New to this site..seeing what info everyone can give me

There is so much to share, but if you have the time look through my posting history and you will come across some of my history.

Lorrinda,

I love my band so far I am 4 months out and I have lost 45 pounds and 28 inches and dropped a size in clothing :o)  Im 4 pounds from going below 300 and 5 pounds from hitting 50 pounds lost.

Its not easy . You have to diet, you have to exercise to lose the weight .  You will lose around 1-2 pounds per week so its not a fast weight loss surgery .

You have to have will power, self control , and determination also the band is just a tool it has to be you that makes that tool work.

You have to eat right, you have to learn to make better choices with your food, you have to get up exercise, you have to get your water in every day .  The band dont make you do them things.  And you can eat around the band if you want to . That is where the self control and determination comes in.

I have not given up any foods I eat the same way but healthier, and in moderation.  I still eat my bad girl foods but I eat them in moderation, how often I eat them foods and when to eat them foods.

I exercise 5 days a week to Zumba .

Just remember the band is only there to control your hunger and your portion control that is it the rest is up to you .  I can go about 4-6 hrs at a time without eating and my band has been empty since surgery .

Thanks for responding...what zumba do you do? I figured zumba was too fast for me...I get out of breathe when I do something fast paced.  I have been doing a 2mile walk here and there on this trail we have near my house.  Its just the feeling full issue I have...my goal is to lose the weight by august for a friends wedding. I'm not going looking like this, so thats my motivation

Good job on all that you are doing :)  Stay motivated

I do the curves circuit with Zumba which is a little slower pace but I get my toning in and then I do the hr long classes on Mon and Wed nights .  

It is a very pace dance but you know what you what you can and modify if you have to.  there are some jumping on some steps that I have to modify because of my bad knee and I still get a really great work out .

the more you go the better you will get.  I thought I was going to die the first week of it lol but I lived. :o)
.

The full issue. I will be honest with you if you let head hunger make you eat all the time then you will have problems losing weight that is with any kind of WLS you get done .  Head hunger is the hardest to deal with and I deal with it also but that is where the will power comes in and you dont give in or if you do give in you grab something healthy like peanuts, a yogurt , cheese something with protein and not carbs.

I can also sit here and obsess about food and make myself hunger anybody can do that.  If you sit there and dwell on it and say oh I wish I could eat that, or I'm hungry well if you keep saying that to yourself all the time then you are going to make yourself hungry when you really are not hungry.

I have it set in my head that a cup of food is all I need and I will be full from it and I go on and do my thing.  Next thing I know its meal time and I eat.   I snack at night that is my weakness especially on weekends but I eat peanuts lol. Peanuts I'm going through a phase with peanuts right now for some reason lol.

Try the Zumba and dont be embarrassed to go . I thought at first I would be the only big girl there and I was amazed I wasn't.  Everybody is so into paying attention to the teacher they dont even look at you .  You might surprise yourself :o)

Steeler Fan...

CONGRATS by the way.  You go girl!!!!

Thanks Caidkin :o) 

How tall are you ? I know you feel like 203 is really heavy but most insurance companies have a minimum BMI of like 40 or 35 w/ co morbidities .That might be a hurdle to cross if your BMI is not high enough and you would have to be kind of short at just 203 to get a 40. I know there are some who get approved at less than 40 but usually you have to have the co-morbidity thing . I would check your BMI and check with your ins to see what they require . Just a heads up on that front.LOL  At this point you would need to be less than 5 ft even to get a high 39. ( I know cause I am right at 5 ft and about your wt LOL)  

As long as u don't have any form of Ohio Medicaid.....u may be in luck......other wise forget it unless u can do self pay......

I guess I have Ohio medicaid...I have one of their managed care programs...I know they will pay for a breast reduction...idk what else they will or wont cover.

	Medicaid Printable view Weight-loss surgery is a covered benefit in Ohio if you have a pre-existing condition such as Coronary Heart Disease, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Obstructive Sleep Apnea or Hypertension. A referral from your primary care physician is needed to schedule your consultation appointment.   In the referral, your physician will need to write a letter of support whi*****ludes health conditions, past supervised dieting attempts, current medications, and a clear recommendation for weight-loss surgery. You will need to complete a medically supervised weight loss program with our bariatric dietitian for at least three months.       (Web page listing)