Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow?

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow?

 

Faithful reader- you’ve seen me allude to a problem. I’ve had this post in the DRAFT stages for over two weeks now. I guess it is time to post it.

 

One of my fears when entering this path was losing my hair. Much of my research showed that in some, but not all, cases the patients lost hair. I've even heard some of the ladies on Thursday nights discussing it.

In the olden days I used to get a haircut every 5 or 6 weeks, with 6 week haircuts being shaggy.

In the 103 days since July 10th. I lost 72 pounds, which is amazing. But besides losing weight, I'm losing hair. Which is NOT amazing and NOT the least bit good.

I had my last FAT haircut on Thursday July 6th. I had my first post LB haircut on August 17th. 6 weeks. I probably could have waited another week, as I was not the least bit shaggy. The woman that cuts my hair told me on that day that my hair was "Lifeless". She said that some of her customers that had been under anesthesia would have their hair be lifeless for around 3-6 months, but they usually don't lose any. She thought I'd be OK as I had one of the better heads of hair she cuts.

Well, I had to wait NINE weeks for the next haircut, and even then, I probably could have waited a week.

Over the last month, I've notice more and more hair on the bathroom floor after a shower. I've even had to de clog the tub from all the hair down the drain. That almost NEVER happened before. My man fur even falls out when I towel my self dry. So, I knew something was wrong. I am vacuuming and cleaning the hair off the bathroom floor 2 or 3 days a week now.

I asked my haircut lady how bad this was, as she did not really want to tell me. I used to have hair that she said everyone would be jealous to have. But now she states I've lost between ONE THIRD AND ONE HALF of my hair. I've scheduled my next haircut for 8 weeks out, so I won't be scruffy for Christmas, but she thinks at this rate, if it keeps falling out, and the growth keeps slowing, I will not be needing haircuts even at 8 or 10 weeks.

She does recommend that some of her patients take a PRE NATAL VITAMIN. She thinks those do a good job, and when she had her own gallbladder out two years ago, she took it after losing some of her hair due to the anesthesia. Within a few months, she was back to a decent head of hair. She said I should talk to my dietician and my doctor to see if my diet and health would be helped by taking a pre natal vitamin or to see if either/both would recommend a nutritional supplement.

 

I then sent the following to the Deaconess Dieticioness and Dr C-

So..........what would you recommend? A simple prenatal vitamin? Some sort of Supplement?

My hair, and my mental health, appreciate any help either/both of you can provide.

I've always said, "It may be grey, but at least it's there". I'm hoping you two can help me keep saying that.

If my choices are fat and hairy vs. skinny and bald, I guess skinny and bald is where I'm gonna be. But is there any way to make me skinny and STILL HAIRY?

Your favorite patient.

JC

---

Well, I got this response-

Hi there,

You need more protein!!!! Are you still tracking the protein grams each day?

You can try pre-natal, Bariatric Advantage MVI, but also Biotin. There is also a shampoo that also helps - "Nioxin". You can go online to find locations to purchase.

The Deaconess Dieticioness

----------

My response-

I am not writing the numbers down any more, as they were always around 60-70. Salad days are less. but I want to get back to more salads as they are filling, healthy, and do help with the weight loss. Since fill #2, I've only had a few salads, as the protein counts do worry me.

Every item I eat, I look at two things

1. protein

2. Calories

If it doesn't have protein, then odds are against it.

A typical day-in chronological order

7 AM

4 ounces Cranberry Juice

BP Medicine

Chewable Centrum

Chewable Benefiber

7:30 AM

12 ounces lite lemonade

8:00 AM

can of slimfast- 10 or 15 protein- most are 10, but I have a few 15s , 220 or 190 calories. amazingly the 15s have 190. But I bought 2 cases of the 10/220s and still have way too many of those. Odds are I have enough for the rest of the year, but will look for the 15/190s when I eventually run out. The 15/190s do cost much more, but I do think I'll spend the money.

9:00 AM

12 ounces lite lemonade

10:30 AM

morning snack

Tub of yogurt- 5 or 7 grams protein 100 or 70 calories. Activia or Kroger lite. Activia helps you be regular. Kroger Lite has more protein and less calories in more ounces.

wait 30 minutes

11:00

12 ounces lite lemonade

1:30 PM

lunch- 6-8 ounce lunch, weighed on food scale.

