15 weeks Post-Op & Christmas Time

It's about that time...tomorrow is Christmas Eve!! It's been super busy trying to get everything done and attending holiday gathering. I haven't been to the gym once this week... heading back next week though. It's gonna kick my butt I know. I missed posting about last week's weigh-in but if I recall I had a loss of 1.2lbs. This week was much better. Friday's weigh-in was 212.7 last time I posted was 216.8 for a total loss over the last two weeks of 4.1lbs!! I'm good with that! Which brings me to a total loss of

56.6 lbs!!!!!

We had a gathering last night with my husband's family. I ate just a little chili and was full. As the night went on the goodies (sweets) where calling my name and I tried a few, just a bite or two of a few things. Chocolate covered strawberries...OMG!!! It's basically fruit, right? haha at least that's how my step-daughter justified it for me. I had such a sugar high last night, it took me forever to go to sleep. I should have jumped on the treadmill...that didn't happen either. Oh well, it's Christmas and I had a treat...now back to taking care of me.

Here are some pics of last night's get together...

The goodie spread...EVIL! haha

 

 

My little guy...love him so much

Me, my husband and little man

 

 

My Mom and I...my best friend and one part of my support system 

 

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!!

13 Weeks Post-Op

Just a quick update...it's been super busy getting ready for Christmas...

Last Friday's weigh-in, which made me 3 months Post-Op was 218.6!! Thats right folks! I broke those 220's and I have now lost a total of

50.7lbs!!!

I starting to really love my sleeve and most days even enjoy this journey :)

Have a great week!!

12 weeks Post-Op...Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

I remember about 6 weeks post op having feelings of regret about surgery. I was mourning food, feeling alone and all around just down. I was ready to get off the roller coaster ride of emotions and feel normal. We’ll I am so happy to say that I think I have passed the stage of mourning and feeling sorry for myself. I have just recently started to see changes in my body and I love it! It’s inspiring me to keep going and work even harder. I can honestly say now that this journey was the best (and very few) things I have ever done just for myself. Don’t get me wrong there are times my mind still wants to pig out when I have a bad day or tries to talk me out of going to the gym. However, for the first time I feel like I can do this!

Weigh in this morning wasn’t exactly what I wanted to see but it’s not getting my down. Last week’s weight was 222.4, today 220.6. A loss of 1.8lbs and a total loss so far of…

48.7lbs!!

I wanted so badly to hit the 50lb weight loss this week but HEY, there is always next week. J After two weeks of losing over 4lbs each week, I guess I was due a smaller loss.

Got a busy weekend planned…going to Meadow Lights tonight with the family (it’s a Christmas lights display with a train ride…my little guy is excited), a Christmas parade tomorrow morning (both my nieces are in it), a wedding Saturday evening.

Oh yeah…almost forgot!! A NSV!! I didn’t want to spend money on a new outfit for the wedding, so I raided my Mom’s closet. A 14!! That’s right I found a dress to wear and it was a 14!!! I told my Mom it had to be sized wrong…lol. I don’t care I’m wearing that 14!!

 I’ll post some pics next week.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

11 weeks Post-Op, Thanksgiving and Pics!

So, I'm a day late for my update but it has been crazy around here. We had Thanksgiving at my Mom's house. I cooked my first turkey and it was delish! I ate turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, dressing, deviled egg, cranberry sauce...granted only about 1-2 bites of each. I was stuffed!

Here's a pic of my turkey. I'm having to hold it together, it was falling apart

My Mom, brother, sister-in-law and I ventured out for "Black Friday" about 7:30pm Thursday and got back at 4am Friday morning. So, I was like a zombie all day yesterday. And to top it off, By midnight, I knew I was getting sick. I now have a cold. This is the first time I've been sick since surgery. I want nothing but coffee...it sooths my throat. No appetite at all. Good in a way...bad for reaching protein goals. Fluid goals...not a problem.

On to the numbers...last week I weighed in at 227. Yesterday I weighed in at 222.4!! Woo Hoo!! A loss this week of 4.6lbs!! Which brings me to a total loss of...

46.9lbs!!!!

So, Thursday afternoon I did something I never let anybody do, take a body shot of my with my permission. I tried to find another picture as a comparison so I looked through and found one my husband took of me last Christmas. Here it goes...

 Christmas 2011  269lbs...NO ONE has ever seen this picture!

