Figuring Out You Can Do This

I know this might not be a big deal for some, especially if you're post-op, but one of my 4 goals before I see the dietician in February was to start eating more protein, especially at breakfast. My favorite breakfast I would have to say is a plain bagel with tons of plain cream cheese. Basically, I just love cream cheese. But, I needed to cut this habit! So, in preparation I sort of polled a few different boards on here about what people eat for breakfast that is protein focused and I got a ton of good ideas. So thankful for OH. Well, this morning, I had some lean turkey breast lunch meat with a piece of string cheese. Didn't taste so hot with my decaf coffee, but I'm learning! One major thing I have learned so far on this journey is that you CAN be IN CHARGE. You can be in charge of what you put in your mouth every day. You can be in charge of what fluids you drink every day. You can be in charge of setting goals and actually achieving them. I was good at starting things before, but I was even better at quitting to be honest. For once, I am taking ownership of my health. I am pursuing WLS. I am setting goals with the help of my dietician and I am actually achieving them - because I WANT TO. Timing is everything. I don't believe I was ready for this surgery six months ago. Hard to admit because I wanted it so badly, but now I can honestly say I'm glad it didn't happen last summer. My hats off to all of you that are on this journey. It is such a great personal discovery and I'm excited for each and every one of you to achieve your health goals! ~Amy~

Amy Good for you for setting and sticking to your goals! I'm so proud of you. I can sooo relate to the bagel/cream cheese breakfast oh yum! That was also my favorite breakfast followed in close second to a twisty glazed donut and a monster energy drink! LOL I began this journey the first time 4 years ago and dropped out in the middle because I wasn't ready yet, this time I was and I'm so glad I waited. I know that I will be successful now and I know you will be too!  I liked that you pointed out that this is a personal journey, I do have to sometimes remind myself of that when I have several days in a row that the scaled hasn't moved ( I weigh once a week) I have to keep reminding myself that this is a journey not a race ( I sooo love that line!!!) Anyway, I am so excited for you to start the next phase of your personal journey and I can't wait to watch the beautiful new you to emerge from the beautiful old you. Hugs to you Lisa

Amy, you are SO RIGHT!!!  There are so many things about this whole WLS lifestyle that we have to make decisions about!  For people that think this is the easy way out, that losing weight after WLS is easy, I say - BULLSHIZZ!!!   Does the weight come off easy?  Ya know what?  At first it does!  But we make decisions EVERY SINGLE DAY, MANY TIMES A DAY, about doing the things we need to do to make this thing work.  We have to decide to take our vitamins.  It doesn't matter that I don't ENJOY chewable Centrum - I do it because I NEED to.  My family has a bowl of M&M's sitting out in plain sight.  I DECIDE not to devour them!  Do I have a few?  YES.  But I have to DECIDE that eating the whole flippin' bowl would be a bad idea.   This is NOT easy.  But our surgeons give us guidelines to follow, to give us the greatest chance of succeeding.  We have to DECIDE to follow them!   Amy, girlfriend, YOU are gonna knock this whole deal OUT OF THE PARK!!!

Darla, I love your view on the "easy way out". Thank you for sharing that!

Thank YOU for sharing your view point Amy - it's so important (especially for me) to remember that I do have control over my choices.  I don't always believe that - but I'm trying. You are doing amazing Amy and I love your whole attitude towards this journey.  You're absolutely right about timing being everything - your perfect time for surgery was not last summer - it is this year!  You are more prepared than ever and you have built your support system immensely during this extra time.  So often we want what we want when we want it and forget that there's someone else out there that knows us better than we know ourselves and will make things happen when they're supposed to happen for our own good! Keep hanging in there and thanks for sharing your journey with us.  Your insight is very valuable to others - post-ops included! LOVE YA GIRLIE

Amy...you have such a great attitude. You are so ready for this journey!!! I agree with Darla about this isn't the easy way out !!!!! Hugs connie d

WOW for you!!!  Great job that you have been changing your lifestyle before surgery.  This is a permanent change of lifestyle and it is sooooo hard -- everything you put in your mouth after surgery has to be second guessed EVERY TIME!!!  I'm sooooo proud of you!!! XXOO