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Dear Diary
 

@$%&

I probably shouldn't be typing today. Yesterday was just an all around horrible day. I had it out with a co-worker. I really do try to bite my tongue and keep peace...but oh lord she just hit the wrong button. So we've agreed to just not speak to each other. I was going to ask my director to move my cubicle elsewhere (so very tired of the drama in this dept). However, I don't want to add to the drama and stress him out. So I just keep my headphones on and play my music all day while I work. Today I feel the need for 'angry' music.   So worked sucked. Get home last night. I'm chilling with my kids then my g/f gets home...and...well.. of course she starts. Yells at my daughter because she left her bedroom light on (YES i agree, let's not waist energy, i'm big on that too) She then tells her to stay in her room the remainder of the night and takes her phone away. I realize my kids have been told more than once not to leave lights, but really? Then my g/f looks at the living room table and asks me "you couldn't clean it off?". Now keep in mind, I'm a super cleaning freak now. I keep that table SPOTLESS. However SOMEONE (who was not me) was in a rampage Sunday looking for one of her bills and a gift cert. Of course she had to take every document we had put away out to look for these papers. So...was I going to clean up her tantrum mess? OH HELL NO.. Then she looks over at the kitchen table and notices HER waffle from Saturday morning still there. And of course she asks why it's still there and why I didn't clear up her plate after breakfast when I cleared mine. I kindly reminded her she is an adult and can clear her own plate. I reminded her how she got up after breakfast and sat her @ss down on the couch. The 'rule' is who ever cooks, the other cleans..yet when I do cook (which isn't often, I hate cooking, always have) she NEVER cleans up after. Matter of a fact, she usually has the kids do it. I started to eplain to her she needs to help out more around the house. She went on and on about how she pays the bills and cooks.. Of course this didn't go over well with me since i pay MORE THAN HALF the mortgage (since my kids take up the 2 spare bedrooms) and how I pay MORE THAN HALF Of the utilities...we won't even go into how I buy all the toiletries (which is MY fault since I will only use Tide). So we begin yelling at each other...and I finally screamed out "since this is YOUR house and YOU pay all the bills, I'll just move out and get my own place".   Yeah, that didn't go over well. She accused me of being a child and wanting to run out rather than deal with the relationship like an adult. I told her i'm tired of the nitpicking and the fighting. We basically yelled another 30 minutes then we both shut up and aren't talking to each other.   This is the part where I was proud of myself. Rather than run to the fridge to attempt to stuff my face, I went to my room and began cleaning. I even cleaned the bathroom (ok so the bathroom in our room is 'our' bathroom. however, she NEVER cleans the damn thing, so i've stopped getting ready in there, I've stopped cleaning it. Thinking that just MAYBE she would get off her @ss and clean.. NOPE. it's a hot mess. Gross really). So I grabbed clorox and wiped down the whole damn thing. Did a load of laundry.   So this shows me my old habits of using food as my comfort, I now use cleaning as it HAHA!! Much less self destructive.   I did look for houses to rent online today. Ugh there is nothing in my price range (how the hell do people think we will pay more than $1000 for rent..seriously?) I don't know if this fight will blow over.. I don't know that I want it to. I do love her. I do. When it's good, it's great. When it's bad...ugh watch out world. Explosive. I don't feel it's a healthy relationship for either one of us..love or not.   Blah, I just want to go home........so over today.
PrettyLilButterfly

