2 week follow up

Today I had my 2-week follow up appointment. All went well. I have lost 24 lbs. by their scale. I was told I am doing well. I am definitely encouraged. I was given information about the regular food schedule and when to begin. I have been doing well, but I am starting to feel that "I'm still hungry" phase. So I will be ready for my 1st fill! I am moving and exercising on the treadmill, but can't wait until I can return to Zumba and swimming! Those are my favorite forms of exercise at this time and I feel like I'm missing out.

Losing the Weight

Well, it has been great to hear from others that I "look like" I'm losing weight. I finally got on a scale and it said I weighed 245! I'm happy with that number. This was on Tuesday. I'm trying not to obsess with the scale too much. Anyway, I reached my goal tonight of doing 30 minutes on the treadmill. Every night I add 5 minutes. Especially since I was told I should be up to 30 minutes of exercising by my f/u appt. next week. It wasn't too hard. I was watching Law & Order and reading a magazine at the same time. So the time flew by, but my legs were killing me...no pain, no gain I guess.

Soft Diet

Well, I start my soft diet tomorrow and I am definitely ready to add something. It's been a rough week being on the liquid diet. Not because of the liquids itself, but I know I'm an emotional eater. My biological father died Saturday morning and I have really wanted to eat! I have been doing okay. My biological father and I had started to reconnect this year as he had been absent fromm my life. I was raised by my stepfather since I was 2 or 3 years old, who I have always considered my "daddy." He was the one that was always there for me no matter what and dared anyone to call me his "stepchild." Anyway, my biological father and I had been communicating more lately. We weren't as close as he wanted us to be, but we had at least gotten to the point where I could tell him I loved him and meant it. It was hard talking to him at first because I felt that I had not missed out on having a father, it was his loss for walking out on me and my mom. However, I have found as an adult, I had to forgive him in order to move on, which I did. So while it is sad that he passed, I find peace in the fact that we were able to communicate again and he was able to tell me how proud he was of my accomplishments with my career and family. Other siblings that grew up with him are having a really hard time and my heart goes out to them. Being with them and seeing and hearing them cry and grieve has been rough, but I have had to be the strong one and comfort them. My younger sisters grew up in the home with him and their mother, so they were the closest to him. They lived in the same city..Jacksonville, a few hours away from me. My father's birthday would have been tomorrow, 8/2/10. In addition, one of my brothers had surgery earlier in the week and has to go back under again tomorrow, 8/2. So there have been things going on, which have made the liquid diet harder. I have persevered and tomorrow I can start soft foods.

I also walked for 15 minutes on my treadmill this evening. This is the first "real" exercise I have done since the surgery on Monday, 7/26. Sure, I walked up and down the floor after surgery and came home and walked outside. I even walked from my house to the clubhouse, which is only 2-3 houses down..LOL. But this was my first part of getting back into my exercise routine I had started before surgery. Before surgery I was up to 30 minutes on the treadmill with an elevated incline, Zumba classes at the gym, and water aerobics including laps in the pool. I was told I should be back to 30 minutes of exercise by the time I come in for my 2-week doctor visit, which is next week. My goal is to be at 30 minutes on the treadmill by mid-week.

So on I go..pressing forward to my mark. I still have not been on a scale. I think I will go and buy one!

Liquid Diet continues

Well, so far I have been doing okay with this liuid diet. Yesterday was the first time when I smelled the food my family was eating that I actually wanted some! I almost broke and went in the kitchen and discovered they had eaten every drop! It was a blessing in disguise! LOL. I purposely do not join my family when they are eating so I won't get tempted. I am eagerly and anxiously waiting on next week so I can start my soft food diet! I have been walking a lot. I can't wait to get back to my old (new) exercise routine I had started before the surgery. I really enjoy going to the Zumba classes and went to the last one on Saturday. I know I can't get back into that any time soon, but can't wait. I will start walking slowly on the treadmill, but I have to make sure my husband is around because the treadmill folds up and I can't pull it out on my own right now. The soreness is still there, but wearing off and not as bad. I am able to walk a little straighter and doing ok for now.

Post Surgery

I had the lapband surgery this past Monday, 7/26/10. I was the first patient at 7:30am. I was sore, but glad it was finally over. I came home yesterday morning, 7/27/20. I did well with the pre-liquid diet. I was allowed one meal per day, which made everything easier. The protein drinks filled me up. I am now on the post-liquid diet. I am doing okay. As others said in the local support group, you are not really hungry after the surgery, so food is not an issue right now. I am a little sore, but okay. I was walking since I was able to at the hospital so I continue to do that. Everyone I know talked about the possibility of gas. I am going through that. I did not have a hernia to repair as some did so no shoulder pain. I only have 3 scars, which I thought I would have had one or two more, so that is a good thing. I am so glad I had the surgery and ready for this journey I have put myself on. I have not been on a scale since before the surgery. I found that I lost three pounds before starting the pre-liquid diet. My doctor said in the hospital after surgery that I have probably lost a lot since doing the pre-liquid and will continue to lose while doing the post-liquid. So I am trying to avoid a scale until next week when I start soft foods. I'm on my way!

Started Exercising Again

Well, I started exercisting again. My company pays for our gym membership. I loved Zumba classes and swimming laps. So I started back this week. The Zumba class on Saturday is so intense, but so fun! I am sore from this morning, but it will all be worth it in the end. I am ready for my pre-op on 7/15. Funny thing...at our family gathering for the 4th of July, I found out a cousin, who is like my sister, wants to do the lapband as well, but her husband is dead set against it. She's hoping once I have the procedure, he will be more supportive. I have not shared with anyone about this procedure other than my mom and husband and they support me 100%. I have also been using the cup and 1/2 cups when I eat to practice what it will be like when I am banded. I have been cutting out a lot of things I know I can't have anymore, like Gingerale. I started taking the Flintstones vitamins with iron. I wasn't taking vitamins. I'm just trying to prepare myself. I have always wanted my hair highlighted. I finally did it two weeks ago. It's like I'm doing a total transformation!

I have a DATE!!!

I learned my insurance approved the procedure!!! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went in this week and met with the nutritionist, etc. and I have a date. July 26th is my date. I am very excited. I go in for my pre-op on 7/15. This has been a long road of making sure this is what I want to do and I finally know that this is 100% what I want to do. I am so happy that I can even attend the support group because I had a previous obligation that fell on the same day and time as the support group here. Now I can attend and get up close and personal knowledge from others that have been on the journey, going through the journey and beginning the journey like me. I have started watching more closely what I eat and documenting what I eat and exercising everyday for 40 minutes as requested. I am soooooooooooooooo ready for this!