Self Esteem? (long post)

Carrie, I hear ya! I am just now able to eat normal finally after 3 EGD's ,problem is now nothing looks good to me except things like pickles with no protein, I loved food now I dont even want to eat but know I have too. I dont have energy either, keep waiting for that to happen. I am happy I am going down on the scale but not so happy with all the loose skin, and I am still heavy its almost seems like I look worse! Thing to remember this is a journey and we have only begun! I hope you will be able to make it to New Orleans in May, we will have a blast! Keep your chin up and remember we are always here to vent to and relate with! Cary

Hello carrie. very well put post i am going through the some of the same things. Food who used to be my friend is now my enemy. I get frusterated every time I have to eat. Nothing tastes as good as it smells and I feel that preparing things is a waste of my energy because I can't eat much. But I know i have to eat. Plus i have to cook for my son. I have been feeling like I am not losing enough fast enough too. I had to lose weight before surgery due to a weight restriction at the hospital. Because of this i feel it has slowed me down since i was not eating a bunch of junk before surgery. I have been suffering from a lot of anger issues as well. Everything get's me mad. I went for an eval at the psyc doctor told me it was stress. I am trying to finish school and make a decisoion on moving. I moved out of california two years ago when my son was 11 months old. Now I am feeling he should be around his dad. My mom would not move back with me. I would be going on my own and she has been one of my biggest support people in my life. But i really beleive it would be best for my son to be around his father as well. IT would not be for another year or so. but i am not sure if i should do it. sorry went of on a tangent. Just keep your head up. Maybe someday we will enjoy eating again.

Hi Carrie, I'm sorry you are having such a rough time. Sometimes you have to talk yourself out of this. So...tomorrow morning you say to yourself: "Today I'm going to have a good day! I'm going to walk for 15 minutes and I'm going to eat healthy!" Then you need to do it. Right after you get up, go walk 8 minutes away from your home and then return. When you get home, fix your shake or whatever you are supposed to eat. Take time to take a nice shower or bath and fix yourself up. If you get depressed looking at your body right now then don't look at it. Put your makeup on, fix your hair and a little perfume. All the while compliment yourself about something, (pretty eyes, nice smile, etc.) Do all this even if you don't really feel it right now, before long, you will. It's so easy to get depressed because we can't do this or can't do that, it's very negative. So put a positive spin on things, when you go for a walk, notice the pretty flowers or how nice someone has their yard landscaped. Increase the length of your walks a little each day or week. If you do that first thing, then you'll feel better knowing that you got some exercise in plus it will start boosting your energy level. Sometimes you need to talk yourself into a good mood. YOU CAN DO IT! Just make up your mind too. Hugs!

Hi Carrie! I am new to posting but have been watching OH for many months. I had my surgery in May also and have been struggling with losing the weight. I am a very slow loser and it is so frustrating. I finally feel good enough to up my exercise so started exercising 5 days a week last week. I actually lost 2 more pounds. I have noticed that I am losing so much slower than most people and it is so frustrating to me. I think my metabolism is very slow and am doing what I can to rev it up a bit.I do know that when you exercise it releases those endorphins that make us feel good. Sometimes we have to step outside our comfort zone and push ourselves a little harder each day to use this great tool we have been given. I too have many of the feelings that everyone else has but I am hoping that a year from now things will look different than they do today as a 21/2 month post op.But I also realize for that to happen I have to push myself each day . I have been very complacent for too long and that is why I ended up with having to have this surgery. I am learning to deal with all the emotional stuff that helped me get to this point. Stress can cause a lot of depression in us without us even recognizing it. I know you will feel better in the months to come. Just hang in there, push yourself a little more each day and remember that "normal" is a feeling we create within our own selves. What was normal 3 months ago is no longer normal for us now. We will all adjust- we just need to be patient and loving of ourselves where we are now and look forward to a new "us."

Sharon, WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW!! WOW!! WOW!! You all are amazing! I cannot even tell you how overwhelmed I have been reading your replies. Your thoughts, advice, hints and even telling me to take a hike were fabulous! I/We are truly blessed to have such an awesome support group here online. Its amazing to me every day when I read on here. Thank you again for your understanding, your patience and your acceptance. It truly is an amazing experience. Typing through the tears, Carrie