Good afternoon!

Well, I think I've finally got my head where it needs to be for this process.  I met with Dave Finnergan today, the PA at my GP's office, as is required by my insurance company prior to having lap band surgery.   I talked very frankly with him and, more critically, listened to what he had to say.  I was thinking last night that I would do WW until I hit the six month supervised diet, then I would stop.  But it makes more sense to use WW and lap band to team up on this weight loss thing.  So it's back to WW on Thursday and back to see Dave in three weeks.  Hoping to be 10# lighter by then (today's weigh in was 277) and be able to honestly say I worked out a minimum of 30 minutes at least 20 of those days.

Started logging my food choices on Weight Watchers again.

I also made an appointment for blood work and an esophagram and left a message for a psychiatric consult.  All those are required before I can have the surgery.

Well, I'd best get my work done and get cracking on my cardiac workout - plan to do the Wii fit and get on the treadmill today.  Here's to a great beginning!!

Got the Info...

Dr. Shayani was very nice and very informative.  His nurse (Nathan) was even better.  I do need to have six months of medically supervised dieting before I can have surgery.  I see my reguar doctor tomorrow for month one.  I also found out that I can lose weight on the supervised diet and still be eligible for the surgery.  I've got a whole checklist of things I need to accomplish before I can have this done, but I do have step one accomplished!

Today?

My appointment is in four hours.  Feeling both stressed and excited...probably putting too much pressure on one small appointment.  I'll know a lot more in a bit, I guess.

Saturday night...

Rich made a really yummy dinner of fried fish and potato pancakes.  Ate a reasonable portion plus veggies and a glass of wine.  If I hadn't had a McDonald's breakfast and a couple of Taco Bell burritos for lunch I could have notched this as a good day.  Guess I was feeling sorry for myself because I have a cold and I had to work this morning.  So junk food made that better, right?  Damn, I know the right answers and still set myself up for failure.

I really don't know what I expect from this visit.  I'm pretty sure I'm stuck with the six month supervised diet (even though the unreasonable part of me feels like they should waive this for me...) so I won't even be able to think about the surgery until next February or March.  I WILL give diet my best effort...it will show them I will stick to the plan the band requires.  And having 25 or 30 pounds gone before the surgery can only be good, right?

Three days and counting

I spent yesterday cleaning my house, doing laundry and doing more research about this surgery on-line.  One of the things I discovered was that my insurance requires six months of doctor supervised dieting before they will pay for the procedure.  As far as I could tell, they would not consider 2 1/2 YEARS of struggling with Weight Watchers as trying to diet. 
I'm really willing to do this if it is something that will help - maybe it would even work so I could avoid the surgery.  My concern is that if it works for a while (like everything else I have tried), then doesn't work, they would still deny the claim.  I don't have trouble committing to a diet and losing 20 or 30 or even 40 pounds - my struggle is following through until I'm at a reasonable weight!  It really seems like this surgery would be the answer for me but I hate the idea of six months of dieting BEFORE I could be considered for the surgery and ONLY being "rewarded" with the surgery if I don't try my best on the diet...
I keep reading all these blogs from people who look at the six month doctor supervised diet as a chance to pig out!  That seems wrong but I do understand the feeling.  I guess I have to wait until I see Dr. Shayani before I can even make a reasoned decision.  Sigh.

Hectic already...

Good morning!

I still have four days before my first appointment with Dr. Shayani.  This whole idea may be moot if my insurance company decides they will not pay for it since we don't have the $15-30,000 the whole process will cost.  I've been looking on-line for other Humana members who have had the surgery and I've found that Humana will require a six month doctor supervised diet before they will approve the surgery (a new requirement since 2008).  I guess three YEARS of trying to get the weight off with Weight Watchers doesn't count ?!?  So maybe the doctor supervised diet would work for me?  I sure wouldn't mind not having the surgery and still getting rid of 100# plus.

Today I have a day off, which is excellent.  Plan to clean house, relax and maybe even work out a little downstairs.

This is where I begin...

Starting at Square One

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday!

I'm writing this blog for my peace of mind and for general therapeutic purposes.  I have managed to get most of my life in excellent shape while my physical self has been allowed to fall apart.  I am 46 years old and feel about 70 most days because I have let my weight get completely out of control.  So now it is time for me to take care of me!  I am meeting with a doctor on Monday August 30 to discuss lap-banding and whether that will be the right treatment for me.  Until then, I am going to be watching what I eat (not dieting - just no snacking and portion control) and starting back on an exercise regime.  It will feel a lot better going to talk to him if I've made a beginning. 
This blog is another beginning. Every other time I have been successful in taking off pounds I have written about it.  Most of those musings have been in paper journals, but I've decided for this last journey I will make the record public - hopefully it will garner support from friends and family when and if I make people aware of my plans.  Until then it will just be good therapy...