PrettyLilButterfly

5
desertmom's Blog
 

18 Months and still loving my sleeve!

It is 18 months since I was sleeved and I absolutely love my sleeve.I am 8 pounds under my goal weight which is a little to low (my face looks very wrinkly at this weight)   Have been in maintenance since about Jan Feb this year and it is so easy to maintain.I do have a strategy I live by though.   1.Weigh every morning.The scale is my friend and I allow myself at most 4 pounds up before I get backto basics.And as my weight never goes up gradually (it jumps up 4 pounds after a week or 2 of loss of fucused eating),it is always easy to get back to protiens for about 4 days and it is gone again.   2.Eat little bits of most food but protein as the primary food source.   2.No excuses when I gain.   3.Not denying myself but never OVER indulging either.   Now in this year a lot of very heavy emotional stuff happened in my life and to some extent I have to rebuild my whole life.The blessing of the sleeve is I couldnt eat away my emotions anymore and am learning to deal with it.I am also in therapy now.In my house everyone now eats healthy,regularly and we are learning to really enjoy food.My youngest child developed an eating disorder (she's only 12 now)for which the blame can be laid at my feet.My obsession with food,no,food,weight related issues coupled with a few comments like gymnasts who is lighter finds it easier in higher levels (she's level 8) have made her decide to self restrict her food and at first I thought I was eating much more as my food portions was all of a sudden the same size than hers.After cutting my food to almost nothing I realized that HER PORTIONS WERE AS SMALL AS MINE.   Anyway,it showed me my obsession have hurt my children and that they need me to eat with them,which I stopped doing after surgery.I also have to eat mostly what they eat.NORMAL is what I have to do even though my portions cannot be normal.She is doing somewhat better but I have to super vigilant and consistant in my food behaviour as she is not Completely out of the woods yet.   Life is really good as we are all learning by the grace of God how to communicate,express,eat and live life as whole people.   I still have vitamin issues and borderline low protein but we are working hard on fixing this (side effect of all this is I still lose way too much hair all the time)   I am so greatful to have had this surgery.It gave me a life I never would have had.It has helped me change a lot of the issues that kept me in one place.My motto of life is to be managed not to be cured still stands but have a different meaning altogether now.Mindful, intentional living is great!   The sleeve rocks  
desertmom

desertmom

0
cheryl2586's Blog
 

How are you decorating your house

I look at my band like the frame work of a house and it is up to me to do the interior decorating. I make the final decision how much to eat, what to eat and if it is good or not good for me. You want your real home to look good and spend time and money to fix it up, paint and buy new things when needed so why would you not take the same amount of time, money and energy to make your band work for you. I am a sugar addict and can not control myself when I eat even a minute amount it causes me to binge like crazy, leaves me with guilt and unforgiveness of my self. Since I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia those old feelings of eating sweets have come back ten fold for self pity. Ice cream has always been my worst nightmare and seriously I could eat a half gallon in two days. I am serious. I found that Breyers makes many light flavors now and no added sugar that are really good and I had to have something. I guess its better then eating 10 pounds of chocolate which I used to do also. Choose your band decorations well. Once you start eating good healthy food you will feel 100 percent better. Some say its expensive to eat healthy but it really isn't. Take advantage of road side produce stands or produce markets for fresh vegetables and fruit. People do not believe when I tell them that you will lose more weight eating beef but it is true because beef out of all meat takes the longest to digest. Some of you have issues with certain meats but I can pretty much eat anything it depends on how I eat it if its going to get stuck or not. You always must put the fork down in between bites and make sure it goes down before attempting more food. Get your band house together and decorate it with love and good food.
cheryl2586

cheryl2586

0
On the Path to Enlightenment
 

Endoscopy Today

Ok, so I had my endoscopy today, which means my file will be submitted to the insurance for approval tomorrow.... I hope that goes well. The Endoscopy was neat, I have never been under any type of sedation before. I feel good overall, except for this headache I've had all day but I think its because my body wants to go back to sleep and I haven't let it. I left the hospital at 12:30 and have been up ever since, everyone says I should be sleep, so I guess I'm going to turn in shortly as its 607 in the evening. Well I just wanted to say, I had the endoscopy yesterday and the 15 day count down begin tomorrow. Wish me luck everyone!!!!!
SigmaChefSpe

SigmaChefSpe

0
ReEstDec2013's Blog
 

Little Support with My Decision

I did not make the decision to have this procedure done overnight. It took me a year. Last year I was thinking about it and said to myself "I don't need surgery. I can do it on my own" and I did. Lost 30 pounds with watching what I was eating, drank plenty of water and exercising. I felt GREAT , but put 40 pounds back on during the holiday season and felt like CRAP again! When that happened to me that was when I reconsider my decision, did all my research and said to myself, "I am tired of being overweight and ready for a change". Now I am on my road to getting it done, but my husband, some friends and my mother are not on board with my decision. My mother has a good reason as my sister had the bypass and suffered many complications in result to that surgery. My sister went from about 400 pounds to about 140. She does not look healthy at all. Therefore, my mother is afraid for her second daughter to go through the same issues. I told my mother this is a different procedure and I will be OK. I am a strong believer in positive thoughts brings positive results. As for my husband, we are not in good terms so I think it is more of an insecure issue with him. My friends, I think it is more jealousy. Overall, it makes me sad that they feel this way, but does not sway me any other way with my decision. I am looking forward to being healthier. Looking forward to doing activities I know I an not phsycially able to do now and just overall being happier. I am moving forward with my decision with or without their support.
ReEstDec2013

