Well, I'm waiting on my insurance company to give the go ahead. I started "the program" at the end of May 2007. I have jumped through all of the hoops and now I'm just waiting to hear the word. I am really looking forward to it. I have been able to lose some weight on my own in the past month or so. I have quit smoking-I had no idea my hair smelled so good! I am looking forward to reading the posts on here and posting some of my own. I haven't done one of those timeline thingies yet-I will after I am banded. I am at 238 and would like to be around 150 or so. Everything looks great on my blood work, except my doctor said that I will end up with metabolic syndrome and ultimately diabetes if I don't do something STAT! My dad and mom are both diabetics. Being genetically predispositioned to the disease, I finally decided that I couldn't go through what they have been through. I have to clock back in, but I am looking forward to more reading! Thanks for all of the info!:cool:

I also am a newbie. I can't believe that it has taken so long to get your process to this point. I guess some doctors are just slower that others. I went to my seminar about 2 months ago, but didnt decicde to do it untill 2 weeks ago. But my friend who went to the seminar with me had her surgery 12/18/07. I turned in my paper work today and my first apt is next Thursday. But I have been to my family doctor, had my blood work done and gotten a letter from my knee doctor. All I have left is my mental eval, my apt with the doctor, and my insurance approval witch normally takes 2-4 weeks with them. I am hoping to be banded by the end of Febuary. I hope everything goes well for you and the process speeds up.

Hey there! I'm a newbie too. I started the process in May 2007 also. My insurance required I do a 6 month monitored diet. I completed all my requirements and testing end of Nov. My insurance approved the surgery in 2 weeks. I was banded on January 2, 2008. What a way to start the year off right!!! So far I've lost 13 pounds, about 110 to go. I'll get there one way or another. Good luck to you!! It's well worth the wait!!!

Cheers,

Jennifer ~ Banded 01/02/08

Memphis ~ Dr Woodman

pre-op/surg day/current

268/257/244

Congratulations to all of you for beginning your journey, no matter what stage you are in. I started my journey in May of 2007, got approved for surgery in about 2 weeks, then had to do all the testing, then I chose to wait until August for my surgery. I am doing OK, I hit a plateau around the holidays, but am back on track, good luck to all of you. This is the best thing I have ever done for myself.