nikkiperezcassar

My plan is simply to plan ahead, I have a fridge at work and a microwave so I'm going to stock up on the essentials that way I always have something on hand. I also plan to set a alarm to remind myself to eat. I've seen too many posts of people forgetting to eat and it being way to draining. I figure as long as I have foods for each of my phases on hand and Water at my desk I'm good.
Since I'm the manager of my office I don't have to take lunch with others or a full scheduled lunch hour. Since I'm not planning on telling anyone about my surgery I think that will help me hide my weird new eating habits! ???? My only true concern is when I have to take a client out, I'm going to try to avoid lunch appointments and stick with Breakfast or coffee so it's not so obvious I'm not eating. I think with a bit of shuffling I may be okay. Only time will tell though!

I found this online and plan to have it for my birthday! Neat concept!

I found this online and plan to have it for my birthday! Neat concept!

I haven't had surgery yet however my surgeon said they will be removing my drain before I'm discharged. He isn't a fan of leaving them in. I would double check with your doctors office about that. I work a desk job too and most people I've spoken with who have similar jobs said they felt like 2 weeks was even a bit too long. I'm planning on a week and if I need longer adjusting it then. I know myself and sitting home and doing nothing will quickly make me depressed! Especially with no food! ????

I'm considering hiring a photographer for a professional photo shoot prior to surgery. It's two fold, I think I would like something to look back on after surgery to see how far I've come and I also feel a little sad about never seeing the person I am now again. It's weird right? I'm not happy with who I am when I look in the mirror but I'm scared I'll miss her! Has anyone done anything like this? Any advice?

I'm a huge Disney fan and my husband and I go quite often. They have completely revitalized menus over the last few years. Loads of healthy choices and Snacks all over the parks. If you do a little pre-hand research you'll find when it comes to looking for the right foods you'll be just fine. Have fun!

This is so awesome! Congrats girl!

I swore off shopping during my pre-op. I was losing weight pretty quickly (down almost 50 lbs in 3 months) and knew it would just be a waste of money to buy any new clothes. So when the Lilly Pulitzer for Target collection launched, I didn't even wanna look at it because I knew I would shop. Well...that turned out not to even be an issue because before I even woke up that morning, the Target website had crashed and most stores looked like a tornado had come through and picked up all of the Lilly items. So I moved on with my life LOL
I went to Target today for cleaning supplies, face wash, and a trash can. That was all. Of course, I had a Cartwheel for 15% off one of their brands of women's apparel, so I thought whats the harm in taking a look? Maybe I'll find a nice maxi dress to transition around in. I walk by the women's section and see a very familiar print of white and green. Could it be? No...there's no way...is that...that's a piece of Lilly Pulitzer for Target. I'd recognize that cheery print anywhere. It's a jumpsuit I had coveted when sneak peeks of the line started showing up online. I picked it up and found no flaws or marks or tears in it...how could this possibly be here?! I check the tag and it's a standard XL. Well, I usually need an XXL at Target, and that's not always a good fit. I usually have to go to their plus section and I almost never find anything. This item is not stretchy. And it has a zipper. At this moment, I am terrified. Me and zippers don't have a pleasant history.
I take it to the fitting room, hang it up and examine it again. If it doesn't fit AND has a tear, then i'll feel better because I don't want a torn item anyway. There's not a single mark or tear. Suck it up Ashlee. Try it on. I put one leg in...I put the other leg in...I pull it up and it actually passes my hips. I take a deep breath (actually I sucked it in is what I did LOL) and pull it up the rest of the way. So far so good. But does it zip?? I reach behind me the best I can and pull up that tiny white zipper. And it stops. OMG. I KNEW IT. IT DOESN'T FIT. I turn around to see where i've stopped and lo and behold...i've zipped it all the way up. This thing fits. And not only does it fit, it fits damn good! It's a wee bit snug at my chest, which tells me I've got a little room to make so I can wear this thing out properly. Even though I've sworn off shopping, I absolutely cannot walk away without this item.
According to the girl working the fitting room, a woman had returned the item last night and since they no longer have any of the collection in stock, there's no where to properly hang it. So it was mixed in with "similar" colored items. I wasn't even gonna go to this particular Target today, but I didn't feel like going to my usual Target closer to home. So if I had to analyze it, I'd say that the good lord above compelled that woman to return that jumpsuit and then led me to that store on purpose so that I could find it and realize that I have shrunk my way down to standard sizes!
In the words of Ice Cube...today was a good day.
PS if you read that whole story, you're my hero. Sometimes I feel like storytelling.

I'm considering hiring a photographer for a professional photo shoot prior to surgery. It's two fold, I think I would like something to look back on after surgery to see how far I've come and I also feel a little sad about never seeing the person I am now again. It's weird right? I'm not happy with who I am when I look in the mirror but I'm scared I'll miss her! Has anyone done anything like this? Any advice?