ReEstDec2013

4
SillyAuntDi's Ramblings
 

Wednesday is almost here!

Wednesday it all changes.   I had a couple mini panic attacks over the weekend. I just burst into tears in the shower. I had to do deep breathing exercises a few times to settle down my nerves. I'm not second-guessing my decision. I stand firm behind it. I'm ready and excited. The unknown is what is grating at me...how much pain, how long will it last, what happens if I...all those crazy little thoughts that just won't quick knocking on my brain.   Add to the crazy the fact that I've been off the NSAIDs I take for the arthritis in my feet and knees for almost a week now. I hurt everywhere. There is no relief. Tylenol is a joke. I tried to rest this weekend, but just moving up the stairs to my bedroom was a chore. I know this will get better, but wow...I didn't realize how much the meds helped until I couldn't take them anymore.   Then, I decided this weekend to begin the process of kicking the caffeine out of my system. I didn't figure that would be so hard since I don't take in that much each day. I was wrong. My head hurts. At least I kicked the soda habit over a year ago. That helps.   Tomorrow is a full day of clear liquids. I giggle when I think about the instructions to take a shower and use a q-tip to clean out my belly button. Then, at 5:45 am Wednesday, I report for Band duty!   So, now I'm putting one foot in front of the other, taking deep breaths, and repeating to myself "I CAN."
SillyAuntDi

SillyAuntDi

5
Sdboscola's Blog
 

Guess what? Shingles and surgery don't mix

So I'm sorry to leave everyone hanging but my first blog would have been an hour long and I didn't want to overstep my welcome to this forum. Unfortunately a few days after my Lapsleeve surgery I suffered a very painful case of shingles on my back. My body was working against itself to heal not only my surgery but my shingles as well. That was a battle my body was losing fast. In and out of the hospital 5 times I am now 10 weeks post op and due to the diligence of my drs I am now finally starting to feel a little normalcy back in my life. The real unfortunate thing is I can't relate to many of your posts because I spent the first several weeks post op on IV fluids and soft foods. I didn't get to follow what the normal course of this procedure had to offer. I am actually just starting that now. I am 60 pounds down but that was a hard road. Would had rather done it the "normal" way. Hope nobody else has the same story. If so I would love to hear from you. Everyone have a great day.
Sdboscola

Sdboscola

6
LadyDiva618's Blog
 

Someone forgot to pay her AT&T Uverse Bill!

I just like to say AT&T will disconnect your internet if you owe them $25. Yeah I forgot to pay them last paycheck so they disconnect my service last Friday. Ooops!   I had a very interesting weekend. Saturday I went to a Fundraiser at one of the bars I used to go to before I was banded. I am not trying to sound conceded but these dudes was on me like white on rice or my pheromones were really high. Anyway my hand got kissed on more times than I received in a lifetime. It felt weird over overwhelming. I am not use to that. I still see myself as the 267 girl but more healthy. I had to text my best friend Lesley because I was overwhelmed! She told me to get over it and enjoy the new me!   I talk to my big sister about yesterday to and she told me to embrace all of this because more will be coming my way. My sister and Lesley are right because I look damn sexy! I am so happy the football season has officially started and next Sunday starts the preseason of Hockey! This is why I work out more on Sundays but so far I am going well. How about those Rams!   Anyway tomorrow is my port replacement surgery and I have to be at the hospital at 530am! Ugh that is so early but I know I won’t be able to sleep a wink tonight. I think it’s going to be a candy crush of a night! I will do my best to keep everyone updated.   I still love my band and I am 65 pounds lighter! God is good   Thanks for reading
LadyDiva618

