MY 1st EAST COAST OHI Conference

Dear Fellow New Yorkers, It was wonderful meeting & talking with so many of you last weekend. True, I've lived in "Hotlanta" since 1981, but I was born, raised & have lived & worked in the BIG Apple: PS 87, Hunter HS, upper Westside native. Your responses to my Sat. morning talk, Sat. afternoon class, and our individual consults all weekend, confirm my conviction that for those of us who have been obese most of our adult lives (if not our entire lives), expecting ourselves to cross into the world of healthy, normal bodies is like asking us to suit up & get on a space shuttle without NASA training. The fear of the unknown is a powerful force that has undermined our previous attempts to "diet." I heard so many stories by post-ops who are 12-months - 3 years out who have begun to gain weight again. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN! But most of us can't "train" ourselves for this heroic quest. I sure couldn't. I had a physical trainer 3 weeks post-op. Still do. I used my training as a pastoral counselor & cert. hypnotherapist to discover my own keys to success - knowledge that I've refined into the EMBODY Success! (c) coaching method. Success is NOT about WILLPOWER and DISCIPLINE & AVOIDING TEMPTATION. My coaching method totally shifts the paradigm out of dieting/gaining/dietingmore/gaining more... Not only haven't I sabotaged this weight loss, I'm enjoying buying clothes that show off my figure rather than camoflauge it. I haven't had such enthusiasm & energy about my life since before I had 2 wonderful kids (now grown). Contact me to learn about how coaching can be the best insurance for your lifelong success as a WLS veteran! All the best! Lauralyn RNY (lap) 2/13/03 @ size 3X today @size 8. www.embodysuccess.com 404-394-3900

Lauralyn; I admire your tenacity and apparent will power. I have been banded for 1 week now and I have only lost 1 lb between 2 weeks of liquids and 1 post-op. I have chest and gas pains which are worst than labor pains. I truly hope this will past very soon because I am so unhappy. I am happy to hear of your success and I wish you continued happiness and success. Jackie

Dear Jackie: I'm concerned about the pain you describe and hope that (if you haven't already) you will please call your surgeon's office IMMEDIATELY! I cannot remember a moment immediately post-op and on out when I experienced gas pains worse than childbirth - and I had 2 healthy births with nothing more than extra oxygen! So please do check in with the doc!! My new life does NOT involve WILLPOWER! That's the blessing in learning to substitute rewarding, satisfying, pleasurable activities for the foods that used to be my comfort. All the best! Lovingly, Lauralyn www.embodysuccess,com

Hello to all ~ Lauralyn you was great....... That was my first Convention and I can Truly say I will be there next year. I met so many wonderful people and had such a wonderful time. I had my Surgery on 4/27/04 and lost 134lbs,and I feel so good,I'm from New Castle, Delaware. I wishes I would have gotton E-mail address from all the wonderful people I had spoken too,but at the time your talking and laughing and you totally forget. But again God Bless you all and gOOD lUCK. VERNETTE M

Vernette, meeting you was like getting swept up in a great wave of life energy! Your participation helped make the conference such a blast! Lovingly, Lauralyn

Hi Lauralyn, It was great to meet you and speak with you! I will be calling to work on getting my 'fat' head in sync with my not fat body. Hugs*Kisses Mary

Hi Mary! Just read your profile and you are a terrific role model for us all! Your commitment to creating a full team of support persons is awesome! I urge everyone who hasn't to give your profile a read!! It's a joy & privilege to be included in such life-affirming company! Lovingly, Lauralyn