DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT TODAY

Hello..I had an appointment today, weighed in at 207 this morning.  This is very exciting to me.  It's been effortless.  I have been on mushie food (sneaking in a couple of solids here and there very carefully).  I have been craving real food again.  I got the green light!  I am so excited.  I plan on eating fish and veggies and still trying to fit in my protein shakes (I am so sick of them!)  I looked online last night for creative ways to hide the protein.  I have a huge bag of vanilla and chocolate and I need to make sure that I use it so buying tasteless is not an option at this point.  My hubby told me to mix some vanilla in the vanilla pudding I was eating.  Not too bad..so I will need to be more aware of this each day.  I have mixed it in my morning coffee but it ends up so clumpy.  Any suggestions??

So at the doctor's appointment I had to confess that I have not done one ounce of exercise.  She chastised me for this.  I know I need to get moving if I want to see the scale move consistently.  I have been thinking about getting the Wii Fit back out.  I cannot find the disk for it.  I tore the house apart.  Game Stop has a used one for $4.99 so I will probably just replace it.  I have wasted more time looking.  I am also thinking about getting Wii Zumba.  I am intrigued by this.  Anyone out there use it yet?  Any other fun activity games to think about for this time of year?  I don't want the weather to be an excuse for not moving right now.

Hope everyone is doing well!  I am loving life right now!!!

Tracy

4 weeks since banding...

This morning the scale read 20 pounds down!!!  I am so excited.  I have also lost a combined total of 16 1/4 inches overall.  I feel so wonderful.  I do not know how I could have ever continued living my weighted down life without the band.  It feels so good to be lighter.  This was honestly the best decision that I have ever made.  I can feel the confidence building!

If you are following me can you please send me a link so I can be sure to follow you???  Also, please tell all your banded friends so I can have more followers.  I love this system of support!

Tracy
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Sitting in the hospital waiting room

Just a quick post while waiting for DH.  The steel plate on the bone in his leg snapped in half on Monday.  He has been in so much pain....decided finally to go to the doctor and found out what happened.  We have no idea how.....just know that now I sit and wait for him to be fixed up again. 

I still have not figured out how to plan ahead for meals.  I had a protein shake this morning before leaving for the hospital (still on mushie stage) and a small amount of chili from the hospital cafeteria around 11:30 a.m.  That's it.  I still don't have much of an appetite, but I know that I need to be getting my protein in.

I cannot wait to be back on normal foods again!!!

Tracy

Feeling more and more normal

Hello!  I have been extremely busy at work, but life feels like it's getting back to normal.  I haven't had much of an appetite, but that is changing slowly.  To date I am down 15 pounds and feeling the inches come off too.  It's a nice feeling.  What's really nice is not having the urge to gorge myself any longer.  I know that this is going to be an awesome tool for me!  So excited that I made this change in my life.

Tracy

Post-op Visit

Just a little update about - ME!  I have survived.  I got past the gas pains  - HURRAY!!!  I have had such a busy week.  I mentioned I was banded on Wednesday - we took off on Friday to my son's basketball tournament.  That was interesting.  I have not shared the news about my banding with anyone except my DH and my mom.  I just told everyone that I had been suffering from the flu.  I just took my blender and made my smoothies and lived on soup.  It was so hard.  Then on Sunday when we came home I had to attend my son's football banquet.  Dinner was served.  PRIME RIB DINNER!  I love prime rib.  I didn't eat.  I was just there for the ceramonies.  I told everyone that I had stopped eating red meat.  I felt like a snob, but who cares.  This is about me - not anyone else!  I am so aware now how food is shoved at you.  We all connect through food, don't we.  I have used food as a crutch for all my life.  Monday and Tuesday I had an out of town meeting for work - no access to my food.  Yikes!  We went to lunch each day- mexican buffet.  I would have been in heaven pre-banding.  I stuck to refried beans.  At this point I was supposed to be on liquids, but I didn't think mushies would kill me a couple days early.  Man oh man - you can feel it.  Liquid goes right through the band.  Mushies kind of just hang out. 

Went into the doctor yesterday for my post-op visit.  She put me on mushies.  I learned that I had eaten too many refried beans.  She is telling me small 2oz portions of food at baby food consistency.  I was kind of bummed about that!  AFter another week I can move up to 4oz portions.  Is this really enough food?  I can supplement with protein shakes in between.  Obviously I have some head work to do.  The thought of so little food is killing me.  I was always the kind of person that planned out my next eating session, during an eating session.....so I have some work ahead of me.

Last night DH pureed some spaghetti for me.  It tasted good but I wasn't happy about the choice of food.  I don't think it was a protein friendly meal.  He was so proud to have helped me so I let it slide this time.  Afterwards I showed him that the doctor's recommendations state that we should avoid pasta and rice. 

