082 Doing New Things!

Hello, Friends!

Here we are at almost 200 pounds lost! It's amazing just how far we have come since October. I can't believe we are here already, but we still have a way to go.

Still I thought I would share with you some of the great new things Jimmy and I have been doing to be healthier and lose weight in addition to making better food choices.

1. Swimming -- We love it!
2. Softball. This spring we joined our church softball team. It's been fun to hit the ball, play the field, and run the bases. Even Jimmy is enjoying being outside.

Jimmy's first at-bat of the season. He had a great hit even if he did wipe out afterwards.

Jimmy playing first base in our second game.

3. Other Outdoor Activities -- We have started going to the batting cages to bone up for softball and I actually talked Jimmy into mini-golf!

 

It's really been a blast and we are both looking forward to all the amazing doors which are going to be open to us now that Jimmy is shrinking. Keep in touch and we will keep you informed on the latest and greatest in our life too!

 

081 Jimmy's Four Month Post Op Update

Yes! It's finally here! I know that you have been waiting for ever to find out about what Jimmy has been up to so I trapped him and got him to record a little four month update. I'm sorry if you are hoping it would be really long because it's only about a minute in length. Jimmy is even more full of energy now and I just can't keep him trapped for that long. So I hope you enjoy this little update and hopefully I will get back into posting more soon.

077 Three Fast Chicks on a Diet share about Water Exercises

How to Lose Weight Fast with Aquatic Exercise

by Three Fat Chicks on a Diet

Aquatic exercise is perhaps one of the best ways to achieve full-body strength and loose weight quickly. Not only are aquatic exercise techniques easy on the body’s joints, they are also fun and relaxing. This helps to keep those seeking weight loss interested and dedicated to their exercise regimen.

Overview of Aquatic Exercise

In order to fully understand the weight loss benefits of aquatic exercise, you need to understand its techniques and why it is one of the most effective methods for quick weight loss.

Simply stated, aquatic exercise is exercise that is performed in water. Water creates natural resistance, which allows pressure on the joints and muscles to be displaced by the water. While the resistance of water makes this a low-impact exercise activity, resistance also helps to strengthen and build muscle. Because muscle naturally burns fat, this is the key elements to an aquatic exercise weight loss program.

Although aquatic exercise has been used a great deal by the medical community for rehabilitation patients who lack the strength to tolerate standard impact activity, the benefits of aquatic exercise are becoming more commonplace in both the medical and public communities.

Water Walking

One of the best aquatic exercises to begin with is water walking. With this technique, you want to make sure that the water is about waist high. Then, you can start by walking from one end of the pool to the other, being sure to keep your back straight and your arms moving from front to back just as you would normally do when walking. Because this is a basic aquatic exercise, it is a good place to start for people who are new to aquatic exercise. Water walking assists in the weight loss process by strengthening some of the key areas of your body, including the shoulders, arms, abdomen, upper legs and back.

Kickboarding

Another aquatic exercise that may help induce quick weight loss is kickboarding. With this exercise, you will place your arms and upper torso on the kickboard. Then, you will paddle around the pool using only your legs. Again, the resistance of the water acts against the motion of your legs, so your lower body will be receiving most of the impact from this exercise.

Resistance Exercises

Some aquatic exercise activities don’t require anything more than the water. You will simply use your body against water’s natural resistance to trim and strengthen your areas of concern. One technique that you can try is marching in place. During this exercise, you will start from a standing position with your legs together. You will then bring your left knee up at a 90-degree angle and release it back down. Then, repeat with the right leg.

On a similar note, try starting from the same standing position, but this time bring your left leg out to the side and then back to center, working both your inner and outer thigh. Repeat with your right leg. The thigh area is always a major concern for those looking to lose weight, so this is a good aquatic exercise to incorporate for weight loss purposes.

073 Jimmy's Week Eight Post-Op Update Video

049 Commonly Asked Questions

Morning, everyone! It is now three weeks to the day since Jimmy had his gastric sleeve weight loss surgery. It is simply amazing how quickly time passes. We are still on the long road of changing our lifestyle so that he can continue to have success in his weight loss, but we are making it.

