March 26th 10am!

Mar 13, 2007

I received my 401k check, and additional funds. Everything will be paid in a matter of days. 
Pre op testing this Friday....everything is working so quickly now!
Started my liquid diet. It is a little bit harder than I expected. I have stocked my kitchen...but man I am hungry.
Shannon


I HAVE A DATE!!!!!!

Mar 07, 2007

I go for pre op this coming Monday. If all goes well March 26th I get banded! WOOHOO

Latest kinda good news

Mar 06, 2007

kind of good news :
I can cash out 10k of my 401K....

the kind of bad news:
I have to come up with the 7k besides that. I have to come up with it before I cash out.

The IRS has to know why I am using it, if I cash out and cant get loan then I am in trouble! 

So tomorrow is scramble to find 7k loan. Mom said she would co sign so that helps alot. 

If I get a loan then my  401K will go through and my new doc's office says I will be scheduled asap.

Can you believe that? It is so close I can taste it! Damn I dont want to get hopes too high but I do believe in the power of positive thinking.

I am also a person well grounded in reality. Reality says that 401K could get screwed up somehow or not approved.....loan denied...and then I am back to square one.

I like to imagine that I am writing this all for the purpose of looking back and getting a giggle at how frustrated I was in the beginning of this process.


Shannon





More bad news.....when is it gonna end!

Mar 05, 2007

I cant cash out my 401k. I have to have the surgery then not be able to pay for it then turn to my 401k as a hardship withdrawl....
What surgeon will go for that?
I am losing all hope here guys!


My 1st appt today!

Mar 04, 2007

Oh my God he is hot! This man comes in the room that is dark hair and absolutely delicious. I kick myself in the ass for not being 150 lighter when I see a man like that! All this personality is housed in this fat suit so catching a glimpse from some hottie like him has never happened.
The scale says I dropped down to 269...yeap before surgery too! I am so excited that I have lost my big appetitie. I went for the last supper and it was great, but followed it with a total fridge cleaning.
I threw away anything and everything remotely offending and stocked up on protein shakes, meal bars and jiuces. ( All doc approved.) I am a major foodee and what goes in my mouth has to taste good. I bought some really cool stuff to make some kick ass protein shakes.

The magic bullet ($59 at Wally world..$99 or more on TV)
clear fluids ( juices, broths, jello,)
protein powder Lo Carb Vanilla Creme Isotex ( $55. for a 2 gal tub but got a discount that ended up at 45 or so)

groceries for smoothies
frozen dark whole cherries
frozen blue berries
mango cut then frozen
frozen strawberries
fresh strawberries
fresh bananas ( which I sectioned then froz)
Dark chocolate hersheys cocoa powder 
milk chocolate hersheys powder
orange extract
banana extract
coconut extract
lemon extract
almon extract
vanilla extract

special k 10g protein bars (key here is eat on off the shelf in the store take the 1.29 hit if it is nasty you saved yourself 5 dollars on the whole box. Mine was great so I bought 3 boxes and of course the one I ate ;)

chicken broth
cambell select soups ( cant be put in the bullet to puree)
grated cheese to top my soups ( just a pich)

water, water, water,

pudding in every shape form and fashion
applesause
Murray's no sugar sandwhich cookies...like oreos

***************************************************************************
Welcome to Shannon's Smoothies now serving:

1. dark cherries and dark chocolate 
2, banana, mango
3. orange creme
4. blueberry
5. strawberry
6. strawberry with dark chocolate
7. strawberry and blue berry
8. coconut
9. coconut and chocolate
10. orange and dark chocolate
11. cookies and cream ( murray no sugar sandwhich cookies)
12. honey and granola ( my fav!)

I use one scoop of the No Carb Vanilla protein and add non fat milk 8 oz, then mix and play mad scientist to come up with endless alternatives....

Sounds Yummy! My 2 week pre op diet consist of 4 shakes and one meal. 1000 calorie limit and must have 60 gr of protein. Easy enough!


Its final I am doing it!

