coltonwade

Awesome I was beginning to wonder if i would be doing this alone LOL I did not start today we were out of town . SO do ya'll want to start tomorrow ? How do we do this ? Wombat since you have done it before any thoughts ? does anyone use the podcasts from I tunes ? I have week one and 2 downloaded already . Im not sure if i can finish in 4 weeks. i might be ambitious with that. Thanks Mindy

I Agree with Kristin, espically until you get the hang on things loggin is very helpful. I thought i was eating so much food at first and my calorie intake was so high , turns out it was too low, Protein intake was too low as well. So i was not getting in what i needed was hungry sooner than i should have been ! My doc says its ok to have 3 meals a day plus Snacks, but the snacks have to count as well, meaning everything I eat shoudl have protein in it or its a "waste" sort of speak , so snacks need to have protein to serve their purpose, which is to hold you over hunger wise. I was eating things like pudding, while calorie wise a good choice hunger wise , to fend it off , not so much. It gets easier as time goes on . You learn what is a good protein source, what is a "waste" to eat ect. HTH Mindy

My husband and boys all have a private plan from BCBS of Texas and its a great plan , really its basically the same plan as mine through the risk pool, except i pay about $250 a month for all 3 of them compared to my rates as of Jan 1 $309 for just me ! It is all ridicoulous. I honestly do not see how insurance companies can deny people due to weight, any other place is would be discrimination ! . So im resolved to the risk pool for now at least, until the insurance industry recoginzes the lap band for what it is ! . Thanks Noni Mindy

I worked out with a personal trainer for the first month or so after surgery . What she had me do was warm up on the treadmill for 5 mintues. Then I would do some strength training for 10 then 5 mintues on the treadmill I would alternate like that for about 30 mintues 2 times a week. Then I would do the same thing . but I would do the treadmill at the end of the work out for 20 minutes quite hard for a harder cardio work out . she said it was good to mix it up go back and forth so I didnt get bored . HTH Mindy

Oh yeah its the coolest thing since sliced bread !! (* which i cant eat anymore LOL ) I originally started getting them to help with my migraines, which they do . Once a month or so i get a 2 hour one , those are SO AWESOME ! The one hour ones just do not seem like enough time . Even if your not a member i think the 2 hour ones are around $96 ? Which is still not bad at all .. Mindy

I just looked and it looks like Wyoming does have a high risk Health pool but I am having a hard time finding the info on it . I'll keeping looking and email you the info when i find it ? Mindy

Thanks for your response. Have you checked to see if your state has something similar to the High Risk health plan Texas has ? for what your paying for the major medical you could get it. It is expensive but it is actually good insurance. $30 doctors visits and actually one of the best RX plans around. It wont cover anything you have pre existing for the first yr but it will after the yr. In fact i have been talking to my husband about it and he said that its not really that big of a deal , if I switch now chances are the insurance wont cover my migraines for a yr , the high risk health pool i have will cover my meds i pay so much for in July . SO i will save money then . So if i can not get another plan then its not THAT Big of a deal . I was just a little ticked about it at the time. You might want to check into the state and see if they have a high risk pool ?? HTH Mindy

Your docs office im sure has someone on call. I would call them anyway . Do you have a family practice doc ? You might want to call them ? Its probably nothing but you want to make sure. You can have excessive bleeding and it be dangerous from a period . I would have it checked out just to make sure. At least have the doctor aware of it. The GYN Im SURE has someone on call HTH Mindy

Hi i thought i replied to this thread. I saw there was someone on here from Austin . Im also in Ausitn . was banded in San Antonio by Dr Rincon . in July , im down almost 60 lbs ! im almost half way there !!! Anyway welcome .. Love Mindy

Something else, Does your docs office have a nutritionist you can see ? MIne has one that i can see post op to kind of go over things if i need to . Does yours have something like that ? that might help you as well , its always good to have a refresher course if you need it . Mindy

I would track your meals for about 2 or 3 weeks on fitday.com. It will tell you how much protein , calories ect your taking in on a daily basis . to me just looking real quick and not figuring things out, I would guess you need more protein and less carbs ? But I personally do not count calories. But I did have to for a while because i was not getting ENOUGH . That also could be your problem. You want to make sure your getting enough good , solids protein . fitday.com will help you (Or any other site like that ) get a feel for what your eating and how much your eating ect. What about exercise ? Mindy

Anyalee, I have PCOS and I got my period about a week after surgery , I remember thinking " GREAT just as i am feeling better this comes " I however am one who would rather NOT get my period back LOL I get REALLY bad migraines with my periods so i would just as well not have one. Anyway it was really heavy after surgery but I do not remember it being as heavy as you describe. I have had them that heavey before though. I would call your GYN just to let her know about it . HTH Mindy