As time passes, more and more questions arise about weight loss surgery and what the experience is like. I know we did this massive 20 Questions post a few weeks back, but I have decided that from time to time I will post additional Q&A posts to answer a few of the current questions we have been encountering.

Q: Does gastric sleeve weight loss surgery affect your breath capacity or activities related to lung capacity such as singing/swimming/etc.?

A: No. Gastric sleeve WLS reduces the size of your stomach. It does not effect lung capacity or the function of your diaphragm. Of course, the hospital will give you breathing tests before you are released from care but this has more to do with the anesthesia and the surgical process rather than the gastric sleeve itself.

Q: Is irritability common during the pre-op liquid diet?

A: In general I would suppose that the answer to this would be yes but I am sure that it varies from person to person. If you get cranky when you are hungry now then you should expect to be irritable and cranky when you are on the pre-op liquid diet. Every program is different so the pre-op foods you are allowed may be vastly different than mine were but you can read more about my pre-op liquid diet here.

Q: How soon will I be able to go back to work after surgery?

A: You can return to work after you have been cleared to do so by your surgeon. If you have a desk job this may be as soon as two weeks. The more physical your job is the longer it is likely to take to return to work. Talking to your surgeon about your particular circumstances are very important. Also, keep in mind that you need to take some time to make mental and emotional adjustments to your new stomach and eating habits. These adjustments may be harder than you anticipate.

Q: What has been the hardest part of your first 3 weeks of post-op life?

A: The social adjustments. You need to find other ways to celebrate life, family, and friends. You also will mourn some of your favorite foods that you either can't eat right away or may never be able to eat again. Plus, you begin to realize for the first time just who big of a role food played in your pre-surgery life and it can be really hard to face those facts and changes.


Q: What is your appetite like after the surgery?

A: Jimmy hasn't had much of an appetite. In the past three weeks there has only been one or two days that I can remember him saying that he is really hungry. I believe that Jimmy's appetite reduction is due in part to the reduction of his stomach and part because he is getting tired of eating the foods he is allowed in his diet at this time.

Well, everyone, I hope that these Q&As helped answer some of your thoughts. Like I said, I will make posts like this periodically so if you have questions just message us and we will try to answer you and possibly get your question up here next time. Hope you have a great day!

046 A Day in the Life of Jimmy's Recovery

Happy Birthday! Oh wait it's not YOUR birthday. It's MY BIRTHDAY (Christiana). Yep that's right. I'm getting older. Tomorrow is Jimmy's birthday so please feel free to drop him some special lines of encouragement because we won't be eating cake, ice cream, or going out to eat--you know all those old celebration habits. So he really might be in for a hard two days. Later I will be writing about the new ways we chose to celebrate our birthdays because we need to start making new celebration traditions/habits. But more on that later...

Today I wanted to give you an idea of what it is like to be Jimmy right now. As he gets better things will change--including his routine--but some things are now a permanent part of his life like taking vitamins. So here it is, a day in the life of Jimmy's recovery.

8:00 - 9:00 a.m.      Get up and take pain medicine to help with the tenderness in the incisions and Prilosec to help with the temporarily increased heartburn and other daily medications

9:30 a.m.      Start protein intake (have to consume a minimum of 40g a day but the nutritionist would really like me to get in 60-80g) usually through protein shakes

10:00 a.m.      Take first multi-vitamin with iron

10:30 a.m.      Snack time - Possibly pudding, yogurt, or a scrambled egg with cheese

11:00 a.m.     Take first calcium pill -- must be separated from iron pill for maximum absorption and intake more protein 11:30 a.m. Get up and walk around for exercise

12:00 p.m.      Take second multi-vitamin with iron

12:30 p.m.      Christiana comes home and we have lunch together. Possibly oatmeal with peanut butter or a scrambled egg with cheese

