creole_lady

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Hello Everybody!!!
The last time I posted, I was waiting for my 2nd fill.  Well,  I had it and I'm down to 234.5, down from 268. I will have my 3rd fill next Wednesday.  I have a pic of me and hot cable guy, but I have to get it on cd and then beg Frannie Poo to help me get it posted LOL!  My mom is hanging in there.  She's still being stubborn as all get out when it comes to her treatments, but she is who she is!  As for the wedding, everything is pretty much on point.  We will be holding the wedding and the reception at the same site (Sheraton National in Arlington, Va) and we will be honeymooning in Hawaii.  I don't have too much more than that right now.  I hope everyone is doing well with their weight loss endeavors.  To everyone on my "friends" list.....HEY Y'ALL!!!!  I miss everyone of you.  Bye for now.  I'll post after my fill next week.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Hello all bandsters!  HOT CABLE GUY HAS PROPOSED!!!!  I am in the process and chaos of planning a wedding on Dec. 22nd.  I'm down 25 lbs.  The weight loss is slow, but steady.  I will have my second fill on May 2nd. The funny part about all of this, Hot Cable Guy has lost 12 lbs because he eats what I eat and we usually share a meal.  Talk about a 2 for 1 special LOL....I'm sorry to everyone for being MIA.  However, with my mom's illness, and now the wedding, there simply isn't enough time to come hang out on the boards.  Please forgive me!!  I will continue to make efforts to post on here and let everyone know how I'm doing.

Take care and Happy Losing!

Hello Bandsters!
I haven't posted in a while, so here ya go.  I'm down 17.5lbs as of this morning.  I could not believe that the scale actually said 250.9!  I haven't seen anything in the 250's for about 8 months now.  I've moved on to mushy food and I'm having a lot of fun trying to figure out different things to eat so I don't get bored. My favorites are refried beans with cheese and sour cream and the instant oatmeal with Splenda brown sugar and a little butter. I ordered some samples of Unjury protein powder.  I haven't tried it yet, but I'll let you know how I feel about it when I do.  My energy has been really low the last couple of weeks, but it's starting to pick up.  I started walking a full 30 minutes on my treadmill and that has been going well.  I like the way I feel after I've gotten my walk in.  Trying to get 64 oz of fluid in everyday is definitely proving to be a challenge, but I get pretty close most days.  My incisions have healed very nicely.  The only one I can actually see is the one in the middle of my stomach.  The others are hard to see and are fairly small.  I had to go on half days at work for a little while because of the lack of energy, but I anticipate returning to a full day next week.
Some things I 've learned about my band over the last couple of weeks:  She is definitely picky!  She doesn't like tomato soup or tuna fish.  She is tight when I first wake up and likes a warm cup of tea to get things started.  She's also tight when it's that TOM and when I get angry.  She also likes to make some pretty funny noises to remind me she's in there! LOL  Depending on where I'm at or what I'm doing, this could be rather embarrassing LOL LOL!  I've also learned that I have restriction even though I'm not technically supposed to.  I've been reading where some people are really hungry now that their swelling has gone down.  I don't seem to be having that problem.  I still have a lot of restriction and eating more than a cup of anything at a time is too much.  
As for Lloyd aka "Hot Cable Guy", things could not possibly be better.  The man amazes me with his gentle and loving personality.  I love being with him and I give thanks every day for him.  We are planning to go on the Cruise to Lose at the end of September.  I hope we will be meeting a lot of you on there!  So, that's it.  I've updated you on everything I can think of right now.  I'll catch up with you folks later!  Ciao!

I feel like sharing today, so this may be a rather long post.  My surgery was scheduled for 2/14/07.  We had to leave on 2/13, which of course was the day a huge storm was supposed to hit our area.  We managed to get out of Dulles airport right before they shut everything down.  When we landed in Chicago, I got really nervous because it was even worse there.  Would you believe, our plane was the last to leave before they shut down O'Hare?!  Talk about God wanting this surgery to take place!  When we landed in San Antonio, I found out that my friend's luggage had arrived, but mine was still in Chicago.  I was definitely not a happy camper about that, but there wasn't really anything I could do.  The agent for AA said they would deliver it to my hotel as soon as it came in.  

