abbygirl

Under My Ticker under your log in name at the the top right. There is a drop down beside it and one of the options is My Ticker

This is great with the list!

So before the Vacay I ordered a treadmill. My schedule is so hectic that I can't get to the gym (without getting up earlier than my 5am start now or staying up later than 9:30- which I can't do). It arrived today and I am sitting here blogging as my darling husband puts it together. Almost didn't happen. The company I ordered from (Nordic Track) only delivered to the garage - we knew that. Thank God it is going in the room off the garage. My sister and fiancé said they would help bring it in - it weighs almost 300 lbs. at the very last minute we got a call - no can do how about tomorrow. Now let me tell you a bit about my little sister. She is 5'5" and a size 8 with a challenged IQ but as smart as a whip getting what she wants. Earlier she had come by to get my wedding veil and tiara for her destination wedding. She got those. Now when I needed her help - yep too busy. She is currently the "favored" child in my sibling cluster of 8 (another story for another day) which is feeding her head. I tell you this because as I hung up the phone I realized......she is one of my triggers. As I thought about whether I had any "snack" food available I was pulled up short. I had just had a pretty good snack- I wasn't hungry. This was true emotion eating. I then spent the next hour figuring out what emotion. Jealous - not if the size 8 - I am heading there; Envy - nope I have been favored child most of my life and my "position" was vacated by choice not from a hostile takeover; Anger - maybe somewhat - I really want my treadmill. Finally I figured it out. I don't even know if it is an emotion....it's the fact I was taken advantage of and used. I am a giver by nature. It's what I do. I help. When I finally ask for help from someone in my life I get shot down. I was hurt, felt used and frustrated. Maybe that is the emotion...frustration. Nothing I can do about it and I pay the price. I didn't eat... I am 2 days into pre-op diet - no way was I going to lose that. Instead I advised my sister I didn't need her help. My amazing husband along with my will we got it in ourselves (no injuries no damage). We have just plugged it in and guess what.....I'm running tomorrow! Further more I am now more aware that frustrated eating (stress possibly ) is an eating trigger. Good thing I got that treadmill!!!

I'm August 1st too!. Started preop yesterday with high protein/low carb. At the same time starting to feel anxious. In the same boat - have never had surgery so the whole sedation thing got me going (to the point I revised my will- just in case). Sure I will "moments" before the surgery of doubt but I know deep down this the right thing for me and that I am going to be all right!

Mine does not require the liquid...just the low carb, high protein. Possibly the liquid is to help with the adjustment after surgery...one less thing to get used too? It's funny I was thinking the same question and don't understand the major differences from doctor to doctor.

Two week pre-op diet starts tomorrow. This is my last day of eat what I want and what a way to celebrate.....birthday cake! Not mine but a staff member. It isn't her bday till Friday but they moved the cake to today so I could have some. Love that group! They are all doing the low carb diet with me too....everyone of them! Such support- I never imagined they be my biggest supporters in this trip. My preop diet is low carb high protein. Very similar to the Atkins diet ( which incidentally killed the Krispy Kreme revolution). Lots of protein, no fruit, healthy fat and almost no carbs (40 grams). Do you know how much 40 grams of carbs are? One slice of the non wheat bread I eat....or as my husband calls it "that twigs and sticks bread". Don't you just know it though as soon as the 2 week counter starts I get all these social invites! Yep dinners, bbq's, football games (Canadian football is a summer thing!)' picnics and bdays. As I am not ready to share my surgery with the world yet I will now become "that girl" who is on some weird diet. Thank God our warped society accepts women on fad diets ( I don't think the same can be said of men - sorry fellas). So I've loaded up with lean meat, cheeses of every shape and taste, along with the dreaded skim milk. I have also bought breath mints, breath spray, and Metamucil - for the reported side effects of this diet. Maybe that was what killed Krispy Kreme...the bad breath of all the people on Atkins diet coming in and cheating with a donut....think about it........