1:30 p.m.     Christiana heads back to work. Get up and walk around for exercise

2:00 p.m.     Take second calcium pill. Plus more protein

2:30 p.m.     Snack time

3:00 p.m.     Up and walking. Take B Complex vitamin

3:30 p.m.     More protein

6:00 p.m.     Christiana comes home and fixes dinner

7:00 p.m.     Take second dose of Prilosec for heartburn and other daily medications

8:00 p.m.     Up and walking

11:00 p.m.     Trying to get to bed but having trouble sleeping

These things are all approximate and subject to change. But I wanted to give you a basic idea of what he is going through and doing every day. I will try to actually get Jimmy on here to answer any questions that you have about his routine since he knows better than I do what he does all day. :)

031 Twenty Questions

Hi, everyone! We posted on Facebook and Twitter last week that we were going to have a Q&A post and that we needed your questions to make that happen. First I want to say thank you to everyone who submitted questions. I am sorry that we could answer all the questions (this got long as it is) so we picked twenty of the ones we felt we could best answer for you. So here it is...

20 Questions!

1. Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery safe?
A: Gastric sleeve is non-invasive when done laproscopically which decreases the risk of complications and speeds up the healing time. Also, gastric sleeve does not have any re-routing of the small intestine which reduces risk as well. Read More about the risks and rewards of Gastric Sleeve.

2. How long have you two been married?
A: Jimmy and I have been married just over 6.5 years. We were married in May 2006. Read more about Jimmy & Christiana.

This is one of our engagement photos taken by Hannah & Jeremy Tate.

3. Will I have to do a liquid diet if I have WLS?
A: It's possible. We have talked to several different people from several different surgical programs. Some had to do a full blown two week pre-op diet like we have and others had little to no pre-op changes in their lives. It really depends on your surgeon and the surgical program you are using. Read about the benefits of doing a pre-op liquid diet.

4. Will having WLS fix all my weight problems?
A: NO! WLS is a tool to be used in conjunction with a lot of sacrifice and hard work. WLS in and of itself will not solve your weight problems. If you are not following the doctors diet regiment, making changes so you have healthier eating habits, and exercising then eventually you will gain the weight back after surgery. WLS is a tool not a magic wand to make you suddenly skinny and never to gain weight again. Read forum posts about people who thought WLS would solve all their problems.

5. How long have you been in youth ministry?
A: Jimmy has been doing youth ministry since college. His first full-time youth ministry was in Texas in 1999. So that's something like 13 years of full-time youth ministry. We started doing youth events together when I was still in high school in 2000 but I didn't join his ministry full-time until January 2006 when I (Christiana) moved to St. Louis before we got engaged. We have been doing ministry together ever since! Our current youth ministry is called #winningSM and is located at McCarthy Baptist Church in St. Joseph, Missouri.

This is the photo we took at our very first Sunday School times at McCarthy Baptist Church.

6. How much does Jimmy weigh?
A: For personal reasons (and because we have found people to be really judgemental about the weight number), Jimmy has asked that I not publish his actual weight. However, we will be posting the number of pounds lost. Eventually we may post the actual weight in pounds but that will be determined later.

7. How much weight will Jimmy lose?
A: According to Dr. Hornbostel, Jimmy can expect to lose approximately 200 lbs within the first year of his WLS. Read more about the amount of weight you can expect to lose with WLS.

8. What kinds of food can't you eat after having gastric sleeve surgery?
A: The kinds of foods that people can and cannot tolerate after WLS surgery varies as different people's bodies handle foods differently. In general, individuals who have had WLS should avoid foods high in fat, carbs, and sugars. Read more about eating after Gastric Sleeve Surgery.

9. How much does WLS cost?
A: Without insurance coverage WLS can cost between $20,000 - $35,000. That's why it is really important to make sure that you have insurance pre-approval before proceeding with WLS. More about the cost of WLS.

10. How does your family feel about Jimmy having WLS?
A: Both of our families really support that Jimmy wants to be healthier and increase his chances of having a long and happy life. They also accept the fact that the best possibility for him to make this happen is through the assistance of WLS. It was really important to us to sit down and talk to them about this and to get everyone all on the same page. We really couldn't do it without them.

