My secret is I have no secrets. Long. No, REALLY. Surprise! :}

Aaaaaawww...c'mere ya big lug!! Big huge former fluffy chick hugs to you, Brandi!! I c&p'd your missive and am hanging it on my wall next to a similar post from Old Army Medic. You motivate me to be a better me and for that I love ya!!

Heidi

I am snorkling those hugs right on up, girlie!! 

You always were a better you and working on it more and more all the days!! 

I am loving you back.  Thanks for being such a great encourager.

I don't feel like I have any secrets either. People are always asking me what my "secret" is like I was successful do to some sort of trick that only I know about. And, if I share my tip/secret/trick, they will be successful too.

Well, there is no secret trick. It was just hard work. I exercised my butt off, was very strict in my eating and go to a lot of support groups. I also journaled everything so I wasn't guessing about what I was doing.

But people (especially those without WLS) don't want to hear that. They are looking for the trick that makes it happen without having to change. I get that change is scary, but you can't change your outcomes if you don't change your behavior. Doing the same thing you've always done gets you the same result.

Yes, I'm feeling grumpy right now. Sorry to be so blunt.

You blunt right on, Sistarella! 

I used to be a trick seeker.  I thought if I just KNEW more I would do differently.

Damned if I did not have to JUST DO differently with all the stuff I already knew! 

Damnit.  :} 

Brandi. You are the bomb dot com!

Keep dishing it out because you have a gift for telling it like it is.

Thank you, girlie!!  I tell it like it is for me.  I am always thankful when folks whose reality is different have the cajones to tell their truth too!

We are all unique.. just like every body else!  :}

Great post B. Really lays it all out there in its raw and ragged truth. And thats what we all need is truth plus the understanding that we are not the only ones with issues. So much helps to know that we all have complex situations that led us to where we are.

You really ought to put all these posts together in a book. Would help lots of folks. Sure helps us all here.   Diane

Thanks MzD for your always kind and well thought out responses.

Know what? I looked on line about a creative writing and publishing class and I cracked myself up with how quickly my eyes glazed over and I thought "nnaaaahhh" when I saw "Find out how to choose a topic, writing style, structure, slant, crafting query letters " 

and then I thought "hmmm.. I should trim my bangs... OH!  BUTTERFLY."

:} 

And too, I just rehash everyone else's research, except I put it in Brandispeak and add a few explitives, because well, I'm a true vulgarian. 

Maybe I will grunt up some motivation and ...HEY!  THE SUN! 

It's a reminder sometimes when you read what another persons cracks are.. and see so many of the same.. Hey, we all walk on cracked sidewalks, it shouldn't be a surprise to see the same pattern in another neighborhood..

Thanks for posting this. I'm in the last few pre-op days and feeling the load of responsibility stronger than it was before when it was all planning, nerves and endlessly neurotic researching. The distraction is coming to a screeching halt very soon.. 

Now I need to figure out the way to walk between those cracks so I don't trip and fall on my face (again.)

Love you B.

♥Jo

You just keep breathing in and out baby, and keep your shoelaces tied and do not shuffle your feet!  Shuffling your feet is a sure way to end up on your face with a cracked up sidewalk. 

You have googobs of support here girlie, just keep on soaking stuff up, recognizing yourself in warnings and setting up reasonable sustainable structure. 

And breathing! 

Love you back beebs.. be sweet.