 Thanksgiving 2012  223lbs I actually posted this on my facebook!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

10 Weeks Post-Op

This week I have felt so much better.  I was able to be more consistent going to the gym and I had better scale results this week…YAY!!! NO stalls. This morning I weighed in at 227.0 compared to last Friday of 231.1. So, I had a loss this week of 4.1 lbs. A total loss so far of…

42.3 lbs!!

I am inching closer to my goal of being in ONEderland by 2013!!! Sure hope I make it.

I also did so much better this week on the evil crunchy carb habit. Oh how I CRAVE salty, savory crunchiness. Some people say out of sight, out of mind. Not here…it STAYS on my mind but I say, out of sight, out of mouth!! hehe

Got a couple questions for my fellow sleever’s…

I find that I have weeks where nothing tastes good at all. I eat only because I have to. Then all of a sudden I will eat something and it tastes wonderful. Then maybe the next day or the day after I try it food again and YUCK. Does anyone else experience the taste bud crazies??

Also, while I am eating and then for about an hour or so afterwards I have this annoying gurgling sound coming from by throat and my esophagus. It can get a little embarrassing due to it can get loud. Anyone else??

Oh yeah….I’m so excited!! I’m going to see Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2 this weekend!! I can’t wait J

Hope everyone has a great weekend

9 weeks Post-Op...Gotta get it in gear!!

Not much to report this week, still having some of the same struggles. But trying to be more positive and just go with the flow. Had another (very) small loss this week…only .5lb. Yikes! I hope I am not at a stall!! A stall at this point is not going to help my “trying to stay positive” attitude.

I have to admit though; I can tell I’ve been slacking a bit the past couple of weeks. I have fallen in love with the crunch of Special K Ranch Chips!!  BAD CARBS BAD!!!

I have to get back on the right track and really try harder. Next week will be better!!! However, so far a total loss of

38.2lbs

Have a great weekend peeps!

Two Months Post-Op

Two months…Wow! What a ride it has been so far. I would like to be able to say that this is the best thing I could have done and I don’t regret it for a second. I feel like I will be able to say that one day. There are still days that I question my decision…it’s that pesky food addiction thing that gets in my way some days.

I had a training course to attend yesterday for my job with some co-workers that I don’t get to see very often. They all know I had surgery and they had plenty of questions for me. I don’t mind questions, but I found myself telling them about all the things you can’t have or can’t do. I realized just how negative I was being. I shouldn’t be negative. I knew all of these things going into surgery. This was my decision. There are some people around me daily that seem to remind me of the negative side, they just don’t get the positive side of why I chose this for myself. Sometime I wonder if it is just their own insecurities.

I decided this morning that I am done with the negative attitude. My crazy mind just feeds on it and it’s not healthy. I could be sabotaging myself and I can’t let that happen.  I feel great physically. I love going to the gym, it always puts me in a better mood. I sleep like a rock every night.  I’m no longer a diabetic. I’ve lost just over 37 pounds….in 2 months!! I have changed drastically in two months. I know I have a long road ahead of me but I’ll get there.

7 weeks Post-Op & a NSV!!!

Lots of things going on this week….first the numbers! I didn’t weigh in last Friday since I had a Dr appt. on Wednesday, so back on track this week. This week (and a half) weigh-in showed a loss of 4.3lbs. For a total loss of ...

36.1 LBS!!

As far as my protein and water intake…I know I need more! Yesterday was awful as far as getting in what I needed. My little boy is sick so, taking him to the doctor yesterday, I got in a little breakfast. Came home by lunch cooked us some chicken with some broccoli and cheese. I ate a little, still very little actually tastes good to me. It sounds good and looks good but when I start eating…not so much. Then like a bad WLS patient, I didn’t eat anything else yesterday until I got home from Support Group at 9pm. Because of my little man being sick, I missed a couple days at the gym. I felt completely guilty but my little man being well is my #1 priority.

Support Group was good; I missed my girls that are usually there that had the same surgery just a few weeks before me. Also, it was the last meeting of the year. Not another one until the 4^th Thursday of January…that scares me a little. I like being around people that understand what life is like after surgery and understand the challenges and rewards that come with it.