Jimmy and Me with Jimmy's Mom (Shirley)

Left to Right: Me, Dad (Jim), Jimmy, Mary, Scotty, Gretel, and Mom (Janice)

11. How long does it take to get back to work after Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

A: The typical recovery time is 2 - 6 weeks. Each individual is different and recovery time varies. Your recovery time is determined by your progress and your doctor's assessment of your body's healing. Find out more about Gastric Sleeve recovery time.

12. How long will Jimmy be in the hospital after surgery?

A: The average hospital stay for laproscopic WLS is 1 - 2 days. Keep in mind that every person is different.

13. What food will you miss eating the most?

A: PIZZA! Although Jimmy will continue to be able to eat the cheese and the toppings, pizza just won't be the same so I know this is definitely the food he will miss the most.

14. Do people who have WLS have issues with excess skin?
A: Yes. Most people who have WLS have issues with excess skin. The amount of excess skin varies depending on age, weight (pre surgery), skin elasticity, etc. Find out more about excess skin issues.

15. What do you plan on doing while recovering at home?
A: Great question! Jimmy has been planning ahead for this one. I think that his major plans include starting a new TV series on Netflix, playing lots of Halo 4 & NBA 2K13, and finishing The Mark of Athena.

16. Other than food, what will be one of the biggest changes in your life after surgery?
A: This answer may surprise you--clothes. Jimmy is going to lose weight rapidly and so he is going to go through several wardrobe changes over the next year. Also, once he loses all this weight he could very likely be able to walk into places like Wal-Mart or Target and be able to buy clothes off their racks for the first time in many, many years.

17. Is it really important that I attend support group meetings?
A: Yes. It is important to get all kinds of support from your friends and family, but don't miss out on the support from the people who have been there and are waiting to meet you in the support groups which are often provided my your surgical group. Read about the importance of support groups

18. Is it true that you will have to take certain vitamins for the rest of your life?
A: Yes. Because the stomach is smaller after WLS, you have to take vitamins to help the body absorb all the nutrients it needs to keep you healthy. Some vitamins you may have to take include: B12, B Complex, a mult-vitamin with iron, and calcium citrate. Learn more about taking vitamins after WLS.

19. Are their side effects from WLS?
A: Absolutely! You may experience discomfort and gas from the surgery itself and then later you may encounter side effects such as nausea and diarrhea if you are not following your diet properly. Read more about WLS side effects.

20. If people could help you and Christiana in any way, what would it be?
A: Please keep us in your prayers. The liquid diet has not been easy. You feel hungry all the time and that makes things tense and stressful and we still have a few days left of that. Also pray that everything will go well with the surgery on Friday. Going under the knife is always scary no matter how safe the surgery is supposed to be. Also, please pray for a swift and easy recovery and adjustment period.

We really appreciate everyone who has already been supporting us and praying for us. We really and truly couldn't do it without you. Also a quick word of thanks to everyone who has been reading the blog and especially to those of you who have been commenting, it's really nice to know that all the work that has gone into this has not been in vain! Thank you all so much!

Jimmy and Christiana's 6th Anniversary in May 2012

Grace and Peace,

013 The Wonderful World of Water

Water is literally all around us. It’s in the ground, the air, and our bodies. So what the big deal with water?

In June, Jimmy and I went to Youth Camp. If you don’t know or don’t remember, Jimmy is a youth minister. This was his first ever camp that he planned from the ground up and we were both really excited to see how it was going to turn out. I was personally really excited that the camp had a swimming pool because I hadn’t swam in probably 3+ years. The thing about camp in Missouri during June is that it is HOT and it is HUMID. You just can’t get away from it! So to escape the heat you have to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water, and why not take advantage of that nice cool pool I was just talking about. That’s when it hit me that water is really great for Jimmy and me in two distinct ways.

When it comes to losing weight—especially when you are severely over weight—there are two really great things about water!

#1 Drinking water helps you lose weight. It flushes out your body and keeps you hydrated. Hydration allows your body to function properly and to get rid of toxins and excess water. I know that it seems really backward that you get bloated and hold on to water weight when you aren’t drinking enough water every day but it is true! So it you are interested in shedding the pounds and keeping them off make sure that you are fueling your calorie burning engine (your body) with plenty of H2O!

