Momonanomo

Nom nom nom! Lmao

mona thank you so much for the well wishes and support -- it means a lot to know I've got experienced sleevers watchin out for me! Pre-op diet starts 5/8 -- not entirely liquid. More like 2 shakes, two protein snacks (such as cottage cheese) and one lean & green meal per day. I did medifast in the past and it was similar. I figure I will be a little crazy round day 3 or 4, but it's all for good reason.

Wow....I had prepared for it to take the full 15 business days for insurance to reply....but it only took 4. I'm approved! May 22nd at 1 pm. Excited, scared, curious, nervous, relieved, anxious....seems crazy to have some of these feelings all at the same time! But ..... here we gooooooo. I have SO much to do at work to get ready to be gone. I never take more than a day or two off at a time, except when I got married, and unfortunately even that I kinda planned around my work schedule (don't tell anyone, that's kinda my own little secret). I'm planning on being out 5/21 through 31... the 27th is a holiday, so it's really only 8 work days. I do payroll for a kind of large outfit and being out through the 31st means when I come back on June 3rd I have to hit the ground running full speed to process payroll that day. Hope to God all goes well and I am able to come back when I plan to! I honestly don't know what would happen if I wasn't here. I guess the responsible thing to do is to make sure my boss remembers how to do it, so that he can do it if necessary. Then there are other pressing matters that I need to wrap up before I take the time off, and some things I need to find someone to do while I'm out...I honestly don't know who is going to do some of these things...panicking a little about it. One thing is for sure: nothing makes time go by more quickly than having deadlines to meet!

LMAO sooooook funny! You are awesome! I love reading your posts!

a 5k yeeeoowww that's awesome! I can't imagine myself running....but I have to say reading your words make me go hmmmmmm maybe someday I will run too! Congratualtions, that's a real accomplishment and I can tell you feel wonderful! Here's some pats on the back from me too!

I love the title of this blog entry! Sooo funny!

You've done the right thing by asking him to pick up his things. It's time for you to concentrate on yourself and your wonderful son. Life's too short to waste time being with someone who doesn't make you feel good. And I mean it -- love is supposed to feel GOOD! And.... you want your son to know that you are a strong, happy, healthy woman. You're doing the right thing. It's natural to be sad when a relationship ends... but you've got quite an adventure coming up that will help distract you! I send good thoughts your way. We're all pulling for you! Onward!!

I think we would all be really appalled to know the truth about sodium levels of restaurant and fast foods. I have no doubt that the majority of that gain was water retention.

Hey Ms Vicki! It does sound like The First Stall has indeed ended, yay! I say join the gym, get your swim on And, as you progress on your journey, you may decide to try the various classed they may have and/or use their machines for strength training. IMO, having the gym membership will give you exposure and access to new and cool things to try, and therefore keep you motivated to keep moving! lol I am SO looking forward to that whole energy and libido surge thang! keep on rockin!

Erp makes a good point that there are some higher calorie foods that are also nutritionally valuable. Just keep after it, you're going to find that sweet spot. That is surprising and upsetting that the premier shakes are staining your teeth! Costco has an awesome return policy - I'm sure you could take your unopened cases & return them.

