Kaydotrn

It just makes it worse! hang in there and try to find another way to deal with the stress. ~K

Had a Designer Whey protein drink this morning before hitting the gym. It is nice to not have to worry about what to have for breakfast and it only takes a minute to mix the shake. I am not really hungry inthe am anyway. At the gym I switched it up today since I don't want to get bored or my body to get too used to the same routine. I did the dreaded treadmill for 20 minutes today and tried jogging. I walked at 3.6 for about 5 minutes, then I would lightly jog at 4.2 for about 2 1/2 minutes then switch back. I think I ran about 2 1/2 times since the last time I could feel a blister in my foot. I had the wrong sneakers on today. After, I jumped on the elliptical for 35 minutes. It was a good workout. I even stretched out in the gym-usually I stretch in the locker room since I am uncomfortable around the men there (even though I am sure they are paying zero attn to me!). Today is my last maternity clinical! I am so excited for some time off. I will try to take care of as much Christmas stuff as possible this next week since I could be somewhat out of commission after surgery. I still cannot believe I am doing this!

Had a Designer Whey protein drink this morning before hitting the gym. It is nice to not have to worry about what to have for breakfast and it only takes a minute to mix the shake. I am not really hungry inthe am anyway. At the gym I switched it up today since I don't want to get bored or my body to get too used to the same routine. I did the dreaded treadmill for 20 minutes today and tried jogging. I walked at 3.6 for about 5 minutes, then I would lightly jog at 4.2 for about 2 1/2 minutes then switch back. I think I ran about 2 1/2 times since the last time I could feel a blister in my foot. I had the wrong sneakers on today. After, I jumped on the elliptical for 35 minutes. It was a good workout. I even stretched out in the gym-usually I stretch in the locker room since I am uncomfortable around the men there (even though I am sure they are paying zero attn to me!). Today is my last maternity clinical! I am so excited for some time off. I will try to take care of as much Christmas stuff as possible this next week since I could be somewhat out of commission after surgery. I still cannot believe I am doing this!

Beversman-you are definitely not alone girl! I too keep thinking I must be doing something wrong. How can I be so successful in every other aspect of my life and foul up something as simple as eating less and exercising more. It isn't rocket science, but I do think there are way more factors at work. If it were that simple, wouldn't everyone be fit? I am glad you come here to vent...it helps you get it off your chest and it helps the rest of us feel less alone in this journey! Carol-glad to hear you are feeling well. Keep us updated. Hermosa-again you relieved me. I had this picture from ER that they are intubating me while I am concious or taking it out after I wake up-SCARY!thanks for clearing that up. Baby=good luck on your pre-op diet. You will rock!!! Anyword from thininde? I hope the surgery went well. Sending my thoughts!!!

Steph-You are getting so close to your date!!!! I know the pre-op sx but you can get through these next 4 days. Just do the best you can. I think you are doing reat anyway. Glad youhad fun at Bunco. Think about what you would have eaten had you not been mindful. That is what I always try to remember. You go! Nathalie-I hope you are having fun *socializing*. Sounds like Washington is suiting you well! You are crazysexycool! offerrocker-best wishes onthe surgery!!! Be sure to check back with us after. Dee-how lucky that you and your husband can go through this together. you will make a great team. I am trying to get off this darn thing and go to sleep. Tomorrow is my last clinical before Christmas vacation! yay. Only 4 more days until my pre=op appt.

Carol! At this point you are home recoveing from surgery. I hope all is going well. You are starting a new page in you life! Enjoy.

I am on a time crunch but I need to get a journal entry so I can start logging what is going on. I am 2 weeks or so away from surgery. I am scared! I just called the Dr. today to see if my insurance approved the surgery and they have. I think I was half thinking htat I would be denied. Next Monday is Pre-op appt then the following Monday is surgery. I feel conflicted. I am definitely not feeling 100% like I want to do this and I am wondering if this is normal. Of course I am afraid to ask that question at the MD office for fear that they will say "Nope, you aren't ready" and cancel my appt. Am I nuts???? I think I am questioning because since I was told that I had to lose 10 pounds and I have joined Weight Watchers (for the 100th time), I have managed to loae about 17 pounds. I have been going to the gym 5 or 6 days a week and I feel wonderful. There is that little thought that, wow, maybe I can do this myself. But then I look at my history and I am always gung ho for about 3 months or so then I lose steam. Typical diet failure. The other thing is, I plan to continue my WW meetings becauseI find them so supportive. ANother thing I never had before. This particular meeting is thebest I have ever attended and every week I feel really pumped to do my best. Anyway, if I continue to go to WW, am I a fraud??? I have not told anyone about my plans and do not intend to. I willbe weighing in with my friend that doesn't know about my plans to have surgery, and I will basically be lying to her every week. It seems so deceitful. I just know how anti-surgery she is and I don't want to tell her. I don't know what to think. On a side note, I had a good workout today-50 minutes elliptical. I need to do my weights at some point since I did not have time at the gym today (dentist appt). Got a root canal today-lucky me. I made another appt for next week and I actually scheduled it around my workout. Whoever thought that would be a priority! haha.

