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Blog 90135
 

Bad Day

I'm having a rotten day. So, I got back from vacation a couple of weeks ago. I managed to gain 7 pounds while I was there. 7 pounds!! I know it is my own fault....splurging in the high calorie drinks and zero protein shakes. I stepped on the scale and I was 284. I almost cried. At the end of this month, I will have had this band for 10 months. I remember, at the end of November, weighing around 297. That is so freaking discouraging. It's like I had to give EVERYTHING I had in me to lose the 50 lbs (which I am proud of). But, can not seem to go lower.   I have 7.7 in my band right now. The only food I can not tolerate is some chicken. It comes right back up. Everything else, with the exception of breads (which I don't eat at all), is okay. I portion out what I eat and am hungry 1 1/2-2 hours later. You might say, "Well, get a fill." Which, is what I think, too. I go to the dr. in a couple weeks. But, when they had 7.9 in my band, I was throwing up everything. I can not seem to find that spot. When I think I do, I get all excited then it seems like once the swelling goes down, I'm not there. I just feel like I am on an eternal diet. I stock my house with protein, greek yogurt, veggies, etc, but I can still eat portions that are bigger than what I should be. It doesn't help when I eat the proper portion and am hungry again in a couple of hours.   To make matters worse, I saw a friend who had the sleeve done 3 1/2 years ago. She went from 280 and is at a slim 130 right now. She just had a tummy tuck and boob job. She at 3 bites of a hamburger (with bread), a couple bites of fruit, and proclaimed, "Wow! I am STUFFED!" I didn't know whether I wanted to cry or strangle her! Meanwhile, I sitting across the table, with tiny bits of my half brat (I don't do the skin of it because it doesn't agree with me) and my tomato salad.......finishing it, feeling satisfied, then hungry again in a couple hours. My friend is never hungry and forgets to even eat. I. am. having. a. SUCKY. day.
qtney1

qtney1

6
Shonda7911's Blog
 

One day Post Op

Start with yesterday, good sleep and walking most of the day. Its 8: 16 am and im up and dressed. Bout to go out for the morning. Slept real good. Im slept in my bed. I have a bit of soreness on my shoulder (i think that might be a touch of gas. )Throat is very sore and my stomach is sore too. I have not felt like eating. Yesterday i had a cup of water , a protein shake and a sugar free popcycle. Im going to try and get more in today. talk latter
Shonda7911

Shonda7911

3
Journey to Healing
 

To Be with HCG or Not to Be --and Other Updates

It's been a while, I hadn't blogged because there hasn't been much to report. I did receive my second fill today and I have lost an additional seven pounds since my last fill less than four weeks ago. My realistic loss was a little more because I had some additional retention from that "TOM".   I guess my self-expectations are higher than what's realistic, I know we all think that what we've lost isn't good enough, and I have to continually check myself on not negating my progress. It's hard work! The portion controls, stopping yourself from completely indulging in a meal that you're enjoying, sacrificing your time by going to the gym and keeping in mind that you've invested some major buckaroos in attaining these goals.   I'm grateful that I haven't experienced the stuck feeling, the slimming, or the episodes of pain from eating too fast or eating the wrong things altogether. I've pretty much been able to eat what I want without deprivation or restriction, but I have learned the art of grazing on those things that are the most appetizing to me. One or two bites and it's enough to satisfy that craving or curiosity.   I am a workout fanatic, I love participating in spin class, lifting weights, riding my mountain bike and doing some type of High Intensity Circuit Training, because of that I have seen a difference in inches loss and total fat percentage decrease. This week has been a bit of a struggle because of my "not-so-friendly" monthly visitor, so I hope I can bounce back next week and reach my goal of working out twice daily (wish me luck).   Another thing, I spoke to my PA today and I asked her about combining the lap band with the HCG injections and diet. I had actually invested 600 bucks on the program before I decided to get the Lapband. I have a vial left and she said that the diet acceptable for the protocol, but to not be discouraged if I experience a sudden loss and then later an uptick in weight gain. So I'm still trying to decide whether or not I want to do the protocol for about 20 days to jumpstart my loss (we're talking 20lbs in 20 days). I'll keep you guys posted on my progress. I did get a B12 injection today (included with the HCG program that I had paid for in the Spring) and it's supposed to increase my energy and help to efficiently metabolize fat. I did take them once a week last year, and I could tell a significant difference in my overall energy level and weight loss.   I know I'm kinda long winded tonight, I'm completely relaxed as I sit here sipping on my Apple Martini!   Good Night All   Happy Travels, Kymberly
Kymbethin

Kymbethin

0
MsAnn6550's Blog
 

July 14, 2011

Went to group meeting tonight. I enjoyed it even though it was mainly a rah-rah meeting. They all are. We are supposed to be doing this "Back On Track" program but all the meetings so far have been the same. I still go. I need the rah-rah. I take notes and listen intently. What I get out of them is this: the lapband takes commitment, conviction, and diligence. The odds are that we will all slip with our diets within the first 6-9months. The test will be if we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and start all over again. A 12 step program teaches you one day at a time. I think this is true for Bandsters. Food is a drug for me. It gives me comfort. I crave certain foods. I feel like my body need them. These cravings are better but I still have them. The hunger thing is getting better too. I have to be very careful or I'll over eat. then I pay for it by feeling miserable. My brother had LapBand procedure 1 week before me and he is having a completely different experience than me. He's a little weird any way. Correction. He's a lot weird. So far everything he has told me he can't eat, I have at least tried with no problems. He can't eat shrimp. I can but don't really like the taste/texture once I've chew, chew, chewed it. I've eaten fried chicken, too. Just chewed it extra well and didn't eat the skin.Gonna try spaghetti squash tomorrow night with some spaghetti sauce. Daughter says it's good. Maybe it will help the pasta craving. Well, that's ablut all for now. Will write more later.
MsAnn6550

MsAnn6550

0
PhatGurl80's Blog
 

What is to come?

Today is Thursday July 14, 2011 and exactly 28 days from my Verital Sleeve Gastrectomy. Well, like many of you, I came to the point where my confidence that I'd be able to one day slim down finally crashed and burned. I finally came to a point where I felt that even with all of my dtermination and hard work, I simply could not pull off what seemed to be a minor adjustment in diet and exercise. I've been on that diet roller coaster for too many years, I've been living with that perverbial monkey clawing at my back for way too long.   In September of 2009, I had a very casual phone call with my very best friend from childhood. She lived in Raleigh, NC and I lived in St. Louis at the time. We've shared many things with eachother including an uncanny resemblance to eachother which caused people to beloeve we were beyond the "blood sisters" that we ceremoniously donned eachother back in the 4th grade. We were both weighing well into our 200's.... me at a staggering 250 and her at 238. In that seemingly routine "catch up" conversation she dropped the bomb. "I"m going to have the Lap Band surgery." What in the world? Did she honestly think she was so obese that she had to have some kind of invasive surgery. Was this her only choice? I shared those concerns with her and in addition secretly chalked her decision up to the fact that she was just lazy and didn't want to exercise. Afterall, it's all about the math...less calories in and more calories out. I got the picture. I was so convinced that this was the only way that weight loss would be met and kept.   So, in the next coming months, I was as supportive as I could be when she called and told me aobut all the many Dr. appointments trying to "qualify" for the surgery through her insurance. Around January of 2010, she was hit with the bomb that her coverage would be denied because her BMI was not high enough for long enough. Her hopes went flailing down the toilet. And my secret objections to it all were satistified. In the meantime, I did get curious about it. I talked with my insurance carrier just to see if it would be covered and of course it wasn't. So, any flighting thoughts of me having this kind of surgery as well were quickly spat on. But behold! in February she told me of another plan she concocted to leave the U.S. and have surgery in Mexico! WTF?!?! NOW she really IS nuts! Then I decided to get serious with my diet and exercise to prove to her that invasive surgery wasn't needed. In June 2010 she got the Sleeve done and 6 months later I saw her for the first time when I went to visit for Christmas. Ironically, I posted the below exerpt from a blog that I had on Fatsecret.com   "While visiting a friend in NC over the holidays, I did a lot of thinking about why it's been so hard for me to lose weight and keep it off. My friend, is 6 months into recovering from a weight loss surgery called "the sleeve". It's a procedure where they take 80% of your stomach to keep you from eating a bunch of food at once. She described how she had to only eat liquids for a whole two months afterwards and now when she eats solids, it's only a miniscule amount...too much will cause her to throw it all up (which I also witnessed). I gotta say, she went from about 240 lbs (similar to my weight) and now she's a svelt 1401bs. In only 6 months. Her body type was such that she didn't look obese or overweight, her BMI wasn't even high enough for Doctors in the US to operate (she went to Mexico), yet she decided that having her stomach removed was the easiest route to weight loss. I brought this up to my significant other and since he's a great man who only wants to see me happy, he offered to send me to Mexico as well and have the surgery. So, now the very wish that I've had for years has been sat right down in front of me. In the past few days, I"ve thought long and hard about actually having this surgery and what it would imply about who I am as a person. Am I the type that takes the easy road? Am I the type that takes the hard road for no reason? Would I be giving up? Could I just work really hard to exercise and get better more healthy-looking results? I'm not sure exactly what to do here, but I know that psycologically and physically, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to have this type of surgery. We can afford it, then I would drop more than enough pounds to fit into the wedding dress of my dreams...but I think i'm stronger than that. I think I can do this the natural way and feel much more accomplished once I hit my goal. And I WILL do it."   Looking back at that blog excerpt I still feel like I gave up. I feel like that all that hard work I put in to eat right and exercise was so useless that that reason I've opted for the Sleeve is because I'm a failure. Is it just me? Does anyone else feel the way I do? So, this past May of 2011, i convinced myself that going to Mexico and paying $5K would be the best thing for me to do. And I'm a big ball of emotions right now, I'm not really sure how to handle the feelilngs I have about feeling like a failure for doing this. I also find myself saying things like "oh when I get skinny, i'll be able to shop at ___ store..." Scary.   So on to the next level of my first blog: Going to Mexico. I used the same coordinator as my friend, Sandy at A Light Me. She set me up with a relatively newer surgeon by the name of Fernando Garcia Govea at a newer hospital. My insurance company doesn't want anything to do with weight loss. Seriously. I can't get anything covered concerning weight loss. But, I can however, get reimbursed through a flexible spending account for gym or nutritionist if my Dr. writes a note that says I need it because i'm obese. But what if I don't have a flexible spending account... Thank God I do, but really? Why can't something like this be covered by my carrier. They'd rather pay for me to be in the hospital for heart attack due to clogged arteries. So Mexico, here I come. Over the next few weeks...months really, i'll be documenting my experience and ferociously lapping up all of the the other postings out there from people who are also going through this. To everyone out there in the blog-o-sphere, good luck! And I pray that everyone gains what they are searching for.   Current Weight: 270 BMI: 43.6 Height: 5'6" Age: 31 Goal Weight: 170-180
PhatGurl80

PhatGurl80

4
KathyD49's Blog
 

Trying to do Better!

Well, after yesterday's HORRIBLE experience with overeating, I am trying to do better today. In fact this morning I was almost afraid to eat! But I made my sign and posted it on the refrigerator that says "STOP! THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO EAT!" Hopefully it will help me to remember that I can't just stuff food into my mouth without thinking about quantity, quality, etc.   It was noon today before I got up the nerve to eat something. I poached an egg and put it on a half slice of toast. I ate it REAL slow, and was careful not to drink for 15 minutes before I ate, and 45 minutes after I ate. (Those were my surgeon's suggestions/rules for drinking liquids.) And am happy to report that I ate till I was full (when you eat really slowly you can pick up the "full" signal more easily). I discarded the last three or four bites, since I had received the "full" signal. I am going to ignore the guilty feeling I got when I washed the last few bites down the garbage disposal. (a remnant of my upbringing! You know the old "starving children in Africa" thing. That is partly how I got this way to begin with!)   So now I am (I hope) a REFORMED overeater! I am also looking for some (small) plates to use when I eat. One of the reasons I overate yesterday, is that I made the slice of toast and took it to bed with me, no plate, napkin, etc. Then didn't want to leave a few bites sitting on the bedside table cause my cat would get in it and make a mess, so I forced the last few bites down (too lazy to get up and throw in the garbage!). I am NOT going to eat in bed anymore either! I am going to sit down at the table or the breakfast bar and use a plate, and act civilized when I eat. This is all part of my "new improved" eating program! Wish me luck!!!
KathyD49

KathyD49

1
Gardendiva3's Blog
 

Vitamins 101

Course Subject - Vitamins 101 or How to Swallow Horse Pills   Ok - so we gotta take vitamins after the sleeve and probably before wouldn't hurt. I can't swallow those big honkin vitamins! Do they make gummy bear vitamins for adults - not the multi-vitamin - I see those at Costco. What about the Sublingual B-12, the Iron and Calcium.   I wonder what a chewable Iron would taste like...spray starch perhaps. OK really, anybody who is taking these vitamins and they've found something very small - which I might be able to swallow OR if you've found gummy vitamins - please let me know the 411.   My last resort would be to learn how to get these things down without choking. People say throw your head back but that just makes the vitamin go to the front of my mouth. Choke - cough - gag... and sometimes worse.   Also - my grandbabies have gummy calcium but I would need to eat 9 a day and they are LOADED with sugar.   GardenDiva3
gardendiva3

gardendiva3

3
MV ROCKS' Blog
 

Checking in July 14

I love p90x I never thought I would say that but i do. What I'm struggling with is my eating. Since the workouts are so hard I'm starving all the time.  It's bad and I'm craving carbs like crazy. If I try to et mostly protein It doesn't seem like I have enough energy for my workouts. It's such a battle the eating thing. I'm just going to keep doing my best and forgetting the rest. 
mmv671

mmv671

1
LR6909's Blog
 

I got approved

Okay, okay, okay!!! Somebody help me! I received a call yesterday from my insurance company. Oh boy, what is this about. Maybe the prevpak, they have never called me before. I made a mental note to call today.   Well, I just checked my voice mail and my surgeon’s office called too, and they said I HAVE BEEN APPROVED!!!! I had no idea they submitted my paperwork already. All of this before I completed the new EGD. Thank ya!!!!! I have 6 lbs to lose before I am at my pre-op goal of 230. I am so excited!!!!   BUT, I just called both of them back and neither were available. Ugh! I so hope I can get it scheduled the 2nd week of August. That will be right during/after this major case we are dealing with.    
LR6909

LR6909

2
sandiburn's Blog
 

liquid diet testing

So I went to GNC today and bought the lean shake. I got vanilla so that I could make it any flavor I wanted. I just mixed up a 1/2 serving to try it. It was not bad. I used water the first time. I think it will be better with milk. I am kinda excited to break out my blender and try to mix other flavors. I dont have to start my liquid diet till 7-30-11, but I want to find what I like so that my pre-op week will be easier.
sandiburn

sandiburn

0
deedee72's Blog
 

Bad girl...bad bad girl

I have not been the best bandster this week...ugh! I have only excercised a total of 40 minutes and I have not been eating the best. I had cake and icecream last night. I know it wasn't the right choice, but lemme tell ya...it was DELICIOUS!! I'm up 7lbs since last week. I know it's just water retention because I havent been THAT bad!! I'm going to zumba tonight and I'm going to walk around the lake tomorrow and Saturday since we have a break in the heat. I'm getting back on track!!
deedee72

deedee72

2
freelance frog's Blog
 

90 days out and half way there!

Going from month to month I've officially been banded for 3 months now! 13 weeks if I count the weeks and just over 90 days! . At any rate.. I'm in the game further than I'd been able to imagine from the beginning and according to my doctor today, I'm doing "phenomenally well" That's good stuff to hear! I had my third fill today and it hurt. After the second one feeling so much better I wasn't prepared for this one at all. A very inexperienced PA got to do the fill today, and wow.. hopefully she gets a few more under her belt before he turns her loose on me again. (insert disgusted look here!) But, the great news is I had lost weight, not as much as the last time I went in a month ago, but I was down 5 pounds this time. I had a two week vacation in there with no fill before I left, so I was expecting to have gained. I'll definitely take the 5 pound loss! I got a 1cc fill today which puts me at 5cc total. Maybe this will be the beginning of the sweet spot era! I am hoping! I realized today that I am half way to my goal! In three months time that is AMAZING stuff! I feel extremely empowered and motivated right now. I'm getting a little glimpse of my other butt! It's definitely coming out of hiding a little more every day, and it feels fabulous! Every single day I notice little changes that make me very happy. I wasn't prepared for that. I don't know why. It's definitely an added bonus to this journey. I don't really know what I thought it would be like, but not knowing exactly what to expect, I didn't allow myself to get overly excited about how fast the weight would come off, or how the inches would melt away even faster. I certainly haven't had a moment's disappointment since day one. I am so grateful for that. As far as diet goes.. I'm only eating two meals a day most days now, and that's what my doctor wants. I have very little desire to graze or snack between meals at all anymore which pleases me to no end. I haven't drank a Pepsi or soda of any kind since the week before my surgery, and I barely miss that at all right now which is seriously amazing to me. It's been 90 days.. and I had hoped that is all it would take to make me able to kick that habit completely, and I believe I have. I know I drank at least 900 calories per day of just Pepsi before my lap band, and sometimes it was more! These days I drink a lot of water, a lot of unsweetened ice tea, and an occasional glass of lemonade. My meals each day are less than half the size of my pre lapband meals. Again, I'm so amazed by that! It makes me giggle when I think about it! I have to admit, I pretty much eat whatever I want. I don't disallow myself anything unless I've had "stuck" issues with it. I haven't had any bread yet since my fill today, but I suspect it will deal me fits. I'm okay with that, because the past month I've had to be pretty careful about bread and tortillas. They are the most likely to get stuck for me. I still eat cheesy things, I still have sour cream on some things, although not as much as I used to. I just don't crave it like I did. I never crave cake, cookies, brownies etc., but then I never really did before either. I still eat pasta, potatoes and occasionally pizza, but my portions are child sized, and I get full on them really fast. I eat a lot more salads these days and thankfully haven't had any "stuck" episodes due to those. My latest kick has been the Strawberry Fields salad kits from the produce section of the grocery store. 200 calories per serving, and there are only two servings in the bag. BIG servings! One bag is at least three lunches for me. The kit has dried sweet strawberries, slivered almonds, and this delicious strawberry vinaigrette that you pour over it. Sometimes I kick in a little feta cheese and still my calorie count is low, and they are so yummy!! My "head hunger" is way less than it was in the first two months. I'm much more able to be completely satisfied eating just when I'm actually hungry right now. I think this is due in large part to the fact that I haven't deprived myself of eating many of the things I love to eat. Allowing myself to have those things has let me feel more in control, and because I can only eat small portions I'm not getting the horrible damaging amounts of bad stuff that I used to get. I don't know how this would work for everyone.. it just works really well for me. And I decided from the very first week after this surgery that I was going to find, and follow what worked the best for me, and I'm convinced that is why I've been as successful as I have so far. When something has stopped working (like bread and tortillas) I let it go and move on. I have an entire close full of clothes that need to GO! My pile of too big clothes has been growing, and yesterday I realized that almost everything in that closet is too big. Some of it is still wearable.. I'm okay with a few baggy things, but most of it just won't work for me. Love that! I'm supposed to go back in a month to see where I am.. I have high hopes and a goal. Wish me luck!   Thanks for stopping by!   Follow me at: http://www.myotherbutt.blogspot.com  
freelance frog

freelance frog

0
jennifer1's Blog
 

STUCK AND SLIMING AT WORK!!!

OK OK OK OK so it finally happened. I got stuck( not the first time) but the sliming this was new! I'm a therapist and on mon. wed and fri we having staffings with the doctors. Well that means i'm running around to different conference rooms meeting with dotors and writing my documentation and eating lunch. Well today I had some string beans a turkey patty with no bun or anything. I was walking down the hallway and mindlessly eating. Well apparently the piece of turkey patty I bit off was to big and i didnt chew it well enough. Someone noticed I was walking funny and i told her I had some food stuck in my throat. ( i couldnt tell her really why i was stuck cuz only 3 people at work know i had the band and she wasnt one of them.) i've been stuck before but never like this. I was in the bathroom for 10 minutes hanging over the toilet praying i wouldnt throw up. I ended up sliming(yeah pretty gross) It was sooooo painful until it finally went through.   What lessons did I learn today!   1. no matter what i must cut my food into small pieces...i can no longer trust myself to take small bites if it's not already cut up     2. i can no longer rush and eat because then i'm not paying attention       Ok these may be lessons I should have learned a while ago, but after today!!!!!!! trust me i have learned them well!
jennifer1

jennifer1

4
Shonda7911's Blog
 

It' s Here

Hello everyone, well tomorrow is it. I would say my new start. But It took alot to get here. I go in tomorrow at 9:30 . Im just getting off a 3 day trip. That kept my mind busy. Spending time with the kids. Now it's time to prepare. Paperwork, Id, insurance card. Shower with special soap in the am. Wow. Now i have to get a good night sleep. Wait on Hubby to get home. Oh yea have to go take my before pictures talk in the morning. Bye
Shonda7911

Shonda7911

3
roseyposey's Blog
 

BIKING HARD

MY HUBBY AND I WENT BIKING TODAY. WE BIKED 5 MILES IN AND 5 MILES BACK OUT. WE WENT ON A TRAIL WHICH IS OF COURSE EASIER TO RIDE BUT I GOTTA TELL YA - I NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I COULD EVER DO THIS. REMEMBER I HAVE FIBROMYALGIA. LAST TIME I RODE MY BIKE WAS 2 YRS. AGO AND I WAS 50 LBS HEAVIER AND COULD ONLY DO A TOTAL OF 4 MILES AND IT JUST ABOUT KILLED ME FOR REAL!!! SO 10 MILES TOTAL BIKE RIDE TODAY IS JUST UNBELIEVEABLE FOR ME!!! YEAH ME!!!
roseyposey

roseyposey

0
Daniella's Blog
 

1 week post op

Well I made it through my first week. As far as sticking to the diet, it has been a hard week. I think that is because I was at work and everything is tempting. I didn't stray much. I wished I could have. I'm scared to eat anything that could hutrt me. On another note, the gas is getting better. I know that's from the extra walking at work. Yesterday I had my first pureed food. My husband took my vegetable broth and cooked it with my frozen vegetables. then he threw it in the blender. It was actually good. I'm more excited for next week. I will get to try some "mushy meat".   I'm a little worried that I am not losing any weight. I lost a few inches but that was it. I'm ready to Zumba, but I know I have to wait. My first fill is scheduled for 8/8/11. I don't know what to think about that.   I'm having some troubles keeping my blood sugars leveled too. Yesterday it was low and today it is high. I think I just have questions. I don't know. I think I'm letting my emotions get the best of me.
Daniella

Daniella

0
KayyyBeee's Blog
 

Another blow-by-blow VSG surgery experience. Shout out to SeattleSue!

