Verdict: Planet Fitness is Awesome

I never thought I would be saying that about a gym. Never. Really, how could any gym possibly qualify as awesome? Hear me out.

First of all, I touched on this before, but it really is a "no critics" kind of place. There were people working out across a large age span - from college students to seniors. There was also a large size span present; I wasn't the only obese person there (which has happened before when I've tried out other gyms). There were a few people around my size and larger ranging to all the way down to a size 0.

There isn't a lack of machines either; there are rows and rows equipment. Even though I arrived at 5:30 on a weekday, I didn't have to wait for a single machine.

Furthermore, it isn't all about fitness. My black card membership (only $20 a month) gives me unlimited access to tanning and massage chairs as well. When I finished my workout I had planned to go tanning, but I had another 30 minute wait - so I decided to kill some time in the massage chair.  Ahhhh... back massage, how nice. Don't start yelling at me for tanning either. It's not like I get any sun this time of year, and my vitamin D levels are almost nil. The benefits of the nice, warm, cozy, relaxing tanning bed actually outweigh the risks for me. I will continue to bask in the glow.

The reason why I usually choose to exercise for short lengths of time is because my back gets sore quite quickly. After those few minutes in the massage chair, my back was ready for more! I ended up "killing" my remaining time by doing another 23 minutes on the treadmill - which ended up being .90 of a mile. That distance is already a big deal to me on its own, but it was after I had already done 25 minutes on the bikes (around 8.5 miles) and 8 minutes on the treadmill (around .40 of a mile). So ya, big deal to me.

This was only my third workout there. There is so much untapped potential at Planet Fitness, and I'm actually kind of excited for the future possibilities. Any other Planet Fitness patrons out there? What is your favorite part about going there? To all gym dwellers: what is your favorite exercise at the gym? I love the bikes because of the lack of stress to my back. 

Schweddy Me - Update

I went back to the gym today (yay motivation) and did 20 minutes on the bike and 10 minutes on the treadmill. I've heard that for fat burn you should keep your heart rate around 65% of "max capacity" - which for me means around 125-130 BPM. This translates to the lowest bike level and about 2.7 MPH on the treadmill. Wow, it doesn't take much for me does it? Though it will be nice to see how that changes (slowly) as my body gets more fit.

My feet only went mildly numb today. Yesterday, I could barely feel my toes on the bike. On the treadmill, my knees did not go numb, but after 10 minutes my hips and back did start to get sore. I think the combo workout works best, rather than being on the same machine for the entire time. 

Something I want to get into, but don't know where to start, is weight training. At Planet Fitness members can set up a meeting with the personal trainer (no charge) and work together to find what is right for them. I think I'm going to do this, but not right at the moment. For now, I'm going to try to get used to the cardio machines before moving on. 

Altogether, I feel really good at the end of my workouts. I'm not pushing myself too hard like I used to do in the past. Instead of going too hard and being really sore the next day (and then not having the motivation to go): I'm taking it slowly and letting my body tell me  what's right and wrong. Sure, I feel weird being the "last one in and the first one out" in relation to the other patrons around, but its right for me. I need to stop judging myself at the gym.

Also, here's a shout out to the chicks at  3fc who helped me with my motivation. Thanks!

Schweddy Me

Schweddy, Schweddy, Schweddy - so much more fun than sweaty.

So, you'll find a new addition to the blog above: a weight loss ticker! I love tickers. I've always thought they were a nice way to display progress. So, now you can see that I had a nice whoosh of weight loss this week. I'm now at 24 lbs lost. Woot!

In other news, after having a membership for two months - I finally went to the gym. Schoolwork along with being ill has caused me stay at home in the past, but today I got off my rear and got out there. I'm sure my bestie was happy I finally showed up too (she works there, and I know she was checking up on me).

So, as any large person can usually attest to - going to the gym can produce a bit of anxiety. Does anyone else think it ironic that some people judge overweight people in a gym? Come on, its not like I'm sitting in Stone's Homemade Candy  (local sweet shop) ordering half the store! I'm there to work out!

However, rant aside, I didn't actually see any of that today. Planet Fitness' entire advertising campaign is all about "no judgment" - and whether by luck or on purpose, I can say that held pretty true.