OH!! I did have the most A-MAZ-ING NSV this past weekend! My clothes are huge, right?! So, I had this meeting coming up at work and I have to go to the Division Office and with colder weather approaching, I wanted to look decent, not like I was wearing a tent. I was in Belk and they had moved the plus size section. I couldn’t find it anywhere and I never like to ask where it is…it’s just embarrassing that I have to say it out loud. So, I wondered over to the “regular people” racks. I have been looking for a black cardigan. I still have some sleeveless tops that I can get by with a smaller cardigan. So, I find one. I say what the heck let me try this on. I NEVER expected it to fit; I was totally prepared for it not to. BUT!!! It fit! An XL! That is HUGE for me. I don’t even remember the last time I wore something from the missy’s section. It had to be in High School and for a short amount of time. Then I got brave. I grabbed some pants off the rack and headed into the dressing room. An 18 fit perfect and not an 18W either!! I ended up buying two sweaters and two pairs of dress pants. So much better than my 2X-3X and my 22W/24W that I had worn forever. Honestly, that is the first time since surgery I have felt proud of myself. I have been excited about losing and seeing my clothes getting bigger, although I don’t really see it when I look in the mirror. This is working, slowly but surely!

So, this weekend I promised my little man we would carve a pumpkin, I don’t ever remembering doing that before so this should be interesting. I like to see him excited about things, it makes me excited. This is the first year that he actually gets the whole trick or treat thing. He is going to be Capt. America (he is super hero crazy). I’ll post a pic next week and possibly get in one of ours truly. J

6 week Post-Op Appt

I have never liked going to the doctor. I’ve always dreaded having to get on the scale. Then after you get on the scale, they take your blood pressure. Of course after I saw I much I had gained, my blood pressure would be high, dreading the conversation that me and my doctor were going to have…AGAIN!

Going to the doctor now is different. Since surgery, I feel so much better after going. I look forward to stepping on the scale. I’m totally honest with them and tell them all about my crazy ways of thinking and my feelings now about food. She just nodded saying, “Completely normal” Wow, Me normal? Not even.

Yesterday afternoon was my 6 week post-op appt. I went in stepped on the scale…so happy!! Since my normal weigh-in last Friday; I had lost another 3.2lbs! That is a total loss of…

31.8lbs!!!

YAY!! I reached the 30lb mark! I believe I really owe it to the gym and my sleeve of course!

Roller Coaster Ride of Emotions

I have been reading a lot about emotions after bariatric surgery. I have been on a roller coaster ride of emotions in the last couple of weeks. I know we all deal with emotions after having WLS to a certain degree.

I’m over 5 weeks out from surgery and I’ve lost just over 30lbs! Going to the gym has given me a lot more energy than I can ever remember having. My back pain has diminished to the point that I hardly have any pain at all. I no longer have Type II Diabetes. I saw several people over the weekend that I haven’t seen since before surgery or not since right after surgery. I got so many compliments. Everyone thought I was looking well and could tell that I had lost weight. Everyone knows about my surgery, if they don’t and they ask what I am doing, I’ll tell them. Sometimes it’s a bit of a drawback. Some people think that you have surgery and BAM you’re skinny and the weight just melts off. Not even close! However, I have only had positive feedback and I don’t regret letting it be known.

With all the positive feedback and with my progress, you would think that I should be ecstatic. So, why do I feel down a lot of the time? This feeling of depravation is overwhelming. I realize that it’s not physical, physically I feel great most days. It’s all mental. This weekend I found myself doubting that I made the right decision with having this surgery. Why, because of food? That seems so silly to me. Do I really have this intense relationship with eating? The answer is, yes! Anytime I was upset, bored, lonely, etc…I ate whatever and however much I wanted to make me feel “fulfilled”. Eating filled whatever void I was feeling. I can’t physically do that anymore. So, what do I do now? How do I deal with voids now?

Being around other people eating has just recently started to bother me. I don’t like going to restaurants anymore. Eating is no longer a pleasure to me, it’s a chore. Maybe that is what I am missing, the pleasure of eating…I feel so abnormal eating. Will I ever sit down to a meal and feel normal?

I know this post seems like I just ungrateful for this opportunity to become a healthy person. I’m very grateful though, I am very happy with all my progress. I hoping the part of my brain that is making me ride this roller coaster can soon catch up with the rest of me. If you know me, you know, I hate roller coasters!