Today I had a scrambled egg with a little bit of cheese and pureed tuna fish for lunch.  Not too happy with that.  I just cannot get over the texture.  Am I overdoing this whole puree thing? 

Good news....I am down 10 pounds!  Yay!  That's really a nice feeling.  This is the same 10 pounds I lost last winter and then put back on.  I cannot wait to keep watching the scale move!

Hope everyone is well ......off to another basketball game!!!

Tracy

I'm banded!

Wednesday was the day.  I had to wait quite awhile for the doctor, she got behind.  But it's done!

I am experiencing a lot of gas pains.  Today is a lot better than yesterday was.  I really don't know what to do with myself just yet.  I am not really hungry, but I know that I need to be providing my body with something.  I have just been sipping on protein shakes and water and chicken broth. 

Today I came back to work.  Just for a partial day.  I have to take my son's basketball team to Reno for tournaments today and tomorrow.  I am a little bit worried about how I will do with being out of town.  I packed up my little blender and have lots of broth and water....I am sure I will be just fine.

I really just want to feel normal again.  I don't feel bad, just feel different.  I am excited though!  Pre-surgery weight was 224.  Today I was 221.  Hurray!!!

Everyone take care and I will post more when I am feeling a little more up to it.

Tracy

Tomorrow is the day!

It's finally arrived.  Tomorrow is banding day.  By this time tomorrow, my new journey will have begun.  I am excited and nervous all rolled up into one!

Tracy

Shopping for liquids

With banding date right around the corner, DH and I decided to hit the stores today for liquid diet stuff. Any good ideas beyond protein shakes, broth, and jello?

Heading out to find some sort of portable mixer/blender for protein shakes too. Banding date is Wednesday. My son has an out of town high school basketball tournament Friday and Saturday. Yep folks, that's how our life rolls. Always on the go! Not quite sure how I am going to explain the liquid diet to the other parents. Nobody knows about the band! Also the tournament is in Reno, land of the endless buffet! I am sure I won't be bothered by the food so close to surgery date. I hope I'm right! New mindset now, right?

3 more sleeps until the banding begins!

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~Black Friday~

Today my hubby and I woke up at 2 a.m. to join the other crazies at Best Buy and Target.  It was soooo cold waiting in those lines and inside the stores was a chaotic site.  Lots of fun though.  We both love to watch people and found that there was plenty of entertainment to be had today. 

Thanksgiving

My last mindless eating Thanksgiving...time to focus on what I am really thankful for.  I am thankful for my husband and my kids (even though they don't act like they like me most of the time!) and my mom and sister. 

I had a wonderful day with my family today - lots of down time in our comfy clothes playing fun games around the table.  Happy memories!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. 

6 more sleeps until my journey begins!

What an ordeal....

I made the decision to check into banding in September 2010.  I have dealt with weight my entire life!  I just want something else to think about.  I don't like having to worry about my health.  I turned 40 this year and I am finding it more and more difficult to take the weight off.  I have tried it all; Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers (more times than I can remember), Diet Center, cabbage soup diet, liquid diets, gym memberships, yada yada yada....you know the routine.  If you are overweight, you have been right there with me. 

I was on a trip in Southern California this last summer and saw several billboards for Lap Band Surgery.  I really had a revalation - I wondered if that was perhaps the right move for me.  My sister had gastric bypass surgery about 5 years ago.  She was successful with it - 145 pounds lost, several sizes lost.  I just was afraid of going that route.  I personally feel that the procedure is too evasive for me.  That is a major change to one's body.  Although her weightloss was quick, she has not changed her eating habits.  She has put back on about 30 pounds, but still looks great and I am sure her internal organs are thankful!!  Anyway...back to me.  I am not looking for a quick fix.  I just need help.  After dieting my entire life I just need an end.  I can lose the weight - I cannot keep the weight off.  I usually end up gaining it back, and more.  I know that I have a lot of work ahead of me.  I have a wonderful, supportive husband to help me every step of the way.  He is my biggest cheerleader.  He loves me the way I am right now!  I love that about him so much!  He is the best husband and human being on this entire planet.  I thank God for him every day!

I haven't had my "ah ha" moment yet.  I do not know why I am overweight.  I do know that I love to eat!  I eat like a man!  I love food.  This will be tough for me.  I am going to have to make some serious mental changes. 

Back to the start of my journey...Seminar in September 2010.  I never figured that my insurance would cover this expense but I was pleasantly surprised.  First consultation October 2010.  I told the doctor that I wanted to go for it.  Found out last night that I will be banded NEXT WEEK!!  Wow!  I cannot believe this is actually happening.  I am so excited to begin this adventure.