REMEMBER WHEN???

Nic and Pam, hang in there. Connie, let us know you're feeling better. Joy, Marilyn, Joanie - everyone...stay close, some of us are having a really rough time of it and we all need to hold each other up until we can figure it out. I decided this morning that I need to concentrate fully on the essence of ME today - those aspects of myself that I truly appreciate and value. I love my STRENGTH, inner (spiritual) and outer (physical). I tend to let go of that essence of myself when it all gets to be too much - not today. So I'm concentrating on one word today, and wrapping my entire life around that one word, just for today: STRENGTH. This goes back to my theory of successful living post-WLS surgery is in how we REDIRECT our energies. If I am putting all my energy today into being STRONG in every regard, than how can I give in to cravings? STRENGTH won't let me do that! I was just feeling the craving revving up for those M&M's (I am truly and seriously addicted) so instead of giving in, I thought about my word for the day, STRENGTH, and realized I needed to remind myself of my physical strength and what I've achieved in redefining my body these past four years. So I took myself into the bathroom, and I did some sit-ups! Yes, sit-ups, and a bit more abdominal work...now at my desk, I have the physical sensation of how STRONG my body is! My mid-section is tingling and I am fully aware of my abdominal muscles. This feels SO MUCH BETTER than downing fistfulls of M&M's. I truly believe that we need to consciously remind ourselves of how we lived as super morbidly obese people. We need to get back in touch with that reality so that we can use all our senses today: sight, sound, touch, taste (yes, taste!), smell...to LIVE NORMAL. I haven't felt normal for quite some time because I've been so out of control with the M&M's. Today, right now, I feel normal. And STRONG. What's your word for the day, my dear, dear friends? Love you STRONG, Reenie

ohhh interesting Reenie! word for the day, I guess I want it too be FULL. I am FULL of life, I am FULL of friends and family that love me & will help if I will allow them too. I am FULL of contenment with my job. I am FULL of hope for my future. I can be FULL of tons of things...usually when someone say s you are "FULL" of it... it does NOT have a positive connotation. BUT that can change... ARE YOU FULL OF IT??? REENIE you are FULL of STRENGTH! hugs Nic

I could not think of a good word of what i was. Strength was taken and I didn't want to copy. Full too another good choice. Then I thought what did I really think of when I rmembered the surgery, my life and all the changes that went with it. Then it came to me. I am blessed.

In the book Eat, Pray, Love they talked about every person and every place has one word that describes them/it. The word for Italy was sex. My word, today anyway, is determined. I am determined to finish what I set out to do 4 years ago. I started my renewed commitment about 15 days ago, lost 4 pounds and gained back 2 of them today. That's OK, I'm still 2 pounds less than I was 15 days ago. Maybe the 2 pounds is snot because my head feels 2 pounds heavier. This cold seems to have no intentions of leaving. So today I had an epiphany. I have one room left to put down hard wood floors. I've installed either tile or wood floors on almost 2,000 square feet of floor, all of it on my hands and knees. I started when I weighed almost 300 pounds and couldn't find a pair of knee pads to fit me. After surgery, it never dawned on me that knee pads might fit until today. I have one room left to put down wood and one left to tile and I finally realize that I could have been wearing knee pads for the last several years and saved myself lots of bruising. C.

Sorry to have started you on this and then gone MIA. You are doing well to focus on your core strengths, and you all picked good ones. Reenie, while you are in a STRONG frame of mind, spend a few minutes picturing that bag of M&M, with a POISON label on the bag. Picture what they are doing to your body and mind. Picture how they make you feel AFTER you eat them (physically and emotionally), then picture a planned alternative snack. Picture eating it in a happy, relaxed, beautiful place and feeling healthy and at peace. Maybe this will help. If I have to choose a single descriptor for myself, I have to choose JOY. Not because it is my name (but that is a great affirmation), but because I choose to live each day with laughter and JOY. This life is not a dress rehearsal--it is the real thing, and I plan to squeeze every bit of JOY I can from each day. JOY does not come from living with perfection, but from living with forgiveness of self and others. It comes from choosing to see the humor and pleasure around me. It comes from focusing on the half full side of life. I have my share of tears, but they just make me appreciate the JOY that follows. I wish you all STRENGTH, FULLNESS, and JOY today! (and padded knees!) Joy

Hey Reenie & All What a great Post!! My word for this would be LIFE. I have not had much of a life for awhile, now. ( Just existing) So this new adventure that God has opened doors for me to start is the begining of Life for me. I am not letting anyone (especially Mom) tell me it won't work. My job is going with me, I will have new adventures & My dogs will be with me & have a yard back. Yes, it might be a little cooler there this time of year, but, I can deal with that, just fine. Looking forward to LIFE starting the 26th of January. Almost 1 year to date since moving to San Diego. I am also eating a lot less, maybe because I finally have someone that cares how I look & feel (Billy) I have not had that since I had surgery. So here's to LIFE, LOVE & HAPPINESS!! Long time overdue!!! Ladybug Marilyn