Piggybacking - no band in near future

[MoOrLess]

I thought I'd add this one - since it's the category I'm in right now. I've had such awesome support and encouragement here - so I'm piggybacking all of you successful bandsters!!! Thanks!

Medicare is my insurance - and they are being extremely fickle right now with 'who' can do the surgery and 'who' can do fills - so I'll just let them fickle their way through to being more helpful in the future........

So come on in and share your experiences - if you are waiting to be banded that's ok too - just think of it as a rest stop along the road to surgery!

Mo

[dawg]

Welp, you know me :) I'm the resident host and unbanded piggybacking hubby of P'Nut.

Much as we are a lap-band support forum its critical the pre-banders and the individuals without insurance have a place too.

I've lost more than 100 pounds in total, and 87 since my wife got banded.

There is no -easy- way out. :)

[MoOrLess]

My sweetie and I have found that losing weight and eating healthier TOGETHER is the way to go too! Congrats on the 100+ lbs - wow Dawg I didn't know you had hit that number and over - woo hoo!

[dawg]

My sweetie and I have found that losing weight and eating healthier TOGETHER is the way to go too! Congrats on the 100+ lbs - wow Dawg I didn't know you had hit that number and over - woo hoo!

Having support from your spouse / partner is 100% critical to success. It's hard to do it alone, let alone with someone around eating pizza etc.

I've tried to diet on many occasions, but it wasn't until the wife made a commitment that was (with luck) permanent thet it became easy.

I have to confess, as a person who is legally blind, I am reliant on the wife to provide my food. The second fast food stopped appearing and there simply wasn't an option to eat unhealthy food, the pounds fell off.

I also had a medical issue come up with my stomach. Every time I ate a large meal I would become violently ill. My last supper (as I like to call it) was a Subway, foot long, Chipoltle chicken bacon double cheese melt, on italian herb and cheese bread, lettuce, tomato, onion, bell pepper, jalapenos and enough parmesan to choke an italian family of four.

I threw up after eating that, for a fairly large period of time. That was the end.

It is hard to succeed without the band, but I think it's almost impossible without support.

[MoOrLess]

El yucko! just 'reading' about that sub made my stomach hurt lol

on a more serious note - I agree Dawg - support is the name of the game - for BOTH people (whether banded or not).....that's why you BOTH are such an awesome and important support system on here - thanks for letting us be part of such a great forum!

[Firefly]

*stands up* My name is Sara, and I do not have a band.

I have been through probably every diet you can think of and they just, didnt do a thing. At times, I even gained weight. Being "obese" nearly my entire life, I'm getting very tired of it. Very tired period actually. I'm lucky to have some good friends though who are wanting to step in and help.

[MoOrLess]

Hi Sara! yep we are all in that place at some point in our life - I guess it is good in a way - when we get tired of dragging the weight around it makes us do something about it! Good luck on whatever decisions you make - smile! Keep us updated about YOU!

[Firefly]

Of course I will. I plan on working hard, and I'll probably whine so you guys'll have to tell me to shut up and just do it. I'm counting on you! hehe

[dawg]

I think the best part of a place like this is knowing you'll find people to whine to, to cheer you on, and be supportive in any situation.

My one goal for b2g: If it makes one person's life easier, in some small way, it is a success.

[MoOrLess]

lol Sara whine away - then go get some wine!

Dawg my man - you have already achieved that along with P'Nut! Just look at the bottom of the page - and SEE the numbers! HUGS and thank you!

[Firefly]

Yuuuum, wine. I dont drink wine often, it tends to make me flush rather quickly.

[MoOrLess]

um by flush......are we talking skin or toilet? lol sorry couldn't resist

[Firefly]

rofl

*thinks*

I guess it qualifies as both....?

Though, the skin thing happens first, then, the toilet.

[A1ikou]

OOOh hello Mo!
I think this place is great for anyone who needs support and a friendly ear, lapband or no lapband. I also think you and dawg are the best role models for people piggy-backing or waiting for the time when they can have a little band of their own. You are working hard to get where you want to go and have time to give so much to everyone else along the way and I for one say Thanks! for doing that.

[dawg]

Bah. I've been enjoying the good life for a week or two and have added a few pounds.

I need to get my act together and stop it!

Grrrrumbles.

