Yvette1026

Ok so I've been MIA for a minute, I needed some time to think about everything that I'm going through, is this what's really right for me. Two of the people I respect most in the world have voiced their opinions on my surgery. My mother has voiced the same and so forth. They all say the same thing "Do what you want to do, but you can do it on your own, so you don't really need to do this." I went from 430+ down to 287. The plus is because I couldn't weigh myself for a long time before that. So I lost that weight and have kept the bulk of it off. I got into a long distance relationship for 2 yrs and he was jealous of me going to the gym, hearing the guys make comments, saying, hi, flirting, etc...So I spent 2 yrs of my life on the phone, laying around.. and packed weight back on reaching back up to 330lbs. I started to diet and got fed up with the up and down losing the same 30-35lbs, especially when I can gain and lose 15lbs in just a weeks time. So I decided to make yet another appointment to go see about the lapband. I've been researching this for 5 yrs...on and off, back and forth. Listening to everyone else's opinions and thoughts on it, wait til you have kids, you can do it on your own, etc... Thing is, I'm tired of waiting. I've been a size 14 or bigger since I was 8 yrs old. Yes 8 as in eight, not a typo. And yes I know people look at me and they think "Oh you're not that big." fact is I am, the numbers don't lie. I'm mostly muscle and I'm solid, which is why most people guess me anywhere around 200-250lbs if they guess my weight. And I'm wide front to back, not side to side. At my pre-op visits people always comment on how they thought I was post-op and would say things like "wow I would like to have your shape/figure when I'm done." - Umm k that's great and I appreciate the compliment. However, I'm PRE-OP. So all of that being said, I had to take few days to get my mind right, and not be here and caught up in all of it. My Pastor voiced his concern and doesn't think I should do it. His wife (also my Pastor) said the same. My Mother, my friends, etc... So now I feel like I'm being forced to lie, well not lie, just not tell anyone. Which I wasn't really doing anyways. I think I told 5 or 6 people total and 4 out of those 5 or 6 have said something negative about it and tried persuade me not to do it. So I sat and thought, ok do I really want to do this? Less than a week from surgery, do I really want to walk away from this? I couldn't really bring it here until my mind was made up. I know there are so many people here who are waiting, trying to get approved, etc..and here I am approved, scheduled and thinking about walking away. My mind is made up, I'll be doing it on Friday. No more, no less and more importantly nobody's business. I'll have church on Thursday and see my Pastor, Friday is Surgery and then I'll see his wife on Sunday. I'll have friday and saturday to recoup and nobody will know the difference. I'll see my mom Friday after surgery. She knows I'm doing it, even though she thinks I should wait she's supporting whatever it is I think I need to do. But everybody else doesn't need to know. I'm sure some of you are like well just miss church or whatever...but I can't. I'm the church administrator and assistant to my Pastors so I have to be there. Be available to pick them up from the airport, check them into the hotel, etc..whatever needs to be done. I'm pretty sure I can pull it off without anyone noticing, the only issue I may have is luggage, I can't lift anything over 15lbs for the next 3-4 weeks. I think I'll be ok for this week, as the only trip before the end of the year is this Sunday and she'll be coming from San Diego with just a carry on...for an hour or two... By the time I see them after the new year, I'll be healed up for the most part. In the stress of this I ended up cheating on my pre-op diet 2 days in a row ok well more like 1.5.. sunday morning I had a bagel AND a cheese danish with a yoplait and some fruit. Then yesterday I had supreme croissant from jack in the box with the intent of just eating the egg and meat out of the center.. yeah no, ate it all oh and tacos.. I wanted to have those greasy best thing you ever at at 2am after you've been out drinking all night tacos. But oddly enough they don't taste as good when you're sober and it's it's 12 in the afternoon lol. Then I had the weirdest craving for chicken salad, which isn't too bad, but the box of wheat thins I ate the chicken salad on, umm yeah that was kinda bad. So anyways - that's that.. That's where I've been. But my mind is made up, I'm on track.. basically 2 more days, 3 more sleeps and it's here. WOW. Father I thank you for the opportunity of new life, best life. I thank you for rapid recovery and healing. I thank you for a solid mind and unwaivering spirit. I thank you for all you've done for me in the past and all that you will do for me in the future. You are Alpha and Omega and I give you all the Glory. Amen.

Dark and dreary day here in az with a high of 54 right now... all I want to do is stay under the covers but I've got work to do. So today I was going through the forums and found the "protein" post and while I was giving advice and recipes I got some inspiration on this cold day.. HOT CHOCOLATE!! Yumm yumm yumm!!! I could improve it but it was good for the first try.. 4oz skim milk 1/4 teaspoon vanilla pinch of cinnamon 1 scoop designer whey chocolate protein powder I made it like old fashioned Hot Chocolate on the stove.. milk, then dumped eveything else in and stirred until it started to bubble. I could have made it creamier by adding some yogurt or non-dairy creamer, and the sugar free chocolate pudding but honestly the way I made it is good too. And I won't feel guilty when I go back for more later HA! lol Ok in other news... It's official!!! My surgery is now back on the 18th, better day, better number, more recovery time! WOOHOO and I may, may just be able to eat something come Christmas LOL... But now this puts me EXACTLY where I want to be. I'm SO excited! YAY ME!!!

