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My nephew Benjamin got married this weekend in California and I was able to fly out there. This was the first time I have flown with Yellow Rose (my band). Jonathon (another nephew) and I flew out Friday morning arriving in California around lunchtime. As we are exiting the plane Jonathon requested In & Out Burgers for lunch (the greasiest burgers in town!). We retrieved our rental car and headed south to my brother’s house (via In & Out). We collected burgers for all the kids. I had no urge for a burger as Yellow Rose was letting me know she did not like flying…. Once we arrived, burgers delivered, my sister-in-law asked if I wanted anything for lunch (seeing that I didn’t have a burger). Yes, I was hungry but I knew that I couldn’t manage much more than mushy foods. I hesitated in answering and she quickly said “I have some greek yogurt or laughing cow cheese….” Ok how did she know????? She had called my mom (who knows everything about my band) and asked if there was anything she could get for me. So after choking back tears and a big hug I settled for some greek yogurt. The weekend was a blast! I saw family that I have not seen in 5 years and they were all very complimentary over how I looked. I heard “You look amazing” over & over and I loved every minute of it. I had some treats, like Trader Joes Dark Chocolate Espresso Beans but I also made good food choices (Ahi Tuna for lunch). I am proud of myself as I managed a weekend away from home (comfort zone) full of family (can be stressful) and had a great time. Oh and the best part was my hips DID NOT touch the sides of the seat on the planes. How cool is that?!!!!

So...today I am starting my liquid diet. According to surgeon's orders, I am supposed to start 1 week from surgery (i.e., surgery on Aug. 22, start liquids on Aug. 15). I'm starting now because I'm so exhausted by all my food drama. I have been eating like I'm preparing for a frickin' electric chair. Literally eating into a food coma some days. It feels horrible. I know that discipline is going to be part of this new, healthier life so I might as well start this week. If nothing else, it will allow me to break this carb-bender/crazy maker. Also, this is the week of making some pre-surgery changes. I wish I would have done all of this a lot sooner, but I didn't..... So - Monday starts liquid diet. Thursday is my stop smoking date (2 weeks pre-surgery). I CAN DO THIS! God help me.

Well we finally settled on our new home which was a nightmare to say the least, but I am very happy with our beautiful home. Now I have a nice swimming pool to get in so the movements won't hurt as much. This fibro has really taken a toll on me but other then that and my wonderful husband who has done so much, I am fine. The pain at times is unbearable but it is something I just have to live with. As far as my band its still doing its job. I'm stable now. Could lose some more but I really don't care one way or the other if I do or don't. Unless I ever get a tummy tuck I will always have that apron. It's not huge but it bothers me. Oh well clothes hide things well lol. I'm looking for a less physically stressful job because my doctor said if I don't stop lifting and pulling and pushing patients my pain will never get better. So I have been looking around for something a little less stressful. I was checking in so my friends know I am still alive lol. Just relaxing today and watching Hulu waiting for the pool to get cleared up this week so I can jump in it. Here are some pictures of the house.

