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Wow! Today has been a 180 from yesterday in terms of how I'm feeling about myself and the surgery. I am not down in the dumps. I kept super busy most of the day, but when I was able to wind down, I had some time to think about some of the things I was told in my pre-op class... My dietician told me that she likes to listen to audio books while she walks on her treadmill or exercises. There are a few reasons why this is an awesome idea... 1. Watching TV while exercising you have 1/3 commercials... most commercials are of fatty, delicious food. Seriously, NOT what I need when I'm trying to lose weight and break bad habits! 2. Music is a good option too, but after a week, you've heard them all and it doesn't really appeal anymore. 3. If you are like me and enjoy books but don't have time to sit down and read in the peace and quiet... kill 2 birds with 1 stone! Knock out my exercising and feed my brain all at the same time! I thought, well, I will give that a try. Looking into it, I found that it is really expensive to download books... goodness gracious! After some researching and confusion of what their "deal" was, I found that I like audible.com best. I got the app for my iPod touch and download a few books. I found some good inspirational books by Joel Osteen... How? I'm not sure... I have NO idea how his book got brought up. Thank goodness it did though! It was just what I needed and I didn't even know it. So, I downloaded my book, ran downstairs, and fired up the treadmill... for the second time since surgery. (I've been walking, but more aimlessly around inside buildings and even my house.) I haven't had the motivation to really get into exercising yet for some reason. I got excited about the audio book thing though and was eager to get going. I hopped on the treadmill and next time I looked down I had been on for 10 minutes... like nothing. I only ended up walking 15 though. I didn't want to overdo myself because I'm still pretty sore at times. This book (so far.. I had to stop myself after the intro, before he got into "Day 1") talked about how your words affect your future. If you wake up tired and say, "Oh, man. I'm just so tired. It's going to be a horrible day." It will be. I've been told that a million times... blah blah blah. I know. I needed a reminder though. If you're feeling tired, say outloud, "I feel great. I'm healthy. Today is going to be a great day!" It will be a good day! Also, it talked about how no one believes the things you say about yourself quite as much as you do. If you tell yourself enough that you are beautiful, happy, blessed, radiant, soon enough you will feel like you are... and you will be! I needed these words (although I paraphrased A LOT from what the book says) I hope that they help someone else through their time of difficulty too. Today truly has been a great day for me. I hope it has been for you too!! I HIGHLY recommend considering listening to an audiobook while exercising. There are soooo many out there that there will be something for everyone to download.

I try to measure my food all the time. Not a problem when I'm at home, I use my food scale. But what to do when eating out like at family and friends? I was given this chart by my nutritionist, I find it very handy and wanted to share it with anyone interested servingcard7.pdf

Today is post op day 21. So I went back to work today, and I am beat. I guess I am kind of shocked that I am so tired since my job is mainly sedentary. I did find having lunch was a little awkward because I normally have a premier protein shake for lunch. I did manage to eat a couple bits of grilled chicken so for dinner I will have a shake. I am still having problems with getting 64oz of liquids down so if you have any suggestions please let me know. Surprisingly I had a couple of people notice that I have dropped 24 pounds. The recognition really made me feel good! Keep up the Good fight!

OK, so I had a little bit of a set back today. After reading through other Sleevers blogs, and entries, I started noticing that I wasn't the only one who had a plan and a goal of when I had hoped to have surgery completed by. As I was reading, I saw a trend of people who had thought they were on the right track, only to be told they were going to have to wait longer. I'm one of them! I have been doing the 6 months weight loss / program with Hills. Not the My True Body that held weekly classes, but I've had monthly weigh in's with my PCP, met still with a nutritionist, and completed the psych eval. What I wish, is that someone could have told me earlier to start getting my psych eval completed back in month 4 or 5 so not to wait any longer. The PE was completed on 11/12, but wasn't submitted to my PCP until yesterday, 11/26. Um, hello, what's the hold up?! I understand that there was a holiday in there, but really, two full weeks to make sure I'm of sound mind? That was frustration number 1! So yesterday, I speak with the PCP office, and they inform me that everything had been submitted, so I call the Insurance Coordinator to follow up with her, and don't hear back...so I call again today and she still hasn't received it. So back to the PCP doctor I go, and ask her to please follow up with the Coordinator, I'm dying to make this happen. Frustration #2: I hate not being in control. I'm always the one who does everything, for everyone, myself included. So not being able to receive the documents, and submit myself has been a bit frustrating. I then call the surgeons office, speak to their coordinator to inform her of what is going on, and keeping her in the loop as we had a plan that I "should" be able to have everything completed by the end of the year...notice the quotes around "should", yea, Frustration #3! The coordinator informs me that she is now booking into the 2nd week of January! Now I know I didn't get unhealthy over night, and I know that I need to be patient, but the kicker in all this is that I'm getting married in 6 months, and I was hoping that I would have those 6 months to get used to my new body, new habits, new way of life, you know, the whole "NEW ME!" I'm afraid that the longer I have to wait, and the closer I get to my wedding, I'm going to turn into more of a basket case. Am I crazy to have WLS so close to my wedding, or am I just over thinking it? My job is planning weddings for other couples, so naturally, now that it's my turn, I'm close to having everything completed. However, I've been putting a lot of time and effort into researching the sleeve procedure, and getting myself ready and I had planned to start finalizing wedding details in January, you know, one big thing at a time...so tell me this, am I crazy??

