LisaDian
Time Line of my Journey with WLS
Oct 28, 2006
February 13, 2006 First time I called insurance company and was pleasantly surprised that my policy (Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO based out of Kentucky) covers WLS.
Feb 17, 2006 First casual visit with nurse coordinator in surgeon's office. Collected packet of information on what I would need for insurance company. Everything from pcp referral to medical records proving weight loss attempts. Had plenty of them. Medical records indicating 2-year-use of Phen-Fen to almost 20 years history weighing-in at a TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) club.
Feb 23, 2006 First official consult with the surgeon. Talk about instilling confidence. He has an impeccable reputation as a general surgeon and an even better rep as a great human being. Seems to really care about "our people." haha
Feb 24, 2006 1-hour one-on-one consultation with dietitian as well as 1-hour one-on-one with physiologist about importance of exercise. Whew, quite a comprehensive (cover your bottom) kind of bariatics program here.
Feb 28, 2006 1-hour psych visit with licensed clinical social worker.
March 6, 2006 Day-long seminar on behavioral management following surgery. Topics ranged from "WLS surgery is only a tool" to "you've still got to diet and exercise if this is going to really work well." Lots of information on why we should eat protein first and how foods have a chemical effect on our brains. Did you know fat actually helps ease pain...both physical and psychological? No wonder ice cream is so popular...along with buttered toast and donuts and creamy, cheesy dips, and...oops I'm salivating.
March 7, 2006 Nurse coordinator messages to say she's faxed my paperwork in to the insurance company and the waiting has begun. Stay tuned. Official high weigh-in at the doc's office: 264.
March 7th-April 12 An emotional roller coaster ride. Just knew I would be one of the lucky ones whose insurance approved within a week. Was I deluded!!! Started calling the insurance company almost daily after first two weeks. Then after a month would call sometimes twice a day. By then the medical review "team" had requested additional information from the doctor's office. That they said would tack another 30-days on that the company gives itself to review. I had a very small window of opportunity to get this done before the last week of April. Because of work responsibilities if it didn't happen before then, it would be summertime before I could have the surgery. I even started my mostly-liquid diet (2 protein shakes a day and a small meal at night) just in case the approval came through at the last minute. I lost 10.25 pounds in two weeks and finally stopped the last supper syndrome...which had shot me up to 264 pounds. Weight is now 253.75
April 13th Had called the insurance company twice the day before and found out the "new information" they had requested a week before hadn't even been sent to the review "team." That was it...I officially gave up and accepted it would be at least summer before I could be banded. Then at 3:45p.m. that wonderful nurse coordinator called...a call I had fantasized about getting. But I knew better than to think she was calling because I was approved....I had just talked to the insurance company the day before. Then she said I was approved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And could I run over and get my second consult in before 5p.m. She had called the insurance company and asked for a peer to peer review immediately because of some mix-up with yet another request for information which indicated they had never really read through the file that had been sent. They called her later in the afternoon with the approval. Thank you Lord!!!! And thank you Nurse Mary for being by gaurdian angel. This was on a Thursday....my surgery was scheduled for first thing Monday morning, April 17th.
April 16th So here I am the night before I'm scheduled for surgery...on the very last week I could have had the surgery without having to wait two or three more months. So many of the requirements were already met in advance just in case the approval came in at the last minute. I am extremely fortunate to be going in to surgery so quickly....and that...I'm sure is helping my anxiety level. I'm glad I haven't had to worry and be nervous and scared of the actual process for more than the last three days. I'm praying, trusting God...asking Jesus to let my body know that the scalpel isn't there to hurt me...but to help me. The anesthesia will work perfectly for me and not even make me sick. Please Lord, let my insides accept the surgeon's instruments and that beautiful band. I'll have no complications and when I wake up...the pain will be so mild. I won't be afraid. And I'll be back to update this little blog all the way down to my goal weight. Thank you Lord.
April 17th, 2006 Surgery Day...weight 252.50
April 18, 2006 Went in for surgery at 5:30a.m yesterday....left the hospital that afternoon at 2:30. Very positive experience. Love my doctor. Everyone was so nice and supportive. I told the anesthesiologist that I get car sick easily. So they put a motion sickness patch behind my ear. Thank goodness I haven't thrown up (probably because of that). The trapped gas is so uncomfortable. I can't wait until that's gone. I am so thrilled to have the actual surgery behind me...and to have the lap band. (I also had my gall bladder removed...had a very large gall stone).
April 25, 2006 One week and a day post-op...had my follow-up doctor's visit today....such a nice man. Weighed in at 252...only a half pound lighter than the day of surgery. Doctor said that's normal...with surgery...I wonder why surgery makes us gain weight. I've been drinking a lot of chicken broth, eating fudge sicles, yogurt, frozen yogurt. Made the mistake of trying to eat some crackers with soup on the third or fourth day. Very uncomfortable. Had scrambled egg on Sunday night...every time I ate it wasn't a great experience...until Monday. Had a few bites of twice baked potato, a bite of salmon, and half-a-piece of cheese cake...delicious. No discomfort. Had a speaking engagement and mentioned I had had gall bladder surgery. And I must have still be punchy from the pain medicine because I can't believe I actually talked about my trapped gas from the surgery in front of about 500-people. The good thing is...I think that all the talking actually got rid of the lion's share of the trapped gas. Thank God.
