Becky J
All the stuff from my old profile!
Mar 01, 2009
I'm hoping to have LapBand surgery very soon. I'm just waiting for insurance company approval and then I'm on my way to Bandlandia!
Update: I'm having surgery on April 6, 2004. I can't believe it's finally happening!
4/21/04 - I've just finished the two week full liquid diet and have moved on to pureed food. This is exciting new territory! Surgery went very well and I experienced very little pain. The only thing I didn't plan on is that I was sent home on oxygen (which I hated!). I'm off the oxygen now and everything is going very well. In fact, I spent most of last week in Tucson putting on a party for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary and had to remind myself to take it easy since I just had surgery. At my week after appointment, I'd lost 11 pounds. So far, so good!
5/6/04 - I'm officially one month out of surgery. I've lost 22 pounds and am very happy with that. Even better, I'm becoming a gym rat and am doing circuit training and cardio on alternate days. Whoda thunk it? I am finally on soft foods and off the pureed ones. Seems everything I pureed ended up looking like Alpo - not attractive! It is exciting to me to feel that I actually do have some restriction already. I have found that I generally need to get my food in by early afternoon, because in the evening I'm just too full and kind of bloated. I don't know what that's about, but I'll take it. Pushing so hard to get this surgery was a very good decision and definitely worth all the effort!
5/20/04 - I had my first fill on Monday. It was a piece of cake! The PA (who I think is absolutely adorable!) did it quickly and fairly painlessly. Apparently I had .3 cc in the band already and he added 1 cc. I do feel a little more restricted and am working hard on bandster rules. The hardest one for me to follow is no drinking with meals. I've always been a big water drinker at meals and it's a tough habit to break. The best news of all is that I'm down 26 pounds. I'm also working out at my local gym doing circuit training 3 times a week and I try to get in an extra cardio day too. I'm so proud of me!
6/8/04 - To fill or not to fill? When I got my first fill the doctor's office told me I could come back in two weeks for another fill if I thought I needed more. Some days I'm very restricted, others there's nothing. Now I know exactly what people mean when they say that their band is a fickle bitch. I think I'll call and see what they have to say. I'm down 31 pounds, which I'm ecstatic about. I'm also still working out regulary and loving the energy I feel. Sometimes I look at the scale or measuring tape with absolute disbelief that this is actually working so well.
7/12/04 - Had a second fill in the middle of June. It really hurt! I was so surprised because the first one didn't hurt at all. But, I have to say, the benefits far outweigh the very temporary pain. I am feeling good restriction. I have to be very careful with what and how fast I eat or I experience pain. Chew, chew, chew (I sound like a train)! I am getting close to the magical 50 pound mark and getting excited. I have never lost 50 pounds before - it's like a giant milestone for me. I wonder how it will feel to lose 75, then 100 pounds. I'll let you know when I find out.
8/4/04 - Stuck! My weight loss has come to a standstill for some reason. I've been stuck at the same weight for about a month, but am trying not to get disappointed. I'm working out a lot and am losing inches, just not pounds. It has to come off, right? I'm eating well, so I'm thinking it's just my body taking some time to catch up. Still, I will be thrilled when the damn scale budges. This is a weight I was at for a long time a few years ago, so I'm wondering if there's some validity to the set point theory.
I have an appointment at Dr. Johnell's on Aug. 10 so I'll have to see what the powers-that-be can tell me about this. I don't think I need a fill, but I'll talk with Chad or Paula about it and see what they think. The good thing is that I'm not feeling too depressed about this stall. In the past, something like this always caused me to just say "to hell with it" and eat crap, but I know this is working and will just take it's sweet time.
8/26/04 - I had my third fill on 8/24 and am not sure how helpful it is yet, but I'll give it a little time. The good news is that I finally broke my long plateau and have officially lost 50 pounds as of today. Woo Hoo to me! The truth is I've been a little sick and experiencing some stomach trouble - I'll spare you the details - but some of the weightloss might be from that. Doesn't matter, I'm taking it!
9/15/04 - Down to 219! That's minus 55 ugly pounds. I haven't been here for a very long time and it's very cool. I don't want to be too impatient, but I can't wait to be under 200.
11/18/04 - Had another fill (my fourth) a couple of weeks ago. I'm at 2 cc and pretty tight. The scale is stuck again though and I'm not quite sure why. It's possible that I'm not eating enough, so today I'm trying to have a higher calorie day. All I know is that it's gotta come off! I've changed my workouts and am doing more lifting than before. Maybe my stall is all this muscle! I can't wait till I can actually see all these hard-earned muscles! I feel them underneath the skin and fat and am hopeful that someday soon they'll come out and show themselves.
