linda.traxler
...and the wheels keep turning
Sep 09, 2008
Ok, so I'm continuing to try and do my food journaling and exercising. I got in a good hour walk at a fast pace on Saturday with the kids, pushing the baby in the stroller and Hannah on the riding board. Worked up a good sweat!
The food journaling i've had a bit of a lapse in, but from the short time I did it regularly and without fail shows me how exceedingly crucial it is in this process. It is so frightenly easy to forget what you eat, or just let it go out of your mind. Mindless eating I think is much more responsible to my obesity than I realize. Also, without question, weighing and measuring food is crucial. As a result of my carelessness 2.1 pounds up on the scale. Now, whether this is water or not, who knows. My weight fluctuates soooo much to water, so my guess all in all I'm still probably down 4 pounds. It's something.
This week has been SUPER stressful for me (even though it's only Wed.) Hannah started Kindergarden, we had a meeting with the parents that evening and subsequently left the children for the first time with a non-family member babysitter. Tuesday after dropping Hannah at kindergarden and Lukas at the Tagesmütter's I had to go and meet with the director of a 2nd elementary school I'll be teaching at. Then that evening we met with an internist who had to write a letter to the insurance company that I had no physiological reason for my obesity. He also did and echo, EKG and PFT. He wrote the letter while we were there, so I have it in hand and the only thing extra he wants me to do is to have a CXR. No big deal there. It was a relief to have this done because I didn't know what else he might want to do. He was a bit of a jerk though, not very communicative, I would not go back to him, but the objective of the visit was met!
Next week Monday I go to Salzburg for my appointments with a psychologist and nutritionist. The next day I have my first self help group which DH will go with me to incase I have communication problems, (it will, of course be in German). I'm good 1 on 1 but in a group when people start speaking fast or in dialect I have a little trouble. Then I go to the gyn the next day. It's my first visit. I'd like to get an IUD placed before surgery, but I'm sure that wiill take one more visit in addition to this one. Then, next week I get to go to the hospital mon. for blood work and Wed. for my EGD. Good grief will I be happy when the next 2 weeks of appointments are finished!!
After I have my letter from the psych visit ( I hope he writes it while we're there!!!) I'll submit all to insurance and should have approval through after a few days, then I can schedule my surgery!!! I hope it all goes through as I've been told it should.
Anyone reading this, keep your fingers crossed.
The food journaling i've had a bit of a lapse in, but from the short time I did it regularly and without fail shows me how exceedingly crucial it is in this process. It is so frightenly easy to forget what you eat, or just let it go out of your mind. Mindless eating I think is much more responsible to my obesity than I realize. Also, without question, weighing and measuring food is crucial. As a result of my carelessness 2.1 pounds up on the scale. Now, whether this is water or not, who knows. My weight fluctuates soooo much to water, so my guess all in all I'm still probably down 4 pounds. It's something.
This week has been SUPER stressful for me (even though it's only Wed.) Hannah started Kindergarden, we had a meeting with the parents that evening and subsequently left the children for the first time with a non-family member babysitter. Tuesday after dropping Hannah at kindergarden and Lukas at the Tagesmütter's I had to go and meet with the director of a 2nd elementary school I'll be teaching at. Then that evening we met with an internist who had to write a letter to the insurance company that I had no physiological reason for my obesity. He also did and echo, EKG and PFT. He wrote the letter while we were there, so I have it in hand and the only thing extra he wants me to do is to have a CXR. No big deal there. It was a relief to have this done because I didn't know what else he might want to do. He was a bit of a jerk though, not very communicative, I would not go back to him, but the objective of the visit was met!
Next week Monday I go to Salzburg for my appointments with a psychologist and nutritionist. The next day I have my first self help group which DH will go with me to incase I have communication problems, (it will, of course be in German). I'm good 1 on 1 but in a group when people start speaking fast or in dialect I have a little trouble. Then I go to the gyn the next day. It's my first visit. I'd like to get an IUD placed before surgery, but I'm sure that wiill take one more visit in addition to this one. Then, next week I get to go to the hospital mon. for blood work and Wed. for my EGD. Good grief will I be happy when the next 2 weeks of appointments are finished!!