June 1st, 2006 Six weeks out...and first fill!!!! It was absolutely painless and such a relief to see everything was where it was supposed to be...the port and the band were right where the doctor had left them. Received 2 cc's in a 4cc band. I thought I was really restricted...but weighed in at 248.25...down only 4.25 pounds from surgery six weeks ago. But that was after a long weekend vacationing in Cabo San Lucas. Haven't tested the real restriction yet...but I'm excited about getting down to business and losing weight. Stay tuned.
June 2, 2006
After "filling" me yesterday, Dr. Edwards kept saying to be sure to chew...chew...chew. I really don't know how tight I am because I haven't pushed it. Last night (on the day of my first fill) I ate about one-third cup of macaroni and cheese and a couple of bites of jello and I really did have that full to the brim feeling. Lord knows, I didn't want to slime or p-b in public so I stopped immediately. I'm really not hungry either. That's a wonderful feeling...closest I've come to having that phen-fen feeling. Haha
Today I've had a protein shake for breakfast and two ritz crackers with tuna fish on them and a half cup of breyers light ice cream. I brought some of the tuna to work with me to eat if I do get hungry. I sure hope this lasts!!!!
You know I just realized I haven't had a drop of water to drink today...I better go get a big glass and get busy. I'm so excited and I think a lot of it has to do with actually weighing less than I thought I would yesterday. I was so worried I had gained a lot on our vacation.
June 5, 2006
The last few days have been so varied for me. I can tell now I didn't have much restriction in the six weeks following surgery. I sure do have a lot of restriction now….sometimes complete…other times very manageable. For instance, Sunday, the first thing I tried to eat was around 11:30a.m….at the telethon. We had a Mexican food bar and I piled some ground beef, shredded cheese, salsa, and sour cream on a soft tortilla. Didn’t eat the tortilla but took little bitty bites of the meat combination and probably ate a good one-half-cup of it…very slowly. Also had a few chips with sour cream dip…and drank water for the rest of the afternoon. Then after the telethon had maybe a fourth-cup of pimento cheese with baked cheetos. And finally tried to eat the top of a ww pizza. That was the only thing I had trouble with…got stuck briefly on the third bite. So I took a break and then later had an energy bar. But this morning I couldn’t even eat oatmeal for breakfast. It felt almost as bad as getting the pizza toppings briefly stuck. OATMEAL!?!? Can you believe that? So, I guess I’ll be sticking to protein shakes for breakfast. I made some tuna and brought it to work for later. Randy, my DH made a salmon loaf so I’ll have that and cottage cheese for dinner. I don’t ever want to get in the habit of just having soft food.
Later that night:
Oh yeah, this band is slowing me way down!!!! Randy fixed a little plate for me tonight of salmon loaf, zucchini stir-fry, and cottage cheese. I had about six tiny bites and didn’t realize I was too full….it hurt so badly!!!!! Even gave me some cramping in my lower stomach. I don’t think anything was “stuck”….but my goodness something was very uncomfortable. I think I need to slow down eating even more than I have. Nothing came up….and after about a half-hour I was okay. But at this rate, I’m not even getting in 500-calories a day. And no…I haven’t been physically hungry at all. I do get hungry and look forward to eating…but then when it won’t go down, I am totally out of the mood to eat. This is good!!!!! I feel like it’s really working.
You know it’s funny, I thought my restriction was gone a couple of times yesterday…because I did so well with the ground beef and cheese and salsa mixture…as well as the pimento cheese and baked cheetos. But my goodness have I been tight since last night. I LOVE IT. Randy keeps looking at me like he feels so sorry for me…but it’s really not something that’s bumming me out. I like the sympathy though…so I’m not going to tell him it’s not that bad. haha
June 7, 2006
You’re not going to believe this…but I had lost 9.25 pounds when I weighed in tonight. That’s for two weeks, but I was blown away. The TOPS digital scale read 241.75. That makes a total of 20.25 pounds lost since I started the pre-op diet. I kind of feel like my body finally decided to let go of some of the weight that I should have lost over the last four weeks. I didn’t care for the food that much in Mexico…and I couldn’t eat very much at a time…and since Thursday’s fill I haven’t been able to eat more than 5-6 bites at a time. I’m kind of sick to my stomach right now because I went to pasta express after TOPS and got some spinach/artichoke cannelloni and managed to eat one whole (small) cannelloni. It didn’t get stuck…but it sure doesn’t sit very well.
So far Randy (DH) still seems excited about the weight loss…but every once in awhile I get a glimpse of a side of him that is concerned I won’t be the same person. Little does he know, how wonderful it’s going to be…being thin with a person who loved me when I’m so heavy. He’s going to know the meaning of sexual rewards. Haha
June 8, 2006
You know if we were doing this without the benefit of the band I would automatically be thinking it's great that I've lost 20 pounds...but that it will eventually come back …it always has with me plus a few pounds. Now, I really have the feeling…that this is weight that’s gone for good…because I can manage it now with the band. I have such a different feeling now when I think about weight loss…I’m not even in as much of a hurry because I feel like I’m just putting in the time…that within a year I’ll be back to a normal weight and stay that way.