To the weight loss surgery patient slider foods are the bane of good intentions and ignorance often causing dumping syndrome, weight loss plateaus, and eventually weight gain. Slider foods, to weight loss surgery patients, are soft simple processed carbohydrates of little or no nutritional value that slide right through the surgical stomach pouch without providing nutrition or satiation. The most innocent of slider foods are saltine crackers, often eaten with warm tea or other beverages, to soothe the stomach in illness or while recovering from surgery. Understanding Slider Foods The most commonly consumed slider foods include pretzels, crackers (saltines, graham, Ritz, etc.) filled cracker snacks such as Ritz Bits, popcorn, cheese snacks (Cheetos) or cheese crackers, tortilla chips with salsa, potato chips, sugar-free cookies, cakes, and candy. You will notice these slider foods are often salty and cause dry mouth so they must be ingested with liquid to be palatable. This is how they become slider foods. They are also, most often, void of nutritional value. For weight loss surgery patients the process of digestion is different than those who have not undergone gastric surgery. When slider foods are consumed they go into the stomach pouch and exit directly into the jejunum where the simple carbohydrate slurry is quickly absorbed and stored by the body. There is little thermic effect in the digestion of simple carbohydrates like there is in the digestion of protein so little metabolic energy is expended. In most cases patients in the phase of weight loss who eat slider foods will experience a weight loss plateau and possibly the setback of weight gain. And sadly, they will begin to believe their surgical stomach pouch is not functioning properly because they never feel fullness or restriction like they experience when eating protein. The very nature of the surgical gastric pouch is to cause feelings of tightness or restriction when one has eaten enough food. However, when soft simple carbohydrates are eaten this tightness or restriction does not result and one can continue to eat, unmeasured, copious amounts of non-nutritional food without ever feeling uncomfortable. Many patients turn to slider foods for this very reason. They do not like the discomfort that results when the pouch is full from eating a measured portion of lean animal or dairy protein without liquids. Yet it is this very restriction that is the desired result of the surgery. The discomfort is intended to signal the cessation of eating. Remembering the "Protein First" rule is crucial to weight management with bariatric surgery. Gastric bypass, gastric banding (lap-band) and gastric sleeve patients are instructed to follow a high protein diet to facilitate healing and promote weight loss. Bariatric centers advise what is commonly known among weight loss surgery patients as the "Four Rules" the most important of which is "Protein First." That means of all nutrients (protein, veggies, complex carbohydrates, then fat and alcohol) the patient is required to eat protein first. Protein is not always the most comfortable food choice for weight loss surgery patients who feel restriction after eating a very small amount of food. However, for the surgical tool to work correctly a diet rich in protein and low in simple carbohydrate slider foods must be observed. The high protein diet must be followed even after healthy body weight has been achieved in order to maintain a healthy weight and avoid weight regain.

Though I often read the blogs, I rarely write my own..... Well, this time is different!!!! This weekend my fiance and I went to Six Flags Great America with my daughter and 2 of his kids. He hadn't been to an amusement park in over 20 years. For me, it hasn't been that long since I have been there (it's only 45 minutes away). I have been there and to several other amusement parks through road trips with the kids and family as well. I always wanted my kids to have fun, even though I had to wait while they went on the rides as I was too big to ride. My kids always had a great time but I felt an emptiness that I could only stand on the sidelines and not have fun WITH them. In addition, my sister ended up meeting us up there yesterday with her boys and husband. My b.i.l. is quite overweight and unable to go on the rides. Of course, he and my sister gave other reasons, but having been there... I got it. It was sad knowing that was ME for so many years. Well, a year after being banded and down 80lbs. I WENT ON THE FREAKING RIDES AND I FIT!!! The best part of the day was going on XFlight w/ my daughter, for the first time, and her looking over at me, doing a fist pump and saying she was proud of me and asking if I was excited. HECK YAH I was. I even rode the go karts and bumper cars w/ my fiance's son and have always avoided those as well as the seatbelt wouldn't fit! I am still a ways from goal, but this was a great reminder of what I have been missing out on in life and how much more this is than just losing weight. We walked the park for 12 hours (yes, from open - to close) and though I was exhausted, I DID IT!! YAY, ME!!!

I wrote last week how I was changing how I eat now, to get used to what will be my new eating habits for the rest of my life. I have cut back calories, fat and carbs. I have limited any kind of sugar and little to no breads or dairy. I have increased my protein intake drastically with lean meats and soy products. I just made the change on August 1st, so I haven't been doing it even a week yet. Saturday was a true test. I had been invited to a birthday party at a restaurant weeks ago. I had three options; not go, go and eat whatever I wanted, ( because I have just started this new "diet" and it was my discretion) or go and maintain myself. I chose the latter option. Before I went I had gone online and searched nutritional information on their website. I found an item that, while still rather high in calories and fat for my normal consumption, was the lowest available on their menu. When I went to the party I made sure to avoid the bread basket brought with drinks. ( which was HARD) I ordered water to drink. ( I have yet to switch over to eating without drinking, that will be hard for me) And I ordered the item I had found. For my side item I got a salad with light dressing. Rather than dumping the dressing on the salad I dipped bites in. I used less than half the cup of dressing this way, and I know it saved calories. When my dinner came it was actually very yummy. I concentrated mostly on the protein, eating about 2/3rds of it. I did eat some of the pasta that came with it, but it was less than half. I stopped eating when I was full, and I did not bring the leftovers home! ( because I didn't need to consume the rest of the fat/calories) I did eat a few bites of the birthday cake. It was soooo good. But I savored the few small bites I had and left the majority of the slice on the plate. After dinner we went and played Adventure Golf where I sweated my butt off!! The course is built like you are going up a mountain, so there were a ton of stairs.. It was hard and my legs REALLY did not want to do it, but I played through the whole course. Yesterday I paid for it physically, but I am glad I did it. Today I had my gyno doctor appointment. When I was weighed I was 307lbs!!!!! Last time I was weighed I was 316lbs!!! Granted it was different scales so there could be some difference. But I know there is not a 9 lb difference. So what I am doing is working!!! I am so stoked... Anyone who has never had weight issues would probably think "well she can lose the weight, so why get surgery?" As anyone who has been in our shoes, and struggled to the point we turn to this surgery would know - when you are this fat it is easy to drop a few quick pounds. What is not easy is to lose all we need to be healthy and to be able to keep what we lose off.. So I am thrilled I am making a difference now, pre op. It will just make things easier down the road I truly believe!!!

