MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

The best present yet... Me being down 80lbs from last christmas!!! YEAH!!!

Working hard

UPDATED PICTURE

Working hard

Doing Great!

I have been "playing" with my band... Something that I stress someone do when they are banded... I have been banded since May 8th and still am trying to find that "sweet" spot.. I think I found it a few months ago.. but dumb dumb me I had a fill... Just a 0.1cc and let me tell you, that made a huge difference.. I had to go back and get 0.2cc taken out because I could not eat!.. well That wasnt enough.. so I went back and had 0.6cc taken out.. I beleive I am sitting at 3.8cc in my band right now.. I am at my "sweet" spot!! I am eating like I should.. I am getting my meat in, and my veggies.. I was just eating a couple of bites and I was done.. well you know the scale looked great! but I looked like crap! I was dehydrated and not even knowing it!



I had a great turkey day! I cooked the whole Meal!! My dad did the turkey...

I was very happy.. I had mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey, deviled eggs, dressing, It was soooooo goooooood!

yummy!

TURKEY DAY!!!

Well.. I went into Dr. Malley's I had an Unfill... I took out 0.6cc

I think I will be able to enjoy Thanksgiving.. I hope I dont enjoy it too much.. But I am ready!!!

Can't Wait!

Here are some updated pictures... Enjoy!

little fill..

Well I went in today and got a little fill...
0.1... whoop!! lets see how that does..

I have also started at the gym again.. OUCH!!! it hurts!
I am currently at 178.. I finally have drooped from that darn 183...

The Wedding!

Well I went to my Cousin's wedding.. one of my goal marks..

I was wanting to be a size 12 by this date.. I am between 12 and 14 depending on what I am wearing.. I had a blast and felt great!! I danced my booty off!!

Here are some pictures of the trip!

New #'s
Arms: 11.5
Waist: 34
Neck: 12.5
Belly: 40
Thigh: 24.5
Hips: 44.5
Bust: 40

I got a much needed FILL!!

Today I went and saw Karen, the NP at Dr. Malley's office.
I was in need of a major fill!! I felt like I had been eating like a cow!!! I thought I had for sure gained 10 lbs or more. I had only gained 4 lbs. She was very impressed with that! She said that was really good for as much as I had taken out last time. She said that she wished more of her band patients would take a vacation every once in a while and let their band out and enjoy a full diet.. I loved not being tight.. but I also did not like not loosing weight.. Well I hope I am back to loosing weight!! I am ready to see those pounds drop again!!! I am in a size 14 jeans!!! YEAH!!! Ok, well I ended up get 1.5cc put back in.. I am up to 4.5cc in my band!!

new measurments

OK here are my new #'s

Arms: 12.5
Thigh: 26
Waist: 34
Belly: 40
Bust: 39.5
Hips: 45

I NEED A FILL

I thought I would never say it again, "I NEED A FILL"... I love to eat, but I don't want to put on what I have taken off!!
So like I said in my last entry, I had a bit taken out... It has been wonderful, I feel great! I have energy and I love to drink my water!! I did not realize how much I missed water!! goodness!!!

I can eat anything (thats not good!) I Think I need about half of what I had taken out, put back in... I want restriction, and I don't have that right now :(....

anyways.. I better be good these next 3 weeks!

Crazy Growling noise!! AHHHH

Ok, so I hope that I don't babble on here and make no sense but oh well here is a little update!

