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Forgive yourself.

Hi Cheryl – Thanks for sharing a little with us about your struggles and know that you are not alone. You have joined one of the most positive groups around so we are going to work on getting you feeling better about yourself. First let me congratulate you along with Yvonne on your AMAZING weight loss of 100lbs. Kudos to you. Your surgery was in March of 2010 correct? That’s 100lb pounds in 6 months. That’s huge..

So what I’m saying is CELEBRATE in your current success. Live in the now and embrace how far you have come. When the stinking thinking starts happening take a few breaths and turn the negative into the positive. Find positive affirmations to say each and every day.. Don’t allow the negativity to overpower you. Practicing positive self-talk may be a big benefit for you. It’s hard, don’t get me wrong but this journey is one we work at every day and the more you do it the more natural it will feel.  

Let’s start with this one: My outer frame is what it is, but my soul is gorgeous!

Remember that they operated on our stomachs not our heads and we still have to find ways to deal with the head hunger monster and those food demons who like to sneak up at all times. 

I would like to encourage you to not focus so much attention on numbers. When we focus on numbers like our weight, our pants size, our shirt sizes, we tend to revert back to those days when we were dieting and everything was about numbers. The goal is for you to feel better and you will - just keep in mind you are still a newly post op patient and this is a new lifestyle for you. 

Here is a quote I want to share “Come to terms with the fact that thinking about weight loss has been an all-consuming passion, but that now it is time to look beyond the weight" – Cynthia Alexander, PsyD

Give yourself permission to allow more time for you to reach whatever goals you have set for yourself. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Keep in mind that we didn’t become obese overnight and we cannot reach our goals overnight either. 

Remember that this is a journey and with any journey comes unexpected turns, slow spots, bumps, hills, breakthroughs and amazing WOW moments. All good things come to those who wait right? Don’t ru**** take it slow and do it the correct ways. You are still in the honeymoon phase and this is the time to focus on changing those bad pre-op behaviors into good healthy ones.

What is it that makes you feel better (besides your weight going down)? If you had to make a list of 10 things that make you feel good what would that list look like? Ask yourself why you “feel ugly" and what would make you feel pretty? Is it time for some new clothes? Is it time to try out that new hair style you have always wanted? How about some pampering time? Treat yourself to a facial, a body massage, or a manicure/pedicure. Do something that will make you feel feminine that maybe you wouldn’t have done 6 months ago. Maybe it’s girl’s night out time, maybe a chat with a friend at the local coffee store?

What type of support system do you have? Do you have a “safe person" who has been through the surgery that you can confide in and talk to about your struggles? Friends/Family? Do you have a local support group you can attend? Have you tried an OA group? Do you have a therapist you can talk to? Food demons will remain throughout your journey but the goal is to learn how to deal with them now the proper way and not give into the monster.  

Many of us have food addictions and we are working recovery every day. Sometimes it takes a while to recognize and acknowledge our food addiction then figure out how to manage that addiction.

If you are a reader I would like to encourage a second book it’s called “The Emotional First Aid Kit" by Cynthia Alexander. This is another great resource to have.

 If you are on Facebook and into the social networking I invite you to look up different pages, blogs, and websites and read the stories, the positive affirmations etc. Here are a few for you:

http://baribits.blogspot.com/
http://bariatricgirl.blogspot.com/
 http://gastricbypassbarbie.com/

Facebook – Bariatric Life Coach Association, Bariatric Girl, Gastric Bypass Barbie

There is a wealth of positiveness going on in the bariatric community and know that we are here for you! As my friend Gastric Bypass Barbie says “Sometimes we all need a Positivity Suppository"! Let’s start removing the stinking thinking and replacing it with positive energy.. 

I hope something in this post has touched your heart and that you continue to find positive support through our online group. 

I leave you with this about the Law of Attraction:

My Every Story Is Attracting its Vibrational Match…

Every thought that you think is vibrating at a very personal frequency . . . and by the powerful Law of Attraction (the essence of that which is like unto itself, is drawn), that thought is now attracting another thought that is its Vibrational Match. And now, those combined thoughts are vibrating at a frequency that is higher than the thought that came before; and they will now, by the Law of Attraction, attract another and another and another, until eventually the thoughts will be powerful enough to attract a “real life" situation or manifestation.
Excerpted from Money and the Law of Attraction — 3/31/09