WendySoCal

Hello Bandsters!! How is everyone? Any plans for this weekend? How are yall doing on your progress? Well, today was my 2nd WI at Weight Watchers and I only lost 1 lb which brings me to a 5.5 lb weight loss. I'm not too bummed though. I'm actually excited about that 1 lb. Most of the ladies at WW were telling me that they usually have weight GAINS during AF/TOM so I was dreading getting on the scale... But it actually turned out to be a positive weigh in. I have a mini goal to lose 15 pounds by Halloween, so I only 9.5 to go I'm so proud of myself. I've never stuck with something for this long. I still don't see results in my clothes or physical appearance, but the results are visible on the scale for now...and that's enough to keep me going. Oh and I have great news. I went jogging and was able to run FOUR laps *around a track field*...then fast-walked half of a lap, and then ran TWO more...and it was all under 15 minutes!!!!!!! My old high school opens up the track field for citizens to go and play soccer, walk, run, whatever....and it was just amazing and an extremely proud moment! When I was in highschool...75lbs lighter...it would take me about 12 minutes just to run around that track field twice...including stopping constantly to walk...i despised physical ed. LoL. Anyway...I just wanted to share and see how everyone else is doing on their progress Wendy

Thank you ladies Yes, I know the importance of having a support system, and I find that coming here and reading the progress...and frustrations...of everyone is helpful. Whether banded or on Weight Watchers, we are all on a journey to a new, and healthier life.

So I posted last week how I joined Weight Watchers for 6 months to prove to my insurace providers that I have tried to lose weight and can't. It's a win win situation. I gain knowledge on how to make healthy choices for meals and take in good calories as opposed to empty calories, whether or not I lose the weight and am able to get banded. Welllllll This past Friday was my first weigh in and I lost 4.5 pounds!! I weigh in every Friday, but I'm not expecting a weight loss this week since I'm bloated and just feeling icky from Aunt Flow. But I'm still sticking with my healthy meal and snack choices and staying away from my junk food cravings. Ok, so I just thought I'd update on my status and see how everyone else is doing with their progress. I hope this update finds everyone well. Wendy

That's awesome!! 5.00 for taxi to Dr. Ortiz's office? It must not be too far from the border then? I'm glad your trip was a smooth and quick one.

He was stationed at Fort Lewis from January of 2001 to January of 2003. However, the base housing waiting list was really long, so we lived in Lakewood, just off the 5. I noticed you live in Tacoma...I loved it there. We would always visit the pier near Stadium High School. We even visited Stadium High and took pictures...lol...such tourists...but it was kinda sentimental since our first date (without any friends) was when we went to see 10 Things I Hate About You. LoL! When we found out how close by the school was...we HAD to go. Beautiful views. Gorgeous.

Hello Bandsters Just wanted to give a quick update. I spoke to my medical insurance providers. Here's the scoop: Option A 1. Lap Bands are covered only if referred by doctor as "last resort" for obese patients weighing 100+;BMI 40+. 2. 6 months of attempted weight loss must be documented by healthcare provider. Preferrably weekly visits. 3. My policy will only cover 70% of the pre-op and op costs. Post-Op is out of pocket. I informed them that I don't have any one healthcare provider, and that I haven't had one in over a year. Sooo I was put on hold for what seemed like an eternity....And... Option B 1. 6 months of supervised attempts of weight loss with a clinic or group (ie: Curves, WeightWatchers, etc) is viable, but only with a 50% coverage. 2. A medical exam report is mandatory prior to the procedure, which includes patient is 100 lbs + and BMI of 40+. Sooooo... I opted for option B. I spoke with my husband and I think joining a weight loss group will benefit me. Whether the end result is the lap band or not. If it doesn't work, and I do get the procedure, I will have already adopted a new eating/exercise lifestyle...which will benefit my lap band results. As opposed to just visiting a doctor every week for six months and just waiting to get the referral. I joined WeightWatchers online, and yesterday (Sept. 1st) was my 1st day. I weighed in (bought a scale :/) at 246 and my BMI is 42. I couldn't fight the urge to step on the scale again tonight...about 10 minutes ago...and it showed 244. I thought it was a mistake...walked away...and then rushed to step back on....I'm 244. I still hope to post here and have this great support system along the way. I hope you all are having a great holiday weekend!! Wendy

