What's Up?

I couldn't wait to get back home and read all the new posts. I always miss you all when I'm gone. But when I logged on...hardly any new posts! You guys aren't talking much. Surely, someone wants to chat. I've been in withdraw.

Missed you! How was it? I HAVE A FEELING YOU DID WONDERFUL!!! How did you make out with your Dr appiontment? I guess everyones out having fun in the sun LOVE LOVE LOVE your NEW avatar - you look so YOUNG!!!!! hugs, Britt

Well here is the good...the bad...and the ugly: The good: 1. I paid the extra $20 to use their darn fitnss center. I got up early and worked out for at least an hour every day. 2. The hotel was HUGE and we walked constantly. 3. I didn't have any sugar even though the top pastry chef in the country (so they tell me anyway) made their deserts. 4. For the most part I didn't snack between meals. 5. I took my low carb yogurt and blueberries for a healthy start each day. The bad: 1. I ate WAY TOO MUCH at mealtimes. Two of the dinners lasted 2.5 hours and the courses were brought out one at a time. The food just kept going down the pouch and I was able to eat so much and I showed very little self control. The ugly: 1. I drank so much wine! The vendors were spluging on $100 bottles of wine and passing it my way. Again...too much curiosity and not enough self control. I wish I did better. I wish I could have been a good example for everyone. I kind of blew it but I'm home now with a new resolve to be better.

1. I paid the extra $20 to use their darn fitnss center. I got up early and worked out for at least an hour every day. 2. The hotel was HUGE and we walked constantly. 3. I didn't have any sugar even though the top pastry chef in the country (so they tell me anyway) made their deserts. 4. For the most part I didn't snack between meals. 5. I took my low carb yogurt and blueberries for a healthy start each day. Wanda!!! You did lots of good things! the good certainly "OUTWEIGHED" the bad ... though Monday will be the true answer to that question right? It is SO freak'in HARD: MAD: there are so many challenging events to deal with. Hopefully ONE DAY we'll figure it out!!! I am going away this weekend (nervous about being off my home turf and very nervous about my upcoming Disney vacation) I pray - I really have to maek good choices (period) hugs, Britt

Yes, that's my point! Life is a series of events and celebrations and if I can't trust myself to follow the rules ALL of the time, then I will be breaking the rules ALL of the time. I will be making exceptions for every event that comes up. I just wish I could flip that switch and food no longer has any control over me.

I hear you Wanda! We cannot make exceptions! We HAVE to follow the rules - all of the time _ Like I learned on vacation (gaining weight) There are NO VACATION DAYS for me since WLS. WE can do this ... I just know iT ps if you find out where "the switch" is ... let me know hugs, Britt

Wanda, I think you did amazingly well!!! No sugar or snacks and working out every day...that's huge! And you can't pass up everything...it's not everyday you get offered $100 bottles of wine. Sheesh. Give yourself a little credit here. Corinna Q

Thanks for trying to make me feel better. But where do I draw the line? If it were just annual convention I could deal with that. But I have an in-state annual convention and an out-of-state annual convention each year. And many day conferences. Two weeks ago I spent a week in Oklahoma, now my week in Orlando, and in a month I'm going on a seven day cruise. And what about every time I attend a neighborhood party, a family event, or any other social gathering? Also, I will be spending a few days at Virginia Beach in a couple of weeks. You see what I mean? If I cave in just because it was available and it was an out-of-the-norm event where does it all end? I won't consider myself successful until I follow the plan in every situation!

You are absolutely right...in your case with so much travel all the time you do need to be prepared to make the right choices all the time. But you are making some right choices so definitely rejoice in those! It is key to be able to be away from home and still stick with your plan as I found when I was gone. It was alot harder than I thought it would be. Corinna Q

Wanda, I completely understand where you are coming from. I seem to always have a good excuse to eat badly. Family and work functions, birthdays, anniversaries, vacations or just co-workers ordering out for lunch is but a few excuses. Why can't we seem to celebrate or have a good time without food? It is a never ending battle. I don't, however, think you can beat yourself up every time you put something in your mouth that you shouldn't. (Remember we are talking about food!) If we can not enjoy some of the forbidden once in a while, how can we expect not to completely go off track? I know for myself anyway, I can not imagine saying NEVER AGAIN to any of the foods that I enjoy that are NO-NO foods. We just have to learn to control how much and how often. Moderation and getting right back to the basics after an occasional indulgence, I think, will be the key to long term success. If you ask any of the long time losers if they were "perfect" of expected themselves to be perfect, I would wager they would tell us no way. Of course this is just my opinion, and we all know what the say about opinions! And, you can see that I am not exactly a fast loser either. But that is ok with me now. As long as I am still showing progress, even if it is slow or if I occasionally back-slide, I am trying not to beat myself up. I am human. I will stumble. But, I will get up and make it to the finish line. I was thinking today about my "slow" progress. I will be 9 months out on the 14Th and have lost 95 lbs to date. If I can manage 4 lbs more before the 14th, that means I have averaged about 11 lbs per month. I should not complain or whine about that. I have also changed so many unhealthy habits in my life that I know I could ever go back to that sedentary, gluttonous life I previously led. So, I guess I am saying, WLS isn't only about food deprivation. It is truly about us changing our lives. We have to do it in a way that we know we can maintain throughout the rest of our long, healthy lives. Again, just my humble opinion and maybe something to think about. Hugs to all, Valorie