5 weeks Post-Op

I have had a much better week this week. I have been able to get in my protein and liquids (most days) and have made myself hit the gym. On Wednesday, the last thing I wanted to do was workout but I went and felt so much better afterwards…Yay me! I wanted to see more results this week compared to my last week’s loss of 1.2lbs and I did!!  I had a loss this week of 3.4lbs!!!! For a total loss of…

28.6 lbs!!!

I am so happy with that! Almost to the 30lb down mark!! I am inching closer to my goal of being in “Onederland” by the end of the year. J

I have my 6-week follow-up next Wednesday, so hopefully my Dr will be happy with my progress too.

4 weeks Post-Op and a HUGE NSV!!!

I haven’t had the greatest week physically or emotionally. Been dealing with tummy issues the first part of the week, which made it next to impossible to meet my protein and liquid goals. To top it off, my taste buds when crazy this week. NOTHING tastes right anymore. Everything basically tastes like junk! It's either too sweet or I can't stomach the consistency. I just didn't see this coming at all! Then, I wasn’t able to get to the gym as often I would have liked. With all of that though...I still had a loss this week. So I will definitely take it!! I’m down 1.2lbs with week which makes a total loss of…

25.2lbs

I am hoping for a better week coming up and I am trying to figure out how to get to the gym more often. They only have child care in the evenings two times a week, so that in itself is an issue. I also am thinking about taking the Power Plunge class (water aerobics). On the nights I don’t get there, I need to make a conscious effort to do some kind of exercise. This week...I will do better!!

Now on to my NSV!!! (Non-Scale Victory)  I followed up with my PCP on Tuesday. The first time I had seen him since surgery. He was aware that I was meeting with a bariatric surgeon and looking to have some form of WLS but I didn’t let him know when it was scheduled. I already had this appointment set up to go back to him. So, I thought I just let it be a surprise! He was thrilled with my progress. He wanted to take some labs…my Hemoglobin A1C mainly. Just to see where my diabetes stood. I hadn’t been on my sugar meds since surgery and my finger sticks had been great. So, I was excited to see my levels also. He called me the next afternoon (I absolutely love having an MD who will call you himself!) My levels were outstanding compared to my last labs!!

He told me that I officially no longer had Type II Diabetes!!

That brightened my week up tremendously!! So, it may be slow and I may have a very long road ahead of me to reach my goal. But, I am moving in the right direction now!!

3 weeks Post-Op

I’m a little late posting but here is an update…

Friday I had an appointment with the Nutritionist at my surgeon’s office. I had been struggling with getting in my proteins and liquids for a few days and having a couple other issues. After meeting with him though, I felt better knowing that what I was experiencing was completely normal and I would get to my goal of 60-80 grams of protein and 64oz of liquids a day. I also met with him because as of Friday I could add soft foods to my diet (fork tender foods)…legally that is. Yes, I have had eggs, chicken, fish…etc. in my 3^rd week. Done well most of the time but had a couple trail and errors occur. I am learning what the “Comfortably Full” feeling actually feels like. I also got to weigh Friday and I had lost 2 more LBS!! So now, my total loss is…

24 LBS!!

Not so bad for 3 weeks out. He told me they usually like to see a loss of 15-20 pounds at my time frame, so all in all scale wise…I’m thrilled!

I have found that I do so much better on the weekends with Protein and liquids then I do at work. I get busy and side-tracked and then I realize I haven’t drank or eaten anything for 2-3 hours…NOT GOOD!! I’ve got to better!!! I feel so run down lately. I’m sure it’s from not meeting my goal of daily intake.

I have also found that I do get hungry, not in the way I used to, my stomach still does not growl (thank goodness) but I’ll start thinking about food….junk food, fast food, anything I could possibly get my hands on quick. That happened to me Saturday; I was out shopping with my Mom and little guy. I ate before we left and brought something to sip on. I was drinking the whole time but about 4 hours later, I started noticing food all around me. I started thinking to myself, “Wonder if I could eat that?” “Maybe I could eat just a little of this”. I let myself get hungry I guess.

Another thing that I have noticed is in week 2 and 3 being around food didn’t bother me, but everything looked so good. Foods I didn’t even like before surgery. Just to smell food made me happy…crazy huh. Then in the last week, all of a sudden I could care less, food still looks good but I have lost all desire for any of it. I eat because I have to…not enough but I’m working on it. If I didn’t have to, I wouldn’t eat

(minus something crunchy…I’d kill for something crunchy!!!)