After I have my letter from the psych visit ( I hope he writes it while we're there!!!) I'll submit all to insurance and should have approval through after a few days, then I can schedule my surgery!!! I hope it all goes through as I've been told it should.
Anyone reading this, keep your fingers crossed.
Maybe I'm a Sabateur?? What the heck is wrong with me?
Sep 01, 2008
SO, I don't know if my emotions are up and down simply because the summer is coming to an end, I'm going back to work next week, and my 3 year old is starting Kindergarten next week (this is normal here in Austria, they attend kindergarten from age 3-6) Without a doubt the thought of this procedure and ramifications of it 'eating after life' are often in my thoughts.
That being said, I've done my typical feeling excited and gung ho to lose weight prior to surgery and to show myself that I can commit to journaling food, counting cal. and nutritional content and to exercising. I did GREAT last week and lost 6 pounds (most of which, I'm certain was water weight). I'm just trying to figure out what happened between last week and the first week. The first week was text book. Last week, I journaled food only 2 out of 7 days. Exercised only 2 out of 7 days. Yes, I'm stressed because I need to prepare material for teaching, yes I'm stressed b/c of all the doctor appointments looming over my head. Yes, I'm stressed b/c I'm not finding time to study my German like I'd like to. But I can't let this ruin what I'm trying to accomplish.
I just posted on the RNY board for advice about resources for emotional eating. If one person writes back that maybe I'm not ready for this surgery, I'll probably fall apart. I HAVE to have this surgery, I CAN NOT LIVE LIKE THIS any longer!!
That being said, I'll try to dust myself off and leave my self imposed pity party and get back on track. At least I wrote down what I ate today. If nothing else, having actually done some food intake and emotional feeling analysis, there is no question that I feel rotten when I eat too much fat and simple carbs. I'm tired and I'm more hungry. I read on some post that eating simple carbs makes you hungry. WHY in 15 years of being so big did I never know this??
Oh, I' ve also notice as I've start reading the OH forums and analyzing my food intake that I feel bigger than ever and I feel like people are looking at me in disgust?? I don't think I'm clinically paranoid, so where in the world does this come from?? I noticed a picture from the school where I teach ESL of me from a presentation I gave at end of semester this past July and I look HUGE AS A HOUSE!! I am sooo disgusted with myself I can hardly stand it.
If anyone bothers reading this, thanks for listening....
Linda
That being said, I've done my typical feeling excited and gung ho to lose weight prior to surgery and to show myself that I can commit to journaling food, counting cal. and nutritional content and to exercising. I did GREAT last week and lost 6 pounds (most of which, I'm certain was water weight). I'm just trying to figure out what happened between last week and the first week. The first week was text book. Last week, I journaled food only 2 out of 7 days. Exercised only 2 out of 7 days. Yes, I'm stressed because I need to prepare material for teaching, yes I'm stressed b/c of all the doctor appointments looming over my head. Yes, I'm stressed b/c I'm not finding time to study my German like I'd like to. But I can't let this ruin what I'm trying to accomplish.
I just posted on the RNY board for advice about resources for emotional eating. If one person writes back that maybe I'm not ready for this surgery, I'll probably fall apart. I HAVE to have this surgery, I CAN NOT LIVE LIKE THIS any longer!!
That being said, I'll try to dust myself off and leave my self imposed pity party and get back on track. At least I wrote down what I ate today. If nothing else, having actually done some food intake and emotional feeling analysis, there is no question that I feel rotten when I eat too much fat and simple carbs. I'm tired and I'm more hungry. I read on some post that eating simple carbs makes you hungry. WHY in 15 years of being so big did I never know this??
