Crystal927

Good morning Kate Thank you!! I sometimes set out to write short replies, or messages and without fail they end up forever long so I've just accepted it haha
Missionary work..lets see...I guess it really all started when I was in college and was really involved leading in the youth ministry at my church and we did several local mission projects. I've always loved to travel overseas and then had the opportunity a couple of years to go on some mission trips. Its really amazing to go and share the Gospel with people by means of meeting a need that they have...we've done remodeling work, built a house, done wedding showers, gardening, even organizing a library for children; you name it we've done it, its so awesome to just go and submerge yourself into another culture and learn about the way they live, and live it with them! So I guess my passion for travel and my passion for the Lord just lined up to form a great passion for mission work
I see your husband is a teacher? I work in the school system, at the central office...So I have my fair share of exposure to the world of education, its just a much different view than many have...I'm so over the "business world" haha
I cannot wait for a 12/14 to be my normal!!! I have a dress that I bought because I just absolutely loved it, its a size 14...I can't wait to put it on and go out on the town lol And I love Lane Bryant for "being there" all these years, but I'm so sick of keeping them in business, I can't wait to no longer need them

Let's see..for me...my biggest fear is that I will fail. BUT I'm not going in with failure as an option. I am trusting and believing that this is it!! I know that I can lose the weight, I've done it before, I just need this tool to help me keep it off once its gone once and for all! I can't wait to see that boost in confidence as those first 30-40 lbs fall off and then to grow from there. I'm a really active person, I love love love to travel and do all kinds of adventurous things (white Water rafting, skiing, snorkeling, jet boating, etc) I can't wait to be able to do more of those types of things that I have always wanted but couldn't due to weight limits (zip line, paraglide, kayak, etc) So for me its not really about being a certain size as long as its one that allows me to do all of the things I want to do! In my mind my goal would be 161 just because for my height on the BMI scale that puts me "normal" and I've never been 'normal' lol but really...I just want to be healthier and happy!
I also really enjoy doing mission work here and overseas...The thing with going overseas is that I've always needed a "buddy" to go with me so that ya know, no one embarasses me on a plane because those seats are so 'small' So I look forward to the freedom I will have that if I just want to hop on a plane I won't have to plan everything around my size and can just GO when the urge hits Besides satisfying the spontaneous traveller in me, I'm also doing this for my health... during my 6 month doc supervised diet for my insurance I was diagnosed with high blood pressure at just 30 years old... Fortunately it wasn't real high but was high enough that I was put on a diuretic to bring it down for surgery purposes and once I start working out again we expect that will be enough to keep it in check. I am really blessed that I haven't had any other health issues, heart's good, lungs are good, sugar is good, cholesterol very surprisingly is perfect...so my "insides" are all good for now and I'd like to keep it that way as well as getting the outside to match
I'm also considering a career change. I am currently an accountant. I'm good at it. But I have no passion for it nor do I really like it. I started college doing Pre-med and between being overwhelmed with too many classes I started questioning myself and I bailed. I've always really loved working with people and I have been told multiple times that I have "too much" personality to be an accoutant, I just don't "fit in" this field. So recently I've been exploring options in the bariatric field. Nutritionist? Nurse? Personal Trainer? I think that while walking through this journey I can be taking steps toward a career change as well...I'm not sure what that looks like just yet, but I think I would really love getting up every day and going to work with people just like me, I know I could be passionate about that. So now its just to figure out what that looks like and how it will work out.
So thats me in a nutshell, fears, expectations and goals Sorry for the novel length, I tend to get going and it just grows from what I ever intended it to be!

Good luck to all of you with upcoming dates!!!! yay!!!

I'm praying you'll have your date soon, Crystal!

Good luck to all of you with upcoming dates!!!! yay!!!

Got back from my pre op appointment this morning and I am down 9.5 pounds (on liquid diet until next Thursday- 2 full weeks) but blood work was done and I am ready to go! Getting more excited than nervous. Good luck everyone!

