Jenn K

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11/2/06 (178) I had my 6-month checkup last night (at 7 months). I was right that I hadn't lost a pound last month, but the doctor said it was normal. At 170 pounds, I will have lost 85% of my excess weight. Dr. Y said that I might lose 20-30 more pounds over the next 6-9 months, if that. Depressing, but realistic, I guess. I need to work harder to get to where I want to be.

11/6/06 (175) I lost a few pounds!!! I think. I ate a few too many tortilla chips this weekend. I felt guilty until I got on the scale this morning. Maybe I just needed to shake things up a bit. I went dress shopping with my Mom on Sunday and tried on a non-stretchy satin dress in a size 14 and it fit! I also tried on some stretchy size 12s and they looked good. I was getting such a high being in Macy's and knowing that I could try on pretty much anything in the store. Its a good thing I don't have a lot of money, or else I might be in a bit of trouble.

11/13/06 (172) I lost weight! And I didn't get on the scale at all last week! I was a good girl and waited until Monday. But I feel like I ate more this week, so maybe that helped me. I was feeling the guilt, but I'm ok about it now. 34 inch waist, baby!!


11/20/06 (173 or 174) Ahh, another Monday morning. Its that time of the month (started yesterday) so I am up about 2 pounds or so in water weight. I went to the gym 3x last week, so I am hoping to make that goal again this week. Which will have to be done today tomorrow and Wed. b/c I'm going to Vegas for Thanksgiving. Well, Wed. will have to be a no-gym day too. I have to take the dogs to the kennel and go to a birthday party. Eating has been good this week. Need to lay off the sugar a little bit. I have been craving crunchy stuff and coffee. I am going to try not to drink any coffee for the rest of the week.

11/27/06 (171) I got turkey for thanksgiving! We went to Vegas, I drank too many Starbucks, had a glass of wine with dinner (kinda violated the no drinking while eating rule), and took a lot of hot baths in the hotel room. even after a weekend of what I would call "indulging", I ended up losing weight. I don't think I got my protein goals each day, which is a first for me. I am definately taking protein on my Christmas vacation to Atlanta. I'll just have to put it in my checked luggage.

10/4/06 (177) I went to the gym last night to find it closed. But, instead of pouting and going home, I walked on the outdoor track for about a mile, then went home and walked the dogs another mile. I'm proud of myself. I must stay off the scale. And now that I have 2 scales in my house (sale at Target), I must not use them both. I will make myself insane!!

10/12/06 (176) Hi everyone! I'm back from vacation visiting my family in Atlanta. It seems I got there just in time. I got to celebrate my sister's birthday, do a plaster cast of her pregnant belly (that was so much fun!), and see her have the baby! Her water broke at home on October 8 and she had the baby via C-section at 4:43PM on October 9 after 20 hours of labor. If you'd like to see pictures, they're here: http://web.mac.com/jennkimberly/iWeb/Baby/Welcome.html

10/13/06 (176) I am about to make my appointment for my six month checkup, so I did some math. I weighed 239 at surgery. I needed to lose 85 pounds to be at a normal BMI. For the higest weight in a normal BMI, I need to reach 154. I am now at 176, twenty-two pounds from a normal BMI. I have lost 75% of my excess weight, based on that highest allowed weight, not my personal goal) in the first 6 months. (if I did the math correctly). My goal is to reach 145 pounds and see how my body is doing. That is 9 pounds under the high range and 31 pounds from now. For me, a normal BMI is from 116-154 (BIG RANGE!)

10/16/06 (180) I saw the PCM today and got on their slider-scale. While it was incredibly entertaining to watch them put the big one on 150 for the first time since high school, it still read 180 (adjusted for clothes and beverages already). I think I am pretty sure now that my Target digital scale is a piece of crap. It read 173.5 this morning. My non-digital scale said 179. I think I should just stick with that one. Even though the digital one makes me feel better. The doctor referred me to a general surgeon for what he is pretty sure is a fissure. I will probably have to have colon surgery soon and I am NOT jazzed about that. I know it could be worse, but having a fissure sucks, no bones about it.

