SamG

You look amazing, congrats!!!

So yesterday I completed my Bariatric 2 class which was very interesting. We went over the post-op diet, protein and vitamins. I have to say that I'm super excited now; two more nutritionist appointments and I'm done! So all through class I kept wondering if she was going to take our weight. And sure enough, she asked everyone to stay so she could. I was so nervous because I had not been monitoring my weight so I had no clue what the scale was going to say. At my last appointment with her earlier this month I was weighing 297. When she weighed me last night I was at 294, talk about excited. And my goal for pre-op is 295 *doing the happy dance* Now, I just gotta keep losing. I'd like to be 280 before my pre-op diet and hopefully go into surgery weighing 270. I think that's pretty realistic, right? It doesn't help that one of my clients sent me a box of cookies O_o...I'll just put them out for my co-workers, I feel so good about my loss I don't even want them!

Melody, it was very hard admitting to myself that I may need to go to the OA group. But I definitely know it will help in the long run!

So today I have my 4th appointment which is my second Bariatric class. I'm excited as this only leaves me with two more sessions before my paperwork is submitted to the board for approval. This process has gone quicker than I thought it would. Oh, and I've also decided to start attending an over eaters anonymous meeting. I never really thought of myself as an over-eater, however, I do eat when I'm bored so I guess that could be considered over-eating. I hope to get to the root of the problem and find some tools that I can use now and after surgery. I don't want to get the surgery and have the same issues that I started with. I have been doing a lot of life planning over the last couple of months and I'm just ready to get everything in order. Although I haven't gotten the surgery yet, just knowing that I'm going to get it has given me a second wind to get things going in the right direction. I'll write another blog to let you know how my class went. I'm not sure what she will cover, but I think it has something to do with the things you can and cannot eat after surgery.

I was thinking about this the other day. I have a three friends that have had the surgery and they all have different views on discretion. However, there is only one that is open about her decision and well tell anyone in a minute that she had surgery. I have also been very open with my decision and what will happen August 2013. I'm not ashamed that I needed a little extra help to lose weight. I also feel like sharing my story with people I know will hold me accountable as well. I just don't get why people are so secretive about this process. I can see not wanting to tell your co-workers because personal and business should be kept separate. But there are some people that aren't even sharing this with family and close friends. I just don't get it.

I have a few things that made me decide enough was enough. 1. I've been trying to lose weight for years now and although I'd lose it, I'd eventually gain it back. 2. I was dating someone and we decided to go to Six Flags and I was told that I couldn't get on the ride because it would latch. That was the first time that had EVER happened to me. I was mortified. 3. I'm not comfortable at this weight. 4. I'm sweating for no reason and no one else is hot. 5. My weight has caused me to have anxiety issues 6. I'm 32, don't look it and I'm ready to live my life like I'm supposed to. My I have three more appointments with my nutritionist. She said she has no doubt that I will be approved (I'm with Kaiser) and then I should have my approval in July and my surgery the first week in August.

Danni, I can see my after too. When I think about it I get excited. I'm just counting down the days until my final nutritionist appointment. My fourth one is Monday and only two more after that!

Isleevedit...yes, I am a Kaiser patient. I have attended the seminar at the Hospital with the surgeon that I will do my procedure. I know that he requires me to get an EKG so I'm going to get that done sometime in June. My co-worker had the same surgery in January with the surgeon I'm using and she told me everything I need to do prior.

So, I went to my third nutritionist appointment yesterday and I am down 8 lbs. I had been stressing out because I lost 5 and then gained 2 back, but nope...I'm down 8! My appointment went really well and she said that she would let me take my gastric bypass 2 class in April instead of May. That means I see her in May and June instead of May, June, July and my paperwork will be sent for approval during the July board meeting. I must say that time is definitely flying and I'm getting excited. I now have to get some blood work done for some type of bacteria to make sure I do not have it, an EKG, and my mental health evaluation. I'm hoping for an August surgery date, fingers crossed! Thanks to all that sent encouragement in my last blog. I got this!

Hello! I'm in the DMV and would love to connect with people in my area and also in Atlanta as I am there twice a year. I'm new to this thread but excited. I'm currently going through my insurance requirements to get sleeved. My last appointment with my nutritionist is July 9th and then I find out if I get approved. I'm nervous and excited about this process, but soooo ready to get it done and over with. I think my biggest fear is hair loss. I've been natural for 2 years and I'm hoping that it helps with the excessive loss. I look forward to conversing and getting to know each of you!

Thank you SpaceDust, I agree I can do it. I just hate getting on the scale seeing the number go up instead of down. I have a plan and I will definitely let you know how things turn out. Thanks for your support!

Strange fruit, I'm in the Mid-Atlantic. There was a wait list for those who have primary care doctors in MD, DC. But since my primary care is in VA there is no wait list for me. Congrats on your weight loss and thank you!

Mokee, with Kaiser they want to make sure you have self control so they ask that you loose a certain amount before surgery with the help of a nutritionist. they will still do the surgery they will just push it back until my nutritionist is comfortable. Really its all up to her to submit my paperwork to the board.

To give you all a little background information. I started the process with Kaiser February 6, 2013. Kaiser requires that you do the following before your paperwork is submitted to the board for approval. 1. Complete GB1(1st month) and GB2 (4th month) Class 2. Complete a weight control class 3. See a nutritionist for 6 months 4. Get a mental health evaluation 5. Sleep Study So as of today, I have done the GB1 class, sleep study and have seen my nutrionist twice, my thrid appointment is April 9th. I'm hoping to get my approval for surgery by the end of July and have my surgery the first week in September. I have been planning to have this surgery since October of last year. I could have started the process sooner, I just had to switch my insurance over to Kaiser, which I did January 1st. It seems like since I knew I was getting surgery, I had been eating almost everything in sight. Well not really, I've just been eating out almost everyday. I'm not sure if it was becuase I knew that I may nto be able to eat these things again, or if I was eating out of fear. I had a breakdown in February because I realized that everything about my life was about to change. Now, I've been skinny before and I know how my life was then and compared to now, there is a significant difference. I just don't know if I'm mentally ready to take that on right now. I tell myself that I don't have an addiction to food, but for me to go from 180lbs to 305lbs in 10 years says a lot. 305 lbs is my highest weight EVER. I've gotten close to 300 and got scared, seeing myself over 300 has taken a toll on me emotionally. Now I have to loose 15lbs before July 9th with my nutritionist and I'm feeling like I can't. When I know I can because I've done it before. I know it's all a mental game, but I'm loosing. When I went to see my nutritionist on Feb 12th, she said I had lost 5 lbs. When I went back on March 13th, she told me I gained 2 lbs back. I couldn't understand it. So now I need to loose the 2 lbs that I gained before I go back on April 9th. Wish me luck!