tammyj

Thanks everyone and congratulations Nicole on getting your approval and surgery date! My surgery date is March 15th!!!

The request for approval was just sent in on January 24th and I got my approval letter in the mail today!!! I really didn't expect it 'til the end of the month. WOOHOOOO!!!

Bears lost...

I decided to get serious about losing some weight now. I have been having feasts on all the foods I love and now enough is enough. I did my normal Monday morning workout at Workout Express today. I don't usually workout on Tuesdays, but I am going tomorrow because it is time to lose some weight. If I start now the less I have to lose after being banded and besides this extra weight is really bringing me down.:faint:

I am also starting to practice some bandster rules. I have been trying to get used to sipping liquids. I am so used to downing a 16 oz bottle of water in 4 or 5 gulps. How in the world am I supposed to get in my 8 glasses of water a day by sipping?!?! Seems like my water bottle will have to be permanently attached to my hand to get it all in.

Today I replaced my breakfast with a liquid. In a couple weeks I'll switch to breakfast and lunch. I'm only doing Slim Fast right now. I'll probably switch to some of my protein drinks in a couple weeks. I don't want to wear those out since I still have a little over three weeks left before starting the full liquid diet.

I weigh in every Tuesday at the hospital. Last week I was 275. I am so pumped and ready to lose some weight!!!

:cheer2:GO BEARS!!!:cheer2:

I do 30 min. circuit training 3 to 5 days a week. I've been doing that consistently for about a year and a half. I will increase to 6 to 7 days a week after banding. I enjoy exercising so that has never been my problem...Overeating IS, but I hope to soon take care of that!

I started this process about 12 weeks ago and now I only have 6 weeks left. Time is really flying. YIPPEEE!!! I am so excited, but I know I may get scared and nervous again as my surgery date nears.

I know it's kinda early, but I'm already buying soups and protein drinks even though I don't start my liquid diet for another 4 weeks! I am done with most of my testing. I have to see the nutritionist today then I only have the Pulmonary Function Test and the Sleep Apnea Test and I'll be done.

I AM HALF WAY THERE!!! :bounce:

Here are some goals that I hope to achieve:

March 15th: 266lbs

April 1st: 255lbs

April 15th: 250lbs

May 1st: 245lbs

May 15th: 240lbs

June 1st: 235lbs

June 15th: 230lbs

July 1st: 225lbs

July 15th: 220lbs

Aug 1st: 215lbs

Aug 15th: 210lbs

Sept 1st: 205lbs

Sept 15th: 200lbs

Of course, these numbers may change, but I am hoping to lose at this rate.

Well, time is ticking by really fast. I can't believe it's almost February. I'm still very frustrated with my weight. I would like to start dieting and losing weight now, but I need to wait until I get my approval letter from Medicaid. I probably won't get the letter until the end of February or early March and by that time I'll be on the pre-op liquid diet anyways. I am actually looking forward to starting the liquid diet probably because I know it will be the start of my weight loss journey and also lets me know that surgery is near. I know the liquid diet is going to be very, very hard, but I am going to take phentermine during those 2 weeks to help with hunger pangs. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I get that approval letter early so I can get a jump start in losing weight.

AWESOME!!!

Wow...time really flies! You are working out already!? I am so happy you are doing well and feeling strong. 16lbs gone forever...Awesome!!!

Your persistance really paid off! WAY TO GO!!!

The wait can be agonizing. Think positive...you WILL get an answer by Tuesday. Hang in there!

I am really tempted to stop using this site because there are alot of ignorant people on here. I've read so many pointless, endless threads about nothing. It amazes me that grown people have nothing better to do but sit on this message board making the most ridiculous comments and it's such a shame that the moderators are the ring leaders.

Some of the information on this site is very informative which is why I am here, but the longer I am on here I am reading less and less of that informative information. I am so glad Mercy Hospital has group support meetings every week. I feel sorry for those who don't receive that support and have to depend on message boards like these.

Last night's group meeting was much better. They requested that only those in the LapBand program are allowed in the meetings which is good. That room is getting really crowded. I guess the word about Mercy Hospital is really getting around.

There were 2 ladies at the meeting last night that were supposed to have their surgeries this Thursday, but the Dr. has to unexpectantly go out of town so their surgeries have been moved to next Thursday. They did not look happy especially being on the liquid diet for 3 weeks instead of 2!

Dr. Bonomo has surgeries scheduled all the way into April. I'm wondering if that will push everybody back a week?!?! I'm going to call his nurse to make sure. I still have 2 months to go...UGH!!! The wait is a little frustrating. I have my appt. for cardiac clearance today, then I'll be done running to the hospital this week.

I have been marking the days...8 weeks and counting!!!

Great! Florence called me the day after the seminar so I'm sure she'll be calling you soon.

A prayer goes out for you for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery!

You must really feel good! Almost a 100lbs gone...WOW! KEEP GOING...DON'T STOP!!!

Well, I'm back from my psych eval. I have never been to a psychologist before so it was a little creepy. It was in the basement of the hospital, which made it even more creepier. Why do most psychologists look like they have a few screws loose themselves?...lol! Anyways, I had to take a short written test which asked the most ridiculous questions. Even if I were crazy, I would know better than to answer honestly on those tests. Then he asked me a ton of questions and took alot of notes. When it was all over he said, "We are looking forward to working with you", so I guess I did fine or passed the criteria.

You're already one week down! You didn't think you'd get through the pre-op diet either, but you did. Come on girl...YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Oh no, the dreaded GAS I keep hearing about! I hope it goes away soon!

I'm so glad everything went well. Can't wait to hear about your progress!

The Psychologist at Mercy Hospital called today. My psych eval will be on Monday 1/15 @1:00. Things are really moving along.

The Psychologist finally called me today and I wasn't home...UGH! I've been waiting to schedule this appointment for awhile because they won't submit anything to Medicaid until this is done. I left him a message and of course I get his voice mail. It's kind of late now so he probably won't call back 'til tomorrow.

They weigh us at every group meeting so I guess I should keep track of my weights as well. Dr. Bonomo sort of hinted that I shouldn't lose much weight if I want to make sure I'm approved. I need to stay above 270lbs to keep a BMI of 40.

Dec. 26th- 275lbs

Jan. 2nd- 277lbs

Jan. 9th- 274lbs

Jan. 16th- 277lbs

Jan. 23rd- 277lbs

Jan. 30th- 275lbs

Feb. 6th- 277lbs :phanvan

Feb 13th- no weigh-in

Feb 20th- 279lbs :eek: (Highest weight)

Feb 27th - 270lbs :scared:

Mar 6th - 266lbs:clap2:

Mar 13th - 267lbs:straight

Mar 20th - 262lbs :thumb:

Mar 27th - 257lbs:biggrin1:

April 3rd - 255lbs:rockon:

April 10th - 252lbs:cheer2:

Last night's meeting was okay. A few people made some really ignorant comments and wasted alot of time. The meeting is only 45 minutes and the instructor had to rush through the last part of it to get everything in. One lady brought her boyfriend and he must have been high or something cause he was talking off-the-wall and nothing he said made sense. I hope next week's session is better.

I have to go to the hospital on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week for the my psych eval, group meeting and for cardiac clearance. It would be nice if they could schedule the appointments on group meeting days, but that would be too easy. I'm okay with it because all I keep thinking about is having this surgery and losing this weight.