10/19/06 (no idea) I am boycotting my scale until I can get my butt back into the gym. But last night I bought a pair of size 10 Dockers! The non-stretchy kind!! You should have seen the shock on my face. I almost didn't try them on, but I wanted to see how far I had to go until they would fit! Unreal..

10/24/06 (177) I am up a few pounds because of my period, but I'm not sweating it. Today is gym day anyway, so I know I'll feel better tonight. I went to support group last night to the "newbies" meeting. I go to help people out, but tonight I got another strong vibe of being talked down to. I am sure it felt worse for the pre-ops, but I got a bad taste in my mouth nonetheless. I think I'll stick to the general meetings and the eating issues meetings. Now for measurements. I didn't go all of them, but my waist is down to a 35 and my bust is a 36. That felt good. I always knew the bust was my widest area because I have a broad back. Well, not so much anymore! Oh, and I am on the lookout for a red dress for Christmas. I haven't tried on a non-stretchy dress in a while. Maybe I will be in a sz 10 dress for Christmas!

10/27/06 (179) Up 2 more pounds from my period (I hope), which ended yesterday. I'm hoping I can get some water weight off befoe my 6-month checkup next Wednesday. My loss has slowed to a standstill. I have lost 13 pounds in the last 3 months, this month, I've gained 2 pounds. I think it just kind of hit me that I feel like this "lifestyle" will only allow me to maintain, not lose anymore. What if my body is supposed to be at 180 pounds forever? Oh, and I went running for the first time at the gym on Wednesday. I'm still sore b/c I lifted weights right afterward. Note to self, don't do that anymore.

10/30/06 (177) Well, I lost 2 pounds of period weight. How depressing. I worked HARD last week! Exercise 3x, 100g of protein per day, 100oz of water (at least) per day. What else can I do?! I cut out carbs, that didn't help, I added back in carbs, that didn't help. I tried to eat more, that just made me feel sick, I tried to eat less, and that just made me feel tired. And to top it all off, my shoulder pain is back. I had to take a Vicodin on Saturday night and promptly passed out. I was trying to think of something that I am thankful for to post on the message board and I couldn't think of a damn thing. That is sad. I want to be a size 8 by Christmas. I am saying it here. I have 8 weeks from today.

9-4-06 (186) Well, no loss this week. Last week I was on my period and I gained either 2 or 7 pounds, depending on whose scale you trust. I lost all that and am now back where I started. I hate stalls! I also hate hemorrhoids. I have 2, according to the base doctor, who told me that "people with a lot of belly fat tend to get these." Jerk. He put me on a cream and colace. No idea how long this is going to last, but it sucks. Lately, I have been getting stomach cramps in the morning when I wake up and then shortly after I eat. It concerns me, so I need to call Dr. Y about it.

9-7-06 (184) well, I saw the surgeon yesterday. The base doctor not only misdiagnosed me, but gave me a medicine that will actually make my problems worse. Nice, huh? According to the surgeon, I have a fissure, which hopefully, will heal itself over time. He put me on mag citrate every day along with the colace for the fissure. For my tummy problems, he put me on prevacid for 90 days and on carafate for 2 weeks. I complained about how the carafate made it hard for me to eat and drink, as the label says to take it 2 hours after eating and 1 before and after drinking anything. With all those hours to wait around, I wasn't getting in any water or food. He said to ignore the label and just take a swig 4x a day. When I asked him what he thought it was, he said, "Well, it isn't an ulcer, hernia, or stricture. And the pain is in the wrong place for it to be a gallbladder. If it is anything, it might be an erosion." So, if I'm not better in 2 weeks, I have to go back for an upper GI.

9-8-06 (186) back up to 186 again today. I need to lay off the scale Seriously.

