Kathy ...
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Welcome to Kathy's Journey!!!

I am a 36 year old divorced mom of 3 wonderful kids (2 boys ages 17 & 15, and a little princess age 12). I was always thin up until my divorce 12 years ago. I went through a bout of depression and enjoyed WAY too many comfort foods, and discovered the sheer easiness of fast food drive thru!!! Gotta love that Taco Bell!!! So, little by little my weight went up, and my physical activity dropped to non-existent...you know...parking in the closest parking space to the door!!! My lowest point of being an obese member of society is a trip to Disneyland in October of 2005 with my daughter...now I could walk that park from 8am up until 12 midnight normally, but that trip I had to take alot of 'sit down and rest a minute' breaks...then on the third and last day, my back and legs were killing me, that I actually rented the scooter thing!!! Oh my goddess, I had hit my rock bottom!!!

Below, up until April 4th are a couple of medical highlights and then my true updates!! I hope that I don't bore you ;-)

3 weeks and 1 day until surgery!! I've been reading some of the profiles and I must say, I've had an incredibly easy journey so far. It started a little over 2 years ago when I first met with my PCP. At my first appointment with him, which was a complete physical, I weighed in at 285, and he wanted me to lose just 20 lbs per year. I thought...whoa, he's easy! So off I went to Weight Watchers and joined Curves. Now, keep in mind that I have Hypothyroidism...not able to take any kind of weight loss meds to help out...and I will be on thyroid hormones for the rest of my life.

Well, needless to say, in June 2005 I needed to have my gall bladder removed and at the time of that surgery I weighed 295. In September 2005, at a follow up appointment, I weighed in at 325!!
I gained 30 lbs after gall bladder surgery!! I flipped out...I started crying, and asked my doctor what he thought about bariatric surgery. He put his arms around me and hugged me...told me that it would be the most beneficial for me, but, it had to be something that I wanted. So, since I had almost 2 years of 'dieting' documented...the insurance okay'd my consultation with the bariatric surgeon.

December 8, 2005~ met with Dr. Sanchez for the first time, and still weighed in at 325. He explained the 2 types of surgery that he performed, and I chose the RNY. He gave me a goal of a 25 weight loss, but would meet me in the middle to schedule a surgery date. I left there feeling excited that I was on the road to FINALLY losing all of this weight.

January 2006~ Went to Dr's office and lost 4lbs...big whoop!! Had my Nutrition and Psych evaluations. Need to go back Feb 2nd..

February 2, 2006~ Weighed in at 310lbs!! YIKES!! I cried...(man, I sound like a cry baby) so, my surgery is scheduled for April 26th...need to go back March 31st

March 31, 2006~ Weighed in at 308.5lbs...not bad considering I spent a week in Disneyland!! 3 and a half weeks til surgery...now I start to get a lil bit nervous.

April 4, 2006~ I've be looking at various before and after pics and reading about the weight loss in the short amount of time. Wow...it's a bit overwhelming and exciting and scary. I haven't been thin since my senior year of high school...I was 166, and I remembered this because I enlisted in the Navy, and that was the 'magic' number for me to meet the weight requirements for my height. So, again this is my ultimate goal!!!!

166 lbs....

April 6,2006~ Today is my pre-op class at the hospital. I am told that I will get my surgery time, meet with the nutritionist, and do all my pre-admission paperwork. My stomach has been full of butterflies since Monday, since I've really let myself realize that this is really going to happen for me. I have a lot of support here at work...my co-workers have all been great with encouraging me, there are a few ladies in other departments that have had the RNY and have been a wealth of information, and my supervisor has not given me any 'heat' for not being at work for a few weeks. I have not been hiding the fact that I am having this surgery...everyone knows that I am doing this for myself and that this is the choice that I have made for my health. Some of my family have their concerns, they don't see my 'weight', they see 'me' and they love me just the way I am. And, you know, I'm the same way with them. That's just the way it is when you love someone...you see them, not what needs to be improved or isn't up to society's standards. So, what I guess it is that I'm trying to say...is that I am one of the lucky ones, that has people in my life that love me and support me and want nothing but the best for me. I have 3 great kids that have never once been ashamed of their Bigga Mama, I have loving and supportive parents that have let me and my kids live with them for the past 9 years and that are right there with me during this journey...
Okay...I need to stop...I don't want to cry...I'm just extremely lucky with the people that I have in my life...and I forgot where I was going with this post.....
I will return after I've had my pre-op class...
It's funny, because when you sit here and type up these updates...you really don't know if anyone else will read them...but, we do...I hope that whatever I write will help another person in their journey, the way that reading so many profiles has helped me.
To the stranger that has stumbled across my profile...I wish you Brightest Blessings....