2/05/05 - Oops, haven't updated in a while. I'm home alone, sick as a dog and feeling kind of lonely. The only good thing is that I weighed myself this morning and found that I've finally entered onederland and am down 75 pounds. How big a deal is that? I'm so happy. The other good news is that my sweet husband surprised the kids and me last night with plans for a Windjammer Cruise this June. Now there's some incentive to look decent in a pair of shorts or even (gasp!) a bathing suit. I'm going to have to start working a little harder at this band thing to get there! Truly, this is a dream come true and I can't wait to frolic on tropical islands in my new body. What a difference a year makes.
I'm still working out a lot - usually 5 days a week. I'm pretty proud of myself for that and I have to laugh (to myself of course) when I'm at the gym and lifting way more than some of the guys. Just call me Wonder Woman!
April 19,2005 - My year anniversary passed and I was too busy to even acknowledge it! My daughter and I met my mother in San Francisco for a quick girls' trip that week. It was so much fun! And I gotta say, flying minus 78 pounds is so much easier. Last year, right after my surgery I flew to Arizona and didn't fit the plane's seat belt. I was too embarrassed to ask for an extender, so I "faked" having the seat belt on. Never again! There was a whole lot of room left over on the seat belt this time and it was such a relief.
In looking back over the year, I have to say that this has been a wonderful, wonderful journey. I did think I would have lost more by now, but honestly, I'm not being real good about following rules right now. I'm down 78 pounds and would like to lose at leat 40 more. I need to get my head back in the game and "get 'er done!" As a result of losing weight, my thyroid is all out of whack again. I've been on a huge dose of synthroid for years and now that I'm smaller, I needed to lessen the dose. My PCP assures me I will feel less tired soon. I sure hope so, because lately I feel like crap. So, onward and downward!
Shopping has become a very interesting thing. Before, if I could find something to fit that wasn't too horrible, I bought it. Now, I never have a clue what's going to fit - and then, if it does, a lot of times I don't like it. I tried on bathing suits this week and ran from the dressing room screeching with horror. Yeah, they fit, but jeez louise, they sure as hell didn't look good! I am buying lots of stuff from the "regular people" section of stores, but due to my belly, still need to buy pants in the "plus size" section. I can't wait to never enter that section again! I'm already planning that I will need a tummy tuck when my weight's where I want it. If I can afford it, I'm getting my arms done too. I don't think they're supposed to keep waving for five minutes after I've stopped!
Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Michael W. Johnell, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Insurer Info:
United Health Care, PPO
I was very happy to be approved for LapBand surgery on the first try. I specifically switched to UHC when I had the opportunity because I had read that they are band friendly. My only complaint is that it took 8 weeks to get an approval. Looking back, that doesn't sound like that long, but when I was waiting it felt like hell!
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Update: I'm having surgery on April 6, 2004. I can't believe it's finally happening!
4/21/04 - I've just finished the two week full liquid diet and have moved on to pureed food. This is exciting new territory! Surgery went very well and I experienced very little pain. The only thing I didn't plan on is that I was sent home on oxygen (which I hated!). I'm off the oxygen now and everything is going very well. In fact, I spent most of last week in Tucson putting on a party for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary and had to remind myself to take it easy since I just had surgery. At my week after appointment, I'd lost 11 pounds. So far, so good!
5/6/04 - I'm officially one month out of surgery. I've lost 22 pounds and am very happy with that. Even better, I'm becoming a gym rat and am doing circuit training and cardio on alternate days. Whoda thunk it? I am finally on soft foods and off the pureed ones. Seems everything I pureed ended up looking like Alpo - not attractive! It is exciting to me to feel that I actually do have some restriction already. I have found that I generally need to get my food in by early afternoon, because in the evening I'm just too full and kind of bloated. I don't know what that's about, but I'll take it. Pushing so hard to get this surgery was a very good decision and definitely worth all the effort!
5/20/04 - I had my first fill on Monday. It was a piece of cake! The PA (who I think is absolutely adorable!) did it quickly and fairly painlessly. Apparently I had .3 cc in the band already and he added 1 cc. I do feel a little more restricted and am working hard on bandster rules. The hardest one for me to follow is no drinking with meals. I've always been a big water drinker at meals and it's a tough habit to break. The best news of all is that I'm down 26 pounds. I'm also working out at my local gym doing circuit training 3 times a week and I try to get in an extra cardio day too. I'm so proud of me!
6/8/04 - To fill or not to fill? When I got my first fill the doctor's office told me I could come back in two weeks for another fill if I thought I needed more. Some days I'm very restricted, others there's nothing. Now I know exactly what people mean when they say that their band is a fickle bitch. I think I'll call and see what they have to say. I'm down 31 pounds, which I'm ecstatic about. I'm also still working out regulary and loving the energy I feel. Sometimes I look at the scale or measuring tape with absolute disbelief that this is actually working so well.
7/12/04 - Had a second fill in the middle of June. It really hurt! I was so surprised because the first one didn't hurt at all. But, I have to say, the benefits far outweigh the very temporary pain. I am feeling good restriction. I have to be very careful with what and how fast I eat or I experience pain. Chew, chew, chew (I sound like a train)! I am getting close to the magical 50 pound mark and getting excited. I have never lost 50 pounds before - it's like a giant milestone for me. I wonder how it will feel to lose 75, then 100 pounds. I'll let you know when I find out.
