I was asked to speak at a conference...
Hi all,
It has been a bit since I was here...so surgery was October 13th of 2008. I started at 503 and now weigh 340. After reading all the people getting into the 200s, my nine month goal is to be below 300 by July's end.
So, the Montana Department of Corrections decided a couple of years ago that too many of their employees were out of shape, stressed out, and were dying on the job or right after they retired. They hired a guy to do some research on what the Department could do to help the employees. A Wellness Initiative was established that looked at many things but overall health (mind/body/spirit) was addressed. So as many of you know, I am an addictions counselor who has been working on improving my own mental/physical/ and spiritual health for the last several years. The surgery has helped in so many ways...but I had also done a lot of work prior to my Gastric Bypass. There is a leadership meeting of all of the Wardens, Superintendents, and Bureau Chiefs on Tuesday and Wednesday. I was asked to come and tell my story to inspire(I guess) and to help the executive staff recognize the importance of supporting their employees and making Wellness a priority in the facilities.
It is kinda funny that prior to the surgery, I had done so much work on myself but until you could see a visual of it ie: losing 170 plus pounds...it wasn't as recognized. It will never cease to amaze me how obese people are overlooked by society. It is almost like, the more we weigh, the less it is perceived that we have to offer.
That being said...I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to speak to this group and tell the story that has been culminating for about 7 years and is now being manifested through the visual results of the weight loss. My hope is to make a career change while continuing to do addictions counseling and begin working with people who struggle with obesity issues and addiction and also those who develop cross addictions post surgery. I have done some consulting and plan to continue in that venue. I also very much enjoy public speaking and look forward to addressing this group. I think the topic is very worthwhile and the resources that are available to people who work for the Department of Corrections are excellent. The work I do with the offenders and the materials available are no different than the tools I used to deal with my own issues while working to change my relationship with food and to do the hard work on myself.
I will let you all know how it goes.
It has been a bit since I was here...so surgery was October 13th of 2008. I started at 503 and now weigh 340. After reading all the people getting into the 200s, my nine month goal is to be below 300 by July's end.
So, the Montana Department of Corrections decided a couple of years ago that too many of their employees were out of shape, stressed out, and were dying on the job or right after they retired. They hired a guy to do some research on what the Department could do to help the employees. A Wellness Initiative was established that looked at many things but overall health (mind/body/spirit) was addressed. So as many of you know, I am an addictions counselor who has been working on improving my own mental/physical/ and spiritual health for the last several years. The surgery has helped in so many ways...but I had also done a lot of work prior to my Gastric Bypass. There is a leadership meeting of all of the Wardens, Superintendents, and Bureau Chiefs on Tuesday and Wednesday. I was asked to come and tell my story to inspire(I guess) and to help the executive staff recognize the importance of supporting their employees and making Wellness a priority in the facilities.
It is kinda funny that prior to the surgery, I had done so much work on myself but until you could see a visual of it ie: losing 170 plus pounds...it wasn't as recognized. It will never cease to amaze me how obese people are overlooked by society. It is almost like, the more we weigh, the less it is perceived that we have to offer.
That being said...I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to speak to this group and tell the story that has been culminating for about 7 years and is now being manifested through the visual results of the weight loss. My hope is to make a career change while continuing to do addictions counseling and begin working with people who struggle with obesity issues and addiction and also those who develop cross addictions post surgery. I have done some consulting and plan to continue in that venue. I also very much enjoy public speaking and look forward to addressing this group. I think the topic is very worthwhile and the resources that are available to people who work for the Department of Corrections are excellent. The work I do with the offenders and the materials available are no different than the tools I used to deal with my own issues while working to change my relationship with food and to do the hard work on myself.
I will let you all know how it goes.
Amidst the people that don't give you a second glance.. unless it's to think OMG WTH is that.. you'll find hidden gems of people that do see you for who you are. That do recognize the hard work you've accomplished.
In 2005 I was extremely ill. I was so ill my family doc thought I wasn't going to make it much longer. He called me every morning knowing I was a single mom and made sure we were ok and made sure my pain was being managed. I was soo sick and a little more than your starting weight at the time.
I've had a long journey of recovery since.. working on myself, my choices and my lifestyle. I've been keeping him informed through phone and email since. He knew of the Optifast weight loss program I had done and all of the other positive choices I've made.
A few months ago he asked me to speak to a group of his patients (one staff) on my journey and my up coming surgery. It was refreshing to be thought of as a success rather than a failure even though I haven't reached my final goal.
I've had a doctor and nurse in my own bariatric clinic (thankfully the doctor quit his position at the hospital) that was constantly seeing me as a failure whenever I didn't pull big numbers. Not an encouraging word for how far I've come or how hard I was trying.
It's nice to find those gems now and then. They're few and far between.. even in those that are supposed to be "understanding".
Good luck with your journey and inspiring those you speak to!
First of all CONGRATULATIONS! I am new to this board, just had surgery 2.25.09 and am down over 130 pounds pre and post op. I am proud of what I have accomplished on my journey but am finding that I am feeling like people are punishing me in some ways for working on myself. Your message struck a cord I guess on how I have been feeling. I just feel like because I am obese I am a non-person.
I have had several friends whom have just dropped off the radar practically since the surgery. The weird part is that they were very encouraging prior to the surgery. I just do not get it.
Then there is my workplace, I feel like now that I am working to change myself I am being discriminated against. I was told I was being promoted...then something went wrong, turns out my bosses boss screwed up and didn't record something in a computer system so now I am not promoted. This sucks and the part that is the worst is that they are just treating this like no big deal. Let me tell you if it was them that was getting screwed over I am sure that something would be done.
I am not sure who I am madder at, myself for continuing to give this job too much of myself and stressing out, working through lunch etc or them for treating me like this. Sorry for the rant my first time on the board, I guess I am just a breaking point tonight. Thinking about all I have to do and being frustrated by the situation.
What I am proud of is that through all of this I have not resorted to food for comfort which had been my MO previously. So that is something to be thankful for.
Just wondering if I will ever be treated like a normal person????
I have had several friends whom have just dropped off the radar practically since the surgery. The weird part is that they were very encouraging prior to the surgery. I just do not get it.
Then there is my workplace, I feel like now that I am working to change myself I am being discriminated against. I was told I was being promoted...then something went wrong, turns out my bosses boss screwed up and didn't record something in a computer system so now I am not promoted. This sucks and the part that is the worst is that they are just treating this like no big deal. Let me tell you if it was them that was getting screwed over I am sure that something would be done.
I am not sure who I am madder at, myself for continuing to give this job too much of myself and stressing out, working through lunch etc or them for treating me like this. Sorry for the rant my first time on the board, I guess I am just a breaking point tonight. Thinking about all I have to do and being frustrated by the situation.
What I am proud of is that through all of this I have not resorted to food for comfort which had been my MO previously. So that is something to be thankful for.
Just wondering if I will ever be treated like a normal person????
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