My cousin had the surgery 5 years ago and started with weight watchers right after. She says the regular meetings have really kept her on track over the years. I'm thinking of doing something like that in the long run. It's a good way to keep involved with other people in the community who are trying to lose weight.

If you call your insurance company, they can tell you if your plan even covers the surgeries at all, and what it will take to MAYBE get them covered. My insurance does cover all skin removal surgeries, however I have to supply documentation of debilitating infection or skin irritation from my PCP for 3-6 months (depending on the area) with photographs, and for my stomach, it also has to have caused a cellulitis infection that required antibiotics. And they won't even consider it until I am at least 6 months out from a stable weight. My bypass is on Monday so I am planning ahead.
I am a medical coder, so here are the CPT codes for the most common procedures so you can ask specifically what is covered:
15830 - panniculectomy (this is NOT a Tummy Tuck, insurance will not cover TT because it is cosmetic. This is only for skin removal, not muscle tightening or changing belly button location)
15832 - thigh lift (inner thigh)
15833 - leg lift (lower leg)
15834 - hip lift (outer thigh/hip)
15835 - buttock lift
15836 - arm lift (upper arm)
All of the "lifts" are actually termed "removal of excess skin" in the particular area. For a full lower body lift, your surgeon may combine several of the above procedures for billing. Your insurance may only cover the panniculectomy and not the butt lift, etc. For your purposes you would want to ask about 15832. They should also be able to tell you what the average price in your area is if they do not cover it. Good luck!

I have been married for almost 26 years, and when people ask me "What's your secret?" the first thing I tell them is LAUGH. Try to find humor in even the toughest situations (appropriately, of course). We have gone through pretty much everything a marriage can go through, except the death of a child (thank goodness), and humor has gotten us through some really tough times. Every time you're able to find humor in a difficult situation, you win. Oh, and:

This is the exact reason I'm scared to tell people! Obviously my husband knows and my parents. I told one close friend and that's it. My dad didn't have the best reaction when I first started contemplating this about a year ago but when I recently told him it was happening this fall he actually said he was happy for me. You never know how people will react. I assumed because he was overweight his whole life he would understand but it took him a little while to come around. It stinks she went on to tell lots of people, I'd see if she comes around and apologizes. If not maybe it's best to limit your interactions. You need good supportive people in your life to be successful!

I saw my primary care last week. He said they do it to weed people out. That a lot of patients don't bother with all 6 visits and then just drop off. I know one thing; I will be there with bells on for the next 6 months! This surgery is happening!

Maybe hitting a drive through & and ordering 2 meals.( One for the car ride home and one when I got home) Its sad. Apparently I would assume the calories consumed in my car did not " count ".

So I just started my 6 mo documented diet plan required by my insurance and my scale is driving me insane. I can't tell if it's no longer working or if I really fluctuate this much from day to day. I just find it hard to believe I gain or lose around 2-3 lbs a day! Does anyone have any recommendations for a accurate home scale? I know mine will always differ from my doctors but to at least see some consistency would be nice.
Any advice would be appreciated!

So I just started my 6 mo documented diet plan required by my insurance and my scale is driving me insane. I can't tell if it's no longer working or if I really fluctuate this much from day to day. I just find it hard to believe I gain or lose around 2-3 lbs a day! Does anyone have any recommendations for a accurate home scale? I know mine will always differ from my doctors but to at least see some consistency would be nice.
Any advice would be appreciated!

I can wear my wedding ring again.

When a regular sized bath towel wraps around you WITHOUT any gaps! That has to be the best feeling. I realized this last night when I got out of the shower.
I even wrapped it past the gap about 7 or 8 inches. HOW FREAKING AMAZING!!!
Kelly :) :)

When your husband starts calling you "Hottie" in front of all your friends!!

You can answer, "Either is fine with me.", when asked, "Would you like a table or a booth?"

It's time for a new therapist! One that doesn't believe that your problems/issue are real will never be able to help you.

I'm 5 weeks out and have been obsessed pre-surgery and now with finding the "perfect" drinking cup. Started with needing to have incremental measurements so I could see how well i was doing. Now I spent $25 for one that is supposed to keep my drink cold for 18 hours. I can't wait to move into something more wild like panties or sex, even if it's with myself!

I'll add my male perspective on this...
I am not happy about the extra skin. I am doing everything I can to minimize it four months post surgery. (Protein, Water, limit sun, cool showers, exercise to put as much muscle on as I can, and moisturize). I do remind myself the extra skin looks much better than the fat.
Since I date women my own age (51), I can tell you gravity is the universal equalizer. Every woman who has had kids, is going to have things that an airbrushed SI swimsuit model doesn't have. Yes I notice, but I don't care. Confidence is the sexist thing you bring to the bedroom.