I decided that I would shoot for a 30 minute workout; I thought that it would be a good length for a beginner. My exercise of choice today was mainly the exercise bikes (they have two different types). They worked out pretty well because I didn't have to put any stress on my back.  I "rode" 8 miles over the 25 minute period on the first level. I finished out the last 5 minutes walking on the treadmill. I, indeed, was pretty schweddy at the end.

The concerning thing was that while on the bikes, my feet went numb. I thought it may have been because of my new sneakers. However, when I was on the treadmill, my left knee went numb. This makes me think the feet issue wasn't because of the shoes. I'm not sure what it means, but if it happens the next time I work out I'll bring it up with my doctor.



There are some things that annoy me about Planet Fitness though. For example, you can't wear "head wear" other than baseball hats. Really? All those grannies out there have to leave the sweat band at home? Tsk, tsk, Planet Fitness. I wasn't happy leaving my crocheted hat at home. It meant that I actually had to do my hair to go to the gym. Blech.

I wasn't too thrilled about having to get my picture taken either. Don't get me wrong - I'm not usually running away from the camera, but who really wants a picture taken at the gym? Well, at least they're not a gym that makes you have a membership card with the picture on it. The bestie says the picture was good, but she's a friend AND an employee so its not like she could say any different anyway. XD

5% Weight Loss!

Things are picking up right where I left off, as hoped! I am proud to announce I have lost 5% of my body weight. Why is this number so important, you wonder? This is the threshold that I am required to lose before surgery!

In fact, I've actually lost some extra weight beyond that 5%! I have lost 20 pounds in total.  Actually, I have technically "lost" around 30 pounds, but I had a minor setback where I gained some weight back, and had to re-lose it. Meh, it happens, but I didn't let it discourage me. I am super excited to have that hurdle behind me again. Of course, I will still be trying to lose more between now and the mysterious surgery date, but at the very least, I only have to maintain my loss.

I've been doing much better by completely eliminating fast food from my diet. You would be surprised (or not) how much that makes a difference. Normally, most people can live by the "moderation" rule when it comes to fast food. However, I find having even a small amount of it makes me crave more. Seriously, it's like I'm a fast food vampire - the craving builds unless I avoid it altogether.

Plus, since we've been financially struggling - its not like we could afford to buy junk food even if we wanted it! Positives in every situation, right?

Receiving a Halloween Treat!

Hey everyone! So, you may have been wondering why I have been gone for awhile. Well, the truth is, "the system" failed me for a few months. Resulting from faulty paperwork (on their end), mine and my husband's medical insurance was revoked. The Department of Social Services (DSS) claimed I made too much a month to qualify for medicaid. This was in fact horrifyingly false (I would love to make as much as they claimed I did).

After that notice I got pretty depressed for awhile. There was (and is) no way I could pay for the surgery out of pocket. After all the blood, sweat, and tears I put in this entire year - it now looked like I wouldn't be able to receive Bariatric Surgery. This blog, to me, was just a humongous glaring reminder me of that.

So I stopped blogging. 

However, being as stubborn as I am, how much I want this, and despite being depressed (and how much I need medical insurance in general) I knew I had to fight to get my insurance back. Little did I know how long it would take.

We submitted more paperwork to the DSS. We figured that way, we can doubly make sure they had all of the right information. We called frequently - only to get a voice mail box every - darn - time. We even received paperwork in the mail saying our food-stamp benefits were being increased! We knew they must have received that paperwork if those benefits had changed! Why then, did we still not get a notice about our medicaid?

We waited patiently. We saw a possibility that the medicaid paperwork simply takes longer, and it would be coming soon. Yet, after more than a week later, we received no notice by mail or otherwise.

One call, two calls, three calls, four... it went on and on, but we still only got to talk to her voice mail.

We were at our wits end, 

or so we thought.

A couple of weeks ago we finally got in touch with our case worker.

Yay! Woohoo! A Human Being! 

We informed her of the situation, and she said she would look for the paperwork and call us back. Okay, I understand she's a busy over-worked social worker, and might even have an appointment waiting. So, we hung up and waited patiently for a call. Two weeks go by, and - surprise, surprise - no call back.

So, today we called her again. To no one's surprise we could only contact her voice mail. We left a message, but as fed up as we had become (this has been going on for three months now) we decided to call her supervisor. Of course, we only got his voice mail as well (can you visualize the murder in my eyes at this point) but we left a not-so-nice sounding message on it.

