Question:
Has keeping a journal on your WLS helped?

Has it helped keep you motivated looking back on pics, measurements and your thoughts of what you looked like and felt like before, during, and after the surgery? I am definitely going to continue doing it. But I would think the pics and measurements would be a great motivator. Thanks    — gonnabethinfinally (posted on April 17, 2009)

April 17, 2009
Hi, I just had my lap on April 1st, and I took pictures and am keeping a journal. I have one for writing my foods in and another for inches and weight loss/pics. I'm doing this mainly to help me in the future when I have periods of not loosing weight, or when I am frustrated. I think It will help remind me of what I have gone through and how to stick to a healthy way of eating on this new Journey. I am 56 and have 10 kids, 8 adopted special needs kids. I weighed 308 at the beginning and am currently at 294, my kids are my main motivation, and journaling is just another tool to help me maintain my focus. Good luck on your journey. Carolyn
   — Cjames3259

April 18, 2009
Journaling is a great tool. I also found that menu planning has been a tremendous help on keeping me on track, giving me new ways to fix healthy foods and taking the stress out of the process.
   — AuntPamcakes4six

April 18, 2009
Yes..in the beginning it was fun and exciting to see the numbers and the inches being lost. After the honeymoon period when rapid weight loss stops though, I let it all go and enjoyed the next 3 years as a regular person just enjoying my life and not making food/weight/protein intake etc my main focus all day and all night (It actually get boring when you finally get thin and people stop treating you like a celebrity!) I watch the scale for any weight fluctuations and if I gain 1-4 lbs I try to counter act it with a little extra exercise and a few days eating leaner proteins and lower calorie meals and it goes down immediately...When I see a 5 pound or more weight gain, I know I have been naughty and I need to get serious, pull out my food scales and measuring cups and get my butt back on track (sneakers and all)! Journaling my every intake is crucial at those times so I never let that 5 lbs turn to ten and continue....It's sooooo easy to grab back control when you don't allow little fluxes to grow and you KNOW what you are eating...It's good to know how many calories your metabolism can handle...and when you do have problems you can track where your mistakes might be and where to cut back! So journaling is an amazing aid in maintanence and leraning your personal limits! I am a very spontaneous but organized person. Journaling can become obessive for me to the point that all I can think about is calories and fats and protein grams....Thinking about food all day and night makes me want to eat more and so there comes a time I just need to stop focusing so hard and just enjoy living without thinking of food and weight 24/7...But absolutely use it to help you learn your metabolism, your limits, calories etc! I randomly check my daily calories to see where I am...and it's usually right on 1600-1800 calories...some days I have very low numbers and sometimes even higher! But this is where I maintain my weight and have for 5 years! So, yes! Journal that entire first year and enjoy it as you learn a new lifestyle... but don't let it consume you after a while...when you are doing well, allow a little trust and freedom in yourself ...breathe without all the obessing...and just enjoy your successes! But do not hesitate to get obessive when you need to! I do! Happy journaling!
   — .Anita R.