Moving right along! Went and got my EKG, chest X-ray, and h.pylori tests done yesterday. The offices were right across the hall from each other, so Efficient Me got in and out in 45 minutes (don't tell my work! I took the whole afternoon off!) All 3 tests were uneventful. The chest xray involved stripping from the waist up and wearing a stylish paper gown. The guy tech was a cutie! One pic while I faced a white board, and one pic while I faced the side with my arms up. The EKG -- remove shirt only, kept bra on. Before hand, the female tech asked "are you wearing a regular bra?" and I said yes, so she said ok to leave it on. But I can't help but wonder what is a not regular bra inasmuch as what kind of bra would I be wearing if it wasn't ok to leave it on? LOL. But I digress......she had me lie on a table (too short! My toes were on a cart at the end of the table!) and then she stuck stickers all over my front. Then she attached these wires with clampy-things to each of the stickers. Then she asked me to lay still and breathe deeply for like a minute, maybe two. Then she unhooked the wires, peeled of the stickers, and I was good to go. Then I went and got my blood drawn for h. pylori and my thyroid panel. Yes! Moving right along! Also am beginning to figure out accommodations and car while we are on Oahu for the week around surgery. And lining up sending my dog to "camp" for that week My RN emailed me to ask if I've gone to any of the local support group meetings.....I have to say that I've decided NOT to go. Several reasons. I live on an island, and it is a very small-town atmosphere. I have chosen not to shout from the rooftops about my surgery. I have a friend/ coworker who had WLS several years ago, and she is excellent support for me. Additionally, she went to the support group meeting -- once --- and someone there, who clearly didn't value privacy the way my friend does, went and told a bunch of my friend's in-laws who she had chosen not to tell. Then she was bombarded with phone calls. Not cool. VST has been and will be, I believe, just the right amount of support for me with a greater collection of people experienced with the sleeve than what I could find here in an in-person meeting. Diversity rocks, ya? And... I know myself well enough to know that if I get into an in-person support group environment, I could easily try to help everyone but myself. Denial is easier with distractions! Yes, I think VST is just the right amount of support giving and receiving..... at least for now. I would never say never, but this is how it seems best to me for now....

Oh Vicki that is SO wonderful! I can't wait to have the energy you're describing! And 20 lbs (gone forever!) in 5 weeks is total kick-ass. You're doing great!

I relate SO much to what you're saying. Brava to you for being so strong. You've clearly got your head in the right place for this upcoming journey. I wish you the best, and I'll be following your story. LOL and I'll literally be following right behind you to the loser's bench! We're May buddies (so long as nothing changes with my plans -- 5/22!)

thanks ladies! Vicki, you should just plan a little vacay out this way as a reward for getting to goal I do have good support around me thank goodness. I can tellmy dad is concerned (he is the strong silent type) and he may well "wear down the carpet" as you say Jillian but when I asked them last night if they minded it beign that day, my mom said "heavens no". phew! Aw thanks L...Ya, I was thinking the same thing as far as "home base" being closer to Castle...heck maybe we'll split the difference and stay half country half & town (Kailua / Kaneohe are considered country, right? ) I've decided (for now) not to attend the support groups here on my island....it's too small town. I might make myself go anyway if not for the wonderful friends I'm making on this website! Your support has been priceless. I raise my glass (of non-carbonated water) to you all! Mahalo! xoxo

Everything's coming together and building momentum!! Did my psych evaluation, which was actually quite nice -- I liked the counselor a lot. The RN coordinator had warned me that it would take at least a week or more for the surgeon''s office to get the psych report back, and she was really pleased and surprised when she got it back less than 24 hours later approving me! I guess I really AM a good candidate for surgery! Now I can go get my ekg, chest xray, and h pylori test. I have to travel to Oahu for surgery, so my next NUT and exercise appointments are over the phone. Then they'll submit to insurance for surgery approval. I specifically asked -- with all the diligence in getting the insurance requirements done, is there any reasonable possibility that insurance would say no at that point? And the RN said "nope!" Yay! So today I got my tentative surgery date of May 22. This....is my mom's birthday. I know she'll be ok with that - - she is VERY in favor of me having the surgery, and she's not the type to need special attention on her birthday (we can celebrate early I'm sure!) I just feel like I should ask and make sure she's ok with that. Surgery is always on a Wed., and the required pre-op class is always on a Thursday before surgery...so I'll have to make one more day trip to Oahu. That's getting a little tricky with work, but my boss has been supportive and I will do what it takes to make it happen! omg so excited!!

hey girl! You're doing great! Since we're similar starting stats I'm really finding inspiration in you! Sounds like you've really got your head in the right place about the inevitable stall. No worries, you're going to conquer this and any other stalls that come along! Your pics are REALLY showing the difference Thanks for posting!

