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AmySays

LAP-BAND Patients

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Blog Entries posted by AmySays

  1. The time has come! I check into the surgical center at 8:00 in the morning to be banded. Am I nervous? Well, I didn't think so, but I just realized I've chewed my nails to nubs today, so maybe a little, lol. A week ago I was a complete basket case. Now, I'm just ready to do it. I'm ready to get on with my life as a healthy person!
     
    I thought I would have more to say here... and there would be some great epiphany that I would be able to share, but there's just not. I've lived most of my adult life as an overweight person. I'm ready to start unwrapping the layers from myself & find out who I can be without the burden of this extra baggage I've carried for so long.
     
    So, here we go... see ya'll on the flip side!

  2. It's Not Rocket Science~

    · AmySays · 12/10/2012 06:35

    I've been a blog-hoppin fool the past few days... and wow, I've just learned so much. You know, after years of Weight Watchers & other yo-yo dieting, you get to a point where you feel like you just really do know it all. We don't, of course, but it sure feels that way. I am a bit of an over-achiever when it comes to sitting in a *classroom* of any sort. I've never been the type to slink into the back row and try to stay unnoticed. Oh, I have good intentions, really I do... but the leader/teacher always always ends up asking a question that no one can answer.. and there I am, raising my little over-zealous hand like that kid you wanted to smack in grade school. "Ooh Ooh MEEEE... Pick MEEEE, I have the answer!!" Because once you've been through a year of WW meetings, the questions start to repeat themselves. And when you go for a year & quit, only to start again 3 years later, you learn that the exact same discussions are still being had.
     
    Because, for real... this ain't rocket science, folks. Eat less + move more = lose weight. It's just that simple, right? That's what we've always been taught.
     
    "Drink a full cup of water before your meal so you aren't as hungry!"
    "When you get the urge to snack, go brush your teeth!"
    "No eating after 6:00 pm!!"
    "Never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach!"
     
    These words of wisdom often come from people who have been through a major weight loss, but sometimes... sometimes they come from jerks well-meaning friends who think we don't know all of this. Like we just rolled off the Twinkie truck 100lbs overweight with visions of pot roast dancing around our heads.
     
    In reality, overweight people are often the most well-educated when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. We've researched it, we've planned for it, we've implemented each and every tip & trick known to man - time and time again.
     
    But the part they don't often scream from the rooftops, the part we had to learn on our own... THIS. IS. HARD.
     
    I'll be beginning my newly banded life in two short days. And yes, it will be hard. But I'm going to hang on to one nugget of wisdom... one reminding whisper..
     
    It will be WORTH it.

  3. Pre-op diet update

    · AmySays · 12/09/2012 05:53

    Here we are on Day 11 of my 14 day pre-op diet. It's been so interesting to read the different pre-op instructions that have been given to different patients! I was allowed a protein shake for breakfast, one for lunch and then for dinner I get 3-4oz lean protein, 1C veggies, 1C fruit. I can snack on SF popsicles, SF pudding, SF Jello or any broth.
     
    I was noticing that I'm much hungrier later in the evening (big surprise there... I swear, I've gained every extra pound I own after 9:00 pm). I adjusted my eating times a little & that helped. Then I decided to eat my protein & 1/2 C veggies at dinner and save the rest for a couple of hours later. Now if I'm hungry, I can eat the other 1/2 of my veggies (or just grab a new one - I've heard some people have problems with cucumber getting stuck post-band, so I'm enjoying it while I can) and I still have my fruit if I need it.
     
    I'm still only eating the allowed amount of the allowed foods, I'm just making it work for me.
     
    I will tell you though... Days 1-3 were incredibly hard. My dear friend (who had her band placed in late November) told me that Day 4 would be better. I believed her.. and she was right. Now here I am at Day 11 and I've stepped on the scale a handful (ok, like 7) times. I've lost 11lbs! Don't hold me to that though, lol... our weight fluctuates by the hour, it seems. Hoping I end this 2wk pre-op with at least that 11lb loss.
     
    I really need to focus on getting all of my water in though. I've been slacking on that a bit. If I can replace a glass of tea with a glass of water, I should be fine.
     
    I'll be banded in 4 more days. I can't believe it's so close!

  4. The Adventure Begins

    · AmySays · 12/04/2012 06:03

    Once Upon a Time...
     
    there was a girl. And let me tell you, this girl was awesome. Incredibly funny, kind-hearted, full of energy, beautiful and ready to tackle the world! This girl had four amazing children and loved them so incredibly much that she kept the biggest souvenir she could from each pregnancy. So after 10 years of having these amazing children, this awesome, funny, kind-hearted, full of energy, beautiful girl was.... fat.
     
    But that was really ok, because she was still the same person she always was.
     
    The End.
     
    Ok... so there's that fairy tale. And there's a lot of truth there, really. I gained weight with each pregnancy, tried and failed to lose it, only to gain it back again and again. Same old story. After I had my 4th child, I hired a personal trainer and with his help, lost 60 pounds and felt terrific! Then we moved. No support system, new gym, you know the excuses. About 20 pounds crept back on, but I was still proud of myself. Then we moved again, this time out of state where we knew NO ONE. I made some friends, ate out a LOT, drank my fair share of Bud Light Lime & Twisted Tea, stopped going to the gym altogether and the weight came back, full force, plus 40 pounds.
     
    I think I was born with some sort of self-confidence gene that most people don't have. I was always confident in exactly who I was, no matter what my body looked like at the time. I remember the very first time I ever had a crack in that confidence... it was about 6 years ago when I had lost that 60 pounds. I was at a womens' retreat with church and had accomplished a tremendous feat. They have this hill that goes from the lake up to the campsites and I swear to you, it has to be about a 65* angle. It felt like I was walking straight up a wall. But I made it. And I didn't just walk up the hill, I RAN up that hill. I felt like Bella scaling that wall when she smelled human blood the first time she went hunting after she turned. I digress... I made it up the side of that mountain and just collapsed at the top, chest heaving, pulse racing, heart about to burst. And oddly enough, in what should have been a time of great joy, all I felt was sadness. I couldn't believe that I had lived my life on the sidelines for so long. I was disparaged that the Lord had given me this body and I had wasted it.
     
    I never thought I'd go back to "that place" but I did. I gained all the weight back, and then some. And now I'm at a point where I don't want to let myself down anymore. I'm still that awesome girl with a great husband and four amazing kids. I STILL don't have any real negative body image issues (although I also know I SHOULD), but I know I'm ready for a change. I'm ready to set a good example and be healthy for GOOD. I'm ready to be around for my kids, I'm ready to jump on trampolines & go on rides at amusement parks without a second thought as to whether I'll fit. I'm ready to sit in the bathtub without having to shift to one side to let the water drain out. I'm ready to get naked in front of my husband of 11 years! I'm just READY.
     
    My surgery is scheduled for 12/12/12. Sounds like a good day to start my new life to me.

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