AMayo1

Every journey begins with one step. Keep up the good work.

Good luck on your journey

So today started with the gym back on to the elliptical runner. Better day today, no homophobic comments today, but it was later in the day then yesterday. Multiple appointments today. First appointment was with the second part of my psyche evaluation. It really wasn't anything. He just took the time of my appointment to write up my paperwork from my initial visit. He gave me a copy of the letter that will be sent off to the insurance company that says that I am a good candidate. Second Appointment was my weigh in for the week. I am down 5 pounds from last week. The scheduling clerk continues to be a PIA. I asked to schedule all my weigh ins until my surgery. You would of thought I asked this woman to rip out her fingernails. The weigh in nurse had to tell her that she could do that. I have met my goal weight for the bariatric group. I have surpassed the goal weight for my insurance company. Third appointment was with a pulmonary doctor. My blood gas came back low. He thinks it is because I am over eight. No duh. But now they are making me do another test. a 6 minute walk with arterial blood gas test. Another step closer to my surgery.

It is too dark now in the morning to get a ride in before work. I am more of a morning person and tend to hit the hay early so I do not like to go work out after work. I went back to the gym near my house. Everything was fine did my time on the elliptical. Went into the locker room to shower and get changed. Now I remember one of the reasons I stopped going to the gym. The homophobic comments ran rampant between these 3 guys. Why is it that straight men have to make gay jokes in front of each other when they are naked? I guess it is to try to prove to one another that they are not gay when seeing each other naked. I think if this continues I am going to speak up.

Things are going haywire at work. Another therapist broke their arm and will be out for 6-8 weeks. I have yet to talk to my boss if this means I need to postpone my tentative surgery date of 10/3/11. This kind of sucks. They are freaking out because there is also another therapist who's wife is due any day. Had to take today off to take my mom to a doctor's appointment this morning then I need to go to my own appointment this afternoon. I was asked if there was anyway I could come in between appointments to help today. My work drives me crazy at times. Sorry I am just venting. I decided I was going forth with my surgery and now this is another block in the way. I guess I will know better tomorrow when I am back at work.

I am sure everyone hits this point. I am full of doubt. So far I have lost about 40 lbs on my 3 month pre-op diet plan. At this rate(if I do not hit a plateau I will lose another 20-30 pounds) putting me half way to my goal. Now hits the worry, do I really want to put myself through this surgery. A lot of this started when I had my psyche eval last week. He assigned me homework. I needed to find a study on the success/failure rate of lap band surgery. I need to print it out and bring it with me to my next session. So far what I have found has not been promising. My partner is now asking me to not do the surgery as I am losing weight and I should just continue to diet to lose the weight. I know that he is worried about any type of surgery being performed and that is his reason behind it. He told me that whatever I decide he will support. I had someone that I told at work tell me the same thing yesterday. I have never really had a problem losing weight when I put my mind to it, the problem has always been keeping the weight off. I am so confused and torn.

Thank you everyone for your advice, it is something that continues to be on my mind. I am going to keep going on my pre-op journey and I am sure I will probalby change my mind a hundred more times back and forth.

How great that you guys get to go through this together.

I am a pretty hairy guy. I am wondering with the guys have had surgery. Does body hair seem to cover up the scars?

I switched insurance companies for this reason. 1 did cover that my company carried and the other did not. Could you look into that, it may not help in the short term, but in the long term(fills and the such) it could.

OMG I had to sign a piece of paper today at my pre-op procedures stating that I agree to never have any alcohol for the rest of my life. The weird part is at the support group meeting this week. The Coordinator talked about not having to give up alcohol for ever, just know that it is empty calories Also to make better alcohol choices like Wine vs a margarita. Did anyone else have to sign a paper like that.

Did the first part of my psych evaluation. He told me I am a good candidate as my life has stability and that I have a good support system. On the downside one of my respiratory test the AGS did not come back that great so now I have to see a Pulmonary doctor, has me a little nervous. The bariatric group is going to call me next week once the appointment is set up to let me know who, when and where I need to go. I am hoping it has more to do with my size and my fat pushing up on my diaphragm causing my low level of oxygen in my blood, if that is true then more of a reason to be approved for the surgery by my insurance. They told me that it will have no bearing on the tentative date of my surgery.