8/4/04 - Stuck! My weight loss has come to a standstill for some reason. I've been stuck at the same weight for about a month, but am trying not to get disappointed. I'm working out a lot and am losing inches, just not pounds. It has to come off, right? I'm eating well, so I'm thinking it's just my body taking some time to catch up. Still, I will be thrilled when the damn scale budges. This is a weight I was at for a long time a few years ago, so I'm wondering if there's some validity to the set point theory.
I have an appointment at Dr. Johnell's on Aug. 10 so I'll have to see what the powers-that-be can tell me about this. I don't think I need a fill, but I'll talk with Chad or Paula about it and see what they think. The good thing is that I'm not feeling too depressed about this stall. In the past, something like this always caused me to just say "to hell with it" and eat crap, but I know this is working and will just take it's sweet time.
8/26/04 - I had my third fill on 8/24 and am not sure how helpful it is yet, but I'll give it a little time. The good news is that I finally broke my long plateau and have officially lost 50 pounds as of today. Woo Hoo to me! The truth is I've been a little sick and experiencing some stomach trouble - I'll spare you the details - but some of the weightloss might be from that. Doesn't matter, I'm taking it!
9/15/04 - Down to 219! That's minus 55 ugly pounds. I haven't been here for a very long time and it's very cool. I don't want to be too impatient, but I can't wait to be under 200.
11/18/04 - Had another fill (my fourth) a couple of weeks ago. I'm at 2 cc and pretty tight. The scale is stuck again though and I'm not quite sure why. It's possible that I'm not eating enough, so today I'm trying to have a higher calorie day. All I know is that it's gotta come off! I've changed my workouts and am doing more lifting than before. Maybe my stall is all this muscle! I can't wait till I can actually see all these hard-earned muscles! I feel them underneath the skin and fat and am hopeful that someday soon they'll come out and show themselves.
2/05/05 - Oops, haven't updated in a while. I'm home alone, sick as a dog and feeling kind of lonely. The only good thing is that I weighed myself this morning and found that I've finally entered onederland and am down 75 pounds. How big a deal is that? I'm so happy. The other good news is that my sweet husband surprised the kids and me last night with plans for a Windjammer Cruise this June. Now there's some incentive to look decent in a pair of shorts or even (gasp!) a bathing suit. I'm going to have to start working a little harder at this band thing to get there! Truly, this is a dream come true and I can't wait to frolic on tropical islands in my new body. What a difference a year makes.
I'm still working out a lot - usually 5 days a week. I'm pretty proud of myself for that and I have to laugh (to myself of course) when I'm at the gym and lifting way more than some of the guys. Just call me Wonder Woman!
April 19,2005 - My year anniversary passed and I was too busy to even acknowledge it! My daughter and I met my mother in San Francisco for a quick girls' trip that week. It was so much fun! And I gotta say, flying minus 78 pounds is so much easier. Last year, right after my surgery I flew to Arizona and didn't fit the plane's seat belt. I was too embarrassed to ask for an extender, so I "faked" having the seat belt on. Never again! There was a whole lot of room left over on the seat belt this time and it was such a relief.
In looking back over the year, I have to say that this has been a wonderful, wonderful journey. I did think I would have lost more by now, but honestly, I'm not being real good about following rules right now. I'm down 78 pounds and would like to lose at leat 40 more. I need to get my head back in the game and "get 'er done!" As a result of losing weight, my thyroid is all out of whack again. I've been on a huge dose of synthroid for years and now that I'm smaller, I needed to lessen the dose. My PCP assures me I will feel less tired soon. I sure hope so, because lately I feel like crap. So, onward and downward!
Shopping has become a very interesting thing. Before, if I could find something to fit that wasn't too horrible, I bought it. Now, I never have a clue what's going to fit - and then, if it does, a lot of times I don't like it. I tried on bathing suits this week and ran from the dressing room screeching with horror. Yeah, they fit, but jeez louise, they sure as hell didn't look good! I am buying lots of stuff from the "regular people" section of stores, but due to my belly, still need to buy pants in the "plus size" section. I can't wait to never enter that section again! I'm already planning that I will need a tummy tuck when my weight's where I want it. If I can afford it, I'm getting my arms done too. I don't think they're supposed to keep waving for five minutes after I've stopped!
Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: Michael W. Johnell, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Insurer Info:
United Health Care, PPO
I was very happy to be approved for LapBand surgery on the first try. I specifically switched to UHC when I had the opportunity because I had read that they are band friendly. My only complaint is that it took 8 weeks to get an approval. Looking back, that doesn't sound like that long, but when I was waiting it felt like hell!
About Me
CO
Location
33.6
BMI
Surgery
04/06/2004
Surgery Date
Mar 03, 2004
Member Since