A week to go!

I realize tomorrow is the day I go in for Pre-Surgical Testing! Meet with the team that will help out my surgeon and go through step by step on the procedure! One week from tomorrow I will be in surgery...OMG one week from tomorrow! I have one week left to do what needs to be done, at work, around the house, and little things for myself too!

I am so excited; the time is finally right there...in my face and it just still does not seem realistic. I have done all I needed and I am 19.4 lbs lighter since I began this journey. With the help and support of my husband, children, family, friends, and co-workers I have come such a long way.

I finally packed up all my clothes that will not fit me next year, put them in a plastic bag and they will soon be in a bin for Salvation Army!

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving and did not stuff myself to insanity, actually I didn't even stuff myself. I ate til I was comfortable and took my time and enjoyed every bite I ate!

I did my Black Friday Shopping and I am just about done my Christmas shopping. One less stress to have to worry about over the next few weeks after surgery.

But thats all for now, I am really speechless at this point and anxious!

December 6th, please hope all goes well for me. Surgery is only about an hour long. I will be up and posting as soon I am feel well enough!

To the healthier me I want to be!

Mandy

The big day is almost here!!!

So as I read back to the previous posts, I had come to realize that today November 8th is officially 7 months that I have quit smoking. I can't believe it has been that long already. Where did the time go?

Well I have my surgery date! December 6th I will be in surgery having the Lap Band done! I am so excited and anxious! Not sure how to even begin explaining my feelings about this, the things in needed to accomplish before this day came. I am down 17 lbs and feeling pretty good! I am no longer smoking and adding years to my life just from that. I know I will be successful with this surgery and I am not going to stop til I reach the rest of my goals!

I will tell you one thing; I was thinking about going through my summer clothes (I will not be the same size next year). For some reason I could not find it in me to throw them away yet. Why? I don't understand why I couldn't throw them away! I think I need to realize that I will not be the same size next year and just take the clothes, shove them into a bag, and throw them in the box for those in need. AAAhhhhhhhh.......how to get to that 1st step is the big question!

Well, I am going to head off for now...29 days til surgery!

mandy

Thank God thats over!

Yesterday on October 12th, I had to go through a series of tests to make sure I am all set and ready for surgery! I had to be at UMass for 8 am first test at 8:30 and next at 9:30! Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before. I had looked up the tests I was having and figured; "if I can give birth to 2 children naturally, I am all set". Now honestly I didn't know what I was gettin myself into. I go into the room, the nurse tells me she is going to stick a q-tip up my nose to numb it and then squirt this "stuff" into the back of my mouth to numb that as well. Ok, I figured I am calm...then WHAM she stuffed the q-tip in my nostril and OUCH!!!! Then talk about gag reflexes...she sticks this skinny tube to the back of the throat, thought I was going to be sick! Now that is not even the begining...she takes a lubricant jelly and puts that up the nostril. then says "ok, now try to relax" as she begins to put this tube up the nostril and down to the back of my throat! "Don't swallow til I say" (Do you know how hard it is to not swallow and swallow on command)? So this test lasted for 20 mins, felt like 20 mins of tourture!!!

Next test was a bit better not as invasive but an Upper GI is not that fun! Drinking that barium white chalky drink..Ewwww! They had me stand up, lay down, roll over, on your back, on your side...now do a complete 360, this helps coat the stomach. Well...I left the hospital in one piece but the first test gave me the biggest sinus headache you could ever imagine.

So with those tests done, they found that I have a small hiatal hernia and acid reflux disease. So the good news is they can take care of the hernia when I go in for surgery...just hopfully now with the acid reflux disease, they will still let me have the Lap-Band done and not encourage me to go for the bypass instead!
Well, with all said and done I had a rough but very accomplished columbus day weekend. Last Friday marked my 6 months, am I now considered a Non-Smoker??? I had to give up coffee because the caffine will slow down the healing process of surgery. So massive caffine withdrawls and horrible cravings for coffee...but I lived through it and feel great! Decaf is alright every once in a while!

Well the one thing I love at the moment is within myself~~~WILL POWER~I have it and gonna keep using it til I meet all my goals.

Till next time (hopefully I will have a surgery date soon)~

Mandy

It is 2 days away from my "29"th Birthday! I am not to happy with becoming another year older and another year closer to 30! I guess in my mind since I was always the baby in the group, I always felt young! Not like I am much younger; only by a few months.