Guess what? A half hour later we got a call from our social worker. It went a bit like this:
Her: "I would have called, but I was waiting for your paperwork"
Hubby: *gah, I'm about to go ape**** on you, but I must try not to sound like an ***hole* "We sent you the paperwork months ago, and we know it was received because our food stamps were already re-evaluated and our benefits increased."
Her: "Oh... well... let me look for them. I'll call you back."
Hubby: *having already played this game* "Will you please call us back today."
Her: "Um... ya... I guess I could do that. I'll call you back whether I find the paperwork or not."
Hubby: "Okay, thank you."

We had to put some trust in her (while also keeping in mind how much an angry boss motivates). Yet, we were left wondering if her words would be a Halloween trick or treat. Luckily,  she did indeed call back. She even found the paperwork we sent, and ran it through the system.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!  

We are indeed eligible and have been this entire time!

So, on December 1st our coverage will begin again. Meaning, I can start back up right where I left off. I just need to call the Bariatric Surgery Center and the Psychologist to update my information and schedule appointments in December.

I am very thankful, even with all the problems, that I have health insurance and can buy groceries thanks to government assistance. Although my husband and I hold three jobs between us, it is very hard to make ends meet, especially while being full-time students. I recognize how lucky I am to be an American with health insurance, when so many suffer without it. I found out what its like to worry about paying health bills out of pocket: I developed a staph infection that needed to be tested and treated during the lapse in coverage, and a severe cold I couldn't afford to get treated. It was an eye opening experience to what so many people live with for too long.


*Political Statement Coming*
Too many people in our country live in poverty, without a job or with a job without a true living wage, and are forced to live without their basic needs. The middle class is disappearing and poverty is growing, while the richest 1% are getting richer in alarming rates. We are the 99%. I urge everyone to join an #occupy movement in their area. We, as one, can make a difference.

Bariatric Support Group Meetings

Last night I went to my first support group meeting. Sometimes, I think its kind of funny that even though I'm a Psychology major (so close to my degree, ah!) I still get anxious about this stuff; new place, new people, and all that jazz.

When I pulled into the parking lot (with my awesome, supportive husband in the passenger seat next to me) my first response at seeing the people hanging out was that I didn't belong. The people seemed to know each other already and were at least twice my age.

It just goes to show, again, that you shouldn't be quick to judge.

Once I got inside, the people were actually pretty friendly and a few individuals around my age filtered in behind me. As per usual at these things, since I was a first-timer I had to sign an agreement that the information in the meetings is confidential (which is why I will never include names and only speak in generalizable statements).

This meeting was actually a bit different than the usual from what I was told. We had a couple guest speakers. One was Kerry, the nutritionist from the CNY Bariatric Surgery Center, and another was Laurel, a representative from Natur-tyme in Syracuse.

Kerry again talked about diet both pre- and  post-op (see, I told you it would happen again). Yet, we also discussed things like specific foods that worked out for people in the group (some of the members are post-op), vitamin choices, and the facts about hair loss.

The hair loss stuff did interest me. Temporary thinning of the hair is a possible symptom that Bariatric patients might see around the 70lb loss mark. This is a result of rapid weight loss, but the hair does grow back. Someone asked about the effects of Biotin (a B vitamin) on hair loss due to this factor; Kerry said it wouldn’t hurt, but there isn’t proof that it is effective.

However, we also discussed that if you get hair loss after that point (say 2 years out), it is likely a result of mal-nutrition, and is a completely different ballpark. In this case, it is something serious because you’re not getting all the nutrients your body requires.

Another fascinating fact you may or may not know: alcohol tolerance can drastically change after bariatric surgery. Not that I should be consuming alcohol (at least for awhile) after surgery, but I think I’m going to love being a cheap date. Seriously! Who wants to have to spend tons of moolah on alcohol when one drink does the trick?

Although it was just a sales pitch, I was actually interested in what the chick from natur-tyme had to say. Read: I was super interested in trying the samples she brought along with her. She brought different types of protein supplements to try out. There were two distinct types she brought: mixable whey protein powders, and liquid protein bullets. I was definitely interested in trying them out. I actually ended up liking all of the products; maybe it’s because there wasn’t any extra sugar or random garbage added, but they were pretty tasty. I brought home samples of the whey protein powders, so I’ll let you know how those taste mixed with milk.

After the meeting, I talked with a couple of the members about some of the stuff we discussed; did I mention the people were pretty darn friendly?