These vary, but most are 6 ounces of protein, 2 ounces of vegetable, so 40 or so grams of protein

If salad, zero calorie dressing, but 1 ounce of cheese and one ounce of lunchmeat on it.

banana (perhaps at lunch, more often as a 3:30 PM snack, since fill #2, it is usually the latter. I'm not hungry, but leg cramps are telling me to eat a banana everyday.

wait 30 minutes

12 ounces lite lemonade

afternoon snack-

rare that I have.

But if I do, it is usually a delay of the banana above or a yogurt. Odds are the banana, other snacks are very rare any more.

evening snack-

6-8 chips with either hummus, or pimento cheese, or perhaps 2 ounces of cheese with one ounce Peanut Butter

wait 30 minutes

12 ounces beverage

dinner- usually around 8 PM or later

6-8 ounces, weighed on food scale. varies

If salad, zero calorie dressing, but 1 ounce of cheese and one ounce of lunchmeat on it.

wait 30 minutes

Multiple beverages at night, to make sure I get to 96-120 ounces of beverages for the day.

dessert-

if I have, it is protein pudding. These are rare nowadays since fill #2.

Protein pudding, is SF pudding, with one scoop of protein powder and one scoop of dry milk in it. It is usually runny, or the texture of cottage cheese, but it is pretty decent and pretty much 4 servings out of a box for 10-12 grams of protein each.

---------

So, where would a place be to add protein? (Without adding calories) I am already the king of string cheese. Before fill #2, I ate that ALL the time. Since fill #2, I've had a bunch just sitting in my frig and only take it when I am traveling. Each piece had 7 or 8 grams of protein for 80-100 calories.

Hairless, in LapBand Land,

JC

==

The Recommended solution-

One of the protein drinks- Either the Profect Test Tubes, or the Protein Water from Meijer ($1.39) that we tried at a recent Support group meeting.

Well, Meijer STOPPED SELLING THE THINGS. The GNC version is $3.75 a bottle. I have a few test tubes, but they are disgusting, and expensive.

So, now I’ve added more cheese, any dessert I have is the SF Protein Pudding, and most (but not all) nights, I have a Protein Shake when I get home.

The bad news is that with these additions, my calories are increasing.

I’ve not added the vitamins yet, I’m going to GNC for Fish Oil for my vision tomorrow, and we shall see what they may have. I had hoped that the Bariatric Advantage websight had something on there, but the info is all too overwhelming. There was one Bariatric Advantage product listed above by the Deaconess Dieticioness, so I’ll do some research on that. Also, Deaconess did NOT add any Bariatric Advantages pages today as they said they would.

 

Wish me and my hair luck. As I’ve said, this post has been in the DRAFT stages for over 2 weeks now. I really did not want to post it. But after not having to cut my fingernails for 12 days, and there being lots of hair on the bathroom floor again, I decided that I really needed to put this out there for anyone considering this path.

I’d still take the path, but I wish the path was not strewn with locks of my hair.

 

Question of the Day- EYES.

An issue with my eyes that I've posed on the Blog yields some info, and some more questions. I've posed this to the Deaconess Dieticioness, and await her answer.

 

 

Question of the Day- EYES.

 

I've still not found the article regarding weight loss surgery and vision problems. I'll be contacting the Bariatric Advantage lady soon to see if she has it. I should have asked the blonde with many questions for more info.

 

So, here's the deal.

 

Read the blog, if you need to refresh yourself. I'll wait.......back? Great- jump in.

 

See below for my friend's own vision issues. She is the woman who was able to put her arms around me and hug me and even interlock her fingers now. She is the same age as me, and I believe may be considering LASIX, where I am planning it for December. Her vision changed and also her eyes are changing-specifically DRYER. So,she takes FISH OIL.

 

Do we have any medical background for this?

 

Mine eyes thank you.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the shrinking of the JC.

 

JC

 

---------

My response to my favorite Girl Scout. (again with the anonymousness)

 

 

Well, I never ever thought of THAT!