Thanks Hermosa! Everything you said hasput me a bit at ease. Did you not have a tube in your throat? I am under the impression that they put a tube in your throat for the anesthesia. That seems to scare me more than anything. Weird, I know. I had a fantastic day as I had a root canal today :::sarcasm::::. I knew I was blowing off taking care of this broken tooth, but I am trying to tie up loose ends before surgery. Ugh. I actually feel okay though. I will just keep taking tylenol. Beversman-I am so sorry about your family. I know how you feel. That is precisely why I haven't really told anyone. My Mom does know and is surprisingly supportive but my dad would harrass me until I changed my mind. I too feel like maybe I am just a huge failure for needing this surgery even though I don't judge others that way. I am still not 100% with my decision but deep down I know my history-lose 30 or 40 pounds then lose interest and put it back on plus more. I want to believe that this time I will really lose the weight, but the 15 or so times I have tried, the end result is the same and I end up even bigger. I really think we are not failures and we are not taking the easy way out. We still need to work at this, hopefully the band will just help us along! Best wishes and feel free to vent anytime! Carol??? How are you? Looking to see how you are. Also, someone was having surgery today too weren't they? I hope everyone is well. Oh, and today I got the word that my surgery is approved. Yikes-this is real. Pre-op appt is next week!

I am on a time crunch but I need to get a journal entry so I can start logging what is going on. I am 2 weeks or so away from surgery. I am scared! I just called the Dr. today to see if my insurance approved the surgery and they have. I think I was half thinking htat I would be denied. Next Monday is Pre-op appt then the following Monday is surgery. I feel conflicted. I am definitely not feeling 100% like I want to do this and I am wondering if this is normal. Of course I am afraid to ask that question at the MD office for fear that they will say "Nope, you aren't ready" and cancel my appt. Am I nuts???? I think I am questioning because since I was told that I had to lose 10 pounds and I have joined Weight Watchers (for the 100th time), I have managed to loae about 17 pounds. I have been going to the gym 5 or 6 days a week and I feel wonderful. There is that little thought that, wow, maybe I can do this myself. But then I look at my history and I am always gung ho for about 3 months or so then I lose steam. Typical diet failure. The other thing is, I plan to continue my WW meetings becauseI find them so supportive. ANother thing I never had before. This particular meeting is thebest I have ever attended and every week I feel really pumped to do my best. Anyway, if I continue to go to WW, am I a fraud??? I have not told anyone about my plans and do not intend to. I willbe weighing in with my friend that doesn't know about my plans to have surgery, and I will basically be lying to her every week. It seems so deceitful. I just know how anti-surgery she is and I don't want to tell her. I don't know what to think. On a side note, I had a good workout today-50 minutes elliptical. I need to do my weights at some point since I did not have time at the gym today (dentist appt). Got a root canal today-lucky me. I made another appt for next week and I actually scheduled it around my workout. Whoever thought that would be a priority! haha.

(((Carol))) and (((Hermosa)))) I am so glad you guys made it through okay! Thanks for checking in. On a level of 1-10, 10 being the worst, what is your pain like? I am curious. Can you tell me how the anesthesia was? I am so nervous about that! Hermosa, you seem to be home so soon. Did you both have day surgery. My surgery is an overnight stay. I am not sure what the usual is. I am glad you are both doing okay. Steph, did you ask about Vitamins? I bought the CVS chewable "Spectravite". They are okay. They don't make me gag and at this point I am tolerating them fine. On a side note, I lost 6 pounds this week at weightwatchers. I am kicking butt at the gym plus I had my TOM last week which may account for a bigger loss this week (all that lovely retained fluid). I have officially lost the 10 pounds required for my surgery and am down 17 or so pounds. I am very excited. Onward and downward. For those of you on Protein shakes, can you tell me what you are drinking. I think I have asked before but now the time is getting nearer. I had an unjury vanilla shake today which was okay and a Designer whey chocolate shake which seemed okay too. I tried a low card SlimFast last week which was the most disgusting thing I ever had. It tasted like a can of chemicals!!!

