mendypoo

Yesterday was a pretty good day. Very busy at work so I had very little time to think about food. Trying out a new vitamin/protein drink, Vita Day..very green but tastes OK. Also, started on Centrum chewables. Might as well get into all the habits now. The hardest one so far is the not drinking and eating thing. Also, I'm trying to start an excercise program but dammit I have 12 hr days by the time I leave and get home from work I don't have time to go to the gymn. I get the boys ready for school in the mornings and then barely have time for me to get ready. I get home late. But I love my job. I have an hour lunch break, I'm going to have to work on using that time I guess. Eventually I won't need to eat anyway..Things I ate yesterday: Juice with protein drink cheese yogurt smoothie curry chicken nuts/seeds pork ribs I guess I forgot to add veggis and fruit to that list..I'll eat better today.

Today I weighed 270

oohh...good luck, I'm so jealous... I really wanted to have this done sooner. I'm so ready, but work won't allow it, and since they're the ones paying....Let me know how you feel afterwards.

Today I weighed 270

I just found out that I'm approved for surgery! All in all I'm suprised at how fast everything went. June 07 I viewed an on-line seminar then Dr Shrikanths office called me the next week to see if I was intrested and I made an appt. July 19th saw Dr Shrikanth for first consult. July 27th Labs done...all day event Aug 1st Finished my pee test for Labs and turned in Aug 13th Nutrition class and Psch eval. Aug 20th saw personal Dr to go over labs and have him submit letter to Dr Shrikanth Sept 14 Personal nutrition class required by insurance (everything turned in to submit to insurance) Sept 17 approved by insurance My insurance coverage is thru my work, Fred Meyer, and I have Antham Blue Shield Blue Cross. They even set up a personal case worker from the insurance that I really enjoyed talking to. If I have any question or concerns I just give them a call. My surgery isn't until Dec 18th because I work retail and it's the rush time of the year for us and also there's already someone else out on medical leave. I plan on taking 4 weeks off. I was told that I wouldn't be able to lift more than 8lbs for 6-8weeks so 4 weeks is my answer to this dilema. If I need more I'll just take it. This whole thing scares the hell out of me. Sometimes I can be such a volume eater and I know with the band that I won't be able to do this. But I'm scared to death that I'm going to screw it up somehow. I can usually do pretty good with most diets but it's the long term that I have trouble with. After my first consult with my surgeon he told me that I have to loose 10percent of my weight. So far I've lost 18 lbs and I have another 22 to go before surgery. I've figured it out at this point it's 2 lbs a week. This I can do. I started this journey at 288lbs the highest weight that I've ever been is 296 and I'm 5'1" which puts me at a BMI around 53 the only physical problem I have is my feet, they're horrible and hurt like hell all the time. I work retail and I'm on them 10 hrs a day at work; I'm a Relief Assistant Manager for Customer Service at Fred Meyers. I'm married and have 3 boys ages 16, almost 9 and 6. And my mother lives with me because she's afraid of the dark. Most times this is OK, but sometimes can get trying. My new eating program is protein, veggies and fruit and protein drinks. If I vear off this I try and stay as natural as possible and low carb. I've done pretty good until my birthday weekend then I went a little crazy; but I didn't gain any weight. yeah me!! I don't know why for sure why I'm fat..sometimes I can be an emotioal eater and other times I can make it thru any big stress thing and not eat. Other times I eat to celebrate and lots of time I have problems eating because nothing sounds good. I'm all over the board with this. It can be sweet, salty, savory, bland...doesn't seem to matter. I just want it when I want it. Sometimes I have control other times I don't. I have tons of support from my family and friends. I'm hoping by doing some type of documentation of this process I'll find more answers. So far this has been easy. I'm sure I'm about to cross some huge hurdles...the first being to loose the rest of the 30lbs and the other 10 pre-op liquid diet that I'm dredding... So, I'll post and ramble and let go and see if I can't find the answer to the million dollar question? What makes me Fat?

I just found out that I'm approved for surgery! All in all I'm suprised at how fast everything went. June 07 I viewed an on-line seminar then Dr Shrikanths office called me the next week to see if I was intrested and I made an appt. July 19th saw Dr Shrikanth for first consult. July 27th Labs done...all day event Aug 1st Finished my pee test for Labs and turned in Aug 13th Nutrition class and Psch eval. Aug 20th saw personal Dr to go over labs and have him submit letter to Dr Shrikanth Sept 14 Personal nutrition class required by insurance (everything turned in to submit to insurance) Sept 17 approved by insurance My insurance coverage is thru my work, Fred Meyer, and I have Antham Blue Shield Blue Cross. They even set up a personal case worker from the insurance that I really enjoyed talking to. If I have any question or concerns I just give them a call. My surgery isn't until Dec 18th because I work retail and it's the rush time of the year for us and also there's already someone else out on medical leave. I plan on taking 4 weeks off. I was told that I wouldn't be able to lift more than 8lbs for 6-8weeks so 4 weeks is my answer to this dilema. If I need more I'll just take it. This whole thing scares the hell out of me. Sometimes I can be such a volume eater and I know with the band that I won't be able to do this. But I'm scared to death that I'm going to screw it up somehow. I can usually do pretty good with most diets but it's the long term that I have trouble with. After my first consult with my surgeon he told me that I have to loose 10percent of my weight. So far I've lost 18 lbs and I have another 22 to go before surgery. I've figured it out at this point it's 2 lbs a week. This I can do. I started this journey at 288lbs the highest weight that I've ever been is 296 and I'm 5'1" which puts me at a BMI around 53 the only physical problem I have is my feet, they're horrible and hurt like hell all the time. I work retail and I'm on them 10 hrs a day at work; I'm a Relief Assistant Manager for Customer Service at Fred Meyers. I'm married and have 3 boys ages 16, almost 9 and 6. And my mother lives with me because she's afraid of the dark. Most times this is OK, but sometimes can get trying. My new eating program is protein, veggies and fruit and protein drinks. If I vear off this I try and stay as natural as possible and low carb. I've done pretty good until my birthday weekend then I went a little crazy; but I didn't gain any weight. yeah me!! I don't know why for sure why I'm fat..sometimes I can be an emotioal eater and other times I can make it thru any big stress thing and not eat. Other times I eat to celebrate and lots of time I have problems eating because nothing sounds good. I'm all over the board with this. It can be sweet, salty, savory, bland...doesn't seem to matter. I just want it when I want it. Sometimes I have control other times I don't. I have tons of support from my family and friends. I'm hoping by doing some type of documentation of this process I'll find more answers. So far this has been easy. I'm sure I'm about to cross some huge hurdles...the first being to loose the rest of the 30lbs and the other 10 pre-op liquid diet that I'm dredding... So, I'll post and ramble and let go and see if I can't find the answer to the million dollar question? What makes me Fat?

Here are some more stories to think about: Cousin #1 had by-pass 10 years ago (I was very jealous) got very thin very fast got a huge hernia from it and looked like crap because she couldn't follow the rules..after about 3 years she had her tummy tuck and started to take better care of herself because she got put into the hospital and had to have a bunch of stuff pumped into because her body gave up trying to aborb any Vitamins and Protein that she put into it. Her teeth a very bad because of all of the puking she did from dumping and eating too much. Now at this time she has controlled her Proteins and vitamins and is feeling much better but has gained back around 80lbs. Cousin #2 (sister to #1) had her by-pass not long after #1 and got thin real fast (again very jealous but mostly don't like this one much) but after about 2 years she started having throat problems from puking from her cheating and then she started on the other end having rectal problems from all the diahrea.(eww) she's had to have some sort of surgery to fix this as well as hospital stay to pump stuff into her as well. Today she's gain about 2/3 of her weight back and it's all in her but. Boss at work...had her surgery about 7 years has done pretty well looks great and needs a tummy tuck that she's ok not getting her only problem is that she had a Dr that routed her intestines wrong so another Dr had to go back a year later and fix it. I like the lap band because I get to control the food that will be going into my body and not have to worry about hidden sugars or cheating. Much safer...

I haven't been banded yet and was thinking about this, because I've been "practicing" I have a really hard time not drinking after eating...what about using sugar free mints after eating? think that will curve the drinking needs?

I was just looking at the 100 lb lost list and it encouraged me to make this entry. I'm looking into getting banded and I've found out that my insurance will pay....lucky me!! Since I REALLY need to lose more than 100 lbs that thread really hit home for me..WOW do I plan on being on that list!! Unfortunally for me, I'll probably have to wait to get banded because I'll have to do the dr's supervised diet thing...ugh another diet.. I'll get there....anyway "hi all" you've all been a great read! Mendy

Yeah, I've used this..it worked great wasn't hungry. Then I'd remember I was supposed to eat; but once I started eating it had no effect at helping me STOP eating. I think I maybe lost 5lbs in one month. Now if they just would bring Phen-Phen back...that worked for me until they took it away.

Stacy, Next week I'll be working mostly 10-8 and Thurs and Fri 8-6 pm. I'm the Relief Asst. Mangr for Operations, so look for me in a red vest at the main cashier section running "Position A". My street name is Melynda..LOL. My insurace thru Kroger (Fred Meyer) is BCBS PPO and I've already checked with them and they do cover the lap band surgery, I'm hoping to slide past the diet thing..My insurance only cover center of exellence facilties and I liked Dr Shrikanth's rep so that's why I'm going with him..I called and left another msg today and they called back saying that they'll verify my stuff on Monday and she has a lot to call for. I haven't even had an appt. yet. They won't see me until they verify. What's so funny is that I'm sitting here at home looking at a page that my insurance sent me stating what they'll cover and at what cost. Maybe I should fax that to them.. mendy

I called my insurance and KNOW that I have approval by Dr's office is taking there own sweet time doing whatever it is they have to do to verify. I really want to do this and I'm starting to find the process irritating.. I'll probably have to wait until the first of the year..I'm pretty sure that insurance is going to require the supervised diet thing and I don't think Jenny Craig qualifies. Stacy, do you live close to federal way? I work at the Benson Plaza Fred Meyer in Renton by the hosp. I'm a manager for the front checkstand if you're every in the area stop in and talk to me I'd love to get you opions on how things are going for you with Dr. S Mendy

Who is doing your surgery? I'm going thru Dr. Shrikanth of Franciscan Health System in Federal Way, Wash. I'll be thinking of you while I"m working..

Happy Independace Day!!

I like everything you've been saying Butch. Thank you so much. I've been reading a lot lately on the web researching the lap band because I'm sick and tired of walking up the stairs and feeling my "apron" slap back and forth on my legs. And I haven't even had surgery yet! I'm hoping that'll shrink...I've been fat for a very long time and most of the time nobody says a word to me about it. I love to eat and and it doesn't seem to matter what it is. Never been a picky eater, I've always said it was my only bad habit I had... don't smoke, don't drink just can't control my damn eating habit..and you know it just pisses me off, you'd think I be able to do something pro-active about it? Well I'm hoping that by banding I can finely get full and just stop thinking about all the different things I could be eating.