What an inspiration....

Shell...this I will dedicate to you !!

I had the absolute pleasure of spending a bit of time with Shell (from Melbourne) this last weekend....what GREAT timing...a few days out from my surgery and I see a REAL LIFE SUCCESS STORY !!!! What a true inspiration you are my friend. What is it? 34kgs to date? I take my hat off to you lovely. You look amazing !!! You have given me the energy I need for these last few days.

I have not strayed from the Optifast once...how proud I am of myself that I can be told to do something and I just do it ! This weight loss means everything to me. I have everything else I could want. A wonderful husband, two beautiful children, a beautiful home (snakes & all)....and this weight loss has become my one final goal. It will make my almost perfect life....perfect.

As promised to Shell....I will be taking photos (blergh blergh blergh) & posting in the next few days....probably should have taken photos prior to starting Opitifast cos I know I've lost some weight so far...but it's not like me to jump IN FRONT of the camera!!! So we will make do with pre-op photos and go from there ;-)

To all of those who are reading my blog.....THANK YOU...from the bottom of my heart for caring enough to do so x The support I am getting through this has astounded me xxxx

Lap Band Surgery - the lead up.....

It was about a year ago when the thought first popped into my head that lap band surgery might be a useful weight loss tool for me. I dismissed the thought thinking it was too expensive, too restrictive, too painful and too ridiculous an idea ! Then as time went on and I saw friends around me have the procedure and were very successful, my thoughts about this surgery became more constant....and made more sense. I would be a perfect candidate for this surgery. I am not a junk food eater. I eat great food...just too much of it :-( My body just doesn't know when to say "Megan, put that fork down now...your tummy is full". After much research (cos I'm the queen of researching !!) I realised that I was a perfect for the lap band. I would be limited in how much I ate, whether I liked it or not !!! Over fill your tummy and there's only one way the food can go - UP !! So, just prior to Xmas 2008, I made some enquiries, saw my GP and then rang the surgeon's rooms for appointments in early 2009.

January has been hectic, to say the least.

My first appointment was with the surgeon's nurse. She weighed me, explained the band to me, explained the procedure to me and confirmed what I had already suspected - I WAS indeed a perfect candidate for this !! YIPPEEEE.

Next step (a week later). See the dietician. This lady explained what I needed to do in the lead up to my surgery (i.e. OPTIFAST), and then the two weeks post op.

Next appointment was the surgeon - another week later ! He was great and also confirmed that I was a great candidate for this surgery..Young, fit, healthy and I was a little chuffed when he called me one of his "smaller banders"....ME? SMALL? Okay, I guess in his line of work I could be considered small :-)

So the next step is to have an ECG, some bloods and book surgery. This is all before the month of January is over. Yes, it's been very very busy !!!

Long story, short. ECG done - all good. Still waiting to hear back for bloods, but "assume" they are okay. Blood pressure a little high, but I've been sick with a virus/flue and the kids have started school this week, so I guess it can be expected.

SO....surgery, Thursday 5th Feb !!!

That's THIS Thursday. Will be pleased to be off the Optifast to be honest. Am a little bit over it.

However, it's only a liquid diet for 2wks post op!!! and that DOESN'T include beer & wine - DAMN IT !!!!

So....stay tuned.....more updates to come :-)