Yesterday I learned that my doctors office submitted everything to my insurance company for approval, and now I have to wait, be patient, plan for the best etc....I hate being patient., I've always been in charge of my own life and now I'm putting it into someone elses' hands...I pray fr the best!! Does anyone out there have Western Health Advantage / Hills insurance?? I can't wait to start my new journey, I'm so tired of this life and body!!

It seems hard to believe, but after all of this time, we are underway. I started my liquid diet yesterday and so far, it's not bad. Tomorrow, I have a pre-op class, and then they'll be doing my scope, so they can take a peak down my esophagus and into my stomach to make sure there aren't any surprises. Then next week I have my pre-op physical, and then just days after that, it's go time! While all of this is extremely exciting, it's happening at a crazy time of year. With my surgery on the 11th, I feel strongly that I should have my shopping done before I go in, so that Christmas is taken care of. I'm trying to get all of the wrapping and everything done. As a teacher, this is a crazy time, too. This point in the semester is very busy at the high school where I teach, and the night class I teach at the local community college is coming to an end as well. I also sponsor a student community service group, and they have all of their usual December activities. (This is their busiest time of the year.) Anyway, we're all busy, and I just feel like I'm on a roller coaster right now, barreling toward the surgery and everything else coming up. There's not much point to this post other than me expressing the need to pull my hair out right now. But I'm trying to stay focused on my health and getting myself prepared for what's coming. I need to start exercising again, but finding the time is getting trickier and trickier. But if I'm doing this, I know I need to exercise. Anyway, that's where I am today.

I have been on a weightloss journey for more then 3 years. For Two years I went to a weightloss specialist took metform, tried weightwatchers, Went on a medi diet of 500 calories even did a Betya shot 3 times a day (lost 2 pounds on that!) Felt discouraged...my husband cooked for me brought tiny lunches could never lose more then 20 pounds. I moved back to Maui a year ago and kinda gave up was on and off on diffrent things but felt like I was doomed. I have PCOS I am not a big eatter but somehow my little 5'4 body reached 260 pounds. When I looked in the mirror I never saw myself anymore I felt buried. Who was this empty girl in the mirror? I went to a weightloss seminar in Fla that was the first time I started to think about it. I found it the most depressing thing I had ever been too. I was sitting next to a man in a wheel chair around 600 pounds or so with an oxgen tank. He kept shoving food down his mouth the whole time. There were several others doing the same. Unfortanately I was so consumed and depressed by everything around me I ran out as soon as it ended. Thinking ahhh.....this is not for me. It stuck in my head why would someone eat at a weightloss seminair all the guestions were about food and stopping soda. Depressing. I did not hear any of the facts I missed that part left feeling defeated. I have a good friend who is a huge sucuss with RYN but...I did not want that I decided to try to go to find out information again. I made two appointments one withh a general surgeon here and one with an expert who lives in San Fransico but has been coming to Maui for years. The first Dr. was very much anti sleeve but I liked the second doctor. After only one appoinment tons of reasearched I decided the sleeve was for me. I went to my first appointment in Sept and had the procedure done on Nov 15th. My mom had already made plans to come I had some time off so decided why wait until next year? I decided to do it right away. Fear almost stopped me several times I was so emotional the weeks leading to the date. I mourned for food I felt like I was saying goodbye to an old friend. LOL When I almost chickened out my husband asked me what is the problem I said I was afraid of change..He reminded me that age 23 I left the states and moved to Japan to Marry him. He told me change is my middle name and that I should say good bye to food and choose health it made me feel better. I am 11 days Post op I just had to take the jump my journey is just begining, Hello Health and Julie I am going to find the NEW me soon!

