Finding Emilee

  Hello friends! I am so sorry that this surgery day post is so very delayed.    For those of you who are following me from far and away, things did not go quite as I had anticipated and I did end up having some complications.      This had led to two additional hospitalizations and an additional surgery.    So, now that I am getting my strength back and feeling a little better each day - I felt it would be a really good time to catch you up on what happened and how I am doing. I wanted to share a photo of me from my surgery day.    I felt a lot of trepidation and worry.    Obviously I had nerves and concerns as anyone would have with surgery of this magnitutude. In my last blog I talked about the pre surgery jitters and my hope for the best outcome possible (meaning no complications).     This surgery was a little different because I didn't have to be to the hospital until 1pm and my surgeon didn't take me back ...

Well, tomorrow is the day!   It's my second chance at living a healthier life and embracing everything life has to offer.   I know this is the right decision for me.   I have been so calm today and I truly feel ready to embrace this new change.    The last time I was healthy was when I was in college and so I don't even really  know what it feels like to live as a healthy adult.   I am really looking forward to all of the new experiences and new memories that are out there to be made. Today I was on liquids only (including protein shakes).   Luckily, the protein shakes have kept my blood sugar up a little bit so I am not chasing lows.   The hospital did give me a backup plan if I get low blood sugar before I make it to my arrival time of 1pm at the hospital.   So, I was thankful for that. I feel there has been a lot of emotional and mental work the past 6 months leading up to tomorrow.  Some of the...

  Well, surgery is roughly 48 hours away!   I can't believe it's here already!   I feel like it was just yesterday when I started this journey.   I am officially down 14 pounds and I am really proud of that!   This two week pre surgical diet is no joke.   I had to really rely on my coping mechanisms and deep breathing to get through some of the earlier hunger pains.   But now that I have been on the diet for almost two weeks, my body has adapted.  My energy has been variable.   When we were up north over Memorial Day weekend I spent a good chunk of time in bed because I just physically was so exhausted.   I didn't get my energy until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon.   So I am thankful that has improved. My anticipation anxiety has been waxing and waning a bit.   The closer I am getting the more I realize what a good thing this will be for me.   The only thing I am rea...

  Well folks, T-minus 7 days until I get my second chance to do this right.   My final appointment before surgery was yesterday and it went so well!    From my very first appointment until yesterday I had dropped nearly 10 pounds.  I am so proud of that!    I'm on week #2 of the pre surgery diet and it's going fine.   I get hungry time to time but I always have sugar free jello and surger free popsicles to help that.   I also drink a lot of hydrating fluids (meaning not caffeinated and sugar free).   Compared to the beginning of the first week of this diet - it's remarkably easier.   My hunger cues are less and I find myself eating my food slower.   Usually it takes me about 30 minutes to eat a meal or a snack (unless it's a snack in bar form).   So that is good as well. I spent many weeks leading up to this 3 weeks prior to surgery in a lot of anxious feelings and thoughts.  I alway...

Hello!   Sorry I have been gone for a minute - life has been busy to say the least!   I will be having gastric bypass surgery the first week of June.     I start my pre surgery diet tomorrow, Wednesday, May 21st.   I am really ready and excited!   I had ordered all my food at my appointment yesterday and have that all ready to go as well!   I expect some challenges and some emotional bumps the next two weeks - but I also expect to blow this out of the water!   I am on this and am going to work this program and succeed at it! I am human, I am not going to lie, the last week and a half I've been eating anything and everything I wanted before going into this diet. And the thing I noticed the most was it was appeasing for a moment - but - that moment was so fleeting when I finished eating whatever junk food I was eating at the time.   In fact my body felt worse and I was lethargic and sort of regretted eating wh...

   Wow!  It has been a minute since I posted - my sincerest apologies!   Life has been busy these past three to four weeks.   So much has happened and is now lined up - so let's dig in!   First of all, I attended AAPC HealthCon 2025 in Orlando, Florida last week.   It was so neat!   My Chapter Board President attended with me and we networked and learned so much from other Chapter Officers.   It was really neat to hear other Officers talk about what has worked for them and what things they are struggling with.   The Chapter Officers Breakfast was an amazing networking opportunity!    We also found out we were first runner up for Chapter of the Year for 2024!   My Chapter President and I have totally forgotten we had applied for Chapter of the Year - so this was a wonderful surprise!    We are very proud of the Chapter of the Year 2024 Winner which was Puerto Rico!    ...

  Disclosure -"The information provided on this blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.  I am not responsible for any actions taken or decisions made based on the content of this blog;   Always seek the advice of a qualified professional for any specific questions or concerns.  This blog is a personal opinionated blog and doesn't reflect the opinions of any organizations I may be affiliated with." So I messed up yesterday.   I went well over my calorie allotment for my day yesterday all because I got super snacky in the evening.   For some reason, it's like a switch turns off in my head at like 4/5 o'clock on the weekend days and I just throw caution to the wind.   I forget how two bad days can throw off my entire week of working hard on food choices and portion sizes.   But for the first time in my life, I'm not mad at myself nor disappointed in myself.   And ...