Ready to Go

I have finished the last of my appointments before my surgery.

My initial Drs. visit was great. I'll call him Dr. Mike. He is great. He listened with an open mind and a willingness to help. He explained that the hard work will start when I have the surgery. I look at this as my new catalytic converter to help me run my body the right way.

I met with the Psychologist. She helped me to realize why I eat. I have always eaten for comfort due to my strained relationship with my Mom. I have now accepted that no matter what I do or say, I will never be able to be the daughter she has always wanted. Don't take this the wrong way, I love my Mom, but we just have never gotten along. When I get hurt, I will find something to take my mind off if it rather than eat. The Psychologist also told me that I have to give up 4 of my 5 favorite foods. Grits, Pasta, Corn Bread and fried chicken. She explained that grits have no nutritional value. They sure are good though. The eating will be the hardest thing to overcome. I love to cook and I love to eat what I cook.

The Dietitian was great. She spoke with us not to determine what we eat wrong now, but to let us know about the life long changes we will have the make once we have our surgery. She was there to guide us through what we can expect and what to eat after surgery.

The Endoscopy. Having a tube stuck down my throat wasn't something I was looking forward too, but I turned out to be a piece of cake. I went to sleep and the next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery. From start to finish the whole appointment too about 2 hours. Most of the time was filling out paperwork. The procedure itself took only about 15 min. I thought I'd come home sleepy with a sore throat but I didn't.

I now anxiously await my surgery and my new life.

The biggest decision I have ever made

Hi, I am Tina. I am 43 years young and I weigh 279lbs. Wow, I can't believe I am letting that out there. That is worse than a women telling her age, which has never really bothered me.

My family and I recently had a new family portrait made and needless to say, I was very upset at my appearance in those pictures. You might say that was the straw that broke the camels back. Look at the spare tire around my middle. Sometimes you wish people would be brutally honest and tell exactly what you look like.

I have been heavy all my life. My weight gain started the summer after I had my tonsils taken out at age 7. I have yoyo'd up and down on every diet known to man. As a result my metabolism is at rock bottom. I even starved myself at age 19 and lost to my smallest size 10. I even taught aerobics at a fitness center for a while.

I have decided I need help. I need to again control of my life and get fit. I recently had a physical and all my blood and cholesterol levels are good. But, what will they be in a year?

I have decided to have a Gastric Bypass. Surgery is scheduled for 29 September. I know some of you out there say that this is the easy way out, but I have been there too. When you have over 100lbs to lose it is hard to do it on you own.

Don't get me wrong, I applaud the men and women out there who have lost weight on their own. I don't have it in me to do this by myself. I have a great support group who all stand behind my decision.

I have decided to share this as my way of keeping myself on track. Over next few months I will talk about my journey to a new life beyond all the excess weight and the happiness and sorrows I am sure I will experience. I can't wait to see the beautiful butterfly once it emerges from it's cacoon.