Dualstarr

I was like un-laws...thats a great term for my ex-husbands parents lol. I think Ill use it anyway lol

So i searched high and low for as much info as I could find regarding the weight loss surgery options/process through Kaiser (Southern Ca) and always came up short so I promised myself I would update others with information as I went through the processes.
Basics
Location: Kaiser Downey/Bellflower
Okay as many of you know (or may not know) Kaiser (Socal) requires you to complete a program called "Options" prior to being approved for surgery. Part of that process also includes attending a 3 hr orientation which I did today. Bellow are a few key points I learned today.
Orientation is the first step (after you are referred by you PCP.
1. The "Options" program is 12 weeks HOWEVER they have recently changed it so that you only attend 6 sessions. Each session is 3 hours long (night class are from 5:30pm-8:30pm). They also offer morning classes (11am-2pm) and Saturday classes (11am-2pm) The class you get depends on what time you complete orientation. For example. I completed orientation today and the only tracks they had starting were Tuesday nights from 5:30pm-8:30 pm and Wednesday 5:30pm-8:30 pm. They offered a Saturday track however that one did not start until late August. There were no Morning tracks on schedule any time soon. Each class meets every other week. So instead of doing one class every week for 12 weeks you do 3 hours (equal to 2 classes) one week then skip a week and then do two more. So 6 meetings over 12 weeks.
2. For all you smokers (I am...or was) they require you to be 100% smoke free for 8 weeks before they will schedule your surgery. This includes NO Patches or GUM. They do test you and if you come back positive for nicotine they will make you wait 8 weeks.
3. You are requested to lose 5-10% of your body weight during the 12 weeks. If you don't lose it is up to the surgent if they will go forward with your surgery. If you gain...you are out!
4. They offer 3 surgical options. Bypass, Sleeve and lap-band. She said sleeve was the most popular and although they do offer the lap band, said they have not done one in over 2 years. They really try to talk you out of it.
5. If you are just at the BMI cut off (BMI 40) like I am, you will not get kicked out for dropping bellow 40 BMI. Once you are in you are in no matter how much weight you lose.
6. Options classes are good for 1 year. After that year you must either have surgery or re-take the Options program again.
7. She said over 90% of the class usually has surgery dates with in in 2-3 weeks after completing the Options program pending you don't have any other issues to take care of (i.e.. stop smoking, have gained weight etc.) She said it's not unlikely to complete the class and have surgery 2 weeks later. She said they are really speeding things up now.
9. The Downey location does not do surgery and most people have surgery done and Kaiser Harbor City.
10. You weigh in every meeting and must keep a food log, exercise log and Protein log. if you fail to do this you get booted.
I start my first options class July 17th and End on September 24th! I will keep you guys posted every meeting so you can get a feel of what the process is like. Feel free to message me with any questions and I will do my best to answer them. If I don't know the answer i will ask at the next class meeting.

So before my sleeve and weight loss I wasnt dating, while I was single I didnt feel like it was something I deserved.
So I lost the weight and most days I am comfortable in my skin. A few months ago, i decided to officially put myself on the market so to speak.
Have been internet dating, meeting guys etc. I found some nice guys, but no spark, some real d*^ks and quite a few guys that didnt want to know me once I opened up about my weight loss.
Anyway I recently I broke my ankle and have been pretty much limited to my apartment building and started running into this guy in my lift, anyway I was always with someone when I met him so I couldnt act too interested, but we always had a nice chat.
Anyway I did something that I would never have done before the weight loss, I put a letter in all the letter box apartments on his floor (admittedly only 4) and asked him to contact me if he is interested in a coffee..
And to my shock..absolute disbelief, a couple of days later I got a message from him...he replied and asked me out to lunch...which sadly i was at work, but we kept in touch and today we are having lunch!!
This is something that I would not have even contemplated pre-surgery.
Whatever happens I went after what i was intereedted in for the first time...

Maybe .. And I mean MAYBE, it could be that the majority of BBW are sincerely not happy being BBW and being with a BBM is just a reminder of what they dont like about themselves. It's like looking in the mirror all the time. In general, Women are way more sensitive to things that, for a variety of reasons, don't bother men. Just a thought.

Wow I love that! Good for you I will give anything to see that look on anybody

When your almost 17 year old daughter tries to steal your new clothes!

You know you've lost weight when...

You can go to the State Fair and ride ALL the rides, comfortably! The hubs took me on saturday, and I had a blast! Next stop Six Flags!

When I get into the tub and my body is actually under Water and my stomach is not sticking out!

When you stop being afraid to put your jeans in the dryer.

when your shoe laces are not knotted (tied) on the side

When your X will literally not look at u! :-) love that one!

Hey guys! Updated my channel and added a new video! http://youtu.be/kZZbY6ZsN-E

And I think I would have took off running..lol Not the first thing I want to hear

Lose the weight, find a new husband.

Batman....I like it! As long as you get Dr. Martinez (and not the Joker) you are in good shape!! LOL!
Stick to your guns and talk to the man. You will feel better if you do. And I didn't meet Dr. Martinez at OCC, only Dr. Ortiz. Interesting! But with my pre-op and post-op questions, Dr. Martinez answered those emails.

