Hair Loss!

Hair brings one's self-image into focus; it is vanity's proving ground.  Hair is terribly personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices.  ~Shana Alexander


I am now 4 months post-op and I have dealt with stall's and now I am experiencing  hair loss.  I have read on other blogs about hair loss and have seen the endless posts on WLS Facebook groups about it. It started about 3 weeks ago and it was not just a little bit, it would fall out in handfuls. I freaked out when it first started and I even cried. As my hair continued to come out I started noticing how thin it was getting in the front. I became very self conscious about it.  Hair loss is just one of the side effects from having WLS! It isn't preventable it is just one of those things. While you are on your pre-op all liquid diet you aren't getting all the nutrients your body requires. I was also on a clear liquid only diet for the first 3 weeks post-op and I know I was not getting the protein I needed since I wasn't allowed to have protein shakes. It is now catching up to me but it will grow back.

 I was so stressed out from the clumps of hair I would lose on a daily basis and it was making me depressed. So I decided it was time for a new look. I went to my favorite hair salon "Scissorhands' where my fabulous hair stylists works. Monique is the bomb and always makes me feel beautiful!

I went from a very light blonde to a nice dark brown and she cut some nice thick bangs to cover the thinness in the front. It was a drastic change but I love it!

I am now taking Biotin 2x a day , I upped my protein to 80 grams a day, and I started using Nioxin  shampoo and conditioner all in hopes of kick starting my hair growth. Non of these products will stop the hair loss it will just help with the new growth! My advice is to start taking the Biotin before surgery it may not keep you from having hair loss but it should make it minimal. Also I can't say it enough protein, protein, protein!

My new friend instagram!

So I have been hooked on instagram lately and have found some great WLS patients that are going through the same experiences as me. It is so nice to see such brave men and woman share their WLS journey through photo's.

There was one photo that stood out to me and actually brought tears to my eyes. Her name is Tina aka rocktheshade (That's her instagram handle). I just searched #wls and her photo popped up. It was a split screen of half of her body before surgery and the other half after losing 320lbs with the help of gastric bypass and a lot of hard work. It was truly inspirational. I was having an emotional day and this photo just showed me that it takes time and a lot of hard work to get to your goal weight. You don't just wake up after surgery skinny!! I highly recommend following her on instagram you will be amazed by her transformation and all of the things she went through to get to where she is today. Here is the link to rocktheshade's  instagram page http://instagram.com/rocktheshade .

I also found this really cool website thanks to some instagramers. It is called I lost what? http://ilostwhat.com/  You just type in your first name and the amount of weight you have lost and it compares that weight to everyday items such as tires, phonebooks, and even dimes. It definitely put's things into perspective.  Here is my ilostwhat picture:

Learning to Love Exercise....

Not so long ago I would cringe just thinking about exercising. Why would I want to get up off my comfy couch and have to put down my can of soda? This is the thinking that got me to where I weighed 345lbs. I was lazy and depressed and my way of dealing with it was to do absolutely nothing. Sure I would get to a point where I would get on my treadmill and try to eat healthy. That lasted a week or two at a time and quickly my treadmill would be back to collecting dust and only get used by hanging clothes on it. I felt I was a lost cause and why bother? Then one day that all changed and I realized the path I was going down was going to lead to an early death. Now fast forward three months and here I am after having the Gastric Sleeve surgery 65 pounds gone and I turned my whole life around. I couldn't go back to the way things were just a short time ago!

I embraced change and now I love to workout and get my sweat on! I am still a beginner and am learning my way into this world of healthy living. I found some really great video's on YouTube. You just have to find what you enjoy. Like I have mentioned in the past I love to swim and workout in the pool. When I am in waist deep water I run from one side of the pool to the other and you feel your calves burn, I also swim laps, and just lean on the wall and kick my legs until I can't anymore. I also enjoy racing my 13 year old son and now I can even beat him. 

Working out is just a daily part of my life now and I am enjoying every minute of it! This is a picture of me after I did my new favorite treadmill workout. I will post the workout video below it.

 

Come on get off your couch and get healthy!

 



 

 

3 Month Post-Op

So Yesterday was the 4th of July and not only was I celebrating our independence but I was celebrating my 3 month " Surgiversary ". I am now 63 lbs down and I am very proud of how far I have come. I also realize I still have a little over a 100 lbs to lose before I meet my goal.  I have a long road ahead of me but I will get to where I want to be!



