shaking things up
Dear WLS people both fresh and old,
I know that I am not very active on the board. Mostly because I just don't have time to post on every single thread, and I feel bad posting on some and not the others. But, I do read a lot of what is said and if I can offer something helpful, I will post. Another reason is with all of my complications, well, a few of the new folks, a while back, didn't like that I was so depressing, so I quit posting. And finally, I, like so many others, have lost the need for the support. That isn't a bad thing; in fact, it is a good thing. But, I thought since we do have so many new folks and there are wls folks who have, in one way or another, lost their way, that I would offer some strategies that work for me.
Strategy number 1: get involved in some out of the house, out of your routine, exercise program. For me, it is joining dance classes. If you can sign up for square dancing or ballroom or zumba or something do it. If you don't have a partner, ask a friend and you take turns leading.
Strategy number 2 walk, walk, walk. Even if you walk a lot at your job or walk a lot when you shop, get out of the house and walk. Please don't say, well, I hurt when I walk because I will not accept that: I hurt like hell but walking is the one proven exercise that will help you lose weight.
Strategy number 3: Do some yoga or other type of stretching kind of exercising. Most communities have a free yoga class. If not, spend the money for a few basic classes and take that knowledge and get a group of friends together and yoga out. I have rhematoid arthritis and let me tell you the yoga has improved my ROM to the point of surprising my doctor.
And finally, strategy number 4: turn off the television. Even if you are not leaving the house and even if you are not going to exercise, just turn it off and for about thirty minutes sit and absorb the quiet. You cannot imagine how difficult sitting and doing nothing for thirty minutes is, but it will give you the time to recompose or decompress or just breathe normal.
If you don't have a friend or family member that will do these activities with you, do them alone. In fact, some research indicate that people who exercise alone are more consistent and see better effects, because if you have a partner and he or she fizzles out, you may fizzle out too. You have to remember that the wls gave us the ability to get a jump start on weightloss but after a while our bodies can adjust to the new structures. And, we can stop losing or, for some, even gain. The only way to prevent the weight gain is to take an active stance: create your strategies. One of the many reasons so many of us gain such large amounts of weight is we are not the most active folks on the planet. Don't say it or think it, you don't have a glandular problem. So, think about what makes you lose: less food, more activity, and do it.
That is all
I know that I am not very active on the board. Mostly because I just don't have time to post on every single thread, and I feel bad posting on some and not the others. But, I do read a lot of what is said and if I can offer something helpful, I will post. Another reason is with all of my complications, well, a few of the new folks, a while back, didn't like that I was so depressing, so I quit posting. And finally, I, like so many others, have lost the need for the support. That isn't a bad thing; in fact, it is a good thing. But, I thought since we do have so many new folks and there are wls folks who have, in one way or another, lost their way, that I would offer some strategies that work for me.
Strategy number 1: get involved in some out of the house, out of your routine, exercise program. For me, it is joining dance classes. If you can sign up for square dancing or ballroom or zumba or something do it. If you don't have a partner, ask a friend and you take turns leading.
Strategy number 2 walk, walk, walk. Even if you walk a lot at your job or walk a lot when you shop, get out of the house and walk. Please don't say, well, I hurt when I walk because I will not accept that: I hurt like hell but walking is the one proven exercise that will help you lose weight.
Strategy number 3: Do some yoga or other type of stretching kind of exercising. Most communities have a free yoga class. If not, spend the money for a few basic classes and take that knowledge and get a group of friends together and yoga out. I have rhematoid arthritis and let me tell you the yoga has improved my ROM to the point of surprising my doctor.
And finally, strategy number 4: turn off the television. Even if you are not leaving the house and even if you are not going to exercise, just turn it off and for about thirty minutes sit and absorb the quiet. You cannot imagine how difficult sitting and doing nothing for thirty minutes is, but it will give you the time to recompose or decompress or just breathe normal.
