I HAVE A DATE!!! JUNE3rd!!!

Its been a battle for 8 months now with insurance Co./ I gave up & said "I win!! I'll pay for the darn thing myself!." So that is what I will be doing. I already gave the old MC a swipe yesterday & put done the $5200.00 to start & hopefully that wedding gown will sell soon & maybe a few other things:0)

I start the liquid phase on friday & will be doing the full two weeks even though the Doctor only requires two days of a fast. I just got off the phone with my Mom & finally decided that I am done deciding--i.e. I have been thinking this thing to death & its not only holding up my life in general but also I've been gaining more while waiting for insurance & other monies. Enough was Enough:0)

The only other stummper was my Doc yesterday suggested the RNY. Showed me AMAZING photos & said I would be 100 pds down in 9 mnths & because I was young & relatively healthy that I was a great candidate. He said the way he does it there is no malabsorbtion & that skin will sag because of stretching & age, not how fast you lose it. Not only that it would be $2500.00 less because the hospital (believe it or not) is less than for the lapband. He went over all the problems the band can raise & said he has just fond that his RNY patiences have much greater success than his band patiences do & in a Much shorter period. I must say he maid Excellent points & had me thinking for the last 12 hours.

BUT I am done thinking- Its the band for me! I know its harder than RNY ( both R hard- I know)- But I think that will make me feel more successful in the long haul(At least I hope) Also even though he said RNY was reversible - the band is so much more easy to reverse. It took awhile to put the weight on so two yrs to take it off isn't all that bad. Plus I would be able more readily to have a child quicker w/the band they say because of it being adjustable. Can you tell I am still nervous on my decision??

Nervous & happy at the same time has I am sure all of you were. You know some of my decision process was made WITH YOU GUYS in mind. Its true - I thought "what about my band family?" They have been the best support I have had so far! I mean it- I know when the poop hits the fan- my internet family will be there. Since I am a "closet bandster" that support is all the more important to me! Thank you one & all!

So let the count down begin!!! ((crying)) I have made the commitment & I"LL SUCCEED!

How awesome!!!!!

I know you wouldn't be down for long...no dumb ol' denial was going to get in your way!!!!

Your going to do great, no doubts about it.

I am so happy for you!! Here's the start to the new you!!!

AW-RIGHT!!!!!!!!!

Way to go, girl! I wouldn't have done this without my LBT family either. It makes a huge difference.

Congratulations! I'm so proud and happy for you!

CONGRATULATIONS! You've waited long enough, I'm so happy for you. It will be here before you know it, and most importantly, rest assured, you've made a wonderful decision. You will succeed.

Good stuff Christina! Totally stocked for u!

GOOOOOOODDDDDD FOR YOUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!

I'm so excited for you! June is a beautiful month to start a new life. Just think as you pack away seasonal clothes , you can bury them real deep in the closet.

You are so worth the money. Hey it's half of what a new car would of been and this will last a lifetime.

Hi Christina,

I'm so glad to hear your getting your BAND SOON! Congratulations, I know how much you've been wanting it. Keep us posted on your date. Teresa

Fantastic news! Congratulations. June 3 is just days away. I think it's wonderful that you did so much research on the band that you wouldn't let your doctor persuade you to go with the RNY. (I think you made the right choice, but then I'm biased. ) Let the countdown begin -- you're on your way to Bandland! Yippee!

I am happy for you, but sometimes I can't help but wonder, if rny isn't a better choice, because the results are so immediate, we always want a fast fix. I guess I was just hoping my weight would drop faster, I knew it wouldn't come off too fast, but I had no idea it would be this slow. My cousin just had rny last Monday and she has already lost 18 lbs, isn't that wonderful. She will be so skinny by the time I see her next month, and I will be stuck in my no weightloss plateau. What's even worse, I will have to face family members who criticised my decision to have this surgery and I guess they will throw it in my face that I haven't lost as much as Angie, man that is going to suck. Maybe I too should have had the rny??/ I would probably already weigh 100 by now, LOL

I am truly happy for you Christina. Sorry about all the venting, but who else can I vent to but all of you...

Estella - you are so close to your goal, and without changing all of your insides to do it! You can eat almost anything you want without the "dumping" that ryn goes through. By the time both of you are two years out, you will both have lost the same weight. I think you made the right decision! You day will come, "good things come to those who wait."

I am happy for you, but sometimes I can't help but wonder, if rny isn't a better choice, because the results are so immediate, we always want a fast fix. I guess I was just hoping my weight would drop faster, I knew it wouldn't come off too fast, but I had no idea it would be this slow. My cousin just had rny last Monday and she has already lost 18 lbs, isn't that wonderful. She will be so skinny by the time I see her next month, and I will be stuck in my no weightloss plateau. What's even worse, I will have to face family members who criticised my decision to have this surgery and I guess they will throw it in my face that I haven't lost as much as Angie, man that is going to suck. Maybe I too should have had the rny??/ I would probably already weigh 100 by now, LOL

I am truly happy for you Christina. Sorry about all the venting, but who else can I vent to but all of you...

