So Ready!!!

I wish I had just kept down this path to start with, but I think I needed the couple of months on WW to realize this surgery is what I need to get healthy. 

I cannot wait for my dietitian appointment on Wednesday morning.  It's the first step to a better me!  I have so many questions for her:

1.  What if I loose too much weight in the 6 month program?
2.  What is the insurance company looking for out of this 6 month program?
3.  How do I prepare for surgery?
4.  What can I eat after surgery?
5.  Can I drink coffee (with splenda?)
6.   How does what I eat differ from gastric sleeve to the gastric bypass?

That is just some of the ones I can think of so far.  I really need to get a list together to bring! 

I've already submitted my letter of medical necessity to the insurance coordinator at the doctor's office.  All that's left is 6 month diet, and psych evaluation.  I have to admit...I am nervous that I will go through all of this and then the insurance company is going to deny me.  Completely unfounded, but it's an honest fear.

I'll update more after Wednesday morning's dietitian visit :)

Wow!

I was so sure that I gained weight this week.  I was ready to give up.  I was ready to just say - surgery is for me.  Then I sucked it up, went to my WW meeting..and....


0.6 MORE GONE!!!!!

It is going VERY slow - but it's going.  I've lost a total of 9.4 so far.  My hardest times are right after work, late at night, or if I'm bored.  I have to come up with solutions for thos times, but I'm a shrinking!

Hard Time

I feel like I ate out of control tonight. I am seeing that a lack of protien does that to me. I am frustrated and wondering if surgery is the way to go...

Amazing what excercise can do

Today I was tired.  I couldn't keep my eyes open during one meeting (it didn't help that the lights were turned off for it!)  and I couldn't seem to get enough coffee.  Over lunch, I lugged myself to the Y.  I checked in, took a bio break, and mosied (sp?) on over to the elliptical machine.  12 minutes later, I was really into it - great music helped me keep up my momentum.  30 minutes later I was no longer tired, but sweaty and energized.  I think a mid-day work out is just what the doctor ordered to keep me going throughout the work day.  It also helps my weight loss efforts and wallet (since I am doing something other than shopping).

Decisions

I made probably one of the most important and influential decisions of my life last week.  After stepping on the scale 4 weeks after joining Weight Watchers - I was excited and ecstatic to see I had lost a total of 8.2 pounds so far!!!  I am really enjoying the program - and have made the deicision to post-pone surgery indefinitely for now and continue on my Weight Watchers journey.

There are days that I find it hard.  There are days that I want to throw in the towel.  But I don't let myself.  I keep on pushing - and the results are astounding!  My goal right now is to get to the 10 pound mark.  When I do that, it will be a huge accomplishment for me.  After that - I would like to lose 5 more pounds - that will bring me to my 5% goal of 15 pounds lost.

This is a very slow process - but so was gaining the weight.  It took me 14 years to gain all this weight - and it is going to take me awhile to lose it.  But I am taking it one day at a time - and enjoying it actually!

It's a hard knock vacation...

It's a hard knock vacation...for me
It's a hard knock vacation...for me

In stead of eating home
WE eat out

Instead of Apples
WE eat crap

It's a hard knock vacation!

That's how I felt for some of the long Memorial day weekend.  For the most part, I did good.  We went to the Cheesecake Factory, and I enjoyed a great Weight Management Grilled Chicken dinner.  It was amazing.  Very tasty and only 7 Points Plus for 1/2 of it!  I packed up the 2nd 1/2 and ate it for lunch the next day.  The hard part was the rolls on the table and the hunger in my belly.  Next time, I may have to order a salad to fill me up while we wait.

The other hard part was the entire day on Sunday.  I went way off track at Friday's.  Ate appetizer, fully loaded wedge salad, and ice cream cake for dessert.

With all of that, I still stayed on plan though.  I still have 6 bonus points left for the week, and I don't plan to use them.  I got in some exercise in the pool, and playing in bounce houses with my niece and son.  All in all, I stayed true to myself.  I wasn't so strict, but I didn't go crazy.  I am very proud of myself for the vacation eating!!

I am very excited - this week, I should get my 5 pound star.  That was 20 sticks of butter off of my big old butt.

The Shrinkage Has Begun

Well I made it through week 1 rather successfully if I do say so myself.  Week 1 was a "Shrinking Week"!  Today I am down 3.6 pounds!!  Good bye forever, 300s!  I will never ever ever see a 3 on the scale in the first position again!  Go me..go me..go me!

I did find the week a bit challenging...especially when it came to crackers and dip (my biggest weakness I think).  But even with enjoying that in moderation, the weight has started to slough off of me.  I think I have tracking my intake, and starting to move more to thank for that. 

I have taken up evening strolls.  Nothing too strenuous.  Just a gentle stroll through the neighborhood with my family.  I found that I need to realize I am not 130 pounds.  I can't go for a jog.  I can't speed walk around the town.  But I will get there, and for now I will stroll - because at least I am moving.

