CONTROL!

So I've seen that a lot of my new blogger friends have been choosing words to focus on for the new year. After much thought - I've chosen CONTROL because that's what I feel like I'm about to do. I'm about to for once in my life take CONTROL of my weight, my health, my future, my self-esteem, my body, etc. I'm excited to have this new tool to help me gain CONTROL.

Downside - I can't get Janet Jackson out of my head. I think I need to download the song to my iPod and play it every morning before I start my day to remind me of my focus. Not a bad idea!!

I haven't heard from my surgeon's office to schedule my surgery date ---- it's soooooo hard to wait. Lots to due tomorrow and Friday for our cancer benefit, but Monday I'll be calling if I haven't heard yet.

Hope every one has a Happy (and Safe) New Year!

Drop it like it's hot.....

I have to say I'm a little surprised myself. My boys got the Xbox 360 with Kinect for Christmas and one of the games we got them was the Dance Central game. My husband kept challenging me to dance, so finally I did it just to keep him quiet.

I have to say I crushed it! I unknowingly picked one of the hardest songs and guess what - Mama's still got her moves. =) My hubby was a little shocked I think. I even challenged my sister and crushed her score.

It was a great workout too! There is a workout mode, so once we get back home I'll be checking that out. I think they have Zumba for the Kinect too, so I'll have to get that and try it.

Christmas Eve....

Made it! Everything is done and we made the trip to Greensboro from Richmond this morning. We are spending Christmas this year with my sister and parents. Another family dynamic - my sister is 6 years younger than I am and she had her first child this year --- and she's already back to a size 6 --- so not fair!!!

Nothing new to report in lap-band world, just waiting on my surgery date. One note - I truly enjoyed my mom's homemade lasagna tonight knowing that it will likely not be a meal I can indulge in this time next year.

Thanks so much to my new followers - all the comments and words of wisdom are great presents. Happy Holidays to everyone!

Can't Sleep!!!

I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve! I'm so excited about this opportunity! I woke up at 4:00 this morning thinking about the surgery and setting my goals. Then I quickly went into thinking about all of the things I have to finish before Christmas.

My biggest problem (any friend can tell you) is that I take on way too much! My big projects of the week --- hand painting cornhole boards for my hubby and making videos for our extended family that we don't get to see much anymore. Ahhhh - this is on top of all the wrapping that still needs to be done. Thank goodness I'm off for the week!

Next week's project --- New Year's Eve Rockin' for the Cure. I am helping throw this first annual event to raise money for Relay for Life. There are fifteen families that have gone in together to throw the event. We are hoping to get 500 people to attend. So next week - I'll be cooking and stuffing swag bags during the week before the actual day of the event which will probably be a blur of activity.

A little about me - I'm a working mother. I'm a systems analyst. I have two very athletic boys - 10 and 7. They play baseball year round - both Little League and USSSA Travel Baseball, they also play football in the fall and basketball in the winter. So needless to say - I spend a lot of time at practices since they are still too young to leave alone. My husband coaches baseball, so he does take care of a lot of that. I am on the board for Chesterfield Little League too --- I like to volunteer!!! =) My husband and I eloped my senior year at Virginia Tech - that was 14 years ago. He is also struggling with his weight. After my second son was born he lost 100 pounds and got all the way down to 177. He kept it off for years, but over the past couple of years he has put a ton back on. I know he doesn't feel well and I'm hoping that this life change for me will benefit both of us.

Happy Hump Day Everyone!

APPROVED!!!

Woo!Hoo! I just received the best Christmas present ever - my health! It really is a miracle. My surgeon's office called yesterday to tell me the finally had all the paperwork and she had faxed it to my insurance. And she just called me back to tell me the faxed back the approval this morning!

I feel so blessed. I really was worried that I had gotten my hopes up and would be let down. I actually feel so emotional right now that I could cry from happiness.

Next step - surgery date, pre-op testing and the famous pre-op diet!! Bring it on!!