9-18-06 (184) Well, I went to the gym once in the past two weeks, and now I'm down 2 pounds. This is telling me something. I am vowing to go back to the gym at least 3x a week. I want to get into size 12's comfortably!

9-20-06 (184) I am no longer Obese!! It snuck up on me. I now have a BMI of 29.6 and am considered moderately overweight!! Holy crap! Only 30 more pounds to go until I m officially "Normal". Well, weight-wise anyway. I wonder if I can make it by New Year's? That's 102 days away, 14 weeks. I'd have to lose 2 pounds a week. That might be pushing it at the rate my body is going.

9-23-06 (183) I bought a size 10 skirt today! Check it out!! I actually danced around in the dressing room. Thanks Liz!!

9-25-06 (181) Woohoo, 2 more pounds down baby! I'm not sure if this one is going to last, but we'll see on Friday. Repeat after me, "Must go to the gym 3 times this week."

9/30/06 (178.5) Maybe this gym stuff actually works. Hahahah! AND I went dancing last night. I hope it made up for not going to the gym yesterday. I was sweating in front of an A/C vent, so maybe I really did get in some good exercise. I'm on the right!

8-3-08 (190?) I feel like hell. I had a little spaghetti for lunch today and a few bites of SF ice cream. My office was having a rootbeer float paty and they went to the trouble of getting SF ice cream for me, so I had a few bites. No rootbeer though. For the rest of the afternoon, I felt Awful. I was dizzy, sleepy, shaky, uncoordinated and distracted. Nothing that felt like dumping (sweating,crampy, hot flashes) but I hate it just the same. It was enough to turn me off of eating pasta and milky stuff for the forseeable future. On top of this, I'm PMS'ing and the cramps are radiating to my back. Why do I have such a hard time getting in all my water when I'm on my period?

8-4-06 (189) Woohoo! Finally broke into the 180's! Feelin' good. Feelin' bald.

8-8-06 (189) I know you guys are the only folks that will understand this. I lost 15 pounds before surgery. I am now 4 months post-op and have lost an additional 50 pounds. I only lose 1-2 pounds a week and that frustrates me. I don't have weeks where I lose more, and I don't have weeks where I lose less (although this one might turn out like that). Back when I was dieting pre-op, I would lose at the same rate. I'm not understanding why my body is working this way. I get in maybe 1000 calories a day, sometimes 1200. Doesn't your body need at least that to function normally? If I am using more calories than I'm taking in (exponentially) I want to know why I'm not losing more, or losing differently. Sometimes I eat more calories in a day and less the next day, just to keep the body guessing so it won't hold onto the fat, but that isn't working. I get 90oz a day and 80-100g of protein a day. I exercise 3x a week. I know rationally that I should stop looking at everyone else's loss. I know we are all different. Maybe it is a trade-off. In exchange for never throwing up or getting sick from any foods, I will have to lose slower. :shrug: I'm just feeling down about it. I hate that I am one of those people that pissed me off when I was pre-op. Here I sit whining about my loss. I lost 65 pounds since February! I should be happy! But I still feel like a fat-ass, and I get all pissy when I read all the, "I'm 7 months out and at goal!" posts. Those people can bite me. No, that's mean. Its just the jealousy talking. My apologies to the successful people.

8-25-06 (186) I just got back from a 10 day cruise last night. The scale this morning was kind to me, I guess. Losing 3 pounds in 2 weeks sounds kind of shoddy, but with the way I have been eating and not drinking water, it figures. today is a new leaf. Lots of protein and water, no carbs!
waist: 44 42 38
hips: 51 47 42.5
bust: 47.5 45.5 43
chest: 46 41 39
R arm: 15.5 14 13.5
L arm: 16 14 13
R thigh: 27 24.5 24
L thigh: 26.5 25 23
R calf: 17 17 16
L calf: 17.5 17 16