#2 Water exercises/aerobics are a wonderful way to burn calories that is easy on your back, legs, and joints. When you exercise in water you have the natural resistance that comes with being partially submerged but you also have a buoyancy (lift/floating) that reduces the weight your joints are bearing during the exercise. That means that you can exercise more efficiently with less pain and probably for a longer period of time than if you were to exercise outside of the pool.

Yes, Jimmy and I saw great results from drinking water. We were able to stay hydrated. We didn’t get sick or overheated, and we lost extra weight. Still I have to say that we both enjoyed the benefits of the pool the most. Jimmy got in a few days for about 2.5 hours each time. He had a blast and the next day he told me that he could really feel the difference that exercising in the pool made versus the walking he normally. So it was a great experience all around—even if a dog did run off with one of Jimmy’s water shoes!

011 Waiting is the Hardest

Whether I find myself waiting for a birthday, special event, doctor's appointment or date, I find myself impatient and easily frustrated. Why is it that waiting is so hard and yet we have to do so much of it in life? I truly believe waiting is the hardest.

In this case it was waiting for the six months of doctor supervised weight loss to be over! You get into a routine--eat right, exercise and repeat. Things get boring. There seems to be no end in sight (although you really know that it is only going to take six months). Everything seems to be moving so slowly! What to do?

Well, the answer is NOT to fall off the wagon. HOWEVER, that's where we found ourselves. We started slacking off and caught ourselves thinking more than once "oh we still have months left to…fill in the blank". Then you start to backslide.

In our case this resulted in a stern talking to from Dr. Weiderholt. At first we were a little put off by how forceful she was (especially Jimmy) but looking back on it now I can see that it was exactly what we needed to hear at that moment. If we thought for a second that she was going to call off the supervised weight loss then she knew that we would re-double our efforts to keep going. She knew that we want this more than anything and she had to make us see that even though we still had four or three or two months left to go before all the actual surgery appointments and insurance approval processes could begin that it was still important to stick with it.

Does that mean that we are now perfect and never ever backslide? NO! By no means! We are still human and very prone to ordering pizza when we are feeling tired or lazy but at least we know that are not in this alone and we will be held accountable for our actions and we know that we don't have to wait for that!

009 So You Think You Can Dance?

So you think you can dance? No. I am not talking about the TV show. Got you there for a minute though didn’t I. Well I definitely didn’t think that I could dance--that is until the doctor wanted us to add some exercise into our budding healthy lifestyle.

I don’t know if you know this but people who are morbidly obese or just overweight (like me) get more than a little self-conscious when it comes to exercising in public. Go figure! It doesn’t matter if you are walking down the streets in your neighborhood or trying to lift weights at the Y there is inevitably that one person (usually an adult) that says or does something really obnoxious and inappropriate like “Look how big that guy is!” that makes them feel uncomfortable. *Side note: Adults should DEFINITELY KNOW BETTER!!! It still hurts when it’s a child but you have to give them a little grace because they are young. No such excuse for adults!* Whew! Now that I got that out I can move on.

Anyway, as you can imagine when you combine the physical stress of exercising with the emotional stress of what people may say or do towards you, it’s no wonder that overweight people don’t want to exercise! However...it can be done and in the privacy of your own home. One day Jimmy and I were talking about video games and we hit upon a great solution that works for us.

It’s Kinect! If you don’t know, Kinect is a body motion sensor for the Xbox 360 that you can use to play games such as Kinect Adventures and Just Dance 3. You may not think it’s true but let me tell you playing Just Dance 3 IS a workout. By the end of most of those songs your pulse it elevated and you breathing is increased by just putting in a little aerobic exercise. Plus you can judge how much effort you are putting into it by the score you are receiving in the game. Just Dance 3 doesn’t judge on pure perfection--especially set on the lower difficulties but it judges on the amount of movement and the relative timing to the song you are dancing to. So anybody--even a white-y like me--can do it.

