Day 2 of 5 of pouch test

It's the 2nd day of my pouch test, I must say things went great today I did hear my stomach growl and make nose but I drank water and it stopped. How ever their were times that drinking water it didn't stop so then I drank protein shake, it went away so that meant I was hungry, but most of the time I was thirsty after I would drink the water I would burp and feel better. I'm listening my my tool and pouch and it's working. I'm just now sitting down and drinking glass of diet iced tea it's the first one that I have had all day so yay me on that!!!! I know you are wondering is this easy for me? No it's not but I have regained my will power or rather brought it back up front off the back burner so to speak, it was not easy for me when I had to be on liquid diet right before my Lap Band operation and right after I had the band placed on but my will power helped me with that just like it is right now.

Tomorrow starts day 3 of 5 I get to start with soft protein foods tomorrow, I'm taking all of this nice and slow I don't want to rush nothing at all. As for weight loss I lost 3.5lbs since yesterday but I'm sure that was all water weight that I lost, as each of us are different some might not lose weight during this time and some of us might lose lots. After the 5day pouch test I'm going to start the South Beach diet this is what my surgeon had me using two weeks before my operation to get use to nothing but good calories and protein so this is what I'm going to use, first two weeks you have not carbs like bread or rice things like that they by phase two they start to introduce you in to whole wheat carb stuff it's grat plan not I'm not starting yo=yo diet like I did before my WLS this is just going to help reinforce and help keep me on track! I love the foods on the SB diet and it had great protein so it's all good and it's thinks us WLS people should be eating as well. I'm doing this 5day test all while working ugh it's something but I'm winning! Till tomorrow have great day or night

day 1 of 5 of 5 day pouch test

I know that it's been long time since I have blogged well sorry.. Here is what I'm up to! I  have been thinking for while now dose my band still work? Did I stretch it out too much? Did I break it? I also asked myself this question Self should be do that 5 day pouch test that we keep hearing about in out Lap band groups? and I said Self we should give it try and find out!!! Well it's scary to me I keep thinking can I do this do I still have that will power I had almost 2yrs ago? I kept thinking about this test for months and did I really have that will power I had all those years ago when I decided to have WLS, well I sat last night and thought long and hard and yes yes I do I just tucked it away for safe keeping as blanket or something. I have gotten too comfy with slider foods, carbs, soda again,and bad bad food just like many other WLS people have and you can't say that some of you have not because that would be lie you know that some of you have!!!! I found myself for weeks now going over the pros and cons of doing this test, I found the pros I weight the cons so this morning when I got up okay this afternoon I over slept I started the 5 day pouch test!!!

How are things going I'm sure you want to know well it's been touch and go all day when I was home it didn't bother me because I was on Facebook most of the day then picked my car up from getting worked on and headed off to work, now keep in mind this is where my down fall happens because their is all kinds of goodies at work sometime!!! So at work it was touch and go I sipped water but still felt hungry so I would take sip on my protein shake I made, reason for the sips I work in health care so sometimes it's hard I don't get dinner break so I eat when I so in this case drank them when I could I ended up finishing one of the two I brought. Trouble struck round 6pm I was hungry and feeling caffeine withdraw not good and carb withdraw now good when did I do I sipped on diet iced tea that made me feel better and I'm not going to lie I grabbed some peanut crackers stuck them in my pocket I said F it I'll start Monday well then my will power kicked in and said not you won't I gave those crackers away, I sipped on water and also on my diet tea but I will say that the neasua from no carbs got to me by the end of the night I dealt with it thought. I was still sipping on my diet tea when I came home reason why I did drink it down was to help caffeine withdraw its the only one I had today, when I got home I had some creamy soup which is aloud and that helped the upset stomach and killed the carb cravings! So day one out of five went tons better then I thought it would be I guess I do have that will power after all I guess I was  to scared to listen to it! The skinny person inside me is fighting so hard to get out of this fat suit and I'm not stopping her she is going to come out because we hate this fat suit we have on! I have noticed that my abdomen is not swollen or feels swollen I should say so that is good thing I just hope tomorrow goes better I know great things take time but I listening to my pouch,band brain and skinny person and plus I'm talking openly about it so this all helps me out!!! Here is the link to the five day pouch test http://www.5daypouchtest.com/ I would hope that WLS people out their try this. I will blog tomorrow about day 2 of 5

How me and other American's like to spend our money

Someone inspired me to write this blog because it got me thinking! US as Americans we love to spend money weather we have it or not it seems like we don't care anymore or maybe that is just me, it seems like all we do it buy stuff that we don't need just because we saw it on TV or someone told us that hey you should try this product it's great and sadly we go out  and spend our money on it half the time we don't use it or might use it one and never aging.

