mdrai

GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR... I'm online looking up interesting ideas for dh's & my 20th wedding anniversary coming up on April 4 and I thought "What about a balloon ride" and guess what????? ----- I'M TOO FAT TO GO ON ONE! Max weight 280. Wow. What a wake-up, slap in the face, take a look at yourself moment. (PS -- If anyone has any creative ideas, I'd love to hear them! The actual day is on a Weds, dh has to work (I think), we can't travel anywhere that week or weekend (Easter weekend), $ is a bit of a factor... I really want to be creative, which I usually am, but I'm completely stumped! I was trying to think in "20s"... burn a cd w/the top 20 songs from 1987, put a crisp, new $20 in his wallet, bake him 20 of his fav cookies, give him a 20-min massage, buy tix to 20 soccer games (that's a bit much!)... you get the idea... he's a photographer & I have a sneaking suspicion he's been working on some sort of photo project for me... which is so thoughtful... and I've got nothing! I am in quite a funk right now!)

Great list Denise! Great attitude, too! Focusing on our "whys" and the positive things that will occur after banding is a great idea! How about we each make up a list, adding to what Denise has written?? I'll do a quick start now, then be back later to add more: * be able to fly in an airplane w/out worrying that I'll need to ask for a seatbelt extender or that my fat will flop over into the next seat. * be able to walk through any shop or restaurant without figuring out the widest path to take * be able to sit in a booth at a restaurant * wear stylish clothes -- any item I like I will be able to find in a "normal" size! (I think this is one of my favs, as I am soooooooooo much more stylish thant my current wardrobe displays!!!) * to have all that extra energy & brain power to focus on other, positive things, rather than my fat arse! More, ladies???...

IMHO... Don't change your date. Breathe. Calm down. Try not to think too much (it always makes me crazy!). Focus on the positives and don't go reading so much into every little thing. It'll all be ok. We're here for you. We understand. Think calm thoughts. Be kind to yourself. Shower others with love. Get doing & thinking of others & take the focus off yourself. Get out of the downward spiral of self-absorption/over-analysis. Surround yourself w/beauty & peace. It's all good... You get the idea! Whatever cliche or life truth works for you as far as calming you down & smoothing the rough edges & getting you through the next few weeks in one piece. Best of luck to everyone as we get closer & the excitement of our futures changes into scary reality!!! We can do it! We are strong!

Wow... thanks for all the great info, guys! While I am "kinda/sorta/sometimes/I mean to" following my doc's pre-pre-surgery recommendations, I think that once I get a date -- a glorious, actual, red-letter day DATE -- then I will begin a more committed, zealous low-carb plan to kick-start the losses & let my body know that we are SERIOUS this time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

It's short-term & you're freaked out about it, so why not give liquids a try? High-protein shakes like Atkins or something, w/a chicken breast thrown in here & there & maybe a salad once a day?? If THAT doesn't do the trick, don't know what would! (Please note that I'd never recommend this for any kind of long-term program, but just to kick start the weight loss in a rapid manner to lessen your worries & get you to surgery.)

I'm so glad my dr doesn't require any amount of weight lost prior to the surgery! I'd never make it! When I read that (and I do read it quite frequently, it seems like a lot of docs require it) it makes me CrAzY!... like "Uh, duh... if I could lose the weight w/out the band I wouldn't be coming to you for the band!" :faint: I don't know what to tell you, other than some short-term, drastic measure to get you onto the table! Liquid hi-prot shakes? Min food? Ex more??? I feel for you & wish I had an answer. Sorry.

Happy Sunday!~~ Well, my evil plan worked yesterday, so I made it out of our driveway (it goes straight up & down a big hill, very scary in snow) and to my psych consult. I didn't know what to expect, as I'd read a lot of folks had to answer 100s of questions, etc... but we just talked for 2 hours... I could've kept going! ha ha... she was nice... YOUNG... and at the end of it she said I was the "most normal" person she'd met in a long time! HA! So there we have it... I figure by the end of this week the surgeon's office will have everything it needs to submit for insurance approval & I'm hoping to be approved & get my date by the end of this month. I'm thinking I may have to move to being a May club girl... hope not, I like you bunch! Enjoy the day! ~~Michelle

Oh my Terri... are your smilies a graphical depiction of your dream last night? If so... oh my!