Below is a side by side picture of me. On the left is me at 317 lbs, it was taken just a day before my surgery and to your right is a current picture of me at 282 lbs.

Catching Up....

Summer is here and is a very busy time in my household. Not only do I have my teen and toddler but I nanny three other school age children during the summer months. When I am not taking the kids to the pool, zoo, park, indoor bounce house, water days in the back yard, I am trying to catch up on house work (mostly laundry since it is never ending). The busy life of a stay at home Mom! So please forgive me for not posting more often.

July 4th will be 3 months post op for me. I can't believe how fast the weeks have flown by. I am proud to say that as of today I am down 61 pounds since the start of my journey. The weight loss has slowed down. I lose a pound to 2 1/2 pounds a week now. I know that it is due to the fact that I am not working out like I should. I could go on and say I am so busy with the kids, but there is no excuse for not sucking it up and taking an hour a day to work out. I have to get myself back on track even if I am exhausted from a busy day I just have to do it. After I am done catching you up to speed I am going to get on my treadmill!!

Adjusting to my new sleeved life has been fairly easy. I am using my fitness pal to help track my food, protein, and water intake. Water is still a daily struggle though but everyday it is getting better. I am enjoying trying all these new high protein low fat recipes that I have been finding online. My Pinterest  board "Healthy Eats" is overloaded with them. My family is also loving the healthy meals I have been cooking. Life is good and I am learning the in's and out's of my sleeve. If you are thinking about WLS let me just tell you it is the best decision I have ever made and I wish I would have done it sooner.

Short and Sweet.....

I know that it has been several weeks since I posted anything. I was sick for two weeks and then my toddler caught my cold, double ear infection, and one of those childhood viruses at the same time. So after a few doctor visits and some antibiotics we are both feeling better.

I wasn't able to really work out during all of this. I was up most nights with my toddler and during the day I was exhausted. I did however stick to my diet and made sure to push the fluids. I thought for sure I would drop zero weight so I refrained from weighing myself until just this week. I dreaded stepping on the scale in fear of A) not losing anything or B) gaining weight. I was pleasantly surprised that I lost 6 lbs with little exercise. Then I got upset and thought if I would have worked out more then I could have lost more. But instead of getting into a bad head space I just relished the thought of dropping those 6 lbs. My surgeon said my weight loss would start to slow down and I would only lose 8 to 10 pounds a month. I can live with that!!

As a sleever it is so important to eat well, drink our 60oz of water, and to get our work out on. But sometimes life just happens and you get off schedule for a bit. Don't feel bad or disappointed in yourself just dust yourself off and get back on track!!

 

1 Month Post-Op Life

So  I hit my 1 month mark as a 'Sleever" and I am starting to feel like a normal person again. My energy level is up and I am able to start eating soft food such as (shredded chicken, scrambled egg, cottage cheese, and Greek yogurt). Getting in my 60 ounces of water is still a daily challenge but I am doing better. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to take a bite of chicken after being on liquids for 5 weeks (2 weeks pre-op 3 weeks post-op). But after three bites of that chicken I was full and that was a very weird but exciting experience. Food no longer has control of me and I only intend on eating healthy and nutritious food that my body needs.

I also started exercising and that has really helped with my energy and overall mood. I walk for 30 minutes in the morning and later when my 2 year old naps I either do Lisa Whelchel's Everyday Workout for the Everyday Woman, or I go on Youtube and get my blood pumping with Denise Austin: Fat-Blasting Cardio Walking Workout- Beginner. I am not the most coordinated person in the world but these two woman make it easy for me to follow them and to keep up. The one thing I cannot wait for is to be given the green light from my surgeon to start swimming again. Swimming works out your entire body, burns calories, it is easy on your joints and most importantly it is so much fun!  I had to order a new swim suit since my old one is now to loose. Sadly it is the top that is really loose. It is always the boobs that go first when you start to lose weight (boo).

It is such a great feeling when your clothes start to get big on you and you can fit into a size smaller shirt. I went from a 4x to a 3x-2x and a size 26 pants to a size 24. Let me tell you how happy I was to be able to zip up my pair of size 24 pants that haven't seen the light of day since I got pregnant back in 2011. All the up's and down's of going through this surgery is really paying off and I couldn't be happier with the way things are going.