I’ve really been noticing that even the smallest meals seem to satisfy my hunger. I tried to eat a little tuna for lunch yesterday and a little more after work just to get a few more protein calories in. For supper I had about one-fourth of a piece of salmon loaf and I was finished. This morning I didn’t have time to even make a protein shake…so I didn’t eat until after 1p.m. at this going- away lunch. I would have been sick with hunger and have a headache before…now it’s a lot like the feeling I had with Phen-Fen….I notice I’m hungry…but then forget about it. I ordered an appetizer of the spinach-artichoke fondue. Ate about one-third cup of it with a few chips…came really close to some discomfort but backed off and did just fine. I was a little frustrated this time that I couldn’t eat more…but I’m just flabbergasted now at how much other people eat….and the big bites they take. Although….a friend of mine sitting next to me (extremely slim) had ordered the hummus appetizer and ate just a little more than I did…not much. So I guess there’s a reason she’s so thin.
June 13th.....gained one-fourth of a pound. Eating too much ice cream...and possibly that artichoke/cheese dip. :(
June 20th....LOST four pounds. Yippeee!!!
June 21, 2006 I'm getting the hang of this. I've noticed a definite pattern. I can't eat anything solid very well until late afternoon. I've started drinking tomato juice with my nikken green-zymes (barley grass or something). I think it's making me go to the bathroom. We'll see. Then after I work out I try to eat some lunch (usually tuna or chicken salad...and it doesn't go down very well at all...so I pack it up and take it to work. Then about three in the afternoon I can usually eat the rest of it slowly. Protein bars go down really easy. I think I need to get back to a protein drink in the morning too. And by dinner time..usually around 7p.m...I can eat a small meal very easily and enjoy it. I also depend on those sugar free fudge sicles....life is good.
June 28, 2006 Well, just got back from TOPS tonight and weighed the very same as last week. I would be upset … but I lost 4 pounds last week – so I feel like I’m keeping pace with my goal. I think I would have lost if I hadn’t discovered this week how easily those tortilla chips go down with nacho cheese and salsa. I won’t be having any more of that for a long while. So, I‘m still at 238 exactly…I’ve never seen an even number like that on a digital scale. I don’t weigh-in now for two weeks since next Tuesday is July 4th…so I’m going to try to show a really big loss in two weeks.
It was really weird at TOPS tonight because I told everyone I had had this surgery. I swear I felt some really judgmental vibes coming from a few of the women. The one woman in particular who kept trying to pin me down about “what I was doing to lose weight” was there…and said the only reason she came tonight was to hear “my program.” I could tell she wasn’t impressed…and left as soon as I was finished…without saying a word. She’s probably 50-60 pounds overweight…so not a candidate for the surgery. Maybe she was genuinely disappointed I was doing something she couldn’t. Randy suggested that may have been behind the bad vibes I was getting. I even found myself apologizing if I disappointed anyone by doing this…several were very supportive. I wish it had never come up…and that I hadn’t told them all about it. But it’s done and hopefully it won’t keep coming up. I know one thing, I won’t feel bad when I’ve lost all the weight and can keep it off…no matter how anyone else feels about WLS.
July 25, 2006 Okay, playtime is officially over. I gained another pound and three-quarters tonight...bringing me to a grand total of 239.25. My low weight was 236.25. So I'm up 3 pounds...and I know it's my fault. I've been eating crap...on weekends especially. Ice cream, candy, cookies, cake...if it's there I put it in my mouth. In all fairness to the wonders of this lap band...without it, by now I'm sure I would have gained 10 or 15 pounds. I always put on weight during extra stressful times, and boy have these been extra stressful times.
I'm wasting so much time not losing weight...it makes me so mad at myself. I don't think anyone can really understand (until they have one) what it means that this band is such a great tool...but if we don't use it right...it sure doesn't lose the weight for us!!!! I'm determined to start using it right!!!!! I'm getting all the candy and chips and other junk food out of this house. What's funny is I've been keeping track of my calories on fitday and I knew from the high calorie counts I would be gaining tonight. Guess I was just hoping for a fluke.
I've still been experiencing a few NSV's....people at TOPS tonight were saying they could really tell I've lost. The one woman who I thought was judging me negatively for having the surgery was especially nice...saying she could tell a big difference around my neck and chin. Also, I'm really in-between sizes in suits now...I'm just about 10 pounds away from fitting into a misses size 18....the jacket already fits...the straight skirts and pants still too tight. The woman's size 18's are all too large. Another reason why I've got to get busy and lose. I've also noticed my work-outs are easier...prompting me to work harder. I know there have been other NSV's, I think I'm just too blown away by my second straight gain to think of any.
August 8, 2006 YIPEEE!!!! Thank you Lord...I lost 6.25 pounds at TOPS tonight...233 pounds.
August 9, 2006 Did okay until after work. Must quit eating after work. Went crazy with pringles potato chips...but drank 64 ounces of water today.