Good Saturday Morning, Everyone!~~ Today I'm supposed to have my psych consult at Noon... but it snowed about 5-8 inches yesterday in an unexpected storm, so if my dh doesn't shovel us out, then I won't be able to make it! & he's up in bed still! & I really want to go, because this is my LAST REQUIREMENT for insurance approval! I think I'm gonna go cook a nice, big breakfast & the lovely aroma will entice him down the stairs, & the food will warm him up & just when he's all cozy & full I'll hand him his snow suit & shovel! Re: what to tell people you don't want to tell... I read somewhere that someone told folks that he/she had a hernia operation... that sounded good to me... same area of the bod (so might explain the scars), same lifting restrictions, same recovery basically... how about that?? Before I heard of the hernia idea, I had told the place I work part-time (lots of walking & carrying stuff) that I was going to be having "female stuff" surgery... trust me, NO more questions were asked! LOL! Have a great day everyone... time to go heat up the griddle!

Yay to all of us for being brave!!!

Sheila... Welcome to being an adult! Where you receive an OPINION on an issue from your mother (or another adult), and you consider it, and do your own research, and weigh the pros & cons of it, and come to your own conculsions/make your own decision. And if/when that decision is different from hers... guess what?? The world does not come to an end! Sometimes "adults" never reach that stage in their development! They can't handle disappointing "mommy"... they never truly grow into their own, fully functional person. So celebrate, girl! Thank your mother for her OPINION (she's your mom & she loves you & she's worried for you but it's still her opinion), explain that you've also done a lot of research and that your decision is to have the procedure, and that if she can't be supportive of you, then to just not say anything. *Then* once you've got the band, you've got to PROVE HER WRONG! HOWEVER... should something go awry, or should for whatever reason the band not work for you or whatever... THAT'S OK because you have chosen a reasonable, adjustable, removable tool vs. having all your insides sliced & diced & re-organized! ((hugs))

CONGRATULATIONS! What an inspiration! Celebrate!

Good morning~~ Yes, Sara, I definitely think that being banded will be the first in a series of improvements/changes in my life. I think the confidence that this change will bring will carry over into all areas of my life. When I think about it, I get so excited! I like what you said, "I can't wait to have a second chance to be the real me" -- that's how I feel now! New goal for myself... I'd like to lose (at least) 18 lbs before surgery... which would make me 299 (or less)... as far as weighing goes, I'm trying not to do it every day (ha!) but I am going to use the doctor's scale/numbers as my "official" numbers... so for now (& until I'm not going there regularly any more) I'll only change my ticker-thingie after office visits there... which means it won't change as often, but I hope it each change will be significant! (I'm hoping this plan will keep me from the daily/weekly "up 1/down 1, happy/sad" scale crazies!) Have a great day, everyone!

Wow! That's definitely a different perspective!

Congratulations! :clap2:

Bwa Ha Ha, Tracy... what a lovely mental picture you've given us! Bway Diva, you sound like the opposite of me... I can follow an eating plan but I hate to exercise! And yet here we are in the same boat... guess we'll have to do BOTH to succeed (drat it all!) (jk! ) As far as worrying about the eating goes... I seem to really be thinking about/focusing on the fact that with the band, I won't physically be ABLE to eat the VOLUME that I do now to achieve fullness. I completely agree w/ the 80% hungry all the time example.... if I "diet" now, I'm starving, thus, I'm destined to failure. With the band, however, overeating simply won't be an option! I LOVE that! When I eat a "normal" portion of whatever... that will be it! It's like the band is making me "normal" again in this area. And honestly, I cannot remember a time when I ate like a "normal" person. I am also hopeful that my healthier eating habits will trickle down to the family, as well, as far as food choices & portion sizes. Besides my health, one of my major reasons for pursuing the band is to set a better example for my children & to have them learn now what it's taken me a lifetime to learn. I pray that they never have weight issues. My son is very athletic & "normal" sized... my daughter (8yo) is starting to pudge up & will graze on crap all day if not monitored... she actually cries when I tell her that it's a piece of fruit or nothing... or when I stop her. That scares me. Well, that was certainly a run-on paragraph! Hope you get the drift! Have a great day, everyone!

