Getting there

Okay, so I am down 18 pounds, and I am getting less worried that I'll never lose weight. Yeah, I know, you all told me so, and I didn't listen. Anyway, the past few days though, I was eating off track- not writing things down, testing out my solids before my four week mark on Friday of this week, and eating junk that I should not have (uhm, letting cheeze-its melt in my mouth- bad!bad!bad!). I have been away from the board for a week, so I am blaming it all on my lack of focus- I have been going back to my old habits of taking care of everyone else's problems and not focusing on me, so I am asking for several kicks in the behind to get me refocused and back to being on track. The good news is that people are starting to notice. My daughter's boyfriend said I look half the size I did! Now, I think that is an exaggeration, but I'll take it-ha! Okay, I am bending over, go ahead and kick! Blessings, Christine

OK first the weight loss... 18 lbs gone for every WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats. Now for the kicks... I do not think you need them. You know what has to be done. You know what the aftermath of this surgery entails. Like Dr. Byrne said, this is a tool, use it! When you go to solid food, remember one new on a day and chew. I know it gets frustrating but you can do it. I know it is hard not to go back to they way we ate before. For the past week all I have been craving is cake and soda. All I want is to go to Melvin's and get a bacon cheeseburger basket, go to Publix and get a red velvet cake with a Mt. Dew and have one of my pig outs. So I know the battles. Just keep you eye on the goal, a healthier life. Keep your chin up as well as your spirit! Hugs Julie

I now how you feel my scale has not moved for a couple of days so now I just dnt weigh but my dr told me you have a stall in a 2 weeks period I know I am doing everything right & it will come off in due time we have to have patients .good luck Becky

No kicks!! Just the sound of clapping for losing 18 pounds You've lost 18 pounds in a month. You're on your way and you're doing a tremendous job! You can be very proud of yourself. You deserve every compliment you get. Yes, take them all and accept them proudly, because you have earned them the hard way! You also get lots of big hugs for being a human being who has just been through one of the hardest, most emotionally and physically trying times of her life. Not for just the last month, but ever since you started having a weight problem, and since you started thinking about having gastric bypass surgery. Just considering this process causes you to relive your journey. The decision process is tough and the approval and waiting are so stressful. You've been through major surgery and made major life changes in just 30 days. Your body and mind are healing and adjusting. Your hormones are jumping all over the place. People who say this is the easy way out have never walked in our shoes. The ONLY way to do this is not even one day at a time, but one bite at a time - one experience at a time. If you make a bad decision at one meal, it's okay. That's only one meal. Just make a better decision next time. Take it one step at a time and you can do it. Focus on what's best for you and your body. Think of all you've gone through to get to where you are right now and how much better you look and feel. Think of all of us who are so proud of you because we know what it takes to do what you're doing. Think about your family and about why you had the surgery. And be gentle with yourself. Forgive yourself and move on. We all have cravings and want to eat things that we shouldn't. Sometimes we eat those things. If we're lucky, we dump. Dumping is our best friend. But, don't feel like you're the only one. And there are lots of great products out there that are better choices for bypass patients. If there are trigger foods for you, try to keep them out of the house, or at least out of your sight. It's great that you recognize that you lost focus on yourself because you were focusing on others. That's something we have to relearn, because we do have to focus on ourselves now. We HAVE to do and have certain things every day for the rest of ourlives, so we have to learn to focus on ourselves and not feel selfish or guilty. It will all fall into a pattern for you as you graduate to regular food. That day WILL come. In fact, the day will come when you forget that you've even had the surgery. You'll feel normal and just go about your life. Keep up the good work, Girl! Come here when you need an ear or a boost, but you don't deserve a kick YET. We do give those out, though. You know that. LOL Hope to see you soon. Love, B

You know what Chris...no kick from me. I think you've kicked yourself enough. I just want to say how AWESOME I think it is that you realize you're not doing what you should...and you're doing something about it!!! KUDOS TO YOU SISTA'!!! I'm sure in the past you would have said "the heck with this" and kept right on eating those cheeze-its...I know I would've!! Girlfriend thank God, it's a new day WoooooHooooo!!! I'm proud of you, and you should be proud of you too!!! You know you have to take care of YOU...if you don't who will?? I know I'm preaching to the chior, because you already know this. So Darlin' enough beating up on yourself...remember we are all buds waiting to bloom. Bloom Flower Bloom!!! 18 lbs!!! Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! Tonya

Christine, You are hilarious I also did things like that in the beginning....so no worries, its okay....you will still lose! Just don't make it a habit, that is the key! No Kicking!!! 18lbs is great!!!! You will get there, keep it up! How far out are you again?? Once you get to 6 weeks you can start working out!! Who am I to talk.................I just started really working out and I am 8 months post op!! No kickies, its a learning curve!! Love ya! You are doing great chickie!! Deborah

You all are SO great! What would a WLS patient do without her friends here? Yesterday continued to be a really bad-choice day because I was downtown from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM with my 15 yr-old daughter for THREE long emotionally stressful appointments, with no time to return home in between. We had very little money and we both have hypoglycemia, started getting the headache and shakes that goes with it from not eating, and she wanted to go to BK to grab something in between the last two appt's. While I KNOW I should have nothing from there, we had no time to go to more than one place, so I atleast did think about what would be the least greasy (a charbroiled cheeseburger) and just had a few bites minus the bun. Next time I will know to pack some stuff to bring with me, but I had to fly by the seat of my pants yesterday unprepared. I made veggie soup when I got home to get my veggies in atleast. Today I am going to write down everything, get out walking, and maybe use my home gym without any added weight. Tomorrow is the four week mark and though I have already begun adding solids, I am going to be more wise about what solids I add. HUGE HUGS to y'all for giving a girl inspiration instead of a kick in the behind! Love, Christine

Okay Christine, so when was the last time you lost 18 lbs. in less than a month! You are doing great. Just get those cheese-its out of the house if they are a trigger food for you. Tell your kids to hide time if they have to have them there....which they don't! The best part about my hubby leaving is that I have been able to get all of the "bad" things out of the house. That way if I really want something I would have to go to the store and by the time I really think about making the trip I realize it just isn't worth it for more than one reason. No kicks, you are doing great. We all have tried things and then said - oh I shouldn't have eaten that. We all have our deamons to fight! One meal, one hour, one day, etc. at a time. Keep trucking on! Hope to see you Thursday! Susann

I opened our "snack drawer" last night to see if there were any soy crisps left (my daughter and her boyfriend LOVE bbq soy crisps and cheddar rice snacks) and I wanted to hunt down my hubby and kick HIM in the behind. He filled it yesterday, while I was downtown, with so much JUNK (chips, cookies, crackers, various munchies). But he did not have money to give my daughter and I for lunch OR for me to replenish my "supplies". I am venting, and I am so frustrated, so bear with me and forgive for bashing him publicly. I KNOW it is MY decision what I eat and do not eat, and I KNOW I am supposed to learn to fight those temptations because they will be everywhere I turn, but he KNOW my one weakness is Lays chips, and there are assorted varieties in that drawer. Grrr- how does one get their skinny spouse who has the metabolism of a jet to understand and exercise a little compassion to give one a safe-zone in one's own home? Without temptations??? I love this man dearly, but I am beyond annoyed at this point. Just when I decided to be a good girl today, I am surrounded by all of this rat food, as I call it. And how can I teach my kids to eat healthier when all of this junk keeps appearing in my house? I am at a loss, and would really appreciate some words of wisdom. Thanks, Christine

With a sweet, respectful spirit asking for his help, understanding & love ... That's how you get anyone to help you, right, Ms Christine?