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Goals

weigh less than my husband

380 People
 in progress, 
409 People
 achieved this

Tap Dance

1 Person
 in progress, 
0 People
 achieved this

Run a half-mile

2 People
 in progress, 
0 People
 achieved this
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Surgeon Testimonial

Mahbod Mark Paya, M. D.
My first impression of Dr. Paya was on this website. I was debating over having Dr. Paya at Northridge Hospital (my hospital of choice) or Dr. Qualici at St. Josephs in Burbank. rnrnAfter talking to a couple of former patients, there were very little discouraging words regarding Dr. Paya's care or office staff. And, best news of all, his office processed patients far sooner than the other option I was given. rnrnFor me, surgical competence is more important than bedside manner, but what is MOST important to me is my ability to contact the office for information. rnrnThe \"guy\" Dr. Paya is friendly, confident, professional and very cute. lol He was honest on how much weight I would lose, and how much weight I COULD lose. He is a busy guy and when I was in the hospital I only saw him pre-op. His associate, Dr. Kokkalera, saw me each day while I was in Northridge Hospital. Dr. Kokkalera is very nice and thoughtful and had a friendly sense of humor. rnrnMy medical group (Facey) has an extensive bariatric surgery preparation procedure, so I don't have a lot of information on what Dr. Paya's office offers. I did meet with a nutritionist with detailed pre-op/ post-op/ maintenance diet information. I met with a Dr. Paya's nurse with a detailed explanation of pretty much every aspect of the process, which included all the \"realities\" of what does/doesn't work with bariatric surgery. Finally, I received a simple psychiatric evaluation from one of NR Hosp's staff psych MDs.rnrnThe office staff was stellar when I was in the hospital. Crystal and Shelly visited me every day at least once. Both doted over me in pre-op, making sure my husband saw me before surgery and having my paperwork for disability processing the minute I was in surgery. They made sure my post-op pain meds were waiting in MY pharmacy for pickup on my drive home!rnrnI would be remiss without mentioning my frustration when someone made my first appointment with Dr. Paya for 4PM, but it was entered in his system for 3:30. I was deemed a \"no show\" and he left before I arrived at 3:43. I was DEVASTATED! Fortunately, Crystal made an appointment for the very next week, so I had my surgery exactly when I was planning...the last week of April! The one way out of this frustration is to make sure to call the office and verify the appointment before going in. The office staff is professional and friendly and phone messages are returned quickly. rn
Member Interests
  • Dogs - Fargo is a blonde Australian Shepherd mix, saved from shelter demise August 2007
  • Sewing - I like sewing clothes. Simple stuff...NO HEMMING, please. ;)
  • Radiological Technologist - It is "radiologic", not "radiological". Since '78. I am a mammographer.

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judijo's Blog
judijo's Blog


What is that noise???
on September 30, 2008 6:43 am
Yesterday was my 5 month surgiversary. YAY!

Yesterday I weighed 70 lbs less than 5 months before. YAY!

I have a random thought that I welcome "newbies" to read:

This is something I have learned in the last 5 months. When one's stomach growls, it is not because you are hungry. It is because your stomach is growling. Growling stomachs are the action of the intestinal tract doing it's job....to move food, water, coffee, etc, peristaltically to and through your colon. The faster we realize the growling stomach as NOT being hunger, the better off we all are.

(: Thank you. :)

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The Feelings of Fullness
on September 12, 2008 3:05 pm
There is a controversy going on in my psyche at the moment. It is the more-than-often complaint by early-outs, like me, that we are "not full".
I am beginning to understand that to be "not full" is NOT the same thing as being hungry. To be "not full" will often mean "not hungry, but not stuffed". 

Before surgery, I would eat until full. Satiated. Stuffed. I had two  gastronomic feelings: Hungry or full. No in-between. Someone would ask,"Wanna get a bite to eat?" and I would either reply, "Sure. I am hungry," or "No, I am stuffed."

Recently I have encountered something new, a little bit scary, and I have realized that "normal people" (people who have not had to have their stomachs surgically "removed" to attain/maintain a healthy weight) have this sensation. It is the sensation of simply not being hungry. This is not to be confused with being full (formerly, stuffed). It is simply the absence of hunger pangs.

I find this....(thinking)....refreshing.

Don't you?
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I am stalling! Yippee!
on September 1, 2008 9:28 am
According to Weight Commander, the best weight log software out there, I have lost a whopping .08 lbs in the past 7 days.

For WEEKS I had been dropping over 3 lbs a week.

It is definately time for a stall. My first stall was 3 weeks post-op, which I learned was very normal. That was at 20 lbs down.

I was expecting a stall at 250 lbs. but it didn't happen. Now, hugging 240, it is finally happening.

Protein first. Veggies. Fruit. Keep the starches and breads to under 3 servings/day, and cut the fat. That is the program.

I fit comfortably in no-elastic-waist size 24 pants. 1X knit tops, or size 22 non-knit. All good.

No worries. Pre-op at this point I would start slacking off. Lose hope. Gain weight. No more.

Damn. That feels goooood!
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