On October 8th, it will be 6 months of success! I have quit smoking and I am never going back. I realized that I am a true "NON SMOKER" when I was going through a seriously tough time this month and did not even think about smoking! The thought never crossed my mind.

So as for the Lap-Band; I am just a few more weeks away from surgery! I met with the surgeon last week and I have a few more tests that need to be done and they wait on the approval from insurance and I will be good to go! Wooo Hooo!

As for the things I Love...I realize more and more how much I love those around me, My husband and kids are the #1 reason I live today! My kids are the sunshine and happiness of my life. I have a wonderful support system with my mom and dad. Not to mention the life long friendship that is rare now a days! Trina has been my (Sister) Best Friend since we were 7 yrs old! Can you believe 22 years of friendship and I truly cherish every moment I can with her! Since we both had no siblings growing up we were more sisters than anything! Those are the things I love....

Mandy

Where to begin....

Its been a while since I have last wrote about anything. August 8th will be 4 months since I quit smoking!! Yeah for ME!! I have been through alot already with the Lap Band process.
I saw the Dr., Nutritionist, and the Psychologist. I have also completed my 4 week skills group and went to see the exercise therapist! I have been up and down with my weight (at weight watchers) I am down 7.8 since I started weight watchers. That was about 12-13 weeks ago. Not even a pound a week. I was at first unsure what procedure I was planning on having (Gastric Bypass or the Band). Its a tough decision and I am still on the fence a little bit. But since I do not have any serious medical problems (diabetes, heart trouble, or high blood pressure) the team highly recommends me having the BAND! No matter what you have to work hard, no matter what procedure you have done! You still need to work-out, exercise, walk, stretch, strength training, NO sweets and junk, and watch your portion sizes. First few weeks will be liquids, then on to proteins (but pureed & soft)...then onto more solid protein. Vitamins are a must to be taken daily...more with the bypass than the band. I am going to see the psychologist again in a few weeks...then from there I will be sent to the surgeons office. There is a discussion group I want to attend before all this happens so I can see for myself those who have had the surgery and what the look like, how the eat, what their life is like with having a procedure done. UGGGHHH, so much to think about. And they must think I am crazy because they said I was not cleared by the psychologist! I am thinking maybe its because I quit smoking? Its a big lifestyle change....and so would the Band. So alot of changes at once (am I able to handle all of this). Of course I am!! I can take on any challenge thrown at me. IF I CAN QUIT SMOKING.....I CAN DO ANYTHING!

I am off...

Mandy

Time Flies By

Well time has flew right by....6 weeks not smoking :) YEAH TO ME!! My motivation for a healthier lifestyle is great! I have my friends and family to support me and when I hear my 10 year old daughter tell me she is PROUD of me; that fills my heart up with joy. She is proud of her MOMMA! :) :) :) :) :)

So I began Weight Watchers the 8th of May and this begins the reality of weight loss! Not dieting, not starving myself, not using any suppliments but eating healthy and chosing a life style that will work and become part of my every day life from here on out. This past week was my first weigh in and thought the 1st week is usually the week you lose the most. I lost 1.6 lbs and felt a little discouraged because I tracked, walked and ate all my points, cut out my sugar and substituted with Sweet and Low, cut down my coffee to 1 a day and cut out sweets and chips and greasy foods. I even walked, started walking after my lunch at work; my co-workers have agreed to walk with me and support me and motivate me while at work....since they see me 8 hours of my day.

I will keep you posted as time goes on so you can see my progress or my failure...

LAP BAND PROCESS

Lets begin by saying I am Highly interested in getting surgery; I went to the Lap Band orientation and they gave me alot of information I wanted to know. They said they would call by the end of this week and guess what! They called me today, its only Monday....and my first appointment is tomorrow. So much to do for this initial visit, 6 page questionnaire, loads of blood work, insurance information, and documentation from my Dr's office. Maybe I should have made the appointment for Wed, but I was just too excited they called so soon, I told them whatever you have available!!!! TUESDAY SOUNDS GREAT!

Still not smoking :) and it was one of the questions on the forms. Do you smoke? (NO) Did you ever smoke? (YES) When did you quit? (3 weeks ago April 8th)!! Woo hoo for me! I have something to be proud of.

I went to the Lung Specialist on Friday and my Dr. told me my lungs so great! Not perfect, cause I know they are not; but I have come a long way! That was great news too! I still have a long way to go but like I always say ONE DAY AT A TIME!!!

Til next time.

Mandy