Bit late to the post but I was originally supposed to be a July sleever - now I'm August 1st! Love to be in the front of the line! I start my pre-op diet next week (mainly a low carb/calorie diet - similar to Atkins I think). I have made changes though ahead of this like eliminating caffeine, any fizzy drink and trying (though struggling) not to drink during meals ( hard to break a 46 year habit). I am also trying to get more exercise in and setting up for afterwards with a no excuse work out (treadmill with Internet in a room with a TV , phone and air conditioned). Excited to be at this phase now - it seems a long time coming. Oh and my amazing staff are doing the low carb/calorie diet with me! Great people!

Absolutely not...I plan on enjoying more! Just have some work cut out for me!

Hawaii was amazing. Sun, sand, surf and great friends. Lots of pictures. These will be my last summer pics being the current pre-op me. So my "before" photos will have a nice landscape! Actually it was a very informative vacation as I went with my friend who had the surgery over a year ago. We were able to honestly talk about the ups and downs of the road she has travelled as well as what to expect. It also allowed my hubby a chance to talk with hers to see how we felt...typical guy talk over beers right! But what I really enjoyed was being able to see how she lives now with the weight gone. I watched her eat off the kids meno or the appetizer menu. She still had treats - she admits she gained on the trip but was right back on track after. That's what we are supposed to do....enjoy in moderation. I start my pre-op diet next Thursday which means I'm just over 3 weeks away from this. Ironically my diet and nutrition appointment is the week after when I see my surgeon so I was feeling a bit lost however that same wonderful friend is pulling her stuff and sending it to me- I love that girl! So this weekend I am having my last BBQ for a while with all e trimmings. I am going to celebrate my up coming last "diet" (when did you ever think you would say that). I am going to revel in where I've been, where I am, and where I am going! Stay tuned.....the grumbling you hear will be my stomach!

Update....they will make rent this month BUT only just. Opted for a new bathing suit and cover up too. Nice thing is I may only wear these this summer bit I am going out with a stylin bang!

I am going to Hawaii next week . I am packing my "fat" clothes for their last vacation (hope they enjoy themselves). In go the shorts, the tanks, the camis, the maxis....then my husband stops me. "Are you taking that nightie?" - not because he doesn't like it but because we are traveling with another family and sharing a condo. Needless to say the sleeping garment is not PG! So today in addition to going for a pedi I am also going to my favorite Plus size store to bring my sleeping options in line with Disney standards. This could possibly be my last trip there to pay for clothing at top prices because of it being plus size. Seems somewhat anti-climatic having the last item I buy be PJ's. Considering the relationship I have had with this store is longer than the one I have with my dear husband - shouldn't this break up be BIGGER. Shouldn't there be some shouting and throwing of vases or something? Nope just going to slip in, find something "appropriate" (husbands word) and slip out. No tears, no yelling, no crying. The is the first of lasts. Good news is it is my bday month so I get 20% off! Bad news is how will they be able to pay the rent as I am no longer shopping there.

Just enjoy yourself! Life's best surprises come without expectations! Laugh, flirt, and revel in the new you!

The non-scale achievements are just as thrilling as the scale ones! Congrats!

I lost my uncle today. He had been battling cancer and though we knew he was terminal you can never fully prepare yourself. It started me thinking about my own mortality. I am about to willingly endure a major operation with risks - no matter how slim they are there are still risks. A friend, who is part of my group of people that I have told about this operation, called me yesterday. It had been a while since we last talked and she asked me if I was still going through with "it" (giving the surgery a similar intonation we usually only reserve for the word cancer). Today after hearing about my uncle I thought of the question again. I also wondered if my uncle had any major regrets. I mean I am sure we all have regrets when this situation happens but I mean a big regret...one maybe influenced by others comments. I wanted to call my girlfriend back and reaffirm my YES bigger and louder than before. I wasn't really close to my uncle but his passing today allowed me to put to rest in my mind the one last doubt about the surgery. Rest in peace Uncle P and thank you for the assistance to eliminate regrets! No regrets!