I've never heard anyone mention Dr Martinez!! When Lori emailed me, she asked if I would be ok with speaking to Dr Martinez and I said no I wanted to speak to Dr Ortiz. Had I known that I would've been fine with speaking to him instead I'll have to email Lori (I'm sure she's avoiding me and/or is busy). I'm sitting here already nervous as all get out and my doctor won't even call me?! Some doctors require you meet ahead of time and I'm going into this blindly. I definitely don't question their ability- it's obvious they know what they are doing. I just don't want to be left out in the cold when I "saw the signs" ahead of time. Now I know and I'll speak with Martinez. Thank you guys. It's really hard to just trust and take people's word for everything. Also you know everyone always talks about Batman ( I call Dr Ortiz Batman in my head). So you pay to see Batman, expect Batman to pick up the Batphone, then get Robin (although I'm sure Robin is cool). We'll see what happens.
{)i(} Sent from my iPhone using VST {)i(}

I'm so excited I could scream!!!! I'm still going to have to wait another 6 weeks because I had a positive hpylorie test, but that's okay, at least I'm done with the class and one step closer to surgery... I can deal with that. Plus it gives me 6 weeks to tie up lose ends

"too old to spank" this actually cracked me up lol Yeah I know this is the case, I just kinda don't want to tell anyone. I'm sure if i told her she just wouldn't be supportive and any weight I did lose would be because I "had surgery" mind you my mom is over weight too.
I woud like to lean on my BFF but she is a major health but (former bulimic). She has always encouraged me to work out with her (which I would love to do). I feel it would make our friendship stronger. I mean where close but bit as close as we used to be because I don't run marathons, go to the gym or do cross-fit. I can't wait to be able to do these things with her and not feel like the fat cow.
I just feel like people woud be more accepting if they think I did it without the help. It's not fair but I know the people around me
I had surgery last year for something totally different and was just thinking of telling her the problem came back and I have to have surgery again...
When people ask me how I lost my weight I just planned on saying I changed my eatting habits and started working out...thats not a lie

I am 34 and have a daughter that is 5. I just re-started my classes through Kaiser (had to start over after going though a divorce and losing insurance). Anyways, My mom has recently decided to move back to California and will be living with me for a few months until she can find a place on her own. This just happens to be happing during the time I plan on having my surgery

I ran the idea past her about 2 years ago when I was first considering it and lets just say she was no way near supportive. Now that I have decided to go through with it I don't plan on telling her. I had planned on going to a hotel or something for the first few days to a week until I can heal up but I'm wondering what I'm going to do to explain of my new eating habits?

The good thing is my surgery will be right around the new year so it will be easy to explain the weight loss off as a "new years resolution"...like all the ones I have made in the past lol. I just don't know how to explain why I'm eating like a rabbit lol

Anyone out there not tell a soul? I plan on relying on support groups and a meet up group I found online.

Hey guys! Updated my channel and added a new video! http://youtu.be/kZZbY6ZsN-E

Why the heck so long

For me it's this...and it just happend to me AGAIN toady. When little kids mostly toddler walk up behind you and you move and because of your side you bump them so hard they go flying and fall. I hate when that happens. Makes me feel like a freaken whale and I just feel like everyone is saying gosh shes so FAT!

I am 34 and have a daughter that is 5. I just re-started my classes through Kaiser (had to start over after going though a divorce and losing insurance). Anyways, My mom has recently decided to move back to California and will be living with me for a few months until she can find a place on her own. This just happens to be happing during the time I plan on having my surgery

I ran the idea past her about 2 years ago when I was first considering it and lets just say she was no way near supportive. Now that I have decided to go through with it I don't plan on telling her. I had planned on going to a hotel or something for the first few days to a week until I can heal up but I'm wondering what I'm going to do to explain of my new eating habits?

The good thing is my surgery will be right around the new year so it will be easy to explain the weight loss off as a "new years resolution"...like all the ones I have made in the past lol. I just don't know how to explain why I'm eating like a rabbit lol

Anyone out there not tell a soul? I plan on relying on support groups and a meet up group I found online.

"too old to spank" this actually cracked me up lol Yeah I know this is the case, I just kinda don't want to tell anyone. I'm sure if i told her she just wouldn't be supportive and any weight I did lose would be because I "had surgery" mind you my mom is over weight too.
I woud like to lean on my BFF but she is a major health but (former bulimic). She has always encouraged me to work out with her (which I would love to do). I feel it would make our friendship stronger. I mean where close but bit as close as we used to be because I don't run marathons, go to the gym or do cross-fit. I can't wait to be able to do these things with her and not feel like the fat cow.
I just feel like people woud be more accepting if they think I did it without the help. It's not fair but I know the people around me
I had surgery last year for something totally different and was just thinking of telling her the problem came back and I have to have surgery again...
When people ask me how I lost my weight I just planned on saying I changed my eatting habits and started working out...thats not a lie

So my mom came out for thanksgiving and I decided to try to have the talk with her again....it actually went well this go round. She's still not Pro surgery but she understands that I do need to do something. She told me that her not wanting me to have the surgery is more about fear of something going wrong, which I can totally understand. We joked that I'll be there guinea pig and go first and maybe she'll go next lol. I feel much better now.