[diane5467]

Hi Mo,

We have spoken a few times on "the other site" and I had been wondering where you had gone! My band date is next Friday. It has been quite a emotional rollercoaster and I can't wait to get through this pre and post period so my family can stop feeling guilty for eating around me. As I recall, we live pretty close to each other, so let me know if you want to chat.

TTYS,
Diane
diane5467@comcast.net

[Firefly]

Good luck Diane! I'm glad your family is being understanding of your needs though. I'm sure everything will go fine :)

[MoOrLess]

hi all! waves to Diane - yep - my email is currently broken - lol - not really but I am in school again full-time and with 36+ novels to read it ain't pretty....so that is where I have been folks!

Don't forget me - I haven't forgotten any of you -- I promise! Right now I am lucky if I get online on Sundays for weigh-in - hopefully that will change but probably not for a while - send me PMs please - I'll check those when I can!

Dawg - come on guy - get those lbs off - step away from the computer...that's it - you can do it - no one will die if you do - I'll deck 'em if they complain lol - go take a walk - DAILY! and eat regularly - yep I know P'nut is traveling - but eat healthy! And I'll see ya next week on the 3L thread for weight LOSS next week? I'll be watching..........lol

Ali = thank you girl! for the compliment - Dawg and I and many others are NOT banded and we are definitely piggybackers-a shout out to anyone not banded - come on in! We'll support you before, during or after the banded life!

Hope to catch everyone on here again SOON! HUGS!

[BPM]

I am not a piggybacker nor am I banded.
I started exploring the possibility of the band and simply decided it wasn't for me. I still have a ways to go but so far so good and I kept coming to these sites for the people.

[Kathy]

Hey BPM! :wave: Good to have you here. Put your feet up and make yourself at home. We are all in this together, band or no band. Yay you on your 64 pounds!

[MoOrLess]

Hi BPM -- congrats on your awesome weight loss! Great job flying solo! So what are you doing to lose the weight? Can you help out fellow non-banded folks? exercise? food? What are you doing to be so successful?!

[dawg]

Admission time!

I am having a hard time. I've found my old friend beer and found him to be as welcoming as he ever was. With beer comes his ugly friend: "Bad Food Choice". I've been choffing down on the only unhealthy things I can find (and even those aren't so critically unhealthy). Cheese, Whole wheat tortillas... chicken strips... coleslaw.... not to mention calories from the beer.

I dunno what my weight is but I can tell the 38" pants are tighter. I'm fine with the fact that I've slidden a bit, but I'm not fine with letting go and go9ing back to over-fat (thats more than just overweight).

I'm struggling with how best to resolve the situation. I've ALWAYS loved beer. forget the alcohol, its the TASTE. I'd switch to alcohol free but a) it doesn't taste anything even remotely close to beer and b) the calories are the same.

I am going to have to make a hard decision soon, and I already know what it's going to be, and I don't like it.


BAH!

Thanks for letting me vent :)

[BPM]

Hi BPM -- congrats on your awesome weight loss! Great job flying solo! So what are you doing to lose the weight? Can you help out fellow non-banded folks? exercise? food? What are you doing to be so successful?!


Sure but my plan is pretty simple. I eat less and I move around a lot more. It seems to work. :nod:

After studying up on the band it appeared to me that it was as much work on the mental side of things with a band as it was without it and you had all kinds of weird complications and side effects from the band. If I had to be strong mentally anyways then I decided to forego the band and try to do it on my own.

Here is the gist of what I do:

Food: I don't eat a super restrictive diet....but I eat good foods. I eat a lot of fish, chicken, turkey along with tons of vegetables etc. Very little bread, no pasta, no white rice. I will splurge on some days and push my calories up to about 2k a day but on a normal day I come in around 16-1700 or so.

Exercise: In my opinion the best thing you can do to lose is to exercise. I've had days on my diet where I didn't quite do so well...BUT...worked out hard and I still lost weight.

I am doing a wide variety of activity now but at first when I started all I did was ride a bike. It was low impact and pretty easy..even for a fat guy. The first trip out I biked about 10 miles..(wow did my butt hurt!)....and had to stop twice or die. I now routinely ride 25 and 30 miles and have gone as long as 60 miles which they call a metric century.

I have also started lifting weights at the YMCA along with biking and swimming. I hope to start running soon as I want to compete in some triathlons next year but I truly HATE to run. I wish I could get into it and I have tried...but I despise it.

