I have spent entirely too much time reading here at OH.  I read blogs from day one to current post, study the forums, read the practical articles, etc.
  In my reading, I see where a lot of folks talk about their comorbidities and wanting to be off meds.  It kind of worries me as far as being approved for the surgery but I am extremely healthy to be so morbidly obese.  My cholesterol runs about 127, blood pressure 112/78.  No diabetes or thyroid issues.  I have knee problems that originated from traumatic injury but I am sure the weight keeps them aggravated.  I have such mild sleep apnea that when I couldn't tolerate the CPAP mask the pulmonologist told me not to torture myself, it was on the lowest setting anyway. (I would take xanax to go to sleep with the mask on, but wake up with literally pieces of the mask and straps scattered across the room).  I qualify for surgery based just off of my BMI (ridiculous at 53 or so) so I guess it is good that I am healthy.

   I am taking my vitamins, drinking protein shakes and working out. Since the start of the "nutritional study" I have lost about 20lbs that I know of. Today I walked a mile with my dog and had absolutely zero problems until the last 1/4 mile or so when my knee kicked up - probably didn't help I was wearing crocs instead of walking shoes  :)

 I strained my lower back carrying my old dog a couple of weeks ago and it is still bothering me. I know it would probably heal with rest, but I have been too busy with spring planting and picking blackberries to put in the freezer.  My gym partner has gone on a cruise so I haven't been to the gym at all yet this week.   I plan to either get to the gym in the morning or go for a walk with my younger dog.  I also have some gardening to do, some "must do" stuff before the Florida heat is too much for tender plants.
  
   I am wondering about some posts I see talking about being unable to eat veggies.  I love vegetables, especially those I grow at home - squash, zuchinni, peas, beans, corn, tomatoes, onions, radishes and cucumbers.  My surgery (if I am approved by insurance, still have 3 weigh-ins to go) will probably not be until August or September, so I can enjoy the veggies as part of my pre-op diet.


  Nothing really exciting to put in writing - I just want to try to get in the habit of putting things here.
I go back and forth on nervous and excited on the surgery.  The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!

My insurance requires 6mths supervised nutritional study. I started Feb 4 at 353 lbs. The guy was an *&$%* .   I am not a gym rat -but I am not inside on the couch watching TV and eating Cheetos and Bon Bons all day either - I have a 70'x70' garden I tend by myself : amending soil, tilling, turning over, fertilizing, planting, weeding, harvesting.  I have horses that I tend to and move the fences for pasture rotation, I have chickens I care for and pens / houses to build, repair and expand.
  He told me I would lose weight if I would "get out from in front of the TV all day everyday".    I figured it was his standard 1st visit speech so I shrugged off that comment as well as others that he made.
   The 2nd visit I was down 9lbs and returned with my food log he had asked me to keep - and I did it religiously.  He never asked about the log, but scolded me about eating deep fried foods and going to McDonald's "so much".   I was furious.
 I talked to a couple of friends who had RNY elsewhere and they convinced me to give Dr. Jeffrey Friedman a try.

  I saw him in mid-March and he was friendly, kind, confident and reassuring.  He answered my questions and helped me to decide on RNY for my own surgery - no pushing, just information.   I started with an "introductory" visit to his nutritionist and walked away with a ton more information than both visits combined with the other guy.   At my weigh-in on 4/12 I was down 20lbs. 
   I had my psychological eval and got the results so now I have in writing that I am sane   :)

My sister's best friend had RNY on 4/12 and is doing well. She is keeping a journal for me of good and bad so I know what to expect.  She is doing great so far.

   My newest challenge is trying to figure out / follow / learn the measurements and counts that the NUT wants me to have of different nutrients and food types. I go back on 5/16 for visit number 4.


Nervous. Excited.