Down 18

So I have lost a total of 18lbs since surgery and have decided that I am going to make myself walk and exercise every day.  I didn't go through all of this to just sit around and NO ONE is going to help me BUT ME!!!  The holidays are over and there is nothing holding me back.  

My next Doctors appointment is January 20th and I want to be down another 15lbs by then.  I can do it.  Look what I set my mind to do as far as getting my surgery done.  So at 10 and 2 every day, I will get up from my desk and take a nice long walk. It would be nice if I had someone to walk with, but I can't depend on anyone but myself.

2-3 lbs per Week

So I am averaging weight loss of 2-3 lbs per week.  The more I exercise the more I lose. I am pretty much able to eat most meats, fruits and veggies.  Hotdogs are a NO! I just need to make sure I remove the skin.  Hotdog skin gets hard a rubbery and that jut sits in the stomach so it's irritating.  The same goes for the skin on veggies and fruits.

It's hard getting myself to exercise and really need to find a walking/exercise buddy.  With the weather getting colder it's even harder to motivate myself and the truth is the cold shouldn't bother me because I hate being hot!!! I need to just suck it up and do it.  I am walking at work though, but it's still not enough.

Post-Op Check Up

So today was my 2 week post-operative check up and I have lost 12 pounds since surgery. 25 pounds total since I started the liquid diet 2 weeks prior to surgery.  The doctor told me they want me to start walking 3 miles per day.  Okay right now I can barely do 1 mile. So I have to figure out how to get more walking in but break it up through the day.  I figure I can walk on my breaks and then for an hour after work.  I just don't want to do too much like I did in the hospital and not be able to walk because I'm in pain.

So starting tomorrow I have to start taking my supplements consisting of:

• 1000mcg of B12 once a week
• Calcium citrate (1500 mg/day)  This should be taken 3 times a day 500 mg each dose and she be taken separate from my multivitamin and iron.
• Multivitamin with Iron once a day, preferably with meals.

All of the above have to be chewable except the B12 that needs to be sublinqual.

My diet for the next 3 weeks will consist of soft/mushy food in the following amounts:

• 1 oz of meat
• 1 Tablespoon Fruit
• 1 Tablespoon Vegetables

When eating animal protein, they want me to start with Ground meat consistency (beef, pork, chicken,turkey, etc), then gradually increase to pulled or shredded consistency before trying whole pieces. Some other protein choices are:

• cottage cheese
• meatballs
• thin sliced deli meats
• sea food
• scrambled eggs
• chili

Examples of some vegetables:  well cooked, no tough skins, no big seeds

• sweet potato
• potato 
• canned green beans
• asparagus tops
• spinach
• carrots
• beets
• broccoli/cauliflower tops

Examples of fruits:

• banana
• canned fruit - light syrup
• kiwi fruit
• mango
• fresh fruit with skin peeled (apples/peaches/pears/nectarines)
• peeled grapes
• unsweetened applesauce
• watermelon
• cantaloupe
• honeydew
• papaya
• strawberries

I am currently cooking a pot of chicken (ground chicken) vegetable soup and have also made some egg salad that I can eat with a cracker, yes just 1 cracker.  LOL 

Liquid Diet is coming to an end

I am down 11 pounds since surgery, which averages about 1 lb per day right now.  It would probably be more if I was getting all the walking in that I am supposed to be.  Walking starts TODAY!  I have also decided when I go back to work I will start taking my breaks and go for a walk.  Everyone needs to step away from their desks. I will also make sure I walk 1 mile every night after work regardless of how tired I am.  This is a commitment I have made to myself and I refuse to allow even me to break a commitment.

My liquid diet is slowly coming to an end.  Starting Tuesday I will be on pureed foods (ground turkey, ground beef, chicken), soft foods, fruits and vegetables (no skin) and then slowly adding crunchy foods.  A meal will contain 1 tbsp of Protein, 1 tbsp vegetables and 1 tbsp of fruit.  I know it doesn't sound like much, but to me it sounds like a lot.  Plus 2 protein shakes per day. I also have to drink 48 to 64 oz of water per day.  It doesn't sound like a lot but it is.  I also need to stop drinking 30 minutes before eating and can't drink again until 30-45 minutes after eating.  You don't want to wash the food out of the stomach.  You want to keep your stomach full for as long as possible.