Positive Changes

So I did really good all week with the no Starbucks, still need to work on the whole vitamin thing. Does anyone have any good advice?

I'm still waiting to hear if the surgeon's office has all the paperwork needed to submit to insurance. I'm off all week, so even if I have to drive to each doctor and then hand deliver it to the surgeon --- it will be done this week. I am my own best advocate!

The good news is that making these positive changes are already paying off. My consultation weight was 316 - this morning I weighed 311.4. I'm hoping to lose more while I'm waiting. I might go ahead and start the protein shakes for breakfast this week so that when I get to the pre-op diet I will already be used to them.

Snow Day!!!

Southerners don't deal well with snow. There was a light dusting earlier this week over night and it took my over an hour to drive my 30 minute commute. Now they are calling for 2-5 inches to start tomorrowing morning and all the school systems are already closed. My sons are very excited - my oldest said "What if it doesn't snow now". I wasn't really sure how to answer that. On the lap-band front - my psychologist called me today to tell me she finished my report and was in the process of faxing it. Not sure if my surgeon's office will be open tomorrow or not, but I'm hoping I can call and confirm. I really want to get the authorization process started before the holidays - so that any vacation time by BCBS personnel will be counted in the 30 days. BTW ..... you might be curious about my weight. Highest: 331 Current:313

The wait is grueling......

Frustrated!!!

I called the surgeons authorization coordinator on Friday to make sure she has gotten all the information from my three appointments and nothing. So I called my PCP and the psychologist to check up. My PCP faxed it back on 11/19 - but there is no record of it. Never heard back from psychologist. I called the surgeon back again today and she only has the Nutritional Eval -- and I just had that appointment last week. So props to her - but so frustrating waiting on the others. And it's not like I didn't pay them for those documents!! Those co-pays weren't cheap.

I must think positive though - I've got one document down - two to go.

Also -- I avoided Starbucks today and took my multi-vitamin!

Off to watch the Biggest Loser - for some more inspiration!!!

Journey Begins......

Finally made the decision to put myself first. I decided to go to a weight loss seminar held by a local hospital. I remember looking around thinking 'I guess I should be thankful that I'm not as bad off as some of the people in the room' - but then I quickly realized that if I don't do something now I will be that bad off. I've been dealing with my weight since I was a teenager. I'm like most people struggling with their weight. I've lost the same 50 lbs. over and over, but it has always come back and then some. After going to the seminar - I decided the lap-band is for me. One of the reasons I've put off surgery is because of the risks involved and I feel like the lap-band is my best option. I've also put it off because my PCP kept saying I didn't have enough co-morbidities to qualify. My BMI is and has been well over 50% and I was diagnosed with sleep apnea two years ago. So I'm finally putting my foot down - do I really have to get HBP and diabetes first?

I've had my PCP visit and when reviewing my records he realized that I've gained 90 lbs. in 12 years - wow - that's crazy. How come I kept seeing the same person in the mirror all those years? He agreed to write my letter of support. Next - the Pysch Eval. I actually felt pretty good after that -- I felt like the doctor could tell that I'm ready to do this. Next was the Nutrition Eval, didn't feel so good when I left there. It was a big wake up call - and the only thing I kept thinking was 'Am I damaging my kids?' -- with all the sweet tea, eating in front of the tv, eating late after all the sports are done, etc. etc. etc.

Now I'm waiting for all the reports to be sent to the surgeon!! Aaahhhh - the waiting is the worst. I have BCBS and the requirements seem pretty straight forward. I don't see how it could possibly be denied - but you never know. I really hope I'm not getting my hopes up!!!

I'm trying to start with a few of the diet things now - so I'll be prepared later. First step --- stop my Starbucks habit. I don't go everyday, but I do go 2-3 times a week. I'm going to work on eliminating those liquid calories. Second step --- taking vitamins. I'm not a good pill taker, but I know they are a key to the nutrition after surgery.

I want to say thanks to all the bloggers and vloggers out there - I've gained invaluable knowledge and inspiration and I'm hoping my blog will one day help others making this big decision.