Journey to Los Gatos

I've made a few comments about the wls picnic/gathering in Los Gatos last Saturday but wanted to give a full report. Some thought I was sort of nuts to drive nearly 7 hours for such an event but hey I need a road trip once in awhile and made a dietician apppointment on the way and took sister in law to the airport which was greatly needed.

Those of you who came fully appreciate that it was worth the trip. While there are some sleevers in our remote area (thanks to lapsf) we don't stay in contact much though I have tried to organize a little. Anyway, it was so great to talk to so many successful and happy sleevers. Very interesting individuals and an overall atmosphere of joy and positive energy that comes from having shed the curse of obesity. I was wondering how much weight we had collectively lost and didn't add it up but I bet it is literally over a ton. It was especially fun to meet some of the "ringleaders" on this group and the main vsg and learn what made them do this and how they approach things now..

We had a lot of discussion about the maintenance process. And it is a process, not a static event. I can't say it takes quite as much effort as the wls phase but it definitely does take effort and planning every day. But the longer you do it the more it becomes habit and it was so encouraging to see that others are making this work too who had their surgery before me and who are looking and feeling great and living life fully. And everybody brought their favorite barriatric recipes and there was plenty of good food choices available. And there was a later ****tail event followed by dinner out with four of us splitting one dinner entree (with some left over). Just goes to show you it is possible to socialize and go to events with food and do normal things  and stay in the healthy zone. I skipped the dancing and bar hopping - to old for that but I hear all had fun.

I wish I had taken notes on some of the great insights that were spoken but the gist of this is that its up to each of us to manage this phase of the journey; there are not too many roadsigns yet but we are learning more and more and sharing the things we learn. Ultimately it is a mater of personal responsibility.  Support and socializing with other wls patients is pretty valuable  and especially face to face if possible. Wish I could do more of that.

We talked about having had to give up m and m's or ice cream or whatever. I feel like i traded that to get my health back. Its a reversal of the trade I made as a younger person where I traded my health and appearance for cookies and sweets. So think of all this as a trade for which you get your health and self esteem for giving up some sugar and chips. Pretty good deal actually.

Some of you know I injured my hand while driving down (trying to grab water from a little cooler in the car). My hands had previously had some shots for a chronic condition and I  was still recovering and tore some tissue. So that was a painful setback but I have been on the phone with my hand surgeon and sent pictures and he thinks i will be fine in a couple of weeks. And I do feel today like recovery is underway so I am encouraged.

Elina was kind enough to take me to the Farmer's market Sunday where we sampled healthy goodies. I felt like I was snacking and grazing all weekend but guess what, did not gain weight. Think its because I still made good choices and good old sleeve won't let me blow it.

Everybody is invited to visit the fabulous north coast up here in Humboldt County where the summers are spectacular, the beaches empty and the redwood trails go on forever. PM me and I can tell you all the best stuff to see.

Anyway, great event Sublimate and JenChap. Hope it happens again sometime.

Diane

It was great to finally meet you....sorry we didn't get more "face" time...was hoping to see you at Elina's...but you know what happened there!  I wish I knew you were going to the farmer's market it is close by too!  Oh well there will be other times!  This "meet -n-greet"  was a great idea....puts a  "real" person to the OH  person.  Glad you had a good time!  I had a blast!

 
Yah know who was a no show...ExNavy.... He was all hot on this thing when it was first announced...



Going to one of these things is totally out of my character........

Support groups are outta my character....

Online forums are outta my character....

WLS is outta my character....

Losing 190lbs. is outta my character....

I guess things change.....

frisco

Frisco I guess you have new character!!  (and lots of it...you are great!)

OX
Patty

Well losing over 100 lbs has a way of expanding anyone's horizons. We are all doing things that might not have been in our character before. Just shows how all this expands our receptivity to new things. Always good for anyone especially us creative types.

Change is good.

Diane

Jimbo you are such fun; one of the people I most wanted to meet. OUr great inspiration for vsg success. Anyway so glad we did meet and will stay in touch here. We all still have plenty of work to do to stay slim the rest of our lives. Maybe next year another even can happen with even more people as people get sleeved right and left.  

Is your car totalled? In a way its best if it is rather than do extensive repairs. A few years ago a drunk ran a light at 10 am and crashed another car and me but my ancient suv protected me well. Glad your car protected you too.  

Yeah, it was a blast indeed. But boy do I have the sunburn to show for it!    Diane

Diane,

I totally agree with you..it was such a special day!  It meant so much to me to meet and get a chance to talk to so many others on this journey!  I wish we could do it every month!!  I am still talking about what a special day it was!

I hope your hand is on the healing mend....  you are such an inspiration and look great!

OX
Patty

Thanks PBJ. The whole thing was a total upper and two days of non stop fun for me. Always good for the mental health. And I might say that you look wonderful. One observation that I had looking around at people at the event and follow up parties was that except for the recent ops, the people at or near goal looked like they had never been fat! Now we can all inspect closely and see those sags and such and some had plastics which i wholeheartedly approve of, but even those who didn't look wonderful. I can't imagine some of these folks at the weight they showed in their before pictures.  so that was encouraging. we don't all look like deflated blimps!!! More like wrinkled jeans that shrunk in the dryer.

Diane

Thanks for posting this, Diane. I wanted to go but had just returned from a 3 week trip and had some scheduling conflicts. I'll be certain to go to the next get together, if there is another one.

I hope your hand heals quickly.

Great report Diane! During the party I spent a lot of time going through clothes (I was going nuts with those!) and doing helper type stuff, so I wish I had gotten more face to face time. Which made it great to go to the after-party at Elina's and just sit down and chat with people.

I wish I had known you guys were going to the farmer's market.. I would have come too! Despite being exhausted I woke up early the next day and couldn't get back to sleep. Jen and I are thinking about doing another one in September.. if we recover by then! LOL.