7-5-06 (197) Happy Independence Day! I ate watermelon, read two books, and watched fireworks. Although I admit that part of me wanted to make deviled eggs and grill pork tenderloin, I decided to wait until tonight to do that. I get to see my parents in mid-August, and I can't wait to see their faces. I went shopping in a normal store in the mall and discovered that I have no sense of style. I'm so used to just wearing what fits that I realized I don't really have a personal "style". I will have to bring friends for help next time I go shopping. But I bought all size 16s and found out they were too lose when I wore them the next day. So, back to the store for some 14s! Crazy. Everyone keeps telling me that I look different, especially in the face. Maybe I will see it someday soon. I had been having some weird pains in my heart area when I ate. I told the Dr. about it and he prescribed carafate (which the pharmacy is still trying to get in), but it hasn't happened since I called them. Why is that always the case? Anyway, I think it might have been from not chewing well, or maybe because my chicken was too dry or something along those lines. Either way, I am glad to have the carafate.
7-14-06 (195) Had my 3 month check up and everything looks good. I am all healthy and I am to start taking Thiamine to aid in my hairloss situation. Hopefully that will start to stem soon. I am working out 4x a week, loving it, and I am finally comfortable in pictures. :)
7-17-06 (194) Today is my 3-month surgiversary and I have lost............ 60 pounds! Only 49 more pounds to go to my personal goal! I have gone from a tight size 20 to loose 14s. I tied my shoes from the front yesterday! I am now at my wedding weight, my lowest adult weight ever. My next mini-goal is 180, 14 pounds away. I am going on an Alaskan cruise in 29 days. Hopefully I will be doing so much exercise on the boat, I won't gain any weight. I am hoping to even lose weight! I asked for the low-fat menu and I am planning on making my first foray into eating cooked fish. I am losing about 2 pounds a week, more or less. My only big issue is trouble with clothing and shopping. And I am never able to get in all my vitamins and water on the weekends. I've got to work on that. 7-24-06 (192) I went shopping at the outlet mall, spent less than $100, and came home with some new shirts. I was beginning to hate getting dressed in the morning, but all is well now. Mmm, shopping therapy. I'm still sticking with the 2 pounds a week, which I'm pretty happy with. i tried a little movie theater popcorn last night and felt really good about it. It was yummy, and I could stop without eating the whole bag. What is it about movie theaters that make you want to munch? Anyway, my husband's birthday was last Wednesday and his mom brought a HUGE sheet cake over here. I was like, "all this for just you two?" And she said, "well you could take it to work and he can eat it for dessert every night this week." Yeah, he's trying to lose weight too (but you know he ate it!). So, I was surrounded by cake at home and at work for a week. But I didn't try any. Not even one piece. =) I bought a Senseo coffee maker and have been putting IDS vanilla cinnamon protein powder in it. Really Good! Like nectar of the gods, haha. Ciao!
7-27-06 (191) I only have about 7 pounds left until I am considered "overweight" and not obese! Holy crap! 7-31-06 (190) It is almost August! I think I'll be in the 180's by Friday, crossing fingers. While we were on our walk last night, it was soo nice and cool and breezy. It just made me lust for fall. I am sick and tired of this 100+ deg heat. My mom is bringing me a bunch of pants to try on when she comes to visit on the 11th. I just really don't have a whole lot to say. Good thing too, because it is time to go to work.

6-2-06 (208) New month, new weight. I am down a pound this week. I'm feeling for grateful for every ounce that comes off. I know its going to be slow and I think I have begun to accept that. I've been doing the water aerobics, (even though I skipped last night) and I'm enjoying it for the most part. All the "old ladies" in the group are pretty mean to the younger people. Not sure why, but that is the only part of the class that makes me uncomfortable. Oh, and I bought a food scale.