One thing that I would like to note is that I loved having my husband there (there were a few other people in the room there to support their spouses as well). I think it will be a lot easier on both of us if we both truly understand all of the changes I am going to have to make. I would encourage anyone going through this process to keep their partner close by. First of all, you need a good support system at home; doing this without support would be so much harder than it has to be. Secondly, if you’re getting the surgery obviously you have to make big changes. Whether your partner likes it or not, it will change their life as well. Can you imagine any scenario that it wouldn’t change their life in some way? I keep hearing how peoples’ relationships change after surgery. As I was told last night, “Don’t get all hot and leave your husband.”

*face palm*

Don’t worry, I won’t.

(leave my husband that is… the hotness part is to be determined)

Barenaked Ladies

In an off topic post: This weekend I got to see Barenaked Ladies! It was a free concert, and we hung out all day (and therefore were front row)! We videotaped the concert, and here's some of the videos my husband shot:

The Big Bang Theory:

My husband and I are huge fans of The Big Bang Theory TV Show, so we were very excited for this song.

Pinch Me:

 Classic BNL

One Week:

The BNL song everyone loves.

Falling For The First Time:

I love when Ed looks at the camera!

As a special gem, I got to meet and talk to Ed before the show!

There are more videos posted and being uploaded of the concert on my youtube channel.

The best part of the day was that even though I was sitting in an area surrounded by festival food vendors, I still managed to stay on track calorie wise! The scale actually was down a bit the next morning!

Bariatric Appointments

This post is a conglomeration of a few months of appointments, so it will be very informative. 

So, last we left off, I hadn't been seen at the Bariatric Surgery Center (BSC) yet. I am happy to say that I have now been there three times.

The first time I went to the BSC was a group informational, and it was pretty much useless. It was located in the giant lobby of the building the BSC shares with other offices. I have to say, it was very weird being in a giant room with a couple hundred morbidly obese people. Though, the chairs were soft, wide, and awesome... so that’s a plus.

They went over types of surgery available, outlined the pre and post-op diets, discussed the risks (and their center's history of very few complications), the benefits, and so much more. I'm sure they answered a lot of people's questions, but if you're like me: you research your choices so much that you learned all the information on your own already. I was already sick and tired of hearing the same information over and over… but alas, it will never end.

The real purpose (for me) was the paperwork. I received a folder with anything and everything I need. Including a giant stack of paperwork (remember, I said need not want). I was instructed to fill out the paperwork, include a non-refundable check for $150, and mail it back to the center to officially enroll in the program. The $150 required is a program fee not covered by insurance. This covers the cost of support group meetings specifically for bariatric patients (I'm required to attend 3).


After a few weeks of waiting and being disappointed by an empty mailbox, I took things into my own hands and called the center. My paperwork had been processed and I did have an appointment date on file... the paperwork just hadn't made it back to me yet. She gave me the date over the phone, and I felt like I finally made some real progress!

I was super excited but also very anxious on the day of my first true bariatric appointment. I was told that I would be there for a few hours, and boy were they not joking. Unfortunately, at least 1/3 of that was sitting around waiting for different people.

First, I was triaged by the nurse. This included taking my weight (the enormous scale was mildly amusing), going through the medical history I sent them in the mail, and more; it was basically a bunch of standard "doctor" stuff.

Next, I finally got to meet with my surgeon! My surgeon is Dr. Taewan Kim.

He was pretty awesome actually; he was laid back with great "bedside" manner, but he was also very clear and informative. We went through more stuff I have already heard (they really pound a lot of stuff into your head to make sure you really get that you need to change your lifestyle). We also talked about and chose what type of surgery I prefer.

We decided on the typical (and most prevalent) surgery that is

Roux-en-Y:

(Creates a separate small pouch, and bypasses the most absorbtive part of the intestine)

(The rest of the stomach is left for the digestive juices)

The other choices are:

Gastric Sleeve

(reduces stomach size, but does not limit absorption)

and

Gastric Banding

(adjustable band is placed around the stomach to create a small pouch that restricts food intake)

(this was specifically discouraged by my surgeon for multiple reasons)

We discussed all the things I have to do before surgery; many of which I have already completed. Though, I still need to get a psych evaluation, and go to the group meetings.

The last thing that is required before surgery is to lose 5% of my weight on my own. For me, this translates to 16 pounds.