5 Pounds

I am down 5 pounds since surgery. Eating really isn't a problem, but I truly get satisfied after 2 small spoonfuls of soup. It takes me about 30 minutes to eat 4 ounces of creamed soup. I prefer room temperature beverages over cold. 

My legs are still a little sore from all the walking I did in the hospital but I am getting up and walking.  Just not a mile at a time.  Yesterday I walked half a mile in the morning and half a mile in the evening.  Today I have already walked .75 miles and will walk more later.  I just don't want to make myself hurt and then not be able to walk because I know how important walking is to my weight loss and recovery.

No lifting of more than 10 lbs leaves me not much to do.  I would love to be decorating for the holidays, but I guess it will have to wait. 

Over all I think I'm doing a great job with my walking, protein and water intake.

Before and After Surgery

Two Day Before Surgery

Two days before surgery I had to start a Clear Liquid Diet.  Broths, jello and lots of water.  I thought this part would be hard as well and it was...just slightly.  I also had to start my Potassium pills 2 a day for 2 days. My nerves still hadn't kicked in. I was going strong and prepared to face surgery with a smile  The day before surgery, Monday, I had to start the bowel preparation. I was expecting this to be horrific based on my ex husbands experience before a colonoscopy. Again, it was a piece of cake. Warning...the clear liquid diet also starts getting your bowels prepped.

Night Before Surgery

Still a trooper. Using the bathroom frequently to both go number 1 and 2.  No nerves yet.  Time for bed and now I'm not tired. However, I have to be up at 4:30 am to leave by 5:15 am to be at the hospital by 6am for 7:30 surgery. So, I read awhile.  Still not nervous.

Day Of Surgery

I wake up before my alarm goes off and I am wide awake and for what ever reason I am NOT nervous. I am excited. Today my life changes for the good. My dearest friend in the world and I get into her Van and off we go to the hospital. We check in and admitting sends us off to the wrong surgery area.  After being told where the correct area is we get to the waiting room and sit.  I'm not sure why but I never did get nervous.  Not even when they called me into the surgery prep area.  They took the necessary blood they needed and put in my IV and then Julie got to come and sit with me until they wheeled me away for surgery.  It's 7:30 and off I go.  It was really cold in the surgery room.  I mean cold like a meat locker.  They put warm blankets on me and said they run a blower of warm air to keep me warm.  This is all I remember until they wake me up at 9 in recovery room. I remember them shaking me awake but only one (1) eye wanted to open.  It took about 10-15 minutes for me to actually wake.  Then they came to take me to my room. It's almost 10:00 and I'm looking forward to seeing Julie. I wanted her to know I was okay and she didn't need to worry about me. I DID IT!

Recovery

By 12:00 pm they had me up and walking.  I was surprised that I felt as well as I did and figured it was pain killers.  I did one (1) lap with the nurse and told her I was fine to walk on my own. The Doctor requires you to walk at least 30 laps on the surgery floor.  They say it's the equivalent to 1 mile. Well I really wanted to go home so I walked 5 laps.  Rested an hour and then got up and walked 10 more. I was doing so well they started giving me water to make sure I could take it and hold it down.  I was not nauseous or anything. By 9:30 that evening I had walked all 30 and was happy with myself.

Until the next morning when I got up and my calves hurt so bad from walking.  I had overdone it. (By the way according to my IPhone, 30 laps is 3 miles not 1). I was up at 5:30 in the morning and ready to walk again.  I barely made 2 laps my calves were hurting so bad and I was supposed to do another 30 that day.  On the brighter side of things I had NO pain (except my calves lol).  I was eating broth and drinking my fluids with no problem and was told I would be going home.  Around 4:30 my iv's were removed and then came the removal of the drain.  That felt so weird.  Christine got to the hospital at 6 and I was on my way home.

Since being home, I have used NO pain medication because there just isn't any (except my calves were still sore).  Going up and down the stairs is fine. No pain No discomfort.  I guess the hardest part at this point is getting all the fluids in.  A small sip feels you up and you can only take 1 sip every couple of minutes.  Basically I spend my days sipping water.  Lunch is very filling (4 oz of cream of chicken soup) and it takes me about 30 minutes to finish it.

