mrslamica

It sounds like your friend is being "unrealistic" about the purpose of her band. The whole idea is to help you learn how to eat less...thus resulting in weight loss Something you have to keep in mind is that everyone is different and they loose different- some are larger (which means they will loose more)- some are working out along with their diet (which means they will loose more). Cheating the system by taking Fluid in and out so you can eat more or less is not the way to optimize weightloss with this tool...that is why she is just average with her weight loss. If I am not mistaken, the people who post pictures on this site are NOT paid to do so. These are REAL people that REALLY want to make a change...not paid actors or real people who have been paid to advertise and "sell" a product. I just wouldn't let the negativity get you down. 150lbs is a lot of weight to loose, but it's totally possible! I think that you can loose whatever you want to loose...especially with the assistance of the LapBand! Good luck!

I'm having it BIG TIME! I am on a pre-op diet but it's SugarBusters!...I've lost 6 lbs in a week...but I am still really MISSING food a lot! I think I will prolly go out Thurs night (seeing as though my surgery is this Friday) and eat a good meal...a "legal" meal...but a nice BIG one! I have always loved eating...whenever I meet up with my friends...it's usually at a restaurant...so that is definately gonna be an ajustment for me! Good luck everyone!

I'm so scared about the liver thing too! I am just hoping that my SugarBusters! diet the doc put me on shrunk it enough...cuz I don't wanna wake up without my band lol!!!

Congrats!!! Mine is March 12th...I already did my boot camp at the hospital...can't wait till next Friday!!! Good Luck!!!

The majority of you guys are doing the liquid diet...my doc has me on SugarBusters!...I wonder which is better for me? :/

It's so refreshing to find out that there are other "bandster brides" on here. I will be having my surgery on March 12th and my wedding date is set for Jan 1st 2010. Note- I was NOT engaged when I made the decision to get banded and began my prelim test and meetings, however I am currently engaged and haven't started loosing weight. I am VERY concerned about the dress process. I have NO idea WHAT my body is going to look like and the experts say to allow atleast 1 month for purchasing and 3 months for alterations...so I'm in the same boat with you both!!! I'm not going to begin my shopping until I am atleast down 50 lbs...it would be useless. My goal is to not purchase a plus-size gown...because the choices suck...REALLY bad! My advice would be to go with YOUR gut. Nobody else knows at what rate your body looses weight and I feel that you could make that guesstimation best. I would definately aim for a larger size to be taken in vs. shooting for a smaller size and it being too small...but I do think in your case- TCarroll- you should've insisted on a smaller (14) dress size bc your weightloss was so rapid and CONGRATULATIONS on that! I think these fears and struggles are so unique to our situation because unlike the "oblivious bride" who thinks she'll loose weight before her wedding...we actually will be completely different bodies when we walk down the aisle than when we purchased our dresses for the Big Day. To answer your question...Option 1 sounds better...it is always better to be safe than sorry, and I would rather have the stress of taking in a dress that I already have than have to compromise and purchase a dress that I do not LOVE or one that someone else has tried on and worn :eek:

That's my date as well!!! I'm sooo excited...March 12th- here I come!!!:tongue_smilie:

Very excited!!!! Just got my pre-op and surgery dates for March...guess that officially makes me a March Bandit! About me... my name is Lauren. I began gaining weight after I graduated high school back in 2003. I gained 100lbs in 4 years and another 20 between 2007 and now...I have topped off at 272lbs (as of my first pre-surgery appointment). A portion of my weight gain was a result of my PCOS (Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) and the other portion was a result of stress-eating and lack of exercise. My goal is to weight 150 lbs by my wedding in January...I'm not making any clothing size goals because I don't know what my body will look like (or how it will fit into clothes for that matter) after I have lost my weight. My overall weightloss goal is get down to 135lbs (which is comfortable for my height and age) but I do not expect to get there by my wedding...that will take a little longer :frown: Date of Surgery: March 12th Where Surgery will be: Palmyra Medical Centers- Albany, GA Doctor/Center: Dr. John Bagnato Seminar date: January 29, 2010 1st consult date: February 10, 2010 Surgeon-required pre-op tests (EKG, chest x-ray, labs) completed: March 2, 2010 Insurance-required Nutrition Consult date: March 2, 2010 Insurance-required Psych Eval date: None needed... How is surgery funded? Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas Concerns? That I will not loose the amount of weight that want to before my wedding...I am committed to a gym as well as eating the things I should but I worry that it's not going to be enough! Reason for banding? I am tired of feeling FAT!!! I have not always been overweight and I have tried every other method of weightloss and come to the conclusion that I need a LIFESTYLE change and a PERMINANT solution. Lap-Band seems to be the best solution for me.