6-4-06 (208) I was finding myself writing a lot to a friend of mine who just had surgery, and I am going to copy the e-mails here because they are full of stuff I'm experiencing now, plus tips for her! -- Hey girl! How was the hospital? (sarcasm) I'm doing awesome, although my eyes are still bigger than my stomach and I always make too much food. I'm down 28 since surgery (44 from highest) and people are starting to notice. Not me, of course, but people. =) Last night was the best support group meeting I have ever been to. Everyone was very cool (It was a newbie meeting) and not condescending at all. That is the one thing that usually puts me off of these meetings. You should come next tuesday. We are doing a clothing/protein exchange and it is an EXCELLENT chance to get some new clothes. Trust me. I am looking forward to trying some new proteins b/c the ones I have are boring the snot out of me! -- Hey girl, told you about those beds! Hahah, they were killer for me too. The head hunger didn't get me as bad, I was just spending my time struggling to drink. Those Isopure in bottles saved me. The first two weeks were murder. I got so sick of everything being sweet! Jello, popsicles, crystal lite.... the thing that kept me sane was chicken broth. Make it with bouillon granules and then season the hell out of it with whatever spices you love. I was taking centrum chewables from day one, so I'm not sure about the liquid vitamin thing. I'm about to order some bariatric advantage multis from the website because they are so much better than anything else that I have found. You should make the drive out for the exchange on Tuesday. I know its a long haul, but I went to the first one and it was worth it. A lot of the clothes will be too big for you to wear, but you never know what you'll find. Are you feeling better today? I wanted to go to the Craig Park gathering in LA on Saturday, but hubby and I are going to Santa Barbara instead. I remember on the first day of week 3 we went to Outback and I ate cream of broccli soup. Their onion cream is good too. I was so happy to be in a restaurant and feel normal again. Oh! I almost forgot. On week 3, make yourself some SF pudidng but mix in some unflavored protein powder with the milk before you all the pudding packet (if you get the big box, use 3 scoops of powder in with the milk. It looks gross, but the chocolate takes the smell away). 10+ g of protein per 1/4 cup. And you can take it on the go. I used that to put my prevacid in. My incision leaked for about 2 days and that was it. That drain pulling thing is pretty funky, huh? ;-) -- Hey you! I'm doing pretty good, getting in all my protein, most of my water, but I still feel like I eat too much and I haven't lost enough weight. I am down 31 pounds and tomorrow begins my 8th week. I didn't puree jack crap. I chewed the hell out of everything, including cottage cheese, which felt weird. But that first week of soft foods I was so sick of protein drinks that I didn't have them, thus not getting enough protein. =( You know what I loved? A 7 layer burrito from Taco Bell without rice and lettuce. It took 2 meals to eat the filling, and I threw away the tortilla. Actually I ate about half of the filling and threw the whole rest away, but it was worth $1.79 to me. Try the Blue Raspberry Isopure. I love it. And the Apple kind looks pretty in a martini glass and makes you feel more normal at parties. (just a tip) I wasn't brave at all in the beginning with the experimenting, but it is getting better. I just got hooked on Tacos al Carbon from El Pollo Loco and Rubios. $1 meals are my friend! =) I couldn't taste the unflavored protein in my pudding at all, once the chocolate pudding stuff was poured in. But it looks gross when you're mixing it with milk... kinda like Elmer's glue. (just so you know) When I was cleared for soft foods, hubby took me to Outback and I ate the soup that came with his meal. What kind of food can you eat at the camp out? Pretty much everything I ate at that stage had to be refrigerated. Can you bring a huge cooler? I went back to work early too. I was so bored, but then again, I wasn't really exercising that early out. I am now though. Water aerobics 3x a week and weight room 1x a week. I feel great! I had to go buy a new swimsuit. My old one was sagging in the ass too much. =) As far as me... I think I am eating too much food, too often, and stuff that is too high in fat. They say not to worry about fat this early b/c it doesn't absorb and you "pass" it all out anyway. Speaking of which, DO NOT scrimp on your water as you go into soft foods. I did and ended up painfully constipated and going home from work in the middle of the day to... solve my problems. I bled and everything. Not fun. But as soon as I increased my water intake, all was well. My calories are between 700-1200 a day, which is good. I didn't worry about calories or fat until last week or so.. when I could start eating "normal" foods. I have been charting what I eat on fitday.com, which is a bit obsessive, but I like it. I also keep a notebook next to the fridge and write down what I eat and how much protein is in it. This has helped a LOT! That way I know if I need a protein drink before bed or not. I would highly recommend this. P.S.-- That is all for the e-mails. My friend is doing really well and I am so proud of her! It really helps me to be able to give advice to someone who is "newer" than me. So, if anyone is interested, I highly recommend becoming an angel to someone. It helps both of you tremendously!! 6-12-06 (204) After getting my period and going back on hormonal birth control after being off of it for 1.5 years, I feel like doo doo lately. I gained a pound for my period (which I expected) and then lost it plus one more the week after it was over. I thought I would drop more, but alas, no. I have been working out 5x a week religiouly though, so things are going well. I want to put in a call to my nutritionist and go over what I'm eating, just for my own edification, mind you. 6-20-06 (201) I am getting my hair cut today! Its looking all scraggly on the ends and all the baby hairs growning in at the top look ridiculous. So, maybe a shorter haircut will do the trick. I'm not going all Felicity or anything (although I have been urged to), but maybe something along the lines of... 6-23-06 (199) That's right, I BROKE 200 POUNDS! I had to pee this morning at 5:40 and I decided to get one the scale while I was in there. It bobbled between 198 and 199 and I almost jumped up and down with glee. What's right, I said glee! Now that I'm up early, I decided to update my journal with this historic day. I now weigh less than any one person In my entire family! I am now the skinny one! I can't believe it!