**KICK IN THE BUTT!!** Estella!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Honey what is up?! R u having one of those days? (((((((((BIG HUG)))))))))))) Sweetie, u have waited this long. Give urself a little time! How long did it take to put all that weight on? U have only been banded for less than a yr doll. Trust me u will get there. And remember u also have childeren. What a tradgity if u had the rny and ended up with dreadful complications like.........DEATH! Sweetie, I can see ur coller bones. In a few months ur gonna be a skinny bitch and Im gonna have to hate u too! j/k. WE ALL LOVE U! Honey u are more than half way there. Maybe u need a kick in the butt to get u over this plateau. Have u been eating right? Did u start walking again? Could it be time for a fill? How long have u been plateaued? Cant be too long since u have had ur band for less than a yr. That ryn surgery seriously freaks me out....like gives me the heebie jeebies. Ohhh I cant imagine letting someone rerout my intestines. **shuddering** U have us all here! If ur in a rut post mama! We will help u get over this plataeu in no time!! U can do it!

Oh Bandit, I love you so much girl. Yes, I am having one of those days, having a hard time dealing with all the idiot remarks my family members are making comparing my cousin and I. I understand what you mean, but yes I am in a rut, and yes I have been eating good, well apart from those frozen coffee drinks (seem to be addicted to them lately). I honestly think that I was not eating enough for my body to burn anything off, I had been too tight and thank God I can finally eat better. So hopefully, this rut will end. I have been bad and not been walking like I should, there is just too much going on right now, with school year end, and dance recital coming up and all the extra practices and picture schedules, its hectic, but these are just excuses as always. Thanks for the kick in the butt, I will get back to my walking and I definitely should consider starting my weight training again, it was so good for me and I was starting to see results. but as always my life gets too hectic and I always put myself on the back burner for everyone else. Well, I truly do appreciate your post and definitely need the kick in the butt, its just hard sometimes. I will stop this bitching and get onto start focusing on becoming a skinny bitch that you will be proud to hate!!!!! LOL

I guess I need to be happy that I have lost about 32 lbs and that I have maintained it off. My BMI is 28, so I guess I'm headed in the right direction. I went online today and did an ATkins diet profile and it says I need to consume 1200-1300 calories a day, does that sound right??? I probably don't consume that many, you would think I would be losing weight left and right.

This is what I usually eat in a day.

No Breakfast usually, I just drink a sweet tea

For lunch today I had a sandwich w/ ham and cheese (first time I eat bread since I was banded in November, so I truly and excited that I can eat bread again)

For dinner last night I had about 1/2 cup of black Beans, 1/2 cup of potatoes and 1/4 cup of pork steak meat.

Oh and yesterday I had a frozen coffee drink w/ white chocolate. ( I know, I shouldn't do that)

But that is what I eat in a typical day, so why aren't I losing, I don't eat enough, huh????

Any ideas on how I should modify my diet, please someone, kick me in the butt and set me straight....

Christina,

I definately think you have made the best decision. So HAPPYfor you!

Congrats Christina!! I think you are choosing a great doctor! Wink-Wink.....lol.

Its so liberating to make a decision and finally be able to work towards it with some purpose--isn't it!

Wishing you the best!

T

Thank you all so much! Its funny how w/each post I seem to really feel more secure in my decision & am very excited to begin. Thank you all for the encouraging words & congrats- its been a long 8 mnths & I feel so prepared.

Estella- I believe the following will help you out. Yesterday (wed) my girlfriend came to visit me. She had RNY 18 mnths ago. She lost 90 pds very quickly & now has gained back 17 pds. She is extremely depressed & has I sat & listened to her she went on & on about how she doesn't quite feel right & hasn't fixed much of anything has far has her thought process. She is the 2nd person in less than one month that I personally know who has gained back nearly 20 pds after losing 90 on the RNY. I Also heard of a guy at the doc's (for my back) office today that lost 150 pds on RNY he was very larger & kept it off for 4 yrs & now has gained back over 80:0(

What happens is that their pouches stay the sme but because they still tend to over eat their intestines stretch out & basically become their new stomach--EWWIE!

The gals that I personally know feel very defeated. Who can blam them-------OK here is the great news:

Yes both of the gals wish they would have done the band - but I think anyone who isn't doing well on either surgery will wish that they did the other -- Grass is always greener on the other side syndrom. BUT-- Here it is---- I have NEVER heard of a band person gaining more than lets say 12pds back & they tend to be so much more vigilant in seeing their doctors & getting tightened to avoid the huge gain. That Is why I think over the years the band people will have longer success. Yes we won't be skinny has fast but the turtle wins the race!! Of course you all ready knew this but we all need a nudge once in awhile. Hope that helps!

BIGT- Make sure you im me & let me know how your doing!

Now back to my celebration- soon my 2 week count down will begin! I can't wait to kick all your butts in the weight loss challenge! Just kidding--NOT!!!!!!! :D :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny