Monday December 10 11:30am

11 Days Before Surgery Day

I decided to start this blog to document this entire life changing experience. And if it will help others contemplating this survery or already in the process that will be great too. I probably should have started the blog months ago because my process began in August. I'll just give a brief overview....

I began looking into Gastric Sleeve in July when I realized I was never going to be happy unless I lost weight and I was never going to lead a full life unless I lost weight. I've dieted my entire life, with some success but mostly disappointment. I did manage to lose 160 pounds 11 years ago (doing low carb) --- at that point I was still 200 pounds but I was very happy. I was a size 16, which for me was a huge accomplishment. I managed to keep the 160lbs off for about 5 years. I was then diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and Thyroid Cancer in the same month. I had my thyroid removed and had radiation. It seemed to get harder and harder to keep the weight off, although I have still followed a mostly low carb lifestyle. It was so demoralizing. I have slowly regained 60 pounds back over the 6 years. I tried Weight Watchers, thinking that my body was so used to low carb that it needed something different. I GAINED weight on WW. I went back to low carb -- no success. I was despondent. I'm thankful I've still managed to keep the other 100 pounds off but I really believe I was on the road to gaining it all back. I came to the conclusion that I MUST do something drastic, NOW. I'm 49, with Multiple Sclerosis and Lupus and I want to make the most of my life NOW because I do not know what the future holds.

Like I said, I started looking into this in July 2012. By the end of July my mind was pretty much made up. I was going to do this! I had my first appointment with my surgeon August 16 and that is when my journey "officially" began. Aetna required a 3 month medically supervised diet program, which I completed in November. So here I am, finally! 11 days before my surgery.

I don't have an official diet to follow before surgery... my doc just said "don't gain". However I have been supplementing meals with protein shakes for a while. I finally found a couple protein powders that are actually GOOD and that I ENJOY! Nectar Chocolate Truffle and About Time Birthday Cake. Both are high quality whey protein isolate. I haven't lost any weight though but he said that is ok. And I do plan on having a few Last Meals with my hubby. He is a little bummed out that I won't be able to go out and eat for a while ( he is not overweight).

I'm excited and apprehensive at the same time. I know I will miss real food. I'm a native New Orleanian --- food is basically a religion here and it really is a huge part of normal life. EVERYTHING revolves around food. I wonder if I'll ever be able to eat normal things ( of course in much smaller portions)......but deep down I know that this is what I NEED to do.....