Post Date: 10/12/08 8:34 am
UPDATE- When I have good news I always like to let you all know also. I am over 2 months off Coke, when I saw the Dr. last month my A1C had already dropped one full percentage point. My morning glucose readings are between 75-90 and my weight is moderating within 2 lbs. I am not saying this to brag, but we all make different commitments to ourselves, you all have made a huge commitment in your journey in weight loss surgery and I an so proud of each one of you. My point of telling you this story, is whether you loose 1lb or can breath better, or walk better, that is better that you were 1 year ago today. I like to pat my self on the back (my ego can get a little big), you should all do the same each and every day.  Remember that old song "Give it your best, don't let anybody (including yourself) tell you you can't do it. Best of luck, see you soon.

Ira Sansolo
Support Group Co- Leader- "Its up to you"
Support Group Leader- "It takes a village"

" The secret is, there is no secret, you just have to believe."
(From

This was originally e-mailed to members of our group but I thought that it would be to share it here as well.

 It is sometimes hard to keep up the momentum on losing weight either while you are waiting on your first fill for lapbanders or further down the road after you have had some time and have slipped into those bad habits.     The most important thing to remember is that you are doing this to change our life.   If you wanted to stay fat you would not have bothered.   You wanted this change and you have to work at it.   Your surgery is a tool and it has to be used properly to get those results.   To do this, you have to:  

1. Follow the dietary guidelines your doctor set for you.   If it is low carb, you need to read labels and keep track of your carbs.   No chocolate is not low carb, never has been regardless of the size.   Do you want to win or are you going to let the chocolate win?
2. Drink Drink Drink...Water is so important to maintaining you body.  It keeps the blood moving, it removed toxins from your body.   Like air, it is a necessity.
3. Exercize...If you are obese, excersize alone probably will not decrease your weight, however, exercize is important to burn energy, flush your body (so you can drink more water) and it helps maintain and build muscles.   If you have been severely obese, you probably have not been very active, you need to turn that around.   Even limited walking will make a difference.
4. When you get down about something, pick yourself up.   DO NOT fall into old habits of using food for comfort.   Comfort from food equals less success.   Go walk or drink water, call a friend, blog or diary you thought and feels as you go through this.

We are in this together.   Those of you who have kept up with me know that I have been struggling.  I too have to make use of my tool and make sure I am doing my part.

 

Here is a link to an awesome little movie.   Please take a moment to view it and understand that that like extra push, that extra step is going to make a difference.  Paste the URL into your browser to view

 

It's your life, you're responsible for the results         http://www.212movie.com/     I hope you have enjoyed this.   Please feel free to share it with others because this is about giving a little extra in everything we do.   We can make a difference.   We just have to go that extra degree. 

Positive or negative... the choice is mine!

Melissa's thought - Positivity take positivity to grow.   Negativity wears down any portion of the positivity.   If those around you cannot work towrds the positive, then you make have to take a look at what you are allowing them to do to your progress.   

Talk to them about your goals, encourage them to support your decision and then work hard for positivity for yourself either by removing yourself from the negative to accomplish something positive (go for a walk)  You will find possibly that friends were merely eating buddies.   They don't know how to eat with you any longer.   Help them understand what you are trying to accomplish. Help them understand that you can eat, you just have to cut out the potatoes and pasta and bread...that you have to take in smaller portions.   Sometimes people or negative because they do not understand the changes you have to make..

Hang in there, seek others who are more positive.   Reach out to others in your situation through on line groups or support groups.

Before I start out with the regular stuff about our next meeting, I wanted to let you all know that I have been posting a thought for the day with my commentary since talked about using affirmations to keep us on track.   Would you be interested in receiving them daily via e-mail or is that too much?   Either way I am trying to post them daily in the blog section of our on-line group.  

---

Our next meeting will be at 7 pm on Tuesday, October 7th at the Community Southern Bank in Lakeland.  Remember, we welcome both pre-op and post-op patients and their support person(s).

We are seeing great results from our members!   Diabetic meds cut or gone forever, high blood pressure meds gone, walking not riding in a scooter.   Lots of great things are coming our way!   If you are not able to attend Tuesday night meetings, please let me know what works better for you.  There may be an opportunity for us to either change our meeting night or add an additional meeting night but I need to hear back from you so I know which way we need to go   Don't forget to check out our group site www.obesityhelp.com/group/UpToMe/ We are continually updating it with pictures, links, recipes and celebrations!    The site also has a calendar page for upcoming events.   That is where we post our group meetings and any other events that are coming to our area.   Feel free to contact either of us if you have any questions or concerns! 
  Melissa  and Ira Sansolo
WLS Support Group Coaches
www.obesityhelp.com
www.obesityhelp.com/group/UpToMe/
www.obesitynomorefl.com

Join us on the third Tuesday of the month, 7:00pm at the Coummunity Southern Bank on S Florida Ave in Lakeland.

I am proud of myself for all I have accomplished no matter how small or great.

Melissa's thoughts - Over and over again we rehash how many pounds we have lost.   This helps us see where we have been but sometimes we are so focused on the weight that we forget the other accomplishments or the none scale victories.

What meds have we decreased or come off of completely?
HAve you changed the location of your seat when driving the car?
Are you able to walk a greater distance without tiring?
CAn you get down on the floor to play with children or pets?

Think about the things that have changed for you.   Here is a list of things for me.

Off Blood pressure meds
Walk without getting winded
Jog for short distances
Wear my wedding bands on middle finger
Don't mind getting my picture taken
Can fit into a booth even at Red Lobster and Outback
Don't drive with my toes any more
Sex...well I will leave that to your imagination
Less pressure on my bad knee
Down from a size 32 to 20

When you accomplish something that you could not do before weight loss, no matter how small, it is a BIG WIN.

I am proud of myself for all I have accomplished no matter how small or great.  Yes I have lost 84lbs but those things listed above make the most difference in my day to day life.

Take a monent today to think about your the non scale victories you have achieved...what is next on the list?   Use those things to help gauge your progress.