Positive Reinforcement and Golf?

John Daly in the swing with his new bod and clothes!

I feel like I am being an approval seeker. But I guess the more positive reinforcement I get about the Lap Band, the better I feel about it. I went to see my beloved Russian PCP yesterday to tell her about my decision to do the Lap Band and she gave me her blessing and thinks it is a good idea. I really respect her and like her so much. She is going to go through my files and try to put together enough documentation in order to move up the surgery so I don't have to wait 6 months. Keep your fingers crossed! Then, my husband went and saw his gastrointestinal doctor this week and mentioned that I am considering the surgery and he too gave his thumbs up about the surgery! He especially likes it because it is helpful with GERD. Last night my total jock brother called me to tell me he saw something on the golf channel about the golfer John Daly having just lost 40 lbs due to recent lap band surgery. So that is all my brother needed to hear...thus another thumbs up!! Check out his outfit? I love it! Maybe this will prompt me to dye my hair blond and wear pink and orange someday? Why not!!

Saks Fifth Avenue and "Normal Sizes"

I have worked a part time job (in addition to my regular job) at Saks Fifth Ave for about 18 years. It astounds me that I have been there so long. I started as Christmas help one year and never left. The most I ever worked there was about 15-18 hours a week and I am down to one night at the moment. Things are very slow these days, but I am so glad to still be there even the one night. It is a great place to work and the store is like my second home. I work in the Men's department. So, I may not make much money there, especially these days, but I do have a phenomenal discount! Through the years I have collected some great pieces. (although not lately. . . these days I am into T.J. Maxx ) Anyway, I have always shopped in their Salon Z department. (14-24) Last night it was very slow and I was walking around the second floor looking at "regular" size women's clothes. I picked up a few size large tops, and a couple size 14 pants and can't fathom ever being back in those sizes someday. (I was literally standing in the middle of the floor holding up a pair of size 14 white jeans, and trying to picture my huge (ass) derriere in them.) I hate to put the cart before the horse so to speak, but it would be fun for a change, to be able to not exclusively shop in the "big girls" department!

Detroit~Michigan~Layoffs and Cobra Insurance

Well it has happened to us. My husband was laid off this week. I know everyone is affected by this crappy economy in one way or another, but if you live in Michigan, especially in the Detroit area, you are pretty much #$%&%@!!! Anything and everything we do here in this area is automotive related. So, it looks like we will be going on Cobra starting next month. I am not sure what to do now. Should I continue with the proceedings and try to get banded, while I have insurance? Or hold off until, things are more stable and he is reemployed? I guess my worry is, what if I have complications down the road at some point and we are not insured? My husband thinks we should go for it now and deal with what ever comes up later, then. Not a good time here in Michigan.

263 ENDS

Well, I started the program at Beaumont Hospital yesterday and met with the physician. They did lots of blood work, like 6 vials and an EKG. My BMI IS 44 and I weighed in at a whopping 263. I have appointments scheduled next month with the dietitian, the exercise psysiologist a psychologist for my psych evaluation, and again with the doc for appt #2. My insurance requires 6 months of documentation in a medically supervised WL program. Unless I get my PCP to sign off. Anyway, the ball is rolling so that is the good part. I made the leap so to speak. That evening I went to the hospital's Club Bariatrix support group meeting where one of the 2 surgeons in the program were speaking. He is an accomplished RnY surgeon but has not started doing the Lap Band in his practice yet. He has assisted the other surgeon with the procedure. He is getting started and needs to set up 3 people in one day to get his certification. Anyway, all the people in this meeting were RnY patients and not one Lab Bander. (just my luck) Everyone there looked like they had lost a lot of weight and I really can't say anyone looked "healthy". Everyone had a drawn out saggy, thinning hair look about them. It was really disheartening. I really need to get intouch with some other Lap Banders. As far as the surgeon goes. . . I am signed up with the other surgeon in the practice who has done about 150 LapBands. But I may end up going with the other surgeon because he happens to be my long lost second cousin, and I figure I can call him up and drive him nuts with any problems or questions I have.

My Big Fat Greek Easter pig out! Oink Oink Oink

It isn't bad enough that I celebrate traditional Easter Sunday with my husband and his family only to be followed this year, one week later with Greek Easter! For those of you that don't know, it is a day filled with eating literally tons of delicious home made Greek foods. Roasted Lamb, done outside on a spit just like in my Big Fat Greek Wedding, except we do ours in the back yard in stead of on the front lawn like the movie! Our side dishes include: Pastitsio (Greek version of Lasagna made with bechamel cream sauce)Spanakopita (Spinach Pie), garlic lemon roasted potatoes, basmati rice, stewed green beans in tomato sauce, cooked and marinated fresh beets, a huge Greek Salad with feta cheese, dyed red Easter eggs, breads, cheeses, and I am sure other stuff I am forgetting about. And you have to taste it all, because it is all just soooo good. So, this year I am sure I will be stuffing myself silly, cause I still can. But next year if all goes well and I am banded, it will be a whole different story. And I won't be as fat as I am this year either!
By the way, there is no coincidence that I scheduled my initial medical screening for the day after Easter....oh my! I will for sure tip the scales after that meal. Good, maybe they will say, forget the 6 month required waiting period....let's take her straight to surgery!

To Lap Band or Not to Lap Band that is the Question

I started looking into the lap band process about a month ago. I have gone to 3 free seminars at Beaumont Hospital. I took my husband to the second one with me. He is very supportive in this decision and is helping me through the thought process. I am really lucky to have him. I on the other hand am still not 100% convinced. I need to lose 100 pounds. That is a fact. Can I lose it on my own (again) and keep it off? Most likely not. Do I need a tool to help me get the weight off? Yes, for sure. Do I want to go through bariatric surgery and have my insides re-plumbed.? Not really. So, the Lap Band even with its downfalls (nothing is perfect) seems like the best route to go but I am still not sure. So I made my medical exam appointment for April 20, 2009 and I am giving myself til then to make up my mind. I just ordered 3 books from Amazon about the Lap Band which should be a help. That and all the great things I am reading on this very helpful site. I am not hearing a lot of negative, which is a good thing. So that is where I am today.

By the way these are the books I ordered:

"Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery" Jessie H. Ahroni Ph.D. A. R. N. P.

"LAP-BAND Companion" Mark J. Watson

"Lap-Band for Life" Ariel Ortiz Lagardere