drank anywhere from 24 to 60 ounces a day. I always had one with me, no matter where I was. But, my desire to be healthy and thin again has won! I haven't even got my surgery date yet, (Should still be in April) but I did just what she said - I started cutting down a little bit at a time and tomorrow it will be a week since I've had any. I've thought about it a few times, but it really hasn't appealed to me. This is how I know I can make any other changes necessary to be healthy. You can do it too...start by cutting down and you might be surprised. Good Luck!!

How disappointing! Since you started this journey in October, is this the first interaction you or your doctor have had with the insurance company? Did the doctor just start sending paperwork to them? Who is your insurance provider? I would have thought that your doctor and his team would know which insurance providers have paid for their services, based on that qualification. If it was me, I'd call the insurance company and talk with them. Ask them what hospitals in your area meet their requirements for being a hospital of excellence. I'd also ask them if you choose another doctor/hospital, if you will have to re-do everything from the start. Obviously there will be some things that will be different with a new doctor, but hopefully there is something you can do. That's just what I would do....I don't know if this is a possibility or not for you. I understand your frustrtation. Ask your insurance company some questions - don't give up, and hang in there!