I'm Stuck :(

Well... Today it has been 7 week since my surgery. Last week when I updated I was down 32 pounds, and today, I am STILL down 32 pounds. Its extremely depressing... I know that I need a fill, but I have been trying to be very careful not to eat too much. Maybe its just a lil platuea, but I do not really like it! I went to my first support group thingy on monday night and that was good. I met a few girls that had the same surgery I had, and 2 out of 3 had been very succesful. One of the girls had lost 160 pounds in like a year and a half. THAT is what I want...One ladies story was discouraging though, and I wanted to tell her to stop talking lol. Her band has a leak in it, and in 2 years, she had only lost 78 pounds. The doc that spoke said repairing her band would be a more difficult surgery that the original placement of the band. Right at that moment I said a lil prayer that the Lord would keep his hand on my band LOL. And of course, with my recent lack of weight loss, my imagination went to the worst possible scenario and I starting freaking out. Anyways, next wednesday can't arrive soon enough. I was even thinking about going back on all protien shakes again to get some more weight off, but the shakes kill me... they arent as delicious as I had originally thought.
Well, thats the latest update for now... not super exciting I know... but Its just life! I will try to update again in the next week or so.

Update.... ( I gotta think of more exciting titles lol)

Well... Tomorrow will be 6 weeks since my surgery, and two weeks since my fill. Thing have been going good since the fill. I was able to eat finally, and that was a great day! I couldn't eat very much, and I was so scared about choking, or something, but nothing like that has come close to happening. I noticed right away that I felt like I was able to eat more than I should be. I also noticed that I was hungry a few hours after eating. From what the doctor told me, these are both signs that I might need an adjustment. Of course, I do not allow myself to eat more than I should. I am very careful about watching my portion sizes, because I am so scared that I will gain weight. I called the nurse about my concerns, and I have an appointment for an adjustment on the 17th. She told me that in the meantime, I should drink a shake between meals if I am super hungry. Once again, I'm scared that I'm going to gain, so I haven't been having the shakes between meals. I have dealt with the feeling of hunger for so many weeks that I can handle it LOL. Yesterday I had to have a post-op upper GI and that was interesting. Of course the stuff they make you drink is REALLY bad... but I was able to see the x-ray and actually see the band around my stomach. Its nice to know that after all this, the band really is in there! lol...As of a few days ago, I have lost 32 pounds... so that's a good thing!.......... I know that it would appear from my blog that I have nothing else going on in my life but just living the life of the lap-banded girl... and although getting used to this new life does consume me, there are other things going on. This week is my break from school, and next week I will start my LAST summer session. I will be graduating next spring, and that is super exciting! I saw pics from the graduation that was a few weeks ago, and seeing all my friends that I have been going to school with in their caps and gowns made me even more excited! Lets see what else is going on... of course my little love, Jack is still very much in my life. Next weekend he and I will be spending some quality time with him. I haven't been able to have him since my surgery, because he weighs just a touch over 15 lbs LOL... but I am looking forward to having him for the weekend. My BFF Kristy just found out that she is having a baby boy.... We were all very excited, and shocked, because we were all under the impression that the baby was "100% a girl" That is what her doc said, but the ultra sound a few weeks ago proved very clearly that this baby is going to be a boy. She is due at the very end of August, and it cant come soon enough! I cant wait to hold that little guy in my arms :) Anyways, that's about it for now.... I am going to post a pic soon... I promise! Take care everyone... and I appreciate every one's comments and encouragement... they are much needed and appreciated!!

Lap- Band Update- My first fill!

Well today it is 4 weeks since my surgery. Up until now I have been on liquids/mushy foods which has been the trial of the last six weeks. These last two weeks have been really hard to stay faithful to the "mushy foods" rule because I feel so "normal" and I want to eat! Today was my first "fill" Up until today the band around my stomach was empty, so my stomach was not restricted making me be able to eat less. The doctor accessed the port on my stomach with a needle and injected about 2 cc's of saline to "inflate" the band. This constricted my stomach and now I will only be able to eat very small portions. When he was filling my band he had me drink water and I needed to tell him when I felt too restricted. I didn't know how I was going to be able to tell, but man, it was easy to tell! When I had too much, it kinda felt like it was backing up in my throat, but since it was just water, after a few seconds it went down. He let a little saline out and then I could feel the water going down, but it wasn't backing up. He said he thought that would be a good spot for me and I would have a good amount of restriction. I am on liquids for the next two days, then on to mushy for a few days. If all that goes well I can start eating again in about 4 days. I cant wait for that! I told my mom I want a big BBQ on memorial day LOL. I will be able to eat only a few bites, but it will be worth it to not have to be sipping on a protein shake while everyone else indulges! As of today, I have lost 27 pounds! That was encouraging. According to my calculations, I had lost 23, but when they weighed me today she said nope, 27! I am excited that I can start working out now, and get back to my regular life somewhat. I know I haven't updated as often as I wanted to, but I have tried to hit all the major landmarks. I will keep you posted on how I do with this fill, and how the weight loss progresses.

P.S. I am attaching some pics of the whole process. The first few are kinda graphic for those scared of needles LOL. The others are me my doc...