I want to leave you with a headshot of me. The picture on the left was taken at my highest weight which was 345 lbs just this past February. The picture on the right was taken just this week and my weight is 301 lbs. It is not easy for me to post my weight since it is very embarrassing and I am really pissed at myself for letting my weight get so out of control. But I am on my way to dropping all this weight and leading a happier healthier life!!

The Dreaded 3 Week Stall

I was hoping that the "3 Week Stall" was a myth, but here I am standing on my scale that has not moved since last Thursday.

I have read countless comments on WLS support groups about weight loss stalls. Let me tell you it really is heartbreaking and discouraging. Everyday somebody asks "How much weight did you lose this week?". I have to say "None" and they look at me sideways. Yes I am following my diet and exercise plan to the letter.

I have a protein shake in the morning followed by water, water, and some more water. I then go for a nice 30 minute walk. Lunch I have about 6 to 7 bites of tomato soup and drink more water until I have a light yogurt in the late afternoon. I had a scrambled egg for dinner and was only able to eat about 4 bites of that before I became full. So why the stall? Many people say it is because we dropped a lot of weight quickly in the beginning and now with getting in so few calories are body goes into starvation mode and clings onto everything it can. It isn't supposed to last long. Maybe this is true I really don't know. I am just going to stick to my plan and maybe kick up my exercise routine to jump start my metabolism.

I am feeling better and my energy level is starting to rise. I take my little guy for morning walks he makes it a few blocks before he climbs into the jogging stroller. It is a great way to spend some quality time with him looking at trees and the cranes, even some brave squirrels that come up looking for treats. I really can't wait until I am given the ok to start swimming again. It is starting to warm up into the 80's and the pool is calling my name.

If you have experienced a stall please leave a comment and tell me all about it. I am in need of some support while trying to get over this hurdle.

2 weeks post-op

I had a small set back going into my second week post-op. I started to run a fever, headaches and was feeling so fatigued. I called my surgeon and let him know how I was feeling. He was very concerned and asked if I had any other symptoms and I said no. I was put on 7 days of liquid antibiotics and was told to take it easy. I got in a little trouble after I told my surgeon that a few days prior to getting sick that I was out running errands and hitting up Target. I guess it was to much to soon and since I was on a clear liquid diet and was getting in very little calories, my body just got worn out. Lesson learned!

After a couple of days resting and taking it easy I started to feel better and have some energy. It is hard being stuck in your house all day and not really allowed to do much. I am a stay at home Mom and I am used to running errands and taking trips to the park. So being told to take baby steps is hard for me. I feel like one of those Disney princesses trapped in a tower. My best friend Cherokee did come for a visit and she brought goodies (sugar free ice pops, and some gossip magazines). I haven't seen her for a few weeks and she noticed my weight loss as soon as she walked in the door. It felt good to see her face and for her to be able to see some changes in my weight!

 

 

 

Three great things did happen at my 2 week doctor appointment. 1) I was cleared to be able to pickup my toddler. 2) I lost another 7lbs. and 3) I am finally able to eat blended soups, and yogurt!

 

So the first thing I did when I left my surgeons office was go across the street to Panera Bread and order a bowl of broccoli and cheese soup and a bowl of chicken noodle. I got home and poured the broccoli and cheese in my Nutribullet and gave it a good whirl. I took about 4 bites and was completely full. I was happy but it is a very strange feeling to be full after just four bites. I still don't get hungry I mean I don't have hunger pangs, so in the morning I make a protein shake and just sip it till it's gone and it is still hard getting in all the recommended amount of liquids and protein. It is going to take me some time to learn the ropes of my new little franken-tummy.

 

Surgery to 1 week Post-Op

The morning of my surgery I woke up excited and ready to start my new life as a "Sleever". We had to be up and on the road at 4:45am so unfortunately my children were fast asleep and I was unable to give them a kiss goodbye. I think that was the hardest part of my day.


I started to get a bit of the jitters after walking through the hospital doors but by the time I got to the pre-op room I was calm. Everyone was super nice and had smiles on their faces. The one thing I was nervous about was the weigh-in. You go on this liquid diet to shrink your fatty liver and sometimes the surgeon starts the operation only to have to abort it because the liver didn't shrink enough. So when I stepped on the scale and had lost 18 pounds during those two weeks I was overjoyed!!

                           (Wattz took this picture of me while I was in pre-op. He couldn't get over how calm I was!)