August 10, 2006 p-b'ed part of dinner (veggie chicken & veggie bites) Did great eating until after work and pigged out on icecream, chocolate, and peanuts. Had 64 ounces of water today
August 12, 2006 On the road in Tulsa...tried to eat egg, bacon and english muffin and it all came back up. Ate protein bar and granola bar a couple of hours later with some chocolate. Then had taco bell nachos for lunch and a great tortellini dish with sausage for dinner. Also had 64 ounces of water today.
August 15, 2006 Weighed in at TOPS tonight and gained 3-quarters of a pound. Felt successful though since I had just come off of a three-day weekend during which I ate too much. I think drinking so much water really helped. I definitely intend to do that again this week as well as diet and see what I can lose next week.
August 18, 2006 I did it...I didn't eat anything when I got home from work last night!!!! Now, if I could do it tonight. I'm still at work and very full of snacks like pretzels and granola bars.
August 22, 2006
Wow, am I depressed. I just came from TOPS where I gained 1.25 pounds...bringing me to 235 pounds. I really thought I would see a 5 or 10 pound loss tonight. I gained three-quarters of a pound last week...so that makes two total. Gotta really clamp down on the empty, soft calories. I can still hold on to the Non Scale Victories...like the fact that I'm into my size 18 jeans I haven't been able to begin to close in three years.
August 23, 2006 Here we go again...I'm really going to try hard this week to see a loss. Looking over what I've eaten in the past week, I need to pass up the desserts and not eat after the news.
80-ounces of water today!!! :) Screwed up after work. Remembered I had that damn reesee cup ice cream. Lucky I didn't eat the whole rest of the half-gallon. Close enough. :( Will make up for it tomorrow.
August 24, 2006 Couldn't keep from eating the Breyer's Reesee Cup ice cream again. Finished it up...but still didn't eat enough food today to actually gain weight. Need to make up for the last three nights in the next four days. Don't ever want to buy that or any other half-gallon of ice cream again.
August 25, 2006 Got my 64 ounces in and stayed under 1500 and worked out...yippeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!
August 26, 2006 Had protein bar for breakfast. The top of a piece of sbarro's pizzas for lunch as well as one chocolate chip cookie.
Went shopping...back home for quicky nap then went to Bruno's. Had a piece of crusty bread that usually works, but didn't had to p-b just a little...then the pasta went down just fine.
August 27, 2006 Today was really unusual. My band would hardly let anything go down. I wonder if I've just been sticking to softer foods and didn't realize how much restriction I have. I tried to eat some potato salad and brat at the ky3 picnic. It was raining...wonder if the barometric pressure had anything to do with it. Was able to eat the blackberry cobbler and a cookie just fine. Then later around 4p.m. tried to eat a protein bar and it hurt too...finally even p-b'ed it along with some from lunch. (never pb'd at lunch it just hurt like hell) Then for dinner around 7p.m. had bbq chick nachos...just a little and they didn't go down all that great either....no pain though and no p-b was probably just sore from hurting earlier in the day.
August 29, 2006
TOPS wasn't disappointing...but it wasn't a thriller either. I lost 2.25 pounds...so I'm down to 232.75, one-quarter pound lighter than I was two weeks ago. Now I want to get down into the 20's. I really want to break that 200 mark by the first of the year. I'm seriously considering going for another fill this Thursday.
August 31, 2006
Today I received my second fill!!!!!! I was at 2 cc...now I'm at 2.2 cc's and I am so tight I couldn't make tomato soup go down. I'm really hoping that's just a little swelling causing so much restriction. I'm excited though...I pray this will jump start my losing so that I can break into the one-derlands by Christmas.
Sept. 1, 2006
I'm having to sip my tomato juice this morning. In a hurry to work out...had lunch with Dawn, where I had some broth from the ministone soup. Even had a few tiny bites of the quiche, bread and honey mustard. And later had a whole ice cream cone at McDonalds (without the cone). Then went to The Friday Art Walk and nothing would go down...not cheesecake, wine, nothing. Right before we left for the walk that night at 7pm, I discovered I had STARTED MY PERIOD, first time since May. Now I know why I've had more restriction even before the fill.
Sept. 2, 2006
Saturday....tried a protein drink, wouldn't go down.
Went to Silver Dollar City. Tried little tastes of mashed potatoes, cottage cheese...etc...nothing would go down. Tried a chocolate ice cream...the few bites I had came right back up. At home, got busy preparing salad and deviled eggs for tomorrow's dinner. Tried pop sicle it all came up...tried soup, it all came up. Finally gave up. Nothing stayed down today. Flowing pretty heavy on my period.
Sept. 3, 2006
Taught Sunday School. Tried to drink tomato juice. Couldn't. Sipped water through SS and church. Went to Terry's house...protein broth went down great. Tried to eat some dip and the yellow part of the deviled egg. That all came up. Tried to eat a pop sicle, it came up. Tried to have more Protein broth for dinner...it came up. Just went to bed early.