Nothing really tastes good to me anymore. Especially a protein shake…yuck!!  I feel if I have to drink one more I will gag!! I got this lactose intolerance crap going on and I’m so sick of Muscle Milk!! It’s just gross to me. I would buy something else but I don’t really want to spend a lot of money on protein powder and then I hate it too. The nutritionist told me that if I was able to get enough of protein from food that I didn’t have to do shakes. I guess I’m just really tired of thinking about the whole thing. I need a better attitude about eating and drinking. I want to be healthy and I know if I don’t do what I supposed to, I won’t be.

Any advice? I’ll sure take it!!

2 week Post-op Appt

I had my first post-op appointment with my surgeon yesterday afternoon and needless to say I am a very happy camper today!!!

I am down 22lbs!!!

Unfortunately, she said they only count the weight you have lost since your last appt right before surgery but I am counting what I have lost since I have begun my journey...sooooo here are the numbers

Consultation Visit             269lbs

Final Visit/Before Surgery   265lbs

2 week post-op                 247lbs

Total lost                         22lbs!!!!

The doctor was very pleased; Of course I need to up my protein. I think it is so hard at this point because of still being on liquid/pudding type foods. I didn't know I was supposed to be getting 15-20g of protein every 2-3 hours. I was only getting in protein like 3 meals a day....oh well, there is sooooooo much to remember. I am going to have to log my food. That is one thing I haven't done. I did get some unflavored protein powder so I can add it to my greek yogurt and such. I had been scared to eat more than 2 oz. at a time but she told me to try more, just go slow. I feel better today, more energized and not so scared of my "baby" tummy.

  

Someone asked me if I had made any goals and I have been thinking of one but I have always been afraid to say them out load because before I would always fail and didn't want to answer to anybody due to failing. But I do have a goal and I hope it's realistic.

I want to be less than 200lbs by the end of the year. AHHH ONEDERLAND!!! I don't even remember the last time I was less than 200lbs....high school probably. That would be 48lbs to loose in 14 weeks. I totally think that it is doable as long as I keep my proteins up and continue to exercise. We will see...I am going to do my best to not fail.

Post-Op Week 1

I’m back! Sorry I’ve been MIA since surgery but I really just needed time to myself to figure all this out. I’ve had a couple bumps in the road in the last week but feeling so much better today. I’m even back at work today, which has honestly made me feel even better.

My surgery and hospital stay went very well. All the nurses said I was doing fantastic…I was a walking fool!!  It was good to get home though. Liquid diets still suck…that doesn’t change after surgery. However, it is nice that my stomach doesn’t growl. It has been hard to get all my proteins and fluids in but it gets better every day.

When I weighed at home the morning of surgery, I had officially lost 10lbs on my pre-op diet. I weighed again yesterday, I know I said that I was going to wait for my follow-up with my surgeon but it is just so tempting. As of yesterday I had lost another 10lbs.

SO…..a Total of 20lbs!!!!

I’m happy with that. Everyone says they see a difference in my face. I see it and when I got dressed for work today, I could tell a difference in my clothes too.

I’m hanging in there…it is definitely a mental game right now to me. I’m not hungry but I miss eating, I miss food. I’ve been cooking for my husband and little guy, it doesn’t bother me to cook but I’ve noticed over the past couple days, I want to chew something!!!! I did scramble an egg…it’s a little early for eggs based on my surgeon’s schedule but I did fine with it and it tasted sooooooooo good.  J

I've been sleeved!!!

Hey guys! Doing well here, just sore. I'm about to be discharged from the hospital. I will post again soon. Thank you for all the well wishes :)

Surgery Eve

I'm getting my bag packed tonight and finishing some laundry. Trying to keep Zach from destroying the house....not easy with a toddler! I have a bad headache from only clear liquids today but other than that feeling good and looking forward to tomorrow. I'll post as soon as I can after surgery. Thanks for all the encouraging words. See ya on the other side :))

Almost there....

I went for my pre-op registration this morning at the hospital. Everyone was so nice and let me know what would happen on Friday morning...that's right FRIDAY!!! Yay! I can hardly believe surgery is in 3 days. It has felt like it took forever to get here. I'm beyond excited at this point. I haven't been too nervous. I found myself getting emotional over the weekend thinking about it. I have had doubts creep in my mind here and there but I am pretty sure from reading other blogs that is completely normal. The pre-op diet is going okay, it has messed with my head but that is to be expected. The day before surgery I have to be on only clear liquids...that's gonna suck! But then....FRIDAY!!! :)))

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers guys!

