HAPPY 3 YEAR SURGERY ANNIVERSARY ALBERTO

TOmorrow Jan 20th is Alberto's 3 year anniversary. He has lost close to 100 pounds and has maintained it very well. Lets let him know how proud we are of him.. COngrats Alberto!

how did you remember? Thank you so much. It's been three years, wow it went by so fast. I feel so much better then three years ago, but I need help getting back on track, I have gained about 17 lbs in the last 6 months, I guess bad habits are slowly creeping back I know what I have to do, just need help getting to do it.... thanks again Albert

A~ HAPPY REBIRTHDAY! Sounds as if you are aware of the slippery slope and are fixing your mindset... It is not uncommon at this point to regain wt, many gain 10-20#, but for some it can quickly become 50+. Wish you well on your journey to a successful healthy lifestyle longterm. Consider extra support online such as my group http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/OSSG_Off_track/ or for postops over 1 yr: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG/ or maybe this forum here on OH! http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/wls_grads/ I know yrs 3-4 were the most challenging for me and a time I decided I could not escape looking deeper within myself to explore the emotional realm of my addiction (Food) and disease (Morbid obesity) w/o serious risks/complications (Regain, return of medical comorbidities etc). So if it helps: MY recipe for success: FIRST YOU IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM SECOND YOU FORMULATE A PLAN OF ACTION! THIRD you post it here so we can support you (Being accountable to someone outside of self helps!) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOW MY PLAN was it takes about 3 days to overcome the HORRID/VICIOUS carb addiction cycle for MOST (the physical aspect that is)... SO STEP ONE: I detoxed my house of all foreseeable triggers/carbs. (Join me on the pitch and ditch car) STEP TWO: I loaded my home with things allowable such as cheese sticks, pepperoni, jerky, eggs (hardboiled a few ahead), sandwich meats, stocked up on shakes so I had variety for the 3-5 a day I could use, low carb veggies etc..... STEP THREE: I was following the south beach phase 1 plan (adding shakes as above), so I had the book and there is a document explaining the reason it works/the plan in the files under http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/OSSG_Off_track/files/ first folder back on track tips and plans.. Karen B's timer plan is there and many find that SO helpful! I KEPT IT HANDY TO READ/REREAD in times of crisis. STEP FOUR: Place motivational sayings all over, on computer on fridge (like nothing tastes as good as healthy & thin feels), you can do this, its only a craving and will pass in a few minutes! STEP FIVE: List a bunch of things to do to pass time when a craving happens (it will happen and it will pass!) take a walk, drink a cup of water, have a shake, call a friend, email a friend, email the group, brush your teeth, listen to music, pet an animal (walk the dog), journal your feelings, give self a mani/pedicure, deep breathing/relaxation, go for a ride (bike or car) etc chew gum, have a sf hard candy. HAVE IT HANDY, as when we are impulsive it's hard to think so go to the list not everything will work all the time but it helps delay! STEP SIX: MUST PLAN, plan meal, prepare take fluid and food with you, if you fail to plan you plan to fail as we say here on off track. THIS is about progress, NOT perfection so don't beat self up, know that things improve with each passing day u get the refined carbs outta your body. It really gets easier cause if you don't put the junk in the hunger really decreases it is amazing!>>>>Again south beach worked for me...took me 1 mo to lose my 10# regain following this it was the hardest week 1, after that hunger was minimal and my willpower could handle the HEAD cravings (it couldn't handle the physically driven ones from how I was eating...bread=hunger kinda thing)... STEP SEVEN: WRITE IT DOWN if it goes in your mouth, at least week one...then tell us how u r doing, many use www.fitday.com and I also recommend exercise of some way shape or form for the body soul and mind! TOGETHER WE CAN DO THIS! IT is hard, but you just gotta do it....READY SET GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another saying we have is its WHAT U DO 90% of the time that matters, this strict carb reduction isn't forever, you can reintroduce things at a later date, for now it is no carbs like bread & crackers cause they aren't your friend, they give lots of calories and little nutritional value and well they make u hungry sooner with NO satiety (full feeling) I agree a burger or a pork chop sits with me for hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take Care, Jamie 100cm proximal Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh Albany, NY 320(preop)/163 (lowest)/174 (current) 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King www.albanyplasticsurgeons.com http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jamiecatlady5/ "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

you go boy it was nice to meet you at the oh party ..... you look mahvoulous im coming up on three years myself and still feel it was the best thing i ever did in my life!!!!!!!!! i wouldnt change a thing!!!!!! good luck to you and all you do in the future Stacy

Hey, Happy anniversary! You look great. Keep up the good work.

Grab it while it is only 17! Start from the beginning, all the support you need is here, YOU CAN DO IT!

HAPPY SURGIVERSARY! i had no idea you were at this milestone! CONRATULATIONS!!! your doing so well !

Happy Anniversary!! Betsy

Thank You all so very much!!!!!