I just found out that I'm approved for surgery! All in all I'm suprised at how fast everything went.

June 07 I viewed an on-line seminar then Dr Shrikanths office called me the next week to see if I was intrested and I made an appt.

July 19th saw Dr Shrikanth for first consult.

July 27th Labs done...all day event

Aug 1st Finished my pee test for Labs and turned in

Aug 13th Nutrition class and Psch eval.

Aug 20th saw personal Dr to go over labs and have him submit letter to Dr Shrikanth

Sept 14 Personal nutrition class required by insurance

(everything turned in to submit to insurance)

Sept 17 approved by insurance

My insurance coverage is thru my work, Fred Meyer, and I have Antham Blue Shield Blue Cross. They even set up a personal case worker from the insurance that I really enjoyed talking to. If I have any question or concerns I just give them a call.

My surgery isn't until Dec 18th because I work retail and it's the rush time of the year for us and also there's already someone else out on medical leave. I plan on taking 4 weeks off. I was told that I wouldn't be able to lift more than 8lbs for 6-8weeks so 4 weeks is my answer to this dilema. If I need more I'll just take it.

This whole thing scares the hell out of me. Sometimes I can be such a volume eater and I know with the band that I won't be able to do this. But I'm scared to death that I'm going to screw it up somehow. I can usually do pretty good with most diets but it's the long term that I have trouble with. After my first consult with my surgeon he told me that I have to loose 10percent of my weight. So far I've lost 18 lbs and I have another 22 to go before surgery. I've figured it out at this point it's 2 lbs a week. This I can do.

I started this journey at 288lbs the highest weight that I've ever been is 296 and I'm 5'1" which puts me at a BMI around 53 the only physical problem I have is my feet, they're horrible and hurt like hell all the time. I work retail and I'm on them 10 hrs a day at work; I'm a Relief Assistant Manager for Customer Service at Fred Meyers. I'm married and have 3 boys ages 16, almost 9 and 6. And my mother lives with me because she's afraid of the dark. Most times this is OK, but sometimes can get trying.

My new eating program is protein, veggies and fruit and protein drinks. If I vear off this I try and stay as natural as possible and low carb. I've done pretty good until my birthday weekend then I went a little crazy; but I didn't gain any weight. yeah me!!

I don't know why for sure why I'm fat..sometimes I can be an emotioal eater and other times I can make it thru any big stress thing and not eat. Other times I eat to celebrate and lots of time I have problems eating because nothing sounds good. I'm all over the board with this. It can be sweet, salty, savory, bland...doesn't seem to matter. I just want it when I want it. Sometimes I have control other times I don't. I have tons of support from my family and friends. I'm hoping by doing some type of documentation of this process I'll find more answers. So far this has been easy. I'm sure I'm about to cross some huge hurdles...the first being to loose the rest of the 30lbs and the other 10 pre-op liquid diet that I'm dredding... So, I'll post and ramble and let go and see if I can't find the answer to the million dollar question? What makes me Fat?