Sept 4, 2006
Today is better. I'm sticking with liquids (like I have a choice). For breakfast I had a protein shake...took me from 9am til 1p.m. to finish it...but that was 44 grams of protein I'm proud to say (I doubled the scoop). I also drank the tomato juice with enzymes in it. And I've been working on a bottle of water...and now a protein broth. Can't wait til the swelling is down or I get an un-fill. I would love to have a lot less restriction than this.
Sept. 5, 2006
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! I weighed in at TOPS tonight and had lost 9.75 pounds....in one week....that brings my grand total to 41 pounds since before surgery a little less than five months ago. I now weigh 223. There are obviously reasons for this big one week loss. I had my second fill last Thursday and could not eat anything this week...nothing. Liquids wouldn't even stay down until yesterday. And I had my first period since May. So the challenge will be to maintain this loss over the next week. I was so tight, I was getting so weak and depressed...so I went in for an un-fill today. Dr. Edwards looked at the band on the fluoroscope and said there was stuff getting through. And he's worried that if he takes the fill out I will be wanting it back next week after the swelling from my period goes down. Bless his heart, he went ahead and took one-tenth of a cc out. He had put two-tenths in last Thursday...so at least I have a bit more restriction. I felt like I could breathe again!!! I was able to swallow water, I've had cream of chicken soup, cream of broccoli soup, crackers, and now a bite of chocolate chip cookie. I still feel a lot of restriction, I'm just going slowly. Life is great.
Sept 6, 2006
I’m loving this level of restriction!!!!!!!!! I’ve had a protein shake for breakfast, about a half can of tomato soup for lunch, then about one-fourth cup of chicken enchilada soup (without the chicken) and a small amount of frozen yogurt. I’m stuffed….and have lost that depressed, weak, frustrated feeling that I had before the un-fill. Yippee!!!!!! I was so relieved today when I felt the restriction I still have. I was worried I would be too loose and wouldn’t continue to lose. I know it’s going to be hard to hold onto this number and drop even more next week…but if I keep eating like I did today (around 800 calories) I should be okay. And it wasn’t difficult. I think going without eating at all for the last six days now makes even a small bite of pimento cheese taste like an indulgence.
Sept 12, 2006 Weighed in at TOPS tonight...and had gained a-quarter pound. Not surprised but still a little disappointed. I'm sure I was a little dehydrated last week when I weighed in with such a big loss. I would just love to break into the teens next week. I still am really, really tight.
Sept 19, 2006 Can't get anything to go down and am having trouble with constipation, laxative and inflammation of urethra. 'whew. Lost 1.25 pounds at TOPS tonight...feel like if I could just go to the bathroom would have lost more. Maybe a bigger loss will show up next week. Still happy with my band. Managed to eat half of helping of nacho cheese with chips for dinner.
Sept. 26, 2006 I hate this!!!!!!! I gained a pound at TOPS tonight. I feel like crap...bad headache, sick to my stomach. I wonder if I'm about to start my period again.
Oct. 3, 2006 Yippeeeee!! Weighed in at TOPS tonight and LOST 4.50 pounds. Couldn't keep much of anything down this last week...still eating mostly soups and soft things. I love this band....this brings my grand total lost to 45.50 pounds
Oct 10, 2006 Gained .25 pound at TOPS tonight. Not really upset, since I lost 4.50 last week...but would really like to break the 50 pound-loss mark Need to stay away from the ice cream, cookies, and candy.
Oct 17, 2006 Yea!!! Weighed in at TOPS tonight and had lost 1.50 pounds. So relieved. I bought a half-gallon of frozen yogurt on Saturday and finished it all off by Monday night. I still need to figure up how many calories that is. My saving grace is that I haven't been able to eat much of anything else...nothing solid. I really need to take advantage of this tight restriction and quit consoling myself with ice cream and frozen yogurt. This is my six-month bandaversary. I've lost 46.75. Hope to break the 50 pound barrier soon!!!
November 7, 2006It's election day...and it looks like the pendulum is swinging back to the democrats. I managed to get my work out in today...yea me. And then I had to sneak away from work to go weight in at TOPS and thank the Lord...I hit a landmark tonight!!! I lost 3.25 pounds to bring me to a total of 50.50 pounds lost now. Hallelujah!!!!!My next goal is to lose 14 pounds before the end of the year. This band is still really tight...so it sends me to soft foods too often...I'm going to try to use it right though and get the next 14 pounds off in the next 7 weeks.
November 21, 2006 Okay, second week in a row that I've gained. Tonight it was one pound. Granted it was my birthday...but I haven't been watching it like I should. I want to break the 200 mark before the first of the year....that might be shooting a little high now...but who knows. I feel inspired. Rebekah had her first meeting with Mary Trampler today...also had her psych evaluation with Katie. She's on her way now to this surgery. And I want to be a good example...so must get started now.
November 28, 2006 Weighed in at TOPS tonight and had lost 1.25 pounds. Need to get in the swing here and see another big drop before the first of the year!!!!
December 5, 2006 Weighed in at TOPS tonight and lost .75 of a pound. I'm at 213.25...I sure would like to lose 15 pounds by the first of the year. Guess that's a little silly with Christmas coming. Still, if I could get down to the single digits...I would be about as happy. I really can't wait to be in the onederlands.