Hi Sweethot! Congrats ont he new date. Now we are sharing a date...nice to have you as a surgery sister. Hope Carol is doing well. I am thinking of her. Welcome Sassy looking forward to meeting you. Good luck on your surgery!

Hi Everyone, I have been so busy and haven't popped in here for a bit! I have a final exam tomorrow and that will free up some time. I am taking a break from studying now. Today is my birthday but it doesn't feel like it, having to study and I have a sore throat/cold. Oh well..what will my next birthday be like? It is fun to fantasize about it! I have to see the dentist Wednesday for a broken tooth. One of the last things I have to take care of before surgery. I am so nervous. I have to run and get my head back in the books. I hope everyone is well and look forward to a chance to meet you all soon.

Nathalie, I cannot tell you how many times I have rambled that Unwritten song in my car with the kids. I know the words but never really listened to them. I am glad for your sappy moments, because I found it very uplifting. I will take all the positive I can get!

Carol! I will be praying for you and your hubby!!!! Please don't be away for long and get right back here and tell us all about everything! What are you packing to bring with you? What time do you have to be there and is anyone going with you? Please know we are all thinking of you and sending the warmest wishes! What a great year 2007 will be for us all!

I too am interested! I have been thinking about this for a while and plan to start having this done when I am out of school and actually working. My lip has always been something I have to wax or bleach, but since my 30's my chin is getting worse and worse. I have to hit it with the tweezers almost daily since there is usally a stray or 2. It stinks!!!! Glad to see I am not alone! Thanks for the info.

I too will be having surgery onthe 18th and I share your fears about recovery. It actually was a about a week ago that I realized just how close that is to Christmas. I just plan to have as much done these next 2 weeks as possible and to take help from my DH when I can get it. I hope I am up and about without complications. I like what you all are saying about this being a good gift to ourselves. I hadn't thought about that. I haven't told many and I was concerned about looking funny not eating at the in-laws (sit down meal) and sipping my liquids, but DH had a good idea that I just say I have a sore throat. Wish I had thought of that! Good luck to you...I will be thinking of you.

((Carol))) My thoughts are with you this weekend as you get prepared for the big day. Please post us as soon as you are up and about so we can hear all about everything! I hope you have a quick recovery.

I have enjoyed reading this thread. I ama very open person, but I am keeping this surgery to myself (as well as DH, Mom and sister). That may change intime, but at present, I am not ready to share my plans. That being said, I am very puzzled about the "taking the easy way out" theory. I noticed a guy in my town who was really really obese had lost a ton of weight. I have seen him walking for the past year almost daily and the transformation is astounding. I was wondering out loud in front of a friend if he had surgery or had been dieting on his own. Her response was "Oh, no, he did it the RIGHT way". Again, no "easy way out". We all know the band is not the easy way out. We all have to watch our intake and hopefully exercise for true success. But what if it were the east way out? Where is the medal for doing things the hard way? Isn't it ultimately the goal to be healthy and fit? Who the hell cares what it takes to get there? As long as you are not hurting your body. If there were an easy button (a la Staples) that I could hit and be thin, fit and feeling great, you can be darn sure I would hit it. I wouldn't choose to struggle as I have for the past 15 or so years with the depression that comes after gaining back that 40 or so pounds I struggled dearly to lose. If there were an easy way out, I would be the first in line!

I don't have a pre-op diet so to speak but a rule that I am expected to lose 10 pounds and exercise 30 minutes a day for 30 days prior to surgery. I am currently exercising 50 minutes 5 days and have lost 11 pounds. I have considered going to no breads no sugar in the next week or so to better prepare for surgery but that is my own thinking, not a recommendation from the surgeonn.

