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Good Monday Morning..

Although I haven't been faithful about posting this I just know that I have so much to be grateful for and I thought I would post today..

Today I am grateful..

For the love and support of my friends..

For a Dallas Cowboy victory..

For the food and company I shared yesterday..

That I have been able to maintain although it has been tough..

For great songs that make you think..

Much love to you all..

You look awesome MO!!!!   Your story is very encouraging to me for when I lose the rest of my weight.  I love cruises and lost count of how many I have been on.  I never use to take tours on buses because of the seating.  We just paid a cab and that was never comfortable either.  I am glad you experiences so much with your new life!  You were beautiful and thanks for sharing the pictures!  Keep up the good work!!

Even though I am still MO there is a big difference in what I could do last year when I went on Alaskan cruise vs. previous cruises.  I always walked back to the ship, exercised everyday.  Made a plan and did well sticking to it.  I was gone 10 including stay in Vancouver and I wore my pedometer every day and out of the 10 days I reached 10K nine days and one day I did 16K or 17K because I danced my feet off at the disco that night with all the other activities we did.  My friend and I participated in all line dance activities on boat to keep moving.  Before I had to stay on the side lines and watch my friends.  this time I was fit enough to do it all and I did not sweat a lot either and was not out of breath like I was going to die.  I out danced many of my smaller friends. 

Hugs,
Molly

Hey everyone!

We had a great time on a cruise this past Thanksgiving week. This was the first time we brought my son (now 17 yrs old). We brought his friend from school as a companion, and that worked out great. They had a lot of activities to keep them occupied. I was able to do so many new things and active things since my weight loss. I used the STAIRS on the ship all the time when I was by myself. Many times when I was with my husband he would prefer to wait for an elevator. I even JOGGED up three floors of stairs one time. We went cave tubing in Belize, where you sat in a big inner tube and went down a river through two huge caves. There were rapids, too! We had to hike for 30 minutes through a rain forest to get to the river, with the gear on plus carrying our tube. In Cozumel, I went ZIP LINING! I had to climb a very tall tower and then be strapped onto a cable and sent (more like pushed) to the next tower. We did that 12 times. I was terrified the whole time I was on the towers, but the actual zipping part wasn't that bad.

I was having internet withdrawals, and my online support groups, especially when I would see so many obese people and the eating frenzies. There was one tour we did that had us on a small bus. There were three MO ladies on the tour. They could not fit through the center "aisle" at all. One had to sit up front and the other two had to squeeze into seats meant for two up close to the front. I felt so bad for them, and knew all too well how they felt inside. A lady in front of me leaned over to her husband and said "they should have considered a diet before coming on this cruise." I guess abuse of obese people is very much alive and well. When I told my husband later what she had said, he told me he would have told her something if he had heard it or if I had told him. I didn't want to have any conflict, so I just didn't say anything.

I am so grateful for all the extra things I can do now that I have had my weight loss surgery. And, as an added bonus, I lost four more pounds during the cruise!

Here are a few pictures:







 

Greg

Hi there!  I'm by no means an expert, but I can tell you that I am very analytical and have done TONS of research on WLS topics.  I completely agree with everything Yvonne has said in her reply.  Sure, there are the exceptions that have some legitimate physical/medical whatever reason to regain some or all of their weight, but it seems the vast majority that regain more than 15% of their lost weight are simply eating more calories then they are burning.

You've probably seen various versions of the 'rules'.  Sounds like you are working hard and focused on following the rules for long term success.  There are many, many people that do have long term success, and you should be in that number too!

I've just finished reading Connie Stapleton's book "Eat it Up!".  I met her at the OH conference in Houston.  OMG - what a great book.  Her version of the 'rules' are packaged as GDE's = Gotta Do Em's.

They are:

1. make consistently healthy food choices (protein first)
2. maintain portion control
3. exercise on a daily basis
4. drink plenty of water throughout the day, but not with meals
5. eat breakfast
6. plan your meals and follow your plan
7. keep food and exercise journals
8. get plenty of sleep
9. utilize a healthy support system (support group meetings and on-line support)
10. participate in individual and/or group counseling for at least a year

I know you can do this. You deserve it.

I only get excess mucus or drooling if something bothers my pouch or I eat too much - it signals me that yes I am going to vomit.