One Week Post-Op

I'm so sorry that I have not updated anything since my surgery! Face book has become my favorite past time and I have neglected my blog terribly! I know that the last time I updated I was just going into my pre-op diet. That went pretty well, after the first 5 days. Those first days were miserable for many different reasons that I will not divulge to you. After those days, I guess my stomach shrunk, and although I reallly wanted to eat, I wasn't miserably hungry. On the day of my surgery, last Wednesday the 22Nd, I had lost 13 pounds! So for all of you that are looking for a good diet... The liquid diet sure works! lol... Anyways, the surgery went well, the nurses were angels and I was home by 3 that afternoon. I had a few bad days after that because the pain was pretty bad. Most of my pain in the first day or two came from the CO2 gas they put in my body during the surgery. It affected my back and shoulders alot. I tried to come back to work on Tuesday, and that didn't really work out too well. I was just wiped out. Yesterday was my first full day at work, and I did OK. By the end of the day I was really tired though. I am still on the liquid diet, and I didn't really get my appetite back until Sunday, so i was a little weak. My band is empty right now. I will go to the doc on the 20th of May for my first fill. After that I should be able to eat regular food, and I cant wait! I am realllllly hungry these days, and the shakes are killing me! I weighed on Tuesday morning and I have lost another 3 pounds, so its minus 16! I promise that I will update more often... and I am going to start taking pics of my progress. I expect that after my fill on the 20Th I will be able to get back to my regular life of eating people food, and going to the gym. I know that will speed up the weight loss process. I'm so happy that I did this, and just pray that these next weeks of liquid/mushy foods will go by quick! Thank you all for your prayers and concerns over the last week. It has really meant alot to me!! Ta Ta for now!

Day one of the pre-op diet

Well... Its about noon. This morning was the first day of my pre-op liquid diet. I have to be on this diet for the next two week prior to my surgery. This morning I had a really yummy protein shake with blended strawberries in it and I felt great! Its about noon, and I just felt the first of many stomach growlings. I think by this afternoon the reality of what I just signed up for is going to hit me like a ton of bricks when I'm starving. I had an appt with the Doc who will be preforming my surgery today, and he was really great. I brought my parents because I want them to feel good about this too, and he really took alot of time with us to discuss and answer any questions that any of us may have had. I think my dad might be doing a little better with this whole procedure. And, when he sees my progress, I think he will be even more in favor of it, and hopefully do it himself one day! I had my first weigh in today, and they even took a before picture of me. I'm sure it looked gross, but they didn't let me see it lol. Anyway, surgery is scheduled for the 22nd, and it cant come soon enough!I have attached a pic of what they will actually be doing to me, and you can visit my Dr's website at http://www.westernbariatric.com/ to learn more about it all. I will keep you posted over the next week weeks... if i have the strength to type... jk... On that note, I think I am about to go enjoy a delicious protein shake to take the edge off!

Saturday Morning Reflection

Well... its Saturday morning... I'm sitting in bed with a cup of coffee... and I'm content! I wish I could do this every morning. Typically I sleep until the last second and then bolt out of bed and get ready real quick and leave. Anyway, I was just sitting here reflecting on the last few days... and on the days to come. I cant believe I am going to have this lap band surgery in like 19 days. Last night I watched this video about the surgery. It told me what to expect before, during, and after the surgery. It was very interesting. I didn't get scared when I was watching it even though they talk alot about the risks involved. Thank God, I am a pretty healthy person, for being a chubby girl :). Being the chubby girl has been a life long struggle for me. Its in my genes... my whole family is overweight, except for my mom that is! I have been thinking... My brother and I both ONLY look like our dad... its like my mom wasn't even involved in us...but maybe, just maybe... underneath the chubbiness is a little woman like my mom! Time will tell! The research I have done says that I should lose about 2 pounds a week for the first year. According to my calculations that would be about 120 pounds in the first year... now THAT is exciting. I remember a few years ago, I lost 65 pounds on nutri-system. I cant tell you how good I felt! Now, I have gained about 20 of that back, which is just sick, but it seems like I will lose that pretty quick seeing that I will not be eating solid foods for about 6 weeks starting this Wednesday. I am going to attach my before and after pics from when I lost the weight on nutri-system just so you can get a little preview... I'm just excited! Please pray for me. I know this first two weeks especially is going to be super hard. I went to Costco last night and stocked up on protein powder, juice, jello and broth.... mmmm yummy LOL.... Anyways, Have a great day... Ill post again after my appointment with the doctor on Wednesday!

Some exciting news :)

OK, so some of you may know this, and some may not. On April 22Nd, I will be having lap band surgery. I am really excited about this journey I am about to go on! Ya, I will have some pretty rough days ahead of me for the next month or so when I am pretty much on a liquid diet, but in the end, I am going to be healthier, and hopefully a little cuter too ;) I am going to use this blog as a sort of journal so that all my family and friends can keep up with my progress. I will be starting the pre-surgery diet on April 8th, and on that day I am going to weigh myself ( of course that's top secret information :) And then I will take a before pic that I will post. I will try to update about once every few weeks to let you all know how I am doing and show you the progress I am making. Just thinking about it right now gets me all excited. The skinny girl inside me is just dying to get out LOL... Anyways, pray for me.... and I will keep you posted.. :)