cunner

1) BodyGlide 2) synthetic clothing (polyester). AVOID Cotton !! 3) compression shirt/shorts Band aids can help too as others mentioned but Bodyglide and polyester will take care of chafed bleeding nipples.

This is so much my story. I have Aetna. Was denied, appealed, denied again. I was so depressed about it after all the months of preparation. At one point I was 36 hours from surgery when my 1st denial came. It sucked so bad to get those letters I still hate to think about it. After researching here someone suggested Lindstrom Obesity Advocacy. The web site is: http://wlsappeals.com/ Kelley did my appeals and she was awesome. Basically we went through every appeal with Aetna and got a denial at every level. I was devastated but she assured me it was OK and within the plan of action. After exhausting all Aetna appeals it goes to independent external review. My denial was overturned and after and entire year of appeals I finally got my surgery. The date was Dec 28, 2010. I have now lost just about 85 pounds. My Nurse Practitioner asked me to attend the introduction seminars they have at the hospital to speak with new patients even. The cost for the entire appeal process which was handled entirely by Kelley at Lindstrom Obesity Law was exactly $0. She was so so good I want to be sure anyone with approval problems knows about this service that Kelley and Walter Lindstrom provide. They really are awesome. Call them and see if they can help. I will be glad to answer anything else here or in a PM if you like. This is the best thing I have ever done for myself and family. I plan on living a long time to see my kids grow up. BTW: Aetna Sux !! Good Luck to your husband.

I hope not. I drink coffee by the gallon. Yeah I know its not good but it sure beats the alcohol habit which I did give up which I used to drink by the gallon too. That's for another thread sometime though.

My bike saddle is not very comfortable. I have good chamois (bike shorts) that help a little . After a while I can't feel anything down there anyway. Sorry I can't be of more help. I was looking at the "adamo road" saddle. The price is a big roadblock for me at this point. Sorry I couldn't be more help. Here is the saddle I am looking at: http://www.ismseat.com/saddle/adamo-road

I got my Realize band 12/2010. I have lost about 80 pounds and I am at the goal I set at the beginning. I would like to lose another 10 pounds and I think that is definitely doable. It will take some time at this point but I am patient. I now have 8.5cc. I am going in 2 weeks for my 18 month check in. I am sure they will agree with me that another fill is not needed. I can eat almost anything. I tend to not eat in the morning as it is a little tight but I have adjusted well to that. I really only have issues now when I eat too fast. It sometimes happens when I am rushing to get super ready for the family and I sit to eat without getting my head out of rush mode. When I said I can eat almost anything it is true but I am rarely hungry and I only eat small amounts as that is all that is needed to satisfy me. I went out to eat twice this weekend with my 8 year old daughter. We got one meal, ate everything we wanted and came home with almost half of the plate. It is amazing how much food we are "expected" to eat by society. Anyway, I am VERY happy with the realize band.

I took before pics in Dec 2010. I couldn't bring myself to look at them. In fact I thought my wife had mistakenly deleted them from the camera before downloading. She found them a couple of weeks ago. I admit that still, they are not pleasant to look at. Just 2 days ago I had bought a new pair of pants for my firefighter Class A (dress) uniform. I had to replace the 40's that were too small 2 years ago with some 34's. My 10 year old daughter came in while I was dressed and asked why I was in uniform. I told her I bought new smaller pants. She asked if my old pants stretched or if I got smaller? I smiled at her and asked "you don't remember?" She had a curious look and said "no". I showed her the before pic (from 18 months ago). She started laughing at my bloated head and neck/chin area. She said that she doesn't remember me looking like that at all. One thing I took from that is the love a child has for a parent doesn't depend upon fat, thin, ugly, handsome. They care about who we are inside and the outside doesn't matter. What she does like is that I play with her and her sister more. Swimming, soccer, softball, biking, even cartwheels on the lawn. Keep the before pics. You don't have to look at them all the time but it is a good reminder of how far you have come. I bet many people are like me and did all they could to avoid being in pictures. It is sort of nice to have one or two just to reference once in a while.

I forgot to mention that I use an app called "runkeeper" for my iphone to track my running activity. I tried a few others and I like this one the best. Any runkeeper users who want to friend each other for support please PM me and I will give you my username. It nice to share support and encouragement from others.

