Friday Roll Call!!

Hi All: Well now that I have gotten my approval letter from BC/BS I guess this surgery is real. We have friends from MA. coming down for the weekend. So hopefully the weather holds out & we can hang out in the pool and let the kids swim. I want to pack my back for the hospital this weekend and get my home in order. This time is really flying by. I moved the puppy to my friends house this afternoon. I was a little sad but I KNOW she has a great new home and will be spoiled rotten. It was the best thing for all. I have more bags of clothes that I do not plan on wearing ever again to drop off at Good Will tomorrow. I hope I can work this new tool or I just got rid of a ton of clothes for nothing!!! I have worked out a plan for my 4 year old while I am in the hospital. He will stay at my parents house for a few days while I am in the hospital. He will have a ball. JA you are up soon!!! I wish you the best of luck. To all you pre-op's hang in there it seems like forever but trust me it will happen. To the post op's thanks for all of your support and advise. To my angel thanks for the cards and for being there for me. You are all awesome. Take Care, Chryssie

Hi Chryssie, I'm glad all is well with the doggie. Yes, we are almost there! I can't believe it. Enjoy your weekend... xoxo JA

Hi Everyone, Quasi-lurker here. Well, just got home from a make-up soccer practice for my son from the rain earlier in the week. I'm scheduled for the endoscopy Monday, at 1PM. Not too thrilled about that because I cannot eat or drink after midnight. I don't care so much about the fasting, but not even having a glass of water or Crystal Light until somewhere around 3PM doesn't sound so good. Well, it's all for a good cause. I quit smoking a while ago, for the surgery, and better health, but I'm having a really hard time with it as the surgery comes nearer. I haven't given in, but I notice it and smell it everywhere. Any former smoker knows what I mean. This is really tough. Next week I have the priority testing, with the gallbladder ultrasound, blood, ect. I'm hoping they skip the cardio workup because it would waste insurance money. I had a full workup for surgery clearance after my first appointment with the surgeon back in April. I'm still having a lot of emotions, excited and scared all at once. Sometimes I think I'm just plain going crazy. Writing the letters and all that too. Trying to stock up on stuff (protein, ect.) for after the surgery when I can find it on sale, or at least in small amounts in case I don't like something. My friend gave me 6 cans of the Vanilla Carb Solutions powder from Walmart. I think I may keep one and exchange the others for different things to broaden the variety. Tommorow we're going to a "parade" of sorts in Deep River. Muskets, cannons, fife (sp?) and drum, the whole bit. It's supposed to be a beautiful day. Sunday I need to clean, do laundry, chores, ect. Then I need to get measured for a dress for my friends wedding at the end of November. I'm the Maid of Honor, and I have NO IDEA what size to get. So I'll leave that nugget of wisdom for the people who work at the bridal shop. Any ideas what the average person looses in 4 months? I'm sure either way it will have to be altered. I just don't want it to be half the dress. Anne

Just wanted to chime in here. I've been moving for the past couple of weeks now, jumping from place to place and have finally settled down. The only good thing is, I've gotten tons of exercise from climbing 3 flights of stairs over and over again. I had my 6 week follow up on the 7th of July. I'm down 41 lbs. now. I guess I should be happy with that. I unpacked a bunch of clothes that I've never been able to wear and guess what?! I have to hurry up and wear them this summer, b/c they're already loose around the waist. That was a good feeling.. to put on something that I couldn't even pull up over my thighs before. Eating is going well.. just trying to get myself to slow down. I haven't been all that great about eating good stuff or my protein. This week I'm going much lower carbs and upping my protein. I'm trying my best to steer away from bad habits. I often wonder if I'm going to succeed. I know the surgery is good and it can do good things.. I'm just concerned I'm not going to use my tool properly. I guess old habits die hard. So, that's something I need to get gung-ho about and change. That's the oh so exciting tale for this week. Good to see everyone is doing well. Take care all, Michelle

Hey Michelle, I read this post with great interest. I've just hit the 6 week mark and am experiencing the same fears and concerns. I'm just getting to the point where I'm not afraid to try some new things in moderation and with the little success I'm having, I feel like I could fall back into old habits real fast. I'm also spending the weekend going through endless bags of clothes. I'm happy to find most of them are too big. The smaller ones I've had so long, they are reminiscent of the early 80's, so they're out too! (Ew! Huge shoulder pads like Crystal Carrington!) Lots of my friends are happy to be getting some new outfits and the rest will be going to good will. Thanks so much for sharing your frustration. I hope it's comforting to know there are some of us who are in the same boat. Hope you any everyone else reading the roll call, have a great weekend! Dee

Hi to all, I'll be selfish and talk about me this time! If I would have planned this WLS journey out extensively, I would have realized I did not have 6 continuous months in a supervised weight loss program. So I receive my letter from Dr. Bells office, and lo(w) and behold, I'm missing 6 months in a supervised weight loss program. So..... all is not lost (none actually) because a new WW 14 week session starts up this Thursday at my place of employ. There I will make the greatest loss attempt in my fat pitiful existence. Who knows, I may not need the surgery, and besides, if I can't do 6 months straight, how the heck would I be able to do the rest of my life? Not really a question. Anywho.... I'll be checkin in with progress reports periodically, so I won't lose touch with all you fine losers. Have a great day! and remember......... "You are what you eat!" what? did i just say that? that has to be the stupidist phrase I've ever heard!! See ya all, hang in there. Mike Mc

Hey Mike, Sorry you have the delay. I know that more and more insurance companies are requiring that 6 month supervised diet thing, especially Cigna and Aetna (I think). I am glad to hear you have it all in perspective. Just double check with your insurance company whether or not the diet program has to be physician supervised. I am not sure if all of them accept WW or any of the other similar programs. Best to be sure. You could always ask you PCP for a monthly weigh in appt. so you have documentation in your doctor's notes of being supervised....... Hope you won't disappear on us. We miss you guys around here. I don't think I am going to make it to New London again this month as I am moving next weekend and things are nuts!!! Take care and keep me updated on how you are doing please Linda