not worth the risks IMO. This is from livestrong.com, but there's info all over the net. Wound Healing In a 1992 article published in the American Journal of Medicine, the relationship between smoking and wound healing was analyzed and documented. Author P. Silverstein described the alteration of wound healing secondary to diminished blood supply to the wound caused by constriction of blood vessels by the nicotine in tobacco. He went on to say that nicotine also contributes to increased platelet adhesiveness which, because of the increased tendency to stick together, increases the risk of thrombotic occlusion, or the development of blood clots Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/234656-the-effects-of-smoking-surgery/#ixzz2Ox2oxnkH

the side by side comparison is really interesting! I was surprised that the protein grams don't follow the pattern that the fat and calories do.....verrrry interesting. Just glancing at it, I'd say ground turkey looks like an all around best choice. Hope my post surgery tastes change enough to appreciate ground turkey over ground beef. I am such a red meat kind of girl right now. . . .

I'm impressed that you've traveled and been SO on the go since having surgery so recently-- what a trooper! That was really great of your sis to have all the supplies waiting for you; that's so supportive. Especially when she was getting ready for her wedding I just wanted to say that I've heard flying causes water retention, so if you weigh on Thurs after flying on Wed., keep that in mind -- your actual weight loss for the week will actually be better than what the scale says. Congrats on your progress!

for the sweet tooth recipe try going to the spark recipes website and search ricotta custard. High protein & low carb -- can enjoy it warm or cold (when cold it's like cheesecake -yum!) Probly need to sub splenda for sugar on some of the recipes. Sounds like you're really in the groove congrats on your successes! I'll be on Oahu on the 4th for my next round of appointments....

wooHOO that's great! You will more than likely get addicted I'm pre-op and look forward to getting back into doing the elliptical. A couple of years ago when I was at a lower weight I LOVED the elliptical. Mind you, the first time I ever tried it, I could only go 2 minutes and I was saying "ow...ow....ow..ow" the whole time LOL. But as I got into it, and set up my music & my kindle to read, I eventually got to 45 minutes and I swear I got a runner's high! And then I got creative and would add "sprints" -- little 1 to 2 minute intervals where I'd go a lot faster and then relax back into my original pace. That kept it interesting and made me sweat like a mo-fo It also interstingly allowed me to keep going when I wanted to stop, like going more hard core for just a minute or two made me appreciate the regular pace and want to keep going. Be sure to warm up a bit, do some ankle rolls, etc., and stretch before you do it, and you'll be an elliptical superstar! Congrats!

This post has been on my mind since yesterday-- I just had a hard time accepting that it is better to not quit than to quit, under ANY circumstances! ......so I goooooogled it! This article makes a LOT of sense about the headaches, and it gives good tips on how to succeed. This topic is close to home for me, because I quit only about 8 wks ago after smoking for 25 years! I've used the gum. It is HARD but I didn't get headaches when I tried, so I'm sure it's that much harder for you. But you CAN do it if you want to. There is nothing redeeming about cigarettes -- they are so bad for you, expensive, make you a social outcast, make you smell bad, stain your teeth, stain your fingers, and did I mention they are SO bad for you ?!?! Like poison. That you are addicted to repeatedly inhaling into your lungs. There is help available to stop if you want it. No one is going to say not to quit because you get headaches initially. Except you. You can do this! OK check this article out: http://www.livestron...hout-headaches/ I wish you the best of luck!

I'm thinking maybe you should address the problem of getting headaches so bad that it lands you in the hospital before you move forward with surgery. What do they say at the hospital ? Surely you're not doomed to smoking the rest of your life! There are valid reasons your surgeon wants you nicotine free before surgery. I wouldn't recommend trying to cheat the requirements. This surgery is serious business. Give yourself the best chance at a good recovery that you can. Blood clots can kill you.

you look gorgeous! I always love your posts; you are very inspiring! I'm the same height, and the thought that I could end up looking as trim and healthy as you look makes my heart sing! thanks for posting, and congratulations on ALL you successes! ps -- the 30s can be just as fun --- MORE fun even -- than the 20s, I promise!

ooooh ooh! I love cold coffee too! I have an ice try in my freezer specifically designated to make coffee ice cubes. Then, I can make fresh, hot coffee and poor it over the coffee ice cubes. And I love to make protein-chinos too YUM!