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03/19/2014

Today I decided to do the lap band surgery. I am very fortunate because my mom will be funding my success. Which means that I really need to start my lifetime change. Right now she is in a nursing home and hopefully will return home on the 24th.

I have signed up for my seminar on April 10th in Lacey, Washington.

8 years ago I did research for the gastric banding because I worked for the state and they did not cover the surgery. After about 3 appeals, I was so disappointed that I just gave up. Shortly after that I quit my job at the state and decided to work at a casino. 2 weeks later the gastric bypass was offered to the state employees. :( Well now I am rediscovering the surgery. My mother is getting older and she said she wants me to enjoy my 8 grandchildren a little bit longer. So here I am telling my story from the day I decided to get the surgery. I will always be grateful to my mom for setting me in motion. I love you mom.

So here we go:

I am starting at about 350lbs and the weight limit to have it done here in Olympia Washington is 350lbs. So with that in mind, I have decided to start curbing some of my sweets, Pasta, rice and bread. Now I don't have a problem with the rice or even the Pasta but will have a little problem with the bread and a big problem with the sweets. I do pretty good on a monthly basis but because I had cancer of the cervix 7 years ago. I had my uterus removed which I think put me into menopause. Anyway for some reason a few day of the month I really and I mean really crave sweets. I can sit and eat a whole bag of gingersnap Cookies, or eat 3 or 4 candy bars or even a box of poptarts in one sitting. So tonight I am looking at things to throw out to start my journey.

I will try to update every day to keep me accountable but if not at least once a week. I am taking care of my mom and also my 98 year old uncle that is also in a nursing home so sometimes I have a very busy schedule.

A little about my family:

I got married 5 years ago to a man I met on the internet and he is my world. He tells me all the time he loves me just the way I am. I have a daughter that is 37 and twins that are 27. My oldest daughter has 4 boys and my youngest daughter has 3 boys and one girl on the way. My son has no children at this time. He is working on his career. I love my grandchildren very much and want them to be proud of their grandma. My father passed away 10 years ago and my stepdad passed away September this year. I have a sister and brother that are older than me and I have written off because of the things they have done to my mother since she has been in a nursing home. But that is another book in itself. So at this time the only other people that know about my journey is my hubby, my youngest daughter, my mom and now YOU! Thanks for being here.

I think that is more than enough for tonight so I just want to thank you all for being here and being supportive. It will be a journey that I want to remember everyday.Pictures will come later when I get enough confidence. :)

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Lean on us for any questions that pop in your mind. We're here for ya!!

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03/19/2014 Today I decided to do the lap band surgery. I am very fortunate because my mom will be funding my success. Which means that I really need to start my lifetime change. Right now she is in a nursing home and hopefully will return home on the 24th. I have signed up for my seminar on April 10th in Lacey, Washington. 8 years ago I did research for the gastric banding because I worked for the state and they did not cover the surgery. After about 3 appeals, I was so disappointed that I just gave up. Shortly after that I quit my job at the state and decided to work at a casino. 2 weeks later the gastric bypass was offered to the state employees. :( Well now I am rediscovering the surgery. My mother is getting older and she said she wants me to enjoy my 8 grandchildren a little bit longer. So here I am telling my story from the day I decided to get the surgery. I will always be grateful to my mom for setting me in motion. I love you mom. So here we go: I am starting at about 350lbs and the weight limit to have it done here in Olympia Washington is 350lbs. So with that in mind, I have decided to start curbing some of my sweets, Pasta, rice and bread. Now I don't have a problem with the rice or even the pasta but will have a little problem with the bread and a big problem with the sweets. I do pretty good on a monthly basis but because I had cancer of the cervix 7 years ago. I had my uterus removed which I think put me into menopause. Anyway for some reason a few day of the month I really and I mean really crave sweets. I can sit and eat a whole bag of gingersnap Cookies, or eat 3 or 4 candy bars or even a box of poptarts in one sitting. So tonight I am looking at things to throw out to start my journey. I will try to update every day to keep me accountable but if not at least once a week. I am taking care of my mom and also my 98 year old uncle that is also in a nursing home so sometimes I have a very busy schedule. A little about my family: I got married 5 years ago to a man I met on the internet and he is my world. He tells me all the time he loves me just the way I am. I have a daughter that is 37 and twins that are 27. My oldest daughter has 4 boys and my youngest daughter has 3 boys and one girl on the way. My son has no children at this time. He is working on his career. I love my grandchildren very much and want them to be proud of their grandma. My father passed away 10 years ago and my stepdad passed away September this year. I have a sister and brother that are older than me and I have written off because of the things they have done to my mother since she has been in a nursing home. But that is another book in itself. So at this time the only other people that know about my journey is my hubby, my youngest daughter, my mom and now YOU! Thanks for being here. I think that is more than enough for tonight so I just want to thank you all for being here and being supportive. It will be a journey that I want to remember everyday.Pictures will come later when I get enough confidence. :)

