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I'm fat. I'm too skinny. I'd be happy if I were taller, shorter, had curly hair, straight hair, a smaller nose, bigger muscles, longer legs.

Do any of these statements sound familiar? Are you used to putting yourself down? If so, you're not alone. As a weight loss surgery patient, you're going through a ton of changes in your body. And as your body changes, so does your image of yourself. Lots of people have trouble adjusting, and this can affect their self-esteem.

Why Are Self-Esteem and Body Image Important?

Self-esteem is all about how much people value themselves, the pride they feel in themselves, and how worthwhile they feel. Self-esteem is the opinion and reputation you have of yourself. Self-esteem is important because feeling good about yourself can affect how you act. A person who has high self-esteem will make healthy choices in their food, fitness, and life in general, is more in control of his or her behavior, and will enjoy life more.

Body image is how a person feels about his or her own physical appearance. For many people, body image can be closely linked to self-esteem.

What Influences a Person's Self-Esteem?

Transition from Overweight/Morbidly Obese to Losing Weight

Some of us struggle with self-esteem because after losing weight, the body goes through many changes. These changes, combined with a natural desire to feel accepted, mean it can be tempting for us to compare ourselves to others. We may compare ourselves to the people around us or to actors and celebs we see on TV, in movies, or in magazines. But it's impossible to compare ourselves to others because the changes that come with losing weight are different for everyone.

Outside Influences

Family life can sometimes influence a person's self-esteem. Some parents spend more time criticizing their children and the way they look than praising them. We carry this forward into our adulthood. This criticism may reduce a person's ability to develop good self-esteem.

People may also experience negative comments about the way they look from others. Sometimes, by losing weight, it can threaten others' image and role in the relationship with us.

Healthy Self-Esteem

If you have a positive body image, you probably like and accept yourself the way you are. This healthy attitude allows you to explore other aspects of your life, achieving your goals and reaching your dreams. Challenge yourself physically and mentally because developing these parts of yourself can help boost your self-esteem.

A positive, optimistic attitude can help people develop strong self-esteem. For example, saying, "Hey, I'm human," instead of "Wow, I'm such a loser," when you've made a mistake. Or not blaming others when things don't go as expected.

Knowing what makes you happy and how to meet your goals can help you feel capable, strong, and in control of your life. A positive attitude and a healthy lifestyle (such as exercising and eating right) are a great combination for building good self-esteem.

Tips for Improving Your Body Image

Some people think they need to change how they look or act to feel good about themselves. But actually all you need to do is change the way you see your body and how you think about yourself.

The first thing to do is recognize that your body is your own, no matter what shape, size, or color it comes in. But it is no one's business but your own what your body is like -- ultimately, you have to be happy with yourself.

Next, identify which aspects of your appearance you can realistically change and which you can't. Everyone (even the most perfect-seeming celebrities) have things about themselves that they can't change and need to accept -- like their height, for example, or their shoe size.

If there are things about yourself that you want to change and can (such as how fit you are), do this by making goals for yourself. For example, if you want to get fit, make a plan to exercise every day and eat nutritious foods. Then keep track of your progress until you reach your goal. Meeting a challenge you set for yourself is a fantastic way to boost self-esteem!

When you hear negative comments coming from within yourself, tell yourself to stop. Try building your self-esteem by giving yourself three compliments every day. While you're at it, every evening list three things in your day that you feel good about and gave you pleasure. It can be anything from the way the sun felt on your face, the sound of your favorite band, or the way someone laughed at your jokes. By focusing on the good things you do and the positive aspects of your life, you can change how you feel about yourself.

As you fill your life with healthy self-esteem, your body image will adjust too. When your life is filled with positive things that you enjoy, bring you joy and are passionate about, you no longer will need to turn to emotional eating to fill that void in your life.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Back on Track Facilitator

The Biggest Loser is back on with a new twist of parents/children and spouses. It looks like it is going to be a great series this time.

I know that some people love the show (me!) and others feel exactly the opposite. The thing that I love is the understanding and appreciation of the limitation our weight has on our lives, the challenges, overcoming those challenges and changing their lives. Is it an unrealistic setting for most of us? Sure. However, so is being stranded on an island somewhere that no one has heard of for 40 days with strangers and surviving the elements and the other people!

It is the process of seeing people change their lives and reach their dreams. I loved watching the Olympics, Lance Armstrong, and real everyday people change their lives. That is exactly what we do as wls patients. We just aren't featured on a television show. One of the things I love the most about my job with OH and being a wls coach is getting to partner with members along their wls journey no matter where they are on it. It is such an honor and privilege for me.

I love the trainer Bob. His caring and passion for the people on his team and those of us that struggle with weight and food issues are obvious. He reminds me of Jeremy, our exercise and fitness expert, guru at OH.

I watch and show and tape it. When I need a shot of motivation, I watch it. It reaffirms the power of living a healthy lifestyle and changing our lives by losing weight.

Weight loss surgery is not for everyone. I know that and definitely respect it. It is a personal decision. There are many paths to lose weight and change your life. Weight loss surgery is one of those options along with others. Again, I named my own website Lose Weight Find Life because I strongly believe that is what happens to all of us whether we are wls patients, participants on the Biggest Loser or whatever choice is best for us.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Back On Track Facilitator

For those members that have been impacted by Hurricane Ike and recent hurricanes, my thoughts and good wishes are with you.

We dealt with the remnants of Hurricane Ike which were awful. I cannot imagine how it is for those people that have experienced the hurricanes and pick up the pieces from the results.

We had severe rain and wind this weekend from Ike but was nothing like it was when it hit Texas. It whipped the trees to the point I was concerned they would break the windows they were banging so hard. We lost part of our back and front porch.

Again, my thoughts and prayers to those members and families impacted by the recent hurricanes.

Best, Cathy
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Back On Track Facilitator

Cathy, I was putting sand in a locomotive at work and one of my fellow workers came out and told me what had happen. And seeing what had happen to the tower I couldn't believe it. I had spent 4 years in the navy and was station at the old Brookyln Navy Yard and use to look at the towers all the time. Well may peace with them and you. jimmy

I read this article and wanted to share it with you along with my own personal experience and opinion at the end of it. The investment in yourself, your health, and your behavioral health is always the best investment you can make. Please check out my comments at the end.......

OBESITY SURGERY IS COST EFFECTIVE?

Source: Wall Street Journal.

A study just published shows that you get your return on the investment in WLS within two to four years in medical cost savings. Ha! Two to four years? Try a return on the investment within days from having my surgery.

Most people going IN to weight loss surgery are racking up medical bills from their co-morbids, and WLS seems like it would just stop most of those bills, right? It does, for most (present company is not really included):

The cost of the most common type of weight-loss surgery, which typically runs between $17,000 and $26,000, is offset within two to four years by medical cost savings, according to a new study.

The findings, published in the September issue of the American Journal of Managed Care, may increase pressure on health-insurance companies to cover gastric bypass surgery. Some insurance plans specifically exclude weight-loss surgery, despite medical evidence of its effectiveness as a treatment not just for obesity, but also for related conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.

"The most cost-effective treatment for obesity is bariatric surgery. If you do that, within two to four years, you will get your money back," said the study's lead author, Pierre-Yves Crémieux, a health economist and principal at Analysis Group Inc., an economic consulting firm in Boston. "We have identified the break-even point for insurers," he added.

Some policy makers and analysts are likely to question the findings because the study was paid for by Johnson & Johnson's Ethicon Endo-Surgery unit, a maker of surgical devices and instruments used in weight-loss surgery. Dr. Crémieux said he stands by the study's integrity and added that the company "has been totally hands off."

The findings will interest employers and insurance companies, but the main concern has always been the safety and effectiveness of the surgery, said Susan Pisano, a spokeswoman for America's Health Insurance Plans, a trade group in Washington. "I don't know if these results would be replicated in other populations," she added.

The journal's co-editor in chief, Michael E. Chernew, said the study addresses an "important and controversial" issue for his readers, including medical directors of insurance companies who make coverage decisions. He said the study was carefully scrutinized by independent reviewers *****quested a series of manuscript revisions. "I won't deny that I would rather this be funded by some other organization, but there is no bias in the methodology," he asserted.

Each of 3,651 severely obese patients in a large claims database who underwent surgery was matched to a control subject who didn't have the surgery. The patients were matched for age, gender, geography, health status and baseline costs. The patients were predominantly female with an average age of 44 years. More than one-third of the patients had hypertension and many had high cholesterol, diabetes and other conditions.

The analysis covered six months of presurgical evaluation and care, the surgery itself and, on average, about 18 months of postsurgical care, including costs incurred from surgical complications. Some patients' postsurgical claims were tracked for up to five years. Costs included payments for prescription drugs, physician visits and hospital services. Claims were monitored for obese patients who didn't have surgery over the same period.

The study showed that insurers fully recovered the costs of laparoscopic surgery after 25 months. Laparoscopic surgery is a less-invasive version of gastric bypass with an average cost of $17,000. Between 2003 and 2005, the break-even point was reached in 49 months for traditional bariatric surgery, which carries an average cost of $26,000. The study didn't address gastric banding, a rival procedure.

Health economist Eric A. Finkelstein sounded a skeptical note. If the control group had "one really bad outcome, such as a heart transplant, that alone could be enough" to significantly change the results, he said in an interview. Several years ago, Dr. Finkelstein published a similar study using a different methodology, which suggested a 10-year return on investment on weight-loss surgery.

Dr. Finkelstein said that over time he has come to believe that the "return-on-investment" analysis of weight-loss surgery is "misguided." This economic metric isn't used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of treatments for cancer or heart disease.

Okay, as always there are many differing opinions of the "return-on-investment" by the professionals. You know what they say about opinions! LOL! For me, I didn't qualify for weight loss surgery.....having diabetes, sleep apnea, and other co-morbidities, I didn't even qualify for a consult. Geez! I had to obtain a second loan on our home. For me, it was a small price to pay for purchasing a second chance at life and buying my health. How many sick or terminally ill people would pay any price for their health or a second chance at life?

So, I can talk about the "return-on-investment" since I paid for my own surgery IN FULL. Not a single penny was contributed by an insurance company. I am very qualified to discuss the return-on-investment since I wrote the check! The return on my investment is tremendous. I lost 147 pounds, haven't taken a single diabetic medication, no longer have sleep apnea and have a quality life that I would have the surgery annually if I needed to in order to have the life I have today.

The return on investment is far greater than the ups/downs of the stock market, the ups/downs of the interest rates and even the real estate market. My investment in myself and my health is an investment that pays off to the maximum every single day.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Back On Track Facilitator