Anyways...enough of my babbling.....I will simply say...their is no secret to losing weight and a lot of people buy book after book and pill after pill and try program after program but it's simply expend more calories than you consume and you will lose. It's all in the head...if you can beat the mental aspect of it then the rest will happen.

Eat right and exercise and mother nature will take care of the rest.

[margo]

As most you know, I am banded, but I deal with a husband who is out of control with his eating and now my daughter is out of control with him....I guess he decided to have her take my place.
Daily I live with crap food around me, and 2 people overeating constantly.
So, I thank everyone here on this board for your neverending support...I need it!!!

[MoOrLess]

argg Margo - so sorry you are dealing with that. All I can imagine is that as you keep losing weight - trust me - eventually it will bother both your husband and your daughter and their eating habits WILL change - stay strong, do your thing and they WILL follow eventually. Congrats on a strong will of your own!

Thanks for sharing BPM - I'll remember your advice to kick butt and eat less lol - I'm trying - need to try even harder.

Dawg - sorry the beer has to go - yep I know it's tough - but you can do it - cause you are the man!

[dawg]

Margo, I can only imagine just how tough it is for you to deal with that situation. I can only suggest vocalizing to them that it's hard for it to be around you and it's hurting you to see them mistreating their bodies. I have no doubt you've tried that more than once - I hope they see the light before it turns into a disaster.

Mo' you are very correct. The beer really does have to go. I love drinking but I know it's bad for me. I feel worse and I gain weight.

I'm using it as a crutch to help with stress and that is disheartening.

I'll keep fighting the good fight :)

[MoOrLess]

Better late than never - HUGS to you Dawg! Sorry it's been a while but I haven't been able to get online with all the homework....how are things going? Is that beer gone yet?! lol sorry you are stressed -- hope it's getting better for you!

[dawg]

Thanks Mo :)

I've eliminate beer (none since Saturday) and I'm working on the carb food cravings. I've eaten some coleslaw today which isn't so good, but other than that it's been healthy food all the way.

I'll keep revising my diet back to where it was and I've been hitting the water hard.

I'll keep fighting the good fight.

No sign of the stress backing off yet though :) Thanks for checking in on me :)

[MoOrLess]

You're welcome Dawg....hope the stress calms down SOON! No one needs that going on daily.....glad to hear the beer is gone - yeah the carbs are the evil of the world - I'm convinced lol........I'm wondering if maybe your body wasn't hollaring for some 'balance' -- I remember you were hitting the tuna morning, noon, and night and maybe it needed those carbs for a little while....onward! Hang in there guy!

[JoyceGA]

I have become a major scale watcher. I determine what to eat for the day by what it says each morning.

I still have 200 lbs to lose, but I have lost 89 so far and I don't want to slip back.

If I have gained a few pounds, I go liquid for the day or untill the needle is going down again.

I do go out to dinner with friends and don't restrict myself, but the next day I check the scale and act accordingly.

Really, I am using the protein diet I have learned here with the philosophy from that French Woman's book.

As we head into the holidays, I really have no desire for all the alcohol and chocolate. Now, that seems weird after years of overdoing both.

[dawg]

I am doing a lot better on balance. My diet now features:
Fruit for breakfast.
Tuna for lunch,
Oatmeal for the afternoon.
Healthy choice (or something meaty) for dinner.
If I get hungry in the vening it's either more tuna, or fibre one.

Lots and lots of H2O!

We are going to do Thanksgiving this year, but I think the focus will be on the meat and veggies instead of the pie.

Charge on madly :)

[MoOrLess]

How awesome Dawg! way to go on mixing up your healthy foods - really wise choices....I will now go kick myself in the behind and follow suit lol

[dawg]

Well, still no beer. Down 7 pounds since last weekend - go figure. I'm back to 80 lbs gone. Now just another couple weeks and maybe I'll be back to my all time low.

Ironically stress is increasing day by day - really feeling under attack from the pressures of the world. Fun fun fun!

[MoOrLess]

Congrats Dawg on the 7 lbs gone and NO beer! Sincerely, I am happy for you that you realize food and drink aren't going to make the stress go away. I'll keep praying the attacks lessen too - definitely unhealthy for the human body. Exercise! or something that makes you forget the stress - trust me on this one. My fiancee had a triple bypass 9 years ago - it was from STRESS! Take care of YOU (and P'nut of course)

[MoOrLess]

It's been a 'dead' thread for a while - but it seemed to be a good place to post - I will be leaving the "not banded" side of life and joining the banded world on August 24, 2007 (Friday) - two weeks from now-I can't wait!

