Bella Luna

I'm in! I was just banded on Wednesday, the 11th, so I have absolutely nooo clue as to how much weight I'll be able to loose by Christmas. It seems like it varies quite a bit. Some people don't loose too much; some people loose, but then gain some back once they start mushies or solids; and some seem to continually loose. I'll also have a fill on December 9th, so that should help. Anyway, I weighed 225 on surgery day and think I'd be able to loose 16 pounds due to my liquid, then mushy diet. Just enough to get me out of the 210's. Ideally, I'd love to be in Onderland by New Years, but think that's a little too ambitious. What do you guys think?

I had actually considered a similar thing. I have ADHD medicine that one of the side effects is a very decreased appetite and corresponding weight loss. I actually stopped taking these pills a while back because I didn't like the other side effects (up all night, being jittery, working unneccesary overtime). I had considered taking them again pre-op because they do help with my ADHD, but I realized my main motivation was the weight loss. However, I didn't want to take any medicine pre-op unless it was very necessary, just because I was afraid how it would interfere with the surgery and anesthesia. I have then considered taking it post-op, but my concern there was that I wanted to show my Dr. my real weight loss with the band alone, because I think this will determine how much of a fill I get. If I take the medicine and loose quite a bit of weight, I'd be afraid the Dr. would not give me a fill, or at least less of a fill that I would actually need had I not taken the medicine. Also, I'm afraid if I loose weight too quickly, that I'll have more saggy skin after I loose the weight. I really don't want that. I still haven't ruled out taking the medicine, but I want at least one or two fills before I decide to, for the reasons mentioned above. But I think after that I may consider taking a small (1/4) dose of what I would normally take. But who knows, maybe after a couple of fills, I won't need the extra tools of the pills to help loose weight. Also, for my own thoughts, of course I want to loose weight and see the immediate results, but I'm giving myself a break until I start to feel the restriction. I'm giving myself permission to eat a higher quantity of healthy foods. Once the restriction kicks in, I'll cut back and then see the weight loss. I've waited long enough to get the band and loose weight, I don't mind waiting another couple of months for the restriction to kick in before I have a greater speed of weight loss. I hope this helps.

Have you tried ground buffalo. I love it. I think it tastes really good and has less fat than turkey; less calories than chicken, pork or beef; and has over 20 grams of protein per serving (35% more than beef). Plus, most buffalo meat for sale is humanely raised. It's more expensive than ground beef, but you'll be eating less anyway. It's a very moist meat. Not all grocery stores carry it, but more are now. Most health food/natural food stores will carry it.

My surgeon only requires a one day pre-op diet of clear fluids. But it seems as if several people are losing quite a bit of weight on their required pre-op diet, so I'm considering putting myself on a pre-op diet. My surgery date is November 10th. What are your requirements for your pre-op diet and how is it going?

I also use Unjury. I have the Classic Chocolate. I actually love this stuff. I bought lots of different extracts like almond, coconut, cherry, orange, peppermint, strawberry. After the Unjury is mixed I add a few drops of the extract in it and mix again. It's so good and with the flavors ever changing, I haven't gotten bored yet. But I don't think I can ever have too much chocolate :blushing:. My favorite is to add the almont extract and then add some cinnamon. It is soooo good. With Unjury you have to make sure it's mixed well so there's no power clumps. I haven't tried any other brands, but haven't felt a need to.

Hey, I have the exact same insurance (Basic). My surgery date is the 11th. Your process went very quickly! I felt the same way. I obviously had considered it a little bit, thus the research into my insurance benefits. But once I realized the insurance would cover it, I felt driven to do it...almost like it's now or never. Good luck to you!

My date is also November 10th! My dr. only has me on a liquid diet for one day before surgery! But, I think that I'll start a liquid diet on November 1st, just to jump start the process.

I never had to see my PCP, in fact I don't even have a PCP. I have BC/BS Federal. My surgeon did require I attend a seminar to begin the process (which I could complete online). Then I submitted an application to them and they contacted me with all the required tests. These were based on their requirements. Good luck!

That's Awesome! I'm proud of you! I try to find something each day that I'm proud of myself for doing, usually it's as simple as turning down a piece of chocolate. But continuing a 2 hour workout when you're feeling under weather is amazing! Good for you! I miss onederland! I'll move there soon enough!

I have also had 3 C-sections and I was curious how the LAP-BAND® surgery compared to a C-section? How about the recovery. I'm nervous about recovery because I was told I couldn't lift anything for 6 weeks, but I have a 14 month old that I'll have to pick-up, at least to put her in her crib and car seat. I'd love your thoughts!

I was wondering the same thing. Does anyone know of a good blender, hand/immersion blender, or gadget that will crush ice?

