mommy3x

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I went to weigh in today and I am 287.6 on the scale at the Nurses Station I always weigh in on. Although, when I went to my appointment today their scale said 285. Both are good numbers!

I went to the sleep study consultation and looks like I am a good candidate for a sleep study so I need to schedule that. The Dr. I saw said they may be booked 3 months out  ! He did say if I call every few days I may be able to get in if some one cancels. I called today after my apointment but I got the answering machine and left a message so I will call tomorrow.

CONTINUED...
By the time I got home this evening the Sleep lab had called back. I am guessing to make my appointment but they were closed by then.

Well I have been keeping my Journal again and trying really hard to eat well and exercise. I think I am going to go look at exercise bikes since the weather is getting rainy and I hate to walk in the rain.

I also have 2 appointments coming up soon one the end of this month for the group meeting with the Social Worker and Physical Therapist and one early next month to meet with the people from the Sleep clinic to see about sleep apnea.

Everything seems to be going well. I gained a pound though and hope it was muscle?? I will be watching it closely.

The class went really well. They talked about what steps we need to take to have surgery....
They are
1.  Acceptance into the Severe-Obesity Program after being referred by your Kaiser primary care physician
2.  Complete and return the 18Pg Kaiser questionnaire
3.  Attend the Kaiser group informational meeting about weight loss options and surgery
4.  Complete Freedom from diets or 5 week weight management class ~Begin exercise program and food diary
5.  Take part in the Kaiser group session with the program social worker and physical therapist
6.  Have a 1hr appointment with the social worker and dietitian. Both on the same day. One following the other at which you will review your food and exercise diary, help set goals, and receive a copy of the "Contract for Participation"
7.  Meet your goals set in the "Contract for Participation" and meet with the social worker and dietitian as you reach these goals
8.  Have blood tests done...info about these will be sent to you in the mail. he bariatric team will review your test results and progress. he team will them make a recommendation for you to see the surgeon
9.  Attending an appointment with your surgeon to discuss the surgery and arrange additional lab tests. you may also discuss a surgery date
10.  Make a pre op appointment. After a surgery date is selected, you will have appointments with the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and case manager. these are usually on the same day. You also will have a pre-op group visit with the program dietitian and physical therapist to discuss post surgery issues.

I was glad I have been going to the support group meetings because Mary Lou and Brenda were both speakers at the meeting on the 21st and they both facilitate the support group on different months. I also learned that if on the questionnaire I answered yes to more then one of the sleep apnea questions that I need to go thru the sleep study which I need a referral for from my PCP.  At the meeting something else I learned was that we should be working up to exercising 5 days a week for 60-90 minutes which is 5-10 min warm up, 30 min moderate aerobic activity, 5-10 min cool down and 20-40 min stretching and strengthening. It was a great meeting that focused on readiness

We were given a paper at the meeting on the 21st and it wend over readiness so thought I would pass it on...heck it is something to be thinking about.

To know when we are ready to move toward surgery you will need to be ready in 4 areas: Nutrition, Physical activity, Family support and psychosocial, and medical matters.

Nutrition:
~ Complete one of more Kaiser Nutrition and fitness education classes
~ Be able to identify your food triggers and have alternative health behaviors in place to use instead of food
~ Keep a food diary that reflects good nutrition choices and the practice of newly learned food behaviors
~ Practice eating 5-6 dry meals taking liquids only between meals. Are taking recommended vitamin and mineral supplements and additional calcium
~ Try using the liquid supplements recommended after surgery
~ Your weight loss goals and expectations after surgery are realistic

Readiness is achieving some weight loss during this time or at least not gaining weight

Physical Activity:
~ Have assessed your abilities and found a physical activity that you can do on a reg. basis
~ If you have mobility issues, you have found an activity you can do and have started doing it.
~ You are doing upper-body strengthening exercises using weights, if possible
~ You are keeping an activity log

Readiness is the ability to engage in a regular activity plan that works for you

Family support and psychosocial issues:
~ If asked, have a family member or support person accompany you to your appointment
~ Have a family member available when you leave the hospital to help you in your recovery at home. you have explored with your family or support people how your life will change after surgery, and how they can help you succeed
~ You have been able to identify some of the issues that have contributed to your overeating behaviors. If necessary, seek help from a mental health provider
~ You have insight into how food is used as a coping mechanism
~ You have a reasonable expectation of what the surgery can do for you

Readiness is the confidence to ask for support and the awareness of avoiding sabotage

Medical matters:
~ You must have a Primary care provider who will support and follow you through the process and beyond
~ If you have sleep apnea or symptoms of sleep apnea, follow through with testing and/or treatment as prescribed
~ If you have diabetes, you blood sugar should be optimally managed
~ The recommended health maintenance examinations should be up to date. i.e. mammogram, pap, colon cancer screening test
~ You will need to follow through with specialty consultations as recommended
~ You should be practicing healthy behaviors. i.e. stop smoking

Readiness is optimal health status

Well I am so excited I am really pushing myself this week. I have walked the last 3 days for a total of about 8.5 miles and then today I walked another 1.5 miles. I have beeing doing really good with the walk off the pounds program. I cannot imagine how someone can fit in 10000 steps in a day but wouldn't that be great? I want to get as much of the outdoors in while the weather is good. I took the kids to the Pirate Ship park by the lake which is about 1 1/5 miles from my house. Then I let them play for a little while before walking the 1.5 miles home. 3 Miles of walking with purpose is the most I have done yet...I don't want to burn myself out so should start to take it easy but will wait to do that once I weigh in on Monday or Tuesday of this coming week. I have blisters on my feet and I notice my back and body is really stiff even with stretching before walking and cooling down at the end of my walk...I wonder if this is what the "Burn" is? I noticed that I am starting to slow down. I think I may take a day off of walking the lake tomorrow or may just do it later in the evening instead since I don't want to mess up on the beginning of my new program.

Personal BMI at 5'4": 

End of May 53.7

End of June- End of July 53.9

End of August 52.4

End of September 50.4

End of October ???


BMI Categories for me since I am between 5'4" and 5'5" tall:

Starvation ~ BMI less than 15 ~ 5’4” 87.5 / 5’5” 90

Underweight ~ BMI from 15 to 18.5 ~ 5’4” 87.5-108 / 5’5” 90-111

Normal ~ BMI from 18.5 to 25 ~ 5’4” 108-145.5 / 5’5” 111-150

Overweight ~ BMI from 25 to 30 ~ 5’4” 145.5-175 / 5’5” 150-180

Obese ~ BMI from 30 to 40 ~ 5’4” 175-233 / 5’5” 180-240.5

Morbidly Obese ~ BMI from 40 to 50 ~ 5’4” 233-291.5 / 5’5” 240.5-300.5

Super Morbidly Obese ~ BMI greater than 50 ~ 5’4” 291.5+ / 5’5” 300.5+