December 12, 2006 Weighed in at TOPS...lost 1.25 pounds. Thank you Lord. So many goodies around everywhere...it's hard to resist. Rebekah, my baby sister had her first doctor's consult with Dr. Edwards today...she is scheduled for Friday, January 5th. Yea!!!!! I can't wait until she's celebrating her first 100-pound loss.
January 2, 2007 Weighed in at TOPS for the first time in two weeks (before Christmas) and lost 2 pounds. Yippee. I had actually lost a couple more a week ago (according to my scale) then apparently put them back on with all the ice cream and candy over the holidays. Oh well...I'm still two pounds to the good...and excited about breaking into the "one-derlands." That's definitely my goal for January. :)
January 9, 2007 Yippee....weighed in at TOPS and lost three pounds!!!!! Down to 206 now. Need to really try to hold on to that number and lose more in next week. I've been SUPER tight the last three days. Couldn't make anything stay down yesterday...not even ice cream.
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January 16, 2007 Still no power...and it's getting old. Waking up with black soot around my nostrils. I'm sucking up too much candle smoke. Went out with Randy for cheese dip at Mexican Villa tonight...was able to eat it just fine. TOPS was cancelled because of the weather.
January 23, 2007 Went to TOPS for the first time in two weeks because of the ice storm. Had gained two pounds. Wrong direction, need to get busy and break that 200 pound barrier!!!
January 30, 2007 I am so very tight. Once again a very little bit of water gave me heart burn. At 3p.m. tried some yogurt...it all came back up.
then unlatched my bra and tried some hot soup and it all went down. THANK YOU LORD. Weighed in at TOPS and LOST 3.75 pounds!!!!!! I'm at 204.75....less than five pounds away from the one-derlands. I WANT TO GET THERE BEFORE NEXT TUESDAY!!!!!! If this tightness keeps up I might be able to. Tonight after TOPS I was able to eat most of my cheese dip with tiny little nibbles of a few chips. Now I'm working on a frozen yogurt with butterfinger in it. Because of the acid reflux I've been experiencing, I'm going to stay with liquids as much as possible for the next few days to heal up...and then start over being very careful with going slow and chewing a lot.
Feb 6, 2007 Weighed in at TOPS tonight and had GAINED 2.75!!!! That's way too much....too much candy, ice cream, and stuff at the superbowl party and before. Need to get busy and break into the one-hundreds.
Feb 13, 2007 Yea, Yippee...Hallelujah!!!! Just weighed in at TOPS and I lost 5.50 pounds!!!! Thank you Lord. A great pay-off for a long week without being able to eat much. :) Now I'm just 2 pounds away from the wonderful one-der-lands.
Feb. 20, 2007 All that Valentine's candy must have taken its toll... although I really don't think I had much. I gained 2.50 pounds at TOPS tonight...am anxious for tomorrow to see a loss...I'm so close to breaking the 200 pound mark. I've actually weighed 200 in the last week...can't wait to drop way down there. It's going to happen soon!!!
Feb. 27, 2007 Managed to lose .75 of a pound at TOPS tonight. Have been grazing on sugar way too much this week. Really want to break that 200 barrier...stay tuned. Still loving my band.
March 2, 2007 What a day!!! Decided to go into the doctor's office and make an appointment for a bit of an unfill. Just have gone too long not being able to eat solid food. When I told them I hadn't been able to eat anything solid for six months...they insisted on doing the unfill right then. Bless their hearts!!!!! I guess I had about .1 cc taken out. I'm still kind of scared...I want to continue to lose at least 36 more pounds. If I stop losing...I'll get back into the doctor for a tightening. Sticking to fluids and soft stuff for 24 hours.
March 3, 2007 I feel great!!!! Had a half of homemade chicken enchilada for lunch...complete with the chicken and most of the soft tortilla. It was sooooo good. Tried a little piece of angel food cake several hours later...it didn't stay down. Then had cheese chunks and summer sausage later and it all stayed down. Finished up the day getting a bad tummy ache...probably from my first solid food in a long time. Stayed up and made chocolate chip cookies for sunday school kids and got rid of the tummy ache. Yep, had one of the cc cookies too. :)
March 4, 2007 It's Sunday...had a chocolate chip cookie at Sunday School. For lunch had the child's salad bar...couldn' eat much. Great Nap :)....then went out to Mr. Yen's and had egg drop soup, half spring roll, and the insides of two wontons. Then at home had two big bowls of ice cream. Have to cut that out!!!!
March 5, 2007 Had protein shake for breakfast/lunch. Then about 4p.m. had some tuna. Ate too much of it (about half a cup)....about half came back up. For dinner I had a very small piece of salmon. Later in the evening....some cheese dip. Now I'm wanting something sweet....trying to fight that feeling.
March 20, 2007 I am definitely not as restricted, but still tight. Trouble is I've been eating more solids and still indulging in ice cream and candy. I'm up five pounds from my lowest and I'm really wanting to break the 200 mark by my bandaversary. Stay tuned.
