KAATNS

Happy Valentines Day! From gift cards to candy hearts, boxes of chocolates to tender letters, acts of kindness, and thoughtful expressions surround this mid-winter holiday. For some, reaching out to their valentine it is just an expectation that they grudgingly fulfill. For others,


Happy Valentines Day! From gift cards to candy hearts, boxes of chocolates to tender letters, acts of kindness, and thoughtful expressions surround this mid-winter holiday. For some, reaching out to their valentine it is just an expectation that they grudgingly fulfill. For others, it presents an opportunity to share genuine love and care for a cherished relationship. I am grateful and very blessed that my husband Roger is the latter. He is beyond kind, and always and completely acts out of love. He makes decisions based on what is best for those involved, and spends his days in service to others. An incredible man to be sure.
And, Roger cooks! He is a great cook and loves to prepare wonderful meals. You see preparing good food is how he shows his love for his family. And feeding me, is how he shows his love for me. Hmm, to be honest, sometimes, that is a challenge for me. Meals are one thing, but the homemade cinnamon rolls, baked bread, fudge (and you know about me and fudge) and especially the chocolate mint on my pillow each night are quite another. So kind, so thoughtful, yet so full of calories I simply cannot afford! But I can’t say anything, can I?
Years ago I came across an article by Gayle Andrews, PhD entitled “Intimate Saboteurs” Dr. Andrews included several case studies in which people who loved and cared very much about their WLS patient unknowingly ( though sometimes deliberately) sabotaged their weight loss success. Showing love with food is common. Many of us were raised that way. (See I Love You, Have a Cookie ).
So what’s a person to do? Well, for myself, I sometimes secretly throwing things out. Not always mind you, but more than once, after raving about Roger’s homemade cinnamon rolls, I have taken a bite and thrown the rest down the disposal. Not always, but sometimes the mint on my pillow ends up in the garbage. Or sometimes those extra lovin' spoonfuls go to my dog! You see, it’s just best that way. I could ask him to stop, and I have tried but I have come to realize that it is so very important to him to share his love and talent that way. So, I manage one delicious, caring calorie at a time.
When it comes to our weight management - what's love got to do with it? Well, I believe everything. There are so many people in our lives who love us with food. Each of us must find our own way to deal with "the love" in a way consistent with our commitment to both our beloved supporters and with our Success Habits.

Don't be so sure about that.....
20 years ago, when I was close to the same weight I am now, I hated running too. Then after gaining 130+ lbs, I was sure it was forever out of the question!
But funny things can happen to us after losing significant amounts of weight and improving our health. You may ( and already have, it sounds like ) experience the desire to do those 5k walks/runs you see and hear so many people talk about....never mind any pace or time in the beginning. A lot of times our first one is for some charitable cause....a donation if you will. It's just you against yourself....proving to yourself that you can do this. And I assure you, you can.
Next thing you know, One shirt, two shirts....soon, you'll have a whole closet full of them. And you'll want more! It really can be addicting.
I was at a support group meeting a couple weeks ago, when the NUT asked me before I had my surgery, if I could have ever imagined I'd be running a half marathon. I couldn't have imagined walking up a couple flights of stairs without getting winded 5 years ago.
But with a little determination and a lot of motivation from my running coach ( ), we're runners!
Congrats on signing up for your first one!
PS....I grew up not far from E-town. Go Wildcats!

You my dear are stunning!!

You my dear are stunning!!

You my dear are stunning!!

You my dear are stunning!!

It does happen occasionally and if I'm lucky, it will pass. If not, no biggie. I've gotten stuck while driving, in restaurants, on the side of the road (thanks CF!) on an airplane, etc. It takes some trial and error to find the foods that won't go down. Just be patient and chew, chew, chew.

Absolutely, without a doubt!

I'm doing the Color Run in Cincinnati! Looks like a lot of fun.

Absolutely, without a doubt!

I've been stuck. Ever wonder what drowning is like? That's how I felt. Couldn't breathe and couldn't swallow. I learned a very hard lesson that day. Shoveling groceries down my neck like I did pre op is a no no post op. I wouldn't be as concerned with what to do when it happens as much as I would be concerned with how to prevent it. Small bites, lots of chewing and time is what it takes to prevent in most cases. Take your time and enjoy your meals. Chew chew chew and you shouldn't have any issues. You do not want to be stuck but if it happens the best thing to do is remain calm and just understand what your body is going through during an episode. Had I not read up enough on the postings from the members here I would have been freaking out when I got stuck. Don't freak out if you get stuck and don't be hard on yourself if you get stuck. Just move forward and use it as an experience to learn from.

Look at your band site(stoma) as if it's a funnel. Large and even small chunks of food can plug it up. For me, it's usually just too much food eaten too fast that impacts and overwhelms the pouch area in front of the stoma. For example: Triscuits with all their little crisp threads, even chewed to mush, seem to behave like a dam in front of my stoma and no food can pass till the esophageal peristalsis contractions force the bolus of food to pass the stoma.
Dry foods like chicken, roast pork and beef seem to struggle getting through my stoma. It rarely is painful for me but it is quite uncomfortable. It happened Saturday night at a restaurant. I had to wait about 30 minutes for it to pass. Sometimes, it can take an hour to pass.
I've never been one who can PB(productive burp) these up. I do slime a lot though. Sliming is when your esophagus creates a lot of saliva/phlegm to lubricate the path through to the stomach. If you're home, you can spit it up. I've spent several minutes in restaurant bathrooms spitting up gobs of slime. It seems to reduce the pressure and discomfort.
Ask me anything? I've probably been stuck 300 times in the last 2 years.

Best decision I've ever made for myself. I'd do it over again in a heartbeat!

Last night I decided to sign up for this year's Color Run with my husband and in-laws! This is a HUGE step for me, since I've been avoiding walking long distances for years. I'm definitely not ready to walk (not run!) 5k yet, but I have six months to get myself there! I'm so glad I feel I can finally put myself "out there" and do things that I've always wanted to!

Absolutely, without a doubt!

here i am wanting to do a stupid selfie (no make up either haha)
playing dress up in hubs shirt
but also have on his captain american boggin

Love these!
I'm loving the confidence exuding!
My 4AM selfie on the way to get my soldier off that plane from Afghanistan! Yay he's home!!!

No makeup or hair done but here's my latest selfie lol

Me and my baby girl selfles

So incredibly true! Tara...you look stunning.
Parisshel! The difference is amazing. And I like your brows!...I just had mine done and had to redo them they did such a bad job!
Leepers. What an awesome closet space. I need something like that! And you look GREAT.

I'll play! Most recent face only selfie on left; compared with face shot on right (from 2010, was not even at my highest weight there).
Excuse the too-dark and witchlike eyebrows; I'd just had them done. I don't look that scary IRL. I hope.

A few of me from this week

You know the best part of all these selfies is the confidence you can see exuding from the smiles. Especially since many of us spent years without it.

Gorgeous!!

Debbie! you finally got it! Love it girl!
Lellow... your man must be blind. That selfie was WAY better than Assassin's Creed.
Lisa! Gorgeous in Red! That needs to be your new profile pic!
CG...you make sweat look good.
Kaatns! Gorgeous! You're glowing!