Hazel, I think stress can definitely play a factor in one's weight loss/gain. However, I think sometimes people do use it as an excuse. There's a difference. Before I had WLS, I was one of those cop-out/excuse people..."Oh, I don't have time to exercise. I'm so busy. I didn't eat much yesterday, so the extra today is okay. It's only a milkshake. My job is so taxing that I don't have the energy to work out. I've always been heavy, my whole family is."  Since WLS, my life is still hectic, my job is still stressful & my family is still heavy, but I make myself do the right things. I'm not saying everyday is perfect, but I sure try to stay on track. I think an important thing to remember is that although we are a like, we are not the same. Hope what I had to say answered your question.

Saint Elizabeth WLS support group meeting is tomorrow night. Tuesday 1/8/08 at 6p. Please join us for this first meeting of the new year. Meeting room is on the lower level of hospital. Thanks. Shelly

My thoughts on this topic. Stress causes illness and illness causes stress. We all have experienced different kinds of stress in our lives before surgery. Sometimes relationships, ability to participate in activities, shame/self-esteem because of obesity,discrimination of types at work, social, etc. Then we go through surgery often with the thoughts that once we have surgery and lose weight, life will be better. It definitely is better, however we may encounter new stressors in relationships, work, health issues, financial and then the usual sources that come with daily living and life. I have always used solutions outside of myself to deal with stress. That was partying, eating, spending money, and isolating. I have learned that just because I had weight loss surgery those ways of lifelong coping skills don't go away. We have life long patterns that slowly have to be addressed one at a time in order to bring about healthier new behaviors. Many of us grew up in homes with family systems where certain coping skills were developed at early ages. Most were not effective in the long term. I believe support groups where this is discussed and your friends share solutions is helpful. I also think that seeing a counselor is beneficial in helping us to identify some of the behaviors that we need to focus on and change to work for us not against us. We are all human and we all have stress in our lives. I say progress not perfection every day. If I can do one thing differently to head down a healthier path, I focus on that. I am not always successful, but I ask for willingness to try. I have done some research on this in my own recovery after WLS. I believe that  Mind and Body are inseparable. Our state of mind (emotional health) directly influences our physical health which is our life after weight loss surgery. If we are depressed, anxious, angry, overwhelmed we are certainly going to struggle with staying on our prescribed eating plan, exercising, talking to others and going to support groups. Again, I have to try and take action and try new behaviors that are not my first instinct and much more difficult to act on. The old ways of coping are what I know best! If I keep trying and not beat myself up when I am not successful, someday I may have developed a toolkit to deal with stress in my life better/healthier level. AA says, "Get out of the problem and into the solution." The solutions are all around us, we just need to be willing to seek them out and act differently. We can't do it alone. My opinion since surgery is that this is my daily challenge. The lap-band was easy, the lifestyle changes are much harder for me. This is my opinion only. We all come from different backgrounds and are in different stages of adjustment after surgery. This is how it works for me. I appreciate the opportunity to share. Take care and best of luck in 2008! Shelly from Lincoln

Ok so do we have any takers on meeting at Cracker Barrell this Sunday (1/13) on 144th and I-80 at say 1ish?

North Platte will have there meeting tomorrow night at 7:00 pm. I believe Randy will be the guest speaker.