So the surgery went great and I had a little pain at first but later I was up and doing laps around my floor at the hospital. I would get tired and sleep then wake up and walk again. I was not allowed to drink anything or have ice chips that night. I was only allowed a sponge on a stick to wet my mouth. Worst part was the next morning I had to do the x-ray and swallow the barium drink on an empty tummy..SO GROSS! Everything looked good so after sipping on some fluids I was cleared to go home. The first few days were rough especially for my toddler who I could not pick up (No lifting over 15 lbs).

Your first few days will go as follows: Sleep, Walk, Drink, Repeat! Walking is important to help move all that gas out that they pump you full of during surgery. The gas is more painful than the incisions trust me! As for the liquids, basically  all you do is drink, drink, drink!

Today I went to my 1 week post-op appointment  and my doctor was pleased with my 7 lbs  weight loss for the week and how well I was healing. Things are getting back to normal and I have to say that I haven't felt hungry at all and that is such a weird feeling for a big girl! Can't wait to see where this journey is going to take me!


Lost 18 lbs pre-op
Lost 7 lbs first week of post-op
Total of 26 lbs lost

To Tell or not to Tell...

This is a question many WLS patients ponder. It is a hard and very personal decision and one you have to make on your own.

 The day that Wattz and I agreed this was the right path for me I didn't want to tell anyone. I felt "ashamed" and was "embarrassed," scared of what people would think. I did of course tell my Mom, my sister Slim, and my BFB Cherokee and my Honeybee. These are the people who know how I have struggled with my weight and all my failed attempts of trying to get healthy.

Telling my Grandma was going to be tough, she is a health nut and a former majorette and model. My "Mama" works out, takes her vitamins, eats healthy, and watches the" Doctors" and "Dr. Oz" religiously. She is 74 and looks like she is 55 no joke. She can still get on the floor and play with my toddler, no problem getting down or up. I put off telling her for a bit. Then I needed for her to babysit so I could go to some of my doctor appointments. I was going to make up some story but I hated the thought of lying to her and I am a horrible liar. She was nervous at first but she is now on board and fully supports me (probably because Dr. OZ had a special on the Gastric Sleeve) "Thank goodness". I then told my brother Jay Bird and my Dad. So my whole inner circle knew of my choice and were all excited for me.

 Going through this process is not easy, you really have to face your demons head on and accept that you are the person that did this to your body. Now I am starting to feel better about myself and I am starting to not care what others think. My whole life I have worried what people think and say about me and I'm sick of it!  It's not fair and honestly even if they don't like it, this is the best decision for ME! I thought to myself people are going to notice my weight loss and  are going to ask a million questions and honestly I don't want to feel like I am hiding something. My sleeve is a tool, not a magic pill people. I will be on a strict low calorie diet, have to journal everything I ingest, and work out!

So I said "SCREW IT" and threw caution to the wind  and I started a countdown on my Facebook 5 days and counting. Friday before I head in for surgery I will post a link to this blog and everyone will be able to follow my journey. I feel in control of my life and am so happy that I am having my surgery.

My Sleeve Wish List

 When I first started considering WLS I wrote a wish list of all the things I would look forward to once I hit my goal weight!


1. Take our first family photo...I have mastered the art of the "Selfie" it is all about the angle. But to get an actual family photo straight on is my nightmare. I am looking forward to the day that I won't want to hide my body behind somebody else.

2. Never having to hear the phrase "You have such a pretty face." it is the kiss of death!

3. Being able to run around with my kids and not feel like my heart is going to explode.

4. To buy clothes at stores other than Lane Bryant! This will be a very exciting day, it will be nice choosing what to wear because I like looking good, instead of choosing what makes me look less fat.

5.  Not having to wear jeans in 100 degree weather. I live in Florida and my legs haven't seen daylight in about 20 years.

6. No longer being the "Fat Friend". My best friend Cherokee is a Latin beauty and has curves in all the right places. My friend Honeybee is a long haired, curvaceous young 20 something and is just beautiful. They love me for me and never have put me down and are always there for me. But damn  I want to look hot too!

7. To no longer fear cheap flimsy lawn chairs. It is like jumping out of a plane every time you sit. It is a leap of faith and praying to God that today not be the day you break your first chair. I have never actually broken a chair but it is a ligament fear!

8. To have a better sex life. That's right I'm going there! I am a freak I am not going to even lie.

9. Walk down the isle in a form fitted wedding dress and feel confident ! I have been with my fiancé going on 10 years and have been engaged for 3yrs.

10. Just to be healthy, happy, and fit!

3 more Days!