 I know that I'm not along in this department either I'm guilt of spending money on stuff that I don't need I will even openly talk about this right here right now along with what we  Americana's do, eating out we all do this some more then other we chose to do so for many different reasons, me included I have learned that eating out all the time is not good for our health home cooked meals. If we eat out we have to let tip pay for drinks sometimes even refills,pay for appetizer, main meal and desert, that my friends is hefty bill because we love to eat that is part of our problem we have no grasp on portion control. I'm can safely say I have learn portion control thanks to WLS and changing my life around. Once you start to eat at home you will see that you saved money because you don't have to let tip pay for drinks refills none of that stuff! Plus you know what you are putting into your food when you eat out you have no idea what is in your food they can tell you it's one thing but it can be whole neither thing.

After having my WLS done I starting losing weight I was not hungry all the time I didn't know what to spend my free time on so when I was not working and had weekends off I went shopping spending money on new clothes, hand bags, pens, yarn, hair ext ions, as seen on TV stuff, anything that I could get my hands on just like the rest of the people out in the world and I started to spend money I didn't have. Well I got into depression after my operation it didn't stop my spending but made it worse I stopped working out and fell backing to old ways even spending buying more stuff!!! I went to talk to someone who I brought up my spending habits well he told me what I needed to do at that time I didn't want to hear it this kept up for nothing, I'm sure you are wonder what has changed. Well my neighbors went into nursing home friend and I helped cleaned out there home we I ended up with more stuff and but seen how they kept everything and how bad shape some of it was woke me up to see hey you don't need to stuff to be happy and spend that money on that stuff dose not good I can keep that money and spend it on nice trip or vacation somewhere or make improvement to my house.

Well what has changed for me is in the process of helping them out I ended up with new bed room set well it's not brand new but it's in better shape then mine was so I got it. I had to clean my room out which opened my eyes to see how much stuff I have well I ended up throwing somethings out that I no longer need or was not good either, as for my pens well I'm not buying more I'm using what I have till the ink is gone if it don't write I throw it away it makes me feel good to do so because I know I don't need pen collections, hand bags well I'm going through them getting ride of what I don't want or like any more I don't need 50 or more hand bags, shoes well since I lost the weight my feet are smaller I into size 7-71/2 shoes so my size 8's have to go the hard part for me is getting rid of my fat clothes this is another blog about my fat clothes. I have learned that I don't need the newest latest high tech things that are out on the market today either. I'm learning to cut my spending down because things are going up and we don't need stuff to make us happy either. As for yarn well I'm crocheting again making things it comes in hand for baby gifts, birthday's Christmas etc! So the yarn is put to good use.


Us as Americana's need to stop spending money on stuff that we cannot afford we don't need the newest cars, phones,homes,TVs, eating out,etc we need to look at what we have and use that we need to get out take nice walk with our families smells the fresh air we can do things that don't take money like family night, going to state parks, cleaning out our home have yard sales etc. I think if we all can save 1.00 to 20.00 week it will add up to something big and we can spend that on something we need like our debt that we have or  take nice trip or make that home improvement we need. This is just my thought.

Lap Band and how it helped me out of depression

Lap Band Drawing
Originally uploaded by mypinktoes

When most people find out that I had the Lap- Band done I sometimes get comments like " Why did you go do that?" " You took the easy way out!" " Well it looks like it not working" and I love this comment "Ewww your turned yourself into freak you were not meant to get that put on you you were made to be heavy" Well I used to let these comments get me down for the longest but then I realized I DON'T HAVE TO COMMENT BACK TO THEM OR GIVE CRAP WHAT THEY ARE SAYING TO ME BECAUSE THEY ARE EITHER JEALOUS KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO GO THOUGHT WITH IT OR THEY ARE SCARED OR IT'S JUST EASIER TO MAKE COMMENTS THEN TRY! I have been dealing with depression for while now I was see psy doc and on lexpro but when I was out of work for while with my knee which turned out to be my hip and knee I got behing on bills and could not afford to get my Lexprop fill and could not go to the gym because of the pain! Oh and the meds they placed me to help with the swelling and what not put weight on me along with not Begin able to workout did as well so I got into rut for few month hating myself figuring out how I'm going to get out of this! Then something inside me woke up and was like HEY YOU YEAH YOU, YOU HAVE THIS BAND ON YOU ARE GOING TO PT AND ARE STARTING TO FEEL BETTER SO WHAT THAT YOU HAVE HAD SET BACKS ALL THIS YEAR SINCE HAVING ME PLACED ON YOU BUT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN BECOME LOSE AND AND MEAN A LOSE IN GREAT WAY ON THE WINNING SIDE! I'm sure you are wondering what this crazy me is talking about well, I started walking before work if it's not took hot I'm working on my crocheting, garding, watching Btv.com and also mikeyssmail.com these sites along with obesity help.com have snapped me out of this funk that I was in plus knowing that I'm not alone is helping me because my family and family friends sure I not helping I have to be strong! Today I did something I have not done in 91 days and that was workout on my Wii Fit Plus I was only able to do this for 15 minutes because I had to get showered for work and it was starting to bother me little in my right hip but still 15 minutes is not bad for getting back into the swing of things I plan to workout some more when I get home form work tonight as well! I also lost 4lbs since last week so I'm so happy about that I most normal people are like 4 lbs is nothing at all when for WLS freaks like me it's great step in the right direction!!!! I still have 123lbs to lose yet and my 1 yrs bandanversery is coming up and I was hoping to be at my goal weight but you know what you can't rush great things! I must say that my Band along with finding hobbies like garding crocheting and learning nail art has helped me snap out of depression My band had helped me the most because it made me realized I'm not the same person that I once was I'm better more fun living life the fullest person now and I'm not going to let anything stop me and I will control what and how much I eat! I learned it's great to have left overs!

