What is your weight loss destiny?

 

Today, I am not going to the gym nor am I going to any of my dance classes.  I am, though, going to my office and do some last minute editing on my website.  But, I will do my butt clinches, my kegals, and some very elementary yoga exercises.  One of my colleagues will be in her office too, and she e-mailed me and said when I can get to a point where I feel the need to break, we should either meet in the huge conference room or in my office and do some yoga.  Now, she is the yoga queen, but I can do some of the elementary stuff and she starts out elementary.  

I do have this thought for the day or exercise thought for the day:  When I was super morbidly obese—and when I look at those pictures of me, I cannot believe that I lived in that body—anyway, least I digress, when I was so large, I used to put the Richard Simmons tapes in and sit in a chair and try and move my arms and legs.  I wanted to lose weight so badly that I tried everything from Oprah’s liquid diet, to that Carb Queen who swears that Carbs are the answer to weightloss.  I also did the Atkins, the 1200 ADA, and everything in between.  I knew down in my heart of hearts that I was never going to lose the weight without really moving, so I started walking at the track about a mile from my house.  I walked off from 500 + pounds to 339 pounds and the pounds stopped coming off and that was when I decided to have wls.  My point is at my size then and at my size now, I knew and know that the only way to lose weight and keep it off is to exercise.  I will not lie to myself and say that I am happy with creeping back a pound or two nor will  I justify my lack of activity that will result in a sedentary life. 

WLS folks know the drill:  We all have that honeymoon or grace period where we can drop the pounds with very little effort.  In fact, we cannot “not” lose weight.  That’s why the surgeons want us to try and lose as much as we can in the first year or two because our small intestine evolves or adapts and begins absorbing efficiently again, and if we have spent our grace period not changing our attitudes about food and exercise, we will start gaining again.  We have all said it won’t happen to us but it will happen: if you do not move and if you do not change your attitude about just trying those breads or sweets or whatever it is that you are sneaking in to your mouth one small bite at a time, you may not even hit your goal weight but you will certainly not stay at your goal weight.   Think about your journey this far and think about what you are going to make of your wls results: will you keep it off and feel good; will you let it start creeping back and feel bad; or will you do that one thing that you know will make your wls story complete? 

I remember there was this awful, awful woman who was on the board when I was waiting for my surgery.  She was regaining her weight and was a little bitter, but she had these warnings about enjoy it while you can cause you gonna gain weight.  I said, to her, that will never be me.  She and I would have words back and forth and I knew what she said had some credence because too many of the old timers were saying it: so I made a choice that before when I had wls, I was not going to become her or any of the other gals who were regaining, so I made sure that I kept the bad food out of my mouth, and that I had some form of exercise that I did every single day to prevent weight gain.  That woman had a good message, but she had not realized that her weight gain was a result of her actions—her choices and that not everyone was going to be like her.  We are the masters of our destiny.  

Great post Jeannie. Everyone has an opinion, it's how you put out the message that counts. I try to be tactful, but don't always succeed. Now with the meds I am on I care even less.. Anyway, thanks. Nan

the point is that no matter what the opinion, what matters is our own choices.  No one can make those choices for us, but when we make the choice, it always changes the course of our journey.  I am happy for that awful woman; because of her being so miserable about gaining weight two things happened: 1) she left the board and 2) I promised myself that I would never be like her.  The only weight that I have gained is the weight that the doctor forced me via tube feeding to gain.  

I will exercise and watch what eat and stay thin and healthy; that is my choice.  But, the truth is that none of us can impose our views on someone who isn't ready to believe or listen.  

Hope you are getting some exercise.  

You speak the truth and I am the master of my destiny, yet I enjoy food and while being healthy is where I want to be, I also want to be able to enjoy, in limited quantities, foods that I used to eat in much larger quantities, the difference between now and then is exercise is something I accept must be a part of the equation, as well as the fact that I need to strictly plan for those forays into the indulgences and not fall subject to at will eating.  I also have and continue to adapt recipes using sugar and fat substitutes, as well as avoiding while flour foods, rice and real sugar.  As you stated and I say it as well, it is about choices and when the day is over the ledger needs to be balanced correctly, through diet and exercise.

Today was a good day, my idea to have an indulgence wound up with me throwing it away, as it was not worth the calories it would cost me.  Oh and I baked a pumkin cheese cake for my office bake-off, tomorrow.   I made it with sugar substitutes, low fat cream cheese, egg beaters and used almonds and pecans in the crust, we'll see how the judges like it come tomorrow. . .  I've never baked a cheese cake before, so it was interesting to begin with. . .

Laureen,

I have to say that I am a little envious that you can make a cheese cake.  I should try to make one, but I just do not have the skill.  

I like that the choices that we make can influence us in so many different ways.  I think that no matter what the choices are, if they make things better, they are good choices.  LIke, cutting out sugar and fat.  Great way to make an impact on your own eating and those who taste it and see that food doesn't have to be filled with fat and sugar to be good.  

When I cook, I never fry; bake or saute in olive oil as much as I can; steam or gril my vegetables, and never use sugar.  I am like you with the taking out the bad and putting either the not so bad or the really good in its place.

We have to meet and have a cuppa. 

Yes, we do have to meet, if you ever find yourself in the NE Atlantic region, please let me know and I will try to work it out. . .

As for baking a cheese cake, truth is, it was not nearly as complicated as all that, I followed the recipe, adjusting it according to what substitutes I needed to use and either late today or tomorrow will let you know about the feedback on it. 

I have finally gotten the message. I really am the master of my destiny. These are my choices and no one else. When I sneak a bite of this or that the only person that will pay for it is me.

I need to do more thinking about this post.

Love and many hugs....connie d

Connie,

we are the masters of our destiny.  I remember when I was having the problem with my pouch and the doctor kept saying that I need to eat and I would go to the nutritionists and she would say you have to eat and I kept saying that eating hurt me so much and that I was throwing up. My regret over all of that is that I didn't yell loud enough.  I said, my belly hurts, when I should have said, MY BELLY HURTS SO DO SOMETHING NOW.   I have learned a lot from that experience and from my feelings of having to gain weight when I thought that I was looking so good--yeah right--under 100 pounds--but I am now where I need to be and struggle not to gain any more weight.

I am so happy you are participating in this exercise program and I do enjoy your posts.  I hope your weekend without the baby went well.  I know how hard being a full time caregiver to a grandchild can be.  I hope you are taking time for you and doing things for you that are special.  

Hope your week goes well.