Since my last post it was decided that I would move forward with my surgery as planned. After I heal and have the clearance from my surgeon to drive then I will be going with my Grandpa to his remaining radiation treatments.

I am only 3 days away from my surgery and I must say things are going pretty great. I have lost a total of 13 pounds since starting my pre-op diet and the others were right it does get easier. I have had my struggles along the way. I think the all liquid diet really puts you at your worst and I have had battles with  head hunger. I have caught myself just walking around the kitchen and staring in the fridge. I just shake it off and keep telling myself that I can do this.

I know these next 3 days are going to be a blur and I am trying to get all my housework and errands done so Wattz doesn't have to worry about anything but the kids. He is taking a week vacation so he can be home with me and take care of our toddler since I will not be able to lift anything over 15 pounds.

I wouldn't have been able to get through this whole process without my family and my wolf pack(Cherokee and Honeybee). I appreciate you listening to me bitch and moan when I was having internal struggles, being such motivators and being so positive when I just wanted to give up, and for taking turns watching my children so that I could go to all of my doctor appointments. I love you guys so much and you all mean so much to me. I just can't thank all of you enough!

I know this post has kinda been all over the place but that is pretty much how my mind is right now. Pre-surgery jitters and nerves are setting in.

Torn....

 I lost my Granny last May to lung cancer, it was devastating to my whole family and especially me. My Grandpa moved to Florida and built a house in my neighborhood so we could be close. I promised my Granny that I would look out for him and be there when he needed me. My Grandpa is a 75 yr old Vietnam Veteran and retired Army Airborne. He is still very active, works out everyday, and makes multiple trips to Wal-Mart and Lowes on his Honda Goldwing trike. I was overjoyed that he was so positive about me having my WLS. He and Granny watched me struggle with my weight for so many years and know how hard I have tried to get it under control.

 The day of my pre-op testing he went in to have his throat stretched. He had throat cancer years ago and the scar tissue was building up making it difficult for him to swallow and talk. While they were in there they noticed a growth and removed it. Turns out his cancer is back and he has to have radiation for 6 weeks. His radiation begins on the day of my surgery and now I don't if I should go through with my surgery as planned or put it off for a while.

I talked with him last night and told him I wanted to be with him every step of the way. I have no problem putting off the surgery while he goes through this. He held my hand and looked me in the eye and said that the doctor's told him they were 90% sure that the radiation would work and get rid of the cancer and he said he would take those odds. He told me he does not want me to put off my surgery, that he wants me to do it more now than ever. He already made arrangements with a buddy of his to take him to his treatments. I felt horrible and told him no that I would go with him. My Grandpa said that radiation is no big deal and he would stop by after every treatment and let me know what happened.

I just feel so guilty and torn..... it sucks.

Pre-Op Diet Blues......

It is day 5 of my pre-op diet and I am one cranky and irritable "B". I am usually a happy, laid back gal, but this fast has brought out the worst in me. People said it would get better, but I am not buying it!  The headaches passed but the tiredness and hunger pangs haven't subsided.

I spend my day sipping protein shakes, broth, and water.( If I have to drink one more cup of broth I will snap!) I never thought I would have an issue making sure I am getting enough calories. Yet here I am adding everything I consume to make sure I am taking in the right amount of calories so my body doesn't go into starvation mode. It is more difficult than you would think.

 

My fiancé "Wattz"  has been buying  ready made dinners at the supermarket for him and the kiddos to eat since I am on strike from cooking during this fast. I can't tell you how hard it is not to be able to sit at the dinner table with your family during meals. My thirteen year old son said he feels guilty eating knowing that I cannot. I only have 10 more days until my surgery and after that all this will just be a distant memory. I keep telling myself to "Just Keep Swimming".

Funny Story

So today was day 2 of my pre-op all liquid diet and I had a family function to attend. I was excited to see my extended family, but I wasn't excited to be around all the food that was going to be there. I packed a protein shake and several water bottles to get me through the day. It was hard to see everyone eating while I sat there sipping on water, but I acted like it was no big deal. In my head I imagined myself pushing down my aunt so I could get to the mojo pork that was simmering in the slow cooker and eat it like a caveman. But I shook it off and walked outside and sat in the smokers circle and chatted for a bit. My Mom asked me what all I could have pre-op and I told her 3-4 8oz protein shakes and water. It turned out to be a nice day and I enjoyed spending time with everyone.

