ObesityHelp

My name is Michelle and I am sick of being overweight! Everytime I think about how wonderful my life is, I say "except that i'm overweight"....I want to be completely happy, and am sick of thinking that I will just have to be this way the rest of my life. I have 3 children and the most awesome husband in the world...and I want to be around for a long time...so therefore I have to get healthy! Right now, I have no medical problems, but I am sure they are to come if I stay this weight.....I currently weigh 240 lbs...I had a little baby girl in April, and have lost all of the baby weight, this is just xtra weight that I have had for a while.
I was surfing the web a while back, when I was pregnant, and found out about the Lap Band...It sounded so great to me! But since I was pregnant, I had to wait.......so, had my daughter, saw some bad photos of me, and decided it was time to do something about my weight.
I first thought about WW, but got real with myself and knew that it wasn't going to work....
I am an RN, and know the risks of surgery etc...so that is why I chose the Lap Band over RNY.....I have 3 children and would not put myself through that risky of a surgery, when there was something safer out there.....My husband was behind me 110%....he said he would support whatever it is I wanted to do...and he had no problem with the fact that we would have to self pay....never ever ever has my husband...in the 12 years I have known him said ANYTHING about my weight...and I have been overweight the entire time.

So, I went to the seminar at South Valley Surgical Center....found out that my insurance PEHP won't pay....written exclusion....and got the money to self pay.......went to my pre-op classes...chose Dr. Hansen...and was on my way. No pre-op liquid diet etc....had my surgery on July 11th, 2005....I am on my way to a healthy life!

7/11/05 Surgery went just as planned...no problems at all...took about an hour. Dr. Hansen said that I was "not very thick" in the belly, so my port may stick out a bit....wow! never in my life has someone said that I am not very thick....but I do carry most of my weight below the belt...so i'm plenty thick...just not right there :)!
My surgery was outpatient...arrived at about 5:30am and left by noon. I was involved in a nausea study medication, so I had to go a bit early and stay a little later.

7/18/05 whew! just had my last day of clear liquids! Thank goodness!! I am so proud of myself for doing it...I never "cheated" either...was glad to move on to some protein drinks....I tried a bunch, but found Unjury to be the BEST tasting! Go to www.Unjury.com to order some....I like the vanilla the best.

7/25/05 Had my 2 week check up...all looks great! Incisions are healing fine..and I have lost 15 lbs in 2 weeks....crazy! I am feeling just great right now, getting in lots of protein.....starting on the mushies...yumm!! I can see a difference in my face and how my clothes fit...I took my measurements so I can track them...wish I would have taken them 2 weeks ago...oops.

8/12/05 Well, have been on mushies and liquids for 5 weeks now, and today is my first day of solid food....kind of scary!! Haven't lost much weight...still at 16 lb loss, but like they say...anything you lose while "healing" is a bonus....have my first fill on Tuesday!! Yeah!!

9/1/05 Ok, haven't updated like I thought I would...had my first fill 2 weeks ago...2cc's in my 4cc band. I feel like my restriction is just right so far....I feel full for a long time when I eat the right foods...if I am hungry, I look back and it is because I ate something like yogurt or something that doesn't stick around for that long. I am down 20 lbs now and feeling better than ever. It is so amazing what -20 lbs can do for you. I feel like I am already a more fun and energetic mom...my clothes are hanging on me so much nicer...not sticking against my butt! I haven't had to squat down and stretch my tshirt out over my legs to stretch it out for a while now!! I find that sometimes I am having a hard time getting my water in, because I am so paranoid about drinking within 1-2 hours of eating....that is something i am trying to work on...also, sometimes I don't think I am getting in 1000-1200 calories...yikes! I am going to go to fitday.com and figure it out for sure...because I don't want to be in "starvation mode"..I hear you don't lose that way, so that also is a goal of mine.....well, I will update later......my oldest son started Kindergarten last week and my middle son started preschool....so weird to have them gone...but they are having a great time....I think I will just put my baby down for a nap, and use that time to exercise!!....yet another goal!