LadyDiva618

0
Healthiernewme's Blog
 

4 month update

Well, first of all, I can't believe it's been 4 months already. I'm really loving my sleeve. I'm down -41 lbs. since pre-op diet. Went from size 16 to very loose size 12 pants. Have already cleaned out my closet once, but soon I'll have to get rid of the 12's too. So happy about that. Also, went from XL shirts to M.   Lessons learned ... I don't have a great metabolism. I have to exercise (and do so about 3 times a week) and watch my carbs to lose weight, and even then it's pretty slow progress. As soon as I just watch calories, I don't lose. I don't gain either, which I'll keep in mind for maintenance phase. I can eat just about anything, so I really have to chose to eat the right things. Only things that give me a little trouble if I eat too fast and don't chew enough are: salmon, thick cuts of beef, dense bread. I don't eat bread anymore, but I did try it once or twice. I also have to space out my supplements. If I take too many at a time, I get the slimees.   I have about 29 lbs. to go for my initial goal of 140. I will reevaluate how I feel/look at that time, and may lower my weight goal... who knows.   I would highly recommend that all new sleeves look at this surgery as an opportunity to start over and live a healthy lifestyle. If we were to keep our old ways, the results might not be as permanent as you think. Sure, you will lose a whole bunch at first because you just can't consume as much as before... but, even amount of food you can consume will change. It's those permanent (and healthy) changes that will help us get to goal and stay there. I don't know.. just my thoughts. Not lecturing or anything... really just self-reflecting. I really don't want to ever be in the morbidly obese or obese range again. I already feel so much better physically and mentally, and still have a ways to go.
Healthiernewme

Healthiernewme

0
Melissa's Thoughts
 

It MOVED!

Well...GOOD morning!!!! I took the advice I was given and ran with it! I am trying...trying...trying to up my calorie intake, that is very difficult, but I am managing!!! SOOOOOOOOOOOOO...as the title states, IT MOVED!!! The scale, it moved, it moved, it moved!!! And I got so excited, I told my hubs...he likes to joke around and he said, "well the scale does move when you get on!!" I just said, "HONEY!!" He laughed and I said my stall is gone for now, now that makes me HAPPY!!! It was stuck, on 208 forever! NOW...it reads 203.8!!! Yippee!!! I have to say, we are all on this journey and I am super thankful, daily, that I have the support that I have, and I will help be a support to anyone who needs it! This is for the rest of our lives and that is the really exciting part!!! We get to have energy, function without losing our breath, exercise and not still be jiggling even when we are done, live longer, have a healthy relationship with food, give our families the BEST of us...the list goes on and on! I'm just so excited to see and hear about everyone's progress, it just makes me smile!!!
MWilliams42

MWilliams42

4
smjuroska's Blog
 

Big losses, stalls, hunger, and self doubt...all in 6 weeks!

