I need advice

Hi SC Group--- I getting ready for my "re-birthday" on Dec 23rd. I'm almost one year out and 146.5 lbs smaller. I am a health psychologist at USC and became interested in doing weightloss surgery research. No one is really delving into psychological factors that predict who will be successful after weight loss surgery. So, with all this new-found energy after losing weight, I'm starting a project to explore the psychology of WLS. I would like to ask your help. Will you guys be willing to give advice to me about the survey??? The BariLife survey is almost ready to go, but I need feedback from a few people regarding ease of answering questions, legnth, content, etc. If questions are just plain stupid, please don't be shy about saying so. If you have a few minutes would you please complete the survey and post comments here or send them to my [email protected]? Bari Life Survey Instructions 1. The website url is: http://barilife.psc.sc.edu/test/index.php 2. You will be given a username when they consent to participate in the survey. The username should appear at the top of each page. The respondent needs the username only if he/she doesn't finish survey and needs to return to it. 3. Your responses are entirely anonymous. THANKS SO MUCH FOR HELPING OUT!!!! HUGS, CHERYL

I'D BE GLAD TO TAKE THE SURVEY ... BUT SINCE IT TAKES A BIT OF TIME, I'LL HAVE TO DO IT OVER THIS WEEKEND, MS CHERYL. JUST A PERSONAL OBSERVATION ... THOSE WITH POSITIVE, EVEN "SUPER" POSITIVE ATTITUDES ... AN "I CAN DO OR OVERCOME ANYTHING" ATTITUDE SEEM TO DO UNBLIEVABLY WELL. THOSE WHO ARE A BIT UNSURE BUT REACH OUT FOR HELP SEEM TO DO WELL ALSO. BUT, THOSE WITH A FAIRLY NEGATIVE ATTITUDE, WHINNING & COMPLAINING, DON'T SEEM TO FAIR AS WELL (ON TOP OF AGGRAVATING THE TAR OUT OF THE REST OF US!) ALSO, THOSE WHO ARE FOCUSED ON HOW THEIR HEALTH, LIFESTYLE AND ACTIVITY LEVELS WILL IMPROVE DO SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH BETTER EXPECIALLY LONG-TERM THAN THOSE WHO ARE FOCUSED ON "WHEN & WHAT CAN I EAT THIS OR THAT". THERE SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN THE LEVEL OF LONG-TERM SUCCESS HERE. THOSE WHO HAVE DONE THEIR OWN RESEARCH LIKE ONLINE MEDICAL SITES, FROM TV PROGRAMS (DISCOVERY HEATLTH CHANNEL, FOR EXAMPLE) & READING OTHERS' STORIES FROM BOOKS, PROFILES & SUCH, SEEM TO HAVE FEWER FEARS OF DYING OR OF THE POSSIBLE PROBLEMS THEY MAY ENCOUNTER. GOOD TO SEE SOMEONE TAKING AN INTEREST IN STUDYING THIS SINCE IT IS SO RADICAL & SO MANY ARE TURNING TO IT FOR HELP. CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS DAWN & NICK

Thanks for your kind words and supportive post. I agree with your comments. Positivity and optimism are so important, just from my own experience. It will be so exciting to actually do the research and report some of the positive aspects of WLS, as well. Christmas Blessings to you and yours, Cheri

BE SURE TO LET US KNOW THE RESULTS OF YOUR RESEARCH AS WELL! DON'T YOU LIVE IN THE CHARLESTON AREA, MS CHERI? IF SO, WHY DON'T YOU COME TO OUR SUPPORT MEETINGS ON THRUSDAY NIGHTS AT 6:00pm. YOU WON'T FIND A NICER BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAN THOSE FROM LOWCOUNTRY BYPASS BUDDIES. WE COULD BE YOUR LAB MOUSES ... YOU COULD STUDY US! JUST JOKING ... COME ANY TIME & ENJOY THE EVENING & OUR FRIENDSHIP! CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS DAWN & NICK

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!! &, A GREAT BIG "WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW" FOR THE UNBELIEVABLE WEIGHT LOSS, MS CHERYL ... YOU LOST A WHOLE PERSON!!!!!!!! ARE YOU AT GOAL? HOW HAVE YOUR CO-MORBS BEEN DOING? ALL GONE? BEST WISHES FOR A CONTINUING HEALTHY LIFE ... CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS DAWN & NICK

I'm feeling great! I'm so happy that I had the surgery. I'm about 30 lbs from goal, but everyone says I am OK right now. LOL. I really need to work out and build muscle. My co-morbs have all gone away!!!!!! This surgery has been a blessing. Cheri

YOUR CO-MORBS GOING AWAY IS THE BEST NEWS ... IMPROVED HEALTH CAN'T BE BEAT! DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET PLASTIC SURGERY OR WERE YOU ONE OF THE BLESSED ONES WITH GOOD SKIN TONE? I'M WITH YOU ... I DON'T THINK YOU COULD FIND A MUSCLE ON MY BODY EXCEPT IN MY FINGERS FROM ALL THIS TYPING. WHEN I COULD EXERCISE IN MY OLD LIFE, YOU COULDN'T BRIBE ME TO DO SO. NOW THAT I'M NOT ABLE TO EXERCISE, I'M AS IMPATIENT AS CAN BE TO DO SO! YES, MA'AM MS CHERI ... A BLESSING INDEED! CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS DAWN & NICK

First of all Cheryl, congratulations on your one year re-birthday and your phenomenal weight loss. I will be happy to complete your survey. Keep us informed of your conclusions from the surveys. I am interested to know. I believe more than any other aspect of this surgery, that one's mental health determines a long-term success. I know people whose weight is "sneaking back up" on them. Because I'm still losing pretty effortlessly I have have some of my friends to ask me how people who've been through this surgery could "let" this happen to them. They simply don't understand anyway, so I just tell them that it can happen. Good luck with your research. April

Thanks April-- You are so right. I think the surgery is 80% mental and behavioral changes. And yes, people can gain the weight back. That is one of my fears. I'm working to maintain the lifestyle changes that this tool has enabled. Your response to your friends was great! Cheri