WTF!?

I hate my scale! I'm really hoping it's broken. I'm working my rear off (literally) on this diet and the scale doesn't seem to move any more! I'm able to wear pants that I used to couldn't zip up, yet the scale hasn't moved. It's pissing me off. I know I'm eating about half the calories or less than I used to eat. I figured I would have lost like 20lbs by now?! WTF!!!

28 days till surgery!

I cannot wait for 9/9/09/@9!!! 28 more days! The pre-op diet is still very hard. I have been having like 2 or 3 great days then I have a day where I screw up. I am proud to say that I haven't binged since I started the pre-op diet though. That is a good thing for me. :) I can also say that even when I didn't follow the pre-op precisely that it was still better choices than I would have done before. I have also switched to soy protein shakes and those are much better. They still taste like crap, but my stomach is handling them better. :)

The even more dreaded BEFORE pictures

These are hard for me to look at, but this is the truth. These are ones that I hide from others seeing, but this IS how the world sees me. :( These pictures speak the truth from 2000 to now. I will dig up some older photos later.

Is it wrong?

Is it wrong to hope I look like this after the weight is off? hehe :)

The dreaded Protein Shake

Seriously, I HATE Protein shakes. My dietitian put me on a special pre-op diet that makes me gag. I drink a shake for breakfast, one for lunch, and a dinner that is healthy. The first day or two was fine, but now I am so sick of protein shakes that the smell makes me nauseous! They taste terrible. They are too sweet and gritty. They taste thick and gross. I cannot find a single flavor that doesn't turn my stomach. I have to follow this diet until surgery! Then I have to do only protein shakes for 2 weeks after surgery! GAG!!!!! Honestly, I would rather not eat than drink another one of these. I'm trying to get creative on how to drink them now. This morning I had one mixed in with a sugar free Cappuchino. It was better than mixed with milk. I like this way much better. I am also going to try mixing it with yogurt tomorrow. I wish I could just take the junk in a pill. lol

About the Surgery I'm getting

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

The laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy leads to weight loss by reducing the size of the stomach, making you feel full after eating only small portions. Approximately 75% of the stomach is removed, leaving behind a smaller, tube-shaped stomach (or “sleeve”). This limits the amount of food that is required to feel full. In addition, the portion of the stomach that makes the hormone Ghrelin, which is responsible for making us feel hungry, is removed.

This is the newest weight loss surgery procedure, and is performed laparoscopically by Dr. Roller. Advantages of the procedure include no implantation of an artificial device, no re-routing of the intestinal tract, and less frequent follow-up as compared to the lap band. The primary disadvantage of this procedure is that there are no long-term data available regarding weight loss, as it is the newest of the procedures, and the sleeve tube could dilate (or stretch) with time. Preliminary weight loss results are very promising and are very similar to those of the Gastric Bypass procedure.

Dr. Roller is a national teacher/preceptor for Covidien on the sleeve gastrectomy, teaching a course once per month to surgeons from across the country on how to perform the laparoscopic sleeve gastrecctomy. He has trained over 20 surgeons in the technique. He will teach a Masters Sleeve Gastrectomy course in Portland, Oregon in September, 2009.

Surgery is Scheduled!!!

Surgery has been scheduled! I am approved for surgery! I had all my testing done and all is good. I had multiple blood tests, an EKG, an X-ray of my lungs, and a tube down my throat where they looked at my stomach. All came back fine. I did have slightly high Triglycerides, but was told they will go down with weight loss. I also found out that I have some spots in my stomach that are sort of like Acid Reflux. I have to take Prilosec for that now. Other than that I have a clean bill of health and am approved for surgery. My surgery is scheduled for 9-9-09 @ 9 am. lol It's with Dr. Roller at Roller Weight Loss Institute. He is an amazing doctor. He actually teaches the Sleeve surgery I am getting all across the country. Here is his bio: http://www.rollerweightloss.com/dr-roller.html
I am excited and nervous. I feel like I have a second chance at life!!