Opted Out of Surgery

After many years of trying to lose weight, losing then regaining, I felt that my best option was WLS. I was all prepared to do it when I began to get more reservations about actually having it done. This existance of morbid obesity is really NO life at all. Over the years I have seen my body deteriorate and at the same time hold up under the worst of cir****tances that I have put it through.  I have felt embarrassed of myself to the point that I hate to go in public...I have even been denied positions because of my weight. So, I had decided to have WLS to reclaim my LIFE! As I read more and more about WLS I realized that it is not a solution but a temporary helper, but if not used properly one was making a great sacrifice...of oneself and family and family resources. The more I read about WLS the more I realized that it is in the end up to ME, afterall. I began to understand that if I don't change my LIFESTYLE, WLS would NOT work, it would not be effective. So I Prayed and thought very carefully about how I want to live My Life, now and in the future. What do I really want out of My Life, what am I really willing to let go for good and those things that I can truly do in-moderation.

I finally came up with a Total Wellness Plan that encompasses the vital areas of My Life, areas that I know if I am not healthy in, My Life means nothing. I also wrote down things that I need to do to make sure that I stay on track in those areas and that if I go any time without doing certain things that is a sign that I am drifting out of Wellness. I realized that Wellness with me did not start with Physical Wellness but if I were not Physically Well the other areas of My Life would suffer. The areas that make up My Total Wellness Plan are: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Financial/Career, Mental, Psychological, and Social. The Foundation of My Wellness is Spiritual and Physical. Realizing that I needed to refocus myself Spiritually, I wrote down things that I needed to do to get My Spiritual Life in order: (1) Pray (so I have set Prayer times); (2) Fast (I have set fasting days); (3) Read scripture and motivational writings; (4) Have quiet time in the morning and evening, at least 1 hour total; (5) Reach out and help(volunteer) where and when I can; ...

September 23, 2008 I began LIVING TOTAL WELLNESS. I started with My Foundation, Spiritual Wellness: I began a fast (no food from dawn to sunset), set quiet times and prayer; Physical Wellness: 1000 calories per day, no alcohol, no sodas and added sugar, high carb serving (1 per day max.), Exercise: every other day until I build up (Stationary Cycling and floor stretching). 7 Days after I began to LIVE TOTAL WELLNESS I weighed in and I had lost 12 lbs. I am sure I could not have had a better result with WLS. I think WLS is a good option for many people but I need more, much more...I need a WHOLE approach. This is My LIFE and I have Taken It BACK, MY WAY!!!

You are and inspiration!!!  Go you!!!  I also opted out of WLS after much research.  I was at the point where I had lost the 10% required by my doc when I decided if I could lose that amount I could do more on my own.  I am not expecting miracles from my body.  I don't expect to have the same body I did at 18 (before 3 kids)  I am learning to accept my bat wings.  But we can do it.  It is a mind over body issue. I have lost at total of 40 lbs in 9 mos. And I feel soooo much healthier. I went to the beach on Sunday and ran around with my kids, The skirt on my suit didn't keep riding up it actually hung the way it should.  My weight 1 year ago was 258 but I just weighed in at 218.5.
  Thanks for your note to us all..
   Linda

Thank You Linda. I am turning My Life around with a LifeStyle Change (NOT a Diet), this is the KEY. If I thought that this was a diet, I would fail in a heart beat. I am using new stress coping exercises that are sooo simple but I never used before, Example: Breathing, simple smooth in and out deep breathing (if forces me to focus on something other than the present problem or immediate desire for a snack...things like this help tremendously in learning to manage one's Life. Again, Thanks!

I commend you on your lifestyle change!  I am a member of Overeaters Anonymous, and prayer is definitely an important part of a total lifestyle change,  as well as important to help you control your eating.  I am a food addict, and I know how hard it is to stick to a healthy way of eating and exercise.  I am on the right track with my food now, so I've started praying to my Higher Power to grant me the willingness to exercise.

Keep up the good work!

Denise Phares/kitties4

Hi Kittie:

I was using the online OA. It was very helpful BUT I began to notice that 98% of what I was allowing in my life was other people's problems. Most of the people came in the room (OA Online) to "Detox" and mainly wanted someone to uplift them from a bad day; I don't mind doing that sometimes but there has to be Motivation also. I have found that because I am a very positive/empathetic person it is easy for others to lay their problems at my "door", I have discovered for myself that I become emotionally involved with their distress, and that takes away from my own healing. So, I have to limit negative "Chatter", no matter what the source from my Life...That is one reason I limit my TV watching. Thank you so much for your positive feed back.
Be Well

Hello, I'm new here but found your post very inspirational. I have been using positive self-talk and I am determined to keep it up! I have 100 pounds to lose so keep on INSPIRING US!