bridgetgirl

I think this is a good idea for our newbies as well as prebies too, who have concern when they feel they are goofing up, or fallen off the wagon! This can be used for long termers too!

If you are having a bad pounch day, food feels stuck, you vomit inconsistently, go back to basics. Clear liquids for a couple of days should get you back on track.

Throw away that scale or give it to a friend. You didnt consistently weigh yourself before surgery, dont start now. You will only allow those numbers (which are perfect) to determine your self worth. (You are not perfect)

Take your measurements, every week! Take photos in a doorway or in front of your refrigerator to visually monitor your growth.

Plan your meals. Meals should last (time varies by surgeon) usually 15-20 mins. Me? I do 10-15. When you get further out, and you are disciplined (like I have been) you get the idea on what you can eat in a specific amount of time.

Do not eat in the car, in front of the TV or at your desk or computer. You cannot enjoy and focus on your nourishment while multi tasking. If you must eat in your car, make sure you planned to do it (ie running errands on lunch break) and bring your planned meal with you.

I do not recommend eating breakfast in the car for the first year if you can help it. One day a protein bar will sit just fine, and the next your sharting all over the place! Embarassing! To this day I WILL not eat a nutrigrain bar in the car EVER. Too much of a crap shoot-pardon the pun!

If you ate something one day and enjoyed it, does not always mean you will have the same experience with it the next time you try it. You didnt mess up, its just a new fact of life!

Go to support group! On line, face to face, what ever you can do-do it! They are essential for long term success. If you notice all the people here that are three years out and post regularily have maintained their weightloss, the majority of the long termers that visit infrequently do so because they have gained weight and want to try and get back to support. I know ALOT of WLS patients, trust me on this.

Keep an extra change of clothes in your car whenever possible.

Your ex will not go crazy over the idea of losing you, and treating you horribly as he did in the past-just because you are hot now.

Being thin will not make all of your financial problems disappear.

You will lose friends, expect it. Its not your problem. The only thing you have control over is the kind of friend you are to them. Sometimes no matter what you did they appear resentful, stop calling or inviting you places. Make sure you try one time, and always one more time to call them too. But, dont beat a dead horse either and move on to making new friends.

How to deal with comments:

You will hear "You have changed!" You respond, 'Thank God I did!"

You will hear, and choose not to believe, " Hey hot momma, Hey skinny girl", etc. Your reply is to SMILE and say "Thank You". If you disagree with the person giving the compliment it insults that person, and makes the conversation uncomfortable with your insistance and theres. The solution is to smile and say thank you no matter what!


You will hear, " Wow you look great!" You can either smile and say thank you or respond with "Thanks I feel great!" Thats the one I use.

If you think your marriage or relationship is shaky now, it will usually get worse after surgery, losing weight wont bond you together, but communication will.

Im sure there will be many more to build upon. Good luck to all of you!

__________________
J.Bridget Fisher aka koi-pea
2/9/04 lap 5'11"
298/172

Find me on face book using this email; bridgetgirl@msn.com

"People will argue with you that getting what you want in life isn’t something you can learn, if you’re destined to be one of the worlds winners as opposed to one of its perpetual whiners, its because you have been born with the right talents and temperament and have a big dose of self-esteem, ambition, and good judgment." Kate White