mimi1512

OMG I can SO relate. I'm always the wingman. I'm always the in-girl. Like: "hey can you get me in with your friend?" I HATE IT! I am so looking forward to being the IT girl! And I can't wait to turn down (when they come aknockin' - cause you know they will!) the same guys who won't pay me any mind now. Such is life. You're gorgeous anyway, and any guy who wouldn't want to even get to know you, regardless of your weight, isn't even worth your time!

No I do not mind at all - I was hoping this would become a popular thread because everyone can relate to what we want to leave behind, and what we have to look forward to! Sometimes the smallest things can mean a world of difference. I hope this silly little list inspires you as much as your responses inspire me! We are all in this together!

Illuminationlady - YES! And along those lines, I will also never walk into a regular size clothing store and hear "Can I help you find a gift for someone?"

I add that I will not be afraid to buckle a folding chair when I sit in it!

I add that I will not be too scared to sit on my nephew's toddler bed because I might break it! Chinchilla, This literally made me LOL. I KNOW how that feels!

AH! Pixie I am SO thrilled for you! I can not imagine how wonderful it feels to get that approval letter. I will probably end up framing it as a reminder of the beginning of my new life! I can not wait to hear of your progress! Please keep us updated. By the way, this forum is just out of control - it is SO jampacked with information, experiences and stories, I can not get enough of it. I'm reading posts constantly. What a fantastic thing.

So true - I hope I never EVER forget how painful it is to be treated poorly due to my weight.

Lauren, Thanks! I've heard nothing but good things so far about Dr. Geiss, which makes me very excited! I am dissapointed that the earliest consultation I could get with him is January 12th - but I suppose it is best to wait until after the stress of the holidays. I was veiwing your profile earlier and I can not believe how fantastic you look! 70 lbs in only 7 months that is just incredible! Congratulations! I currently see a psychologist and am on zoloft for depression, do you know if that would count towards my psychiatrist requirement? Thank you so much for providing me with the information to get a head start - that is really helpful! I can hardly wait until Janurary to arrive.

Hi All, I am reletively new to this site and I would like to thank you all for your support, encouragement, and inspiration. This forum has such a wealth of knowledge, and I am very thankful for it! I have not yet been banded, in fact, I haven't even met my surgeon yet, but I am scheduled to meet him on January 12th - where I hope there will be a quick approval by my insurance and I will be on my way to banded life by March 2010. In the meantime, I plan to read as much as I can about your experiences and successes, as they are a huge inspiration to me. That being said - I would like to share with you the things that are not going to be a part of my life when I finally get banded. And I'd love to know what you plan to drop (besides some pounds!) once you get banded. I will no longer: - Be out of breath walking up a flight of stairs - Search a room to see if I'm the heaviest girl around - Stay home because I'm too embarassed to go out with my friends - Work out in my house because I'm too embarassed to go to the gym - Give into the newest miracle weight-loss drug hype - Place the blame for my weight on circumstance - Need a double-digit ring or pant size - Binge eat alone in my room - Fret at the thought of going to an amusement park, movie theater, or ball game (because I will fit into the seats) - Need a seatbelt extender for an airplane flight - Settle for an unsatisfactory relationship - Have "such a pretty face" - without the body to match - Shop at Lane Bryant or Torrid - Hide in the back behind plants or walls of relatives during family pictures - Use food as my escape and comfort - Be miserable in my own skin I will: - Walk tall with my head held high - Be able to shave my legs with ease - Be able to cross my legs while seated - Fit into a classroom desk - Zipper my jacket - Control my food, not be controlled by it - Go for a run - because I can - Not ever forget where I have come from, I will always be kind to those overweight - Be thankful for the ability to change - Become the woman I was meant to be - Find a meaningful relationship with a man who doesn't have a scary fetish for BBWs - Shop at regular clothing stores - Wear heels - Share clothes with my friends - Have so much more closet space - Be an inspiration to others, as much as others have been to me

I am SO thrilled that you've already gone - I am very nervous about going, but feel better that you've been there and done that. I also am getting a lot of support in my decision, but I know no one (in real life) that has gotten the band. A co-worker of mine has had GB and her results were DRAMATIC and RAPID, but that is not something I am interested in having done. I am set on the LB and if I can have a "band buddy" with you - I will be so excited! I hope all goes well on your surgery, and please keep me updated!

Amanda, I am so excited to hear that not only are you close by but you are working with the same surgeon I hope to use! I will being going to the North Ritz Club seminar hosted by Dr. Geiss on the 8th of December - I know you will be post-op, but will you be attending? I hope we can stay in touch and become "buddies" for eachother thru this journey.

Hi! I'm new from NY too - where abouts are you? I am in Long Island, and hope to get banded by Dr. Geiss in Syosset. This forum is amazing - the amount of advice and experience is invaluable!

Hello everyone, I have seen quite a few posts about Aetna POS but I have yet to come accross an Aetna HMO member who has gone thru the insurance approval process. I am curious to hear if anyone has any experience with this particular type of insuance. Specifically, I am interested in finding out the following: Has anyone previously completed a 6 month supervised medical weight loss program? If so, was it applicable to the prerequisites for Aetna HMO authorization process? Has anyone been seeing a psychologist already, and if so, was that also applicable to the prerequisites for Aetna HMO authorization process? As a side note, I am finding it must easier to communicate with my insurance company via secured messages on their website, this also allows for great documentation in the event of misinformation being given.

pixieinyourpocket - I sure hope it doesnt take me a year to get the band, I am not certain I would be willing to wait that long. I'm very inspired by you and the beginning of your journey. Please keep us updated! XxMariposaxX - I too noticed the staff can be quite finicky - I only called to schedule an initial consultation, but the woman I spoke to was very rushed - to put it nicely. I am not going to let it change my mind about working with Dr. Geiss, as I have read many positive reviews about him, and he seems to be the most experienced physician I've come accross. I am attending the free seminar on December 8th at the North Ritz Club in Syosset. Will you be attending?

Hi! I have just started out on this new part of my life. I have not even met Dr. Geiss yet - I have registered for the seminar on December 8th. I have made my first appointment to meet Dr. Geiss for Jan 12th - the earliest appointment available! May I ask if you have insurence? If so, what type? How long did it take you from the time you first met Dr. Geiss to the time your surgery could be scheduled? I have already done a 6 month medically supervised weight loss with my primary care physician, but that was nearly a year ago. Do you know if a previous weight loss attempt will count towards any requirments of medically supervised weight loss prerequisites?

I am 23 years old, with a BMI of over 50. I have an initial consultation with Dr. Geiss scheduled for January 12th - the earliest appointment available. I have been obsessed with this site for quite some time now, and I am so thankful for everyone who shares their experiences - I have learned so much from reading your stories. You are all so inspirational.