Mar 02, 2007

With all the options I have in front of me, and none showing to be fruitful yet...I took matters in my own hands.
I called my 401K today  and asked if I could take out a "hardship withdrawl". They said yes, as a matter of fact I can as long as it is medically related. After 20% to Uncle Sam I should have almost enough for the band.
I hestiated a moment to withdrawl....what I have will be 200,000 in 10 years. Next week the balance will be 0. The way I see it is that I will have more energy come -125 lbs. More energy to work harder and go back to school. This is raise my income thus I will have more to put away to back peddle a little.
So its final. I made up my mind. I am doing it. I called my mother to concrete this decision.
She seems ok with the decision as I really let her know how this will indeed give me a tool to help change my life for the better.
The great thing is this isnt the first time she heard about it, rather the 3rd. Yeap 2 times I threatened to do this before, but never went through with it. Mosltly because so many people gave such negative feed back, and I thought I was being lazy to do this. That is what I was told so I thought it to be so.
I went on various diets here and there to prove I could do it on my own. Each time the same results. I was told by friends and family its because I didnt stick with it long enough. I knew it was different. I felt like I was dragging a huge 300lb rock uphill everyday, and there were days I didnt have the energy to fight. I had no tool that was there for me on those days. So I would eat something bad, it would cause depression for being a quiter and the cycle would start all over agian.
   I do alot of self reflection and I asked myself "self what will be different this time?" This time there will be a tool there that will remind me I am not going uphill all day. I dont have to fight real hunger pains as head pains anymore. Just head pains....and I can do that! 
 I am ready.
 This week should let me know how far out I am from this being a realization soon. I have an appt on the 12th and as a self pay I think that will speed up the process as there wont be any waiting and fighting insurance.
Shannon

The camera lies!

Mar 02, 2007

I did it. I took some nudies of myself and they are horrid! But I am keeping in mind that in not too long someone is going to see the after..(hoping and praying for wls!) 
I am ready for a wait. I know it wont happen tomorrow. I am calm because I know it will, just have to figure out how.
I went to my company today and let them know I will be applying for a job elsewhere for the insurance. I was glad to hear my HR say he would look a little more into this...but "no promises".
Right now I am looking at a part time or full time at local hospital for the coverage. 
I have always wanted to wrok there because they have awesome college tuition assistance...kill 2 birds with one stone!
Still thinking about the 401k....the taxes will eat all of my savings up. I think it is like a 25% immediately off the top...ouch!
That leaves me with just enough to afford the lap band.
I worry though that the lap band isnt "strong enough" for me. I know that is stupid, like tylenol vs codene...but I do. I wonder if I should go big the first time...I dont know...atleast there is a lot of time to think about it.
Shannon

even more bad news

Mar 02, 2007

1. insurance says no way no how!
2. cant cash out 401k until next month and taxes will kill me
3. maybe a job at new company is way to go.
4. denied for loan.


Not sure how I will get there but I will!

bad news

Mar 02, 2007

my insurance will not cover any bariatric surgery....this was really upsetting but I am determined so I have a couple of creative ideas

1. double check with insurance, beg, plead, etc
2. cash out 401k ( after taxes enough for banding)
3. quit my current full time job with company I love to go to a company that will allow surgery ( and my benefits start day one!)
4. try to finance

Stay tuned not sure how I am going to get there but I will!

Called for first appointment

Feb 23, 2007

Called and left a message for first appointment with Dr Jawad's office. No call back yet....Already excited as I know  I am on the way to health..already one day closer!

About Me
Gainesville, FL
Location
35.4
BMI
Surgery
03/26/2007
Surgery Date
Feb 23, 2007
Member Since

Friends 59

Latest Blog 90
fell off dirtbike 2 weeks on my butt
Turning lemons into lemonade
Deepak Chopra
Been long time since I have posted
Fit day.com
long time no post!
down 10 more lbs!
Oh wow I am learning soooo much from this site!!!
8 months out
Shout out to Farrah!

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