Put me on the list.. where's the group? Where's the people? Let's go

So glad to of found this post. Having my surgery on the 18th, and he seemed nice at our meeting on Tuesday, but nice doesn't make you a good surgeon lol. But I'm feeling good hearing your reports on him! And I TOTALLY agree about the wait times.. I usually just show up late, so I don't have to wait.. I call and tell them I'm on my way and to mark me down.

Using them now - I had a couple of issues with their understanding of my insurance but besides long wait times (which were fine with me because I would just show up late) everyone there was nice. I wouldn't say I was "impressed" like I was with Dr. DeBarros, but the timing wasn't right and when I was ready his practice had changed their name and I wasn't able to find them. There is a certain "cattle call" or "processing center" manor to TRS but over all it's still been a good experience. My surgery is on Friday the 18th, I'll be able to tell you more after that.

If you go into the social section you'll see groups, there's a group for us there December Bandsters 2009 with a Christmas tree. For those you that haven't joined please do. And there's also a Dec 2009 forum in the post-op board. Those resources will help us keep in touch along our journey. Also if you're clicking with someone send a friend request to them, by going to their profile and clicking on "befriend" Hope that helps! Happy Banding! Yvette

Too funny, when you realize that that's REALLy how we look at food, my 1st blog on here... people sent me PMs that it was almost pornographic..I can't apologize that's how I feel about food. So unhealthy!

Isn't fage the best? That's the one I use as well. And they have a 0% vanilla one as well, I like the plain, tart it's so good, or mixed with honey. Upside is I was eating this before the pre-op so it's not like i"m missing out on anything.

Since getting my call and having an actual surgery date, all I can think about it is my surgery and life after. Researching diets, nutrition, etc.. 100% committed to this lifestyle change. It's consuming my thoughts and mind, to me it's a good thing, but I'm starting to think I'm obsessing over it. I have SEVERAL projects I need to be doing, but as I start to work on them, I get a thought about a recipe or a surgery question or something surgery related and I'm off doing that. I need to focus.. I NEED to get all of these projects done TODAY. FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS... but all I can think about is how long my stay will be, can I talk the surgeon into the single incision method. Does he already use the single incision method? My pre-op appointment is tuesday with the surgeon so I'm SURE I'll get alot of my questions answered then. And wondering if I can get my original surgery date back.. I was originally scheduled for the 18th, but I pushed it back to the 21st due to an event I had scheduled for the 18th, but last night I decided to cancel the event. Now I want the surgery on that day.. I need to call my scheduler and see if it's still available. She'll probably want to ring my neck after I already changed it once lol. 18=9, 21=3 - both good numbers... I'll have to think on this. 9 feels better and has stronger meaning. 12+18=30 3+0=3 12+21=33 - 3+3=6 eh still a good number but I prefer 3 or 9... so 18th it is.. now let's just see if I can get my scheduler to agree :thumbup: Yes I'm strange, yes I just totally just worked that out for the world to see and let you all in on my crazy lol -really Yvette? Really.. lol oh well it's my blog lol.

You can do it! Be encouraged, so everything one day at a time, actually one meal at a time. Just think, hmm yes I COULD eat that, but it's going to move me further away from goal. If I this.. it puts me closer to my goal.. Day by day, choice by choice. You WILL succeed.

Just tell them, I'm considering the lap-band these are the reasons why and I would like a referral. They'll send you. My friend has tri-care and she was qualified easily and had the surgery done in no time. She actually had to pack on 20lbs for the surgery, but because she has type 2 she was given the referral, got to the LB doctor and was told she needed to gain 20lbs for it. She did and received it and now she's about 6 months post op. She's only lost 40lbs but that's because of how she eats and she doesn't stay up on her fills. If it's possible, she will be the first person to actually GAIN weight with the LB lol.

You have a beautiful home and the decorations are lovely! Thanks for sharing. Blessings to you!

Just got home from my pre-op everything went well, quick and easy. Well minus the 1hr plus waiting time, other than that it was all good. WOO HOO I'm excited! 7am 12/18 I'm official baby! lol And I already got "banded" today, with one of their lapband wrist bracelets not sure WHY I have it, or more importantly WHY I'm wearing it, thank goodness I'm in long sleeves! HA But more importantly I met 2 ladies who are having surgery the same day as me Jessica and Amy and directed them here.. So let me welcome them in advance for when they get here! Welcome ladies!

I started early because I KNEW I would have days where I wanted to cheat or go off the plan. So I just started early and I don't feel bad that I just had french fries...just sayin' lol :wub: