re: Motivation

I am plagerizing this document I found this AM in the Challenge yourself Group's files. Originally posted by Leilani, then revised Tammy, now me. We all know how we feel. Some of us need a little kick in the butt. Hope this helps. Print it out and paste to your mirror where you see yourself every morning. Now go out and Kick Butt folks. That's the sentiment (scenario) that comes to mind sometimes when I hear some of the comments from people who've already had the surgery. In case you haven't made the connection, that's a line Tom Hanks made famous in the movie "A League Of Their Own." Resorting to tears or just giving up every time the going gets tough is NOT going to make you successful or keep you healthy. I see so much whining sometimes that it's hard to decipher the kids from the adults. ENOUGH already, it's time to get "TOUGH" on YOURSELF!!! First and foremost, you have to keep it POSITIVE. As with everything in life, if you think you can't - you WON'T! Simple enough? I have to wonder when "we" (as adults) finally take ownership for our actions, our life and our health? We have been given a gift, a second chance to actually LIVE life again instead of merely exiting in it. It's up to each of us to do that as healthy and productively as possible. We're ALL statistics waiting to happen and the insurance companies are chomping at the bit. The bean counters are eager to drop Weight Loss Surgery ("WLS") from the policies; some already have. Don't you know that any negative feedback thrown into the mix only strengthens their cause? I may not be able to control every thing that happens to my body after WLS, but most things I can. I CHOOSE to take control and I will be a positive statistic when the numbers get counted. We live in a spoiled society, expecting everything in life to come with a buncha really cool choices. Well, guess what? When it comes to your health, you're not always going to get a choice. You either DO IT and stay healthy, or you DON'T and your body pays the price. The way I saw it, I had a 90 day healing and adjusting period after surgery. My 'super morbidly obese' body had more then enough stores to survive the learning curve. In turn, it gave me plenty of time to heal, adjust and learn. For those of you OVER 90 day's Post-Op, the probation period is over - its time to get serious and LIVE what you've learned. ~*~ You say you can't get in enough liquids through out the day, don't like the taste of water, or just keep forgetting? -- TOUGH! It's not an option anymore. Find a way to do it, get suggestions and tips from others in support groups, message boards, etc. Read, learn and then JUST DO IT!! Why do you think there is a choice here? ~*~ You say you don't like the big horse pill type vitamins, or the tart chalky chewables? ...it's, just too many to bother with? Or maybe you just can't remember to take them? ...it's just too many to bother with? -- TOUGH! You gave up the option NOT to take vitamins when you agreed to have your insides rerouted. FIND a way to get them in; crushed, minced, chopped, liquified, in a shake, etc. No exceptions, your health depends on it. ~*~ Protein is a must. So you can't get it all in via foods and you don't like the way the shakes taste? -- TOUGH! Either get it through your meals (and there are a gazillion food choices out there) or supplement it with protein shakes and bars. (On a personal note: I drink 2 red grapefruit/unjury drinks a day cause I was lucky enough to love them. Elissa) Trust me, I don't drink my protein shake every morning because I think it tastes like a chocolate blizzard from Dairy Queen. Ive tried many varieties over the last 2 years. I'd even venture to say 25 of the top sellers/flavors have crossed my lips. For the record? I've yet to find one that is as 'delicious' as boasted by the distributor. So what!!!! I still drink one every morning. My HEALTH dictates that I need "X" grams of protein per day. If I'm not getting enough from my meals then I supplement a shake. 'Nuff said!!! I've actually walked the walk and reached my goal. Yep, I've stumbled a few times with my food choices and you know what? I'll trip a few more times. BUT, some things I will never fail at -- Vitamins, H20 and Protein. This surgery is a gift, I owe it to me and everyone else fighting the approval process, to do it right! I will continue to choke down my vitamins, my water and my protein every single day, for the REST OF MY LIFE. Some days will be easier then others, regardless, no days will be missed. It's all about discipline. Create a routine, set a timer, develop a pattern, tie a string around your finger, glue a note to your forehead, whatever it takes. You're an adult - take responsibility! If this surgery doesn't slap a back bone into you, not much will. Leilani ~*~ [revised 1/6/05] Tammy [revised 3/10/05] Elissa [revised 1/15/06]

