mom22

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I am so happy.  Words really can't describe how awesome this experience has been or what this has done for me.  Best way to describe it... I'm free.

YUP - HERE'S PROOF!   It's so funny because back in 1997 when these were taken I had TONS of pix taken of me because I knew that I was just eventually going to gain it back.  Hurry take my picture before I'm fat again!  I'd love to weigh this again but I'd be happy with 170 or so. 

The band is really doing it's job and so am I.  Hardest thing is not the chewing... it's eating slow and not drinking with meals.  I do drink with meals quite a bit but it hasn't yet affected my rate of loss.  Probably have to quit doing that when I plateau.

I was 155 pounds in these photos - 1997.

The psychology of this experience has been really interesting.  I remember dieting pre-band and one day seemed like a week.  It was so difficult and wrought with anxiety and feeling hungry and a lack of satisfaction that time stood still until that next weigh in.  But then when I looked at the scale, it seemed that amount of effort should have resulted in more than a measly 2 pound weight loss.  That amount of effort, anxiety, FEELING DEPRIVED should have given me a 10 pound weight loss, dammit!  Well boy have things changed.  Now I am astonished when the scale says I have lost 2 pounds because the week has passed by so quickly.   I have not suffered.  I have not felt deprived even once in the past week.  I have felt full and satisfied all week long.  I almost expect the scale to say I have gained weight.  That's what's magic about this band. 

10 Things I Will Do When I Reach Goal Weight
10:  get out my size 8 button fly shorts from 1996, put them on, cheer, give to Goodwill
9:    get a family portrait made and actually send it out to everyone
8:    buy a swimsuit
7:    put on the swimsuit and take my kids to the pool
6:    get out all my old bras and see if they fit
5:    walk around in shorts and heels and try to see how many men I can get to look at me
4:    see if my wedding dress still fits me
3:    go SCUBA diving in my old wet suit
2:    Locate Cody Laddie - he nicknamed me Earthquake in 5th grade
1:    Seduce Cody Laddie, get him naked, fall on the floor laughing as I point at his weenie

The surgery was uneventful.  A bit nauseated afterwards but they fixed that with something in my IV.  I couldn't sleep on my side for 3 days and my son (toddler) wasn't too keen with me putting a pillow between him and my tummy but that time flew by.  Other than that, not much to report.  5 little holes poked in my belly.  But after 2 c-sections, gall bladder removal, and ovarian tumor removal... I am not really fearful of surgery anymore.  I was supposed to lose 12 pounds prior to surgery and I lost 14.  Overachiever.

I am in liquid hell.  I freakin' hate this but it's almost over!  2 more days.   Next is the pureed diet for 2 weeks and I've never been so excited about scrambled eggs in all my life. 

I really am haiving a hard time posting my before photos... they look so bad and make me really sad.  I think I'll do it when I have lost 25 pounds and have those photos to put next to it.  Much less depressing. 

Still coming to terms with the fact that I have to pay for this myself.  Yikes.  I think it adds to my determination and committment.  I must lose 12 pounds before my surgery.  No problem - done it how many times in 30 years?  Seems easier now that I realize that once banded it's staying off.  Maintenance... what a concept.

Surgeon's office says it will be about 4 weeks to surgery once all the tests are back and AOK.  I think that will be about  the first week of April '07... maybe before.  Hope so!

Psych. eval next Tuesday.  Waiting on the stupid sleep study people to call me and schedule that.  After that, just have to attend their all day pre-op class and I'm SCHEDULED!