1 year this week, and been pretty down.

Here's how to get out of your rut.  First pull out all your pictures prior to February 14th, 2007.  Take a long hard look at those pictures and then stand in front of a full length mirror holding those very pictures. Get naked even! Girl, look at how much you have transformed your body in JUST ONE YEAR!!!  ONLY 107 pounds!!!!???? When the heck is the last time you can say that you lost 107 pounds in ONE YEAR???  My guess - NEVER!  Now, so you don't think I'm a total B**** about this, let me tell you that I can totally understand where you're coming from - my one-year is coming up and I really wanted to be in ONEderland by then, but guess what, it's not gonna happen!  Would you tell me I'm a failure?  Absolutely NOT!!! I've come to the point (finally) that I can CHOOSE to be angered by my 3-4 months of horrible eating and blame my lack of will power and reliance on old habits for this or I can accept myself and love myself for what I have accomplished. What have I accomplished? Here's a rather short list, but you'll get my point.... I can buckle my seatbelt WITH my winter coat on and not get my hand stuck between my hip and the center console. I can sit on the floor and actually stand up without the assistance of a tow truck or furniture. I can RUN! I can wear size 20 pants. I can walk up the stairs in my house WITHOUT panting when I get to the top. As I said, this is a VERY short list compared to the reality of all that I've gained with WLS, but I think you get my point.  So after you admire your old pics and your new body - sit down and write down EVERYTHING that has changed since you have lost 107 pounds!  Then write a THANK YOU note to yourself for giving yourself that gift.  Study these things over and over and let it sink in that your life is a thousand times different AND better today than it was just one short year ago! You have had great success with WLS and you will continue to succeed if you put all your positive energy into it.  Dwelling on the negative will only encourage all the old bad habits to surface more - emotional eating being the number one issue. Don't get me wrong - it was so good for you to come here and be bummed - we all have those moments!  So go ahead and have your pity party and be bummed out and then make the decision to rise above it all.  Do the things I suggested above and remind yourself of all that you have done - you will feel better and it will motivate you to continue working your tool and being successful! I wish you all the best on your journey!  I pray that you can overcome this phase and become triumphant!  You ARE successful Diane and you will continue to be successful - just remember that even though you aren't exactly where you want to be, it is exactly where God wants you to be. Love ya girlie!  Take care and keep your chin up. 

Tracy! You are always such an inspiration and full of wisdom!  Hugs, Lori

Hi Diane, I empathize with your crushed feelings, although I would like to recommend coming with us on the North Shore weekend getaway Feb. 29 til Mar. 2! Why not come with and get outta dodge, recoup, refresh, rest your weary emotions and enjoy some major sistah-bonding through chats, giggles, laughs, tears are alright, just come, be yourself.  There's still room for you in the three-bedroom cottage, and it would be very inexpensive and beneficial for your overall well-being.  Please seriously consider;  would be great getting to know you better!  Take care of 'you';  hugs galore, Patti

Hi Diane! Yup--you're a loser, and I say it in a POSITIVE way!  Would you have been able to lose 107 lbs by yourself before you had WLS? And keep it off?  Before WLS, a lot of us HAVE lost that weight, but put it on PLUS more!  So you say ONLY 107 lbs????   REJOICE in that loss of 107 lbs!!!  You're doing wonderfully!   And you're sure not alone in feeling depressed!  Has anyone who answered you said they've felt cheerful and energetic?  Heck no!  It is the winter doldrums and you can beat it by 1) going to a tanning bed and absorbing some extra light there, 2) buying yourself one of those SAD (seasonal affective disorder) lights and let is shine on you! 3) get yourself into some good exercise that will raise your endorphins (feel-good hormones).  Not only will you FEEL better, but you'll raise your metabolism so you burn some calories. Can you expect to lose more weight now that you're a year out?  Why not? I'm  hitting 3 years out on May 16 and I JUST broke the 160 lb barrier.  After the first year out, I would hang at the next 10 lb. increment forever. I stood at 180 for a long time--then it was 175, now it's 159!!  What a boost!  But heck ya--you sure can lose more!  You probably should go back to BASICS--protein first, 64 oz. of water, etc etc. A thought on the 'ex'--BAH! to him! With friends like him who needs enemies.  Well, LA-DEE-DAH that he's taking the 'other' chick to Vegas. To heck with him!  You CAN and WILL do better! (I had a boyfriend who after we broke up would tell me in detail about his new physical relationships. And I like an idiot would let him ramble.  I should've told him how lousy a lay he really was! And he thought he was 'stud champion! He was just pitiful. I didn't mean to write a book. These are just my ever-so-humble thoughts.  But GOOD LUCK and come back to this site when you feel bummed--'cuz we'll let you know that you're not alone! Good luck! (((HUG)) **SUE**