Things I want to do when I get skinny...

Besides riding on a few roller coasters...
- dance, dance, dance
- take my grandkids to various kids stuff which I am always too tired for now.
- walk with my kids around the neighborhood park and maybe play a game of horse on the courts. 
- join a gym and workout to maintain my weight loss
- go hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains
- go camping anywhere, but preferably at Yosemite
- work on a political campaign where precinct walking is needed - or maybe not, I'll see...
-

Another Surgery Type - Oye Vey!!!

Just received an email from a former co-worker.  This is what she says:

"I just had the DS (duodenal swtich in Dec 2010 and am down 60 pound now.) It's the best one to get as you dont gain the weight back and can eat pretty much normally after the first year or so. It is low carb eating- lots of protein but a MUST is 64 oz liquid and 100 grams protein daily and many supplements costing over $100 monthly. You must be diligent and compliant. It has a very high longterm success rate. People dont gain the weight back like the RNY (gastric bypass.) People get revisions all the time from RNY and lapband to DS successfully. Most everyone in happy with the DS but not the others. There is an excellent surgeon in Ca near Glendale- Dr Keshishian. People can easily gain it all back after RNY (gastric bypass) and few succeed with the lapband and have a lot of problems eating. 75% failure rate. I dont know if you knew but I had the verticle banded gastroplasty in 1985 and maintained a 100 pound loss for about 12 years. The DS is going to take me down to thin - like 130 pounds. I cant wait as I have never been thin. My knees already feel much better and I am up and full of energy again. I am down from a 26/28 size to 20. I am less than I have been for 30+ years now.
 
I get a wealth of info on the OBESITYHELP.COM forums for DS. I am there many times all day getting more & more knowedgeable and getting & giving support. Please join us if you have an interest in weight loss surgery. It is a very valuable site"

 
So, now I am really confused.  She says it is not too late to change my mind...however, I feel it is.  I haven't done any research on this new surgery and to be honest, I don't have time for it.  What to do, What to do???

Food

Foods I crave and like a lot that I will be giving up soon...

- Bobs Big Boy Chili Spaghetti (oh, I am dying here!)
- Hot Chocolate
- Candy
- Potato Chips
- Not a big soda drinker, however, will give up the little I do drink. 
- Coffee?
- Taco Bell (or at least the taco shells)
- Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream!



I will update this list as I see these foods go away.

Pre-work for Surgery

I am finally done with all the pre-work.  Here is a list of what was required:

- two Sleep Studies.  One without a mask and one with. 
- Cardiology clearance - this doctor was a lot of fun.  Because of the results of the initial exam, I had to go in for an additional study and that was nasty.  The fluid they put into my veins made my heart simulate me running or exercising at a high speed.  Talk about uncomfortable!
- Visit  with a psychologist.  This was easier than I had anticipated.  I expected that they would make me talk about the recent deaths in my family and that I would lose it.  It all turned out okay and I passed with flying colors. 
- Visit with a nutritionist - this will be an ongoing process, however, we had to have an initial meet and greet. 
- an Upper GI was ordered and that all went well.  Of course, it goes without saying that the chalky tasting stuff they give you to drink during this x-ray is Nasty! 
- a Mammogram was also ordered, however, it was time for that anyway. 
- finally, my RA (rheumatoid arthritis) doctor wanted me to take a neck x-ray.  She wanted to make sure that my neck would survive the surgery. 

Next up:
- an all day appointment at hospital and doctors office next door for a pre-assessment and lab work if any.  This will happen on June 1st. 
- surgery is currently scheduled  for June 6th.  My children will join me and bring me home.