By the time I left I was tired and hangry (so hungry you are angry) I just wanted to go home and curl into a ball . When I  did get home I decided to look over some of the paperwork from my surgeons office which I had only previously skimmed over. I got to the pre-op diet part and it said how to make the shakes and how much water to drink and that's about the point where I normally quit reading. I was ready to put it down when I noticed a sentence in small text at the very bottom of the page that read "You may have crystal light, beef, chicken, or vegetable broth" I did a double take. How in the hell did I miss that?

I felt like it was Christmas and I just unwrapped that Barbie Dream House I always wanted. I quickly grabbed my keys, yelled out to Wattz to watch the kids, and I was out the door. I was overjoyed to be able to drink something other than water and protein shakes. I drove to Publix with the biggest smile on my face and walked in grabbed a basket and sprinted straight towards the soup aisle. I happily waited in the check out line with my goodies. I had a nice little chit chat with the cashier while I checked out.

It wasn't until I got home and unpacked everything when I noticed that in my excited state before I left the house that I had forgotten a very important item.....MY BRA!!! I am a DDD, so the first thing I do when I get home is rip off my bra and let my girls breathe. I can't believe that I walked out my front door and into a super market with no bra. I walked around the store with a smile on my face not realizing there was a little more bounce to my walk. I of course found this hilarious and text my best friend Cherokee to tell her about my little escapade. At least I ended the day with a good laugh!

Dear Food,.. It's Me Frenchie

Food to me is like a terrible ex-boyfriend who always finds a way back into your life.

My relationship with food has been an ongoing affair of sorts. He kept me company when I was alone, he was there when I was sad or happy for that matter, we loved spending the holidays together. I am a food addict, I love buying food,cooking it and eating it. I tried so many times to leave him but he always was there waiting for some sort of emotional turmoil to re-enter my life.
 
I knew that  I had to cut ties with food since I would be starting my two week pre-op all liquid diet. So I decided that  I would have a food funeral. It may not have been the best choice going into a strict diet but it was for me. So my fiancé Wattz and I went out to dinner for one last big feast. It was an amazing night we went to Outback and I had steak, crab legs, caesar salad, and a baked potato. I also had a few tequila sunrises and a shot or two of Patron.

Later when we got home I felt guilty for indulging. When I finally had a few minutes to myself  I started to re-evaluate my relationship with food. I  realized I don’t need food to feel happy, but I do need food to live. I felt relief before going to bed like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. Food and I would now have a new understanding that I only would eat healthy and I would control it and it would no longer control me. So onward I go into a new and healthier me!

Battle of the Bulge...

I always hated that term, but I guess it is accurate. I have been struggling with my weight since high school, my Mom even took me to a weight loss clinic when I was 16. The doctor gave me some phentermine pills and gave me a meal plan which was the famous “Military Diet”.  I went back to that doctor countless times throughout my adult life. As I got older I became more educated about the long term effects of those pills and then tried every other fad diet out there. I had some weight loss successes but they were far and few between and never were long lasting. I always felt like a failure because I could never stick with these diets for long. 

 I lost 50 lbs in 2011 and shortly thereafter got pregnant with baby number 2. I gained 60lbs during the pregnancy and only lost 40 of it. I am the heaviest I have ever been  and just can’t seem to get this weight off. I am 36 and right now besides being overweight and having sore knees and some back pain I have no other medical conditions. I know that if I don’t take charge of my weight now, that in a few years I could have serious weight related medical issues and I don’t want that to happen.If you would have asked me a year ago or any other time before this, if I would consider weight loss surgery.  I would have told you Hell to the NO!  I am not sure the exact moment when I changed my mind to start considering it. But I will tell you what, now I cannot get it off my mind!  I decided along with my wonderful and supportive fiancé that WLS was for me.  

At first I was dead set on having the Lap-Band surgery. I thought it was safer and would work for me and I was scared about having parts of me cut out and having staples left in me forever. But after going to the free seminar at my surgeon’s office and hearing all the pros and cons of all the different types of WLS, not only from the doctor but also from WLS patients I decided that the Gastric Sleeve would be the best choice for me. I went to see the surgeon last week and since I am a self-pay patient and don’t have to go through all the insurance requirements. I was able to schedule my surgery after having a few tests done and a psychological evaluation.

 My surgery is scheduled for Friday, April 4^th which is only 2 weeks away. I am so excited to start this journey and  am using this blog to hold my self accountable and will post about everything that I experience the good, the bad, and the ugly.