Oh my gosh I've missed you guys....

Hey everyone,

It has been SO long since I've been on the forum...there are probably tons of new people I don't even know...wow...how have you all been?!?!?  

I have been crazy busy!  I think last time I was on here was before I worked at that summer camp in Massachusetts all summer (a horrible experience!!!!).  My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer right before I had to go to the camp so that was hard getting through the summer and not being with her.  Everything is great with her now though!  I have just been working like crazy getting through my last year of graduate school...YAY...I graduate in AUGUST!!!  I can't wait!!!!!  

SO....my big news is what my thesis is about.....I am in graduate school for Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy and I decided with my interest in the bariatric field it would be interesting to do my thesis with our population.  I am doing a three-session art therapy body image workshop to see how it affects self-esteem and body appreciation.  I don't know about you guys, but I find that my self-esteem is still pretty horrible and I still hate what I see in the mirror (have some sort of body dysmorphia) even though I've lost 140 pounds and am a size 12 now....hmmmm, something in my brain is outta wack!!!!  Anyway, I'm hoping that art therapy will help to raise self-esteem and body appreciation in post-operative bariatric patients.  I will be doing the sessions at the Good Sam hospital in San Jose, so anyone in that area PM me and I can give you information as I have it.  I will keep you all posted on the results and possibly find a way to post my thesis (although it will be long and boring) in case any of you are interested in the results.  This brings me to another point....how personal psychotherapy has seriously helped me with the issues I am dealing with post-operatively!  I can't believe I waited so long to find my own therapist!!!!  It is the best thing ever and I would recommend it to everyone! 

I have also started my practicum for school where I am an art therapist trainee at three different elementary schools and a middle school.  It is the best thing EVER (except that it is unpaid and pretty much a full time job!!!)  Hey, at leat I'm getting experience right?!?!?!  I am just so happy to have a job that I absolutely love waking up for and helping these little kiddos is best!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Well, I thought I would stop by and say HELLO!  I miss this forum dearly and will be looking to you guys for some support and motivation as I try to get through this huge stall/end of weight loss phase....I think I need to start tracking what I eat on here, but it will be hard for me to get on here every day with all the work I'm doing.

Hope all is well for you guys!  And if I haven't met you yet....introduce yourself!!!!! :)

Oh, for those of you who don't know me...my name is Kim and I had the DS on August 13th, 2007 and have lost 140 pounds!!!  I will be updating my pics here in a second....

Happy Monday!

hi girl, i`m glad you are not a extranger any more. i have seen your profile. you look amazing congrats!.
my name is mariana i`m from mexico(and i live there) I had RNY 11 months ago in houston texas. 100 lost. very happy about that!!! 20 more to gooo. ( no happy about that) haha.
 see you around.
hugs
mariana

Welcome home Kim!!!!  Your thesis sounds amazing.  If I lived closer to San Jose I'd so be there!  But, it is only 2 hours away... hmmmm he he

I started seeing a therapist this semester also.  She's amazing.  We haven't even started to go over my original intentions in seeing her, but she's really helped me improve me and not worry about others.  Major people pleaser right here.

I'm so happy your mother is doing wonderful!

Can't wait for the pics!

Great to see you back!!!   Even if it is long, I would love to read your thesis when you are finished :)

~ Leslie

Glad to see you back Kim...I've wondered about your mother...hope all is well in that area.
CONGRATS on your hands on work...it's amazing to be able to wake up and feel like you're doing something relevant and fulfilling every day...HOORAY!
Please feel free to PM if you need anything for your studies!
again, WELCOME BACK!
xxxBecca

kim,

you were a major poster back when I first got onto OH- it was good to hear your update. I'm glad you're doing well and I can't wait to hear more about this thesis it sounds like some really interesting stuff