Lauren's Hope medical ID bracelet

Lauren's Hope Group Option #2
Originally uploaded by sparrowz2006

Most people are lucky they will never have to wear medical ID bracelet, in there life. Then their are those of us that have to, I know what some of you are thinking even though you have medical problem you don't have to wear it you chose to. Well they are kind of right we don't have to wear bracelet, necklace,or ankle bracelet saying that we have medical problem or some kind of condition. We wear them to help save our lives in case their comes times that we can't speak that some has to help us they can see the ID tag read it and know what condition we have. I bought one of these bracelets last night from Lauren's website not because I have medical problem but because I had bariatric surgery I had, I read on the forums that I got do that you should get medical ID bracelet in case something happens and I need medical attention and can't speak or something medical personal can see well rather notice I have it on read it and know that I had the Lap-Band done who my surgeon is in case they need to place call to my doctor. I never though twice about getting one till I had my WSL, now I see why it's important to get one. Think these are great idea even for people with allergies or other medical problem is issues. I love the styles this site has to offer they have something for every person every occasion as well they even have them for your pets! Yes you heard me right your pets. Children will even like the fun styles they have and will not have to worry about getting teased because they have to wear medical ID tag. Men they did not leave you out as well I encourage you to check out the site it's www.laurenshope.com it's really great site. I know what some of you are thinking how costly or how pricey is the site. Well it's not super cheap some of the bracelets are pricey some are what I think to be rather reasonable in price you just have to shop around on her site till you find something your like or can afford I will tell you that you can change the bracelets around! What I mean by this is that once you buy one bracelet you are not stuck with that one for the rest of your life if you are sick of the one that you have just go to her site and order up another one yes your read right they are interchangeable bracelets each time you want new bracelet or someone wants to buy you one all you have to do is go to the site and just order the bracelet, necklace or whatever it is you have and buy it. You can even order just tags from the site as well. She even offer gift cards as well if you are not sure what to buy someone. Shipping you can chose from options as well it's sent viva FedEx I will be posting another blog when I get my bracelet in the mail and show everyone how nice it is. I Redmond this site to everyone their is nothing to be ashamed about needing one of these. Also you can order charms for you bracelets as well the cost for them is 10.00 I do hope that this is helpful to someone out their.

Qestions I get asked about WLS &My life

Most people think that obese people are happy and all we want to do is eat. Well I have news for people we are not a

lways happy in fact I was not happy all the time in fact I was unhappy even had pain. This photo to the left is me the weekend before my operation I was on liquid and this photo I was actually happy because I was like two days away from something that is going to help me change my life, also because my best friend was up visiting me. You might ask why am I blogging about this well for many reasons I just want to share and I get tired of some of the questions like can I see how bad your scars? Are you losing your hair? Are you sick all of the time? Is it really helping you?

Well I'm going to answer some of your question and show you some photos don't get me wrong I'm not mad with all the question I'm happy to answer them it dose not bother me one bit I just hope that I'm able to help someone out their or something so here goes.

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How bad are your Scare?

Well here is the photo to how bad they are this is few weeks post opt. No I'm not ashamed to show them off in fact I'm happy to share with people I'm not at all embarrassed nor upset by them I'm proud of them they are apart of who I am now.

How many do you have? I have 5 of them the one you can't see if at the belly button.

These are my scars

Am I losing my hair?

Yes I have noticed that I'm starting to lose my hair I'm now 4 months post opt and this is happening I just ask my surgeon why I will have answer to this this week. I have read on other forums that this is because of the major shock that our bodies have went through and will stop and the hair will grow back.

Are you sick all the time?

No I'm not sick all the time in fact no at all unless I eat something that dose not agree with me then I feel sick sometimes I feel like I have weight in my stomach till it's done processing.

Are you sorry that you got WLS DONE?

What dose this photo tell you? No I'm not sorry at all the I chose to have WLS DONE!!! I'm glad that I made the right choice for me I'm feeling better I'm down since I started with Dr.Sawyn 43 LBS but I lost weight before I started with him so my total before Dr.S and now is 50 LBS I'm quite happy with everything it's not easy I do have my days just like anyone else who had this operation but then you snap out of it and realize you added years to your life!