Wow! Haven't been online in awhile & this thread is going gang-busters! Hi everyone!! Today I had my nutrition 1-on-1 consult & 1st exercise appointment... I can't believe I'm typing this, but it felt GREAT to work out on the equipment!! I'm flying high on the endorphins & positive changes I'm working toward! Bandedme: My surgeon's pre-pre-surgery daily requirements are 70 g protein, 30-50 g carbs, 15-30 g fat... no bread, rice, pasta, potatoes... replace 1 meal w/a high-protein shake (I drink it for b'fast) + 2 multivitamins + 64 oz water... hope that helps! (Then it's a 2-week pre- and post-op liquid diet, then "mushies"...) Re: emotions/feelings... I'm up & down, too. At this moment I'm up... feeling good that I actually, officially "exercised" & it didn't kill me... ate a nice salad for lunch... on track, doing good... but don't let it fool you! -- I could be down in a moment's notice! Having to review with each medical professional my weight, bmi, medicines, blah blah blah... it can be hard to keep facing the truth over & over & over... I feel like, can't I fill out 1 universal form & copy it & just hand it out wherever I go?? BUT... facing it is part of it, I guess... and I tell myself that I'll never have these stats again & that I'm seeing all these folks because I'm doing something POSITIVE! I am taking responsibility for ME! I am taking charge of ME! Where I've been the last on my list for years & years (typical woman/wife/mom syndrome)... I am now putting myself, well, if not #1, then definitely closer to the top of the list! Doing that can be so mind-blowing for me... it actually amazes me sometimes when I do something for myself and the world doesn't come to a shrieking halt! Everyone just adjusts & goes on (if they evey notice!)... wild! So it is definitely a roller coaster ride of emotions / self-discoveries / milestones... but I just keep reminding myself that it's all for GOOD!!! Gosh I can't wait 'til I have an actual surgery date!!!!! (I'm hoping I'll have one by the end of the month!!!) ((hugs)) everyone!

Hey everyone~~ Today I had my endoscopy... man, they prep you like it's major surgery... I hadn't been that tubed & poked & monitored since my c-section 8 years ago! :omg: And it reminded me how much I HATE, HATE, HATE medical procedures... ugh... so this band had better be the LAST thing I have to have done! Bleh! And the actual procedure really wasn't bad... I was awake... asleep... awake in like a blink! No pain. But all the paraphernalia... ah! They said I have a hietal hernia (sp?) and gastroenteritis & they took a biopsy... but they said that neither of those things should stop the surgery, thank goodness. So now it's psych on Sat., then nutritionist & exercise folks next Tues... and then they submit for insurance! PS... Hi Tracy... I've wondered where you've been! Hope all is well! Miss your energy & positive thinking!!!

Fantastic! What an inspiration!

Those sound like reasonable goals, Sara... good for you for setting manageable goals that you can reasonably meet... I always tend to shoot too high & then get disappointed easily when I fall short. You've motivated me! I think that I will set some for this week, too (last week I overshot by thinking I could jump right in & do all the nutritionists recommendations bing-bam-boom... guess what... I couldn't...)... So here goes: Atkins shake each morning for Breakfast (started this last week) No bread, Pasta, rice 64 oz. Water daily no caffeine Exercise (I do basically nothing now)... so... 3x for at least 15 mins. Baby steps!

Great info, Sara, thanks for posting it! Yesterday I completed 4 tests @ the Radiologists, + 1 @ the Cardio's. Everything went well except I was told I have a "fatty" liver. Need to google that & see what that means (other than the obvious). I guess it goes w/my "fatty" everything else... but I'd like to know the medical implications. Today I go to my Gastro consult & a yearly check-up w/my sleep doc re: my apnea (turns out I haven't seen her since 10/04 -- whoops!). Talk about getting it all done at once! whew! After that, all I need is my psych consult (3/10) & 1st 1-on-1 w/the dietician (3/13) & 1st exercise consult (3/13) -- then I am DONE & the waiting game will begin! Baby steps... Have a great day, everyone!

Congratulations! It's reading about successes like yours that give me hope & inspiration!!! :clap2:

Thanks so much to Kat & MEW for the 'puter help.

Me again... Would someone please tell me how to link the tickerfactory thing to my sig? (I am such a computer dunderhead!) Thanks!

LOL TerriDoodle! It's been a whole whopping 1 day that I've actually tried -- and basically succeeded, I think -- to follow that food plan. How ever did you guess I ate turkey yesterday?? Counting the pro & fat is what is taking the most time & is the most eye-opening... usually when I'm lc'ing it, I don't worry my pretty little head w/those stats... so it is a bit more challenging. But I'm motivated and eager now, so I figure the more I do it & learn now, I'll just be that much more prepared on the other end... I'll know the numbers & what food = what & how to plan a "good" daily menu & the options (other than the turkey!).