MARCHers and goal!

" Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer.".....Denis Waitley Well Rick had bad weather in LA, Stephanie had wonderful weather in FL, and I had great weather and a great time in TN!!! We 3 motivational posters all managed to be out of town last week, but thank goodness for Rick's wife, our board maintained our motivational posts in our absence. Thank you so much "Rick's wife" for continuing our posts - I appreciate your good work. I didn't respond each day, but I did read them. I spent a wonderful marvelous week with my 2 beautiful TN grandchildren..4 year old Maddie and 1 year old Drew, as well as spending great time with my son and his wife. Unfortunately my visit with my sister, who is retarded, in poor health, and living in a nursing home was not good. She is severely diabetic - 4 insulin shots a day - morbidly obese - 365 pounds and 5'5" - is bipolar, retarded, manic depressive, suffers from sleep apnea among other maladies. She has a thickening corn type place on the ball of her foot that may turn into an ulcer, which because of the diabetes is extremely hard to heal and may ultimately result in the amputation of her foot. So her future does not look very bright and she is only 55 years old. Just spending a few minutes with her makes me even more thankful that I took the step I took almost 2 years ago to have what I consider life saving WLS. So I say all this to say - maybe you are not at goal yet, maybe you are desperately trying to maintain your loss...so let's now dwell on and focus on what did go right and what steps we need to take next. Spend all our energies on moving forward from today and finding your comfortable zone. Unfortunately I do dwell on my sister's condition and there doesn't seem to be any steps to take to improve her situation. Believe me I have tried, some cases just doesn't seem to have any answers. But I do believe we MARCHers have been given a tool and we have the energy and desire to move forward and make this journey successful. Make today a good day...move to lose, don't rest to rust!!!! Exercise, vitamins, water and protein...that are the steps to take to make today successful. Every day is a new day to move forward and go with me today down the right path. Maybe sometimes seeing or hearing about somebody who is in much worse shape than you are is encouragement enough to move forward. As Rick suggested, if you send a note to the MARCHers 2008 board - read some of their posts and see how eagerly they are awaiting this life saving surgery we had 2 years ago. Remember how far we have come and work towards the successful journey today! Hugs to all...Barbara

morning Barb, glad you enjoyed your trip and family time. Your sister is in my thoughts, hope things work out for the best with her foot and they don't have to amputate I'm with you on making my new focus to get back on track. As I mentioned in Jannine's post, I'm going back in for foot surgery on Wednesday just to have the screw taken out. It will be quick, suppose to be painless, no crutches, just a surgery boot for 2 weeks. The doctor said it will be very easy to fracture the area since there will be an open hole in the bone so no extra steps, no added exercise, nothing but sitting around and waiting another 2 weeks! All this sitting and no exercise has made me gain 3 lbs and I'm almost at 130 again which frightens me. Clothes are getting tighter, don't feel as healthy, eating too many carbs again.. Its time to re-focus! No exercise doesn't mean I can't choose better foods. Starting fat smash again on March 3rd to get back on track before our surgiversary!! I talked to BF this morning and he mentioned going food shopping after work. He told me he stopped buying soda and switched to seltzer watch for the fizz. He also said his goal everytime he shops is to switch one food for a healthier one (white bread for whole wheat, beans for organics, free range eggs instead of regular) this is a step I never thought in my life I'd see with him! He enjoys his can of soda on occasion, loves sandwiches and considered a snickers bar breakfast! Hes making great strides

Barbara, Im glad you had a great time with the grandkids and big kids. I'm sorry to hear about your sister. The weather is L.A. wasn't great, but it didn't stop my walking. I got in 7 miles each day between classes and speakers. I like seeing new things and on foot you sure do get an eye full. I love your saying about moving to lose and resting to rust. It is so true. I'm glad you're back. Have a great day, Rick

You have no idea how much I needed to shift my focus today from what went wrong! It's been one of THOSE mornings. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Both of our vehicles are in the shop. Both! How does that happen??? Than I arrived at work and so many things went wrong. Sigh. So thanks for the reminder to focus on what to do next. That's a far more positive attitude than to dwell on the other stuff. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit with your family. I'm sure they loved seeing you as much as you did them. I hope your sister is able to get some relief of her maladies very soon. I know you've tried every avenue possible to make her life better. It's difficult to watch people we love suffer. I'm glad you chose to find a way to make your life better too! Big hugs, Stephanie