Hello Ladies!

I've gone MIA AGAIN, but I'm back. Nice to still see familiar faces here. I have been struggling for months. Lost 95 lbs., then stalled, then had lots of family/financial adjustments, and from the holidays to the beginning of this month managed to gain TEN lbs. back!! I've now lost 5, and determined to stay on point. It was a big lesson -- you can't go back to old habits (sugar for me) & expect to be safe because you had surgery. It's the same battle as before surgery, day in and day out. I'm determined not to un-do all the good work I have done, so coming back here is part of that goal. After all, I have a wedding dress to fit into in December -- I need to be buff!! Hope all are well. Have a happy week!! Kathy F.

Hi Kathy: I remember replying to your last post about having a difficult time. I am very much in the same place you are. We are also in the same time frame in terms of our surgery. After several months of really beating myself up I decided to enroll myself in a counseling workshop. This workshop is specifically designed for post-op gastric bypass patients. I believe it is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I have gotten through week 6 of 12. It is a very intense, soul searching experience. It is a very structured program. Each week you are expected to read a chapter and answer questions related to the chapter in your journal. These are very thought provoking questions and extemely eye opening. The whole purpose of the workshop is to find your C.O.R.E. (Center Of the Reason you Eat). Once you find what that C.O.R.E. is you then work to handle each "food situation" as it occurs. At this point we have only identified our C.O.R.E.'s and are now in the process of learning what's ahead. Our group is made up of 7 very wonderful post-op woman. I hopefully have made a group of friends that I will not lose touch with. This particular group is meeting in Norwich right now but it is run by Christopher Lodi who I believe works with Dr. Reinhold in New Haven. He does some of the psych. evaluations. Chris also has an office in Guilford. If you are interested I could get a phone number or information about a future group. This has been such a worth while experience for me I thought I'd share the info. Best of luck to you and I know you will look fantastic in that wedding dress! Carolyn

Carolyn- first - Love the picture - you're looking great! Just wanted to chime in that I too am taking the FLEX program with Chris Lodi right now (in New Haven) and we're on Module 8 this week. It is definitely worth everyone's time to look into. After all - changing all our plumbing has not changed our minds or the reasons we ate ourselves into obesity to begin with! Good luck with the remaining sessions Carolyn! Our group is down to 8 women right now - all of which I hope to stay in touch with afterwards as well. May your 'C.O.R.E' be with you... Hugs, Carla

Just wanted to say Hello Kathy!! Hope you're doing well. You look great now.. so just stick with it and try not to let the stressors get to you. Hope all is well. Take care, Michelle