Martin Family Adventure

First "official" bariatrics program appointment

My appointment at the Bariatrics center on Monday was very different from the last time I went for my psych evaluation. I was surprised when I came home from Florida and got the phone call to set up my appointment to meet with the surgeon so I assumed I must have passed the psych eval. I went to my therapy appointment yesterday morning and my therapist told me that she had gotten a chanced to talk to the center psychologist and made it clear to me that she would be here to support me in any way possible through therapy. 

I weighed in for the official start of the program, had my blood pressure and pulse taken, then answered a bunch of questions about allergies and medications. One of the dieticians stopped in to talk over with me what I need to lose as a pre-op requirement as well as diet requirements. She gave me the Calorie King book and told me I needed to keep a food journal (ACK!). Food journals are the bane of my existence when it comes to weight loss. Two years ago, I kept track of all my food on SparkPeople and got so obsessive about it. Even without using a food journal, I know all the calories that go into my mouth. I tally them up in my head, but for some reason, writing them down or recording them online scares the crap out of me. I'm always afraid of hitting that wall when I get so obsessive and compulsive about recording everything that I end up feeling guilty about anything and everything I put in my mouth. I really do need to let go of the black and white. I tell myself this all the time and one of my therapists also tells me this every time I go to see her. 

The dietician also talked about exercise and said that I need to get at least 150 minutes in each week. She asked what I love to do and walking was my answer. I do love to walk and bringing my dogs along makes me happy so I'm going to try to get out more often. This summer has been pretty brutal with heat and humidity but that's starting to break and cooler air is on the way. The kids will also be heading back to school at the end of the month and I always seem to be more motivated to go for a walk right after they get picked up by the bus. 

Then I met with the surgeon. He was an absolute peach. He's an older middle-eastern man with a lovely accent and a bubbly personality. He made me feel right at ease and comfortable from the moment he walked in the door. I felt like he really understood where I was coming from. After we talked for a while, he ordered some tests for me. 

So.....coming up at the end of the month, I go in to drink barium and have my insides checked out, as well as an ultra-sound. The day after Labor Day, I go in for an upper endoscopy. I still haven't decided whether or not I want to do the surgery, but I'm going to proceed with the program in case I do decide on it. It's a 6- month process until the surgery is done, so I want to proceed now and can always back out later if I decide to. 

Life is an adventure

(picture taken on top Cascade Mountain in upstate NY - 2007)

Life in this little family of mine is an adventure in and of itself, but we always find new ways to have adventure.  Sometimes, those adventures find us. We don't even have to go looking for them. 

One of my dreams, since I was 16 years old (now almost 18 years later) has been to walk across the country. From the east coast of the US to the west coast. Atlantic to the Pacific. At 16, I read Peter Jenkins' book, "A Walk Across America." I was in love with the idea. Head over heels in love. I've held onto that love for 18 years and it's still just as strong, if not stronger, than it was the day I picked up his book. 

One of the things on my Life List (I prefer to call it a Life List rather than a Bucket List because I want to think about living, not about dying) is to walk across this amazing country. For some reason, I had it stuck in my head that since I had a family, it was something that would have to wait until the kids were off and on their own. I've come to realize that it's just not true. What an amazing journey it would be for ALL of us. My hubby, the kids and myself! This is something that I can share with the ones I love the most. It's a gift I want to give to myself, to my hubby and myself as part of a team, and to my children. 

So, that's the plan. 2012. We plan to walk, as a family (including the dogs because they're part of the family), from east to west. Atlantic to Pacific. 2012. 

In the meantime, there's still so much to do. First off is getting rid of this weight I've gained since having my kids (in 1999 and 2000). That's an adventure for sure. I'll share more on that in my next post.