joyfulinga

Today the people in the United States will elect a President for the next 4 years. Each "side" has their reasons for selecting the candidate of their choosing. There are issues and policies at stake that will affect the entire country no matter which side you plan to vote for. On a much smaller scale this is election day for your body today. What will you elect to do for the next 4 years? Will you focus on the policies (eating guidelines, exercise, drinking Water, etc.). Maybe you'll focus on the foreign policies such as what size you wear, the number on the scale, etc. Healthcare is a huge topic....what about yours...will you remain faithful to your plan so that your health is good and you do not have to take an endless list of meds to live or feel good. Elect to follow your beliefs, your wants and desires. Having WLS was a life changing event that gave you options you never had in the past. You were given the gift of feeling "normal" instead of feeling huge, bloated and defeated. Think back to the last 4 years or the 4 years before that and reflect on the State of YOU! Think about how you were then and how you are now. How has your character changed? Do you still have the early excitement? Have you allowed yourself to gain a little back? Maybe a lot back? I challenge each person to "elect" to choose the good things that have blessed us so much. Following your surgeon's directions, guarding against mindless eating, empty calories or slider foods. There are days I feel strong and capable while other days I feel like I'm hanging on by a thread. I'm sure you have days like that too but the difference between now and all those years ago is that you have a tool and the tool is there. When the horse throws you off, get back on and show it who's boss. Just like that horse that has a strong will that has to be broken, your will must be broken without breaking your spirit. Hold onto that spirit that says "I can do this" because you can and you will!

Sometimes thyroid will make you feel all drug out too. I suppose your doctor will check all that with bloodwork.

When I am off the carbs and have them out of my system I feel much more energetic. That coupled with the excitement of surgery I bet you are jittery. It only gets better!

Well here I am on my new blog. I'm not sure where to start so I will just ramble a minute. I had RNY in June 2008. My starting weight was 328 lbs. I lost down to 175 lbs. in about 13 months. I did pretty well and maintained until after my oldest son passed away in December 2010. I literally fell off the wagon and gained back weight, a lot of weight. I was shocked to find I weighed 246 lbs. I was so disappointed and scared that I cried. How could I have let this happen? Looking back there were several opportunities to get a grip but I didn't. Fast forward to October 5-6, 2012. I attended the Obesity Help Conference here in Atlanta. I walked away with a renewed sense of "I can do this". I went back to basics and eliminated the carbs, made protein my first priority, drinking my water and walking. This past Monday I weighed 225.2. I know I have a ways to go but I'm on the right track! Joyful

Fantastic! Congratulations Peach!

I agree with Junior....call your doctor. If he/she isn't helpful, go to the emergency room.

Oh sweet girl....there really is nothing to be afraid of. Surgery doesn't change who YOU are inside. You will still be the awesome person you are now, you just won't have the health issues, the feelings of disappointment and all the things you want to have surgery to get away from. Think of how cool it will be to (here were a few of mine): cross your legs, buy something in the Junior or Misses department, walk 3 miles without an aching back, never hear the doctor say you'll need insulin soon, throw out your blood pressure meds, feel good about yourself, etc. Get the picture. You need to do this for you and no one else. You are worth being healthy and happy. You matter so it matters! Hang in there and come on back when you need a pick me up.

Good evening peeps and Happy Halloween to all of you! I hope you do not get candy this year but maybe some chicken and cheese. ha ha Today was not a great day for me. I was just sad. My old director was let go from the company I work for yesterday and it just made me sad. That coupled with the fact that our office had a costume contest and luncheon but no one copied me on the email. I was having a SERIOUS pity party all by myself this morning. I had not brought anything and did not don a costume. I'm not sure why the pity party because not going to the luncheon actually helped me stay on my plan. I didn't see the goodies so I had no horrible moments. I just didn't put myself through it. Now I feel pretty good about that! How has your week been? Joyful

Welcome to the Back on Track group. Having gastric bypass surgery opens doors to a whole new YOU! It is a life changing experience that allows you to do things you never thought possible. What happens when you put back on a little weight???? A lot of weight??? Well you can throw in the towel and concede muttering how life isn't fair and you knew you'd always be big or... You can hold your head high and get back in that saddle. All the right things you did at the beginning can be done again. Are you eating carbs? Are you eating "white" foods? Exercising? Drinking Water? Get the picture. If you answered no to any of these CONGRATULATIONS! You have just found your places to start. Come join us and we'll lose the regained weight and achieve our goals together! All are welcome! Joyful

Good evening my friends! When you had RNY did you ever tell yourself "if I lose this weight I will never let myself gain it back again"? Well, I sure did. I had RNY in June of 2008 and went from 328 lbs. to 175 lbs. I felt positively svelt and could do all the things I could never do heavy. I continued on and did very well until my son passed away suddenly at the age of 27. That was in December 2010. He had a brain tumor in 2001 near his pituitary and due to the trauma to the gland, he would be on testerone injections, thyroid meds, DDAVP (Desmopressin for Diabetes Insipidus) and an assorted other types of pills to do for him what the pituitary couldn't. One of those drugs was Prednisone. He had been on them for nearly 10 years to help provide the cortisol his adrenal gland no longer did. My son literally dropped dead outside his apartment on Friday, December 17, 2010. I had just hung up with him and I said "I love you Brandon" and he said "not as much" and I said "whatever". We found out he had passed on Saturday afternoon when he didn't meet me for Christmas shopping. Long story to say that the prednisone had caused severe liver damage and the liver had severe cirrhosis. The cause of death: Arythmia caused by Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. After Brandon died, I can't explain it other than I felt like I was being trivial to count carbs and exercise when he would never be able to do those things. I was pretty strong throughout the arrangements and the weeks to come. The only way you could really tell I wasn't dealing well is when my weight started spiraling out of control. Fast forward to September 2012. I was 246 lbs. which was a definite oppositie of "I will NEVER gain it back again". I felt fat and bloated. I was sad and felt like I had (once again) let myself go. I decided I had to do something so I attended the Obesity Help Conference here in Atlanta. That was the motivation I needed to get back on the wagon and get the regained weight gone. I started a program called Back on Track through the Bariatric Resource Center and I am literally back to basics. Protein, protein, protein.....watching those carbs.....starting to move more.....drink water.....log my food on My Fitness Pal. If you have regained and want to get back on the loser's train, this groups for YOU! We can discuss our ups and downs (quite literally), our strategies, our plans and lessons learned. Monday was my weigh in day and I am at 225.2 which is still about 50 lbs. to get back to where I got down to but I'm on the journey. Come join me and we can do this together!!!

Please touch base and tell us how wonderful you feel.

Oh please don't even consider taking it up again. I started again in the 2nd year. Bad idea. Here I am trying to walk, exercise, be all healthy with a cigarette hanging out of my face. I was really stupid, please do not do it.