JaimeSTL

Welcome back! Way to go on the 50 lbs! You're halfway there!!

I went to my seminar on 10/24/07, had my first appointment with the surgeon on 11/28. I had testing done in December, saw dr again in early January and he gave medical clearance. I had to get a letter from my PCP then they submitted to insurance on 1/29 or 1/30. I had surgery on 2/28. So from seminar to surgery it was 4 months, from first appt to surgery, exactly 3 months. I didn't have to do the 6 month supervised diet either. I think when you go back to work will depend on what you do. I work in a very slow paced office where I mostly sit at my computer all day. I had surgery on a Thursday and probably could've returned to work on Tuesday or Wednesday. I planned to be off a whole week, but then my boss required me to bring a release from the doctor and I didn't see him until 10 days post op.

I have that too. When I had my first fill, as soon as the doctor stuck the needle in, fluid went everywhere. It was so gross. When I see him again, I'm going to ask if he can drain it because it is poking out now that I'm losing weight. My doctor said it happens and isn't anything to worry about too.

When my kids get a happy meal from McDonalds, I get a grilled chicken w/no bun. I went to the McD's website and they have a feature where you can find the nutritional information for their foods by component, so I found out that their grilled chicken only has 120 cal w/no bun, no mayo, etc. The filet o fish w/no bun and no tartar sauce isn't bad either. That's all I've tried as far as fast food goes, though. Oh, I have had a plain baked potato from a local place a couple of times. I'll be watching this thread because I hate to cook too. LOL

LOL Gibson. When my husband took the first pics, he said, Geez, do you have to look so pissed off? I didn't mean to, I just wanted a neutral look (like a mugshot LMAO). So now I try to look happier. I hate having my picture taken though. By goal, I think you're right--I'll have a HUGE smile on my face, like this...:tt1:.

I do. MySpace.com - www.myspace.com/jaime920

I wish I'd lose some boob! :smile:

Thanks everyone! Today at work, one of my bosses came out to my office for the first time since surgery. She last saw me 2 days pre-op. When she saw me, she kept saying, "Wow!" It felt so good. I told her that all of my bosses really feed my ego (I run my own office and only see them once every 2-4 weeks, if that).

I don't watch a lot of tv. I do watch House, Law and Order SVU, and American Idol. I also like Big Medicine and medical type shows on Discovery Health or TLC and Dateline type shows.

Here are some progress pics of me. I am down 40 lbs as of today! Before--2/23/08 (first day of liquid diet) Today--4/16/08 (7 weeks out)

I bought myself new underwear last night. I was so excited, it was kind of sad. :thumbup:

I just can't believe my 20s are almost over. I am coming to terms with it, most days. I plan to be much healthier and enjoy my 30s much more than in my 20s, so it'll be ok. My husband turns 30 in less than a month and he's really freaking, so I'm doing my best to rub it in. I am four months younger, after all. :biggrin:

I hate when people say Missour-uh instead of Missour-ee. There is an I on the end, not an a. It drives me nuts. I could almost understand from people who don't live here, but so many people who do live here still say Missour-uh. I also hate the word panties. I don't wear panties, I wear underwear. Or if I'm being goofy, drawers. My five year old insists that girls wear panties and only boys wear underwear.

Mine is easy. I'm Jaime and I'm from St. Louis. Usually I add my birthday (9-20) to the end of my user id on things, but I wanted to change it up a little, especially since 9/20 will not come ever again. I am staying 29 forever. :smile2:

Des Peres people--do you know when the next support group meeting will be? Is it the fourth Thursday of each month? Will anybody be going? I think I will come. My brother in law is having surgery that day (if it is the 24th like I'm thinking) so we'll probably be up there to visit him anyway.

You sound a lot like me Gibson. I haven't even gotten a haircut in about a year because I just kept thinking, what's the point. I refused to buy clothes for myself over the last year or so because I just wanted to cry when I had to buy bigger sizes. I told my husband that he better watch out because I'm going to buy myself tons of clothes from now on.

I do. Well, technically we have their national plan but it is all administered the same. I was approved either the day my information was submitted or the day after. I'm not sure what day the surgeon's office actually sent it in. A nurse manager called me on the afternoon of Jan. 30th and approved me over the phone that day.

I didn't really think about rewards until a friend mentioned that she rewards herself for weight loss goals. The truth is, I haven't felt worthy of even the simplest things in a long time because of how I look and feel. Plus, in the past when I've rewarded myself for things, it has always been a food reward and I want to get past that.

My feeling of restriction comes from the fact that I feel full faster, can't eat as much, and feel full longer. Right now, I feel like I'm losing restriction because even though I feel full faster, I am eating a little more than I did immediately after and I feel hungry sooner. I have no PB'ed or slimed even once, and I really don't want to. I've had one episode of minor discomfort but it passed without anything getting stuck or coming back up. I don't think that PB'ing, sliming, or regularly getting stuck are optimal or something to strive for. If I was PB'ing or sliming a lot, I'd probably want an unfill. That isn't how I want to live in order to lose weight.

I thought about a massage, but I get kind of freaked out at the thought of a stranger touching me. I'm so weird. LOL

I want to be able to wear nice business suits. I'm in school working on a business/accounting degree and will probably have to wear those to work everyday. I'd also be happy in any shirt that falls flat from below my breasts to my waist instead of a big bump of a stomach.

Are you guys planning rewards for meeting certain goals? I always rewarded myself with food in the past so I'm trying to think of non-food rewards. So far mine are: Lose 50 lbs/under 300--new haircut and highlights Lose 100 lbs--get my nose repierced Goal--my husband has to buy me a 3 stone diamond ring I'm trying to think of something for 75, 125 and 150 lbs.

My highest weight was at my pre-op appointment on 2/20. I was 350 lbs. Lowest? Well, I weighed about 180 when I graduated from high school almost 12 years ago. I've gained steadily since, putting on weight in 20-30 lb spurts every few months. When I had my youngest child 5 years ago, I weighed 270 so I gained quite a bit in the last 5 years.

That's great, Gibson. Well, not the vomiting, but that you have a restriction. It's a great feeling, isn't it? I had a similar experience before my first fill and I am so glad I managed to get one early. I was supposed to have my first one this week, but I had it 2 weeks ago. Between my pre-op appointment 8 days before surgery and my post-op appt 10 days after, I lost 27 lbs. I went on purees and in a week, I gained back 8 lbs. If I hadn't had a fill when I did, I have no doubt I would've gained back the whole amount I lost. Within a week of the fill, I lost those 8 lbs plus 2 more. It will be three weeks since my fill on Monday and I've lost a total of 11 new lbs since the fill. I'm not supposed to have another fill until May, so I'm worried and hope I can hold out that long. The lbs will drop for you now!!

LOL I was trying things on last night and got so mad. Most of my stuff in the next size down is too tight, but the bigger stuff is too big. WTH? I found one pair of jeans that fit just right and they had no button. I had to do button surgery this morning before work. I think you're right though. I took my one month pics in the same shirt as my pre-surgery pics, and it is way too big now. I think I'll take my next pics in a shirt that actually fits and see how it comes out.