Today my calves are feeling better so I plan on taking a short walk later and will build on to it as I can.  I know the more I exercise the more weight I will lose.

I will post before pictures and pictures of my surgery area in the next day or two.

5 Days and Counting

Well all but 1 appointment have been completed.  I have been on my liquid diet for 10 days now and still feeling good.  Actually, I have more energy and more bounce in my step.  I'm not so tired, it is lovely.  My blood pressure was incredible yesterday 106/70.  I can't tell you the last time my blood pressure was this good.  I am sure it is due to my diet as well as my excitement for surgery.   They drew 7 vials of blood for preoperative blood work and pricked my finger.  I had to have a chest x-ray and EKG. My 3 hour nutrition class was very informative, but it was pretty much a repeat of what I have learned over the last 6 months doing my classes.

Last night I went to Support Group and once again really enjoyed it....who knew. When I went to my first support group in September I was dreading it thinking it would be boring and how am I going to get through an hour.  Let me tell you....SUPPORT GROUP IS AWESOME!!!! To see and hear from people that have already gone through it...some recently, some within a year and some longer is amazing and helps you so much, as well as the people that are on the same exact path as you are at that moment and some just starting their journey.  You can ask questions and get the answers you need to hear.  Everyone is amazing and so willing to share their stories and success.

I need to go to the pharmacy today to get my prescription filled for the potassium supplement I have to start taking 2 days before surgery and the Tylenol with Codeine elixir for after surgery.  MOST everyone I have spoken with hasn't even needed the pain reliever once home but better to be safe than in a lot of pain.  While there I also need to pick up the bowel cleanser I have to start at 12:00 Noon the day before surgery.  Oh JOY this should be fun...NOT!

I have my second Dr. Appointment with Dr. Quilici on Monday and then I will be having my surgery the next morning.

WOW I am 5 days away from starting my new improved life.

7 Days on a Liquid Diet

Well I have been on this liquid diet for 7 days and I'm down 10 lbs.  I thought I would have a problem eating the sugar free jello or sugar free pudding because I hate the taste of the artificial flavoring, but I'm surprised to say, I LIKE IT! 

I'm doing a lot better than I thought I would. I was worried about making my son "MY" favorite meals and so far I haven't wanted to cheat at all.  Where I would normally pick while cooking...I had absolutely no desire to do so.  So proud of myself. This is a huge Victory for me.  

Today I have 2 appointments, the first being my Pre-screening and Blood Type Match which is supposed to take anywhere from 1 hour to 1½ hours.  After that I have a 3 hour mandatory meeting with the Dietician.  This appointment I am actually looking forward to.  Tomorrow I have my Pre-Op blood work and chest x-ray with my Primary physician.

Liquid Diet, Appoinments, and Feelings

Well I am on my fourth day of my Liquid Diet and surprisingly I'm doing really well.  I don't find myself starving and when I start to feel hungry I drink water.  All and all, I'm doing great.  I don't even want to cheat.  In my Cream of Chicken Soup I found chunks of chicken and I tossed them out.  I'm sure they wouldn't know that I ate 5 or 6 tiny pieces, but I stuck to bargain and didn't eat them.  This tells me I am definitely ready for my New Better Life to begin.

All my appointments have been made and there are a few.  Who knew I would have so many!  I have 2 appointments on Tuesday, 1 on Wednesday plus Support Group in the evening, and then 1 the following Monday, and finally Surgery on Tuesday.  Have I ever mentioned, I hate going to the doctors.  LOL  I'll take the dentist any day, but the Doctors? 

So when I started my Journey, I didn't want to tell anyone what I was doing other than 5 really close friends.  NOW if anyone asks why I'm having surgery or on my liquid diet, I just blurt it out...."I AM HAVING WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY"!  My friend Julie will be taking me to the hospital and staying with me until they cart me off for surgery.  I have to be at the hospital at 6 AM for surgery at 7:30 AM.  Still not sure how I'm getting home.  Hopefully my friend Porty! 

Appointment, Appointment, Appointment

WOW I am 12 days away from surgery.  The time has gone so fast since the start of my first class.