March 27, 2007 Thank you Lord!!!! I lost 3.25 pounds at TOPS tonight...finally on the way back down. My goal is to break into the onederlands by my first year bandaversary, April 17th. I have three more times to weigh...and four pounds to break the mark. Ideally, I would like to lose the four pounds this week and work on keeping them off or dropping another pound or so before the 17th. I had prune juice for breakfast, a light yogurt for lunch, and then after tops, half of a KFC mashed potato bowl. Yummy. And for the first time since last Wednesday, I had a frozen yogurt tonight. My weight loss is a testament to giving up ice cream this week. After tonight, I'm back on the wagon...no ice cream and I'm buying no more candy to have at home. Onederlands here I come.
April 3, 2007 Actually was down to 200 pounds even over the weekend...but couldn't keep it down there. Weighed in at TOPS at 202.75....loss of three quarters from last week. Back on the wagon...trying to break the big mark this week. Stay tuned. Still no ice cream!!!
April 10, 2007 Weighed in at TOPS and had gained one-quarter of a pound. Four pounds to onederland and next Tuesday is my bandiversary. No candy, nor ice cream this week. I'm really going to try for a four pound loss.
April 17, 2007 One year ago today I had this life changing surgery. Thank you Lord, and thank you Dr. Edwards. I'm down 64 pounds and have 36 pounds to goal. I had wanted so badly to break through to the onederlands by this first bandaversary...and I did!!! Yesterday for the first time I hit 199.8 on my scales at home. When I weighed this morning...still in the onederlands!!! 199.4. Then at TOPS had my official weigh-in at 200 even. Shoot. At least that will keep me working hard this week to get rid of the "2" before next week. And I did manage to lose 3 pounds this week!! I've been able to lose this last seven pounds because I'm not eating ice cream or candy from Tuesday to Tuesday. Tuesday nights I let myself have any and all kinds of candy and ice cream. Then it's back on the wagon Wednesday morning. This is what I'm doing until I reach my goal of 164...36 more pounds away. (And yes, all the sugar I'm not used to makes me a little sick to my stomach on Tuesday night...I'm taking it easier these days.)
April 24,2007 Still not eating ice cream or candy between Tuesdays...and my size 14's actually feel looser on me, I think because I've started a spinning class twice a week in addition to the cardio machines the other three days of the work week. Still I gained 1.25 pounds at TOPS tonight....just keep teasing myself with the 200-pound barrier. Can't wait til I'm 40 pounds away from it!!!!
May 1, 2007 Another gain at TOPS tonight...(1.75 pounds) but I started a spin class three weeks ago and for the first time I really do think some of this gain might have to do with the extra muscle I'm building. My clothes are looser, people are commenting on my weight loss again. Regardless, I'm going to work hard to get back below the 200 mark THIS WEEK!!!!
May 8, 2007 YEA!!! YIPPEEE!!! Finally...officially broke the 200 mark at TOPS tonight. Weighed in at 198.25. Now the challenge is to put some distance between myself and that 200 mark so that I don't bounce back up over it. Thank you little lap band. More importantly thank YOU, GOD!!!!
May 15, 2007 Dang it!!!! Weighed in at TOPS tonight and had gained 2 pounds even. I'm really not doing anything differently, just spin class and those long bike rides on Saturday. Maybe there is something to muscle weighing more than fat. All of my clothes feel looser. This is why I probably put off getting below 200 for so long...I didn't want to bounce back up to it. Oh well, I'll take 200.25 and work really hard to bounce back down below 198 next week. I'm in this for the long haul.
May 29, 2007 Weighed in at TOPS tonight and had stayed the same at 201. I've got to get off this plateau. need to start counting calories or something.
July 24, 2007 I've been weighing in at TOPS regularly...but haven't been recording it here because I've been so stagnant. I finally went to get another
un-fill last Thursday because I haven't been able to eat anything solid since last summer. That has driven me to eating soups and ice creams and candy...so when I weighed in at the doctor's office I had lost only 1 pound since March 1st...the date of my last unfill...an unfill that apparently did NOT take or at least wasn't "un-filled" enough. So, since last Thursday I've been able to eat small portions of everything from a cheese burger to bbq pork. What a learning curve though...I'm having to break my bad habits with soft high calorie foods. I'm excited though, I intend for this to be a new beginning that will see me through to my goal. I'm at 203.25 right now...but have been bouncing between that and 197 for months.
