NancyintheNorth

I like this idea. I haven't even had surgery yet - it's next week, but as I already facilitate networking groups and the like, I'd love to lead. But if not, I'd certainly attend. BP could help with agendas or topics for discussion. I also think that the group should be for anyone and as many that need it. I love the thought of a convention with motivational speakers and or those from the medical field. I'm wondering what resources BP has thought of for those that lead, and why would I want to lead? Loving leading and instructing and helping others is a HUGE motivation for me, but is there something else I'm missing? I like the thought of a monthly meeting as you have a continuous process. I feel that quarterly meetings would be too far apart. Monthly meetings that focus on sharing, learning and speaking. It gives attendees a forum where they feel they can fit in. At a meeting I'd also love for those that experienced any progress that there is a 'winners moment', or 'success' time. I'd love high energy. Mostly not only do I want to feel good, but I want to help others feel good.

You are so right, our posts are similar. Thanks for the lead on the book, I will absolutely get it. I look forward to following your posts!

thanks a bunch luckyknickers57

I've just read your blog and wow...wow Winter has been hard for many with the polar vortex and all and it's hard to see that spring will ever arrive. Take tiny tiny steps. Do little things for yourself. Get a mani/pedi. Take your daughter to a local community center that has an indoor pool. Her excitement and enthusiasm will help you with yours. Get involved in something. Buy a new lipstick, or a new pair of shoes. Shop in a store in your community that you've never been in. Hang in there, be nice to you, stop offending yourself

You will find lots of help here. Congratulations as you focus on taking care of you and doing what you need to do!

I sort of thought that as time went on, this liquid pre-op would get easier. In some ways it does and in other ways it bites. I'm tired of just liquid and vegetables. Ah, I'll soldier on. I keep reminding myself that once I hear what I've lost during this pre-op phase that I'll be happy with myself. I do far better earlier in the day, as the day wanes on from about 4pm onwards I'm out of energy and interest. I'm working on making that a positive. I find myself pretty reflective as I work through emotional issues. If I don't work through some of those issues I don't feel I'll be successful because we all do this to ourselves for some reason. On Tuesday when I left my therapist I wanted donuts. In a former life I'd stop, go in the drive through, and buy two donuts and eat them in a huge hurry because I was on my way home. But after leaving her office, I wondered why I wanted them. Sure, there is their great taste, but I know it's beyond just how they taste. I think part of it sugar addiction. I've often wondered if Skippy dog food had a sugar variety if I'd eat that too. I wanted to feel full. I could finally name that. I wanted to feel full. Full of what? Warmth spreading from within me when I eat, enveloped in sugar love. So I really examined that, really thought about it and of course, didn't buy the donuts, which not long after I got home I'd forgotten about them anyway. Can food be love? You can surely love food, but isn't there something 'right' or correct about loving what well balanced food can do for you as a tool. Making you feel better, making your body work for you (me), filling it with nutrition. I can love food, and do but I think an important distinction is that I abuse food. I eat unhealthy food, I consume it in great quantities, I use it maybe to remind myself that I'm not all that great, not all that loved. **** that's awful. Just free thinking here. 6 days until surgery

love it - thanks!

Congrats on your amazing success. I wonder if one way to realize you have fallen off the wagon is to have to buy a bigger size again? Get rid of those clothes and make room for new favourites

Imagine your new life and all that you have suffered. We are cheering you on for taking care of yourself

Try doing something today that you don't usually do. Go to a local community centre for a swim. Go shop at a store you haven't been to. Walk at a park that you haven't been to. Go get a mani/pedi. Start there. Change your perspective. Every tiny step you take will lead you back to feeling good about you. I'm thinking about you and sending good wishes,

So yesterday was stressful Contractor chaos at home along with my poor dog who is nervous around ladders and paint rollers. I took her to her doggy day care as this wears her out. I'd planned on breakfast and lunch as I had meetings to attend. I drank breakfast on the way to the morning meeting. I ordered tea only but was sort of wistfully sad when a colleague ordered my favourite breakfast sandwich and sat next to me. I focused on ignoring her until she was done. As I was at a restaurant and because I had time to kill until a much later appointment I went outside to get my iPad and "lunch". When I picked up the bag and had already gotten it inside I realized that the shake had opened and had spilled its contents onto my SmartShape paperwork and onto my chargers. I got a load of napkins and pulled stuff out of the bag. I'm sue I looked ridiculous as it's colour - due to me adding a packet of crystal light to the vanilla shake looked a bit like blood. I caught MANY looks and a manager came over after asking if he could help me. Once I told him what had happened he laughed his head off. The manager left and then I had to hunt an electrical outlet because of course my iPad was out of juice - typical. I knew that some seating areas had outlets but I had a hard time discerning which ones because the baseboards are painted black as are the outlets. I asked a waitress for help but she was just unsure of which tables had the outlets. Now I'm not tiny. I'm 5'11" and I weigh 250 lbs. bending over to try to see is a challenge. I decided that because I HAD to get some of this work done that I'd have to get down on my hands and knees to see if I could see the &$(!?$$ outlet. I crawled underneath the table and finally was able to see it. So picture this - my full (REALLY full) moon was in the air and because I'm so tall I keep knocking my but and my head on the table threatening to overturn it. I look up and can see the shins of others passing by and two women who are sitting across from my table say "where's the wacko with the bloody bag". I emerged from under the table and smiled at them and said "right here" As I left the restaurant I stopped and bought hubby a treat ignoring my most favourite cookie. What a day. I'm admitting to hunger on occasion, but I haven't eaten anything I'm not allowed. Having seemingly non stop chaos at home leaves me tired. By tomorrow the painters will be in the basement and I should be able to mostly working from home. No access to pictures. Feels odd to end this without a picture. Tomorrow I'll post two to make up!