The post below is quite amusing, and comes in parts so you'll have to find the post on VST to get the entire story. It's so well written and informative, it'd do you good to read it, especially if you're contemplating surgery in Mexico.   http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/21117-new-name-sleeved-in-seattle/page__pid__178955#entry178955             I'm home! I'm home! Oh, it's so good.... Well, I promised details and I won't sugar coat it but I want to start by saying: I have no pain (except for the first day...) and was up and walking within hours of surgery, have no nausea or reflux. I'm drinking 40+ oz of water, some broth, and eating jello with no problem. I have NO hunger. I've been walking 1/2 mile or more per day.... If I woke up with amnesia and someone told me I had major surgery on Thursday, I'd say, "Liar."   RECAP: I'm a self pay, Mexico patient. My story "sleeve" story started about six weeks ago when I begrudgingly attended a WL Seminar to hear about the 'band'. I went thinking maybe things had improved and maybe, just maybe it was time to reconsider getting the band. Then, the clouds parted and heavenly music played~~Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. Wow. Shiny. Must know more...   Fast forward to July 6. I fly out, San Diego bound with my dad in tow (resume includes lots of Mexico experience, big guy--big arms, street smart). I'm 43 and 19 years married with teens. So, there is no hang-up about hubby not being with me...he's just not the best choice for me because he cannot stand to not understand what's going on. Mexico is not conducive to making my baby a calm companion. No harm, no foul...he is happy to stay with the kids on this trip!   Before we hit the gate, Ricardo (our driver) is on the phone finding out if we are curbside yet. We agree to call as soon as we are...and sure enough, 2 minutes later we are safely ensconced in the silver Honda Civic, weaving our way toward the border. Ricardo speaks EXCELLENT English and is very knowledgable of the whole "sleeved in Mexico" process. He probably picks-up and delivers most of Dr. Kelly's patients...and he also runs for another. Anyway...all that to say that he is an excellent source of info, he's got the Doc's on speed dial, and is professional in that he calls ahead to confirm details with you. Good guy! As a side note, if you mention the theory that chewing gum is NOT allowed because it causes your stomach to make and release stomach juices/acids, he will have to pay me a royalty. So I appreciate your help there.   Arrive Florence Clinic and are met by Trish as Ricardo delivers us to the reception area. The bldg. looks just as pictured on the exterior, the garden/courtyard is nice. I would liken the reception area to a 'nice' office or professional bldg. That changes as we are led to our room in the back corridor. The impression is less professional office and more motel. It's clean and you'll have everything you need, but really...it's like a motel room with surplus hospital furnishings.   I'm given yet another health history form by the head nurse, Jessica. She speaks very good English also. Trish is a bubbly joy, Dr. Kellly is quiet and trying to greet me and give instruction/answer questions, Jessica the head nurse is speaking rapid spanish to a trio of nurses, and things are frankly, CHAOS. Everything happening at once. I found it amusing that no one respects that the Dr. is speaking and everyone has their own agenda. It feels like I'm standing on some trading floor. Eventually Trish and Dr. Kelly leave...and I'm left filling out the health history form that Jessica was requiring.   There is some discussion about whether I will or will not have labs tonight, the people have gone...then they are there...then I am getting my IV so they can kill 2 birds with one stone. Take blood, get I.V. si? hahahha Let's just say that I am one of those that has to hydrate well before having blood drawn. So, as Maria (not so good English...Ok, virtually none) is trying to find a vein in my right hand, I'm suggesting she try my left as I am right handed and will need that hand for things. Important things, like wiping my butt? OK...I know that there is one or more of you out there that are worried about the 'bathroom logistics/gymnastics' of dealing with hygiene will having several incisions in your belly. Am I right?   Maria can't locate a vein by touch and understands enough of what I'm saying to move to the left hand. After about 10 minutes, she decides she needs to find someone 'to help' si? Si!   In about 2 minutes, Maria returns with 2 other nurses. Oh great, this one is NOT listening to my suggestion of 'left hand please' and Maria cutely tries to convey the same message. NOPE, guess the boss has arrived. She massages my hand for about 10 minutes and is pumping the 'ball' of my thumb. She's in. I have half a roll of tape now on my right hand holding this fragile accomplishment in place. Bathroom issues are now raging in my head as, gulp, I have also started my period that morning. OMG This is NOT going to be OK. Si? NADA!   -----I gotta take a break and go to bed. I'm tired after my trip today and need to take a shower! A loooooooooooooong shower followed by a looooooooooooong sleep in my own bed. I'll finish tomorrow.                   Source: NEW NAME? "Sleeved in Seattle"
Sleevie WonderLand

Sleevie WonderLand

4
KathyD49's Blog
 

Bad Choices, AGAIN!!!

Just when I finally think I have a handle on things (Like I thought the other day with the revelation about being active and living longer) I seem to screw it up by making some kind of a bad choice.   This morning on my way home from work, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up some bread (we were out), some almond butter and some bottled water. Well when I got home, I thought "you know, toast with almond butter sounds good for breakfast!" So I popped a slice in the toaster, and pretty soon I was buttering it up with almond butter. And then off to bed I trotted. The last two or three bites of the toast slice were hard to get down. BUT, I presevered, and ate the whole slice! (The old thing about children starving in Africa you know!) And I am sitting here asking myself "why, oh WHY did I force those last couple of bites down?" And to add insult to injury, I swallowed a gulp of orange juice after I ate the toast!   For the last hour and a half, I have been in misery! I keep belching up little bits of orange juice. (Sorry! I know, T.M.I.!)It is so bad, I can't lay down at all. Every time I do, I feel like I am going to vomit! "WHY, oh WHY did I eat those last three bites?" You would think I would learn! Thankfully, I don't have to work tonight, so I might be tired from working all night and not sleeping today, but at least I won't have to drag my sleep deprived body back to work tonight!   I am going to make a BIG sign and hang on the refrigerator. It is going to say "STOP! Think before you eat!" I have got to learn that I can't eat like I used to eat!   For many years, eating at work was an activity similar to the Olympics! Since you never knew when you were going to have your lunch interrupted by some mom delivering her baby, you sat and ate as much as you could, as fast as you could, or risked not being able to eat your lunch at all. That attitude has crept into my home life meals as well. When I would sit down to eat, no conversation, no pleasant enjoyment of the company your were eating with, just sit and shove the food in as fast as possible.   I am thinking I need a sign on the dining room table also, "STOP and ENJOY!" Enjoy not just the food, but the company, the smells of dinner, the visual aspect of eating good food, the whole process of eating a small, but healthy meal.   So many things to figure out! So many changes that need to become habit! Later...........
KathyD49