In my opinion good running shoes are essential to avoid injury. I bought $80 shoes at foot locker and and terrible ankle problems. I went to a real running store where they spent 30 minutes observing how I walked, how I ran etc.. They had me try several shoes and made me run in the parking lot while they watched. The pain in my ankle went away almost immediately with the new shoe and has never been an issue in the year since. I did my first 5K a little less than 13 months ago. In 2 days I am running in my first 1/2 marathon. I was not a runner before either. I now find running to be essential to my physical and mental well being. It is my way to relax when stressed out from work and life. Take it slow at first and don't push yourself. The C25K is a good program to ramp you up at a good pace. It should be something you enjoy doing and look forward to. I believe you will gain the most benefit and reward if you enjoy doing it.

Good Luck difa. I am looking forward to following your progress. Be sure to keep us all updated.

The seminar is a normal process in most places I believe. I remember that day having lots of mixed feelings. ..How did I ever get here. ..I'm glad I am here to do something about this. ..I hope no one I know sees me here. In the end It was worth every bit of prep work and struggle. Good Luck to you in your journey !!

I used to love cooking, eating, watching food channel, new recipes, wanted the best knives etc.. 17 months later I don't really think about food much My wife was talking about what to do for fathers say and suggested going out to dinner. I told her I wasn't really interested in that. I go out to eat because she likes it and I like the company and socialization. I don't much think about the food. I told her I would rather have a new seat for my bike so I can ride more miles in comfort. Eating has really now about keeping up energy so I can do more activity. I really don't miss it at all all. I was watching old home movies with my kids just this morning from of a Christmas a few years ago. I NEVER want to look or feel like that again. My fingers looked like little Vienna sausages LOL !!

I feels pretty good doesn't it ?? I was a 40 and I recently had to get some 32 inch waist pants as my 34's kept falling down. I haven't been a 32 for over 18 years. For so many years I used to go the the dresser or closet and find the loosest pants (pleats, expanding waists etc) as they were the only ones that would button as I was in denial of my growing size. I now have to search for the smaller pants as the big ones keep falling down. My 7 year old daughter thought it was necessary to run through the house to tell my wife that "Dad was wearing Jeans !!" I could never find a pair of jeans that fit right. They either were so tight I couldn't move or the crotch of my pants hung to my knees. I was just saying last night that its time to go through the closet again and cull out the 2nd round of big clothes. Keep it up. It won't be long until you need all new clothes

Please don't be afraid to seek counseling help. Where I went the per-surgery preparation included may workshops on the physical as well as mental/emotional changes that many people experience after WLS. I concentrated on the physical thinking that this was the major change I was making. To my surprise it was the emotional/mental changes that knocked me on my butt. As a happily married husband and father that was hard to admit or accept that this was my biggest challenge. Believe me that so many of us are with you in this. Several months later now after many months of talk therapy as well as pharmaceutical help I can look back and wonder how I made it through that time. By outward appearance all may seem wonderful and at the same time nobody else may know that mentally that same person could be barely holding it together. You have taken a big step toward physical well being. Be sure to continue this holistic well being too as needed. The entire WLS team including coordinating doctors and NP's, psychologists and nutritionists have a lot of time invested in your success and when asked should quickly be able to give you referrals for help if you ask them. I know my NP who did my followup and fills was the best and true cares for her patients well being.

Doing your first 5K is such an accomplishment. I ran mine a year ago on April 15, 2011. It made me feel so good that I continued to do a few more and now I am running 4-6 miles a day 4 days a week with the occasional longer run added in. I am training for a 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles) on Memorial Day weekend. There should be no need for extra carbs for 3 miles. You should be fine energy wise. In fact most races are in the morning and I don't do so well eating that early so I will just be sure to hydrate well (not too well so that you have to pee mid-race). Maybe 8-16 oz of water. Good Luck. I'm sure you will do great. !!

It's funny, Its both always on my mind and almost never on my mind if that makes sense. I know its there and it helps everyday to keep my lifestyle in check. It's never there in that I don't obsess about food anymore. In fact I used to love to eat and cook new recipes. Now I eat to live and not live to eat. It is on my mind in those few times I get stuck which is maybe once every few weeks. I don't think about dime sized bites anymore or any of the things I was taught when starting with the band. Avoiding trouble food and trouble times of day (morning) are all almost natural now. I think about it when I am exercising and trying to maximize the intensity or running distance. I think about it when I am sitting in the same chair comfortably with my 2 daughters reading a book and not having my fat rolls pinched as we all squirm trying to get more comfortable. I think about it when I walk by a mirror and can see the shape of my ribs and I can look down and see toes instead of the top of my belly. There are so many things more I could say but those are a few of my thoughts for today.