woooooooooooooohooooooooooooooo WAY TO GO!

thanks so much luckyknickers57! I have yet to experience the restaurant, however, I'm still on the pre-op diet. Tomorrow I have a lunch get together with friends. I'm thinking I'll tell a story about how I just ate. Oi, what's a girl to do

I'd do something out of the ordinary. Take a day off and go and play somewhere. Go to a museum, or a park, or go to a nearby city or town that you haven't visited recently. go to a library, call a friend, go see someone you'd like to see. Visit a gardening centre just to look at flowers For me - the worst is doing nothing but stewing. I'm thinking about you!

Way to go, keep at it

Well yesterday (which was day 4) was better and yet tougher in some ways. The handsome one and I are in major renovations. And yesterday was the home depot, IKEA and a local carpeting place, followed by a trip to the grocery store (more on this in a bit). Now that the master bed and bath is complete, it's moving furniture back into place, lifting, moving, up an down the stairs. I'm glad for the exercise, as it's too icy outside to walk, but I'm also glad that hubby and I decided that today was a 'day off' work wise. Hubby was sure to ask me repeatedly if I wanted to stay home rather than run errands and especially go to the grocery store. In my thoughts I feel that I have to face the grocery store, it's not reality when you choose to eliminate something that is vital like getting food. But it was hard....really hard and sort of sad - for only a bit. I wanted to buy bags of chips so that I could sit in front of the tv and consume them. On the way out of the store I had that same sad feeling when I could smell the chicken roasting. I know that these things can come back to me in food, but I'll have to be especially wary of chips. Today I've woken up feeling great despite all of yesterdays work. I'll try to walk again today and if not, I have a small trampoline downstairs that I'll use. I'm so grateful for all of the comments I receive. I thank you for reading and commenting. This is a great forum for getting the support you need.

Don't feel alone at all. I'm right here. Thanks for your note of support!

I love dogs...so good of you to save him. In some ways he will likely save you too

way to go!!!

Yippee, congrats!

Congratulations - I'm thinking about you!

I'm tired, really tired and pretty weak. On the other hand, I'm soooooooooo glad to be on this pre-op because it's helping me so much in gaining control. Yesterday it dawned on me that the Unjury Chicken Soup wasn't discussed in any of the handouts I have. I checked with the dietician and she says it's off limits during this phase, so yesterday, it was just Slim Time for me. I tried the chocolate during lunch and used the chocolate and put in a fair amount of peppermint extract. Made me imagine that I was eating Girl Scout Thin Mints. Any trick will work for me. Other than being tired I feel fine, hungry at times but I just continue to swamp myself with water. I'm glad that I drank a lot of water before I started this (it's maybe the ONE good thing I've done for a long long time), otherwise I'd struggle to get it all in. Along with surgery, I'm also spending time with a therapist who specializes in obesity and family issues. I've long been convinced that my eating difficulties are related to 'stuffing' emotional issues. I can see now how I had few outlets for my emotions and that translated into me eating to sooth myself. I have to learn new behaviours. I'm glad I'm doing therapy at the same time. I think my odds of relapsing will be lessened if I could just get a handle on why I do what I do (binge eating, overeating, etc.) and how to stop doing what I've always done. It's not to say that I think I wouldn't relapse - god that scares me SO much. My parents were alcoholic and they never relapsed but they talked about how easy it is, and I equate this to something like alcoholism - an addiction. Once I start with the carbohydrates and the sweet stuff I am lost and reigning myself in is very very difficult. I'm blessed that I can have this surgery and for now, I'm grateful for the pre-op diet.

oh wow...how exciting! Way to go!!!!! You give me hope

Congratulations to you, I hope this also happens to me!

talk to your doctor, or take a free consultation with a bariatric surgeon. I doubt there would be malabsorption issues as the band doesn't prevent those types of issues. If all else fails, I've bought a pill crusher and will down those meds in one swift shot. Best of luck to you