Oh, I' ve also notice as I've start reading the OH forums and analyzing my food intake that I feel bigger than ever and I feel like people are looking at me in disgust?? I don't think I'm clinically paranoid, so where in the world does this come from?? I noticed a picture from the school where I teach ESL of me from a presentation I gave at end of semester this past July and I look HUGE AS A HOUSE!! I am sooo disgusted with myself I can hardly stand it.
If anyone bothers reading this, thanks for listening....
Linda
Surgical Consult complete
Aug 30, 2008
So, on Tuesday, 26 August, Hannes (my husband) and I drove to Salzburg (about 3 hours away) to meet with Dr. Karl Miller. My first impression of Dr. Miller was that he looked exhausted, on top of that, he looked very kind. He was punctual to the minute, went through my history, quickly noted I was a good candidate for RNY, went through the procedure in detail noting the differences between procedure here in Europe and in the U.S. One thing I really appreciated was his willingness to explain things in detail. He was extremely kind and open to questions. We spent a total of one hour with him and never felt rushed.
I have to have a psych test and meeting with the nutritionist which we scheduled there in Salzburg on the 15th of Sept. which they kindly scheduled together so we won't have to drive more than necessary. I also have to have an EGD which we have scheduled here on the 24th of September. I also had to present to the insurance company to see if they needed anything else before reviewing my case for approval. They want me to get a note from an internest saying I don't have any digestive problems, which is ludicrous, either he'll simply ask me questions, review labs and write a note from there, or he will make me go for a bunch of unnecessary tests. My one fear, that they would want a record of previous diet attempts fortunately didn't come to fruition. Thank goodness for that too as my records are in the U.S. and knowing how docs often document, I don't there is much record of anything!
I also saw my family doc the day after meeting with Dr. Miller, and she approves of everything. I'll see her this coming Wed. for an EKG and blood work, hopefully she can straighten out what we need from the internist or I'll see her husband(he happens to be an internist).
When I've seen the internist and the psych testing is complete I then send my things to the insurance company and she said I would hear back within a few days from then. So, if I get a letter from the psych immediately, I could have an answewr by 18th of Sept or so, and if I'm approved, I can call the hospital and schedule the bypass!!
I have to have a psych test and meeting with the nutritionist which we scheduled there in Salzburg on the 15th of Sept. which they kindly scheduled together so we won't have to drive more than necessary. I also have to have an EGD which we have scheduled here on the 24th of September. I also had to present to the insurance company to see if they needed anything else before reviewing my case for approval. They want me to get a note from an internest saying I don't have any digestive problems, which is ludicrous, either he'll simply ask me questions, review labs and write a note from there, or he will make me go for a bunch of unnecessary tests. My one fear, that they would want a record of previous diet attempts fortunately didn't come to fruition. Thank goodness for that too as my records are in the U.S. and knowing how docs often document, I don't there is much record of anything!
I also saw my family doc the day after meeting with Dr. Miller, and she approves of everything. I'll see her this coming Wed. for an EKG and blood work, hopefully she can straighten out what we need from the internist or I'll see her husband(he happens to be an internist).
When I've seen the internist and the psych testing is complete I then send my things to the insurance company and she said I would hear back within a few days from then. So, if I get a letter from the psych immediately, I could have an answewr by 18th of Sept or so, and if I'm approved, I can call the hospital and schedule the bypass!!
Actually on track
Aug 23, 2008
So, here I am 1 week into my self prescribed diet in effort to lose 2 pounds per week. I am please to announce it has gone quite well. I've managed to journal everything I've put into my mouth over the last week, and am proud to say that for 6 of the last 7 days I was below my max caloric intake goal of 2340 (some days well under this). The day I was over it was only by 250. More improtantly, I exercised 60 min. on 3 of the last 7 days. I took the kids to the park which is a good 30 min. walk one way and is a little bit hilly so I really get my heart rate up. Goooo me!!