Sooo... I have started my pre- Op diet. My surgery isnt until August 29th but my surgery team and I have decided that I would do it for a month instead of just 2 weeks. I've been on it for almost a week now and it's actually not bad at all! I've had to weigh in yesterday and I have lost 4lbs in less than 1 week on it already. I've read some ppls diets and see that they get put on strictly liquid mine is not. My diet is as follows: Breakfast: Protein shake or fruit Lunch: 4-6 oz of lean protein ( fish or chicken) and unlimted Veggies Snack: Protein shake or fruit Dinner: Same as lunch Snack Protein shake or fruit If I dont have time to cook, there are a select list of lean cuisines or healthy choice dinners I can eat, but I have to add at least 1 cup of veggies to the meal. No carbonated, sugary, or alcoholic beverages. I have been eating salad with 6 oz of grilled chicken in it for lunch and salmon with assorted veggies depending on the night for dinner. I'm not a big fan of milk or protein shakes but I have found that the Special K brand strawberry flavor is pretty good which i drink for breakfast, and I will snack on fruit in between meals or have another protein shake depending how hungry I am. So far its been great. I havent been hungry and have been able to ignore cravings. My boyfriend and I even went to the movies last night and I snuck us in sandwhich bags filled w grapes and water with mio. Didnt even think or have the urge to get my usual popcorn and Icee. GO ME! I've also been going to the gym on my nights off and do an hr on the treadmill and if I work I walk the stairs at night 16 flights!!!! Its a killer. lol But I'm doing it and I feel very proud of myself. I have to say I feel very lucky to have such supportive friends and family. 2 of my cousins and 1 of my friends and my boyfriend have all decided to join me on my month long pre op diet. Everyone around me is so encouraging, I couldnt ask for a better support team. Even my co-workers i have told are extremely supportive and I am greatful. I pretty much have an appointment or 2 a week from this week on. I've done my pre op testing, met with the anestesiologist and the nutrition classes. I have my Upper GI next week, THen meet w the psychiatrist again the following week, then meet w the MD , Surgeon and Nutrtionsit the week after that... Then SURGERY!!! I also got my schedule at work today and I am off the entire month of Septemeber. I hope that is enough time. My nurse manager is aware that I am having the surgery and told me to take all the time I need to heal. Cant take care of others until you're healthy yourself. I also got my approval letter in the mail from my insurance. All my ducks are in a row! Just waiting for the Big day and I am soooo READY!

Happy Sunday night. As most of you know last Tuesday was my one year banding. On Friday I saw my PCP and then my surgeon. They are both happy with me. My surgeon told me I am perfect with my under 2cc's in my band and said I don't need any more. When I was banded, my band did not have any saline in it. Very interesting how every doctor does their 'own' thing and we can not compare. I see so many people complain that they need another fill, another fill next month, why? Are you doing the right thing? This past week I ate too fast, 3 times and had to go walking. My fault, no one else's. I do not throw up ever, even with the flu, I don't. The doctor told me I really need to exercise more. I had complained that my muffin top is still big. He is very happy with me and I see him again in 2 months. I would love to be around 180-185 by then. I just need to move my fat ass and muffin top. This week I am going to a cousins reunion on Cape Cod, Wednesday. I live about 1-1 1/2 hours from there. Then Thursday, Newport, RI to visit a cousin from my husband's side. Great places to visit and Newport is the best for walking around. Have a great evening. Arlene