So it has been 6 weeks and 6 days since surgery! I have lost a total of 35 pounds since surgery! Pretty impressive and I am 3 pounds from my first mini goal of 220. It has been over 8 years since I have weighed that and I was 13 weeks pregnant with my first child. It was my first weigh in and pre natal Dr. appt. and I was SHOCKED I weighed that much! Now I am so excited to see that number! Talk about perspective! I remember crying the whole way home! Now those tears will be joy! Well on to the NOW! The things that I am dealing with as I am more healed and eating "normal"... I am losing and I get to the point of feeling "normal" and dare I say comfortable. Then I get on here read something and get all paranoid and start 2nd guessing myself. I know that we are all different in how we lose weight, how we got to the point of choosing surgery, and how we will lose with surgery. The common thread here is we are all/were obese and we all had sleeve surgery. I have been not getting on this site and fining my own way. I want to continue to document my feelings but I am at the stage were I need to find a comfortable way to live and still lose the weight. Now, having said that this site has helped me so much! I kind of take the good and the bad and try to filter the crap out. I am not blaming this site for my doubt but ME for letting myself get caught up with this site and not listening to my body and my medical team. Since surgery I have NEVER been told by my NUT or Doctor to eat low carb high protein diet. Aim for 60-80 grams of protein and 64oz of water yes but no limit on carbs. I don't usually have room for more than a bite anyway. They said protein first, veggies/fruit, and then carb. Make good choices and eat a balanced diet. They never said restrict calories to such and such a day, do not eat over 1/4 or whatever cups of food. They said everyone is different and gave me a chart of what their average patient eats after surgery and at what stage. They did talk to me about sliders and how no one even people who haven't had surgery should avoid these foods. I am pretty smart and I know healthy meals from crap so I don't know why I think because I eat a piece of bread one day that I have sabatoged my weight loss and will FAIL! So yes the last few weeks have been plagued with this self doubt! I am working through that! I have had some pretty big losses! The first week I lost 14 pounds! This week I lost 5! But I also have had the dreaded stall! I lost nothing and even gained a pound around week 3 into 4! But it came off and ironically the next day after I ate the evil carb infested multi grain toast for breakfast! go figure. Hunger has come back but it is different. The first month I don't think I was ever really hungry. had some head hunger but nothing more than that. The past couple of weeks I do get hungry but it's not that crazy hungry where I will want to eat a horse! It just a tiny little pang in my tummy and chest. If I don't heed the warning and eat a bite I get shaky and get very run down. These hunger pangs don't happen everyday. Some days I feel like not eating at all. I never get hungry and never really want food. I am making myself eat something on those days. Then some days I feel like my body needs the food and I eat more on those days. Food taste better on those days too! I followed this trend last week. On the days I felt hunger and felt I needed food I lost and days I didn't want food and didn't eat hardly anything I didn't lose. I only usually weigh once a week but it was an experiement last week! It was interesting and taught me what I already knew! My body knows best! So while I am not an expert on weight loss surgery or how to lose the most weight and fast I do know MY body. So this week I am going to listen to it and see how things go. Oh I still like my little piece of chocolate in the evening! I don't eat it every night but I will not ever let myself feel guilty when I do from here on out! This self doubt and guilt crap was before and I will not let it get the best of me now!
smjuroska

smjuroska

4
Gamergirl's Blog
 

The Problem with a Weight Loss Stall

The problem with a stall is not just the lack of weight loss at a time you expect the weight to be peeling off–although that would be bad enough. The problem with a stall is that it comes with baggage. All those times when you thought you’d found the “perfect” diet. All those times when there were hundreds of others boasting of their success with something that you were now trying. All those times that you were filled with hope that THIS was the thing that was going to work.   All those times that you failed.   We’ve been stuck at the same weight for 11 days, and it’s very difficult to focus on the now, instead of trying to think of what this means for the future. If I focus on the now, it tells me that my body is changing, my clothes fit differently, and even at 25 lbs, people see and comment on the difference all the time.   If I try to project for the future and imagine that this is the way it will always be, then I focus on the fact that this could be another thing at which others have succeeded, but at which I seem doomed to fail. Which of us has not believed, both before and after the surgery, that we would be the ones who would be the exception to the rule? That we would be that medical marvel that simply could not lose the weight despite doing everything we were told?   That we would be that singular failure while others around us kept posting their amazing before and after pictures?   And that’s the problem with a stall. Even knowing what we do, that every day is a different adventure when sleeved, that recovery, weight loss, and changes happen seemingly overnight, we still believe that this is the time, and we are the one that will fail. A very egocentric world-view if truth be told, but justifiable given our histories.   So if you thought this journey was just about eating your protein and drinking your water and not challenging your sleeve, I’ve got news for you my friend. It’s about battling your inner demons, about having faith in the unknown, and about believing that we are not that special after all.   And in that normalcy and mediocrity is perhaps where salvation lies.   (Follow my journey and my recipes at www.sleevers.wordpress.com)
gamergirl

gamergirl

2
Roo101769's Blog
 

The end is near...

