Gina in NY

Although I’ve discussed that I’m growing into the greatest me I can be several times here, I’ve yet to discuss the painful process of getting there.

It is not that long ago that I lived every day, every waking moment, feeding myself lies to survive the unbalanced, unhealthy, selfish life I’d created for myself. Now on the outside, many people saw me as together, strong, even-tempered, secure, fearless and vivacious etc. I saw myself that way, but people who really get it, people...

I was at a meeting the other day, to help those of us mentoring new teachers with methods, inspirations etc. But what I took away was a pathway for accomplishing complex change, and lets face it, going from Morbid Obesity to Optimal Health - that is pretty complex of a change!

The list of needed elements for true change is:
Vision
Skills
Incentive
Resources
Action Plan

Then you have an ongoing evaluation of how the change is going,...

In January of 2008, 18 months out of surgery, communication with John was really getting intense. I was growing and changing fast and John was an excellent teacher. He respected me, but was uncompromising about my need to be honest with myself. He was sympathetic at times, but not willing to listen to bull.

Self-honesty must be one of the hardest things in the world. I told myself for years that I had the perfect marriage. Told myself for years that I was an amazing, strong woman,...

I joined the TT forum in September of 05’ when I was first trying to lose the 10%. Although I wouldn’t have my surgery till June of 06’, I was on here every day for advice, information and camaraderie. I made some great friends. I learned a LOT more than I would have from my bariatric team alone and I watched how other people succeeded or struggled and tried to figure out what made the difference.

I was 6 months out from surgery when John joined the forum in Jan 07’ and I can remember...

My childhood and adolescence are not all that interesting or different from most of us who find ourselves morbidly obese later in life, so I will begin my story with how I came to decide to have the RNY.

A year before I registered for the first information session out of my surgeon’s office, I loudly exclaimed to my therapist (who was supposed to be helping me with my food addiction) that anyone who had a gastric bypass was “TOTALLY INSANE!” Then a dear friend, one of the most talented...