So I now have all the appointments I need scheduled.  I'm going to be busy. I have appointments the 18th for a 3 hour Nutrition Class, 19th for Pre-Op Blood Work for Surgery and 24th with the Surgeon and Surgery on the 25th at 7:30 am.  I have to be at the hospital at 6AM. 

So I was 307 lbs at my very first class in May and was 293.5 lbs yesterday morning.  This morning I was at 289 but I know that is just water.  I do get hungry but I'm not starving.

The Date Has Been Set

Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday November 25, 2014.  I will see my primary doctor on Wed 11/19 for pre-op blood work.  I know I have 1 or 2 other appointments between now and surgery as well.

So as of yesterday, before I started my liquid diet my weight was 293lbs.  Now I want to take pictures and my measurements to chronicle my journey.

Thankfully I Started My Liquid Diet On My Own

Well after still not hearing from the Surgeons office and time coming down to the wire, I made the decision to start the Liquid Diet that I am supposed to be on for 2 weeks prior to surgery on Tuesday.  This would make me eligible for surgery on 11/25/14.

I finally heard from the Surgeons office yesterday afternoon and they finally received authorization for surgery and someone from their office is supposed to call me today to schedule.  As of right now I am anticipating surgery to be on Tuesday 11/25.  With all considered the very last day I could possibly do it is Wednesday and then I'm out of time.  So keep your fingers crossed that I can get in there Tuesday and hopefully home on Wednesday so as no one has to bother picking me up on Thanksgiving.  I'm sure they wouldn't mind, but I would. 

For those that are wondering what my liquid diet consists of, here it is:

1000 calories and minimum of 70 grams of protein Diet

FULL LIQUIDS

Skim milk, or Lactaid milk (fat free), or Soy Milk

Low fat cream soup (Campbell's fat/low sodium cream soup, or Healthy Choice, or any other low fat cream soup),

Any fruit juice without pulp (apple, cranberry, grape, orange, etc...)

Any vegetable juice (V8, tomato, etc...)

Sugar free pudding

Dannon Lite & Fit Yogurt

No sugar added fudgesicle

Protein Supplement - 

LIQUIDS THAT YOU CAN CONSUME IN ANY AMOUNTS:

Water                                  Coffee - preferably Decaf

Crystal Light                       Sugar free jello

Diet Snapple                       Sugar free Popsicle

Tea                                      Broth, preferably low sodium- beef, chicken or vegetable

Example of eating schedule:

Breakfast:            1 cup coffee/decaf coffee

                            Creamer and artificial sweetner

                            4 oz (½ cup) orange juice no pulp..................................60 cal

                            8 oz (1 cup) fat free/skim milk.......................................90 cal

                            4 oz sugar free jello

Snack:                 1 can World Wide Pure Protein......................................170 cal / 35 grams protein

Lunch:                 1 cup hot tea with lemon

                            4 oz (½ cup) apple or orange juice..................................60 cal

                            1 cup low fat cream soup.................................................120-150 cal

                            4 oz sugar free jello

Snack:                 4 oz sugar free pudding....................................................70 cal

                            1 bottle Diet Snapple (I prefer to drink water or unsweetend Ice Tea)

Dinner:                1 cup hot tea with lemon

                            1 cup low fat cream soup.................................................120-150 cal

                            4 oz sugar free jello

                            4 oz apple juice.................................................................60 cal

Snack:           1 can World Wide Pure Protein......................................170 cal / 35 grams protein

Yes I'm hungry, but when starting any diet change you get hungry from the loss of calories.  

Frustrasted and Going into Panic Mode

So I still haven't heard from the Surgeons office with a surgery date yet. So I called....They haven't received a response from insurance yet.  Apparently my paperwork wasn't submitted until Wednesday and said it usually takes 5 business days for approval.  The only problem with that is I have other stuff that needs to be done plus 2 weeks of a liquid diet prior to surgery making it look like surgery Thanksgiving week.  Which I'm fine with, but I am running out of time and starting to panic.  Surgery has to be done by November 30th.  My new insurance goes into effect as of December 1st and I don't know how much that covers or if it evens covers it.  Prayers that all goes as planned.