Today is Sunday, September 4 and I am in the Holiday Inn Express in San Diego with my daughter, 48 hours after being sleeved. This is my “sleeve” experience and I must say some of this was shocking to me - but perhaps it will not be to you. We flew to San Diego from North Idaho and stayed at the Hampton Inn as recommended. The next morning we met at the Jet Blue terminal and discovered several others waiting for the same ride. There were 4 sleevers, 2 lap banders, and one lifter. We all met - took a few pictures and talked about our procedures etc. There were 3 guests that accompanied their respective person. We stood around for about 45 minutes for the van to arrive. We all piled in - our luggage got stowed and off we went. It took about 20 minutes to get to the border and the houses and shops are quite shocking to someone who has not experienced this type of poverty. We were definitely passing by a very poor area of San Diego. We laughed at a sign along I5 that said “GUNS ARE ILLEGAL IN MEXICO”. Arriving at the border, there are lots and lots of people packing guns - so expect it. We got through pretty quickly and the next twenty minutes made me look up and thank the good Lord that I was born an American. I cannot describe the shacks and shops that were put together seemingly with any leftover construction material. As we moved closer to “town” it became less shocking and before you know it there was a COSTCO and a Office Depot and we were there - Jerusalem Clinica. So here’s the part that bothered me before..but now I suppose it wasn’t that big of a deal. I just wished someone had described the waiting game. Here it is. You get unloaded from the van and all the smokers and guests remained outside chatting and puffing. There were 6 patients that turned in our passport to be copied and placed with our “medical info” on a separate clipboard. The reception area is VERY small - a couch for 3 and a couch for 2 and a bathroom that is not 30” wide….really. So we sat around for about 30 minutes wondering who would be first and what was next etc. Finally they started calling us in behind the auspicious door “hospitale” and we had our blood drawn. Then about every 15 to 20 minutes they took someone “away”. I later found out that away was upstairs in a very small lobby much like the one we just left - with two small bedrooms (2 beds each) and another small bathroom. We met Juan (pink shirt - always) - paid our balance, signed a document all in Spanish…I could have just enlisted in the Mexican Armed Forces for all I know. We got dressed down in either the bedroom or the bathroom, sat out on the couches - men - women together - total strangers in a sea of “WTH” have I done? Then they again had us go into one of the bedrooms and stick your legs in the air to cover with ace bandages and who cares if someone else came in to ask the nurse or doctor something - your business…I guess was anyone’s business. Then we had an EKG by an elderly (really old guy) cardiologist and were basically told at this point who was first, second etc… I was third in line so Ava went first followed by Gem and then me. So from this point - the experience is all mine. MY turn - I walked back downstairs to the O.R. making sure I wasn’t flashing my ample cheeks to anyone (the gowns are about a size 5X or bigger) and mine was hanging quite low. Anyway I walk into the “restricted” in Spanish doors and there is the table. OK. Don’t panic when you see that the fake naughtier is rubbing off of the side things that come out to hold either your legs or your arms. I smiled, climbed upon the table and said - bring on the happy juice and they did. I don’t remember another thing…it was that fast. So I wake up in one of the bedrooms upstairs (I didn’t know there were two more downstairs and only ONE has a lazy boy chair and a single bed. ) Sorry to all of you who got to see the video with that room because like me you assumed your guest would have a place to sleep. Katie and another guest - slept out on the upstairs lobby couches with the TV on all night long. (TAKE EARPLUGS!!!) I was told I walked up the stairs after surgery but I have no memory of that or of them getting me into bed. I was not in pain but I woke up and recognized that I was uncomfortable…like maybe something had happened to my stomach. YEAH!! I slept fitfully that night partially because I had to get up and go potty 5 times and felt bad about my daughter sleeping on the couch but just as much because my roommate Eva or Ava and poor Gem had the dry heaves all night. They looked pretty sorry in the morning…but stay tuned…they did get better the next day. In the morning _ I assumed we would ALL be going to recovery house and so Katie and I packed up our suitcases and so did Celestine. (We got up at 6 just because we wanted ICE CUBES - anything. They brought us these ice cubes that were GIANT - I mean 1.5 inches round!) Still we didn’t care. And then we hear, Sorry…only two people can go to Recovery House. (To be continued!) Reb