5-3-06 (217) Well, I went to my 2 week appointment today at the Dr.s office. I am down 22 pounds by their scale and feeling great! All my incisions are healed except for one big scabby one. I am cleared to go swimming, go back to work, and I am on the way to good health. I have been getting in all the required protein and water and feeling so happy to eat things like cottage cheese and creamy soups! We went out to Outback last night and I ate half of the soup that came with my hubby's dinner and I was all good. It felt nice to be normal in a restaurant again. Oddly, I have been craving a peanut butter and banana sandwich, which I never used to eat. Weird. The first two weeks dragged by, but time now seems to be going fater. Once I am back at work, it will go even faster and that makes me happy. I just want to feel normal again; which I do, for the most part. I am back to wearing wedding-era clothes! My wardrobe is getting some use again! WooHoo!

5-16-06 (211 pounds) Tomorrow is my one month anniversary and so far I am down 28 pounds. I decided to go by my starting weight at my last pre-op Dr visit. It was getting too confisug changing the cumulative weight loss by scale/date/clothed, etc. I went to water aerobics last night and I thought it would be much harder than it actualy was. I'm not even sore (is that supposed to be the point?) So, I am debating giving it another try, or just going to the gym and doing some cardio and some weights tonight. But I am really proud of myself for going and I feel a lot better being out of the house more. Now that season finales are winding to a clase, I will be spending more time out of my house. I can admit it, I'm a TV junkie. I got my degree in it for chrissakes! I had to go shopping for some shirts to wear to work. i also went through my drawers and pulled out a lot of huge t-shirts that can either be altered and worn again, or tossed. I really need to go through my good clothes and take some stuf to the alterations shop. Hey, its cheaper than replacing everything. I'm still not in regular sizes yet, but I am in a 1X and I'm rounding the corner to an XL! As soon as I can it comfortably into my size 16 jeans, I will go into a regualr store and see what fits. As far as food goes, I am doing really well. I haven't gotten sick on anything, I even tried a wheat thin yesterday! I made a kick-ass veggie/tofu lasagna and I've been eating on it since Sunday. Next time, I'll make less. I even got in 104 g of protein yesterday! (But I'm still losing a lot of hair) Until I get the updating bug again!!