 

I am getting my eyes done on December 11th. I'll be asking both my dieticion before that, and the eye doctor on that day. I never expected my vision to change and for contacts to be popping out, but I guess I've shrunken, and thus my eyes have too. I do know that my Reds hat that has not fit since 2001 now fits.

 

My last day with contacts will be Saturday November 18th. I'll go to GNC tomorrow and see what they have.

 

Thankyaverymuch

 

JC

 

-----

 

JC – so I was reading the blog this morning and have a tip you can check on. Just went to a new eye dr. recently and had to switch from disposable contacts to the throw away ones (put a new pair in every day.)

Anyway – she talked about dry eyes and how they get drier as we age, yada, yada, yah. Her recommendation is Fish Oil capsules – two to three per day and will improve overall eye health immensely. So, wonder if you eye problem is due more to dryness, chemical change and not shape change. I have been taking them for about two months now and can tell a big difference. No more itchy dryness and they don’t pop out like they did when I first started. Might want to check with your dietician, or whoever. Good luck – you are doing great!!!

 

Your Favorite Girl Scout

"Girl Scouting builds girls of confidence, courage, and character ... who make the world a better place."

 

Heavier drivers seen using more gasoline

A guest column from my sister.

-------
CNN reports that heavier drivers use more gasoline.

Just think- you now get more miles to the gallon. Lapband surgery is also good for the environment!!!

----------


http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/26/news/economy/
weighty_drivers/index.htm?postversion=2006102613

Heavier drivers seen using more gasoline

Study concludes costs will become 'more significant' as obesity increases.

As American's waistlines continue to grow, so does their consumption of gasoline.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The widening waistlines of Americans have increased the consumption of gasoline since 1960 according to researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Virginia Commonwealth University.

A report by Laura A. McLay of VCU, concludes that Americans now pump 938 million gallons of fuel more on a yearly basis than they were in 1960 because of their increasing weight.

"Although the amount of fuel consumed as a result of the rising prevalence of obesity is small compared to the increase in the amount of fuel consumed stemming from other factors such as increased car reliance and an increase in the number of drivers," the report stated, "it still represents a large amount of fuel, and will become even more significant as the rate of obesity increases."

Americans' reliance on cars for private transportation has increased as low rise construction, single-family homes and highways associated with suburbs have grown since the end of World War II.

McLay began the study as a doctoral student of Sheldon H. Jacobson, a professor of computer science and director of the simulation and optimization laboratory at Illinois.

Evening on the River Boat with Bariatrics Advantage

Thursday October 26, 2006

 

My Evening on the River Boat with Bariatrics Advantage

 

http://www.bariatricadvantage.com/

 

I was invited to a dinner cruise by the Deaconess Dieticioness and Patty the Deaconess Insurance Lady that was sponsored by Bariatrics Advantage. I guess that either I am the favorite patient or biggest pain in the you know what with all the questions I ask. So, I looked at this as an educational opportunity. I have heard that Deaconess will be offering their products soon and I have many questions that I've been researching and have not yet fully found answers to.

 

I currently take three things daily, a medicine, a vitamin and a supplement:

    1. BP Medicine

    2. Centrum Chewable Multivitamin

    3. Benefiber Chewable.

 

Patients who choose ByPass have tremendous malabsorption issues and need to take many supplements. In last week's Cincinnati Enquirer, there was an article on weight loss surgery and eye health - vision problems. Apparently some nutrients are not absorbed in proper levels and tremendous vision problems can occur. I wish I had saved the article as I have not been able to locate it on Google. I'm also facing another issue that I've not been pleased with and have the blog drafted for that, but have not published it yet. That problem too can potentially be addressed by vitamins and supplements, so I will be doing more research on it the next few weeks. Check back for details. I do know that my vision HAS changed, and I often have my right contact lens easily pop out now. I think it is due to the weight loss and perhaps the change in the shape of my eye or the surrounding tissues. I'm hoping that the vision change is due to that, or that I'm over 40 and nothing worse.