Danielle, you must be so excited. My date is Monday and I didn't sleep a wink last night. I know it's from the excitement. My Doc also does not require a pre-op diet, so I also did a self imposed one. I'm down 5 plus. I'll weigh tomorrow. Good for you starting out right! I figured it would be easier to follow the rules for the post-op diet, if I started with restrictions now. I'll keep you in my prayers for your surgery tomorrow. Susan

Yes, starting off Feb for the group by having surgery TOMORROW. Oh my goodness. I had an interesting experience yesterday. My doc does not have me on any special preop diet but because everyone else is on one, I figured I would do it too. I have been having mostly shakes and such every day. Yetserday, I went to the store to pick up some green tea, V8 fusion light, and sugar free popsicles for after surgery and had this undeniable craving for food. So, I went and bought one of those light caesar salad kits and ate it for dinner. With that, my total calories for the day was about 800 yet I felt like I was given a treat by eating salad. What an interesting feeling. By the way, I wondered how people could be on this extremely low calorie diet and not lose weight but I must say that I have been under 800 calroies every day drinking Protein Shakes and drinking tons of Water and I only lost 3 pounds. I don't understand!!

Welcome Susan!!! I know you are looking forward to getting your date in hand and starting the official countdown! I know I can't wait!! I, like you, two years ago shed about 70 lbs and have since put them back on, looking forward to the help the band gives!! Also, I haven't told many people, admittedly I have shared with a few more than you, but I'm single so my family knows and my most treasured and trusted friends. I was very choosy in who I told because I wanted support not judgement I have also had to rely on my faith through this because this wasn't an easy decision for me to make, I actually was kicking and screaming through it all lol but I feel like this is where the Lord has led me and I have that amazing peace that passeth all understanding about this procedure. Thats not to say that I won't be anxious as the time approaches..cause I know I probably will be freaking out (I've never had ANYthing done, so this is all uncharted territory for me!) I'm not afraid, I have no phobias or anything, I just really expect to be super nervous going under. Best wishes to you on your stress test today!

I'm February 5.

Hey! I thought I'd throw out my two cents worth on shoes I learned the hard way if you are going to be doing anything that amounts to much (mileage or hours working out in the shoes) you should go and be fitted by an expert, one who can look at your pronation/gait so that you don't end up hurting your feet/ankles and end up on the couch due to injury. I trained for a half marathon back in 2010 and I didn't know anything about shoes and wearing the right ones...so I did what any girl would do and bought some cute ones haha turns out they were all kind of wrong for my feet...I finished the race with bloody feet and 3 toenails that turned black and fell off...also caused an issue with a tendon in my foot b/c the shoes weren't supporting my feet correctly...so SUPER long story just to say that you should go to a sporting goods store and find out if they have someone working there who does that...I went to a store here in my hometown that sponsors alot of races in the area and they have someone staffed that does just that. I ended up needing a "neutral" shoe and the first pair I bought was by Brooks...(i've had several Brooks now they are great) Currently I'm wearing some by Mizuno they are great and are even super cute! Its amazing the difference, and I didn't even realize the others didn't feel good! So thats my rant on shoes, haha sorry for the novel...Good luck to you!

So yesterday I had my pre op work. It's a 3 hour drive to and from NYU where I choose to be banded. It gives me lots of time to think, and I'd like to share some of my thoughts with you all. (and myself)
I'm so ready for this. I'm excited, but in a different way than the first time. I was not a perfect bandster the first time and it's important to recognize our paths will all be different. Maybe my experience will help some of you.
I ended up blogging it if you're interested http://www.lapbandtalk.com/blog/455/entry-25331-the-rearview-mirror/

Oh my goodness everyone! This is such a fun group of people. I'm enjoying reading your posts and learning your personalities. I look forward to all of us being great friends and helping one another along our journeys.
I have a daughter who spent this last summer in Peru on a humanitarian trip. I so want to do something like that! I used to think it would never be possible, but who knows. When I get all this extra weight off of me, perhaps my health will be better and I'll feel alive again. Wouldn't that be something? I'm sure all of us want to feel alive again.
We have hosted 2 exchange students from Paris over the years. I would love to be able to go visit them. Maybe, just maybe...
Danielle, my official pre-op diet began today. I have been trying to adapt those eating habits a bit over the past few days so that it wasn't such a shock today. I didn't much feel like eating, but I obeyed all the rules today. You mention a headache. I actually am on day 4 of a horrific spinal headache from a procedure I had on thursday. I'm going tomorrow for a blood patch to fix the spinal Fluid leak, so hopefully this monstrous headache will ease off. I'm sort of okay if I am laying down, but the moment I am upright, the pressure increases and it is awful. But that is another story.
I hope your headache gets better. I told my dietician I was worried about the headaches that come when I feel the need to eat, and she said everyone gets them and it is just part of the process. Hopefully it will get better.

Kara! My friend, you are NOT alone! I have had those same "what ifs" but I'm just trusting that all will be fine, these docs do this all of the time they got this! I think the added anxiety just comes from never having done this before...you hang in their girl, you got this! We got this!

Never had this kind of success. I'm so excited!!! Hope the pounds keep falling off Sorry to brag. Lol

Kara! My friend, you are NOT alone! I have had those same "what ifs" but I'm just trusting that all will be fine, these docs do this all of the time they got this! I think the added anxiety just comes from never having done this before...you hang in their girl, you got this! We got this!

Got my approval today! Will hopefully have my date soon! Hoping for the week of mardi gras so I can use those days off from work! Congratulations everyone!!

Today wasn't bad... I have a really supportive husband even though he is 6'4 and 200 pounds he says he will get fit with me (as I roll my eyes) he is doing shakes and has been eating all the "good food" at work and not around me. Tomorrow I work my part time job which is on an ambulance for 24 hours.... This will be a challenge I will keep 3-4 shakes in the rig that way I'm not tempted.

I am glad to see there is a large number of fine folks to ask questions to on the good old interwebs..
I started at 400 pounds in Dec of 2011. I had enough and decided it's time to do something. I had talked to my Dr about it many times and he would say yeah yeah its a great idea but I had never pushed him. That December I made an appointment to specifically discuss getting the lapband and I am really glad that I did. Once I sat him down and told him i was serious he was ecstatic and seemed to pop to life. We talked about it for probably an hour and a half and he could not tell me enough how proud he was that I was taking the next step. He told me I have been telling you for a very long time you can do it and you need too. However until you make up your mind and put forth the effort there wasn't much he could do. At that point I started my journey with the support of my favorite doctor. 2012 was a very busy year for me I had to do a ton of travel for my work. It seemed I was on the east coast at least once a week. I started looking into whom to use and going to seminars ect. It seems everyone that does lapband surgery has their own set of rules and classes ect.
I started with Via Christi and attending their seminars I went to both the HMR and gastric surgery. I filled out countless forms and found out that my insurance did cover the procedure but I had to jump through many burning rings of fire. Just kidding but it sure looked that way. I found out I had to do 6mo of supervised dieting, do a psy eval, see a nutritionist, sleep study and countless blood works. Of course I have a copay for each of these and time out of my day. In the end it took me a year to get everything completed. This is mostly because of all my traveling.
I lost 70 lbs total and had a slight increase during the holidays. I was banded 1/17/2013 in Overland Park and seem to be feeling ok. I am prone to infections for what ever reason. However I seem to be doing ok thus far I let my surgeon know my issues with infections and he took precautions. The night before last I ran a really high fever and was intensely cold. The next morning the fever had broke and I sweat my butt off. That evening ended in cold sweats and a very low grade fever. I have a Dr. Attp this morning were I am certain to get even more antibiotics.
I am glad to say my hunger is gone. I mean I do not have an appetite at all since the surgery. My surgeon said a large percentage of people who get the band have this effect. So far I am very excited as this was one of the ultimate goals I had for the surgery. For years I have been hungry even after eating until I was bloated. I was always hungry and no matter what I did I was never satisfied. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this does not change. Don't get me wrong I can hear and feel my stomach growl and knot up but I do not have any hunger that makes me search for food. Since the surgery I know I have to eat and that is what has directed me to do so.
All in all this is the start of my story and I hope I am able to receive support from you fine folks and intern be able to give it back.
Cheers,
Adam

And I feel the same reading yours!!! At least we are not alone I have said since the day I graduated and started payin gmy student loans that I learned the hard way that there is a BIG difference between being "good at" something and being "passionate" about it. I am good at accounting...I don't mean that conceited in any way but I do feel I am good at what I do and that I do a really good job. But my hearts not here. And I just don't want to wake up and have muddled through life just "surviving"; life was meant to be lived! And as much as I don't want more debt from education, I don't want to do this for >30 more years even more. So I'm going to use these next few months of this new life, to really explore some options and hopefully have something ready to go maybe in the fall to go back to school. I will be vested in the retirement system here in 3 years so thats a perfect amount of time to lose this weight, get me another degree, get vested and then GO do something I love Sounds perfect anyways hehe
I hear ya on the plane rides! I LOVE to fly, but in the recent years its just gotten so uncomfortable even when flying with someone. I went to Alaska last year, we flew into Seattle and caught a cruise...on the way back we were on the redeye...I actually enjoyed it, I had a window seat and we flew over a thunderstorm it was really an awesome sight! But had we been in smaller seats like you experienced that would've just ruined it all, nothing like being miserable for 4+ hours and you can't do ANYthing about it But GIRL, this is about to change for us both!! I have a trip booked to CA/AZ/UT for the end of May (my sister graduates from nursing school) and I'm excited to see how much difference there is from flying last year (June) to flying this year, I have high hopes! Needed the belt extender last year, hoping it was my last time to have ever needed that!! and you are right, seat guru is awesome!!!

