Hi Everyone and welcome to me, Colleen8 and guess what? it's all about me now! I'm sure you all have seen blogs, read blogs, created blogs. I'm going to try and put it into perspective of how it is for ME. Everyone is different and has their own experiences and so have I! Long story short of it all I started gaining weight after my second child, I have four. And they are all boys too. This was all in the process of 20 something years. I could say there was no time to diet, there was not time to exercise but I would be telling you a lie. I was/and still am an overstressed, overworked mom in a house full of "dependents"! I call them that cause I created these monsters and now I have to live with them. But to get back to the main point of this blog......It's all about me now!

My children are older, can function on their own, don't really need me to drive them anywhere and are NEVER home! So I took a good look in the mirror one day and said it's me time! First things first, I got my two knees repaired. I had alot of damage because of the weight and also osteoarthritus. Not a good combonation. So the knees are done and with alot of soul searching I decided that I had to do something about the weight. I'm sure you have been on the same diet landslide as I have. I spent thousands of dollars and waisted so much of my time on things that don't work for me. It was like a lsnd slide cause it just kept getting bigger and bigger. I had finally decided in my head that I was ready to do the "lap band". So I go through the whole process only to find out my insurance will not cover it. Oh big surprise there huh? They would pay for everything that would happen to me if I'm morbidly obese but nothing to help me fix it. Nothing to help me! Very very discouraging to say the least and if you are an emotional eater as I "was" (still working on that) the manufacturer of "Little Debbies" was having a feild day with me! And here we go with the landslide affect again! eat, depression, eat, self hatred, eat etc...you get the idea.

So it gets to one day about a month ago. I told my husband I'm tired of waiting! I'm tired of having to have approval to make it about me. So I found this wonderful Doctor who had preformed the gastric band numerous times, had a good rep and med an appointment. My husband went with me to the first and frankly my first impression of the Dr. was not the greatest. He seemed a little smug or maybe I was overly sensitive who knows? I got the paperwork for "Self Pay" ouch! it hurts just typing that! And decided that I'm doing this for me, not to look good in the summer but for me! To be able to ride my bike with ease, to walk without pain. To feel normal again. I went to the Nutritionist, The pre-op visit, had the surgery and now I'm home. Is it easy? Heck no! Does my mind want surgery foods etc...? you bet. But I'm going to do this. I need to be healthy, I want to be healthy, I want it to be all about me now!

I'm on day 3 now which I must say in not a piece of cake! I want to eat real food but I know my stomach will not allow it! I'm getting frustrated with my boys and want a cookie! But I will pull through this, it's about me! Me Me Me!

Until next time friends..........