The end of all my clearances is on the horizon. Today I went to the pulmonologist. He is scheduling a blood oxygen test, a chest x-ray and some other test. Not expecting anything negative. But it is what I have to do to get to the next step. Once those tests are done and the clearance is given, then my paperwork will be submitted to the insurance company. I am still very anxious to get to the next chapter. Yet I will admit some nerves are starting to creep in. It is to be expected. Once I wake up from the surgery it will be ok. I will expect to hurt, but if I don't then bonus. I will expect to have to learn how to live with my new stomach, but if it goes smoothly then bonus. I will expect my entire life to change, to shift at least. If it doesn't then I am doing something wrong!!! LOL I cannot wait to be able to be more active. I cannot wait to have a body that allows me to enjoy things I once took for granted. I cannot wait to spend time playing with my daughter. This weekend we spent time doing yard work around the house. It was needed badly. Due to my leg issues and weight I have not been able to do much outside this year. But my leg is feeling a lot better. Yes my knee still hurts, but not as much. And I do still get occasional pain in my calf from the vascular damage, but it is now only occasional. Just losing 19lbs has created that much difference, I can only imagine what my future holds once I lose a significant amount of my weight! This weekend I did yard work and then housework and laundry the next day. I was not so stowed up I could barely walk after. I ached some, but today I am doing ok. This is what I want my life to be. I want to LIVE my life, be an active participant. So any fears or anxiety I may have going into this major surgery, those things are what will keep me going. I am so very excited to see where I will go!!!
Roo101769

Roo101769

0
What do you mean I'm fat?!?
 

Burn, baby, burn!

I'm starting to feel energized. I'm starting to feel like maybe, just maybe, I can pull this off! I've had a few missteps, I've tested myself, but I haven't completely f'ed this up yet....amazing! I've never stuck to a diet this long with this much determination - 5 months! And this is a new way of life, not just a diet! How is it possible I haven't screwed it up yet? How is it possible I've lost 49 pounds? How is it possible I'm able to check off the goals on my list with regularity and this is all still happening? I'm blown away. I can't believe I'm doing this! I can't believe I've begun to look forward to working out! Me, the lazy, fat girl who loves her couch! Unbelievable!! I'm actually contemplating doing things I never thought I would do, things that scare me, challenge me, push me......and I'm actually starting to believe I can do them....   Here's to four goals down, 1 lb to the fifth goal, and 10 lbs to halfway!!!   Lose 20 lbs - complete!
Get under 200 lbs - complete!
Lose 45 lbs - complete!
Get to 190 - complete!
Lose 50 lbs
Get to 186
Get to 180
Get to 179 (halfway!)
Get to 165
Get to 160
Get to 155
Get to 150
Get to 145
Get to 140
Get to 135
Get to 125
Get to 120
zenandnow

zenandnow

2
Sdboscola's Blog
 

From the beginning

My story, wow that's a broad statement. For the most part pretty normal. Great family, great childhood, normal height weight proportion up until the day I got married. Had two kids before I was 22 and everything went south from there. Started to gain a pound or two here and there and the next thing you know 100 pounds later..... Well, you all get the picture. From then on it was one diet after another. Oh I lost a ton of weight but I also gained a ton back. I had a loving husband who loved me for me and a family of the same but the funny thing was I didn't love me. Was my family enablers? Yes but only in a loving concerned way. Funny thing was I have 4 siblings all of whom had no weight issues along with my parents. Why was I the lucky one or should I say unlucky. Oh and did I mention I am 100% Italian? So let's fast forward a few years because this could get long remember I started gaining the weight around the age of 22 I am now 53. 2012 was the darkest year of my life. My youngest son, my baby (although he was 29) passed away from an industrial accident. He was a commercial diver working a job in the Gulf of Mexico when on a normal routine dive something went tragically wrong. To hear those words that your son was in a fatal accident will always stab me like a knife and to this day I don't like to repeat them. But I did because it is an important part of why I am going through this journey today. The first year after Brad's death was actually the only time I never focused on weight, weight loss or anything even remotely pertaining to weight. After all I lost my son what else mattered? Except for the fact that I still had a husband, another son, a granddaughter and my loving family all,of whom tried to reach out to me. And as the grief got worse the weight did too. Remember I told you a while back I was 100% Italian well anyone who knows what that means knows that our families mean everything especially our children. I did take the advice of my doctor and joined a grief group. Thank God for that because the people I met made me feel I wasn't going through this alone and the more we became bonded through our grief the more I felt the fog start to lift. It saved my life because the tunnel I was going down just kept getting darker but after I joined this wonderful group of lifetime friends I was starting to see the light at the end of that tunnel as the cliche says. So I don't remember gaining the next 50 pounds (ha ha) but now I was 150 lbs overweight. 165 pounds heavier than the day I said "I do". Although my husband, god bless him, still thought I was the bees knees. Ok time to get back on the diet go round. However this time I didn't have the energy. While watching my favorite soap opera "young and the restless" one day a commercial came on talking about an less invasive procedure called the Lapsleeve that could be performed on an out patient basis. Out came the laptop and the inquires were made. My grief counselor made me promise though I would wait a year just to make sure my emotional well being was healed. I took her advise but didn't wait to long past the one year mark to make my first appt. Puget Sound Surgical Center in Edmonds, WA was my choice. The minute I met the staff and Dr Billing I knew this was the place for me. Well weighing in at a whopping 301 I figured it wasn't the worst they ever saw. After blood draws, nutrition classes, psych evaluations I was finally approved. June 27 was the day. The two week pre op diet I stuck to like glue. However the day before I was to start it I chowed down on every favorite thing I could get my hands on. Something by the way they highly do not recommend. June 27, very nervous, very typical but the staff and dr's put me fast at ease. Surgery went well and was very surprised how well I felt those first 48 hrs. Unfortunately, that didn't last long.
Sdboscola