I have my consultation with Herr Dr. Miller in Salzburg (4 hours by train from us) on Tuesday. My husband suggested the train rather than driving even though it's an hour longer so we'll have a stress free trip, we'll go early and wonder about the old town of Salzburg and then see Dr. Miller in the evening. Tomorrow I'll type up a rather extensive list of questions I have for him.
Goals for the coming week:
1. Continue staying under 2340 cal per day.
2. 3 days or more of exercise
3. Continue to decrease soda consumption. (made some progress here this week, but need to continue) 1 glass cola light in the A.M. 1 day other diet soda in the afternoon.
4. No more simple carbs in the form of white bread!!
5. Weigh in tomorrow (sunday)
6. Make appt. with gyn for Mirena insertion
I have my consultation with Herr Dr. Miller in Salzburg (4 hours by train from us) on Tuesday. My husband suggested the train rather than driving even though it's an hour longer so we'll have a stress free trip, we'll go early and wonder about the old town of Salzburg and then see Dr. Miller in the evening. Tomorrow I'll type up a rather extensive list of questions I have for him.
Goals for the coming week:1. Continue staying under 2340 cal per day.
2. 3 days or more of exercise
3. Continue to decrease soda consumption. (made some progress here this week, but need to continue) 1 glass cola light in the A.M. 1 day other diet soda in the afternoon.
4. No more simple carbs in the form of white bread!!
5. Weigh in tomorrow (sunday)
6. Make appt. with gyn for Mirena insertion
Self imposed pre-op diet and self pity
Aug 19, 2008
O.K., so I've decided to go ahead and journal my thoughts out here for God and everyone, but primarily, I am keeping this for myself. Since Sunday, I have been tracking my caloric intake as well as my exercise on the daily plate.com. I calculated my metalolic rate and caloric need at my current weight and then calculated how many calories I need to consume to lose approx. 2lbs per week. This turns out to be 2371 cal. When I ponder that, I am flored at how many calories I've been consuming over the past years and it takes a whopping 3371 calories to simply MAINTAIN my weight. YIKES!! Anyway, that's neither here nor there anymore.
I am proud to say for the last 3 days I've come in under this 2371 cal needed to lose 2 lbs per week AND I've exercised an hour or more the last 3 of 4 days. This has been in part a result of beautiful weather and the fact that they have a new playground in our little town that my children absolutely love! It's half an hour walk one direction and I'm pushing my son in the stroller and my daughter is 'riding on' the stroller (we have an attached ride-on board) most of the time. It's felt really good. I'm feeling a bit of renewed energy on don't know where it's coming from. Perhaps from the fact I have my consultation in a little under a week, and I now the future holds a real tool to end this disease!!!
The renewed energy lasted until today. It seems the exercise and decreased caloric intake have caught up to me. I also made the collosal mistake of eathing a high carb breakfast. I have been exhausted all morning and hungry. I've noticed many people note on the OH forums that carbs often leave you feeling hungry, I think I'm beginning to see that for myself. I shall try nevertheless to maintain the calories and take a walk tonite.
I am proud to say for the last 3 days I've come in under this 2371 cal needed to lose 2 lbs per week AND I've exercised an hour or more the last 3 of 4 days. This has been in part a result of beautiful weather and the fact that they have a new playground in our little town that my children absolutely love! It's half an hour walk one direction and I'm pushing my son in the stroller and my daughter is 'riding on' the stroller (we have an attached ride-on board) most of the time. It's felt really good. I'm feeling a bit of renewed energy on don't know where it's coming from. Perhaps from the fact I have my consultation in a little under a week, and I now the future holds a real tool to end this disease!!!
The renewed energy lasted until today. It seems the exercise and decreased caloric intake have caught up to me. I also made the collosal mistake of eathing a high carb breakfast. I have been exhausted all morning and hungry. I've noticed many people note on the OH forums that carbs often leave you feeling hungry, I think I'm beginning to see that for myself. I shall try nevertheless to maintain the calories and take a walk tonite.
About Me
Laßnitzhöhe,
Location
30.9
BMI
Jul 30, 2008
Member Since
