A Rude Awakening

I was sent the photos from the community service day my firm did a few weeks ago to put on the computer.   There I was in one of the photos, a side view.  Ugh.....not happy with it at all.  Have to say it's a big improvement over pictures taken before WLS.  They used a photo of me reading to a child at a United Way recipient to encourage employees to give to UW.  I was mortified because it was an awful picture of fat ole me.

I've been telling myself I'm fine with how I look.  I need to lose 20 lbs. to reach my surgeon's goal for me, but I'd like to lose 30.  Well, it's time to get busy doing just that.  I'm going to print that picture and put it on my fridge.  No more unhealthy 9 pm snacks.  In fact, hubby doesn't need the stuff he's eating so it's not going to be in the house.

Sunday was going to be my day to start the South Beach Diet but first I'm going to do at least 3 days of protein drinks and 1 meal of protein and veggies.  I need to return to the restrictions I set for myself after surgery.  I haven't gotten way too careless.


~Jo~

A dog is the only thing on earth that will love you more than you love yourself.
     Josh Billings

UGH I HATE THOSE PICS!
I think a critical point is that you realize the person you saw in the pic isnt the same as who you saw in pre-surg pics. So theres been an improvement! Likewise, others who've known you pre/post surg also see the differnece & improvement. My point is - sometimes we are our own worse critic (LORD know I am!!). I bet you really do look fine, especially when compared to pre-surg.
But I completely understand what you are saying b/c i see the same thing my recent pics. They only serve as a reminder & motivator (I really want to look btr in that wedding dress. I want michelle obama arms lol).

If you know you need to drop 20 lbs to reach goal. OK
If your personal goal is to drop more like 30 lbs - OK. I say attack it 10 lbs increments. think about it - 20-30 lbs is NOT an unreasonably amount to lose  - its ot unattainable.
You can totoally do this!! The key is to get moving - physically. Exercise in conjunction w/ a meal plan will work! getting in the gym 2-3x/wk for a couple of weeks, then 3-4x/wks for a couple of wks. 20-30mins/day then 30-45mins/day & you WILL see results :)

OMG....compared to pre WLS, I don't even resemble that person.  A goal of 10 lbs is a good goal to start with.  When I get off here I'm going to put my clothes together for the gym, take them to work and change before I leave work.  No excuse NOT to go to the gym. 

I've got to de-carb so today I had a protein shake for breakfast and will have another this evening.  My son was here for dinner and we had Pasta Pie (WW spaghetti, lean ground beef and sauce), salad and Pumpkin Cheesecake (recipe from Bariatric Eating).  My plan is to have a protein shake for breakfast, another mid-morning, salad with protein and low fat dressing for lunch, protein shake in the afternoon and an evening meal of protein and a veggie.

The 9 pm snacks are out or rather unhealthy ones are out. 

Thanks for the suggestion on working out. 

Thats a great idea!
I keep my gear back packed & ready to go. 
Ive found that AM work outs are easier for me b/c im always wiped out after work & its really hard for me to drag my tail to a PM work out session. Plus i know that if i do it in the morning, its already DONE.
The logistics may be hard at first (getting up earlier yada yada), but its soooo wroth it! I leave the house in my WO gear & shower & get dressed at the gym at work.

Have a good WO 

It would be good to get it done in the morning, but getting up and actually doing it hasn't clicked with me.  When I had kids in school I got up at 5:30,  did household things and got to work by 8:00.  Sure couldn't do that now. 

I used to ride the bus to work so working out in the morning wasn't doable.  Now I drive to work and leave later so I could do early morning workouts.

Keep talkin'.....maybe I'll do it.

LOL oh i understand 100%! the only way im able to swing this now is b/c its summer & I DONT have to get my son up & off to school in the morn. so i have more time for me.
Im actually on my way out the door now headed to the gym :D
It took a lot (believe me! i LOVE to ), but i see the benefits, the biggest of which is that i dont feel bad in the afternoons anymore if i DONT make it to the gym (which is a lot of days, but not most days anymore). SOME days, i even make it back to the gym for a 2nd PM WO, but thats only when i get an opp to in my car in the afternoon LOL!
With work - my boss is really supportive & as long as I get in my time, im cool. They do however like me to be there by 8, so that means i need to get my butt to the gym by (like now) 6:30/6:45 in order to get in a good WO & still have time to get ready.

have a great day!

I get up at 5 or before ... 3 days a week so I can go to yoga at 6;30 (I have to leave at 6:05 the latest). And I am at work at 8...
then other 3- 4 days -(including weekend) I get up at 5:30-6:30 - so I can go walking with my friend first thing in the morning. We walk 7-8 Monday and Fridays, or 7:30-8:30 on Sat - Sund
Is it hard? O yea - but I am now hooked on it so when autumn and winter comes - I will be able to do it.
I promised myself to exercise after work - and so many times I got either tired, or something happened, and I did not do it. So - this time- yoga at 6:30 3 x a week, and 9 or 10:45 on weekends.
And I am not a morning person - but I got into a routine...
Also - my cat wakes me up now - no later than 5;30 - she is used to my schedule and even when I want to sleep in - there is no way... once the coffee starts - she makes sure I am up - very smart kitty...
I think the most important thing was for me to set up everything the night before - so I can just get up, get my coffee, feed the cat, check her water, check and clean (if needed) the litter box (after the night), poop, get the shower, make my protein shake and tea, dress in prepared clothes, get my lunch and my work clothes and leave the house. I need 30 min-1 hr for all that, so some days - I can hit the snooze and cuddle with the cat (need to pet her) for 10-15 min...
I noticed that if I do not have a lot of time in the morning - I can get very efficient. I noticed that I can sip my coffee and take my morning pills while I am making my shake and checking the cat things... Multitasking... yea baby...

Hala, after reading your schedule, I'm totally worn out and need a nap!!  It is easy to avoid the evening workout, but I'm just not ready to do the morning thing.  I have some Leslie Sansone walking CDs and I should get up and do one of them in the morning......should be the key word here.

I'm good at multitasking but it needs to be after 8:00 am.

Changing at work really helped me last night.  My son was at my house and if I had not changed at work I would have gone straight home.  Instead I went to the gym and worked out about an hour.  Hate doing it but once I'm done I feel good about it.

GOOD FOR YOU! 
You took the first step & I commend you for that.
It is SOOOOO FRIGGEN HARD for me at times to hit the gym for a PM WO.
Since I missed my AM WO this morning, & have Yoga tonight - I will just jump in the arc machine for an after yoga (since im already there).
But other than that or an act of God - once Im in the car, i swear the thing goes on auto pilot & takes me home (where i crawl in to of course).
Are you headed back to the gym after work today?