Thank you so much for sharing. I am hoping to do the same with my surgery in 5 weeks...oh God 5 weeks! Reading what you have to say will make it easier if I experience anything similar. Keep it up and keep up the blogging. As for engagement ring...maybe a new one when done to compliment your "new" thumb ring is in order! Ha ha

Yep need to start documenting this before I forget everything. Not to say I won't have the visual reminders to help me remember where I started (pictures, clothes, bum imprint on the couch) but it is the other things that fade with time that do not have a physical reminder. The worry about the what ifs and can I , the concern about what will happen and what won't happen. Right now my biggest concern is not the surgery. Considering, in 6 weeks they are removing a significant portion of my stomach you would think that is the worry. But nope I have blown right through that like an out of control 3 year old in the toy department at Christmas. I have even moved beyond the thought of recovery pain and the "possible" side effects it will bring. Nope I am already into....what if it doesn't work - which of course turns into it doesn't look like its working in after surgery thought (always wanted to be ahead of the class even in grade school...skipped right past glue eating to advanced macaroni art). Yep that is where I am at. I see pictures, read forums and absorb before and after pictures like a teenage boy absorbs girlie mags....but still I have that voice (to be named later) in my head saying what if it doesn't work. What if you go through all of this just to lose it and then gain? That doesn't mean I don't want to do it. I'm funny that way I still want to try it however unlike the tattoo I "tried" this can not be covered with clothes. Once people know they will start to judge and comment (you haven't lost much, was it REALLY worth it, or my favorite you looked better before). Nope this change will be out there for all to see, judge and comment about...which brings me to my issue...what if it doesn't work.....my head says it will but my inner skinny person who is really shy questions me. Maybe I should be worrying about excess skin and whether because of it my "hidden" tattoo will be even harder to find in its wrinkles .....

Thanks Rox...maybe we need to get all the little voices together to bug each other rather than us.

Thanks for your word moonchild, I am glad I am not the only one who has these feelings.

I am being "selective" on who I tell pre-surgery. In part because I don't want the inevitable nay sayer trying to give me helpful stories about their "aunts husbands cousins neighbor who had________ go wrong" and in part because I don't need the natural judgement people shovel out. The people I have told have, in part, been part of my decision making process. After surgery I will take each person as they come. I work extensively in a public field with repetitive clients but some I don't see for months....others daily. I think each persons journey is their own and though we can all suggest and support each other ultimately each of us does what's right for us.

I am hoping for end of July to co-ordinate with booked holidays. I am self pay so not having to do pre-op diet other than the one for surgery. I had to do all the other tests including today I had an endoscopy because of my GERD. I am also hoping to get into a regular exercise schedule before surgery...trying to set new habits and be as healthy as possible for the surgery.

So as part of my pre-surgery check list I had to get a endoscopy for GERD issues. Less an 48 hours before procedure my lovely nurse called and left me a message with a preop instructs one of which was the removal if my gel nails (acrylics and nail polish too). Well the reason I missed the call was... You guessed it...I was getting my nails done. I was livid. They never mentioned is before, it was not on their preop instruction sheet. Ironically the call came less than 48 hours before the procedure...their cancellation minimum retirement. Before you ink I am ultra vane I was traveling to the us for this procedure and leaving the next dat for a cruise...I would have removed the nails if I knew ahead and wasn't heading on vacay or rescheduled the endoscopy. The silver lining is that I called and talked with them and it turns out because they were clear (with colored tips) so the gel did not interfere with the pulse ox finger monitor. I am letting my fellow sleevers know this so they don't have the reaction I did. I also wanted those ladies with similar nails that you don't have to remove them if they are clear with no color ! Also...this was the last test and we can now book a date!

Good luck!

Just finished a full day of "pre" appointments including; psych, nutritional, fitness and pre-surgery consult . Now for blood , EKG , endoscopy. Once that clears ready to set a date. This is the start of a life changing event and I look forward to sharing with my fellow sleeves!

Soo turns out if you get your blood work in Canada they make you pay for it if ordered by US doctor . All $300!!!! So if you can get your Canadian doctor to order it!