I'm a Newbie

Hi All, I'm Carolyn, from NY, still in the pre-op stages of my journey.  I found my surgeon, I've had my psycologicol evaluation (my friends said why go, we all know you are certifiable LOL), I've had my nutritional evaluation and I've just waiting for my insurance approval.  We are shooting for the end of March, early April as a surgery date.  I'm married, with three kids, two girls 11, and one boy, 15.  I guess the best way to put it is, I'm tired of being on the side lines of life and I'm ready to be in the game.  Please follow along in my blog.  I'm looking forward to getting know everyone.

Hi Carolyn!  Welcome to the board, everyone here is so nice and helpful!!  Good luck with your journey- I just had my surgery on 1/25 and I do not regret it at all.. Good Luck!
Liz

hey, liz, how are u doing?  u are really doing great at the weight loss.  keep up the good work. it is also great to see a newbie helping a newbie.  vick

Hi Vick!  I am doing great!  I am doing good on the puree, but find myself eating alot of the same thing- right now I am on a cottage cheese kick- which isn't bad because it has a lot of protein in it, today I want to try mashed yams with some greek yogurt mixed in.  I am doing a protein smoothie for breakfast until I can have eggs (which is this monday!)  wow I thought the 5 weeks on puree foods would last forever, but this week will be week 3 already - so its not that bad!

Thanks,  I am trying to only weigh myself once a week, but its hard to stay away from the scale- now that it is going down!!  I am walking for exercise now until I meet with my surgeon on the 25th to see what they say what other exercises I can start.

I know this board has helped me so much and anwsered so many questions I had/have so I just want to help everyone else out as much as I can.  This board is such a great support group!

carolyn, welcome to the family.  sounds like you are really ready to have this thing done and start losing weight.  way to go, girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  be sure and keep us all advised of what is going on so we can be there for you. sounds like u have your hands full with those three kiddos. vick

Hi there Carolyn! I'm Terri. I moved from Upstate NY (Syr area) to Dallas TX 13 1/2 yrs ago. I'm having Lap Band on 2/19. Been doing dietician meetings and losing weight on my own, had the psych eval, Upper GI & stress echo and the 2 week ahead Pre-Op meeting w/my Dr this week. My kids are 27, 21 & 19 and I have twin granddaughters age 15 mo we care for every weekend. As we are only a few weeks apart in our progress this will be fun to keep in touch. I have about 143 lbs to goal I think about now... having lost 27 lbs already (woo hoo!). So your girls, are they twins or just close in age? What part of NY? I'm on this site couple lunch hours a week...

Hi Terri, I'm Downstate, in Orange Countym NY...close to NJ.  I have to be careful about how much I lose before my surgery date as I am at that borderline of being qualified (BMI of 41.2) a difference of a few pounds can decide my fate with my insurance company.  I have 107 lbs to go to goal...what a great feeling it will be to be able participate in life again.

My daughter is 11, and my step daughter is also 11...that can be either a blessing or a curse depending on their moods and my step son is 15.  I spend the first 9 years of my daughter's life as a single mom....we had a lot of good times, but its nice to be settled and part of a wonderful family.

Hi Terri, welcome to the group.  Great to have a close surgery date.  Enjoy the grandchildren, they grow so quickly.  Hugs

i just had my surgery on 1/25 also and have found it very difficult.  Not from the physcial although that is tough recoverying and getting your strangth back but mentally this is very hard.  I feel isolated and distant from my oldlife of family and friends and that all included food.  My daughter's birthday is the 14th and I can't even eat a piece of cake to celebrate (not that I want the cake, yes unusual) but I feel like I have cut myself off froma huge part of my life.  I can't go eat out with my husband or take the kids out for dinner or order pizza anymore.  Again it is not the food but the socialization that goes along with it.  So make sure you have a good support system and if you can keep seeing a therapist to talk.  You will need it more that your know.  I see mine next week and can't wait to unload.  Jenay

Hi Jenay, congrats on getting to the losing side of surgery.  I too thought that my social life was done.  Now that I am a few months out, I do go out with my husband, just not to fast food places.  Attend holiday events and focus more on the people and less on the food.  My portions are smaller and even at a family gathering, no noticed that I had less on my plate, too busy talking.

I use OH for lots of my support, still working on teaching my family what a carb is.  Sometimes hubby seems to get it, then I realize that he does not.  Good to have someone to unload on.  Take care, Hugs.