Hi everybody,

First, please forgive me if you have already seen my post in one of the other forums. I posted under three different forums because I am an idiot and did not carefully read the TOS. Now I don't know how to delete any of my posts. Anyway, I promise I will not post anywhere else!

My name is Henriikka W. I am a 35-year old mom from Keller, TX. Like so many others, I have unsuccessfully tried diet and exercise to win my weight battle for several years now. I finally made the difficult decision to seek for a surgery to help me with this fight. I understand that the surgery alone will not resolve the core issue of why I over eat in the first place but it would certainly help me to adapt a whole new way of eating while I would address the emotional side of this complicated condition.

Unfortunately, I recently discovered that our insurance does not cover the weight loss surgery. My husband is a police officer, I am a student and we also have two small children. Therefore, I do not foresee us being able to afford this surgery anytime in the near future. However, I was randomly selected to be one of the nine final contestants in a free weight loss surgery give-away from Dr. David Kim of Colleyville, TX. All of us contestants had to post a video on his web site and now the audience gets to vote one of us to receive this life-changing and life-saving procedure. Would you please take a moment to view my video at www.drdkim.net/contest/ and vote for me if you think that I deserve this opportunity. I would be forever grateful! Henriikka W.

P.S. You can vote once per every 24-hour period per computer. The voting will end on June 1st. Thank you already!

Today is the day the winner will be announced!!! Let's hope Henriikka is the one!!!

Sandy1,,Henriikka posted the results right before yours.

I'm so sorry you didn't win but in a way you did. You've met some new friends and we'll be glad to support you in whatever effort you take to lose your weight. This is a lapband forum but we're all having the same struggles so I don't think it matters. So I hope you stick around. I know you can do it. I'm still waiting to hear if I will be able to have the surgery due to health issues..so I may end up with the same outcome as you. I'm not going to let it stop me from reaching my goal and fulfilling my dream. We can push forward together. I wish you the very best. God bless.

Karen

aka: peacequeen

Sandy1,,Henriikka posted the results right before yours.

I'm so sorry you didn't win but in a way you did. You've met some new friends and we'll be glad to support you in whatever effort you take to lose your weight. This is a lapband forum but we're all having the same struggles so I don't think it matters. So I hope you stick around. I know you can do it. I'm still waiting to hear if I will be able to have the surgery due to health issues..so I may end up with the same outcome as you. I'm not going to let it stop me from reaching my goal and fulfilling my dream. We can push forward together. I wish you the very best. God bless.

Karen

aka: peacequeen

Karen, Sorry I guess I didn't have my eyes completely open this morning.

Henriika I was so hoping it would be you. I hope that you are still able to reach your goal and possibly get the surgery VIA another avenue!

I didn't post yesterday simply becouse I didn't know what to say! You are right it just wasn't meant to be at this time! I hope you consider possibly going through the process without the surgery (if that makes since!!) Start with the 2 week pre-op diet then 5 weeks post-op diet then change to eating like a lapband pt. does. I take small everything sips of liquids as well as bites, and wait a minute between each bite. Use a saucer plate to eat off, count all your calories, and chew up everything very well! Don't drink 30 minutes before or after your meal, so that it will stay in your stomach longer, and you stay full longer. I'm sure you know all this! It's just an idea. I do have a band, and have lost lots of wt already, but I don't have much restriction yet. I haven't had any fills, and won't for another 3 weeks! I get hungry, and crave things I can't eat just like I did before. I just deal with it differently now. I try to sip on water or protein shake when I get hungry etc. I just know it's going to work for you somehow!

Sandy, sorry,,I just didn't know if you saw her message,,didn't mean to sound like I was smackin on ya.lol

Karen, Sorry I guess I didn't have my eyes completely open this morning.

Henriika I was so hoping it would be you. I hope that you are still able to reach your goal and possibly get the surgery VIA another avenue!

I just voted for you. How awesome is that that Dr. Kim is doing that. He did my surgery exactly one week ago today. He's the best bariatric surgeon in the DFW area. I also live in Keller. Small world. Maybe we will run into each other at the office. Good luck to you. Keep me posted!!!