 

The guest list was for 35 and perhaps 25 showed up, most were dieticians. One elegant lady from Christ Hospital was there- She would be a shorter blond clone with a great smile of the prettiest brunette I ever went out with, with the blond hair of an ex fiancée's best friend. (an interesting combo) She was also very inquisitive and asked many of the questions of the Bariatric Advantages folks that were running through my mind.(However in a much more medical and technical manner). I wish I had asked her for the weight loss and eye problems article.

 

Our hosts were three women. The founder- Dr JJ (again with the anonymous thing), an elegant woman from North Carolina and a woman who has lost 170 pounds and is now beginning to have plastic surgery (which she discussed at great length and I am now much more knowledgeable on Boob jobs - Lord help me- I never wanted to hear that!) But she did laugh at my plastic surgery joke. "A very depressed woman called her doctor and said she wanted to kill herself. She said she wanted to shoot herself in the heart to have it happen quick and hopefully painlessly. She asked her doctor where her heart was-"Well your heart is under your left breast". So, she shot her self under her left breast. She ended up having to get a knee replacement! HAHA). 

 

The founder was the extremely knowledgeable Dr JJ, and the company seems to be about 5 years old. She is stressing quality and strength and shelf life for all her products. After hearing the tip of the iceberg, I know I am going to be doing more research on vitamins and supplements and do wish that blood work was done for LapBand Patients. ByPass get those, and they are REQUIRED ANNUALLY, we don't and I wonder if that omission is a mistake. I know I'll be researching the Bariatric Advantage web page and a few others over the next few months. 

 

When we started our LapBand process, we were simply told to take a Multivitamin daily. I already took Centrum. Bubba's doctor suggests a Calcium supplement, but as I eat lots of cheese and yogurt daily, our dietician said I don't need one. (But no tests were done- so I wish to discuss this later with the office) Bariatric Advantage makes a "LapBand Starter kit" and offer follow-up shipments. We were given a bottle of 8 chewables from Walgreens and then left by Deaconess to fend for ourselves. The Benefiber was mentioned for if we have any "regularity" problems, and Bubba strongly recommended it (and I've had no problems as I do take a Benefiber daily and eat a cup of Activia Yogurt daily as suggested by the school marm).

 

In the talk done by the elegant NC woman, she spoke more of the business side- product lines, shipping, automatic shipping, web sights, fliers, advertising. One of the things I spoke to her about was having SEPARATE web advertising pages for LapBand and ByPass patients. Many times in our support groups, before I convinced the Deaconess Dieticioness to put LapBand on the Left and ByPass on the Right side of the support group room, I would be told by a friend "Oh, you don't have that issue". I'll be talking to the folks at Deaconess about separate  web pages for each. Bariatric Advantage can do it easily- their web geeks can set it up from the templates easily.

 

We talked of how some medical offices are simply "slice and dice them, and toss them out to fend for themselves on their own". Perhaps this added level of help from Bariatrics Advantage will be of great help.

 

I'll see how the new Deaconess web sight looks next week. I will be contacting the Bariatric Advantages folks and hopefully the Deaconess Dieticioness can get them to come to a support group meeting, and have one talk for ByPass folks and one talk for LapBand folks.

 

Luckily the Deaconess Dieticioness has been of great help, but I do see that I will be having many more questions for planning and helping me to be able to enjoy the rest of my Life With a LapBand.

 

 

 

 

 

  

GGRR

G G R R

 

Saturday October 21, 2006

 

A Very Important NSV

 

 

The Great Ghost Rider Ramble - GGRR-

 

Being a GGRR volunteer since 1994 and the chair since 1997, and being the co chair from 2000 - 2005 (ride got a lot more organized when my partner Eileen jumped on board!), amazingly, I HAD NEVER RIDDEN THE GGRR.

Well, after I retired from chairing the bike ride after last year's ride, I really wished to be able to do it at least once. But, I did fear that I would not be healthy enough. That was truly a great fear that led me on this LapBand journey. That was truly a major fear- that I would never get to ride the GGRR.

So, 37 miles, 2 hills walked, tons of pretty leaves changing colors, being passed by many a faster rider, meeting a charming worker at the one food stop visited (twice), and a great meal by the Future Home Makers of East Central that I skipped except for a piece of custard pie, (Damn those country girls can cook!) I must say that I had a GREAT time.

