Almost 6 Years

Congratulations, Jeanie!

You are an inspiration and your insight, wisdom, eloquence are all amazing. Thank you for your incredible post and sharing your journey with us.

Thank you Kathie!

It's important to me to come here now and then and tell my truth.  I know 5-6 years ago when I was confused, scared, ignorant and searching for approval, needy and lost I would come here and read something from a "veteran" and I could then believe perhaps I might one day be able to articulate my feelings and hopes and accomplishments.  That day arrived and now it's my turn to give hope back to those that are on the same journey. 

When I started this chapter of my life I was in California where I was born and raised.  I now live in the desert.  My PCP told me at the time she had 28 gastric bypass patients and of the 28, more than half, 19 of them had moved out of state after their surgery.  I guess a "geographic" move is common among us.  Change the internal and the external follows.

Namaste

You look amazing! I love your blond hair. But, of course, your outside beauty is only a reflection of how great you are feeling inside. That's very easy to see.

Congratulations! I think I'm stuck here in California for the next few years at least. I'm glad to have a job that I love especially during these tough economic times.

Thanks again for your amazing post.

Hello Jeani!  Nice to "meet" you and thanks for your post.  I'm only two years out, so it is good to read about the challenges that may yet come my way.  I knew that this was a life-long journey, and that parts of it would be difficult while parts would be spectacular and joyful.

I looked at your photos on your profile, and you look amazing!  Blonde definitely suits you!

I wonder sometimes if the "challenges" aren't just life....and how we as obese "thinking" just handle them differently???  Don't know.  Maybe you'll have a challenge free result.  Congratulations on your success thus far.

You always make me smile when you stop in to see us.. I am so glad to see your journey continues to be successful. Blessings

Hi Shuga,

Thanks Jean.  I consider it successful...sometimes sideways but always successful.  It's good to stop in to see old friends and say hello.  I trust your doing well also?  I don't keep up here very much, just too busy out there living...but I hope you've worked out all the kinks you had going the last time I was here.  Isn't it funny how things have a way of working themselves out sometimes?  I've found that "What the Hell!!" is almost always an appropriate response to most sticky situations in MY life. LOLOL

I'm new here, although nearly 5 years out from surgery. Your post reflects precisely what we need to be doing for ourselves every day of our new lives; and how we should be sharing with one another. Thank you, Jeani. Thank you. Maureen

Jeani, wow - thanks for this. Your post exemplifies the way I need to be living my life, and as importantly, the way I need to be sharing my journey with others. My surgery was 5 years ago March 8; I always want to stay connected to the woman I was at 360 lbs. so that I can remain focused on the woman I am today, and the woman I hope to be tomorrow. You are such an inspiration. Thanks. Maureen

Hello Maureen,

Nice to 'meet' you.  Comin' up on the 5th Anniversary of the new you eh??  Congratulations!  You've made it this far...there were days during mine that I wondered if I WOULD make it to a 5th anniversary.  LOL. 

You are welcome dearest.  Like I've said, I don't get here very often, but it's important to me to 'keep it real' and coming here now and again is a part of the process for me.  Sharing the hope and strength and struggles with others is as much a part of the gastric bypass 'procedure' as making the protein first and drinking the water. 

But above all else I find the single most important rule for me is to remain as honest as I can be for any given moment.  I really don't like it much when I find out later that I've been lieing to myself for any length of time.  It means I have to go 'clean it up' with the person I'd been lieing to as well.  Not pretty.  Doesn't feel good at all.  So I just tell the truth all the time.  That was the biggest lesson I've learned from the last 6 years.  I can't eat away any feelings and most especially those of guilt any longer.  It's as though I had my lieing-as-a-coping-option cut out of me along with so many centimeters of my first intestines.  I don't mean lieing like telling someone I know Bradd Pitt or that I have a Hummer....I mean the little lies like when I want to say no, but instead I say yes.  That's a social pressure lie.  Those just kick my butt.  So, I don't do them anymore.

And, it is very important to remember where we came from.  If one does not remember or study history one is bound to repeat it, right?  AND, most importantly Maureen, if you can imagine the woman you hope to be tomorrow believe me when I tell you that you already ARE her or you could not imagine her!  Once you create her in your mind and heart, she is as real as your hand and as close as your breath.  Just BE the her you hope for and she'll be the YOU which you see.

A Big Hug Maureen,
Jeani