4 Months post opt

3 months post opt

I think that these after photos speak for themselves I know that I'm not at my goal weight but here is what I look like so far only 4 months post opt I think that things are coming along quite well.

Scared about the holidys coming up

Happy Thanksgiving
Originally uploaded by Charlie is here

The holidays are almost upon us and to kick them off is Thanksgiving!! This year I'm little scared about it becaus I'm only 4 months post-opt, I know that I need to follow the rules of the band and all will be find. I know that I can't over do it I know what I can and can't eat I know that not matter how much my Nana loves me she is not always looking out for what's best for me in the long run. Family members don't have your best interest in their favor in fact they want you to fail! Yes that is right you read right stop and think about it you know what I'm saying is the truth and nothing but on that topic!!!!!!! I know that I should not have left over because that is not good either. I know this year the holidays are going be to challange becasue I'm not the same person that I was last year this time which I'm glad for! I know that I can get over this fear and come out strong I'm also happy that this is my first holiday banded as well! I will keep everyone posted on how things are going. I also had to share this photo that I came arcoss too I thought it was cute! Remember the only person that has your best interest in mind is you and the people that support you everybody else want to see us fail for some strange reasons so lets show them that we are stronger then ever.

Questions people don't want to hear

Dose size of person really matter? Dose how big or small a person matter? Dose it matter if we are fat or skinny? Dose it matter if we are fat or skinny? Do we get treated differently because of this? Most people will avoid these question so not as to offend anyone or just don't want to face the truth about the answers some don't want to answer them for whatever reason but they know what their answer is though! To me the answer to all these question is YES how do I know the answer to these question is because I'm this person. some people will say that I'm in between but I will tell you that I'm this person THE FAT OVER WEIGHT PERSON that all or most of you like to stare at look at talk about make fun of! I know what some of you are say OMG I can't believe she just said that or is sharing this with people quick we need to shut the fatty up! WELL GUESS WHAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT NOT I'M SHARING MY LAP-BAND LIFE WITH THE WORLD AND EVERYONE WHAT LIFE HAS BEEN LIKE FOR ME BEFORE AND AFTER! I'm no longer going to hide this topic I'm openly talking about it to anyone because I have grown as person and learned that I talk about I might be able to help just maybe one person out there in the world, that is my hope maybe to help someone show others that you don't have to be ashamed, scared or whatever is that you may be feeling it's okay you are not alone. This was me me last year in December before I have my weight loss operation done on July 6.2009 I my weight then was 256 LBS yes I just shared how heavy I was, not that is not my heaviest, before you get to the next question was I happy I'm happy out going person but I was not fully happy I knew that I was making the right choice to have WLS done I knew then and I know now it's not quick fix but it's the right tool for me. No I'm not skinny right I am getting healthier though day by day, this is not easy road but I'm not sorry that I chose this road because getting WLS done has been opening so many doors for me that I never thought were possible for me. Now to answer those questions:

Dose size of person really matter?

A: In today's society yes it dose we base everything on weight and size we as Americans want everything bigger and better even out food which is not good, I think we need to take hit from our foreigner friends and start to cut our protons down eat more healthy exercise more and know that bigger is not always better. When we all look as people the first thing we all notice, is their size how big or small they are instead of noticing them as person or notice them just to say hello, me I no longer look as people by size but notice them as person someone can be skinny and be bad person or then can be huge person and be bad person it dose not matter. I think we need to stop looking at size and get to know one another after all we only get to life this life once who knows what the next will hold for us.

Dose how big or small a person matter?

A: To me it dose not matter if you are tall or short big or skinny but to the rest of society it dose matter, and it should not what should matter is how healthy we are!

Dose it matter if we are fat or skinny?

A: Simple answer is yes it dose just look at all the Ad's on Tv in magazine's then parents want to know why their children have eating problem. Also this can go for parents who just let their kids sit in front of tv hello let me go outside and play for while it will do them go outside play for while it will not hurt anyone in fact plan family days out

Do we get treated differently because of this?

A: I would like to say no this dose not happen but it dose happen we get treated differently most of the time it depends on where you are at.

I know that these answers are not shock to a lot of you and to some of you the truth hurts if this is the case sorry but it's so very true. I have even had people treat me differently because they know that I had WLS done and I have told them I'm the same person just changed little that is all their is just less of me and happier person that is all. I have learned so fair that it's just nice to get out of the house take walk or even take trip somewhere walk around see new thing etc. I want to walk one of the state park trails today but the weather was not on my side I was hoping to get some great photos but that will have to wait for another day. I have never let any of those questions ever stop me from doing anything that I ever wanted to do in life I'm just not the type of person.