It was 39 degrees at 10AM, so we waited until 10:30 to ride as it had become 45 degrees. The sun came out and then it was a fine day. The food stop was an issue for me, as I am constantly trying to have higher amounts of protein and lower amounts of calories. But my body did need some fuel so I would not BONK. So at the first time at the rest stop I had two cups of hot apple cider and two cookies. The second time was a Protein Bar from my pack and a banana with Peanut Butter, no beverages. Compared to old days, this would be 1/3 to 1/2 of what I would have ate at a food stop. I will say that the no liquids for 30 minutes after eating rule was not strictly adhered to. I did drink the cider first, but after the small amount of food had been eaten, and I was riding, I was drinking again in 10-15 minutes. Once you have had kidney stones, you always want to drink on a ride. So, I'll have to figure that out better in the future. Most rides have Water and Gatorade and Gatorade is just a bunch of wasted calories to me. When I do week long rides, I guess I will be stopping at Convenience stores for Propel.

Many of my old volunteers had not seen me in a year. At 72 pounds down, they were all amazed. Even shocked. I was wearing a jacket that had not fit since 1999. Hugs were had, and they could put their arms all the way around. They all saw how happy I was to just be physically healthy enough to be able to ride! I must say I was smiling. They all begged me to come back as the new ride chair is not quite as pleasant or organized as I was. Besides never saying THANK YOU to any of my volunteers, the new chair ran out of food at every stop. But this isn't a blog about how she is trying to kill my ride. This is a blog about how great it felt to actually be able to RIDE THE RIDE.

I rode with a gentleman who is engaged to a friend of mine. Nice guy, and it was good to ride with him for 35 (actually 37) miles and get to know him better. I wish them the best of luck. I also pointed out every sight, directed him to a great pumpkin festival to take her to next weekend, and knew every pothole and gravel patch without ever looking at a map. (I made the route in 2000 with a fellow named Bruce, and then changed the route a bit over the years.)

Post ride, I was not really very hungry, but did want to have lunch with a number of friends. So I gave my ride partner my meal ticket and had a protein bar and three sticks of string cheese. One of my volunteers got me a plate of Meatballs that were homemade and tasty. I had decided that I was skipping the spaghetti, but I was glad she got me some meat balls. And yes, I cheated and had a piece of home made pie. One giant sugar buzz later, I was glad I did. It was tasty. But I was full. Again, at about 1/3 to 1/2 of what the olden days would have been. And if I ride 37 miles, I think I can afford the calories of one piece of homemade by a sweet young country girl's pie! 

All in all, one of the best days of my new life that I hope will be filled with many more of them as this Life with a Lap Band continues.  

---------

Now my trip to BubbaFest in the Florida Keys is just a bit over 2 weeks away. So tonight, I start hitting the tanning bed (Which will be warm- so that is nice) and I start the winter basement exercise bike riding (which is cold and boring - so not so nice).

THANKYAVERYMUCH and ON YER LEFT!

 

JC

 

 

 

FOUR! an NSV

FOUR! an NSV

 

Friday October 20, 2006

 

Well, I've been grumping around about a few things these last few days. I'll blog later on the big grump and its (hopefully) solution.

 

But.....

 

All day today, I felt like my pants WERE TIGHT. Which is aggravating. The things have been loose for weeks, and I'm just not quite ready to drop a size yet. I've actually been enjoying having loose clothes for a change. It is sort of nice, and sort of weird.

 

Well, these same tight pants have been making me grumpy all day. They used to be loose! Today they are tight in the waist. Not tight like sardined into them before July 10th, but just tight like they shrunk a size. Aggravating.  

 

But... But.....

 

There's a reason behind that.

Unbeknownst to me, the default belt notch today was FOUR!. The FOURTH one, not THIRD from the End, FOURTH.  This same belt that over the last few years I had to drill an extra hole in at the end. The same belt that I then had to drill another one just an inch from the end of the belt. That belt. The belt that I am planning on keeping and having lots of notches at the end to remind me of where I was and to enjoy where I am. That belt.

 

Yup, NOTCH NUMBER FOUR.

 

I may even go try the next size pants down this weekend. Maybe I'm ready, maybe not. But that day is coming! Amazing.