5-22-06 (211) I have this figured out. I only lose weight every OTHER week. Grrrr. Talk about delayed gratification. How annoying. I so look forward to Mondays when I can get on the scale. And to have it be siting in the same exact place as last week bugs me. Maybe next week it will have dropped 6 pounds like it did last week. At least I'm going to water aerobics.

5-28-06 (209) I thought I would take my measurements to make myself feel better. waist: 44 42
hips: 51 47
bust: 47.5 45.5
chest: 46 41
R arm: 15.5 14
L arm: 16 14
R thigh: 27 24.5
L thigh: 26.5 25
R calf: 17 17
L calf: 17.5 17
For a total of 22 inches!

4-14-06 (235 naked) I went to Atlanta to visit my family last week. It went really well, I ate 3 meals a day, but I tried to make good food choices and it turns out that I lost a pound or two. Weird. Today I am going to for my last nutritionist appointment and to get my final bloodwork done. My mom is in town and she's going to stay with me until the 25th to help me out. Hubby couldn't get any time off work to go with me to the hospital on Monday, so Mom is stepping up. I am going to work in the yard today and try to get my garden back in shape so I have something pretty to look at while I am swinging on my swing.
Surgery is on Monday, 8AM. Here are my pre-op measurements:
waist: 44
hips: 51
bust: 47.5
chest: 46
R arm: 15.5
L arm: 16
R thigh: 27
L thigh: 26.5
R calf: 17
L calf: 17.5

4-20-06 (no idea) Home from surgery and very tired. I just don't feel up tp typing my whole surgery story. I am getting lightheaded just sitting here in the computer chair. But I hated the hospital bed, it hurt my tailbone which now hurts more than my incisions. I had one nurse Ratchett, but the rest were pretty good. I am sipping, walking and resting. And that's about IT.
4-25-06 (219) I am down 13 pounds in one week... going by my scale. I think the Dr.s scare is higher, but as long as I know the difference, I should be fine. I feel Tons better. No problems breathing, my steri strips are coming off one by one, I have more energy. I am still taking a nap every day, but today's nap was really short. I am able to sleep on my stomach again, which is so great because my ribs were hurting from sleeping on my side. And my ass feels so boney! I know it isn't, not yet, but it feels like it. Maybe I bruised something in the hospital. I'm getting so tired of broth and water and crystal light. And I cannot eat another bite of jello. Sugar free popsicles are my friend. Everything just seems so sweet! I miss the salty!I really want to be in the next phase of this diet, not because I miss food, but because I am so bored with the limited variety! I need to keep myself entertained so that I am not interested in food.

3-9-06 (239 naked) I have lost the weight I needed to to be approved for surgery! I had my psych eval on 3-8 and when I showed up the the Dr.'s office they were closed. I had to call and hear on their voicemail that he wasn't coming in that day. No one called to reschedule my appointment and I was SO PISSED! I called Dr. Yadegar's office and complained to Liz, who told me to come over. When I got there, she gave me a big hug and told me that Donna would do my psych eval, right then and there. I was so happy I think I did a little dance. So, I am now certifiably Sane. The bad news is that I found out today that I have type-2 diabetes. My mom and grandfather have it, so I kinda knew it was coming, but I always thought I was a "healthy fat person". Guess not, huh? Well, on the upside, it qualifies me to have Tricare pay for my surgery. So, the nervousness has not set in yet. I am still wondering if that April 11 date is set in stone. But hey, even if it isn't, I have reached a point where I am feeling more "go-with-the-flow". After my little psych eval. breakdown, I realized I was holding on too tight. I said to myself, "You qualify for surgery, both by the NIH standards and the Tricare standards. Your wish that you've held on to since you were a little girl is about to come true. You are going to be skinnier." I feel good today.