My second fill

I know that I'm two weeks late in posting this but things have been nuts for me lately and it's slipped my mind I'm not perfect. On October 8, 2009 I got my second fill in my band prior to this I had 5cc's in my band up until this apt, I also lost 10 LBS as well which the doctor was proud of me to lose that much in months times and so was I. He decided to add 5 1/2cc to my band which makes for total of 10 1/2 cc in my band now I can really feel it too let me tell you! I have also noticed that somethings I was eating before I can't eat now which I WAS TOLD could happen so I'm not mad, I just take these things as they come along try not to get up or pissed off about it because I knew all of this before have the operation. To was the first time that I ever got stuck episode it was horrible but I knew that if I kept drinking it would either go down or come back up, well it came back up, I must say that after it happened I felt a lot better and I did not eat the rest of my lunch either, I only took 2 bites of it too, I told my Nana to finish it if she wants because I cannot eat it. Prior to lunch I did not have nothing to eat nor did I eat anything after that what mistake I was in Barnes & Noble and my sugar got low thank goodness for Starbucks because I got cookie which I normally would not eat but needed something sweet so I got one took few bits and also got chi to drink as well my sugar did come but this tough me lesson even after episode like that I should eat something else as well so that dose not happen again. I must say that I'm glad for my second fill trust me you will know when you are do for fill

Got some new fall/winter clothes that are smaller to fit me

Yesterday I went shopping not because I was board or cause it what woman do I went because I no long have fall/winter clothing to fit me, all of my fall/winter clothes are to big on me. It felt so strange but yet at the sametime so good to be able to go into stores and not have to go to the puls size section looking and hoping that they will have something to fit me. family friend and her grand child went with us yesterday the oldest one like to shop in Areo so I went along in with them, I really had no intentions of looking for something for myslef because I did not think that there would be something in that store to fit me boy oh boy was I wrong about that! I was able to find 3/4 sleeve shirt that I like no jeans yet to fit me but they will in time. I feel like at first that they would tell me to get out we don't have nothing in here big enough to fit you, but I know that is not true they did have items in their that fit and will fit me in time to come. Another place that I found that had items that I like it Old Navy I was able to get two shirts and pair jeans in their to fit me it felt strange begin able to go in their and find jeans that fit me esp in short leganth since I'm short, it dose feel good knowing that I'm becoming healthier person then I was in fact I'm healthier person then I was this time last year that is good feeling to know this!!!!! I'm only going to become healthier as time goes on and smaller to! Don't get me wrong I'm not going nuts and buy tons of new clothes right now just enought to hold me over since I will just keep losing weight! I do hope that some of these blogs that I write about my WLS journey dose help or at least inspire people out their that are thinking about it or wanting to know what things are like.

fall and WLS

I'm sitting here reading some blogs and looking at Face book, My Space people are talking about fall, fall projects what they do when fall comes along etc. This got me thinking that maybe I should start some fall projects, go more places see more things, I think that it would be good for me to get out experience even more new things that I have not done before, because I let my weight stop me from doing things. I would like to go to pumpkin patch or apple orchard something like that just to see it maybe pick some apple and pumpkins to bring home, I guess I will have to look online for the nearest ones to me which is fine by me it might make for great day trip somewheres something to see even some great pictures to take since I love to take pictures of everything it seems like! I wonder what else I could do or try I'm open to ideas as well. As much as I hate the cold weather that is coming upon us here I have to come realize that it's much needed change since my WLS I have noticed that I'm changing as person I'm not the same person that I use to be I take more chances now I want to see the world I want to travel I even to realize that I don't even like where I work anymore! So since fall is about change I'm going to change with it as well I feel it's much needed to do this to make me even more healthier of person.
Having gone through WLS it's not easy on anyone let me tell you even your family they have to deal with the changes that are happening to you as well as yourself I know for me it's not that easy at times for my family or even for me but I know that things have to change in order for me to be the best person that I can be and healthier one at that!


Another thing about fall coming is that I have realized that I my fall/winter clothing no longer fits me any more! It's not what most of you are thinking that just read this they are not to tight or small on the in fact it's quite the opposite they are all to big on me now since I'm not as heavy as I use to be! I'm tryging to figure out weather I want to keep using the shirts that are huge one me till next year or if I want to just ahead and start to buy fall/winter clothing that fits me now? I'm not sure what I should do I guess I will have to figure this one out on my own or something. It's great feeling to know that my clothing for the fisrt time in my life are way to big on me! It's great to wake up not having knee back or hip pain! I love the fact that everytime that I step on the scale it shows that I'm losing weight! It's even better to look at myslef fully nude in my mirror and see thatI'm losing weight I use to hate to look at myself nude but now I'm starting to like what I see for the first time in my life!

I will not lie when I look at myself nude I see lot of work that needs to be done yet but I know that I will get there it take time, I have also noticed that my body is starting to fall into place the way it should look at well one thing I hope that I don't lose to much of is the girls!LOL I don't mind if I lose little but I don't want to lose alot of the LOL!