Pre-Op Day 3 & The Drive-Thru

I’m kinda ashamed to even blog this but hey, isn’t that what this journey is all about trying to deal with our issues with food. If I didn’t need help, I wouldn’t be having surgery!  

Here’s a little back story….I used to always pull in to a fast food drive thru in the mornings on the way taking my little man, Zach to daycare. He would get his usual hash browns and orange juice and I would get some kind of fried up biscuit treat and of course a “diet soda”. Well, for the past month I have been trying to break that habit.

On to this morning…I had a terrible time just getting to work. I have been trying to get Zach to eat a little something at home in the morning or take something in the car on the way into town, so I could avoid the dreaded drive thru situation. He has been complying rather well. So, this morning on the way in he wanted some dry cereal…no problem! He ate his Fruit Loops and drank his juice, then I make the turn into town and what does he say but….

“Mommy, I want some hash browns”.

 At that moment my mind and my stomach said “Heck Yeah!!!” I tried to convince him that he just had cereal and they would be eating breakfast at daycare in just a little bit…BUT NO that just wouldn’t do. So, I pull into the drive thru and I only get food for Zach…yay me! After I dropped him off, I had about 15 mins before I had to be at work….here is where I found out just how bad I wanted to EAT something, not drink a shake but actually CHEW something for breakfast. My mind and my stomach were justifying me going back to the drive thru…

”You have 8 more days of pre-op, one time cheating isn’t going to hurt”

I know ME though, one cheat leads to another cheat and another…it’s a vicious cycle…hence Weight Loss Surgery!! I do have good news though…

I didn’t cheat!!

...But I sure as heck wanted to! Keep me in your thoughts guys…I’m just trying to make it so surgery day!! J

Surgery Date & Pre-Op Diet Day 1

It's Official!!

My Surgery Date is Friday, September 7, 2012!

It's 4 days before my birthday and I couldn't think of a better birthday present to myself :)) I am super excited and really not as nervous as I thought I would be at this point but maybe as the time draws nearer. I was also glad to see that I had lost some weight since my last appointment with Dr. T...hey, I'll take it!! .

I asked him when I needed to start my Pre-op liver reduction diet, of course he says....Right Now! So, here I am with my protein shake this morning. I'll be averaging about 600-700 calories a day for the next 10 days...it's a little scary. I'm not looking forward to the headaches. However, I hoping if I keep hydrated enough, it won't be too bad. I'm just going to stay positive and look at the BIG picture...or better yet...think about looking at a smaller me in a picture ;)

Support Rocks!

LOVED Support Group last night!! It made me feel so much better. Researching all you need to do and not do had become very overwelming, but being able to sit down with a group of ladies that have had the same surgery I will have and by the same group of surgeons was like a breath of fresh air. I met some really great ladies and I think my mom enjoyed it as much as I did. So....

I know I can do this!!

To top it all off...Dr. T's office called as I was leaving work yesterday....My results visit is Monday morning!!!! YAY!!! I will find out Monday a surgery date. I couldn't be happier this morning :))

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!!

Support Group and Misc Ramblings

I was finally able to get my sleep study report faxed to the surgeon's office. So, I should be hearing from them anytime. Another thing checked off the list....Yay!!

I ordered some sample packs of  protein powder from Vitalady. I am hoping the Nectar fruit ones will taste good or at least tolerable. I'm obsessing about my clear liquid week, making sure I get enough protein. I know that my Dr. preferred I use the Bariatric Fusion powder for the pre-op 10 day "liver shrinking" diet...not sure about post-op.

I bought some items this past weekend that I will need post-op...
A little retail therapy never hurts ;)

Chewable Multivitamins and Liquid Multivitamins
Biotin
Small appetizer plates and bowls
Small Appetizer spoons
Measuring cups and spoons
Blender Bottle
Water Bottle
Cytomax Whey Isolate Fruit Juice...32gm of protein for 20oz bottle

Still have to get a blender and food scale...

I also need another set of scales for myself...any brands recommended???

I also started gathering items to take to the hospital...I'm getting really excited and really nervous too.