So a couple of weeks ago I started having problems again with not being able to keep much down without it coming back up!!! It started to get pretty miserable!!! and I mean Miserable!! I was like, why in the world would anyone want to do this to them self's, this is so stupid!! I was reading a lot on lap-band talk and looking at what most people eat.. well I would eat a few bits, and I mean a FEW bits of something and be totally satisfied!! I had come to find out that most people were able to eat a lot more than I could... but I though oh well, Im loosing weight!!! but loosing weight by being bulimic is not the way to go!... Then on Thursday I started to have pain in the kidneys.. So I thought I had a kidney infection... Friday I went to the hospital and after a 3 hour wait in the waiting room, I find out that I am dehydrated, and have a kidney infection as well as a possible hernia.. the doctor did a CT scan and said that It looks like I had a hernia.. (Dr. Malley said that if they don't know what they are looking at then the pouch from my lap band looks like a hernia) but I won't believe the hernia part....
Anywho.. I went and saw Dr. Malley today for my scheduled visit and I said "take it out" meaning all the fluid!! I want to eat!!! I have lost 67lbs and think that I am doing pretty good!!! But I still want to eat!! so I need to weigh the options!! I went into the office thinking I had 0.75cc in my band because I thought I had been keeping track... well I was not aware that Dr. malley put 5cc in my band during surgery (he normally does not do that) he said that my band was loose enough in surgery that he could fill it up then to keep it restricted.. hmmmmm no wonder I have been sick!!!! So we talked about it and he took 1/2 of what I had in, out.. so that should leave me with 3cc... It was funny because he chuckled when he said well you have almost 6cc in your band.. I screamed, "take some out"!!!!! well I feel much better to know that i had a lot in there and that I did not have just 0.75cc.. because I was thinking how am I this restricted with just 0.75cc this is horrible!! will I ever be able to eat?
SO GUESS WHAT???? my stomach growled for the first time a few minutes ago... it scared me!!! I was like, what in the world? I am not sure if I like that or not.... I am getting ready to eat lunch so we will see how that goes!!!

all my clothes are sloppy!!! :)

This shirt is huge now.. looks sloppy on me.. but oh well, it shows progress

Oh... I need to post something!

HELLO!

Dang.. I feel soo good! 190.0 today!!! I am very happy with myself right now... The only thing that I need to kick my ass about is, not going to the gym like I should..
I have not weighed 190 since 2002... and I was struggling then... I was 200 by the time I was done with Nursing school.. I can no longer wear XL size scrubs.. they look soo ridiculous on me.. I am wearing L's comfortably.. I bet I could wear M within the next few months.. that will be a first ever!! then I can share with my friend!! YEAH!!! I am going to bag up all my XL and take them to life uniform and trade them in for 20% off my purchase!!

My clothes are falling off of me!! This weekend, I could not find a pair of jeans that fit my butt, not because my butt was too big, but the jeans were toooooo big in the butt.. that is also a first!! I always had a problem with jeans being toooo tight in the butt... its kinda sad! I miss my butt!! hehe

Well there is a little update about me!! I will be back later!

I need to post new pics! I guess I will get around to doing that sometime soon, when Im not lazy!

ONEderland!

I AM IN ONEderland!!!! 199.2

New measurements

7-17 5-28
neck 13.25 14
Arms 13 13
waist 35 37.5
Belly 42 46
Thigh 28 28
bust 42 45
Hips 48 51.8

2nd fill

I got my 2nd fill today
0.33 cc... I weighed in at 210!!!

The scales are going down!! hey at least they won't go up!

This is great!

Getting closer!

TADA!!!

211.8 today!! Yeah!!!

I went out saturday night and I had a blast!! YIPPIE!!!!
Danced my butt off!! (good exercise)

new pics

OPPS

OPPS!!!
I was too full!
I tried to make it as long as I could with the 2.5cc...
I came to work yesterday, I was unable to eat any breakfast, I just drank about 3 sips of juice.. Then I tried Lunch.. I felt ok, and then guess what?!?!? It came up!! YUCK!
I called the nurse and she said to come in... I was unable to drink water all day!!!
I went in around 4 to get a little taken out.. I had lost 6lbs in one day.. she said she was glad I came in, I was on the verge of dehydration.. not fun!!
I have 0.75 cc removed.. It was instant relief.. I felt like I had a golf ball stuck in my chest all day, and boom it was gone!! I still have a tight restriction..
For dinner I had 1 serving spoonful of tuna casserole. It took about 30 mins to eat it..
For breakfast this morning I had 4 little spoonfuls of oatmeal.. I am trying to sip on my water right now..
well here goes the pounds!! YEAH!!!
I go back in 2 weeks for a little fill again...
I hope I do great!

FIRST FILL

Today was my first fill!!!

Wow! It feels weird

I only gained 8oz. ( they told me I would gain before my first fill) I thought for sure I had gained 10lbs.. I had been eating a lot, or it seemed that I had been eating a lot.. but I guess I did good!!

They filled it with 2.5cc of saline.. It feels tight.. I hope its not too tight.. I will try to eat some yogurt later to see what happens!

I plain on eating liquid or soft foods for a couple of days..

Wish me luck!!!

Down I go!!!

bye bye

ticker

Ohhh.. I am ready for a fill

HELLO!!!

I am So ready for a fill...

I am able to eat more now.. but I am watching what I am taking in...

I went to the lake last weekend, and I had a blast with my sister, Tyler, and her friend MO.. We had a blast!.. I got a nice sunburn!!! OUCH!

Well, I have not stepped on the scales.. I am avoiding them right now.. Dr. Malley said that I would gain some weight before my first fill because I would be eating more.

My day usually consist of this:

B: One egg and one piece of bacon (hard to finish, I have to eat slow)

My band seems tight in the morning, so Its hard to swallow.

L: 1/2 cup tuna or a small piece of meat

1/2 cup veggies.

small pudding

D: small piece of meat

small serving of veggies.

I like to snack in the after noon, So I eat cheez-its!!

Here are a couple of pictures taken last week at work when we were bored!!!

My double chin is shrinking!!! YEAH!

new measurements old measurements

neck: 14 14.5

arms: 13 14

waist: 37.5 39.5

belly: 46 47.5

Thy: 28 33

Bust: 45 45

Hips: 51.5

Doing great!

Well.. I went back to worked yesterday.. Its going great!
I am feeling better and I can eat a little more now.

I am doing a smoothie in the morning and then I eat a little more solid food during the day.

Haven't checked my weight in a few days.. I will check a little bit later this week!!

-Katie

one week down!

Today is day 8 from surgery!

I went and saw Karen the NP at the office today for my post-op apt.. I am doing great.. I weighed in on their scales
219.8... that is 30lbs less than when I weighed on their scales in January..

I weighed 228 I think last tuesday before I left work.. So I figure I have lost 10lbs since surgery.

I am getting ready for some soft foods now
I went to chipoltle today and I got a burrito bowl, I brought it home and pureed it.. and guess what.. IT was great!!!!!

I will be getting some new pics up shortly.. I hope..

bye bye
KATIE

Before Pics

Here are my before Pictures.. Wow these are gross!!

Its getting better!

I am starting to feel much better...
I am living on Tums and Gas ex!!
My stomach does not hurt near as bad.. I am getting ready to take a shower and take the dressings off.
My shoulder is doing much better also..
Here is what I have been drinking:
Whey protein powder and skim milk... I can drink about 4oz every 2-3 hours.
Jello
Tums
Gas-Ex
I also love to drink Diet V8 Splash.

And I don't feel hungry at all!!! This is great..

The scales say 219!!! I will check it again on the digital scale at work when I go back to get a true weight.

I am getting ready to take a shower.. I will write again sometime soon!!

~Katie~

Im home

Well I am home!!! I am doing ok.. Just a little discomfort..
I have taken some tums and Gas ex.. That has helped.. I will write more when I am feeling more up to it..

bye bye
KATIE

7.2 lbs down!

One week down... One more to go....

After one week of my pre-op diet I have lost 7.2 lbs!!! wow!

227.2 today!!!

My goal= 160ish... I am getting closer!! :)

IM STILL STARVING!!! HEHE!!!

Oh im sure IT will get better...

Opps have cheated a couple of times.. a bit here and there!!! but I still feel better.. and I feel like I have lost 20 lbs... even though it probably is like 2 or 3 lbs...

I will keep on truckin down the road to victory!!!

I'M STARVING!

