Join the Journey!
I am not a doctor. I am not a nutritionalist, dietitian, nurse, or professional foodie. I have had no formal training in culinary arts, nor do I posses professional knowledge regarding fitness. Although I have quite an impressive number of degrees and certifications, none of them provide the foundation for this journal.
Now that we have that out of the way, I will say this:
I am a woman in my mid-30's who has battled the bulge my entire life. I have a full-time career, a husband, three daughters, an active social life, a love of food (obviously), and a small, yappy-type dog named Elliot. My health has been compromised as a result of my fluctuating weight; PCOS, sleep apnea, hiatal hernia, infertility, diseased gallbladder, insulin resistance, and so on…! All this by the age of 35? Sad, but true …. not to mention ridiculous, embarrassing, and scary as hell.
In June 2012, I made a decision that would change my life.
I decided to kiss my fat ass good-bye and take the leap into the world of weight-loss surgery. It was a jump I never thought I'd take, a choice I hesitated to make, and a change I was resistant to embrace. Six months (and 4 days) later I was admitted to Virtua Hospital and banded!
That was the easy part. This, the post-op life, is where the true challenge is born. And, yes … every doctor has his/her own twist on the initial set of pre/post-op instructions.
As of this moment I don't have those answers, but over the next 356 days I am challenging myself to discover them.
I would love your feedback and welcome you to join this journey. Whether you're already on the BANDwagon or still thinking about Lap Band [weight loss surgery], I appreciate you visiting this page and truly hope my adventures will compliment yours.
Now that we have that out of the way, I will say this:
I am a woman in my mid-30's who has battled the bulge my entire life. I have a full-time career, a husband, three daughters, an active social life, a love of food (obviously), and a small, yappy-type dog named Elliot. My health has been compromised as a result of my fluctuating weight; PCOS, sleep apnea, hiatal hernia, infertility, diseased gallbladder, insulin resistance, and so on…! All this by the age of 35? Sad, but true …. not to mention ridiculous, embarrassing, and scary as hell.
In June 2012, I made a decision that would change my life.
I decided to kiss my fat ass good-bye and take the leap into the world of weight-loss surgery. It was a jump I never thought I'd take, a choice I hesitated to make, and a change I was resistant to embrace. Six months (and 4 days) later I was admitted to Virtua Hospital and banded!
That was the easy part. This, the post-op life, is where the true challenge is born. And, yes … every doctor has his/her own twist on the initial set of pre/post-op instructions.
- What to eat?
- When to eat?
- How to eat?
- How much to eat?
- Where to eat?
- How to exercise?
- When to exercise?
- How much exercise?
- Where to exercise?
- Will we ever eat 'normal' again?
- Do I have to avoid ALL social functions in order to be successful?
- How can we make our favorite foods go from delicious to Bandalicous?
As of this moment I don't have those answers, but over the next 356 days I am challenging myself to discover them.
I would love your feedback and welcome you to join this journey. Whether you're already on the BANDwagon or still thinking about Lap Band [weight loss surgery], I appreciate you visiting this page and truly hope my adventures will compliment yours.