3-14-06 (243 clothed) I had my endoscopy today. The only bad part about it was the IV insertion. But I think it was bad only because I didn't know what to expect. I've never had an IV before. They had a hard time finding a vein in my right arm. The drugs were cool and I remember seeing everything get fuzzy, then nothing. I was "stoned" for about 30 minutes after I woke up. Best nap I ever had! Once I got into the car and we had driven about a block, I had the worst cramps! I thought I was ovulating, but these pains were sharp and pretty bad. Turns out, it was gas from the procedure. Now I am dreading the gas pains from the WLS! Anyway, I hand-carried my results over to my surgeon's office and he called me about 20 minutes or so later. He said that I needed a prescription for prilosec and then asked me how I felt about having surgery on Monday. As in, 6 days from now! My heart lept into my throat and I almost said yes. I completely forgot about my planned vacation to Atlanta on April 5. So, I had to tell him no, but that I was still hoping for April 11 when I return from my trip. They are going to call me when they get approval from Tricare and then I can call my mom and tell her she can go ahead and buy plane tickets. It feels real now.

3-20-06 (237 naked) Well, I got my first denial letter in the mail from Tricare. Evidently it was a clerical error somewhere along the line and nothing major. My surgeon's office has corrected it and I am now waiting the requisite 24-72 hours to find out if I am approved. I also went for my diabetes meeting with the PCP today. It freaked me out! They don't want to put me on any drugs until they see what the surgery does to my diabetes. Cool. Hubby hates t watch me prick my finger. Heh.

3-27-06 (235 naked) Approved!!! Tricare has approved me after the Dr's office submitted the correct packet on 3-23. I used to be condemning them every day and now I am singing their praises! Goooo Tricare! I have also lost another 2 pounds this week, even though I cheated on my pre-op diet a little. I had 3/4 of a calzone on Friday and it was SO good. I tried not to feel guilty either. And on Saturday, I ate all 3 meals instead of just one and 2 protein shakes. I did feel bad about that one. But I didn't eat junk! My mom and grandmother are going to fly out to California from Georgia to take care of me and then go out and explore a little bit once I am feeling better. I haven't seen them in months, so I am really looking forward to their visit. Holy cow. I am going to have surgery. I feel a little sick right now. I think there are little birds flopping around in my stomach. Holy cow.

2-3-06 (246) My PCP submitted my referral to the surgeon!!! I am going to call TriWest on Monday to see if they have approved it and hopefully I will see my surgeon on Wednesday the 15th! On another note, I have two appointments on Friday the 10th. One with my GYN for a referral to a specialist to diagnose PCOS, and the other with my PCP for my knee pain. Is it bad that I am hoping for arthritis? I have become a very sick woman (in the head) LOL! 2-14-06 (253 naked) Well, I went to have a bunch of tests done last week and yesterday. My GYN thinks I have PCOS and is testing me for it. Luckily, it is considered a co-morb by my insurance. I also did a 3-hour glucose tolerance test yesterday. They poked me with a big needle four times and now I look like a drug addict! I am just hoping they don't call me and tell me I have diabetes. It just makes my stomach drop to my feet. I meet with my surgeon for the first time tomorrow! I will update more after that.

2-15-06 (254 clothed) I just got back a little while ago from the surgeon's and I feel so much better. Despite the fact that they told me I have a fever and now I'm afraid I'm getting a cold, it went wonderfully. I really like the Dr. and I have to call my PCP tomorrow and request all these tests, including an endoscopy, which I am scared about. Am I awake for that? Am I going to have to swallow a tube? Yuk! But he said I was a good candidate and to start exercising, drop 10-20 pounds and I'll have surgery when I get back from my trip in April! Mid- April is my tentative date! Woop! He put me on a diet that consists of 3 protein shakes and one meal a day. With a food snack. So, now I have to go find some protein stuff that I like and can make a "meal" out of. Any suggestions? :)

2-27-06 (239 naked) I am losing weight! It is working! I have had my x-rays, some blood work, and I just got my referrals for the endoscopy and the psych eval. I had a crap time of it though. They keep "losing" my paperwork everywhere and no one has any records of me when I show up somewhere for labs or appointments. My surgeons office says that my tentative date is April 11, pending insurance approval. Right now, I am still not sure that I will get approved.