[A1ikou]

YAYYAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Mo...couldn't happen to a nicer person. Well done that decision! Talk to you really soon xxxxxxxxxxx

[MoOrLess]

hey Ali - woo hoo - you ARE alive lol --- send me an email girl!

[Neal R.]

Great news! Very happy for you :)

[MoOrLess]

Thanks Neal! I'll be tugging on your ear for lots of successful tips in the near future!

[JDru]

I'm so excited for you Mo!! You're going to kick our butts on the Labor Day Challenge...and that's a good thing! :)

[Pamla]

Congratulations Mo! That's wonderful news!!! Your patience and persistance paid off!

[DebbieChoos]

Mo - Awesome, congrats!!! You may hold the record for the most patience for a lapband!! Now just stay away from those live electrical wires at Wendys.... lol

[Alicia521]

MO - Yay! I'm so excited for you

[stac1982]

Congrats Mo!!! You will be an awesome bandster since you have been hanging out with us so much!

[MoOrLess]

lol Jessica - yep I just might beat everyone on the Labor Day Challenge - we shall see-thanks for the encouragement!

Pam, Debbie, Alicia, Stacey - big THANK YOU for the encouraging words - I'm really excited to 'finally' joining all of you in band land (yeah Deb no more live wires OR Wendy's for me lol)

[shackdog]

hang in there and good luck

[LindaV]

MO - THAT IS GREAT NEWS!!!!!!! Congatulations!!

[SpookyJulz]

Mo~
I just saw this!!! I am so excited for you!! You are awesome and you will do wonderful!!
Best of luck!
Julz

[kebsa]

Mo, what did you do with the electrical wires, did you try to develop and new way to lose weight by the volt!!?? glad to hear you have finally got a date- now is the time to go over all your old bandster notes as revision before your surgery! at least you are well educated about bandom!

["Just" Paul]

This is just plain freakin awesome news!

Mo, you deserve all the success this WILL bring you in your journey!

[MoOrLess]

Thanks you Shackdog, Linda V, Julz, Karen, and Paul......it is so wonderful to have a 'family' online - my daughter doesn't quite understand how important you ALL are to me - being there before, during and after my journey to bandland -- I couldn't ask for better friends! I'm so looking forward to showing off my 'thinner' body as the weight comes off - because NOW I know that it WILL come off - thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the encouraging words, hugs, and fun times we've shared already - see ya on the other side in two weeks!

[kebsa]

non band people do find it hard to understand don't they! I am just glad that fnally things are workingout adn that you will soon be on your way to a healther new life with your band buddies!

[DebbieChoos]

non band people do find it hard to understand don't they!

Hey....I'm not banded and I'm pretty caring, understanding, compassionate, giving, friendly, ...opps got carried away - lol.

Mo - my unbanded ass is rooting for you!!!

[MoOrLess]

lol Debbie - I think Karen meant non-banded people as in MY FAMILY lol

thank you very much for offering your unbanded ass in the cheerleading section! I can't have too many friends! :)

[Idahobeauty]

Mo, that goes both ways. We have seen you give support and and compassion for each of us here. You are a huge part of B2G and we appreciate you here.

[MoOrLess]

why thanks Idahobeauty --- sometimes I feel like I'm a cheerleader who always sits on the sidelines hoping to get into the game -- now that I am getting a band of my own I feel like I've joined the ranks of the varsity cheerleaders lol

I try to give my opinion, support, and hugs as much as possible. School and real life are hard to juggle -I am returning to school once again this year to start grad work - so if I come up missing a bit - it isn't that I don't want to be here more often, it will just be that I am doing homework and raising kids lol

thanks for noticing this sidelined cheerleader :)

["Just" Paul]

Mo is gonna kick butt and take names with her band.

She knows how to work it, and has been great support for all of us...
It is now time to return the favor.

I'm here for all the support you need, Mo.

