Recent Posts

Dawn, one of the most powerful tools is to do that journal so you can remember the things you are grateful for.  You'd be amazed at how fast some of us want a simple thing like to be able to tie our shoes and then in a matter of time "It ain't no big deal".  Remembering to be grateful is so powerful and keeps us in the attitude of gratitude.  To remember the things you want and appreciating them when you get them. 

I think you should get that tiara and feather boa and wear them and make sure and show us pictures!!  Believe me....anything goes in Vegas.  I'll never forget walking down the hotel corridor and seeing a very expensive Victoria's Secret bra hanging from the door knob with a sticky note that said "do not disturb".  So funny!!

I hope you'll find that perfect journal and be able to look at it on every surgiversary and even maybe share some of it with us.  How much fun will it be to walk through your journey with us holding your hand along the way knowing how much we care.
hugs, Y

Before I start I want to send each of you a VERY heartfelt Thank You. I believe this group is the first time I have truly felt comfortable. Thank You.

Cliche or not, the Secret is an excellent book! I do have it, and the DVD. And it HAS helped me! How interesting that you picked the "don't want" excerpt.  I used to say to myself "I don't want to get fat again, I don't want to get fat again, I don't want to get fat again"  What a negative and downgrading thought. So I have changed it to "I will stay trim and healthy."

For many years now I have tried to look at any reason why something is happening to me. There is a wonderful Buddhist Story: A farmer's only son is disabled in a farming accident, all of his neighbors say we are so sorry for you that your son can no longer help you. He reply's to them "It's Ok I still have my son" A bit later the army comes to recruit, they pay the young men and their families quite well to join the army. Again his neighbors tell him oh we are sorry. He replies again," It's ok I still have my son" So when the word come that all the young men in that battalion were killed, and as he watches the very long funeral procession He whispers to himself "I still have my son!"

So this summer when what was supposed to be only an 8 week recovery after my THR it turned into an 8 month recovery period. But dh had a malignant kidney removed 1 month prior and is now on chemo, so these months have allowed me to be at home with him. I am so thankful for that. Prognosis is GOOD. I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am for this!

The other books that were suggested I have I have not read and will be looking for them. 

I honestly don't want to start any antidepressants. But please know that it's not that I feel there is anything wrong with antidepressants at all!! I in fact took them for many years, and have seen them be so helpful. I just don't want to start them now.

I just feel a total lack of motivation, no energy, no drive. I keep trying to 'Fake it' and trying to "Stand up-Shine up-Show up" but still here I sit.

Disclaimer: The original thought for this post came from a wonderfully brave and incredibly successful poster on the OH board, Shari. So if you're reading this Shari - you rock and are such an inspiration to me.

I have spent a lot of time thinking lately about life after WLS. The last 7 months have been an incredible journey! I am so close to getting to the "century" mark of losing 100 pounds that I can taste it! I swear - when my body gets close to a big milestone like this - it comes to a screaching halt - like it's not quite sure we can do this. To be honest - it has been an awful long time since my body was in this territory to begin with. I just don't think it quite believes we're here. So I have stalled out about 2 pounds from the mark. I'm trying my best to just be patient and ride it out. I'm getting to the point where I can eat more normally. I am keeping more food down and therefore need to work harder at making those good food choices. And so this is where the rubber meets the road I guess. I am coming to terms with the changes that having this surgery has made to my life. Changes like getting my protein in first when I eat, taking my vitamins, how much I can eat, dealing with my emotions instead of eating them away. These are not easy changes to make by any means, but I am realizing I can do hard things. I didn't think I could - but I can. Here is a quote from Shari that has been worded perfectly:

Here it is: YOU CAN do hard things.
I know, you're saying, "What's your point?"

Sometimes, when faced with a challenge-- especially if you're a recovering
addict as so many of us are, when you approach something difficult, your inner voice says, "Holy crap-- I can't DO that"...and you do an about-face-- you reach for the drug (or Ring Ding) of choice. To feel uncomfortable..and not to comfort yourself, is a hard thing --but you can do hard things.

When it's late and you're tired, and you know you are supposed to walk, you
said you would, and it's looking like it might rain-- it's hard as hell to lace
those sneakers up and get out there---but you can do hard things.

Protein shakes can taste yucky. It's hard to remember all those calcium
supplements. It's hard to get 64 oz of water in. It's hard to plan meals, buy
expensive and healthy choices, stay out of the cake in the lounge at work--but you can do hard things.

You don't have to self-medicate. You don't have to eat those chips. You
don't have to duck and avoid every unpleasant, difficult challenge in your path. Sometimes, the best bet is to admit their existance..."Yes, hard things, I see you trying to get in my way, but you know what? I CAN DO HARD THINGS!"

Sometimes this means having to survive a host of feelings you never felt
before because you never let yourself feel them before-- stress, confusion,
anger, rage. You can't numb them out or sand off their edges-- you have to stand right in your space and let them have a go at you-- and grit your teeth, and say to yourself, "Go ahead, get in my way. I'll get through this. I can do hard things."

And you will find that you will survive them. And as you survive them,
you will face new ones, standing a little taller, because in time you will
eventually understand and rely on the fact that you can do hard things.

And eventually the "pass me some Ben and Jerry's--my boss is a jackass" response gives way to something new-- something that sounds more like this:

"Go ahead, Boss, bring it on. I'll have that on your desk by five."
"No thanks, Nancy, it's gorgeous but I really can't have an eclair
right now."
"I guess I could just park back there and walk."
"It's only 8 ounces and I don't have to love the stuff, I'll just drink it
quickly."
"If I spend ten minutes planning now, I won't be faced with tough choices
later."

Post RNY living is no joke. It's not easy. It's not fun. It's not all
"Whee, I'm a size 6!" There were days I *literally* cried because a kid at a
store could have a cookie and I couldn't. I felt sorry for myself and holed up
in my jammies, burning candles, and chatting here to avoid my fridge.

When I started, I could literally not walk further than my car, which
is about 100 feet from my door. I bargained with myself that getting down to
maybe 250 pounds would be JUST FINE, I didn't need more than that
because I though to ask more from myself was ridiculous, impossible-- who the hell loses 220 pounds? That's not even humanly possible, seriously!And I found out the answer to who does that : it's ME. *I* can lose 220 pounds-- I know it because I *did* it .

I can manage my intake. I can get in my supplements. I can learn to accept
my new, imperfect body. And with planning and management, I can make a post op life that still provides pleasure, joy and fulfillment.

I don't do those things because they are easy-- I do them because they're
hard, but I *can*.

I can do hard things.

And so can you. And you will. So the next time it's all too much (and it is
for me too, although less often as I grow), look your RNY challenge--
whatever it is--- boldy in the face and say, "I can do this. I can do
hard things."

Then pull out all the stops and grab the brass ring-- it's there for the
taking!

And that is what I have learned on this journey. I can do hard things! Who knew? I cannot eat that piece of cake! I cannot eat those cookies! I can say no thank you! I can RUN! I can run 6 miles! I can live like this - my post-WLS life is OK. I can do this. It can be hard at times, but I can do it. I will do it.