Hey Dave! I don't know yet from experience, but I have read multiple people say gas-X strips and chapstick are essentials Also, a heating pad for the gas pains. I too have bought my protein powders and am ready to go on that front. I have used "blender bottles" for several years now for Protein Shakes, they have this little "whisk ball" that really mixes the powder very well, i've never had a mixing problem with these bottles. One thing that i'll be getting for the freezer is some sugar free popsicles, i think they would really "break up" the liquid routine a bit. Good Luck!!

I will say, in the beginning I would have made any sacrifice needed to loose weight , get fit and healthy.....if they told me I had to eat nothing but bread and Water for 12 months, with the promise I would not be hungry and I would achieve everything I dreamed of, I would have done it in a heartbeat.....it was that important to me....
I will let you know this......once I achieved all that I wanted to achieve, everything went full circle......in other words,
I am now a normal weight, healthy and fit individual.....which means I now live a normal life......just as any other normal weight person does......
I no longer worry about calories and food portions......although, just as my normal weight, healthy friends , I am very health conscious and eat good wholesome foods...no junk, no red meat, no fat, sugar, etc, etc....
Just as my skinny, healthy friends do, I also enjoy things that people on diets would never dream of doing.....think of it...you see healthy people everyday at parties, Resturants, etc, and they are not counting calories....
Because they have a certain LIFESTYLE.......healthy eating, plenty of exercising, active hobbies such as hiking, cycling, etc, and you will NEVER see them making pigs of themselves.....
I made a point of observing normal weight people in different situations.....and there is a difference in behavior.....
I now live THAT lifestyle....NO DIETING...NO COUNTING CALORIES....enjoying the things in I life I ewant to enjoy...along with my skinny friends....I have NO FEAR of ever gaining weight because I have successfully changed my lifestyle....
Difference between me and my friends is they do it on their own, and I do it because I have the band....but I don't need to tell anyone that....
BUT...it took me over a year to get to that point, with plenty of sacrifices, and plenty of hard lessons that neded to be learned....
To pull a macho-male attitude, I didn't 't get all whimpy...I never backed down....even when I was getting stuck, sometimes 2-3 times a day, I blamed myself and did not run to the Dr. Asking for a un-fill....
And I am happy to say I broke through to the other side of life...and it has been nothing short of Heaven ever since.....
Question is, are you ready to make that choice? Make the needed sacrifices?
Many, if not all people on this site are either newbies or still within their weight loss journey, so,I keep my mouth shut because most will not understand where I am coming from.....
But there is a life after completing this journey.....

Thank you! Excited.

I was the same way before surgery. I didn't have any pre-op diet to follow but I was told it might be a good idea to start eating right anyway. I failed. Miserably. Like you, it was like some horrible food demon just took over me and I swear I ate everything in site. In retrospect, I think I felt like being about to be banded, I was going to have to give up everything I loved, so I felt this need to binge out while I still could.
For me, actually getting banded and having to follow the post op diet changed that. In a way, I traded addictions but in a good way. I saw the scale start to slowly go down and I was like "oh ok, this is kinda cool!" Then the more the scale went down, the bigger the high and the more I was driven to keep at it. As clothes got smaller and I got braver trying old favorite foods in smaller portions, I thought "Ok this flat out rocks!!" I finally realized I didn't have to give up anything, just enjoy it moderation, and I'd still lose weight.
The whole thing is a huge learning process, not only about the band, but about ourselves. For as much as my body has changed over the last year, my mind has changed tenfold more.
Be patient with yourself. At least you're trying, and as long as you're trying, you're not failing. It'll get a lot easier once you're banded and not pre-occupied by food due to hunger and deprivation.

Saw my surgeon today for a pre-op visit. I got my insurance approval and date as an added bonus. I'll be banded on February 4th.