I started my pre-op diet today..and I am miserable already!!! It will be ok though.. IT is all in my head....
So far today I have had a yogurt drink, and a slim fast...

I can have 4 protein drinks a day and I can have all that I want of Sugar free jello ect.

Here is my pre-op details
04/24/08
Weight: 234.7 (248, at my consultation 1/18/08)
Neck: 14 1/4
Arms: 14
Waist: 39 1/2
Belly: 47 1/2
Thigh: 33
Bust: 45

Dang!! I can't wait to watch those go down!!!

I will take pictures later and post them, so we can look at the progress.

ONE MONTH!

Well.. Today is April 8th.. One Month!! YEAH!!!

I am celebrating today by eating junk.. I know that is soo bad, but hey! 2 weeks I start the dreadful full liquid diet! dang it!

Have a great day!

KATIE

Wow.. Am I really doing this?

Wow.. I can't believe I am really doing this.. I have never been much into these "blog" things.. But I have been reading them since about January.. I got approved for my Lap-Band in January and have been doing nothing but reading all these blogs about people who have had lap-band... and guess what?!?!?!?! I HAVE LEARNED SOOO MUCH!!! so i figured I could start my own to give some other people some ideas!!! YEAH here I am!!!

OK here is my story!!

I have been looking into getting gastric surgery for a few years now.. I have done A LOT of research and learned that the Gastric Lap-Band is the best for me!! I have gone to several seminars and each time I was ready to go forward with the surgery and them backed out like a little chicken!! Well When I first started looking into this I was weighing in at around 210-220... Well in order for my insurance to pay I had to have a BMI of 40.. that meant that I needed to gain about 20lbs to even get to BMI of 40. I just could not imagine gaining 20lbs.. that was devastating to me.. my good friend Becca was my coach.. she said "Katie just gain the dang 20lbs and get the surgery".. for about a year I kept telling her no.. and I fought that dang diet roller coaster.. Finally August 2007 I met Dr. Malley.. I just finally gave it up and said Screw it.. Gastric lap-band here I come!!! Well the bad news was.. My insurance was not accepting anymore patients until January 2008.. It was August and that was a long time away!! Guess what?!?!??!?! I started stuffing my face!! I ate anything and everything.. wow next thing you know I was weighing in at a devastating 240!! and let me tell ya.. I felt it!!! January was still too far off!! Towards the end of December I called... I had a consultation apt January 18th!!! So the day came.. I weighed in at a bodacious 248!!! wow!!!! Dr. Malley seemed like he knew I would get qualified... told me it would be at least 4 weeks before I heard from the insurance company.. and now it was just a waiting game... I felt happy I was one step closer!! YEAHHH.... January 23rd I called his office to find out about my cardio apt. because I saw that I might need one.. the nurse said "well i usually don't tell pt's this over the phone, but you are already approved" My chin dropped and I cryed!! and I mean I cryed!!! less than a week and I was approved!! oh my gosh!!! I thought she must have been talking to the wrong person.. Sure enough 3 days later I got the letter in hand from the insurance company that said I was approved! I called and scheduled my surgery day.. I was hoping for march or sooner.. but the hospital was already getting booked.. So my date is MAY8th, 2008!!

For the last 3 months I have been reading and reading and reading.. I have been reading all these blogs, lapbandtalk.com, malleysurgical.com and much more!! I am soo ready.. I have been taste testing all different kinds of food that i might have to eat after surgery and I am scared to death for the pre-op diet (4 protein shakes a day for 2 weeks, 200 cal and 20g of protein).. wow that sounds scary!!

Luckily I have an aunt and a friend that had this done in November.. They are a huge support to me along with my friends and my family!!

I want to thank them all for being here for me and coaching my down this road... It has only just begun!!

here I come size 12 jeans (that's my goal)!!!!

So far my goal is... Size 12 by October 18th 2008 (my cousins wedding).

OK I will shut up now and go on about my business now.. I can not promise that I will be good about posting on here but I will try so that I can keep everyone up to date!!

Thanks

KATIE