Yes, there are other ways to exercise at home but it you are looking for a fun and interactive way to exercise I highly recommend that you try using the Kinect for Xbox360!

008 Our Journey Begins with a Fitness Pal

Our Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) begins...again...in December 2011. We actually visited and got established with Dr. Weiderholt in October but we missed the month of November so we basically had to start our consecutive six months over again in December. So for all practical purposes our WLS Adventure began in December.

Nothing much exciting happened right away. We were just getting established and setting the foundation for the insurance approval. Dr. Weiderholt wanted to know diet history, what our eating and lifestyle habits are like now (we established that pizza is Jimmy’s only recreational drug--the nurses thought it was funny!), and we set some goals for diet and exercise.

One of Dr. Weiderholt’s goals for Jimmy is to log all of the food he consumes using the app My Fitness Pal. Now I really have to sing the praises of this app for a second because I think it has really helped Jimmy to stick with it and get a more accurate picture of the amount and types of food he is eating.

My Fitness Pal has kept Jimmy using it because it is interactive and SUPER easy to use. Yes! We love that you can log foods by simply scanning the barcode on the packaging. I know it sounds lame but it makes entering foods easy and scanning the barcodes is fun. The other bonus is that they are making changes to the app to make it better all the time. So props to whoever invented and programmed the My Fitness Pal app. Keep up the great work!

The doctor also set the guideline that “If you bite it--write it.” Meaning that he should track every single thing that he put into his mouth no matter how big or small we make think it is. It was surprising how quickly all those little bites started to add up. No wonder we consume more calories than we realize!

By using this principle and the My Fitness Pal app, Jimmy is visibly able to see the calories he was consuming. It continues to help him get a grasp on the difference between good food choices and bad food choices that waste calories and leave you feeling empty. Knowing the difference has helped both of to start making healthier lifestyle choices when it comes to food.

If you are serious about being healthy and losing weight I URGE you to start logging your food. It may shock you to realize how many calories you are really consuming everyday. Plus you need to get a grasp on the amount of fuel you are putting into your body so you know how much you need to burn. I’m not trying to sell My Fitness Pal--because it’s FREE!--but honestly it can really help you have an easy and mobile way to track your diet and exercise.

Until next time...

Use MyFitness Pal for free by visiting www.myfitnesspal.com or download the free app.

005 Insurance, Money and the Kitchen Sink

Last time we talked about the four main types of weight loss surgery (WLS) available. If you interest has been piqued then I am sure you are starting to wonder how much it’s going to cost you and what you may or may not have to do to get insurance coverage for a WLS. I can only answer these questions from our perspective and give you tips on how you can find out how these things are going to apply to you.

Let’s just go ahead and get the easy question out of the way...

Q: How much will a WLS cost me?

A: No one has an exact amount. It varies from person to person and hospital to hospital. However, for an estimate of the cost you will incur you should contact the WLS program/center/doctor you are planning to use. They should have a pretty good idea of how the money will come out in the end because they do this all the time.

Keep in mind that there are many factor that will determine the cost of your WLS:

• Surgeon performing the surgery
• Time spent recovering in the hospital
• Complications or lack of complications
• Number of care providers overseeing your case

Q: Will my medical insurance cover WLS?

A: Each insurance carrier is unique. Be sure to check with your insurance provider before undergoing surgery as the types of surgery covered and the requirements for coverage vary widely from one provider to the next. A good surgery program should help you to file your insurance paperwork and receive pre-authorization of coverage for your surgery before you ever schedule your operating room time.

Q: What are some common insurance requirements for WLS coverage?

A: I can’t tell you for sure about your insurance company but I can tell you about ours. But I am not going to do that until next time...

So stay tuned.

003 Let's Go Back...

I realized when I was looking back at my last post that I talked about why obese people in general consider Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) but I didn’t talk specifically about Jimmy and me. So I wanted to stop and take you back...

Jimmy is 36 years old. He is 6’3” and a BIG guy. Many people can pinpoint the cause of their weight gain to a specific event or series of events in their lives. Jimmy once told me that he doesn’t remember a time when he wasn’t the “Big Kid”. I don’t think that could be easy on anyone.