I want to start the couch to 5K program , does anyone want to start it with me on Monday or Tuesday ? I would like to even double it up , so I can finish it in 4 weeks? But I'll see how it goes at first? If anyone wants to start it with me please let me know Thanks Mindy

A few suggestions, what kind of protein shakes are you drinking. Sometimes the shakes have too many calaories in them . Also my doc suggests you eat your protein not drink it . Are you exercising ? Also have you tracked what your eating on something like fitday.com ? Perhaps your not getting in ENOUGH calories ? I had that problem at first I was only getting in about 700 calories a day and that can hurt you just as much as eating too much . Like like Diana said it would be helpful to know what your eating. HTH Mindy

Welcome to to Banster Hell ! LOL it will pass soon ! Mindy

Im not trying to be rude but what is the point in getting the band if your going to will power it the whole time ? yes it takes exercise but the band is there to work for you . And if you follow the rules there is a good chance you will not get stuck . I agree with you about not wanting to be agressive with the fills ! I have had to have 2 unfills . So i totally understand that. But getting stuck is not the end of the world, its not a horrible horrible experience in my opinion . But with out fills you are kidding yourself. you said you want, " your band , exersise and will power " to work for you , with out the fills the band wont work for you . WITH Fills will power is not needed as MUCH , yes you do still need some but you do not have to rely on it as much . Also a fill is no big deal , its a small needle prick , its over in less than 2 minutes ! I dont even have numbing meds before hand its not needed. That is just my opinion . Get a fill when its needed , otherwise the band wont work ! . HTH Mindy

Yes they are getting big and new ones open up all the time so keep checking back ! I LOVE THEM. Best money i ever spent LOL Mindy

That is a good point , There are some people who were at the level of restriction I was at last fill who coudl tolerate it . Or can stick to a softer diet, however it was not comfortable for me so i chose to have a slight unfill. NOW if your PBing liquids, or mushies I personally think an unfill is needed. Mindy

My insurance agent who has access to HUNDREDS of insurance companies is looking and as of 5 pm today nothing , no one will do it. Its not as simple as it sounds ! He's still looking though . Mindy

BCBS said no , so did Aetna. Private policies are totally different than group plans, they can deny you for what ever they want to .Group plans except everyone regardless . The private pay companies will not even put a writer in for having the band as an exclusion . TRUST ME I TRIED ! Logic does not come into play for them . I knew this could be an issue , i have heard from others that they found a difficult time getting insured post op . If i have to stay on the risk pool I Do . If it comes to the point where i really cant afford it anymore, i'll have to go get a job JUST for insurance. WE make decent money owning our own company but like i said $1000 a month is a lot for just my insurance and meds. Thanks Mindy

I got life insurance before i got the band thank goodness ! And with that actually it will go DOWN because my weight has gone down and once my sleep apnea is gone it will go down again . Im sorry if it seems like im bitching but $309 is A LOT of money to me when you take into consideration i pay over $500 a month for ONE medication I am one for my migraines to prevent them . Add on the additional $50 for the other migraine med, I cant even get the abortive meds I take for my migraines because they are too expensive . So im paying nearly $1000 a month for just MYSELF for meds/insurance. Im sure some people have it bad but this is something i Cant really afford to do but I do it because i have to . I was shopping around to see if I can find it cheaper. I COULD get insurance now cheaper if i didnt have the band. Which i think is Ridiculous! Mindy

This is the people we use for our commerical stuff but they do everything. They are awesome. They shop around all the companies for us.

A better place for a massage if you have them around you is called Massage Envy . go to Massage Therapy - Deep Tissue Massage - Swedish Massage . You can get a one hour massage for $39 ! there is a membership you can join ( no contracts) its $49 a month for a one hour masssage and every massage after that is $39 . 2 hour massages run around $60 ! They are awesome too . The first massage is $39 Give it a try . I go about twice a month Mindy

I just heard back from one of the insurance companies my agent spoke to , as long as i have the band its a PERMANENT DECLINE ! They will never cover me . They said they will not cover anyone who has had any gastric surgery ! due to "Complications" that may come up . What a CROCK ! Right now i have what is called the Texas High Risk Health Pool Insurance its for people who are " un insurable " I pay $250 a month for just ME , they just sent me a letter stating my rates are going up to $309 a month !! I have heard of others who have had problems with getting it. Im self employed and unless i go back to work i think im doomed to pay an arm and a leg for this insurance. I dont get it . Mindy