Elissa, Mine is posted as we speak. Thanks !!! I really needed to read that this morning. I love the taking ownership part. Hope to see you Saturday if you are making the meeting. See you lighter. Joanne

Lei's original post called it ... NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!!! I absolutely loved/love this post ... so much so that I added it to my profile, added it to my portfolio, added it to my bathroom mirror. Truly sometimes what we need is a good swift kick in the pants!!! EH? I love Lei's straight forward attitude. Put the blame where it belongs and lets get on with the task at hand. We are either in it to win it, or choose to blame and fail. I have to remind myself daily, that in the very end, that ultimately I am the one who has to live (or die) with the choices I put in my mouth, or don't put in there. No one is there force feeding me anything, vitamins included. No one is forcing me to sit on the couch and munch on potatoe chips either. Nor will anyone force me to ge up and get out and give my body fresh air and exercise. Our bodies are altered, our minds are on their way, truly we need to make our vitamins, food choices, fluids and exercise a top priority for our lives sake as so we can have as good of life possible with the years we have left. Trust me, as a pre-op I was in so much pain that I was close to being in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. At the very least, I had to rely too much on others to do for me what I should have been able to do on my own. It was NOT a good feeling to think that this would be my lot for the rest of my life. Did it happen overnight, NO, but trust me it happened far faster than I ever expected. Once you hit a certain point, the speed at which you gravitate toward it climbs faster and faster. We also need to get rid of the "stinkin thinkin" that so often fills our minds, especially when we feel we have somehow "failed". I can be the queen of stinkin thinkin ... and have to be careful what I feed into my brain and heart. You know, we all hear it and sometimes it sounds so funny, but truly we need to feed positive affirmations to ourselves. We have a whole world who can tear us down, we need not add ourselves to that lot. When I am faced with decisions and am about to make a poor choice, I try to remind myself that I have family that is counting on me, and thus if I make poor choices then I am not only letting myself down, but am also letting my family down. It helps me to know that they are counting on my to take care of them, even my grown boys ... they call and need their mom, still. A mom (or dad, daughter, son, etc) has a special place that can not ever be replaced by anyone else. I am preaching to the choir here ... I am right up there with trying to remain on top of all of that ... sometimes I do well, other times, I fall. The trick is to get back up, dust off and prod on with another lesson under our belt. Well, guess I am throwing my heart out on my sleeve this morning. Sorry to ramble, but hope it makes at least a bit of sense to someone. I am dealing with another impending death of a loved one ... and it is hard. But it helps me to keep in mind that tomorrow is not promised and I need to do all I can with today. Hugs to each of you!!!

Thanks Elissa, I would like to add that you need to set longer term goals to help you get beyond your daily maintenance. Find something that you like to do and set some goals against it. Examples:Walk a mile next month and two the month after. Climb a hill or a mountain. Increase the amount of time you spend in the pool. Bicycle around the block and 10 - 20 miles by April Plan on increasing the number of days and amount of time you exercise every month until you feel good about yourself. You cant afford to be a weekend warrior ever again. Train to your ability and listen to what your body is telling you - if it hurts STOP. Train to just a bit beyond your comfort level that way you will get better over time. We have all made a commitment and you have to take care of yourself. FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!!!!

Grasshopper, I have trained you well.

Thanks for all the input. This is what the boards are for. Motivation, positive feedback & wow moments. Healthy attitudes are contagious. Elissa

You must be an angel sent from God Elissa! I know I am posting late on this one but I wanted to give a personal thanks to you for my wake up call. I think that we all who have had WLS have been given a second chance at life. Many people are being turned down by their insurance companies and may lose their fight in the battle of obesity so we (myself included) must be thankful for this second chance and we need to work hard at making ourselves healthy so that the insurance companies cannot use failures to eliminate the right of a patient to medical care they deem to be necessary. I have my good days and my bad like we all do but we have to take responsibility for ourselves by drinking H20, taking vitamins, protein and the thing I have been lax in cardio exercise! I know that I will reach my goal with friends like you and others at the support meetings coupled with determination on my part to shed this last 50 pounds to reach goal. Take care and hope to see you soon. Prycey Lady RNY 2/2/05 373/236/??