Yes, everyone has been very welcoming and extremely helpful. I'm so excited about the possibility of having this procedure done. I am really looking into medical insurance. As I mentioned, my husband was in the Army, but since his discharge our medical insurance only covers a percentage of medical appointments and prescriptions. I'm terrible at going to the doctor, for check ups and everything...so since my husband got out, I haven't gone to see a doctor. I don't even have a regular doctor right now. So, I will probably give them a call, and find out what their coverage is on these procedures, and if they have certain guidelines *someone mentioned that 6 months of documented attempts of weightloss are sometimes required, etc* in order to cover these procedures. I know that military insurance does cover weightloss surgery. My mother's co-worker was telling me that her daughter (also a military wife) had battled with weight all her life, and she found a loop-hole through the military insurance and got coverage for the gastric bypass. So I'm confident I will find something for the lap-band. If I have to sacrifice 6 months of constant visits to the doctor about my weight, then so be it. Even if the procedure isn't fully covered, the less I have to pay out of pocket, the better Thank you again everyone Hopefully a Future Bandster, Wendy

Thank you Everyone. I am very familiar with TJ. Being born and raised in SoCal, and my grandparents having a vacation house in Ensenada...I visited TJ, Rosarito, etc very often. And I emphasize on often. I'm going to purchase Dr. Ortiz's book. I'm assuming I can pick it up at a Barnes & Nobles? I've already sat down and talked to my husband and parents this past weekend. It's really something I want, and need, to do. I've always been a health fanatic, especially when it comes to my children, so I know I have to take action into a healthy lifestyle. Thank you again. I'll be dropping in here more often after I read the book, and I really get the train going on this.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I really found them to be helpful. I actually just googled "lap band surgery" and this forum was the first link. I know surgery isn't a quick fix to being overweight, and that it actually takes a lot of self-discipline to get resultsand maintain those results. I just believe the lap band will give me that helping hand to keep my motivation up, and reach my goal quicker. Regular dieting and working out feels like a disappointment each time I get on the scale *every 2 weeks* and realize I've barely lost a pound or two. I checked online and my BMI is 39.9. You mentioned I will have to lose 50 pounds. Is this prior to my meeting with a doctor or will I be instructed to lose the 50 prior to the surgery? I live in Southern California, just a few hours from San Diego, actually...so I'm guessing I won't have to pay as much out of pocket as those who have to fly into the area. I never considered having it done in Tijuana. It seems scary, however, I noticed Dr. Ortiz is mentioned quite often, so it's safe to assume everyone is satisfied with his work. I am really going to look into this. Hopefully I can really get the ball rolling by the end of the year. Thank you again! Wendy

Hello Everyone. Well first and foremost, my name is Wendy. I'm 23 years old, married for close to 6 years, and I am a mother to 3 little boys. I had my first son when I was 17. I have been 5'4 since I was 13, and I was always heavier than most girls my age. At 13 I was often mistaken for a 16-17 year old. Just before getting pregnant with my first son, I weighed about 165. I didn't mind my weight...I was actually very comfortable in my skin. After giving birth, I walked out of the hospital in my prepregnancy jeans, and I was 160 at my 6 weeks check up. My husband was in the military so we soon moved up to Washington. Depression kicked in, along with a miscarriage, and I began to gain weight. I got pregnant with my second son, and when I delivered him in December of 2002, I was teeter-tottering 200 lbs. I realized I needed to take action and get my self-esteem back up and beat my depression, so I went back to school, got my diploma in May of 2003, and started working out. My husband and I decided we would not have anymore children until both of our boys were in school. SO I got on birthcontrol. The hormones made it difficult to nearly impossible for me to lose weight, but I kept going to the gym. I became sick in early July and after a visit to the ER we found out our birthcontrol failed, and we were expecting again. Depression hit again *I had plans to go to college full time, get a job, and on top of that I hadn't lost a pound from my second pregnancy*. By the time I gave birth to my third son in 2003, I weighed 260. He is now 2 and half years old, and I am stuck on a roller-coaster weighing betwen 220 and 230. I go for walks, I go swimming, I'm not big on carbs, so I don't understand why I'm not at least under 200 pounds. I don't want to do something as drastic as the gastric bypass surgery. I just don't feel it is something for me. I was talking to my husband, and although he feels I don't need surgery to solve my weight problem, he told me about the lap-band procedure. I didn't even know such a procedure existed, so I just have a few questions. What are the qualifications for possible candidates? Weight qualifications? Age qualifications? How much does the lap-band procedure cose without medical insurance? If I do obtain medical insurance, how do I go about getting coverage for this kind of surgery? Do you prefer gastric bypass or lap-band? How satisified are you with your results? I'm from Southern California...do you know of any good and trustworthy doctors in my area? Umm..I suppose that is all...for now...lol... Thank you to you all. I didn't mean to write so much, I just wanted to give you all a general background on me and stuff. Please feel free to email me at sweetaingel@hotmail.com but I will check in on here often.