I do have some problems I am starting to ge boxes and boxes full of clothing that no longer fits me I don't know where to go with them all so I'm just going to start to sell them viva fall yard sale and Ebay or if anyone wants to contact me about buying some of my clothing please feel fee to do so.

WLS changes

It's been one month and six weeks since I had my Lap-Band operation I have lost 14 LBS since my operation which is good. I have noticed lot of changes in my life all of them are good one for the positive, for the first time in my life I have never been so happy to say this! I'm no long scared to step on the scale to see how I lost, it also nice to be on the losing side of things or as it's called the loser bench, I don't go to bed with back pain or even wake up with back pain either it feels good not have any kind of ache or pain in my life even my knee that I had operated on almost two years ago no longer bothers me either. I'm starting to sleep better at now as well before I use to wake up few times a night either cause of sleep apnea or for some other reason, now I no longer do this I tend to sleep straight through the nights now I'm glad to be getting my right rest I don't know how to act by this either at times.

I'm changing as whole person I have noticed that I'm more out going now tend to speak up more about things as where before I would try not to, I'm will to try things more now then before because I did not want to be looked at, I'm even trying to find the right person to spend my life with now as before it did not matter now it matters to me.

scrubs run small so I take and extra large in them now I'm even finding it fun to go through my clothes to see what fits and not longer fits me,if they don't fit I place them into box that I have I'm trying not to buy to many new clothes right now as who knows how long I will be able to wear them before the become to big on me! I love it now when I say something it to big on me it dose not fit I need something smaller I was never able to say this before. Yesterday Nana asked me what I wanted for my birthday I told her that I need some new scrub pants because the ones that I have are getting to big on me they are starting to fall down, so we went to Life Uniform store where she bought me three pair of Dickie pants and two shirt, I was hoping to be into large pants but I was told by the lady in the store that Dickie wooohooo, in Cherokee scrub pants I take large in them go figure she told me they tend to run big, scrub tops well I have to try them on as well because they are all made different as well. I have two tops now that are extra large now. Some other tops I tyred on I needed an two extra large so I did not get them as I have them at home.

I never thought that I would ever see the day that I would be getting smaller sometimes I think this is dream that I'm going to wake up and it's going to be all dream, I know that it's not dream at all I'm loving this I'm making the most of this! I'm using the tools that I have to the fullest. I get ask how could you go through with it? Are you sorry you did it? Are you sick all the time? I don't think I could do what you did.

My answer to how could I go though with it I tell people it's easy I want to live I want to be healthier person. As to am I sorry I did this Hell no I'm not it's the best thing that I ever did for me. No I'm not sick at all with the band, as for the the I don't think I could do what you did I tell everyone well it's easy it take will power strength support ect and most important it's all about personal choice is all.

I got my first fill

On Thursday August 13th,2009 I got my first fill in the Lap-Band. This was mile stone for me well one of many any how, I'm 5 weeks post opt so it was time to get that fist fill done. I have Large band on which is 14cc band and he fill it with 5cc saline I can kind of feel the restriction but I was told that it will take maybe another one before I full feel the effect of the fills. I'm so happy to have gotten this fill because it will help me along more with losing weight I now know it's all real it's really on it's not lie. My apatite has change dramatically over the past month I have gone from cleaning my plate to 3 bites of food and I'm full, which is normal now to maybe only take few bites of food and feel full it's good thing I'm no longer part of the clean plate club. I have noticed that sometimes I only eat 2 meals day sometime which alarmed me, so I asked Dr.Sawyna he told me that this is normal not to worry just make sure that when I eat that I get lots of protein. When I woke up this Morning Saturday I really felt the effect of the fill I was not hungry but my stoma my new stomach felt swollen which is normal for some people so I had to drink for while which helped them I had my breakfast but no lunch cause I was not hungry so it's all working and I'M feeling great.