August 20, 2007...It's been a month since my unfill and I was shocked into healthy fear this morning when I got on the scale and it said 206. I haven't weighed that much since March. I weigh in at TOPS tomorrow night and hope to have my official weight (to record here) be a little below that. So, I'm not eating anything but small solid meals between now and tomorrow night. I'm trying to figure this out. I think I have the perfect restriction...even though I'm gaining. I know that sounds wrong...but I can only eat very small portions of solids, very slowly. Obviously, the band is doing its job. I haven't been doing my job of using the "tool" correctly. During all those months of not being able to keep anything solid down...I was able to at least maintain my weight even while I was eating ice cream and candy. Now that I can eat solid food again...I can't get by with eating the ice cream and candy too. It's so hard to give that stuff up. I am so addicted to carbs it's ridiculous. But I'm determined to get the rest of this weight off. Actually, at the moment I would just be thrilled to be down to 197. I can't believe I've let myself gain back what I had lost. That's just stupid...it didn't have to happen. And really I'm surprised with everything I'm doing that it has happened. I'm still working out 5 times a week, training for the MS150 bike ride in September with long training rides (up to 53 miles)every Saturday morning and then physically demanding projects like laying new ceramic tile floors at my mom's house. Can you imagine what I would have gained if I wasn't doing all this active stuff. I'm still enjoying all the advantages of having lost the weight I have. While in Cancun for a vacation a couple of weeks ago, I went repelling off a cliff, zip-lining across a tropical jungle, swimming in an underground cave, bicycling through a national park, climbing 95 foot Mayan ruins, swimming and snorkling along a coral reef. I love being so active again...but once again I'm proving to myself, what I *eat* is the determining factor of whether I gain or lose...not just my level of exercise. I'm still wearing a size 14 suit....but the bottom halves are still pretty snug. I was hoping to be down to a 12 by now. But I'm just going ot have to pick myself up and start keeping a food journal again. I'm going to get the rest of this off...then enjoy being able to maintain like I was doing until my last unfill. I've got to start following the bandster rules again....protein first, lots of water, no snacking, and continued exercise.
***************************************
March 28, 2006..264 **(pre-op diet begins)
April 4...............258
April 11.............253.75
April 17.............252 **(surgery day)
April 25.............251
May 2...............249.50
May 9...............249.75
May 16.............247.00
May 23.............251.00
May 30.............Holiday in Cabo San Lucas -- no weigh-in
June 1..............248 **(FIRST FILL)
June 6..............242.75
June 13............243
June 20............238
June 27............238
July 4...............Holiday no weigh-in
July 11.............236.25
July 18.............237.75
July 25.............239.25
August 1..........Fair/didn't weigh in
August 8...........233
August 15.........233.75
August 22.........235
August 29.........232.75
***August 31st Fill
***Sept 5 Slight Unfill
Sept 5..............223
Sept 12............223.25
Sept 19............222
Sept 26............223
October 3.........218.50
Oct 10..............218.75
Oct 17..............217.25
Oct 24..............216.75
Oct 31...............Halloween
Nov 7.................213.50
Nov 14...............214.25
Nov 21...............215.25
Nov 28................214
Dec 5..................213.25
Dec 12................212
Dec 19................211
Dec 26................no meeting for Christmas
Jan 2...................209
Jan 9...................206
Jan 16.................no meeting
Jan 23................208
Jan 30................204.25
Feb 6..................207
Feb 13................201.50
Feb 20................204
Feb 27.................203.75
****March 1st............202....had a slight unfill
March 6................204
March 13..............205
March 20..............206.75
March 27..............203.50
April 3....................202.75
April 10..................203
**Band-a-versary: April 17..........200 even
April 24..................201.25
May 1......................203
May 8......................198.25****YIPEEEE****ONE-DERLAND!!!!!
May 15....................200.25
May 22....................201
May 29...................201
July 19...........201.25....small unfill (too tight for too long)
Began having really bad indigestion, throat burning etc....lasted for several weeks. Overdosed on maalox and was sick to my stomach off and on for months.
July 24....................203.25
August 14...............204.75
November 8, 2007............209....Wow, what a day. Decided to finally go in and get a fill since I seem to keep gaining weight (up 8 pounds since July). Found out my band has slipped. Praying now that complete unfill and two weeks of liquids will make it assume its normal position so I can get another fill. Stupid, stupid, stupid overeating...overfilling my pouch, throwing up, too tight for too long last year....the list goes on. I'm just praying I can reverse the problem without surgery. Nov 9.....Doing okay being back on liquid diet. Feeling strong... praying my stomach slips back in place below the band.
November 29.....202......Went back in and stomach was right back in place...thank you Lord. Was "re-filled" to 1.7...but couldn't shake constant nausea for next few weeks. Still from Maalox overdose?
Dec 10....196.....Found out stomach tissue had slipped back over my band again, just a little this time. Unfilled again.
January 3, 2008........206.... Stomach back to normal, but filled only to 1.0...offering little restriction but chance to practice the rules and learn how to use the band as a tool.
May 13, 2008.........208 Have been bouncing around between 206 and 209 since last Fall.
May 20, 2008.........212 I am finally making an appointment for a long overdue fill. I'm hungry all the time...physically and mentally....I need my band.
June 5, 2008........214.4 Finally a fill. We took it to 1.6 cc and I could tell such a difference immediately....it was like I had my band back. The constant hunger is gone again. Here I come one-derland!
June 9, 2008.....205.4...Nine pound loss in four days....clothes fit better, but what a horrible weekend. Way too tight...couldn't even make water go down, just sat on my chest. Had another big slip. Plan is to start over in two weeks...go back to 1 cc...possibly 1.1 cc and take baby steps from there. A surgical revision may be in my future if I can't regain the hunger restriction without triggering the slippage. We'll see. Back on liquids and soft foods to try to get my stomach to drop back down into place.
Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Christopher Edwards
Insurer Info:
Blue Cross Blue Shield
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