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Eagle Pass, Texas.  Dr.Alvarez's patiet coordinator Rosie picked us up at the airport along with Susan who was in for a different type of surgery.  The trip to Eagle Pass was 2 hours, but we ran our mouths the whole way, so it didn't seem so bad!  Rosie was kind enough to take me to Wal-Mart so I could pick up a few things until my luggage arrived.  The hotel was lovely and they were extremely friendly!  My friend, Keneika and I decided we wanted to go somewhere special for dinner because it was in essence, my "last supper".  Turns out there is a restaurant across the border (5 minutes) named Moderno's.  They have a shuttle that comes to the hotel and picks you up and brings you back at no charge!!!  I have to say this place served the best Mexican food I have EVER tasted.  Since I didn't want to stuff myself, Keneika and I shared an appetizer, an entree and a dessert.  The dessert was my favorite part which is surprising because I'm not big on sweets. We had the Banana Foster which they prepare and flambe right at your table.  Definitely a great experience.  If you go to Dr. Alvarez for surgery, definitely allow yourself this indulgence!

Now, for the surgery...Rosie picked us up at 8:15am and took us across the border to the hospital.  For those who have questions about the passport issue, Rosie explained that as long as you were not going more than 15miles across the border in either direction, then you only needed your State issued ID.  When we got to the hospital I met with Dr. Alvarez and he answered all of my questions and showed me an actual band.  He then explained the entire procedure in detail and took my weight.(268.40).  After all of that, we were escorted to my room and I changed into a hospital gown.  They came and took my blood and told me it would be about an hour before I was taken down to surgery.  Now, the strange part about all of this, I didn't have any nervous feelings at all!  I was completed excited and my friend said she was worried that I WASN"T worried LOL.  I don't know what came over me, but I was completely at peace with what I was doing and I knew that God would be in there with me.  The surgical procedure to 17minutes!  My doc said that was the quickest band he had ever placed LOL!  Once I got back to my room, I slept for a while and then got up to go to the bathroom.  I needed help the first couple of times to the bathroom because I was really groggy.  After that, I went by myself.  The next morning I felt like I had done too many sit ups, but the pain was definitely manageable.  I walked around the hospital, went to visit with Susan and then had some apple juice and jello.  Dr. Alvarez came in around 10am, checked my incisions, gave me my instructions and meds, asked if I had any questions and sent me on my way LOL!  I've had more trouble and pain at the dentist office than I did have this very life altering procedure done.

Now, I have to say that I am a firm believer in the power of prayer and positive thinking.  I went in with a very positive attitude and had prayed for guidance throughout my entire adventure.  I really think these allowed me to have an easier surgery than some.

I've been back home now for 3 days and the hardest part of traveling back home, was the rocky landing in Chicago......that hurt a bit, but I found holding my pillow against my stomach helped.  I've been walking on my treadmill for 10-15 min intervals at a slow pace and sip, sip, sipping on my water or green tea or whatever I happen to be drinking.  I've lost 10 lbs as of this morning and promised myself I wouldn't look at the scale again until next Wednesday LOL.  I've been given the ok to add a couple of things to my diet. I was originally on water, clear broth, tea, jello, and popcicles.  Now I will be adding 1% milk(I hate skim milk), carnation instant breakfast, and I picked up a couple of chunky soups without rice or pasta.  I'll blend those down so that they are smooth.  I didn't have any gas pain until last night, so I walked on my treadmill and took a couple of Gas-x tablets.  It wasn't too severe, just uncomfortable.  

So, that's my surgery experience so far.  If anyone has been following the Hot Cable Guy story, he picked me up from the airport on Friday and has stayed with me all weekend taking care of me.  He is definitely a keeper.  Any man that wants to take care of a woman after surgery and does it with such tender care is definitely a keeper!!!  Thank you for taking the time to read my story so far.  My adventure is just beginning and I'm so looking forward to my new life.  Thank you to each and every one of you on this site for your prayers, kind words and friendship.  

Love ya all
Toni

Well my friends, it appears that the "Hot Cable Guy"  has taken up permanent residence LOL... It's been several weeks now, and we are still in the "honeymoon" faze:o)   It feels lovely having someone care about me just for me and not for my dress size.  He has been more than supportive about the surgery and has even gone so far as to have a blind taste test with me to figure out which protein shake I like the best LOL LOL (no of them by the way!) I will be leaving for surgery on Tuesday and he has made the wait a WHOLE lot easier.  Maybe he really is THE one?!

I'm all packed and ready to go.  I went out last night and bought a couple of pairs of sweats because I didn't own any!  Now I just look at my little suitcase and wait for Tuesday morning to get here. While I was out, I purchased a really nice black leather journal.  I love to write, and I'm looking forward to chronicling the events and changes that go on with my band over the next year.  There's nothing like a fresh journal just waiting to be filled with all of my thoughts,ideas and dreams.  

