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Three more days...
Apr 05, 2009
Less than two weeks til surgery!
Mar 28, 2009
I am at the point now where I simply want to be done with it. I want to KNOW how I will have to eat - what I can and cannot eat - how to manage my water. I try to practice, but it's not real. Plus it seems like everyone's experiences are different. So who knows to practice for!!
So, I'm still excited. No cold feet or doubts yet. My new Wii fit has given me some great energy for working out and getting better at all the games and exercises. That will help me in my recovery too!
Got my surgery date - April 8
Mar 09, 2009
The other exciting thing that happened yesterday was that I learned my weight. I stopped paying attention to my weight about a year ago when all this started. Just realized that I get too obsessed with the number and don't focus on the right things. I thought for sure that not checking my weight + not doing extreme crazy eating - there would be no way I would lose weight! Well, my doctor asked me if it was OK to show me my weight so he could talk about potential results. I said sure. I was SHOCKED!!!!! I had lost 40 pounds! How is that possible? Honestly, because I don't have any point of reference, I am just convinced that they wrote it down wrong. I think my clothes should fit me better if I lost that much weight. I did start to notice that maybe they are and it's just not as obvious as I would expect. Anyway - that was a pleasant surprise!
I got approved!
Feb 16, 2009
I have to say that over the last several months I have really struggled with whether this was really going to happen or not. And I think in my head, I came to the conclusion that it was not going to happen. I have stayed relatively on plan with food - lots of protein, breakfast every day, protein snacks! In January my husband and I made the commitment not to eat out as much. That means I am cooking every night. We used to go out to eat quite regularly and it cost a lot of money, but it also gave me lots of opportunities to eat badly. Now I cook, and while I am not always cooking super-healthy meals, I feel that I am doing significantly better than I would be if I was eating out. No bread to tempt me, no appetizers, no Coke, no huge portions.
It doesn't quite feel real yet. I am worried that I didn't really mean to do this, just wanted to see if it was possible. But I keep reminding myself that this is something I've wanted for many years and that it will make a significant improvement on my life. It's still in my control - but I want to be successful and will work hard to make that possible!
More than halfway through!!!
Sep 21, 2008
I am really getting excited. I wanted to summarize some of my progresses and where I am still struggling.
What's going well?
Protein - I am really getting better at focusing on protein. I also started eating breakfast regularly.
Water - I'm not where I want to be yet with my water intake. But the only pop I drink anymore is when we go out. So at home and work - it's water-only!
Vitamins - I got chewable multi vitamins and calcium. Taking them regularly!
What do I need to work on?
Choices - I still can't have certain foods in the house or I will munch on the wrong things!
Meals throughout the day - especially since I have been eating breakfast, I find it more difficult to get my additional protein/carb snacks throughout the day.
I haven't been weighing myself and have been continuing to do better with workouts. I lost weight on my last visit! I don't think I have ever lost weight when I wasn't obsessing over the scale and everything that goes in my mouth!
Hoping for continued success!
Thinking about all the options
Jul 19, 2008
Rather than make up my mind completely (I am still in the early phases of the pre-op planning), I am going to start spending more time on the Gastric Bypass boards and see what I can learn.
I talked to my husband about this and have started to get the feeling that he may not be as supportive as he had seemed. He is making very valid comments about his concerns, but they make me wonder if I will get an "I told you so" if I have trouble after surgery. He said that he was worried that I wouldn't be happy with the outcome of the surgery and the difficulty I might have with foods and with eating. Also, he said that working out is a key part of the plan afterwards and since I don't work out consistently now, why would I afterwards? It almost makes me feel like he doesn't think I'll be successful.
I don't know. Feeling discouraged as I am moving closer to it. This is the first time I feel like I am doing something that will truly make a permenant change for the better - I can't do it alone.
Keep moving ahead...
Jun 17, 2008
1) Prep for surgery - both meeting the insurance requirements and changing eating habits.
2) Work on my blood pressure through food - it is currently being controlled by medication.
3) Learn how to eat when I am traveling - I travel quite a bit and this is the most difficult time for me.
4) Learn how to feed my husband while I feed myself. We have different tastes in food and I often prepare things he likes that may not be the best for me - how can we both get what we want/need?
She gave me 4 things to work on in the next month:
1) focus on protein in meals
2) Limit salt intake
3) Eat every 2-3 hours
4) Read Eating Mindfully
I am going to the grocery store tonight to try to get things that fit all these categories! I am very thankful for the website the Daily Plate - which helps me see the % of protein I am eating (which isn't much right now!!).
Second goal achieved - first appointment
May 22, 2008
I can now start my 6 month prep to get approved by insurance. They said I can see a dietician as my preparation, which is good - because that's what I need to work on the most.
I am so thankful for this website because I have learned so much more on here than I have learned from the clinic staff. They're certainly helpful when you ask, but don't clue you into all the details you get here. I even think that the info session only scratched the surface of what I have learned here. Thank goodness for this site!
Achieved first goal - went to the info session
Apr 23, 2008
My personal statement - for my application
Apr 04, 2008
After many years of consideration, I have made the decision to have the Lap Band procedure performed to lose weight. I have come to a place in my life where I must face my future and make some decisions on what that future will look like. Without making significant changes, I know one of three things is almost guaranteed to happen:
1) I will maintain my current, extremely unhealthy weight, and continue with my current physical difficulties, In order to live the healthy, active life I want and to do the work I want, I strongly believe that the Lap Band procedure is the only option that gives me that opportunity. While I have not had any serious health issues stemming from my weight yet, I struggle every day with basic tasks. My joints hurt when I move. I struggle with the high level of travel I do with my work, whether it is sitting long hours in a car or plane, or keeping up with staff I travel with as we race through an office building or a hospital. I struggle to be as active in my personal life as I would like. My work travel takes away my energy. My body works against me when I want to be active and work out or go hiking or walking with my husband. It’s a struggle. My balance is off and my ankles are weak and I fall often – sometimes resulting in serious injury.
2) I will continue to gain weight at a rapid rate and develop more serious health issues,
3) I will attempt another weight loss program, only to gain more weight in the long run than I lost.
While my current problems lead mainly to joint and back pain and fatigue, I know that my weight is a significant risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, etc. Not only do I want to actively live my life now, I want to make a significant change that will help me live a longer life – a quality life.
I can honestly say that in previous years, I had considered the benefits of this surgery to be more superficial. If I lost weight, I could get better clothes, I could find someone to love me, people would like me better. Now, it comes down to health. I have learned that people can love and respect me regardless of my weight. I do not believe that the surgery would change who I am as a person or how I see myself. That can’t come from a surgery – it can only come from me. I don’t expect the surgery to be an easy fix – the work to lose the weight will still be hard, I will just have an important tool to help me in the process.
The risk of any surgery is very real. At this point, I think it’s important for me to weigh the risk of the surgery with the risk of living a life with excessive weight that could lead to countless health problems and likely a shorter life. The chance to live a healthy, active life through surgery greatly outweighs the certainty of health problems that lay ahead of me continuing on my current path.
After the years of working through the decision to have the surgery, I can say that once I made the decision to do it – I feel excited that I am making a positive change in my life, almost a relief. It is a very hard thing for me to admit that I need significant help with this problem, but it is even harder to face the life I would lead without getting that help.
I have heard many people say the day they had their surgery is their birthday – they have given themselves the chance to live their life. Now is my time to work towards a new birthday.
