Cologirl

@@venomousflowers, I can totally relate to a lot of what you are feeling. Although I am only a month out from surgery, I too feel I am losing more slowly than I should, which frustrates the he** out of me, I am just trying to follow the plan as best I can, and forgive myself for not being perfect.
I also live alone, without relatives, family or my closest friends nearby. I moved from Colorado to Washington DC, and I understand how lonely and isolating that can be. However it does get better, I don't know how long you have been in Fla, but it took me about a year or year and a half to feel at home, so to speak. Even so, I still struggle with it. Sometimes it all I can do to get out of my PJs.
I noticed you listed some hobbies, I went to Meetup.com and found groups interested in the same hobbies I have. I go to a knitting group, a Bridge group and a book club. It took some trial and error, but I have met several good people in these groups, and it gets me out so I don't feel so isolated.
I also use FaceTime or Skype to stay in touch with my support network, my close friends and family that are all over the country. It makes me feel more connected with them than a phone call.
Reading through the replies, I think finding a therapist that specializes in bariatric folks is a great idea, and I plan to talk to my surgeon about it as well.
I am also familiar with the Beck Diet Solution book mentioned, though I hadn't thought about it in years. It is a book you read as you go through your journey, not read first then start. It does help, because it isn't just about what you eat and how much excercise you get, but more about your thinking and behaviors that center around food. In fact, I think I will pull it off my bookshelf today, and commit to it this time. (Yep, the first time I started to read it was yet another time I didn't really commit...sigh, bygones!)
Hang in there, everyone here is cheering for you, and if you are ever coming to DC ping me!

@@venomousflowers, I can totally relate to a lot of what you are feeling. Although I am only a month out from surgery, I too feel I am losing more slowly than I should, which frustrates the he** out of me, I am just trying to follow the plan as best I can, and forgive myself for not being perfect.
I also live alone, without relatives, family or my closest friends nearby. I moved from Colorado to Washington DC, and I understand how lonely and isolating that can be. However it does get better, I don't know how long you have been in Fla, but it took me about a year or year and a half to feel at home, so to speak. Even so, I still struggle with it. Sometimes it all I can do to get out of my PJs.
I noticed you listed some hobbies, I went to Meetup.com and found groups interested in the same hobbies I have. I go to a knitting group, a Bridge group and a book club. It took some trial and error, but I have met several good people in these groups, and it gets me out so I don't feel so isolated.
I also use FaceTime or Skype to stay in touch with my support network, my close friends and family that are all over the country. It makes me feel more connected with them than a phone call.
Reading through the replies, I think finding a therapist that specializes in bariatric folks is a great idea, and I plan to talk to my surgeon about it as well.
I am also familiar with the Beck Diet Solution book mentioned, though I hadn't thought about it in years. It is a book you read as you go through your journey, not read first then start. It does help, because it isn't just about what you eat and how much excercise you get, but more about your thinking and behaviors that center around food. In fact, I think I will pull it off my bookshelf today, and commit to it this time. (Yep, the first time I started to read it was yet another time I didn't really commit...sigh, bygones!)
Hang in there, everyone here is cheering for you, and if you are ever coming to DC ping me!

I'm a newbie. I feel like a lot of people are throwing pity parties.
"What do you mean I can't have fried chicken and mashed potatoes and chocolate cake for dinner????"
I think the thing I miss the most is grilled cheese. But tough titties I can't have it. I miss Sprite when I'm nauseous (which is like all the time) tough crap I have to live with diluted Gatorade.
I knew I couldn't be around food early out so I skipped 4th of July and Memorial Day bbqs. Did it suck? Yeah! But I ate my oatmeal and Soup like a champ. food will always be there later.