If you don't have a friend or family member that will do these activities with you, do them alone. In fact, some research indicate that people who exercise alone are more consistent and see better effects, because if you have a partner and he or she fizzles out, you may fizzle out too. You have to remember that the wls gave us the ability to get a jump start on weightloss but after a while our bodies can adjust to the new structures. And, we can stop losing or, for some, even gain. The only way to prevent the weight gain is to take an active stance: create your strategies. One of the many reasons so many of us gain such large amounts of weight is we are not the most active folks on the planet. Don't say it or think it, you don't have a glandular problem. So, think about what makes you lose: less food, more activity, and do it.
That is all
Very solid advice Jeanne. I find the need for being here, more as a way to encourage newer folks and also warn them of the perils of not rebuilding their lives, as you suggest in your post, exercise is a very key component, most especially when we get to the maintenance part of this journey. Since getting my arse back in the gym, I've see the scale start sliding in the right direction. I had this surgery to be able to be more active and well, I got a little lost, but now I'm back where I belong and another thing, going to the gym (or participating in another form of exercise) makes me reach for the right foods, because otherwise what is the point of what I'm doing, at least that's my thought process. . .
Take care, thanks for your post today.
Laureen
Take care, thanks for your post today.
Laureen
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland
Ah, Jeannie, thank you so much for this post. If you don't mind, I'd like to copy it and use part of it for my support group.
I so agree with what you wrote, so much of it are things that I've been thinking for the last few months. I haven't been around much lately either, not because I don't care or I don't like it here, or I don't like the people here. I just don't feel like I need the support for my WLS journey as much as I did before. I still need the friendships, but the farther out I go, the less I remember of how my life was before and right after my surgery. It's becoming harder and harder to remember all of the difficulties I has as a MO person, even though I was all of my life. Laureen said the other day that I have my head screwed on right, but that just made me laugh. I don't know if it is or not, but since I got rid of the excess skin that was the daily reminder of what I used to be, I've felt more and more "detached" from that life and have become to feel "normal" in my new body and lifestyle.
Fewer and fewer people I come in contact with know I had WLS, and that's okay. I'm not ashamed of that fact, I've just adjusted to the new me. Honestly, does everyone we come in contact with need to be told that??? Nahh, I don't think so. Not anymore, any way.
Jeannie, you've made me think, as you usually do with your posts, and that's a good thing. It's your calling and I'm glad for it. Thanks for hanging around and popping in now and then. Hope you enjoy your summer!
I so agree with what you wrote, so much of it are things that I've been thinking for the last few months. I haven't been around much lately either, not because I don't care or I don't like it here, or I don't like the people here. I just don't feel like I need the support for my WLS journey as much as I did before. I still need the friendships, but the farther out I go, the less I remember of how my life was before and right after my surgery. It's becoming harder and harder to remember all of the difficulties I has as a MO person, even though I was all of my life. Laureen said the other day that I have my head screwed on right, but that just made me laugh. I don't know if it is or not, but since I got rid of the excess skin that was the daily reminder of what I used to be, I've felt more and more "detached" from that life and have become to feel "normal" in my new body and lifestyle.
Fewer and fewer people I come in contact with know I had WLS, and that's okay. I'm not ashamed of that fact, I've just adjusted to the new me. Honestly, does everyone we come in contact with need to be told that??? Nahh, I don't think so. Not anymore, any way.
Jeannie, you've made me think, as you usually do with your posts, and that's a good thing. It's your calling and I'm glad for it. Thanks for hanging around and popping in now and then. Hope you enjoy your summer!
Susan
Thank you Jeannie....very good advice for all of us!!!
I have gotten out of my daily walking routine and I miss it very much. I need to figure out a way to get back into it again. I just plain need to find some time for me to do anything. No matter how tired I am I must start walking if I have to do it at night.
Thanks again......hugs....connie d
I have gotten out of my daily walking routine and I miss it very much. I need to figure out a way to get back into it again. I just plain need to find some time for me to do anything. No matter how tired I am I must start walking if I have to do it at night.
Thanks again......hugs....connie d
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