Hi All! I know I haven't been around much but I need some help....

I had my RNY November 29th of last year. I started at 256lbs and am current 147 or so. I go up and down. I'm within my goal range which was between 145-155. Here is the bad part. I don't exercise and I know I should. I've had some depression type issues since the surgery and am currently going to a counselor. I don't know how to motivate myself or what to do because I can;t afford the gym. Also I've kind of fallen off the wagon with my eating. At the beggining I was one of those people who couldn't understand why people eat junk after surgery and now I am one of those people. I know this will eventually catch up with me. I don't dump and am able to eat candy or chips or the occasional slice of pizza or a hot dog. I feel so bad after eating these things. I don't know why I do it. I do also love fruit and eat healthy things too. I just also eat the carby sugary junk too. I need an intervention...lol.. I'm looking to you guys because I know you've probably gone through many similar things and I read the things you write and you all seem so successful. I want to be successful too. Thanks in advance I really do appreciate it. Take Care, Bonnie

Bonnie, YOU ARE A SUCCESS TOO! You've lost 100 pounds in less than a year. I call that successful. What I've noticed is that when I don't exercise, I eventually stop eating right. I think exercise is the key. Search out all options in your community for gyms. You think you can't afford to join a gym but, take a cold hard look at your finances. I think most gyms are about $30 per month. That's less than a daily Starbucks or less than going out to dinner. See if there is anything you can do without in your budget so that you can fit it in the extra expense of the gym. Junk food is expensive too. Maybe the cost of the gym can be budget-nuetral if you take everything into consideration. You know exactly what to do. Don't give yourself any options. You don't have to fight with yourself to brush your teeth in the morning. You just do it! You don't have to decide to take a shower--it's just routine. THat's how you have to think about eating right and working out. No options--just do it. Don't even allow yourself to consider other options. Wanda

I'm with Wanda I think you are a huge success. We all struggle with eating some not so fabulous snacks. I'm having trouble with night time snacking. Exercise has been a real issue with me, I have fibro and I'm not always up to much but I do try to take an aqua jogging class 2-3 times a week. Look into your Community Education it's $4 too take that class. What about doing some DVD's look at getting them from the library and trying them out then if you like one you can go buy it. I like Leslie Sansone's walking DVD'S and anything by Kathy Smith. I have a Pilates DVD that is pretty good also. I have a Wellness room at work that cost $35 a year and I try to do the elliptical M-F for a 1/2 hour. My weekends are free time if I workout for 5 times. You just have to make it a part of your daily life. Deb

Hi Bonnie, If money is the only obstical to working out then you have some free options. If you have not been exercising you really will have to start at the beginning so...take a walk. Start by taking 30 minutes to go for a walk. You can do this on your lunch hour if you work or if not go for an after dinner walk. Work up to an hour per day. Then you can add things like hand weights, cans of vegies work well. You can jump rope, do some leg lifts, ab crunches, sit ups, squats....and so on. You can make your own routine but you have to make it just that ROUTINE. No excuses and no self sabatoge. Obviously you have not done too badly with the food part. You have gotten to your goal. Now if you add the exercise, you will be building muscle with improves your metablolism. If you bump that up then you can maintain that goal forever. Thanks for posting with us. We all have some encouraging words and can be a great source of support. Join us regularly and let us know how you are progressing. Hugs, Valorie