Good for you having a wonderful mother to help. I love my band. About 4-5 months before the surgery I started the shakes for Breakfast. So by surgery I was down 28 lbs. I have totally improved my health. Good luck with the new you and your journey

Arlene

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Good for you on starting your journey towards being healthy ! If this is any help, Dr. Neal is my surgeon too !! He is the BEST !!!! He banded me Dec, 2011, ive lost 65 of the 85 lbs and im very happy with the results ! Hes a great Dr and has a great team in his office too. I highly reccommend him. Good luck to you !

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Nettyinlacey...congrats on your decision and many thanks to your mom for being there to help you out. I made my decision back in November 2013 to have my lap band, however, waited for after the holidays to have it done, so I was banded on 1/16/14 and I feel pretty good. It is a new chapter in my life and I have many chapters to go I know...so I just wanted you to know we are here for you...so ask am many questions that you need answers or advice about...the folks on here are great...they've answered many questions I have had. We are on the same journey as you are the journey of Health and Well being!!! Take care!!!

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I was banded just over two weeks ago. I'm feeling good and I'm very happy with my decision. I wish you the very best of everything!

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Good morning!

What a terrific story - I'm sitting here cheering for you and for your lovely Mom who's helping you. Yes, we are definitely here for you, and willing to help in any way.

I was banded in Nov 2008 and lost 85 lbs in 14 months. Got a little cocky and thought I'd 'relax' a bit and regained some of it, but I'm back on the losing side again. It's been 4.5 years since my surgery, and I wouldn't do anything differently. I researched the lap band before undergoing the surgery and was blessed that my employer at the time covered the entire cost. In fact, I was able to have the surgery at THEIR facility. It's listed among the Centers of Excellence, so I felt very confident. They took very good care of me physically, but at the time there wasn't really any training / counseling / coaching on the mental and emotional side of the process.

Good luck to you!

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Congrats! Great story! I'm almost three weeks out and would do this again in a heartbeat! Sounds like you have done a lot for other people. Time to focus on YOU!

- K

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Hi Netty, so happy for you to be choosing yourself and your healthy future! I am just four months out -- began my process last June, was banded in November and I am feeling very happy with my decision. It's not just the weight loss but also a feeling of having reentered my life. I'm out of food jail, no longer obsessed and just so much more at peace with everything. Best wishes to you -- glad you're here!

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Netty - Wow, that was a great story, and we all have similar stories! I am so happy that you have decided to do this for you & it sounds like you have great support through your family!

Wls has changed my life for the better and has made a dramatic difference in my every day life! So happy for you! And - yes, we all are here to answer any questions you may have - or just for support! Wishing you the BEST!

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Got my surgery date! Looks like May 30 2014. Kind of excited kind of nervous.

Edited by Nettyinlacey

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Got my surgery date! Looks like May 30 2014. Kind of excited kind of nervous.

congratulations! I wish you well and take pictures I want you to have a great journey!

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nettyinlacey congrats on your lap band surgery date...looking forward to more posts from you soon...will look forward to chatting with you okay!!! Let us know if you need anything!!!

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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