 

FOUR!

Blog YES, emails NO.

Blog YES, emails NO.

 

In other news, I won't be sending any more emails out with JC updates. I started sending emails to a list that I was given when a few folks said they wanted to hear about the journey. Then a few asked to be deleted from the list, then a few more. So, I'll just be putting stuff on this blog.

 

72 pounds in 100 days was quite a success, and the folks that have not done as well ......well, they don't really want to hear any good news. Which I should have understood before. A few were even "happy" to hear that I was stuck at 307 and 303 for nearly a month.

 

You live, you learn.

 

The night of the pathetic psychologist visit to the support group at Deaconess was quite an eye opener for me. That evening two ladies asked to be removed from the email list I had. One of the two was extremely unhappy at hearing of my success. That was not a reaction I expected.

 

This pathetic psychologist and the reactions to him gave me much to think about. New thoughts Actually quite scary thoughts.

    What will my life be like when this journey is done?

    A new journey?

    A continued struggle?

    A continued set of fears of getting fat again?

    If I ever get to 240 and then go to 245, am I a failure?

    Will that 245 become 345 again? 

Lots of things to think about that I never thought about before. And that pathetic psychologist did us no favors with his tap dance routine. I still have a few sleepless nights with those thoughts going through my head. I knew I was not happy where I was. My thoughts of "Will I Get to 240?" have changed to "Will I be happy when I get to where I think I want to be?" We shall see.

 

So, keep checking here. 

 

I'm still writing for my own memories. There may be some pondering going on there in the future.  I guess my inner monologue will be written!

 

But again thanks to all the folks that I used to email with, for all your help in getting me this far. I know I've got more life to live and enjoy, and I might just have the opportunity now that I am healthier to actually live and enjoy that life.

 

Thankyaverymuch

 

JC

 

 

TWO BABY!

TWO BABY!

or

WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO BUY A THREE?

Monday October 16, 2006

297.0 pounds.

98 days since July 10th.
72 down.

I WEIGH TWO SOMETHING!

Truthfully, a year ago I never thought I would ever weigh TWO SOMETHING again. I've been remembering that joy in Bubba's voice back in the spring when he finally popped that TWO bubble. This last month, I was wondering about it for me as well. I just could not get off 307 and then 303. I was there for nearly a month. I even tore up my weight card after last Thursday's meeting as I was so frustrated with myself. But Dr. C said that "sometimes a fill takes two weeks to kick in, listen to the Deaconess Dieticioness, and follow the plan. Either you'll lose, or we'll try a fill again in a bit. Use the tool, measure your portions. It will happen." So, I waited.

But after a great weekend, I was still wanting to get to TWO. I wanted to check. I needed to check. I've been quite unhappy with myself over this, despite people telling me I look great. So I came by the hospital this morning on the way to work. Throughout that great weekend (more about that later), but that nagging little FAT GUY in my brain kept asking, "So, you gonna stay in the THREEs, or are you finally gonna go to the TWOs?". I hear him in my brain all the time. I see him in the mirror when I look into it. Folks tell me I look great, I see that FAT GUY saying "So, you still weigh THREE HUNDRED, eh?". I see old clothes becoming new clothes. I see coats fitting. I see the belt in three notches, but I still see that FAT GUY.

But, I held my breath, stepped on the scale, and the cute Deaconess Receptionist said, TWO , and I didn't really hear the rest for a second, as I was stunned and stammered, "YOU SAID TWO- RIGHT?" The nurse from my happy dance weigh in was there (perhaps she is my good luck charm). The Deaconess Dieticioness was meeting a newbie and stuck her head out the door when she heard me say TWO! To be truthful again, I nearly cried. I hugged them all. (I think they are getting used to me, so perhaps I don't scare them any more).


Now as I am having this great moment, I see a newbie coming for a pre op meeting, He's fat. He is NOT smiling. He is not happy. Basically, I see ME from the past, and still see me the FAT GUY. The newbie was the old me. Now, I'm smiling, dancing, hugging. So, I guess the new me is gonna push that FAT GUY off my shoulder and out of that mirror. Because the next time I see that FAT GUY in that mirror, I'm gonna say TWO BABY to him!.