3 Sizes down

I'm so happy I have had NSV [None Scale Victory] I have noticed that my Capri's have gotten bigger on me!!!! I'm not mad by this in fact I'm so happy by this it means that everything that I have been working for is starting to show!!!! I was out with my dad we meet someone that he knows we got talking, she could not get over how good I look she even said to me that you can see that I have lost a lot of weight. It's nice to hear people tell me that I'm loving hearing those words come out, of people's mouths I never like it before but that has changed I'm loving it now!!! I told her thank you I'm working hard at it everyday which is no lie I am, it's not always easy but I stay focused on what is important in life and to me, I was given tool to use I use it to the max. After Meeting D I said to my dad I have 2 or 3 pairs of Capri's that are to big on me they are falling off of me now, I think I need to go home and find a pair of size 22 jeans that I have and try them on see if they fit, if they are too small then I know it's just those Capri's if they fit well then I can get into that size. Soon as I got in the door I went to try them on,as I was pulling them up they felt just right not tight or anything they went right up, I did not have to fight with them like I normally would have if I felt like stuffing myself into size that was 3 sizes to small. Ladies even men don't sit their and act shock by this we have all done that esp us woman just to prove we did not gain weight or to look super cute. I came out of my room found my dad told him look I can get into them!! I normally don't do something like that I have not done that since I was little kid but I was so happy I just had to show him they fit look at me!!! I told him I think by Christmas I will be in size 18 he thinks before I will be so we shall see, the main thing is that I'm getting healthier now!! Few years ago about 5 1/2 yrs ago I was down to size 22 but I started to gain it back even thought I followed the diet to tee, my family said I should get rid of all my size 22 jeans but I would not listen to them I kept them in boxes with my winter clothes now I'm glad that I did it will save me come fall from buying new jeans that fit!!! I know that I probably will have to buy few new pair though out fall/winter but I will not have to but like whole pile. All this gets me thinking I have not had my Scrubs [my work clothes they are what people in the medical field wear] in 4 weeks or more now so I guess I better see if any of the pants or tops have gotten to big on me now,if some of the tops are big I will just wear tank top to tee shirt underneath them, but if they are super big on me to the point where I'm swimming in them or you can fit someone else in with me then I will not wear them no more. Out of all my clothes I do have to keep close eye on my work clothes since I wear them more. I will keep everyone posted on how things are going for me

1 Month banded

changes us for the good in fact it makes us open out eyes to life even new life we never thought that we could ever have! I'm not going to lie and say this has not changed me when in fact it has I'm not the same person I was year ago or even few months ago I'm fully different I'm even like the new person that I'm becoming I'm taking more chances speaking up more then I did before I'm more out going have more energy.I'm also Girl have also help me open my mind and eyes even more to explore what is out their in this world even more!!! I have always been open mind to everything in life but I am more so now then ever! I have lost total counting It has be 1month since I have had WLS I don't know where the time went it just seems to have flown by like it's nothing!!!! I'm very happy that I have reached the one month mark it's little mile stone in my journey, I know some of you are thinking what's the big deal right? Well it is because what I have gone through to this point not many people can do let alone follow what they are told to do to get here. I have even reached some of my goals granted they are not huge ones but none the less they are still goals, one goal was to be able to walk up to the Jim Thorpe memorial which I did and plan to do again,another was to walk all the way up to North Street and home which I did,drop stop taking one of my prescribed meds which I have done. Those are some pretty nice goals for just one month banded,granted I have had some let downs I have not lost lot of weight since my operation but I was told not to worry because this 6weeks is time for healing for me. I did not like hearing that but it was the truth though. Their were some days I would wake up say to myself we need to take this band off we can't do this who are we kidding!!! Then I would snap out of it, say yes we can we have done the hard part by getting it done now the rest is going to be nothng but sweet for us. It's also hard because I don't really have friends where I live they are just people that I know!!! My real friends live in Tx,Ar, round here where I live most people just say we are friends they have not called me came to see me ask if I needed anything nada, I take that back their have been 3people that have done that so I would consider them friends to me. Other then that no one else round here that clams to be friends with me has done such a thing now I KNOW who my real friends round here are!!!! WLSlearning that I love all things East meets West or West meet East,India has had my attention for as long as I can remember but now that I had WLS it's even more so now I love the food the culture, clothes,music,movies, ect the list goes one so I'm exploring this right now it's Turing into begging good thing in fact for me!! Sharell, Goripre opt and post opt weight total of 34 lbs I have lost yes you read right IDK where they went I DON'T care they are gone I feel great!!! I know you are asking is this for me can I DO this well what I did it's not for everyone their are tons of WLSopticians out their you just have to find the one that was right for you. Lap Ban was the right choice for me. You might also be wondering is WLS for me that answer is up to you it may not be right for everyone. I will tell you this WLS is not quick fix at all!!! You have to work at it,it's life style change you have to be willing to take head on like I have done along with many others. If you would like to know more about what I had done feel free to ask me I will share with you! The choice I made took me 10yrs thinking about it 2yrs researching it so I knew what I wanted to have done.

WLS PART2

I'm not saying the choice that I made was an easy one it was not, I did have to go for more test before the inurance company would even look at claim we sent them. I went for test upon tests I never thought that I would see the light at the end of the tunnel but I did. July 6,2009 I ended up having my lap band operation I was happy to get it done I know that may sound nuts or strange to most people but I know it's tool to help me make better choices in my whole life. As of today Monday I'm 3weeks post op the one thing that scares me the most is stretching out my new pouch I know it can happen but I'm trying not to let it happen to me. I don't get fill yet till Aug 13,2009 so I'm taking things as they might come.I'm on regular diet but have to be careful as to what I'm eating which I'm doing but it seems like at night I get hungry still I'm fighting that urge to eat something by drinking some water,I have seen some of the benefits of losing weight all ready I have lost 11lbs so far 10 the first week and last week another 1lbs I know that dose not sound like much but my total so far pre opt and post opt weight lost is 33lbs. I do have to take multivitamin and iron pill everyday to help me I only on 2 prescribed meds any more which happen to be for my high blood pressure which has been running normal since the operation,I'm not long on anything for my diabetes which I no long have thank GOD for yes I used the word GOD if you don't like it sorry but we all have some kind of GOD

My overnight bag

I have put some thought into what I'm going to put and bring in my overnight bag or as I call it my ready bag.

extra clothes just in case the next day I want to wear something losser or bigger then what I wore the day before.

Clean undergarments this is always must!

Glasses since I won't be able to wear my contact want to see where I'm going.

clean socks

My current book I'm reading or crochet project I'm working on in the off chance that I'm wide awake and can't sleep and to pass my time

Jacket in case I need on

hair brush and tooth bruch

hair clips or band

soft little pillow for the ride home to soften the seatbelt on my belly

those are the things that are going to come with me. if you think their is something I should add or left out feel free to let me know.

Started my Liquid diet

I started my liquid diet today Saturday I can't have no solid foods at all this weekend to me it's going to be worth it though!!!! I'm not really hungry at all for some strange reason not sure I thought that I would be, even when I was on the South Beach diet I was not even hungry hungry so I guess this is all plus things for me. I have to be at the Hospital Monday at 9:30 I was told the operation will take about 30-45 minutes to do, as soon as Dr. Sawyna is done they will start to wake me up I was told for each person this different on how quick they wake up even pain level so I'm glad that I can take pain that it dose not really bother me, I will be in the hospital over night I will get to come home Tuesday. Today I have not gone out to places that serve food just to avoid that temptation it's really not bothering me not to eat solid food right now,if I get or feel hungry I just drink and it goes aways. I'm not scared about getting the operation or going under I was the same way when I had my knee done I guess it's cause I you tubed the operation and watched it. Yes I have been told that I'm not normal wanting to watch those things but I want to fully know what they are going to do to me. I was told not to be lot with me to the hospital since I'm only going to be in overnight I will post blog on ready bag list as what I'm going to be taking. now as for my diet for today and Sunday here is what I can have to eat: Keep in mind I cannot have nothing red to eat or drink the reason for this is in case I vomit or something it's not red and they don't confuse it with blood.

Apple,cranberry[white cranberry] or grape juice[or combinations]
Gelatin[jello]
broth
coffee or tea without milk or cream
water
Crystal light
Popsicles
Gatorade
I know that this dose not sound good but it what I have to have and since I'm not really hungry it works for me.

My past two days

Thursday was busy day for me I had to go for my per admission blood work, not to long after I got up the house phone started to ring the first call I got was to let me know that I meet my insurance deductible and that I have copay of 2,000 but since I work for the hospital they are giving me 50% off the price it will only cost me 1,000 which I can make in payment. How nice of them right. The second call was from the nursing sup to tell me they wanted me at the hospital 2pm on Friday to meet with the bariatric team to answer any question that I might have. Thursday was busy for me I went for my blood work came home did something around the house and went to work, it also happened to be my last day at work since Friday I start my medical leave.

Foward on day to Friday, I still by lunch time did not get the phone call to tell me what time I had to be at the hospital, so I went and had my last lunch with my dad what I mean by this is Friday is the last day I could eat regular food. After words I went to my 2pm apt with the bariatric team I was glad kind of that my dad went with me so he would know little bit of what was going to happen to me since he really has not been that supportive and gone to a lot of my apts with me or read up on what was going to get done to me. Wish he would have that pisses me off! If my mom were alive she would have. This is another blog! We meet with the nursing supervisor dietitian's and social work they answered all of my question and made me feel really comfortable about getting this done it put it all in check for me and I realized that day wow this is for real it's really going to happen to me now it's no more talk it real! While their I found out what time I have to be their I even spoke with the staff to get some of the paper work out of the way so that it's less I have to do when I come in on Monday morning, I even spoke with the ajesthetist who was so nice she is sweet she went over everything with me answered all of my question that I had she made me feel comfortable about going to sleep for about 30-45 minutes. I came home updated my lap-band.com info btw it's great site so is obsietyhelp.com too. I had my last snacks and suppers stayed up for while and went to bed. Those were my past two days.

I got insurance approval

I got phone call this morning form my surgeons office telling me that my insurance company did approve my operation and it's going to happen 15June 2009, I did not think that I would hear back so quick considering how insurance companies like to take their time when it comes to certain things, man oh man I was wrong. I have to go tomorrow to get my pre-admission blood work the hospital will be calling me to let me know what time I have to be their next Monday!!!! I'm not scared to have this done because I have done my homework on it for long time now, I think the scary part is going to be after all the changes that are going to happen to me and my body which I will keep everyone posted on since I will be bloging about it all the time. I have have to start liquid diet this weekend in prep for it but I will post more about this tonight when I get home from work.