Seeing as how this is my first blog, I thought that I would spend a little bit explaining who I am and why I and doing this. But seeing as how it took me an hour to set this dang thing up, that has eaten into my rambling time for this evening. So I will give you a BRIEF overview of the who, what, wheres, and whys.

I am a 31 year old married woman who currently resides in the Houston, Texas area. I decided in February of this year that I was going to start a journey, I was going to stop fighting the battle of the bulge once and for all and get the Lap-Band surgery. I was a normal sized kid, a chubby pre-teen, and then a skinny competitive swimming teenager in high school. After high school, I stopped swimming, however didn't change my eating habits. When one stops being active 4-5 hours a day they must watch what they eat. Anyways, the pounds over the past 10-12 years have just crept on. It should be tattooed somewhere, "A minute on the lips is a life time on the hips," because its true it goes on a lot easier than it comes off.

After seeing several TV commercials and doing some research on a place called True Results, I decided to go online and fill out their online form to see if I had any insurance coverage. After waiting a week I decided that since I hadnt' heard from them that I did not have any insurance coverage and that this surgery was out of the question. However, I called anyways and found out that I did have coverage!!

I scheduled my first appointment for mid February to come in and find out the details. Long story short, I had coverage but my insurance required me to do 6 weight loss visits and a whole lot of other crap before I could have the surgery. Feeling a little deflated that I couldn't get the surgery the following week, (not a patient person) I started the process. Six long months went by of me faithfully going to my monthly appointment, getting on the dreaded scale and meeting with a dietitian. Finally on July 26th I had completed all of my weight loss visits and the other required items and was ready to submit all of my hard work to the insurance company for final approval.

Do to some insurance hiccups I didn't get my final insurance approval until August 10th. But I finally had it!! Woo hoo!! I figured that it would be smooth sailing and I would get a surgery date immediately. Nope. Not the case, I had to patiently wait for my chart to be sent from True Results to the surgeon's office and for them to review my information, schedule me for an appointment, and make me fill out another mountain of paperwork. However, I have my first appointment with my surgeon, Dr. Ken Hollis on this Tuesday, August 28th!! I had originally hoped to have surgery on August 23rd, however this was now clearly not going to happen.

Last week I got an email from one of the very helpful staff members at my surgeon's office, sending me information on some videos I had to watch prior to my surgery day. Later that afternoon, I received another email from them with my surgery date!!! I was over the moon because I was under the impression that I would not be getting my surgery date until at least my appointment on August 28th. My surgery was scheduled for Monday, September 10th.

Having the surgery date just finally made the surgery seem real. Like there really was a light at the end of the tunnel, that this was within my reach. I had originally started my pre-surgery diet on August 1st. But when it quickly became apparent that surgery was no where in my near future I got off the diet in mid August. In case you are not aware, the pre-surgery diet is very strict. True Results had told me the diet was 1 protein shake for breakfast, 1 protein shake for lunch, and a small dinner consisting of a healthy meat, a green veggie, and a serving of fruit. I will tell you that this is one of the hardest things ever, we are so used to chewing that not "eating" food is soooo hard.

Well now having a surgery plan I am to start my diet again tomorrow, August 27th, which is exactly 2 weeks prior to surgery!! This time I will be having 3 shakes a day and a small meal at dinner. I think the extra shake will really make a difference in making it seem less impossible (that and a large package of sugar free gum) I did the diet before for a week and I thought I was going to start eating my co-workers. I've been told its a genetic trait in my family, that missing meal time causes extreme grumpiness. YIKES!!

I did a "Farewell Food Tour" the end of July, getting all the really horrible bad foods I have enjoyed over the years out of my system. I feel satisfied that the tour took away the "I wish I would haves...," for later, since many of the items on the tour are things I won't be able to enjoy after surgery. Since getting off the diet earlier this month, I haven't been horrible with my food choices, just mostly eating larger portions than I should. However, tomorrow really starts my journey on the yellow brick road on my way to Oz. There is no extra week of cushion to allow for my cheats, the surgery date is written on the calendar, it is go time.

Tomorrow morning I will weigh and get my official "starting" weight. I have to lose 10 lbs between now and surgery. Earlier in the month I lost 9 lbs in 6 days and I had some cheats. So I think this will be easy to accomplish, well the numbers on the scale part anyways...I may end up with a few less co-workers if they don't leave me alone. I'll post the numbers and my "before" pictures tomorrow.

Finally the reality that my journey is really starting has kicked in. I would be lying to say that I am not a little bit nervous but not because I don't think I won't be successful after surgery. I just hope that after surgery, I won't be wishing I had some ruby slippers so I could go home, just the natural fear of the unknown. I have come to far and want this too bad to turn around now. This yellow brick road only goes one direction to Oz...I have a date with the man behind the curtain. I'm off to see the wizard....

Until tomorrow,

Amanda