Jimmy doesn’t believe there were any specific things in his life that caused him to gain weight (and of course there is the continuing genetics debate about weight) but that doesn’t mean his life was easy. He was raised by his amazingly wonderful grandparents--Grampy and Grammy--who lived in Boonville, MO.

Grampy and Grammy did their best to help Jimmy be healthy and active. He participated in just about every sport he was eligible to play. They made sure he ate his veggies (however few of them he may enjoy), and they took him to the doctor in the third grade when they were still concerned about his size. Nothing any of them did seemed to change the weight.

Jimmy says that it wasn’t until he had free reign over his diet and he could eat whatever he wanted that his weight truly escalated. Like most people in America, Jimmy didn’t make very healthy choices when it came to eating. By the time he really realized he had a real and serious weight problem things seemed hopeless to change.

I can attest from personal experience that when you can’t see a way out of your bad circumstances you often choose to continue in them instead of trying to make a way. So here we are now. It’s been 18 years since Jimmy left home to go to college and the spiral began and we are just now really, seriously trying to fight out way out of the pit. It’s going to be a long hard journey but we know in the end it will be worth all the blood, sweat, and tears.

002 Why Consider Weight Loss Surgery (WLS)?

I would hazard a guess that if you are reading this then you may have either had or be considering some kind of WLS. Therefore you are not the person that says “They can’t lose the weight because they are lazy” or “Why do surgery when you can lose it naturally” or “They are just looking for a ‘magic’ fix to their problem”. Those people DRIVE ME CRAZY! In some cases their questions might be valid but in the vast majority they are just wrong and their questions are inappropriate. Let me explain...

Most people are not aware that there have been medical studies conducted that have concluded that most morbidly obese people (anyone with a BMI 40+) are physically incapable of losing their weight naturally and keeping it off long term. These studies are the reason that insurance companies have decided to provide coverage for WLS surgeries such as the gastric bypass and Lap-Band. They realize that many of the people they insure will never be able to lose their excess weight without surgical assistance.

However, surgery never has and probably never will be an easy or magical fix. You MUST WORK to change your eating and exercise habits in order to receive the benefits of the surgery. “Failed” surgeries are the cause of many of the snide and demeaning comments like the examples I gave above. Really it is not the surgery that has failed but the people who have failed to commit to a lifestyle change that have failed to receive the results they were hoping to achieve. More on this later.

Jimmy and I decided to consider WLS because we realized that he needs help to achieve his weight loss goals. We are committed to making lifestyle changes that will make us healthier and will help to achieve and maintain long-term health and weight management. We are ready and willing to start putting in the work it will take to make those dreams happen. Join us!

Other Resources:

Calculate Your BMI

Learn More About Obesity

Tools to Help You Plan Your Food & Fitness Standards

001 Getting to Know You

Jimmy making funny faces at a youth event.

Hi there! My name is Christiana. You may or may not know me, but if you are visiting this blog then there’s a pretty good chance that you are thinking about Weight Loss Surgery (WLS).

I’m not personally planning on going through WLS--even though I could stand to lose a few pounds--but my wonderful hubby is. My hubby’s name is Jimmy. Yep, that's him there on the left with the funny look on his face!

So you may be wondering why I am writing the blog if I’m not the one going through the WLS. Well the answer is two fold: First and foremost Jimmy and I are a team. We love and support each other no matter what and I am in this with him even though I am not having surgery. Secondly (and probably more importantly to this question), Jimmy doesn’t like writing/blogging very much so if you want the scoop then I guess you are stuck with me :) *sigh* But I will encourage him to get on here and post his thoughts in his own words but I can’t guarantee that it will happen or that it will happen often.

Anyway, I look forward to getting to know you and I hope we can be of some help and/or assistance to you. Feel free to post questions and comments you may have. We will do our best to answer from our own personal experiences (remember that we are NOT doctors and our advice should NOT be taken as the medical gospel) but we are happy to share. Please join Jimmy and I as we go through this life-changing experience.