PS about the willpower and self discipline.  I used to think I didn't have the will power but I am realizing that it's not so much about my will power as it is about the process I use to get healthy.  If you use the right process the body is amazing and forgiving and will regulate itself naturally but you have to give it the right foods.  The reason we can't resist eating what we are not supposed to is because half the time we are starving ourselves without realizing it and the urge to eat is unstoppable.  Once you start eating right and exercising you won't have to worry about will power.  I find that exercise also helps to control my appetite.

At this point in my journey I have a big NO ENTRY sign when it comes to restaurants.  It's too easy to slip back into the convenience and enjoyment of eating out and it's nearly impossible for me to not select the foods I want but shouldn't be having.  On the weekend my daughter had a soccer tournament and we had to be there from 2 to 6 p.m. so I packed a big salad as a precaution (I'm not in the habit of packing food when we go out so it's a big learning curve for me)  So while there people started getting the normal chicken wings and fries etc and the aroma was just KILLING me.    I pulled out my salad and got a few strange looks and some comments but it's a good thing I had that salad to take the sting off my hunger otherwise I might have fallen off the wagon big time.  I felt a little uneasy eating my home made salad at the game but better that than continue to be obese and unhealthy.  I learnt a valuable lesson.  On the weekends or whenever we are out I am going to make sure to take something with me and close my eyes whenever I see restaurant signs.     Going into a restaurant is like going into the enemy camp unarmed, I can never come out alive!!!

Here's to skinny, Mary!  In my mind, skinny would be about a size 14!! 

Good Morning!

I got up early even though I know I'm not going out for a walk.  I'm proud this morning that I have accepted the fact that I cannot exercise yet and I must rest more.  At 3 weeks post-op (Inner thighplasy and brachioplasty) I was feeling so good so I started doing my daily cardio walks and light weight lifting.  After spending the past year and a half having plastic surgery and recovering I just wanted to get my life going.  But I kept swelling and I'm talking about swelling so bad in my calfs and ankles that it hurts to stand and forget about putting on shoes, even shoes that are normally too big were tight. 
I went on a 3.5 hour shopping spree last Friday (great fun), I did my cardio walk on Sunday....by Sunday night I had tree trunk legs and fat feet and my right hand was swollen......it got worse on Monday and Tuesday. 
Sooooooooo by Tuesday afternoon I was thinking I have to stop doing so much.  I thought to myself what am I doing differently during this post-op than I've done after my Tummy Tuck and LBL when I had little to no swelling issues and just felt great during recovery?  After both of those surgeries I made sure I spent the better part of the day laying down with my legs elevated or at least laying down flat.I didn't even try to do a cardio wal****il about week 6 or 8,  But for some reason this time I've been up out of bed doing lots of stuff around the house and I jumped back into walking at week 3.  Why oh why would I think I should rush walking after the one surgery that cut my legs from stem to stern.!?!?!?!?!?!????   OK - so I rambled on way to long.....sorry.....thanks for putting up with it.

So back to my main point...... I'm proud I finally accepted that I must take it much easier and allow my body the time it needs to heal after major surgery. I can start walking in a few more weeks.  It's all good.....

I am also celebrating the size 4 pants I bought yesterday.   What fun.  This tastes better and feels better than any food I could eat.  WAHOOO

How about you?  What are you celebrating and proud of today??

Hello Jade,

Thank you for your opinion.  I am sure you're full of excitement about your new Band and the journey ahead of you.  That's great!  I think it's a great surgery when it works, and unfortunately it just doesn't work for some people.  That's true with any WLS though - I'm not talking down about the Band.  I've seen it work beautifully for some people and I am thrilled that they are able to have success.  I've been dealing with mine for almost 8 years now, and unfortuantely it just isn't the surgery for me.  I've even had a revision due to complications and still it hasn't been helpful.  I've given a big chunk of my like to working with the Band - now it's time to work without it.  :)

As far as bariatric surgeons being sinister - please don't misunderstand me.  I never claimed anything of the sort.  In fact, I genuinely like my surgeon.  I was simply surrpised at how the system worked.  It was like nothing I've ever experienced, and indeed I did feel like a number when I was in a conference room with many other patients, all being instructed simultaneously about their upcoming surgeries.  It was efficient, I'll grant you that!  It was also eye-opening to see how many people just in my local area undergo this surgery every week.  I was shocked.  Regardless of my  appreciation for my surgeon, this is truly a big business.

Diabetes is often helped - or even 'cured', if you will - by WLS.  PCOS is rarely helped by WLS.  They have different pathology, and I'm happy to be working with an endocrinologist who is willing to address both issues as well as my hypothyroidism and auto-immune disease.

I wish you the best in your new life - it can be a roller coaster at times, but when you make changes that ultimately lead to better health, it's a wonderful thing!