Well, I arrived in Mx this morning and yes still apprehensive to my decision. I had a layover in Las Vegas and thought about just flying back home. So, for those of you having second thoughts...its normal. I am probably on my hundredth. If you are going to Aceves the driver is great and you meet your fellow sleevers right at the airport. Then off to the boarder about 2 hours. It will seem like you are off course, but I promise you, your on course. You arrive and Karla or another coordinator will meet you with a smile and the off to the bathroom for urine sampling and then to the lab for blood. As everyone has stated the hotel is clean and the staff nice. Once you finish, Dr. Aceves and Campos will visit with the group to discuss the surgery and answer any and all questions...For those that have read some of my postings lately you can imagine I had a ton of questions and each was answered. Once that is complete it is time for the chest X-ray and the EKG. Now the EKG machine was a bit old, but efficient. Then, you finish and off to the hotel, which is about 15 minutes from the hospital. Ernesto was our driver and very kind. Now, I made have made it sound as if all of this took about an hour, but we were there for three hours. Tomorrow we all meet in the lobby and then to the hospital we go to meet with the internist, doctors, and anesthesiologist. Once, we are cleared for surgery then they decide the order and off we go. They said that is should take about 2 -3 hours from the time we go back until we wake up in recovery. My surprise for the day was the blood thinner shot that you are given prior to surgery in your stomach.

Hello, I thought I might introduce myself. Not sure if anyone will really read this or not. But that doesn't really mater to me. Would love to make new friends but at the same time thought this would be a great way to record my journey. Back story:Pre-Surgery Grew up in Indianapolis IN. Never really was a small kid but not crazy heavy. I played sports my whole life; softball, volleyball, swimming, basketball, golf. After High School I got a Golf Scholarship from Savannah College of Art and Design. I was in pretty good shape, but at the same time I still wasn't very small, (was about 170) but I guess I carried it really well. I met my husband and his two kids in Aug 2007. On Dec 2008 we where married. (was about 225) On Sept. 2009 we all had to move back to Indiana because of lack of jobs in GA We finally found out we were going to have our own little one 1 week before my birthday 26th in 2010. (was about 250) About 3 months into being pregnant i found out I had gestational diabetes. Even though I was miserable, I was told I did a great job and got it completely under control. After Leigha was born at (7 lbs 8 ounces) i started to gain more weight back My weight started to get out of hand so i looked up more information on Lab-Band Surgery On Sept 2012 I went in for my first appointment with Dr McEwin. (was 261) At first I was told to loss 5 lbs (257) Was then approved by insurance (was very quick) and put on 2 week protein shake diet (IT SUCKS!) The next day had to take a test for stomach bacteria and had it. Thank goodness for insurance would have had to pay 600 for meds The meds were to be taken 8 a day (those really SUCKED and kinda made you feel sick) One week into the protein diet i was down to 247 Surgery Date: Oct 23, 2012 On the day of my surgery my weight was 243 thanks to the protein shakes The surgery went really well from what I could tell Stayed in the hospital over night and left in the morning on my birthday Post Surgery: Day 1-3 Only able to drink water and had to do a breathing treatment Was not in to much pain Day 4-8 Was able to start drinking very small amounts of protein shakes/ other liquids was getting around 350 calories a day Day 9 Started to be able to have applesauce and such (so excited to have simi solid food) Also my first visit with dietitian and was down to 239 Day 10 -19 Still on the simi solid was getting really hard and wanted to crew real food was around 226 at the time eatting about 800 calories Day 20-27 Finally able to eat soft food (most anything i can cut with a fork) Day 28 Had my first adjustment and meeting with dietitian down to 224 Finally able to eat most anything just in time for Thanksgiving eating around 1000 calories a day Haderst things NO soda little bread still hungry (that should change soon) Best things i can see big changes feel more confident

Today is post op day 18 and I am over it! I really have not attempted to eat anything today because my relationship with food is now so complicated. Before you put one single pice of food in your mouth you must go through a series of questions. On top of everything else you need to remember to take your vitimains and manage to get 64ozs of fluids down. I know I signed up for this but I had no ideal i would be so hard. :wub: Date of surgery weight: 260 Date od surgery: 11/06/12 Weight today: 238 Age: 29 Mood: regret for putting myself in the situtation Workout: 30 mins/2.2 incline 6 calories 205 Today I had to premire protein shakes at 30g of protein each and about 30oz of water so far.