The chocolate is just like chocolate milk, but they also have strawberry which you mix with Water, so it is more like Kool-aid.

I drink chocolate unjury. I think they are soo good! To mix it up a little I add a few drops of extract. I've used peppermint and almond extracts and think they are wonderful. Yesterday I bought more extracts to try: strawberry, cherry, orange, coconut. I'm excited to try them. Once I buy a hand immersion blender I plan on adding a banana (or 1/2 of one). You do have to mix up the drink pretty well so all the powder is disolved.

I feel the same way about my 14 month old daughter. She's always been large, which doesn't bother me, but I know it's because I'm large and ate too much when I was pregant that she was over 9 pounds when she was born. Plus she's constantly eating. I don't know if this is a normal thing for babies, but she's as obsessed with food as I am! My son isn't like that, but he is obsessed with candy. I'm so glad that my kids are young enough that they wont really remember the fat me and unhealthy eating habits. By the way, how do you plan on managing an 11 month old post-op? I'm not quite sure how I'll manage not lifting her.

Yeah, I'm so excited for you! Do you get to Celebrate Thanksgiving, or will you be on a liquid diet?

My day is the 10th. I could have done the 5th, but wanted to push it back because my husband has a 4 day weekend starting the 11th. I have a 14 month old. I'm nervous because they say I'm not supposed to lift anything for 6 weeks. That's obviously impossible when you have a baby. How are you going to handle it? My baby will only sleep in her crib, so I'm going to try to get a ladder and see if she'll crawl in. I don't know how long I can go without picking her up. Is your little one crawling/walking? Let me know if you have any ideas.

Welcome Corkee! I'm new today too! Doesn't it feel great to actually have a date?! How long has this process been for you? I decided I wanted this back in April. Long, but exciting ride!

By the way, do we have a cute name for ourselves? I think October's is Bootiful Bandsters. Maybe we could be something like Thankfully Banded '10.

I finally have my date scheduled: November 10th. I actually thought I was going to get this done months ago, but no complaints! I'm just so happy to finally have a date! I was told I could have it done on the 5th, but my husband's a middle school teacher so I tried to get it scheduled for the 11th (veteran's day). My Dr. doesn't do surgery on Thursdays, so we scheduled it for Wednesday the 10th. Hopefully my mom can get that day off and be with me and help take care of my 1 and 3 year old. My husband has the 11th and 12th off. I explained this to the receptionist and she said that I wont be able to pick up my kids for 6 weeks. Yeah right...I'll see what I can do? Thanksgiving probably wont be much fun this year; luckily Thanksgiving isn't one of my favorite holidays. I'll start mushie foods the day before Thanksgiving, so I'll stille be able to enjoy the mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie filling. Yeah, I'm so excited to finally be on my way to the real me which has been hiding behind all the fat!

I actually had collected five years of weight history, but in 2008 my BMI was below 35. I decided to just not submit that year and then if they wanted it later, then I would submit it. I figured once they knew something I couldn't take it back. I just found out that I was approved! They didn't even ask for that year. Maybe you could submit two weights from the same year. Anything could help, and most likely it shouldn't be that big of a deal. Just be creative and make a point to prove to them that you qualify. Good Luck! (By the way, I have BCBS Federal, basic).

Great advise, thanks! And good for you for double checking and being so organized!

I would go ahead and start the supervised diet now. Also search for other surgeons in the area in case your current surgeon will take too long you might consider working with another. Good Luck!

I'm not too fond of Curves myself. But I had recently looked into it to start some sort of exercise program. I thought it would be a good starting point, but not for long term. Unfortunately, they required a year's committment. I actually really like Jazzercise, but they only offer programs at set times, and if I can't make it to a program, then it's difficult to find another exercise option for the day. So I just joined Bally Total Fitness. It's really cheap and they offer unlimited classes, including 3 Zumba classes a week. I really like it. I can go when ever and do my own thing, or attend a class. They offer a 7 day trial, so I've been using that, but then I'll sign up.

"As for the medical history, I had fluctuated greatly too... I showed just weight/diet history - ups and downs. i didn't do formal Jenny Craig/WW but I did have years worth of bank statements showing gym membership, amazon.com order history for various weight-loss products, videos etc..." That's Great News!!! When your weight fluctuated, did it fall below a BMI of 35? I had Jenny Craig right my beginning and ending weight for the two times I did Jenny Craig (in 2006 and 2007). So my beginning weight in 2006 my BMI is fine, but my ending weight is throws my BMI to under 35. Do you think this should be a problem? Just in case I am having them send a new letter which shows only my beginning weights. Any thoughts?

I also had to have a sleep study, which was required by the surgeon, not by insurance.