Barbara C.

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Literally!

Yesterday, when I was getting out of the car an incredible storm came upon us. The wind must have been blowing at more than 60 or 70 miles an hour. It was blowing so furiously, it literally ripped my glasses from my face and blew them down the street. I raced off to find my glasses because now that I'm firmly planted in middle age, I can't read without them. At any rate, the wind was at my back and blowing so hard that even though I was leaning back so hard into the wind it felt like I would lay down, the wind was tossing me forward so that I was nearly running. I felt like I was being tossed about like a leaf on a blustery fall day. It must have been an incredible amusing site because my dear husband Ben, said he could see me disappearing behind him and he just waited for me to reappear. He laughed at me... we need to add that to Mare's list of stupid things... not stupid things I did, but stupid things he did. At any rate, I was very lucky and able to find my glasses. They are a bit scratched up, but I have 'em on.

Ben said he bet that wouldn't have happened a couple of years ago and I'll bet he's right. Yesterdays windy experience gives new meaning to the term 'being blown away' and I guess it means I really am a lightweight now.

We had our first Get Together for the Bander's Group this week. We met at the local Applebee's which has a nice WLS friendly menu.

We didn't have a large turnout, but it seemed to be very successful for those who attended. It was nice for members to be able to talk about the successes and struggles that they are encountering on their journey and to realize that they are not alone. Tips on types of foods, textures, and quantities were shared. We also talked about food journaling and the benefits of awareness. We talked about the fact that we tend to make better decisions for ourselves when we look at what we are eating when it's written down in black and white... even when no one else will see it.

This looks like it's going to be a very successful event and we look forward to watching it develop and grow as we meet once a month.

... and it was WONDERFUL!

I know that this might not seem like a big deal, but for me this was a big deal. I used to have massages on a very regular basis and as my observant 14 year old daughter has mentioned, I was much more comfortable with myself before I had surgery than I have been since I've lost the weight. I'm okay, clothed, but unclothed UGH!!! Feb 08 was my 50th birthday and my sister and brother gave me a gift certificate for a massage, but I just couldn't loosen up and go. Well, it expires in a couple of weeks and the scotch in me got the best of me and I decided I just couldn't let it expire because I was too embarrased to use it. I was nervous. I did explain that I'd lost a great deal of weight and had a lot of loose skin to my massage therapist. She was very nice and I had lovely massage. It's taking a while, but I think with time, I'm growing up and learning to accept my body.

This month's in-person support group meeting was held at the "Golden Corral" in Raleigh today. We had a very nice turn-out with about 40 members, despite the incredibly cold morning.

The 'Thought for the Month' was Making Changes. We talked about how this journey is about making changes... some big and some small. We talked about making a list of the changes we want to make. Prioritizing those changes and then picking one to work on each month.

When we introduced ourselves as went around the room, many shared some of the changes that they would like to make in the coming months.

We had a clothing swap which allowed some of us to gain some much needed room in our closets, while allowing others to shop through some of the goodies that were donated by friends that no longer needed them. It was a win/win situtation.

We will be maintaining the monthly in person general support group meetings on the 3rd Saturday morning of each month, but because our group has grown to be so large, I have started a few special interest groups and we talked about them at this meeting. We now have a Grads Group that addresses issues of interest to those who have had at least one surgiversary, a Banders Group the addresses issues of interest to those with restrictive only WLS and on Over50 BMI Group that addresses issues of interest to those who started their journey with BMIs over 50. These special interest groups are open to anyone who would like to join in, but the focus of the discussions is directed towards the specific special interest.

We are arranging to have some special events. The first will be a seminar put on by a local plastic surgeon that has experience with WLS patients.

We also sent a "We're Thinking of You" card around. As you know, we all have our 'reasons' for taking the plunge and having WLS. For one of our members, the big reason was that she wanted to start a family and her weight was standing in the way. Forturnately, her surgery was successful, she lost the excess weight and has been blessed with a pregnancy. Unfortunately, there has been a complication that has caused her to be hospitalized for the remainder of the pregnancy, so we passed around the card so that everyone could send her our loving concern. A few of us went to hospital afterwards to share the card and visit for a while.