THIS MUST STOP RIGHT NOW!!!!!

Hi Karen, you have really re-energized our group, THANK YOU! I am scheduled for a lower body lift (thighs and butt, I had the abdominoplasty done last summer), and brachioplasty on January 31. Can you tell me about your experience, how painful is it, how long before you were able to go back to work? Are you pleased with the results? I'm very nervous about this surgery; my PS tells me I will be "under" for at least 8 hours, which scares the heck out of me. And that I will be in the hospital for 4 days. Can you provide any insight? Thanks! Maureen

HI Mike, Karen, Joy, Leslie, & all the others: I am right here with you guys. Mike every since I went back to the night shift as well, it seems I am eating something all of the time. (grazing) I have to stop that Now. I have been fighting the same 5 lbs for the last couple of months & I know it is my eating habits. Yeah, I do eat mostly p[rotein, but at work its a half a donut here & a scoop of something that I should not be havings. I am trying to take on those old habits as well, & like you have come way too far to let them take over. I will keep this fight along with you all. So let the fight begin. I haven't been to the gym in over a week, so I start tomorrow on the way home from work. That is step #1, Making those better choices is Step #2, & get back to a structured schedule for eating has to be #3. Thansk for the posting the fight Mike, & I am right here with all of you the want to fight this,!! Marilyn, the Bearlady

Hey there Marilyn.......welcome to the fight!!! I'm glad to have you with us as always. We might as well face the fact that we're going to fall down a lot on this WLS journey. We just need to make sure that we pick one another up,dust us off and get back to business. Keep it going Marilyn...... I'm with you!!! Mike

How lovely it is that we're all crawling out from that rock we've hidden ourselves under - let the sunshine it and CHARGE! I have spent the entire week focusing on MY health and wellbeing; I have committed to the exercise and making very good, wise food choices. I have dealt with the very powerful cravings by chosing foods that satisfy but that aren't so harmful -- like a couple of pieces of sugar-free M&M's instead of the real thing. I am drinking about 80 oz. of water a day. And most importantly, I am trying very hard to stay calm in the face of extremely difficult life cir****tances. For me, staying centered and calm -- not giving into the intense anxiety that I typically allow myself to feel -- keeps me sane with the food. I am happy to report that I've lost 6 of the 9 lbs. I had regained and I feel so much better! IT IS DOABLE! There's no getting around the fact that it takes HARD WORK on a daily basis; we must get up every morning and recommit to doing whatever it takes to be well...if you have a child in your life -- or a pet that you cherish -- and that you would ANYTHING for to keep them safe and healthy, you know what that love is about....love yourself that way. Today, love yourself like you are that child or cherished pet, and you will do ANYTHING to keep yourself well and healthy. WE DESERVE THIS. I am soooooo proud of this group -- I CHERISH YOU! Love, your Reenie

Hey, Mike, I loke THE BUTT STOPS HERE....what do you think??? M.

It sounds good to me Maureen....... The BUTT, The GUT, or any other of the many flabby parts!! It sounds like you're already back on track my friend........keep up the good work. Mike

Hi Mike, please know your not alone, its true what you said....I am one of the lurkers who hasn't posted because of the things im doing wrong... and just havnt had anything positive to add....my personal life is a wreck!!!! and I am letting it take a toll on my body and my mind!!! It seems the more I stay in the house the more miserable I am , I pick all day long , never really getting the "full feeling" as before.I dont even know what a protien shake tastes like anymore... I am snacking, mostly on shredded cheese / crackers during the day and drinking coffee, I have been eating bread also...seems I have found my way back to the carbs....they taste better than ever why is that??? anyway, I am going to join you, the bread stops here!!!!! Now thats its a lil chilly, here in Florida I think I will start drinking hot tea, at least this way I will be getting in more water during the day. Thanks for hitting a nerve! I will pray for you and Hopefully someone will pray for me!! I needed that lil push! or a kick in the @ss...lol hugz Mary

Hi Mary; I'm sorry that you're having trouble, but please, please DON'T STAY AWAY!!! Let me tell you something about me and see if it sounds familiar: Most of my life, food related issues were always something I treated as a dirty little secret. As if I was fooling anyone!!! One look at my fat form was enough to tell anyone that I had food issues. As a result, it's been very hard for me to confess my sins in a public forum like this. Let's face it, if we can't discuss our troubles here, where then can we do so?? Everyone here is an expert in the field of food issues. We've all been there....done that.....got the T shirt (4XL in my case)!! I'm convinced that part of the cure is finding the courage (and yes it takes courage) to expose your warts to others. So please don't stay away because you feel that you don't have anything positive to report. You need help with the negatives in order to see the positives more clearly.... and no matter how bad things look, there are positives. Just look at your own before and after photos if you don't believe me!! I know that I've said this before, but I like to borrow the Home Depot slogan and apply it to all of the wonderful folks on this board......YOU CAN DO IT......WE CAN HELP!!! Lots of hugs back at you Mike

Mary, it's so good to have you back with us. You are not alone. I think the real issue here is that we all believed on some level that our success was attributed to the surgery itself and that, because of the surgery, we would lose the weight and be able to keep it off forever...because of the surgery. We are now learning the very painful and frightening truth that while the surgery assisted us in losing significant amounts of weight initially, the real success must be a result of our own resolve and determination to get healthy and stay healthy...and we all know what that takes. Exercise. Water. Protein. Good food choices. Living sanely with food, every day. There's nothing here to resent or be angry about or even fear. To borrow from our beautiful Connie, IT IS WHAT IT IS. What happens from here on out is strictly a result of the choices we make, every day. Chose health. Chose loving yourself enough to do the hard work. Some days it's harder than others and some days you will eat things that you know are empty, worthless calories that do nothing to maintain good health, and that's ok...as long as you move past it and get back on track right away, every day. Best of luck, dear Mary. Stay close to us, we need you. Maureen