Waiting

I'm thinking this is the worst part...waiting for the surgery date to be scheduled.  The surgeons office have submitted my paperwork to insurance and are waiting for the approval for surgery.  Then they will call me to schedule.  There is still stuff to do prior to surgery so I am really starting to get impatient. I almost feel like starting the liquid diet now so that I am that more prepared, but for now I am waiting for the word.

I have started eating healthier and stocking my shelves for the upcoming eating changes. I still need to go buy my protein and supplements.  I know I was supposed to do that last weekend, but I got busy.  Maybe I will do that this weekend.

I'm so impatient

I probably have to be the most impatient person.  I just want to know already.  WHEN IS MY SURGERY SCHEDULED FOR!!!!  LOL

You would think I would be nervous or afraid, but I am so excited to get this done.  I promise, the day before surgery, I'll be afraid and nervous but for right now I just want to know when. 

Do you want to know what frightens me most?  My before pictures that I will be posting.  It's hard enough for me to look in the mirror and see me this huge, but to let other people see me like this is really scary.

This weekend I will be shopping for my protein powder and various supplements I will be taking.  Why wait until the last minute.  Nope, for once, I will not be procrastinating.

Psych Eval and More Waiting

Today was my Psych Evaluation and I found out I'm not crazy (kidding).  I passed with no problems.  The report should be ready and sent to the Surgeon by Thursday.  Once they receive it the will contact insurance to get surgery approved and contact me with a surgery date. 

So I anticipate surgery in the next 2-3 weeks. Excited :)

Preparing

Re-reading all the materials I have received in class over the last 6 months as well as the book I received from the surgeons office.Teaching myself how to eat the teeny most tiny bites and chew it 25 times until nothing.  I have to teach myself to eat 2 ozs of food in 30 minutes (yeah right now that is one bite).  So this morning instead of gobbling down my food, I took my time eating small bites and chewing, and chewing, and chewing some more.  I am also teaching myself to take small sips of my water instead of big mouthfuls and NO straws.  

I am already cutting out caffeine from my diet...which doesn't bother me at all. I am a 1 cup of coffee a day person and rarely drink it on weekends.  So I will be buying some decaffeinated tea bags so I can have tea at home.  I'm not much of a Crystal light fan, but they say my taste buds will change and maybe I will like it.

I guess my main concern right now and what scares me the most is the hair loss.  Yes they say I will lose some of my hair but not to worry it will grow back within the year.  UGH...Ive been fighting hair loss since the birth of my son 15 years ago and it is just now starting to slow down and grow back and now I'm going to thin my hair out more.  This makes me very sad.  But the loss of a little hair to lose a lot of my weight....I'LL TAKE IT HANDS DOWN.

Psych Evaluation Update

My Psych Evaluation has been moved up to next week.   

Oh this is getting real.

Consultation with Surgeon

So I had the consultation with the surgeon yesterday and I am on track to have surgery next month.  Yup next month as in November.  Just waiting for my appointment for the Psych Evaluation.  Unfortunately there are no appointments next week, but I am going to call a couple times tomorrow to check and see if there are any cancellations.  Otherwise I have an appointment for Nov 4th.  Once that is done and they send the report to the Surgeon, they will schedule the surgery, I will have my second office visit with the surgeon and get scheduled for my preoperative blood work.  I have also decided to come in prior to surgery to donate my own blood in case it is needed for some reason during surgery.  To think in less than 5 weeks I will be starting a new path for a happier healthier me.

Fingers crossed.

October Support Group

Support Group last night was great. It is really nice seeing and hearing from people that have gone through the program and where they are in their weight loss journey.

Last night the owner from Max Muscle was there talking to us about protein they sale for shakes and brought samples for us to try of the different flavors. He also brought samples of the calcium chewables, the chewable multi-vitamins as well as chewable iron supplements.

Yes I will have to take these supplements for the rest of my life.  Hopefully, they wont have to be chewable the rest of my life, but that is the best way to absorb them.

Freaking Out

So I have been freaking out the last week because I still have not received the Authorization letter from my Insurance so I can schedule my consultation appointment with the Doctor.  Now I am finding out that we might be changing insurance which could screw this whole process up.  So now I am trying to get into the Doctors office and have surgery before December 1st.  

