This is all new

Today is the first day that I will attempt to blog!  I had thought about doing this when my journey began but wasn't so sure about putting myself out there like that.  Then I started thinking......what if my blog could help just one person struggling with their weight?  That makes it all worth it!  So today I start my blog.  I have been overweight most of my adult life.  I have been on so many yo-yo diets that you just wouldn't believe it.  With my husbands help and his need to loose weight too, we decided to find out about weight loss surgery.  So after much research, prayer, and talking with others who have been through this same journey, we decided to move forward with this decision.  We have both decided to have gastric by-pass, which later I will discuss my reasoning for that.  So now the journey begins.  Due to insurance requirements, we have to complete a 90-day multi-disciplinary weight loss programs which entails regular visits with a nutrionist and a psychologist.  Wow have we learned a lot since this began.  Our first visit was on January 17, 2011 and that was with the psychologist.  This doctor specializes in eating disorders and has been in the business for quite sometime.  Then we got to meet with the nutritionist on January 31.  On that day a rude awakening happened.  I had to get on the scale for the first time and take accountability for my weight.  What a shock.  If you are like me you avoid the scales at all costs.  No avoiding this day.  I was of course in tears when I stepped on and seen that I had reached my highest weight to date - 384 lbs.  Again even more disappointment when I realized that I weighed about 30 lbs. more than my husband.  That isn't right is it?  You aren't supposed to be bigger than your husband.  Well, that was my idea anyway.  So our weight loss journey begins.  The nutrionist tells us that some weight loss is expected in this 90 day program, although she didn't state an exact amount.  So I'm thinking, "oh, I can drop 10 or 15 lbs over the next 90 days".....easy, no problem right?  Wrong!  All those times that I remembered trying to lose weight in the past came back to haunt me.  But this time I found something inside of me that I have never had before - determination.  I don't know if it's because I'm afraid if I don't do well pre-surgery that it will knock me out of being qualified for surgery.  Or maybe it's just that I don't want to see my husband do well and me fall behind?  Either way, I have found something within me that feels good.  So now we have 3 weeks before we come back to see the nutrionist and to see if the few things she has taught us already has been put into practice and we are starting to lose weight!  Ok so fast forward up to February 22, 2001.  Our first trip back to the nutrionist.  Oh WOW....I have lost 14 lbs.  What a wonderful feeling.  Even though for a person my size 14 lbs. doesn't seem like a whole lot, I can already start to feel the difference in my clothes and people are actually asking me- "are you loosing weight" - which I gladly say YES!  So now the nutritionist puts on a little more sticter diet.  1600 calories a day for me and no more than 50-60 grams of proteins.  Also, try to stay in the single digits where fat and sugar is concerned per serving.  Ok so here we go....I can do this!