NEVER SAY NEVER!!!!!

Bob L & BamaBob... 
I don't expect you to have seen this girlie flick...  but have you seen "Sabrina" with Harrison Ford?  You both remind me of that movie!  There is  a point where the younger brother comes in to see Harrison Ford, and breaks up a meeting...  and he's looking at Harrison Ford as if to say "Well....?" waiting on a response...  Harrison looks at the two gentleman in the office and says, "bob...." as if to ask him to excuse himself from the room...  then he looks at the other guy and says, "Bob..." in a different tone...  because both of their names are Bob... 

that's how I feel sometimes when I'm on the board... I'm looking around asking "Bob?" waiting on you to reply... and then looking not too far for the other bob to reply! LOL.  I bet you two would make quite a tag team.  Like wrestlers.

You know, a lot has been said in this one post.  In fact, so much has been said, that it hurts my head!

The original post was written, not as a slam to anyone for making acquisitions about one particular item over another, but more as a thought I had at 2:30 in the morning! 

Trina, you have been, and will continue to be, a source of information. To everyone here on this board, and also on the NNEW board.  When I read articles on weight loss, or hear about them, I always take what I learn, and apply it to my life.  Notice the key to this statement is "MY LIFE".  I would never ever (see, I said never), tell someone how to lead their own life or what to eat.  That's not who I am. I try my best to  live my life just like that!

For years, I worked with inner-city youth at church.  Let's talk about an eye opening experience that is in another post.  Anyway, I could see the brick wall these kids were gonna hit head on!  Why, because I have been there, I hit that same wall when I was young.  But you know what happens?  Every time I tried to stop those kids, I ended up hitting the wall myself.  So I adopted the following strategy, and use it every day with my boy.

Teach my child the difference between right and wrong, or good and bad.  At that point, I will allow my child to make up his own mind.  If he/she makes a good choice, then I will rejoice with him/her.  If he/she makes a bad choice, I will pick him/her up, dust him/her off, and then help (not tell) him/her to discern where he/she went wrong. You can easily substitute the word wls patient, friend, loved one, etc…for the phrase “my child"!

I believe as stewards (for the lack of a better word), we are obligated to share the things we have learned during our journey.  I don't believe we are destined to be the "LAW" when it comes to telling people what they should or shouldn't eat.  That's up to Dr's and Nurses, they get paid to be the bad guy!  Sorry Pam, I still love ya!!!!!  Bob, I love the statement you made… “I guess each of us have to do what works best for us. There is no right or wrong way I just hope and pray that everyone finds some way of dealing with eating issues." I think everyone here truly want each other to succeed and when one struggles we all feel it. If we didn't care I don't think we would even participate in this support group." That pretty much sums it up for me, that’s why I’m here! My purpose of the post was to share some things about myself this week. To share some things I have learned about myself this week. To show the world, and myself, that I am human.

Scott, you and I have talked about this before...  Bob touched on this in his post also...  the reason we keep coming here is for support.  Not just to receive it.  But to give it as well.  There are still many things that we can glean from one another.  Being a new postop, these folks need to stay or steer clear of those "forbidden foods".  HOWEVER, I might add, IF a person is craving something so terribly, they are going to try to eat and fill that void unti they just go out and buy the REAL Mccoy and then feel horrible because (a) they dumped or (b) their conscious got the best of them.  We would be burying our head in the sand to tell these folks that they will never be hungry again, or that they will never want a candy bar... 

That's why we have HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES.  If you want something that bad, then find something that at least has some protein in it...  and something that tastes LIKE the thing you are craving.  Early on, I wanted a peanut butter cookie so bad. I tried my best to find something to fill that want and for two weeks, I searched, and that craving was not satisfied.  Then I found the Myoplex protein peanut butter cookies...  while if I had consumed the entire cookie it would have been a god awful amount of calories...  but at least the product I chose had protein in it (sticking to the protein first rule in part) and it was low enough in sugars , while maintaining a great taste that after two bites, my craving was GONE.   I moved on. 

I spend a lot of time searching for products, both local and online.  I spend a lot of money trying to find alternatives, and providing this information to the gastric community.  Why? Because I want them to get fat again?  Because its a license to eat all the old stuff without dumping? H*## no!  That's because I understand human nature...  and it is in us to want what we cannot have...  and that people WILL fall into old patterns from time to time at some stage in the journeys and IF those better alternatives are there, hopefully their common sense will kick in and they will hear the voice of veterans saying, "In moderation..."   

Also, it is equally as important for the new people to understand...  yes it will be hard the first year, or til you reach goal.  But there is an end in sight.  You will once again be able to have those foods that you are not supposed to have now... it will be in smaller amounts, and more controlled instances than in our former obese lives...  and those triggers for them, well they will find out what they are and keep them to a minimum or find ways to avoid all together.

Well that again is my .049 cents worth today.

You are right, Scott. We should never say never. You never know what might change in the future. Right now, I'm pretty determined to stick to my plan but I haven't been doing this for years like some of you. I may slacken up when I get closer to goal I just don't know. I do know it is slightly dangerous to be too sure of yourself. It isn't hard to lose focus. Right now I feel strong and determined but I don't know how long that will last. I am planning to always log my food. It is hard to get off track when the numbers are right there in front of you.

I hope I didn't offend any of you long-timers with my view on protein bars. I wasn't really saying that they are not okay for you all who are at goal and who have things under control. I"m just concerned about the newbies using them so soon out instead of getting protein from more nourishing sources.. Learning healthy habits in the beginning is so important.

So good to see you posting,Scott
Blessings,
Karen

No offense taken Karen! 

I think everyone has a right to their opinion.  It's what we do with it that makes us different!

Stick with it girl, you are doing fantastic!

I finally have a new name for my brother "cinnamon bun"! The reason I say this is because he has been with me alot since I started my journey and when the subject comes up about food or something that mama used to fix, I will immediately say "I can never eat that again" and good ole cinnamon, for short, always pipes in with "well not right now". And I was holding onto never so well. But I guess I should face reality. Thanks for the post it helps in three ways---his new name----never say never-----I am human!  Thanks Scott!

How are you doing Marilyn?  I noticed that you are only a few days out from surgery.  Just remember to sip, sip and then sip some more!

Doing good Scott. I have read alot here and I am caught up on sip and breathe. lol. Got my first postop Dr.O. visit tomorrow so I am keeping everything crossed. Should be good though. I have gotten in all protein and fluids, but I have been kinda blue. But I have this beautiful little girl that knows when something is up with her mama and she walked up to me today and laid her head on my shoulder and out of the blue said "Mama your so precious". Just another reason this is the tool for me. God Bless!

A wonderful and very informative post Scott. I sooooo agree with this and with what others have been saying also because this is not easy.