Today I took progressive action and decided to call the surgeons office to see if they have the authorization letter and lucky me they do.  So I have scheduled my Consultation Appointment for next Wednesday 10/22/14.  The lady that I spoke with was very nice, but let me know that with all that still has to be done before I can have surgery she doesn't know if we will be able to get it all done prior to December 1st.

Then there is the insurance thing. If we change to a lessor insurance it is possible that they might not cover the surgery or my deductible might be much higher than I was told with the current insurance which could totally mess things up.

YES I AM REALLY FREAKING OUT.

So for right now I have to keep calm and pray for the best.  I'll go to my appointment next (which is a 2-3 hours appointment) let the Doctor know what challenge I am facing and leave it in Gods hands!

Fingers Crossed.

Do's and Don'ts to Remember

WLS Do’s and Don’ts

DO remove the word ONLY from your vocabulary. Ex: I’ve ONLY lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks… Now let’s look at this again without the word ONLY: I’ve lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks!! See what I mean? Perception is reality folks!!

DON’T assume you’ll never eat all of your favorite foods again. This is just an excuse your brain has designed to allow you to indulge. You WILL eat all your favorites again someday, just much less but find it to me more enjoyable. Which leads directly into the next:

DON’T do the “last meal” syndrome. You will only sabotage your weight loss you might have pre-surgery or set you back further from your ultimate goal post-op. This surgery is very serious and is for the serious minded. Use this time wisely to get the feeling of how life might be like post op.

DO learn all of the rules pre-op that you will endure post-op. Such as, no drinking with meals, using smaller utensils and plates, engaging in some type of workout routine, limiting your sugar and sodium intake, joining as many WLS support groups as you can.

DO celebrate every single pound lost! Imagine one pound of butter. Yeah… that’s gone from your body forever. It is noteworthy and worth every bit of a pat on the back as any others that may go along with it.

DON’T compare your successes and losses to others. Chances are very high that you will only come out on the short end and only find yourself disappointed. Everyone’s journeys are their own…

DO keep track of your losses in many different ways than just the scale! Examples:

DO keep one set of your largest clothes you’ve ever worn. Make it a point to try them on, especially when you’re having a down moment. You will find this will really pick up your spirits! This is a real rollercoaster of a ride, and anything that will keep you positive is what you should do!

DON'T keep any other fat clothes around. Get rid of them ASAP. You're never going to fit them again, right? So... off to donations they go.

DO take photos of yourself just before your surgery. Keep them close. Again, having a bad day? Look at them and compare them. As a matter of fact, take photos of yourself often. You will also find that the more you lose, the more you will want to take pictures. Nothing wrong with that!!! That goes with celebrating your losses. ;-)

DO take measurements of yourself often. Keeping track of all your inches lost will really keep you on the right track when your scale is being stubborn!!

DO reward yourself every time you hit a mini goal. Make some more worthy than others. I like to go shopping when I hit a goal, it is my favorite thing to do now.

DON’T let the scale define you. Great majority of us will endure many fluctuations and stalls in this journey. It is what it is… patience is the key here. Meditate and envision yourself months down the road at your goal. Smile, then move on!!

DO find out about measuring body fat! It’s more than just weight loss, FAT LOSS is the real goal here. Keep in mind that the BMI scale is greatly inaccurate and most Health Studies do prove this. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) our body fat % ranges should be average: 25-31% for Women and 18-24% for men. Any higher is considered obese. However it does go more in depth, according to ages and more. Everyone has different genetic make ups, frame sizes and fitness levels... even a different ethnicity can post differences.

DO have many goals in sight. Having only one, especially a simple weight goal you will find can be difficult. Have many MINI goals along your journey, and more than just ones that involve the scale. Such as, clothing size goals, body fat% goals, fitness or workout goals, dietary goals, etc…

DO challenge yourself always!! Whether it’s a global challenge with others, or personal challenges... It will keep you motivated and always willing to go further than you ever thought you could!

DO have a mentor! Find someone that you can trust and confide in, and that you know has “been there”. Preferably someone you know in person. You will find many folks in your life who have been there, for obesity is worldwide now and there are so many who have been able to defeat this demon. It’s not easy! It quite literally is the toughest feat I’ve ever had to endure. I can say this too, my job will never be done. This is for life!

DON'T believe the myth that your tool has an expiration date.  Yes, it's true you will lose the most weight in the first year and it's also true that the further out you are and the closer you are to goal, the harder it is to lose.  However, as long as you keep up with your healthy eating and fitness routines you will continue to lose weight and / or keep it off in the many years post op.  It all boils down to calories in vs. calories out.


DON'T believe the myth that having WLS will keep the weight off forever.  That is our individual responsibility.

And finally…

DON’T ever beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, and dare I say not one person on this Earth is perfect. I try hard to be, no doubt! I always admit that I’m a perfectionist – but I’m far from perfect. I just try to be… The only thing you can do is pick yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, perhaps contact your mentor for reassurance and move on!!! Again, this is for life. Every day you wake up is a second chance.

DO look for solutions to your problems. Otherwise they will just become excuses.


DON’T EVER GIVE UP! I don’t think any explanation is necessary here.

DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to.

DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of fluid. 

DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!

Good luck to all of you. This journey is a tough one, but if you are here, then you believed in yourself enough to give yourself the life you’ve always dreamed of. YOU WILL BE successful. Always keep that in mind.

DO keep a list of NSV (Non scale victories) to reflect on when times are getting hard. Can you walk up 2 extra flights of stairs before getting winded? Cross your legs?" and

"DO NOT be afraid to change things if they aren't working. Stalls happen even gains happen. If you are on a long stall look at your eating and decided if changes need to be made. Utilize your tool!" -- Southern Sleever

DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.

DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it.

This info was all found on the internet, but very important for me to be a happy healthier me.

Where I am in my journey.

I have recently finished my 6 months of classes and seen my doctor. My doctor completed my check list and has submitted my paperwork to see the Surgeon. WooHoo! I am waiting on my paperwork from Insurance so I can make an appointment for my consultation with the Surgeon. From other people I have talked to about their journey I am about 2½ months away from surgery. Although, I am going to do my best to push to have surgery before the end of the year due to Vacation time issues and the possibility of the Company I work for changing insurance.

Waiting for this letter to schedule my appointment is driving me crazy, because I am looking forward to start my journey, to be a healthier me.

To know that within a year, I will be able to do so much more than I am able to do now.  My children won't say it to me, but I know they are embarrassed at times about my weight. I know that is why my oldest son doesn't tell me when he has a softball game or invite me to do things with he and his girlfriend.  I am excited to be able to play comfortably on the floor with my granddaughter without my belly getting in the way of me bending over and doing things with her whether it be painting, playing with barbies, as well as not having a hard time getting up and trying to find something to hold onto to pull myself up.

Why I am where I am

I was always the girl that had a little more meat on her bones than the girls at school and was ashamed. I wasn't even fat..I am big boned, but to me....I felt fat.  When I graduated High School that all changed for and for the first time in my life I was super active and skinnier than my petite sister.  I never thought that would happen.  I kept if off for a couple years but it eventually came back and then I got pregnant and didn't realize it.  After all was said and done, after giving birth I was 187 lbs.

I progressively got heavier and heavier and I now am bouncing between 297 and 303 lbs and have decided I'm tired of this.  I hate the way I look, the way I feel and I'm just not happy with myself. 

The biggest problem I face is I LOVE FOOD!

So, I have decided to have Weight Loss Surgery. Yeah some people are going to say I took the easy way out. My answer to that is, "Why don't you try standing in my shoes"?  If this is what I feel I need to do to lose weight and become healthier, then this is what I am going to do.

I started my Bariatric classes 6 months ago.  Basically I go to class once a month for 6 months.  In this class I have learned what my triggers are to my eating and how to hopefully handle these situations.  I have learned about Proper eating habits and Healthier Food Choices.  This will be a complete Life Style Change for me.  Something I will have to do the rest of my life. AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IT!!!    Four of the six classes were taught by a Nutritionist. She said something one time that made me really think.  She said to stop eating when you are full.  Since I have always been heavy, I'm not sure what it feels like to be full.  I know what it feels like to be OVERfull, and stuffed, but I don't know what it feels like to be full!

 
I have recently finished my classes and am now waiting for my authorization to make an appointment with the surgeon and hopefully by the end of the year I will have had my surgery.