Here I am on January 4th, 2006 the day before I started my diet seriously at 325lbs.

April 11, 2006 ~ 2 weeks and a wake up left to go!! I went to my pre-op class at the hospital on the 6th...WOW, I left there completely prepared for this surgery and the new diet that I would have to follow for the 8 weeks after surgery. I was pretty nervous up until that point about how was I going to get all of my protein and fluids and vitamins in with my new stomach. We also did our EKG, lab work and talked to the financial department about any co-pays that we would have. It doesn't look like I have one, so, the $325.00 that I paid for the Psych evaluation out of pocket, is the only money that I've had to pay on my own.
Then on Friday (the 7th), I went by my old job, because my old boss (who happens to be my ex-husband's uncle) made his steak and pesto pasta that I happen to love!! He knew that my surgery was coming up, so he wanted me to have it before then! Wasn't that nice?? Anyways, his wife had the RNY last year and I hadn't seen her since then...HOLY CRAP BATMAN!! She is the only other person that I have known as a 'bigga mama' that has had the surgery...I couldn't stop looking at her, and I got all teary eyed, because, although I thought she looked good before, she looks amazing now. She didn't mind talking about things with me and made me feel 'calmer', because, I think that I'm more scared of what my life will be like at 166 lbs or even smaller, if my body allows it. I'm so used to being a fat chick now, what will change when I'm thinner? This is where my anxiety comes from...will I ever say..."okay, I'm good, I don't need to lose any more weight"...or will I always feel like I'm fat and try to get even lower than what is healthy?? I guess that's what the Psychologists are for, huh?
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April 14, 2006

Okay, nothing to new to post...so, I just thought that I would list some goals that I'm gonna set for myself...cause, I'm always saying, "I'm gonna do ____ & ____ after I've lost all my weight"!!

**______ STOP TAKING METFORMIN
**______ LOSE 25 LBS
**______ LOSE 50 LBS
**______ LOSE 75 LBS
**______ LOSE 100 LBS
**______ LOSE 125 LBS
**______ LOSE 150 LBS
**______ REACH GOAL WEIGHT 166 LBS
**______ FIT INTO A SIZE 16
**______ SKYDIVING
**______ WEAR A SEXY RED DRESS TO THE CMG GALA
**______ WEAR AN ACTUAL PAIR OF HIGH HEELS FOR MORE THAN 5 MINUTES
**______ SHOP IN THE JUNIORS DEPT
**______ HORSEBACK RIDING
**______ DANCE AND FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING IT
**______ MOVE OUT OF MY PARENTS HOUSE
**______ GET ON THE BACK OF A HARLEY
**______ BUY MY CAMARO
**______ GET ON ALL THE RIDES AT GREAT AMERICA
**______ WALK ALL OVER DISNEYLAND WITHOUT TAKING REST BREAKS
**______ GO HIKING
**______ RUN WITH THE DOGS
**______ NOT MAKE MY WORK CHAIR SQUEAK
**______ GO TO FINLAND FOR RUISROCK FESTIVAL
**______ GET THE REST OF MY TATTOOS (SO FAR 7 OF THEM)
**______ TAKE FAMILY PORTRAITS WITH MY KIDS
**______ NOT DREAD GETTING ON THE SCALE
**______ TO WEAR CHUCK TAYLOR CONVERSE'S WITHOUT HAVING MY SHOES LOOK LIKE THEY'RE BAKING BREAD

You scored as Fall. You are FALL. You appreciate all that you have, and are willing to share with others. You are a friend in the truest sense of the word, and can easily focus your attention on those who need you, placing yourself on the back burner. You make sure your responsibilites are met before you allow yourself \\\\\\\'free time\\\\\\\'.

Fall

90%

Spring

85%

Summer

75%

Winter

45%

What Season Are You?
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05/26/06