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.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
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 :)
Friday, October 24, 2014
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.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Psych Evaluation Update
My Psych Evaluation has been moved up to next week.
Oh this is getting real.
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.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
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.
Friday, October 10, 2014
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
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.
Monday, October 6, 2014
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.
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