Hello to all the newbies on the thread..Welcome!!! Beversman-I just spent way too much of my life reading all that drama (I am terribly nosy and could not pull myself away). There is one in every bunch. I am impressed that she can be online that much and still have the sex life she claims to have. We should all be so lucky. haha. Angyl-where did you find that video on anesthesia? I too am really nervous about going under. I ammore worried about the anesthesia than I am about the surgery itself. Please rub off on me since I want to feel more at ease too! Nathalie-poopy stools and smelling like swamp rats? Where do I sign up for that procedure? It sounds like a great time. I am sorry to hear about your bad time with the casseroles and cookies. Sh#t happens. Tomorrow is a new day...dust yourself off and start fresh. We have all been there or else we wouldn't all be here, right? Hang in there!!!!!! Ariel-my local connection I hope you are getting as excited as I am! I have to get a tooth fixed next week.. I hate the dentist and have embarassingly neglected my dental care and now have this icky tooth I need to have fixed before I can have my surgery. I feel like an idiot. But I broke down and got the appt and I will be getting a lovely root canal next week. yay for me. I will then have my pre-op appt the following week and should be a "go". :::fingers crossed:::: Good night all!

I will check out that book. Thanks!!! I have been following WW since my consultation meeting to lose the 10 pounds required and I have been exercising religiously. 12 pounds down today. I am definitely interested in healthy options so I wil check that book out. Thanks again.

Thanks Mel, I have both a small and larger Cuisinart food processer. Maybe I will have to start keeping those out on the counter. I was just looking for something easy to use and quick to clean. I am keeping an eye on my sodium as I have high blood pressure. I was thinking that during the liquid phase I will have to do the best I can and will probably have more sodium than I usually do because of my limited menu. What is wrong with dirnk with milk in them? I was not sure about that. My surgeon recommends things like Carnation Instant Breakfast and other GNC type milk based Protein shakes. Is there a reason to avoid milk? Curious...

Hi LuckyGirl! I think we will find that a lot of us are in the same boat! I am glad to be surgery sisters with you! haha. I too have the little nagging fear that what if I am not successful??? I have failed sooo many times it is not really easy to grasp the idea that I may actually conquer this weight issue for good. I am sure hoping this is it thought! I didn't tell my little one either asshe is only 4. My 10 year old is great about it. She was a little freaked at first and her quote was "mom, tell me what the risks are." She and I are really tight and I notice that since telling her she can't walk by me without rubbing my back or giving me a quick hug. I just keep reassuring her that everything will be fine. She has asked is she can talk to her friends about it and I had to ask her not to. that was hard but this town is way too tightknit. I told her she can call my mom or my sister if she needs to talk to someone. I even have a friend that has ben through the surgery that is willing to answer her questions if she needs it. I just am not ready for everyone to know yet. Hang in there. I am glad to meet you and everyone on this board!!

Okay, it hit me today that I am really close to having this surgery and need to start figuring out what the heck I will be eating when I get home. I bought some of those Campbell's Select Soups that are in the cartons (expensive!) because they are blended and have not bits in them. I think anyway...I will try them this week and see if they are okay. I also bought SlimFast low card because it had the least amount of sugar and most Protein I could find in my local supermarket. I think they were 20 or so grams. Not sure if these are any good either. I say the Whey Low (?I think this was the name of it) in my local pharmacy. The big huge container of powder you scoop into your milk. Has anyone tried this? I had a braun hand blender years ago and never used it so I tossed it. Now I have to go buy something again. Did anyone try the magic bullet (:cheeky why does this remind me of a bedroom toy--oops sorry I know that is fresh but it does ). Is it any good? So many questions now that I have final realized I am doing this for real! I want to toot my horn a little because I am so proud of myself for hitting the gym 4 to 5 days a week for the past 5 weeks. I am up to 50 minutes on the elliptical and i am feeling really good. I was so freaked out about my "fatty liver" that I figured I better get my butt in gear before this surgery and I was hoping the workouts will help my recovery. Sorry to be all about myself today..hope everyone is well!!!!

BKwalling...hang in there. I agree that Atkins or the Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet would be really helpful to get off weight before the diet (assuming your surgeon does not have a particular diet plan for you). Best wishes. Beversman-I too always get stuck at 235. I think my last failry successful time was with SOuth Beach about 18 months ago I got down to 239..felt terrific and started to allow myself little indulgences. I got too comfortable and quickly gained the weight back. Bummer. I remember going from 198 to 180 or so the summer before I got pregnant with my first child. Then gaining some weight the month or so before the pregnancy...them BLAM! The weight came screaming on....:::: I look forward to a day when this is not all I think about. To be "normal" and not always think about weight, calories, points, carbs whatever...Just to know without really thinking what I am able to eat because my body needs fuel and not because I am looking for some crazy "fix"....Won't that be amazing.