12 week Options Program starts tomorrow

lmth16 · March 2, 2015

Hi All,

Tomorrow will officially start my pre op journey. 12 weeks of classes through Kaiser's Options Program. I'm way more nervous then excited. Honestly, I'm not even 100% sure I want to have the surgery!!!

I thought this is what i wanted until I went to the orientation class last Friday. Now all the info given at the class I already knew, but I once again started thinking Why am I not doing this myself. I know I could lose the 100lbs that I need to. I guess the fear of relapsing keeps me at my current weight.

There is nothing more embarrassing then entering a room of friends & family who haven't seen you in a long time when you have gained a significant amount of weight.

Not that I couldn't relapse from having the VSG.

My brain is swirling. All I know is that I'm going to attend these 12 weeks of classes & in the end I'll make a decision either way. Afterword I'll have gained more knowledge & insight into who I really am!!!!!

Anyone else question is they should do the surgery?

ChaiTea · March 3, 2015

Hi there! I'm on Week 9 of the Options program with Kaiser. I know what you mean by running into people you haven't seen in a long time and you know the first thing they notice is how much bigger you are. Even worse when they can't help but mention it at some point which kills every inch of happiness you had to see them again.

At first I was sure I wanted surgery but as Kaiser was telling me about all the things that I couldn't have anymore post-op (not just food), I started having new fears and second thoughts. With the knowledge I've gained in the classes I've managed to lose 25lbs on my own and for a while I felt like I could do it without surgery. I've never lost this much weight on my own before so I set a goal for myself to lose a dress size before the classes ended. If I could do that I would let it determine if I would or wouldn't get the surgery.

I have been doing better than most of my classmates in adapting to the changes however I've been hitting several plateaus along the way and I've also fallen off the bandwagon a couple times in not taking the healthiest food option available to me for some meals. Though my exercise has increased significantly, it feels like it was all for nothing when I don't have lower numbers to report the next week. I'm probably being harsh on myself but it reminds me about how much easier it would be for me to give up and and go back to being what I've always been.

The only thing is that I don't want to continue being this way. I've been reading these forums and trying to draw strength to go through with it. I've also been watching tv shows to help me become more motivated about the idea of saying goodbye to several things I've gotten used to. I watch My 600lb Life on TLC and though those poeple are getting the RNY surgery they still have a much more difficult journey to make with even harder limitations. Just looking at the progress they make in less than a year has given me hope that I could do it too. So I look at my body in the mirror and tell myself that in a year I'll be thinner.

I still have my fears about leaving things behind, but rather than focus on them I try to look forward to the goals I've set. I try to look forward to having the body I want to have. I look forward to the improvement on my social life and not fearing people are judging me by my weight. I think about being able to buy smaller clothes and go to amusement parks without worrying that the seat belts won't fit. I try to fill my head with all the wonderful things to look forward to that come with my weight loss. All the pros seem to outweigh the cons and it's convinced me even more to go through with the surgery.

I'm still not 100% sure but at least now I can see better that everything that's scaring me in to wanting to say no are the things that's kept me being this big all these years.

Edited March 3, 2015 by ChaiTea

lmth16 · March 3, 2015

Hi there! I'm on Week 9 of the Options program with Kaiser. I know what you mean by running into people you haven't seen in a long time and you know the first thing they notice is how much bigger you are. Even worse when they can't help but mention it at some point which kills every inch of happiness you had to see them again.

At first I was sure I wanted surgery but as Kaiser was telling me about all the things that I couldn't have anymore post-op (not just food), I started having new fears and second thoughts. With the knowledge I've gained in the classes I've managed to lose 25lbs on my own and for a while I felt like I could do it without surgery. I've never lost this much weight on my own before so I set a goal for myself to lose a dress size before the classes ended. If I could do that I would let it determine if I would or wouldn't get the surgery.

I have been doing better than most of my classmates in adapting to the changes however I've been hitting several plateaus along the way and I've also fallen off the bandwagon a couple times in not taking the healthiest food option available to me for some meals. Though my exercise has increased significantly, it feels like it was all for nothing when I don't have lower numbers to report the next week. I'm probably being harsh on myself but it reminds me about how much easier it would be for me to give up and and go back to being what I've always been.

The only thing is that I don't want to continue being this way. I've been reading these forums and trying to draw strength to go through with it. I've also been watching tv shows to help me become more motivated about the idea of saying goodbye to several things I've gotten used to. I watch My 600lb Life on TLC and though those poeple are getting the RNY surgery they still have a much more difficult journey to make with even harder limitations. Just looking at the progress they make in less than a year has given me hope that I could do it too. So I look at my body in the mirror and tell myself that in a year I'll be thinner.

I still have my fears about leaving things behind, but rather than focus on them I try to look forward to the goals I've set. I try to look forward to having the body I want to have. I look forward to the improvement on my social life and not fearing people are judging me by my weight. I think about being able to buy smaller clothes and go to amusement parks without worrying that the seat belts won't fit. I try to fill my head with all the wonderful things to look forward to that come with my weight loss. All the pros seem to outweigh the cons and it's convinced me even more to go through with the surgery.

I'm still not 100% sure but at least now I can see better that everything that's scaring me in to wanting to say no are the things that's kept me being this big all these years.

Gosh you are so true!!!! I have some of the same fears. All the What Ifs?!!

The one thing I know for sure is that I'm going through with the 12 weeks. Gaining more knowledge is never a bad thing. Hopefully by the end I'll be ready to make that final decision.

Thank You so much for sharing your story with me.

Also are you in Nocal or SoCal going to meetings?

usagichan · March 4, 2015

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Edited March 7, 2015 by usagichan

lmth16 · March 4, 2015

Is this program the same as the two hour course with Kaiser? I signed up for the two hour course but I'm not sure if it's the equivalent or not?

Kaiser has a few courses. First you have to go to the orientation which is 1.5 hrs. Then the 12 week options program which are 1.5 hr classes also.

They do offer other weight loss related classes, but those don't involve the surgery aspect.

usagichan · March 4, 2015

Thanks for clarifying. I called and scheduled for the orientation.

ChaiTea · March 4, 2015

I'm going to meetings in SoCal. I definitely want to finish the classes too at least. I am in a one and a half hour class at night.

I don't have any glaring health problems that are complicated by my weight. My issues are primarily external. I fear regretting the surgery once it's done but at this point in my life, I kind of feel like if I don't do this, I'm committing to a life of being obese and all the social struggles that come with it.