Healing.

I'm 5 days post-band.

Healing is going well, except I really wish they would figure out a way to remove more of the gas that they pump you up with when they preform abdominal surgery.

I feel like I'm 8 months pregnant and pumped up like a beach ball.
Without the uncomfortable bloating from this excess gas, I'd feel great!
And it's absorbing a little more every day.

I'm still on a full-liquid diet for the next week or so, thats the hard part!

I'm getting really sick of sweet things.
Almost everything I can eat is sweet.
protein shakes
drinks
sugar-free Jello
Sugar free pudding
sugar free ice-pops

you can only drink so much broth!

There are times I feel really hungry and my stomach is growling wanting some real food.
But most of the time, it's "head hunger".

I mean, I became this fat for a reason....
NOT because I only ate what my body needed to survive and be healthy...

I ate because I like it!
I enjoy food!
I enjoy cooking and eating with friends and family.
I ate when I was upset,
I ate when I was bored.
I ate when I was happy and celebrating.
I ate out of habit.

This is where my band will come into play.
These bad habits of mine won't go away....
But now I have the tool to help me keep the amount of food I consume under control when I DO eat.

I've been pretty grumpy about the liquid diet stage,
Until I hopped onto the scale this morning and saw I've lost almost 40lbs since I started my pre-op diet!

I'm on my way!!!

Banded!

My band was put in place Tuesday.
The surgery went off without a hitch.

When the Man-of-My-Dreams and I got to the hospital my nerves kicked in big time.
Waiting in the waiting room before they called me back didn't help much.

Then I got to put on my oh-so-very-stylish hospital gown and got ready.
The anesthesiologist came in to talk to me and he made me feel so much better.
It didn't hurt that he was a cutie pie!
I told him he could give me whatever he wanted and I'd be fine with it.

After a quick hug and kiss from the Man-of-My-Dreams, I was off to the OR.
The next thing I knew, I was waking up in the recovery room.
I had a wonderful nurse there with me who kept saying what I great attitude I had, I think it was just because I kept making jokes tho...

After I was more awake they walked me over to a cool x-ray thingie and had me do a swallow test, you could actually see the liquid go through your system and band, they don't want to send you home until they are sure your not too swollen to allow liquid past your band.

They went and got the-Man-of-My-Dreams, he helped me get dressed and we were outta there!
Once we got back to the hotel, I spent most of the day sleeping off the good drugs Dr. Cutie gave me in the OR.

I felt better than I thought I would.
Yes, there is pain. But nothing like I expected!
It's amazing how much holding a small pillow over your tummy helps after surgery!

I have 5 small incisions.
The largest one (maybe an inch and a half long) is where they placed my port. It is the most painful, which is understandable, because they stuck something in there and left it in there!

Wednesday I had more pain.
It's amazing how much you use your abdominal muscles!
Once they have been cut, you realize it!

We are back home and I'm recovering well.
I feel like I've been hit by a Mac Truck, but it's tolerable.

This is the beginning of my new life!
Every change, even for the better, hurts.. right?

There is no turning back now....

I'm sitting here in a hotel in Decater Texas. (right outside Dallas/Fort Worth)

Tomorrow...

• I meet my new boyfriend, Dr. Stowers , in person.
• Attend a 4 hour Lap-Band education class.
• Register at the hospital.

Tuesday morning I'll be Banded!

Oh.... My..... Goodness!!!

This is really gonna happen!

The Man-of-My-Dreams is here with me, thank goodness.
Between he and Dr. Stowers, I'm in great hands.

Now....
How to calm my nerves.
I'm excited, nervous, and scared all at once.

This is something I've worked so hard for...
I guess I just can't believe It is finally really happening!

I'll keep you posted on how things are progressing...

Liquid Diets Kinda Suck and Kinda ROCK!

Well, I'm on day 4 of my total liquid diet.
And let me tell ya.... It STINKS!!

Cooking food for your family and not even being able to taste it to check the seasoning, then sitting down with a glass of protein drink Sucks!

Walking through the kitchen and finding yourself grabbing a handfull of nuts only to have to put them back Sucks!

Getting to the bottom of your drink from Sonic then throwing away the cherry Sucks!

The anger I surprisingly felt towards everyone around me Sucks!

The fact that most everything I am aloud to eat drink is sweet and I'd really like something savory instead of chicken broth Sucks!

Cutting cheesecake and serving it to my family and not even licking the knife Sucks!

BUT!...

The 19lbs I've Lost in the past three weeks ROCKS!!!
Ha!

4 more days to go!

I miss chewing!

Well, my first week or so of the pre-op diet went well.

I was actually really proud of myself!
Even on vacation with my sister and mother, I did well and stuck to low-fat/low calorie meals.

Yesterday, I started the liquid only portion of the diet.
This part is not so fun.
I never realized how much I'd miss food.
Note.. I did NOT say I missed something in my stomach, I miss food!
I miss chewing, and the act of eating.
The taste.
The texture.
The family dinner ritual.

Cooking yummy meals for my family then sitting down to eat watery broth doesn't bring joy to my soul.

But... I am doing this.
And... I will keep doing this.
And... I will continue to bitch to you about it.
So... I'm thinkin we all have something unpleasant to deal with don't we?

Two Weeks From Today.....

Two weeks from today...
I will be on my way to a healthier me.

Two weeks from today...
I'll have no more excuses.

Two weeks from today...
I'll lose one of my biggest (and favorite) coping mechanisms.

Two weeks from today...
Will be the start of my last chance.

Two weeks from today...
I will have back up.

Two weeks from today...
I will start eating to live.... NOT living to eat.

Two weeks from today...
I will be on my way to feeling better about myself.

Two weeks from today...
I will need to start saving for SMALLER clothes instead of bigger ones.

Two weeks from today...
I will have the tool to help me change my body, my self esteem, my energy level...
My life!

Two Weeks From Today...
My new life starts.