KathyD49

1
Jenn1214's Blog
 

Perspective

Like most people who are trying to lose weight, I've hit some bumps in the road. My weight loss has slowed and even stalled a few times, and sometimes it's hard not to get frustrated. I will never go back to my old mindset of just giving up, but I do beat myself up occasionally when that scale just won't budge. Not as much as I used to, but sometimes I feel like I'll never reach my goal weight, and I have just so much farther to go. Even my weight loss of 43 pounds seems like nothing when I started out over 100 pounds overweight. Last weekend, my fiance and I hosted a BBQ and we went to a beer distributor to get ice. We got a "party pack" that weighed 42 pounds and I thought to myself "Wow, that's about how much I've lost so far." I asked my fiance if I could carry it to the backyard when we got home so I could see how heavy it felt. I picked it up, walked a few steps, and put it down. I couldn't do it. Just imagine, I was carrying that around on my body all day, every day! It really put things in perspective for me. My journey is far from over, but I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far...I've lost a giant bag of ice! No more beating myself up and thinking my weight loss isn't good enough. Soon enough, i'll have lost two of those bags...and I'm sure as heck not trying to carry those!
Jenn1214

Jenn1214

3
sandiburn's Blog
 

And so it begins

Well it is official. I got my surgery date today. I'm excited and a little worried. I hope I can do this. OK. I think I an do this. OK. I know I can do this. OK. I have to do this. Was that a pep talk or what. I get banded August 4th. I start liquid diet on July 30th. I think that will be the hardest part. Im not worried about the actual surgery. Im just ready to get this underway. I am ready for a change in my life.
sandiburn

sandiburn

2
seelessofme32's Blog
 

The countdown!

I have 12 more days before I am on the losers bench. I am on my liquid diet and so far so good. I think I am not hungry because I went to get my hair done yesterday and my beautician did it so TIGHT I can't think about eating. yay! I am ready for this, bring it on !
seelessofme32

seelessofme32

1
pokernut's Blog
 

day 1

Been feelin gross enuff that i googled lap band all nite. been eating poorly, but atleast ive made it to the gym a cpl times lately including today. hate lookin at myself in the mirror when i get outta the pool. yuck!! finding it difficult to get outta my recliner and been feelin my knees hurt. enough is enough. im to young to feel so old. not sure ill get the lap band as ill be self pay and no idea of what itll cost. research has begun again!!
pokernut

pokernut

4
KrisW's Blog
 

wow restriction

I had another fill on Monday and I can really feel the restriction right now. More so than the last time. I hope this one helps longer than the last. Curves is going well. I thought about do something more vigorous but I know me I tend to go hard at things and burn out. So instead I have mad a commitment to curves first and after a few months I will add more. Curves is easy to commit to right now because it is only 1 mile from work. I have NO excuse (except last friday my car died) not to go. Even if I have to pick up the kid she can read a book while I am working out.   I am having a little bit of trouble with stress the past few days. Work is stressing me and some family issues are stressing me. Honestly all I want to do is eat a bad of chips. Nice crunchy chips. Thankfully I had a fill because I can't have any of that stuff now even if I tried. I just keep telling myself that I CAN make it through.   How does everyone else handle the stress?   Keep the smiles up.   ~Kris
KrisW

KrisW

0

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