slowly but surely......

It's a slow process but I will take it! I've now lost 24lbs since surgery, October 17, and I can't begin to tell you how much better I feel! I can feel the restriction somewhat. I've learned that you must chew, chew, chew, or you will be sick!!! When you have food stuck, all I can say is it hurts like HELL! You can't breathe and there is nothing that will make it go down... and when you are full, STOP!!! If you don't, well all I can say is to have a trash can nearby... liquid or food... doesn't matter..... it's coming back up! I can't seem to get off my sweet kick. I've never liked sweets before so me wanting bite size snickers is very unusual... but oh so good!

Sorry this post is a "ramble" but there is just not much to report. I'm hoping that when I go back to Dr. Babineau's office on January 6, I will have lost 30lbs..... Gotta keep the faith!!! I will survive....

Thanksgiving and My "1st" Fill.... Oh my....

So... We left out on an American Airlines flight Wednesday afternoon headed to Ruidoso, New Mexico to spend Thanksgiving with my brother, his wife Terry, and her family. What a great time we had. We spent Thanksgiving preparing a "feast" and then went to her grandparents for an afternoon lunch. (They also own a house there) I can honestly say that I did not over eat at all. I had a small plate of food and sampled everything. Damn it was good!!! After eating we watched the Cowboys game and played games. Friday all the boys headed out to the golf course for a full days round of golf... while of course the girls shopped and ate mexican food. On Saturday, Allen and I drove up the mountain to check out the ski slopes... I was very disappointed b/c they had not received any snow so everything was man made... What a bummer!!! After that, we went out to the golf course to meet the rest of the gang and just watched as they played golf, again! Thanks goes out to the Carson's for a great time!!!!

I went for my first fill today @ Dr. Babineau's office. I found out that I have a standard 10cc band. At the time of surgery, I started out with 2.3cc of fluid and so today they put in 2cc more. They said that I may not feel any restriction at first, but should in the next 2 weeks or so. I'm so ready for the "extra body" to start melting away. As of today, I've lost 19 lbs. I have to say that's not so bad for 6 weeks... wish it was more so I guess I will have to work a little harder. I will leave you with some random pictures from our Thanksgiving trip... till next time....

Struggling!!!

Everyone thinks just because you've had lap band surgery, it's the easy way out... That is so FALSE!!! It's just a tool to help you lose weight. I still have to do my part. Exercise, eat right, etc... And let me tell you... The eating right part is a fight. I still find myself eating things that I probably shouldn't. (like a hostess cupcake last night... and I HATE chocolate) What I do find is that if I don't eat much, I don't lose any weight. When I do eat, regardless of what goes in my mouth, I lose weight. CRAZY!!! So for all the people that think if you have weight loss surgery you are cheating or lazy, you are so wrong...

Okay.. so I've been walking which I don't think is enough. I'm headed back to Parkway to start working out and hopefully running again. Even though I would bitch before I would run in the past, you feel great afterwards and look amazing. I know I need to do more exercise and quit making excuses because of the time change.

We are flying to Riudoso, NM next week for Thanksgiving with my brother and sister in law. Her family owns a house there. We were planning on skiing but since there has been no snow, looks like the boys will be golfing and we will be shopping. (Their house is on the golf course.. Her parents and grandparents will also be there) I'm having a hard time dealing with being away from our family on Thanksgiving. I don't think I could do it again. So I get to eat a big Thanksgiving dinner next week and then that following Monday I head to Dr. Babineau's office for my first fill. For all of you that don't know what that is... they stick a needle in your stomach into your "port" and inject saline that moves into the "band" around the stomach to create more restriction so you eat less!! Sorry... That was a run on sentence!

So... I will try to post a before picture and where I am now... maybe next week or after Thanksgiving. I did the "crazy" bikini shots the night before surgery but will wait until all this extra "body" has disappeared to show you them vs the future.

Hope everyone has a Happy Turkey Day!!!

Long time....

I had my first post op appointment.... At that time I'd lost 13 lbs but have now lost close to 20 lbs... It's such a struggle. I feel as though I can still eat so much, whatever I want, and don't know when to stop. I hope that when I go for my first fill, Dec 1, that it will all change. I know that I am doing "okay" since I am losing weight which they don't expect you to do during the first six weeks. I've gotta quit eating bread b/c I know that is a down fall. Hopefully I will try to post more often. Can't seem to sit down and make time for this thing... What a reward and eye opener it will be in the end!

Oh, my....

I know it's been days since the last post. Let me catch you up.... I had surgery Friday the 17th in Tyler. Allen and I went over early and did a little shopping since the surgery wasn't until 2:30 pm. If I am not mistaken, I think it started around 4ish. Wasn't bad at all. Not that I remember. They sent us home that same night so we got home around 8:30ish. But today is Tuesday the 21st and I am just not starting to feel better. I think in the last 3 days I've only had 12 hours of sleep. The gas pains were horrible. They made my back and shoulders hurt as if I had been moving heavy boxes for a week. I tried everything to alleviate the discomfort. Pain pills, Gas X, walking...... you name it, I tried it. Most of it has subsided now although I get a few sharp stabs of it periodically through the day. I haven't been able to eat much. Apple sauce, pudding, jello, apple juice, protein shakes, and water. I am toooo afraid of eating too much and getting sick. Hopefully this will all pan out and I will be fine by the weekend. I am ready to exercise, eat right, and drop this excess weight!

Nerves....

I think that I am finally getting nervous about this whole thing. This morning I had myself so psyched up and so nauseated! I don't want to be a failure at this thing and that being said, I will give it 150%! I am very determined to lose this excess "body" and start living a healthy lifestyle..... Bring on the running shoes....

Pre Op Appointments

I went today for both pre op appointments. Had to go to TMF to do the hospital portion and then Dr. Babineau's office. They gave me all the specifics about what to do from now until the surgery and what to do after the surgery. I am looking forward to October 17 but nervous at the same time. I have to do an all liquid clear diet the day before surgery and can't have anything after midnight on the 16th. I don't think surgery day can get here quick enough!!

Starting Over

I can't ever really remember a time that I was a "normal" weight and "healthy." I have finally gotten to a place in my life where I am "uncomfortable" and don't enjoy going and doing things. I now know that I must make a change in my life so that I become a healthier person and began to live life to the fullest once again.

I began researching lap band surgery several months ago. I finally have a surgery date of October 17, 2008 in Tyler, Texas with Dr. Hugh Babineau. I cannot wait to begin this process. Through this blog, I want to be the "eyes" of people so that they can follow my journey and the changes that I will be making!

At this time, I currently weigh 246 lbs and am 5'6 tall. I hope to lose close to 100 lbs.