-------

Now for the great weekend.

Some, but not all, of my family and friends saw me for the first time in quite a while this weekend. I don't know if the guys noticed, but my sister's sister in law and one of my sister's friends noticed. The friend knows. She is quite happy for me, and very supportive. But as the day was ending, she gave me my usual hug. Then she stopped. "Hey- hold it! I don't have to just pat you on the back, I CAN GET MY ARMS AROUND YOU! HEY I CAN LINK MY FINGERS AROUND YOU!" Wow, I never thought of that. But it felt great. We'll put that down as a big NON SCALE VICTORY.

In other news, I CAN FIT IN THE SEATS AT THE STADIUM. OK, there is still no leg room, but that ain't ever gonna happen. Papa John's Cardinal Stadium has weird one piece molded plastic seats, not the usual stadium seats found every where else. Since PJCS opened in 1998, I've had to smush myself into these annoying things. Sometimes I was lucky if one butt cheek got in. Not today baby! I even left my cell phone and sunglass case in my pockets and could still wiggle! So, let's put that down as a big NON SCALE VICTORY.

I went to church with my Mom on Sunday, She saw me Saturday night for the first time in three months and was amazed. But standing next to me in church she said she could really notice (she's 5'3" and I'm 6'4"). She was amazed that my shirt had tons of room in it, and noted that last year the buttons were pulling. And even wearing a coat in church (I'm freakin cold all the time!), a few of the little old church ladies said I looked taller. Maybe at Turkey Day, they'll have the heat on and they'll actually see LESS OF ME!) Mom even got to tell me- THOSE PANTS ARE TOO BAGGY ON YOU, YOU NEED SOME NEW ONES! (whereas it used to be- those are TOO TIGHT- buy some new ones!) So, we get yet another NON SCALE VICTORY.

Now- the best for last.

THE BEST BIKE RIDE EVER.
No, not the prettiest.
No, not the longest.
No, not the most entertaining.

5.04 miles.
One hour and four minutes.
I even walked a hill that I should be able to ride up.

But, as we talked about a few posts ago, my 7 year old niece wanted to go on a ride with me. Her brothers even wanted to go ( I think they were jealous). We had a brief safety class. I checked the helmets for a decent fit. But, It was like herding kittens. We stopped all the time. We walked up a hill. I yelled at them (for their own safety, of course). They yelled at me. She fell over. She cried. I fixed the boo boo. One brother goes way ahead, I yell. One goes way behind, I yell. Yup, herding kittens. But it was a WONDERFUL AFTERNOON. Why- someone I love wanted to go on a ride with me, and I am now able to do it! I've not had anyone I care for want to go on a ride in years. And a year ago, I doubted I'd ever ride again. I had both on Sunday! I think that this is probably my best NON SCALE VICTORY of all over this journey.

And you know what- next spring- we are going to do it again! I CAN'T WAIT!
Louisville has a great riverfront bike trail. I'm going to take them and then have a picnic on the river. Why- BECAUSE LIFE IS GOOD BABY!
I CAN'T WAIT!


------

So, there you have it.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUY A THREE?

Why?


BECAUSE I WEIGH TWO BABY! T W O

To Tell or Not To Tell- That is Today's Question

Thursday October 12, 2006

I'm going down to Louisville this weekend and will be seeing family and friends for the first time in a while. A few saw me 3 weeks post op, but the rest last saw me at Father's Day. So, there will be a Minus 66 pound surprise. But it does bring us " To Tell or Not To Tell- That is Today's Question"

And, then as I am thinking about To Tell or Not To Tell, the question does come up in an email from my sister.

I commented to my sister in law that you had lost 66 pounds. She was very excited for you and wanted to know how you did it. I told her you had some hiatal hernia surgery and had been dieting.

Are you telling people about the LapBand? I don't think they will care- I actually think they will think you are brave for trying it.

Just wanted to know what to do. I had told Lisa this summer before you told me not to tell anyone but she has not told anyone and knows not to.

----------

My response-

Interesting question

I've still told no one in Cincinnati outside of Kim Kevin and Erica.