I also had the opportunity to meet Jacci from this board.  She met up with me at Starbucks.  Talk about a beautiful person inside and out!  We laughed and talked for almost 2 hours!  It was so nice to meet her face to face and speak to someone who understood EXACTLY what I was talking about.  We have so much in common.  I have OH to thank for bringing this friendship into my life.  Jacci, if you're reading this.....we are almost there!!!!  

Well, that's all the updating I have for now. I have to go get ready for my last day of work unbanded!  Everything this weekend has been "this is the last time I will do this without my band" LOL....I guess you could say I've been having a memorial service for my old life all week.  I CAN"T WAIT TO START MY NEW LIFE!!!  Have a beautiful week everyone.

So, this story may be a little long winded, but I so have to share!  A little while ago my internet went out.  It's bundled with my cable. Cox said they would send someone out between 10 and 12 on Sunday.  7:30 Sunday morning, we get a "courtesy" call that the cable guy should be there in 30 minutes.  Let me pause here and state that I am NOT a morning person and what the hell happened to 10-12?!?!?!?  Ok, back to the story.  I hop up because I'm the one that called them and my roommates were both sleep.  I make myself presentable(as much as I can that early in the am on my day off!!) and go to open the door.  OMG, coming up my stairs had to be the finest man I've ever seen!  Tall, light complexion, and oh my he's got BLUE eyes!!!  Definitely a Creole!  We speak and I let him get to work.  He leaves about an hour later and I think that's the end of it, NOT!  I get a call from "hot cable guy" saying he's lost his car keys and wants to know if he can stop by and check our backyard.  My roommates accuse me of taking the mans keys so that he'll have to come back LOL :o)  I did no such thing.  So, bottom line, he finds his keys (at a different house), but calls to tell me he found them and then he asked me out to dinner.  Hot damn!  We've been inseparable every since!  could my prayers finally have been answered???  Is it possible that the man I've asked God to send my came in the shape of the "hot cable guy"?  Stayed tuned, I'll keep you guys posted.  You want to know the best part? I told him about my upcoming surgery and this wonderful man actually said "I know you'll make the right decision for you, but I think  you are beautiful and perfect just the way you are"!  OMG  I NEVER thought I would hear a man say anything like that to me.  Here's to a year of many prayers answered.....even the ones you're not really focused on.  I guess I forgot I asked for a man just like this one :o)

Hello everyone,
I thought I would post an update. I have officially purchased my airline tickets(Non refundable of course) and will be sending my deposit off today. Things have been moving along at a very quick pace.  It's amazing what happens when God takes control.  I was at work last week and a gentleman came in for Ear candling.  During his service he tells me that he's a personal trainer and he never has enough money to get massage therapy. Since I'm an LMT, I told him I could never find the money for a Personal trainer :o)  As fate would have it, this gentleman trains 2 other women who have had lap-band surgery and wants to barter my time for his!!!  WOOOHOOOO!! So now he's given me some strength training exercises to help with my core muscles before surgery and we will meet once a week as soon as I get the ok to start working out. He gets an hour massage and I get an hour of personal training.  I LOVE THE BARTERING SYSTEM!  I then called the surgeon who will be in charge of my follow up care here in the states.  All I wanted was to find out where her office is located and I ended up scheduling my follow up appointment!  And get this......she's a Bandster! After all of that excitement, my roommate calls me to say one of her friends has bags of clothes ranging in size from 12-16 and I can have them so I don't have to do a lot of shopping while I'm at the inbetween stage.  I'm telling you, once God decides something is going to take place, that's all there is to it!
I'm sure I will get nervous eventually, but right now, I'm still on cloud nine!  The OH board has been an endless source of information and companionship and Susan George has truly been my guardian angel.
This day I feel truly blessed.
16 DAYS AND COUNTING

Well,  here we go, It's Jan. 17, 2007.  It has been a year since I started trying to get financing for my band.  My insurance (Aetna PPO) doesn't cover any form of weight loss surgery.  I tried applying through the finance companies, but that didn't work either.  It seemed as though nothing would work out for me with this and I truly was on the verge of giving up.  It was at this time Susan George, patient coordinator for Dr. Alvarez emailed me with some outstanding news......I had been approved for financing and could set my date!!!  That was last week.  Now, I have a date for Valentine's day (talk about self love lol) and I can't wait.  

I will do my best to keep this updated with everything that's going on.  Right now I'm just trying to get the paperwork completed, and the airline tickets purchased.  My best friend is going to travel with me and I'm so grateful she was able to take the time off.  My support system is very strong and I love each and everyone of them for believing in me.