[MoOrLess]

thanks Paul - can I call you at 3am when I am PBing some day? lol just kidding.......but thank you - I know you will be there supporting me as I learn how to be a bandster

[Idahobeauty]

why thanks Idahobeauty --- sometimes I feel like I'm a cheerleader who always sits on the sidelines hoping to get into the game -- now that I am getting a band of my own I feel like I've joined the ranks of the varsity cheerleaders lol

I try to give my opinion, support, and hugs as much as possible. School and real life are hard to juggle -I am returning to school once again this year to start grad work - so if I come up missing a bit - it isn't that I don't want to be here more often, it will just be that I am doing homework and raising kids lol



thanks for noticing this sidelined cheerleader :)

Mo, Not just a cheerleader but the Head Cheerleader in my book! We will all be here for you just like you have been for us. I am so excited for you.

[MoOrLess]

Idaho...thank you, truly! I know that I will need my entire banded family just to figure out all this new stuff! I have a list ready for my sweetie for the store while I'm recuperating - and directions for everything for every family member lol - I figure if they are organized I can focus on ME for a little bit lol - I'll have my share of "firsts" to ask about, I guarantee it - starting with the dang c-pap machine that is coming to my house tomorrow morning - now THAT is something I want gone sooner than later

["Just" Paul]

Just temporary mo, you'll be off that thing in NO time!

And I will be raedy to discuss that PB!

[MoOrLess]

thanks Paul....although I want a PB about as much as I want this auto-pap machine! lol

[A1ikou]

Still, when that PB comes along and you know it will!!!!! you'll be calm and careful and know all that is required. See, knew we'd be useful for something!

[kebsa]

When i referred to non banded folk, didn;t mean our non banded family members, i meant the average non banded member of the public- our non banded members are a totally diffierent kettle of fish, i have nothing but admiration for those who travel along living as banded but minus the band- that take so much comittment! I automatically consider you guys in with the banded and hope that one day you inusrance companies will see the light and let you get your bands!

[StephanieS]

Mo,
If it is ok Id like to ask you about your journey. I noticed you had medicare, and as lazy as I am I did not read this entire thread. Would you mind telling me what kind of problems they gave you? I have primary PHCS, which will not TOUCH lapband, and secondary medicare. So the lady I spoke with at the surgeons office said once they had a denial from my primary everything would roll on over to medicare. If you have some insight, and dont mind sharing it, it would be very much appreciated.

This lady seemed pretty confident that there would not be an issue.. I mean of course she said there were no guarantees, but said they usually can tell who it will pay for and who it wont. I think they consider me to be one that it would.

My BMI is 56 I think and I have several co-morbidities. Apnea, IR, PCOS, I am pretty close to diabetes. Those are just a few.

So just was curious about your experiences with this. Thanks.

Stephanie

[MoOrLess]

Stephanie - you can read all about my journey - more than you'll ever want to know lol in my journal - - -

as far as Medicare was concerned - they are my primary and only insurance - I had to sign paperwork saying I know that if they don't pay I am responsible - they actually bill Medicare AFTER surgery is completed - so I pray daily that there are NO issues with them....I jumped through a few hoops for Medicare - just make sure you are at one of their "Centers for Excellence" or they may "not" cover it -- you don't want that to happen

the more co-morbidities the better I was told as far as Medicare is concerned - I won't give you false promises since every person's insurance situation is different but I honestly don't think much of anything will be a problem - our primary insurance may or may not pay for it - it depends on whether they have an exclusion clause regarding bariatric surgery - best wishes and hope you get some insurance answers soon!

Please PM me if you want to talk about anything else and let me know how you are doing as you progress in your quest for a band!

[StephanieS]

Thanks, Mo.
I will definately check out your journal, how do I find it? I would LOVE to read it if you dont mind sharing it with me.
Ive actually already experienced the "center of excellence" thing. One of the few Drs here that accept medicare does not do it at one. His receptionist however was very helpful and pointed me towards a center in Lexington, which is not very far from me at all. They are a Center of Excellence, and the surgeons accept medicare. The lady there did tell me they would bill after. Luckily I when I called them my call was answered by the lady who exclusively handles medicare, and she seemed very knowledgable. She said basically what you did, that there was no guarantee, but she said they work hard to make sure I would meet all of medicares criteria to have it done. I dont guess I will know though until AFTER. My Primary does cover bariatric surgery, but NOT lapband. That BITES!

So anyways, thanks for the help. I definately would love to read your journal! And I will certainly keep you updated. I actually cannot wait until my appointment!! I am very excited!

Steph