We ALL felt all those mixed emotions at the start of our journeys,, too. ALL of them! The great thing in all of this is that FIRST STEP. It took me a year to decide to go for it. I took another 2 months to get my insurance company to ADMIT they would cover me (they tried so hard to keep it a secret from the employees where I work)! And, another 6 months (insurance requirements) before it was finally approved.
When they wheeled my gurney into the Operating Room with the silly paper hat on my head, I felt ZERO fear, anxiety, trepidation... I made a fist in the air, and yelled out, "YES," as I pulled my fist down to my chest, as a celebratory cheer that broke everyone in the OR out in laughter. I was FINALLY in the room I worked SO HARD to get in!
When we make the decision to alter our bodies and our way of nourishing ourselves for the rest of our lives, we usually make peace with it all by the time the Surgery Date arrives. Just make sure you do that. Once you are totally on board, DON'T second-guess yourself and never look back. That is a life in your past. Look forward to your new life!
Ever dream about what you would do with all that money if you won the lottery? The sleeve is your health lottery! Start dreaming about what you would do if .... The bikini.... The skin toning.... The ENERGY! The complimentary smiles and comments from strangers. One by one, the medications go away! A new wardrobe... A new hairstyle.... SHOES!!! Being able to sit comfortably in an airline seat. The list goes on and on! Start DREAMING NOW, because everything you really want out of this can and will happen if you strengthen your resolve. You can do this! How do I know that? Look around you here. Everyone is doing it! If they can, WE CAN, TOO!
Follow your dream...you can do this. I had the gastric sleeve on May 15th, 2012. It has been almost a year. I started at 221lbs. and I am at 162lbs now. It has been a journey. I was pre-diabetic, hypothyroid, high cholesterol, I snored and had mild sleep apnea. I no longer have these symptoms. The journey has been tough but well worth it. However, I was walking everyday and then stopped during Winter and have found myself snacking more than I should as I was laid off last July, two months after my surgery.So, the weight loss had slowed down --- I got down to 152 and now I have gained 10 lbs. I went to the Bariatric Center today and I have been put on a strict diet including incorporating exercises and protein shakes back into my diet. I encourage you to follow through with the surgery and weight loss as you will feel much better but it is important to be there mentally 100% as it does take alot of work and dedication. If you should have any questions --- please feel free to reach out to me. monaramsdell@gmail.com