Many people from the hospital know, and a few of them know folks that I know. So I am expecting someone to blab someday. One lady from Deaconess works with a woman with a beautiful smile that I know. I've had to ask her many many times to not tell our mutual friend. Kim has had to kick Kevin under the table a number of times when he starts to blab. Erica has been wonderful and supportive about the choice.

I'm not proud that I did this, but I do think it saved my life and gave me another 20 years to enjoy things. I never would have had the opportunity to ride a bike with my 7 year old niece had I not done this. I think I was just waiting to die. Now I am excited about all the things I get to enjoy in life again.

It has been so strange to not feel hungry in three months. The biggest hurdle I am now facing is mental. When bored, I used to eat. Many places I go, people have snacks and candy and stuff that I don't need. Every time I walk to our copier, a woman has a spread of cookies, candy and stuff that I just don't need. She replenishes it every day. I've found that if I just drink something, I will take the fake hunger feeling away. So I drink probably twice as much as a normal human.

I am still just telling people now that I am working with a dietician and giving her weekly a list of what and when I eat, then we meet every two weeks. Which is true, but very incomplete.

My Primary Care Physician thought I made a good choice, as he was terribly worried. He was not allowed by my health care provider to bring up the subject, but once I asked him, he was legally allowed to discuss it. But he retired and his replacement is not so supportive. "Why would you do that?". Dr. Curry knows the new PCP and had a not so friendly chat with him over this.

A great recurring fear is having someone find out and ask in front of a group of others why I did this. But now as people are noticing, it is getting tougher and tougher to not be asked. 66 down in 3 months is a lot. But on the other side, if I tell someone one on one, maybe that won't be a fear I need to face.

And with my only going back to Louisville occasionally, the differences will be seen as greater. Folks around here see great differences from week to week. It has been 10 weeks since I was last in Louisville.

Thus

the change is more noticeable.

----

So, do you think if you tell her that I would have the "So, how's the LapBand?" question in front of a group?

I don't like lying to folks, but a tremendous number of my friends have let me down over the last few years. So, I don't share as much of my life as I used to.

Your call. If you think it would go OK, then send her an email and the link to the blog, or just forward this email.

http://lapbandbyjc.blogspot.com/

It would be nice to have another person in my corner. And I do like her, she makes a nice sister in law (or would that be sister in law in law?).

She welcomes me to her home. She has been nothing but nice and supportive to me in all my adventures these last 15 years or so. I still think you lucked out with the whole clan you picked up.

Give it thought. If she does have any questions, then I would just ask that they be solo not group questions.

JC

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We can just tell people you are working with a dietician for right now.

I can tell everyone later on and in a smaller setting so you don't have to explain the whole medical procedure to them. Like I said I don't think it will be a big deal to them but you never know in a big setting.

MY NEXT BIKE RIDE

MY NEXT BIKE RIDE

 

This coming weekend I go home to Louisville for the first time in a while. Some family and friends saw me at a wedding 3 weeks post op (probably 25 down.) My mother saw me the week of the operation (maybe 15-20 down), but not since. And a bunch of others have not seen me since at least Father's Day.

 

Those who have not seen me since Father's Day are in for a 66 pound surprise!

 

Saturday will be the UC-UofL game, Tailgating and enjoying life.

 

Sunday will be my niece's volleyball game and my nephew's football game.

 

But, best of all, my 7 year old niece has learned to ride a bike! She rode four miles today and has asked me to go on a bike ride with her soon. She wrote me a letter today, and was so excited that she called me to tell me she wrote a letter about riding a bike. So, Sunday, after the sporting events, weather permitting, I will be riding with my 7 year old niece!

 

I am truly looking forward to it. If this goes well, every time I go to Louisville, I hope to take her to a park for a ride. (yes, I had to share the tale).

 

So, the most amazing thing, is that since I am now so much healthier- I GET TO RIDE MY BIKE WITH MY NIECE! A year ago, odds are I would not have been able. NOW I CAN!

 

Life is good.

 

JC 

Today's Horoscope

Today's Horoscope

I can't make this stuff up.

Thursday October 5, 2006


Aquarius

You're eating in order to live more fully, as opposed to living to in order to eat more fully.