One Week Pre-Op

It's almost here - the date I have been anxiously awaiting for MONTHS.  I am so ready for the surgical portion of this journey to be over, so I can start sculpting my new body.  The mind had been shaped, the body just has to catch up.  

This is going to be a busy week between tying up loose ends at work, a couple interviews, and preparing my house for this big change.  I almost feel like I am nesting; being completely anal about having things clean, easy to access for when my mom comes to help me post-surgery.  

This surgery is more than a new lease on life, it's a new beginning, a new journey, a new way.  I have literally been talking to just about anyone who will listen.  I am proud of the decision I have made for myself and my life.  I know there are a lot of "haters" out there who say some pretty mean things about deciding to have weight loss surgery.  What many don't understand is that surgery is not a cure all.  You don't wake up 100+ pounds light without putting the work in.  Bariatric surgery is a tool.  If you choose not the use the tool properly, it's not going to help you, right?  People who are not fully on board with making lifestyle changes, putting down the ice cream and picking up some fat free greek yogurt or chowing down on french fries instead of some lean protein are NOT going to see any improvements in their health.

Many people can tell you of horror stories about people they know who have had weight loss surgery that didn't turn out well.  Sure, they might have lost the weight initially, but down the road they gained the weight back plus some.  I think in part this is an old way of thought.  Doctors and insurance companies now make patients jump through hoops - labs, nutrition classes, psych evals, support groups and pre-op weight loss to prove they're making a lifetime commitment to the surgery and lifestyle change.  How could you go through all these classes and work so hard, just to throw it all away?  I know I can't.  Will I have birthday cake - damn right I will, but it will be small and I won't eat all the frosting.  Will I have a glass of wine on occasion, sure.  I feel that I am strong enough to have some "cheat" foods here and there without launching myself back to the mess where I started.  

Well folks, this will be an interesting week.  The count down has officially started.  7 days and counting.