Yay, got my date!!! I go in for Pre-Op March 2nd and my surgery will be March 12th! I'm soooo excited!!!

Yay! I just found out today that my Insurance was accepted...it only took 5 days, next step is scheduling my pre-op tests and schedule my surgery!!! I'M TOTALLY EXCITED!!! I couldn't go to the gym yesterday because my shoulder was KILLING me (pre-existing condition)...I'm hoping my weightloss will also help with my shoulder pain (doc says its a torn rotator cuff, but I think it's nerve damage)...but for now I'll just have to work through the pain and pretend it's not there!

I am in the same boat...I called my insurance company yesterday and they said it was still "open" which means they're still reviewing everything in my case. I had my appointment last wednesday Feb. 10th, so hopefully I will know something by the end of the week...waiting is really the hardest part of all...:biggrin:

Not yet...I am going to books a Million on Friday to pick it up. My mom said she had a copy of it, but apparently she misplaced it or its out on loan. I called my BCBS this morning and they said that it's still "open" which means they haven't made a determination on whether or not I'll be approved. I'm starting to get nervous and I don't want to bug the ladies at the office, but I keep wanting to call every couple hours and say "Have you gotten anything yet?" lol! I actually went to the gym last night with a friend...I did 20 mins on elipticle 20 mins on tredmill, 10 mins on bike and the weights...I felt good to be active!!! I am going to try to find the Sugar Buster's online to save myself the trouble of going to the bookstore, if I do, Ill post it.

Yeah definately! I'm excited about the whole thing. I'm so ready to get started I can't hardly stand it!

These posts make me nervous regarding the insurance approvals! I called to find out what was needed and the guy told me a BMI of 40+ or 35+ plus co-morbitities. However, when I went to my 1st consultation Wed. Dr. B told me a lot of times they require you to do other things as well (doc monitored diet, sleep apnea tests, phsycho eval) but I don't want to have to do all of that bc I know that I am mentally fit and I don't have a sleep apnea problem...I'm fairly healthy besides my PCOS problems that I believe are a mixture of stress and weight gain! I hope to have a surgery date in March as I am getting married Jan. 1, 2011 and I would like to have lost atleast 85-100 lbs by then! Figures crossed and LOTS of prayers until Monday when I'm supposed to have an approval or disapproval. He said once I am approved he can work me in within a week or two...so here's hoping I'm a "Spring Into March Bandit!"

This is so neat! I had my first meeting with Dr. Bagnato yesterday and I feel so much more at ease. I started thinking about LapBand about 6 months ago and began researching my different options and doctors in the area that do this procedure. Out of all of the surgeons I feel that Dr. B is the best. He seems really down to earth and passionate about his cause. I am currently awaiting insurance approval (and a little nervous) and then I am good to go. The nurse said as soon as they get word of approval I can have my surgery in a week! I already started the Sugar Busters Diet to get a head-start and prepare for my procedure. I am very excited and hope to be reporting a successful procedure in a couple weeks!

Who is your Insurance Company? I have BCBS of Arkansas and I'm nervous they aren't going to cover it...I met with Dr. Bagnato yesterday...I'm excited and nervous :thumbup: