LOSINGLOOSEY

Prior to surgery, I gave up my coffee and iced tea (the good stuff with the caffiene) and now, I'm three weeks post op....can I have my iced tea again?

I asked my coordinator - who said yes - but, I think she thought I was talking about Decaf iced tea...

Same here - I was sleeved on the 5th of August - feeling no pain, no nausea - a little gassy and some heartburn if I drink too fast. A little tired and easily worn out when by the end of the day. I've been getting two Protein Shakes down a day. The weight has been dropping off - anywhere from 2-3 lbs per day!! It's ridiculous!

I was in a physically and emotionally abusive marriage years ago - thank God my son and I got out of it - it was horrible and I don't even like thinking that I put myself and my son through that!

Two valuable lessons I learned -

1. From the weekly support group I attended back then - most women would rather take a physical hit or push or shove, rather than to endure days and days of emotional abuse. In most ways, emotional abuse is much harder and difficult...it wears on you, in every sense of the word.

2. Before you physically leave a marriage or relationship, you've already "left" him. It sounds like your mind is halfway out the door - now, grab your kids and take them and the rest of you ALL the way out the door!

Good luck - don't buy into his put downs - you CAN do this!

August 5th!!!! I start the pre-op diet on Monday....getting both excited and nervous!

August 5th - four weeks from tomorrow!!!!

August 5th..... it seems like forever!

Yes - August 5th. I was amazed - I just knew it was going to be a 2 week wait....crazy. I still can't get over it!

Now start the tests....starting the 8th of July, I have to go to the cardiologist, the surgeon, my regular doctor for clearance, etc....one appointment after another!!

My coordinator emailed me right before 11 AM today - said that everything was sent up to BC/BS of FL...I thought - now the waiting game begins. She warned me that it would be about a 10 day waiting period before we would hear back - but, she was very confident that it would be approved. Mind you - another co-worker just had her sleeve done last week (same employer/same insurance) and it took about 10 days for her to get a response.

At 4:30, my coordinator calls me - she had contacted BC/BS to ensure that they had gotten everything, etc. They told her that everything was in order and it was approved!!!! Unreal!! She said this was a first! A 6 hour approval!!! She was astonished as I was!!!

Now, it's real....

Here's my list............

1. Sit on an airplane - and trying to hide the fact by putting a jacket on my lap - so the flight attendant won't realize that the seatbelt isn't buckled.

2. Go play poker at various spots - I won't show myself at some of these places since, the last time they saw me, I was 80 lbs less.

3 Ride the zipline on Fremont Street in Las Vegas - weight limit is 230....I have a ways to go.

4. Not have to jiggle the booth away from me to make it so I can breathe!

5. Not having to go through my clothes every morning - struggling to find something that fits.

6. Driving by the grocery store - without thinking about stopping to get a "goodie" for the night.

7. Not having to maneuver into my truck so much - in order to "get comfortable."

8. Riding a bicycle - I would just be so embarrassed right now.

9. Going to the gym regularly - without being embarrassed.

10. And the biggest thing - breaking the cycle that was set by my Mother, my Grandmother, my Great Grandmother - I refuse to be the next generation of overweight women in my family. The buck stops here!

So, how do you respond to the following?

"You could lose this weight if you really wanted to...you just need to have more discipline, not surgery!"

"You shouldn't mess with what God gave you - he gave you a big stomach - that's what you should keep!"

"It's all just a fad....hopefully, you'll 'come to your senses' before the surgery!"

"Why would you want to do that - you could just go to Weight Watchers and get the same results!?!"

I've had some strange comments thrown at me in the last few weeks - I need some decent responses to shut these naysayers down!!!