I think the reason I wanted to start this, is I wanted to remember how I felt. How it progressed. How I got to where I hope I am, a year from now. I wanted to journal my journey. I am really excited about it. And I am looking forward to words of encouragement and love along the way.
So for starters, I asked you. (if you are reading this!) to share my journey with. That means that you have meant something to me in my life. That means that I trust you and love you. I am so glad you are coming along with me for the ride! Some of you are close... and some of you are on the other side of the world. But all of you have a little place in my heart. So thank you for loving me and being my friend!
Okay. So let me start with the "how" I made this decision.
I have been overweight my whole life. It has been a hard struggle for me. I have done almost every work out regimen known to man. Yoga, Pilates, aerobics, swimming, running... you name it, I've sweat to it! And I have always lost the never changing 30 lbs. That's it. No more. so I am tired of it.
And I have had it in the back of my head that if I ever had the opportunity to have weight loss surgery, I would. The past 2 years, I have had some pretty key friends that have made that decision too. I have pretty much picked their brains. (Love you, Beth!) about every question that I can think of. What can you eat? How much can you loose? Does it make your hair fall out? When did you turn in your paper work? Who is your surgeon? Did you like him? and about a million other questions. I will thank them to the end of the earth for their kindness towards me as I was making the HUGE decision. And when all was said and done. From reading articles, to talking with anyone that would talk to me about it... I made my decision to just leap. I felt like I was educated enough to make a decision. And after I made the decision, I felt really good about it. I felt like it was a freedom from something that has been holding me back for years.
The next step was to contact the surgical center. I went in for a "class" on what the options were that the center offered. There were a few to choose from. Lapband, the sleeve, gastric bypass and one other that the name is escaping me at the moment. After carefully reading over the material, I have decided that gastric bypass is the right procedure for me.
Now came the first phase of my waiting game. I had to change my insurance to a lower deductible and a higher premium. Which means.. I had to wait for annual enrollment at work. Luckily that all happened pretty quickly for me. I made the decision to go thru with the surgery the last part of September and annual enrollment was the middle of November. I received my new insurance cards 3 days ago. That was the first big step. I knew once that change was made, there was no going back. :)
Now I am waiting for the 1st of the year to come so that I can turn in the paperwork. I have a lot of medical charts and paperwork that had to be filled out. things like medical history and an essay stating why I think that this surgery is right for me. That was an emotional thing for me, but I am glad that I was able to express my thoughts and feelings on this.
So that brings me to today. I have a little over 2 weeks, and I will be sending it in. I am hoping to have everything said and done by February. Fingers crossed.
I am going to post pictures and posts as often as I can on here. Again, I am so excited and nervous about all of this. But so thrilled that I have a group of friends to share this with me.