I am going to a support group tonight that my surgeon's office offers every month at the hospital where I will be having surgery. My mom is coming along...she has been such a GREAT source of support during the entire process so far. I've been kinda feeling down over the past week or so...just the waiting part I guess but I am really looking forward to tonight. Hoping it can help me get out of this funk.

Thanks so much for the new followers!!!! Any advise or comments you can throw my way is greatly welcome and appreciated!!!

Also...thought I would share, just reading this made me feel a bit better....

The Waiting Game

I hate this game...it's killing me! Everyday I am more and more anxious. I mean, can I get an appointment please!?! These sleep study people are ticking me off, its been over a week, just fax the stupid report!

Guess it's not helping that I am crabby from being incredibly hungry! I'm trying to do these Slim Fast shakes to loose a few pounds before going back to the doctor. Pretending this shake is a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit from Bojangles is NOT working today!!

Hoping to hear something today before I go bat shit crazy!!!

APPROVED!!!!!

YAY!!! I'm approved!! I'm so glad I didn't have to go all weekend wondering. I find out next week when I go back for my "results visit" to get my surgery date!!!! :))

Slowly but surely ;)

Well, got the call yesterday from my surgeon that everything had been submitted to my insurance for approval. I should know something from 48-72 hours!!  I’m so excited and anxious at the same time…please, please, please let them say “APPROVED”!!

So, in the meantime I’m going to continue to do my part. I have cut out caffeine and carbonated drinks…that was a big change for me and took me several weeks to do it…since I am (or was) a diet soda junkie! Now I mostly drink good ole H2O or G2, very seldom some tea sweetened with Splenda. One thing that I have not been trying to practice is not drinking while eating. You are not supposed to drink 30 mins before or after a meal….Yikes!! That is so you don’t flush what you do eat right thru your sleeve and you stay full longer. I think that’s going to be a challenge for me, I drink a lot when I eat now. Baby steps though...

Monday I am going to start on a diet prior to going to the surgeon for my last appointment…that’s when they will go over the battery of tests and my surgery will be scheduled. I spoke with a lady last weekend at a birthday party I attended (she had gastric bypass) and she told me she did Slim Fast before her surgery to help her transition into getting used to shakes, etc. I thought that was a great idea so, I bought the Special K Protein shakes and protein bars. It will also help to start shrinking this fat liver of mine before I go on the 2 week “Liver reduction diet”. I don’t want Dr. T to have any problems on surgery day! ;)

In the meantime, thought I would throw in a picture of what my stomach will look like after surgery…

Oh Happy Day!!!

Yippee!! All of my pre-qualification testing is OVER!!

I feel like I have spent the last 6 weeks living in doctor's offices. Now we wait....hmm there's that patience thing again.

Patience is a Virtue…so they say

For anyone that knows me...patience is not one of my strong qualities. However, I do believe that during this journey, I will have to embrace it. So, I keep reminding myself....

Having my sleep study tonight and ready for the next step...insurance approval and a SURGERY DATE!!! :))

Blogger newbie

I’m new to all this blogging stuff but I’m gonna give it a try….

Hi, my name is Christy and I wanted to start a blog not only for others to read but so I could look back at my journey and never forget where I came from. I decided a couple of months ago to have bariatric surgery. No, I didn’t just decide overnight either. Been thinking about it for years but way to scared or even ashamed to tell anyone. I decided after attending the seminar with a surgeon to go for what’s called a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. Since my consult with Dr. T, I have been in the process of completing all the testing you have to endure. Slowly checking them off the list and tomorrow is my last test!! Yay!!! :0) A sleep study…hopefully it will go well.

I haven’t told many people about my decision to have weight loss surgery, but mostly everyone I have told has been very supportive and excited for me. I have been overweight most of my life. Now that I am 33, not only am I overweight but I’m considered “morbidly obese”! That just sounds disgusting! There are a lot of days I feel disgusting. Due to my obesity, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Type II diabetes and oh the back problems.

A lot of people think that surgery is the easy way out and I was, at one time, one of those people. I have found over the past year or so researching everything about WLS (weight loss surgery) that in no way is this easy. It’s a tool to help you control what and how much to eat. I NEED that tool!

I am married and have a three-year old little boy. I want to be around for him. I want to have the energy when he says “Mommy, come play with me” to do it. I don’t want to be the fat mom. So here we are, super excited and still scared to death, not so much about the procedure but about having the strength mentally and physically to be successful.

This is me and my little guy...