This time is different.  I know it is.  Normally, after the first week things start to go downhill.  I nibble here, nibble there, don't track food...and before you know it, i'm 20 pounds heavier than when I started.  Well today somebody brought cookies into work.  I did have 2.  And that is fine.  It is fine because I wanted two more...but those two more are still sitting in the break room...instead of in my stomach!  I tracked the two cookies, and have moved on.  I am very pleased with myself for that.

My Theme Song

The wife jokingly said this should be my theme song.  I personally think it's perfect.

Bam...bam bam bam...bam bam bam...bam bam bammmmmmmmmmmm

Changes All Around

The blog name has changed.
My nerves have changed.
My life has changed.

Since I wrote my last post, I got some nerves about going through with this surgery. I decided that I needed to give things one last shot before I pushed forward with this route.

On June 12, 2011 my life changed. I picked myself up and brought myself into a Weight Watchers meeting. On the way there, I called my wife and asked her if she would support me in whatever weight loss path I choose to go down. She told me that I have her support in anything I do. That was the push I needed. I walked in and paid for my first week. I paid my $13 and got weighed in. 301.8 pounds *Gasp*. I took my materials and sat down (in the middle, not in the back for the first time). Low and behold, the meetings topic this week was "SUPPORT". How will I get support? Who will support me? How will they support me? This was a sign for me. I had just finished asking my wife for support, and here we were talking about it. It really got me motivated.

It's been 4.5 days since my first meeting. I have been struggling and thought of giving up already and just having the surgery. But I refuse. I found success stories, blogs, and message boards that contain individuals who have done this. I am going to join that elite group.

I have changed the name of my blog to "The Incredible Shrinking Jaime" because I think it fits. This journey will follow me shrinking down bit by bit. The title inspires me. Now I just need a theme song...

Appointments Scheduled!!

I am so excited. My primary phycisian is working on my "Letter of Necessity" and my "Script for WLS Nutrition Counseling". I have made my initial dietitian appointment: June 20th. I am about to call and make my psychological evaluation appointment (some time in October). Things are moving along and I cannot wait!!

***UPDATE***
Psych evaluation has been scheduled for November 5th :)

Heard Back from Insurance Company!!

I am on BCBS of TX through my employer. We finally heard back yesterday (fairly quickly actually, just under a week) on what our next steps are to be approved for the surgery:

1. Get a letter of necessity from my primary physician.
2. Follow a 6-month doctor led nutrition program (this is offered at Celebration Health - the location of our surgery).
3. Complete a psych evaluation.

Once I do those three things, the insurance company will provide their preauthorization.

After preauthorization is received, I have to complete these next steps:

1. Set up an appointment with a Celebration Health nurse to determine what clearances I need to complete.
2. Complete required clearances.
3. Set up appointment for pre-op.
4. Schedule SURGERY DATE!!!

I also found out that BCBS of TX DOES cover the gastric sleeve surgery. This is the route I have decided to take. With the sleeve gastrectomy AKA gastric sleeve, they staple and then remove ~ 80% of your stomach. This leaves a banana shaped "sleeve" which causes fullness faster. It also removes the portion of the stomach responsible for creation of a hormone (gherlin I think) that causes hunger and cravings.

I feel this procedure is best for me because I don't have to worry about malabsorption with being pregnant. All three types of surgery allow for healthier pregnancies, and there are ways around the malabsorption while pregnant, but for me, I feel better with the sleeve.

I am SO SO SO SO SO excited. I cannot wait to start feeling better. The journey has started :)

Quick Update

The doctor we went to SUCKED!! His office was messy - his staff was rude and unkempt - he seemed full of himself. We have decided to have a consultation elsewhere. Next Wednesday, we are attending an informational seminar at The Metabolic Medicine and Surgery Institute at The Florida Hospital in Celebration. Fingers crossed this one is better!

Unsure if anyone is reading this blog yet - but if there is anyone out there who has gone to this location, please post comments on your experiences!

***UPDATE***
I went to the seminar at The Metabolic Medicine and Surgery Institute at The Florida Hospital in Celebration. I feel so much more comfortable here. The staff was very helpful. The surgeon was knowledgeable and had a great bedside manner. He actually trains other surgeons how to perform his techniques. This is definitely the place for me to move forward on this journey.

First Step

For years I have been adamently against surgery to lose weight. I've hit the point that I am now not only against it, but excited about it. Today I take the first step towards my journey...I am meeting with the doctor for an initial consultation. I am excited and nervous - but mostly excited. I want to know everything that I need to know. Today starts the beginning of the rest of my life. Today starts the day that I become a better mother, wife, and me.

I will be posting again after we meet with the surgeon so that I can get everything documented before I forget anything.

Starter Post

Hi -

I am Jaime. And this blog is to document my journey from large to small with the assistance of bariatric surgery. I will write my background story in another blog at a time when I am not so exhausted. But for now, I just wanted to start the blog off.

My hope is to provide documentation of my journey for myself, in hopes of finding out more about me as I progress, as well as to offer first hand experience knowledge to other people out there who are considering this route.

I have my first consultation with a bariatric surgeon on Thursday, more details to come!