I have told around 10 people. The reactions that I have received have been mostly positive. I did get a few that said all I needed was to join a group like weight watchers and do it on my own that I did not need the surgery. I decided not to hide it if they can do weight loss and be successful with weight watchers or something else more power to them. But I already went that route and put the weight back on and them some.

Look into temporary disability to try and cover the difference. My doctor's group says that they will fill out disability forms for immediately after surgery. But then future forms you need to be evaluated for appropriateness.

To me it seems like a way to be able to say you were the one that is in wrong if you fail.

Thisis my week of pre-op appointments. Planned them all during my vacation. I went to my second support meeting on Monday night. It was a muchbetter meeting then my first. More people, it started on time and I foundit more helpful. It as recommended picking up Weight Loss Surgery forDummies so I got that today. About half way done, so far so good. It hasbeen very informative. I go for my psyche evaluation tomorrow. Notsure exactly what to expect but the evaluation is spread out over 2 appointments. One bonus today I only had 1 co-paymentfor the entire day. Also found outthat I will not have to pay a co-payment for each weekly weigh in. I lost 20 pounds since my initial visitwith the Bariatric group on July 5th, down 35 pounds since I saw mydoctor in June. I havereached the 5% weight loss requirement of my insurance company. Still ticks me off that the group doesnot count the first 15 pounds lost. But in another 10 pounds I will reach their required 10% from my initialweigh in with them. I have myappointment with the surgeon the first week of September. I imagine after that visit everythingwill be submitted to the insurance company.

I think what dives me the most nuts is the contradictions. On Monday night the bariatric group is telling me it is OK to drink alcohol that is lower in calories in moderation once you meet your goal weight, but then 2 days later I am signing a piece of paper saying that I will never drink alcohol again. It i similar that they tell you not to drink crystal light or other sugar free drinks, but it is OK to eat sugar free jello and popsicles. Are the sugar free ingredients in those magically different then the sugar free ingredients in crystal light?

It sound like you are on your way there. Keep up the good work.

Good luck on your journey

you may need to bump up you calories. You might be putting your body into starvation mode which means it will hold onto every calorie it can.

Ok I made a decision. I used the vacuum storage bags and put them away. My partner's family is coming to visit from Colombia for Thanksgiving. His step uncle is a large man and we will send the clothes to Colombia for him.

Starting this past Friday I started vacation. Not going anywhere, but have some projects around the house to get done. Today I organized and cleaned out the closet. I got rid of some ripped, stained and out of date clothes. I also bagged up my clothes this past winter when I was at my heaviest. I put away 3x shirts and 46 waist pants. Now what do I do with them? They say you should get rid of your big clothes as you lose weight so as to give you an incentive to not grow back into them. I have yoyo'd for many years and have XL shirts and 38 waist pants that I get slim down to before I have to start buying new clothes. My cheap practical side says to keep them. My partner says keep them a year and then get rid of them. Also this week I have my pre-op testing and my psyche evaluation. They are going to introduce me to my pre-op medifast plan this week and let me know how often I have to go in for weigh ins. I hope to get a few bike rides in as the weather permits.

I limit myself to once a week. I would drive myself crazy too.

if you have not been to a gym before it is a good idea to go the trainer route. I agree with Papillon Princess. Interview the trainers. You are paying them, it is a job interview for them. I would tell them about the band and what your expectations are from the sessions. If they give you attitude about the band, onto the next interview. At this point in time your core is probably pretty weak. I would talk to the trainer about what is called functional training to start building up your core. Cardio and weight training should be done on separate days. One of the worst things about the biggest loser is that it builds up expectations about how fast people should be loosing weight. The speed at which the contestants lose their weight is unhealthy. Yoga will also help to build your core and is a great way to stretch out.

I think every who has contemplated getting the band has had the same thoughts as you. I know I have. The board is here to vent and to get support. Good luck with your surgery.