Sdboscola

2
Steph's Blog
 

Caught a Glimpse

I started to get serious about exercise and walking about 4 weeks post-op in January 2013. I would get my iPod, blast some of my Treadmill Playlist tunes (Eminem, 50 Cent, Nelly, Pink and even Justin Bieber), find my focal point and start walking. At first I could only walk about 10-15 minutes before it felt like my legs were jelly, but it felt good and I felt like I was at least moving. I always covered the time/distance display because I didn't want to get caught up in the numbers at that point- I just wanted to sweat a little.   About a month into this routine, I decided to start increasing the speed a little at a time. It was hard for my legs to keep up with the pace, but I did it. I finally got to the point where I felt strong enough to increase the speed to do a slow jog and only lasted about 2 minutes- MAX. The next day I did the same thing, but added 30 seconds. And just kept going until I found myself running on the treadmill on a regular basis. Say what?! I have NEVER enjoyed running, jogging or even sweating for that matter. But I started to crave this new feeling I got when I was running, a feeling I had never experienced before and find hard to explain.   Last week while I was on the treadmill, I happened to look down and caught a glimpse of my feet moving beneath me and I became mesmerized. Although I have been on "Charlie" hundreds of times, I absolutely could not believe what I was seeing. Less than a year ago, I could hardly go up a flight of stairs without being winded and avoided multiple trips upstairs at all costs. I started to cry while I was looking down at my legs and feet gliding along at a nice pace, it looked so effortless at that moment. I'll never forget that day. Kelly Clarkson was in my ear telling me "No one can hold me back, I ain't got time for that." I took a little video on my phone to capture that moment when I really started to believe that I AM A RUNNER.  
KAATNS

KAATNS

6
Healthier Journey
 

Continuous improvement

Surgery was July22, 2013; recovery time four weeks. No major problem other than morphine is not my friend.   The weight is coming off at a rate I can enjoy. Any faster and I'd have to go to work in a sack. Lol the slow weight loss allows me to purchase a few new clothes. All of my 22-20 size pants don't fit and I can assume my skirts won't either.   I don't get upset if the scale does not move. I just look in the mirror and can see the difference in the inches I've lost.   Best advise, follow the program outlined by your doctor, go to all follow up appointments, ask when and how often you will need blood work done. Continue to get your fluids in everyday. Take your vitamins and supplements, they are very important. Eat protein first.   When you are unsure, ask your doctor. We are all different so the way your doctor may have trained and performed the procedure will be different and the instructions you follow will be different from someone else. That does not make it wrong, just different.   Join a support group that is up lifting, I don't stay on this one much any more due to some bad vibes of folks and I've had to block them. I do check in from time to time because there are good people asking great questions and need help. Have more than one support outlet.   Lastly don't judge. How and why we became over weight is personal. How we opt to lose the weight is personal. When you start to judge, please stand in front of the mirror to ensure you include yourself in the mix. If anything play it forward, be a good mentor and friend. There are some out there that will truly benefit from it.   Stay true to the journey.   Karen
kw2walker

kw2walker

3

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