Finally, I had to meet with a nutritionist. She took notes about my current eating habits, and gave me info sheets that are tailored to people like me (on the run (fast food habit), eating in the evening, etc.). She again went over what the post-op diet is like. We talked a little bit about the food pyramid, and then we were done.

One cool thing I must mention: their office is covered in bulletin boards with before/after pictures and thank you notes. It was very inspirational.

My third appointment was a month later. I only met with the nurse practitioner this time. Basically, it was just a checkup. They checked my weight (which was indeed a bit lower), and talked about how the month went. It was short and simple.

My next checkup appointment is on August 9th, and I'm super excited. If things go well *crosses fingers* they will schedule my surgery then.

I have made weight loss progress, but I'll save that for another post because you probably have something else to be doing (now stop procrastinating and go do it).

... but before that, I just want to let you know: I know many of you may have questions for me. I am taking questions from my readers, and I will answer them in a follow up post. This can be from anything on the blog, not just this post. All you have to do is leave a comment with your question!

Photos retrieved from the Syracuse BSC website.

Sleep Studies #2 and #3

To recap: The first sleep study showed that I have Sleep Apnea which required me to return to the to the sleep center.


My first night with the mask (referred to as both study #2 and night 2) on did not go well. I was in the lab tossing and turning from 9 pm to 4 am. The scheduled release time was at 5am, but the respiratory tech was kind, and didn't force me to stay any longer. I slept for a grand total of a gi-normous (note the sarcasm) 90 minutes. I spent the rest of the time trying to (unsuccessfully) get comfortable. I am a stomach sleeper, and unfortunately, the masks don't function well in that position (air leakage). The tech informed me that although I slept very little, he was pretty sure he found the correct air setting for the CPAP, and I shouldn't have to come back.

Alas, that turned out to be false.

By the third time, I pretty much knew the drill and things went smoothly. I did, however, take an opportunity to try a mask that I hadn't tried yet. On the second night, I first tried a mask that basically took up my entire face. It covered both mouth and nose, and had an extension that rested on the forehead. The piece on the forehead obstructed my vision. I hated it.

Bask in the Hideousness:

You can also see a few of the many electrodes on me. 

It didn't last that long. So, for the remainder of the evening I used a mask that only encompassed the nose; they called it a "nasal pillow". I liked the fact that it was so unobtrusive. However, I didn't like the fact that any time I opened my mouth (and I realized then I do this more than I originally thought) I felt like I was being suffocated; it was a frightening occurrence.

Therefore, on the third night I tried a third type of mask. This mask covered both mouth and nose, but had no piece extending above that. It was the best of both worlds, and I was able to fall asleep and have a relatively normal night.

After a follow-up with yet another (different) doctor, I was prescribed a CPAP machine to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea. For those that don't understand the disorder, it is a disorder characterized by abnormally shallow breaths (hypopnea events) or complete pauses (apnea events) in breathing. Every person with Sleep Apnea is rated on the AHI (Apnea Hypopnea Index) to rate the severity of their disorder. My apnea events were averaged at 5 per hour. My hypopnea events were more numerous than my apnea events; as a result my oxygen saturation frequently plummets below the 89% threshold. After the treatment, I was assigned an AHI of 9.9 (less than 5 considered normal). This is a mild form of the disorder, but it is still important that I use the machine.

At home I've been having troubles getting used to the machine. Although it does have humidity control, the heat of the summer months makes the mask even more uncomfortable to wear. I also have had issues with feeling claustrophobic since the mask covers both means of breathing. I know rationally that I can breathe just fine (heck the machine is designed to help me breathe!). However, I still have feelings that I will get stuck in the mask and I won't be able to breathe. Oh me. I've been working on wearing my mask more often (I have to wear it a minimum of 5 hours/5 nights a week for insurance to cover it).

My home equipment:
 

There is no way not to ruin your hair putting this on:

So, the question you probably want to know is:

 Why is it important to know this information before gastric bypass surgery?

Well, I'm glad you asked.

Gastric bypass surgery obviously requires me to be anesthetized, and also to be on pain killers afterwards. Both of these things can affect lung function. It is important that they have a CPAP available while I am unconscious and under the influence of these substances because we don't want anesthesia to worsen my condition (right?). I don't think I have to spell out the ultimate worse consequence of not monitoring my breathing.

In the end, now that the doctors know about my condition, they can perfectly adjust my CPAP to reverse any effects the medications may have on my breathing.