chanakurtz

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I honestly have not been to any support groups..not because I didn't think I needed them, I just never sought out one to go to.  That brings me to this, in an effort to put together a support maintenance program here in the Houston area, how do I find out if people are interested or if they "need" what I have to offer.  Those of us who have had the surgery all to well what affects (good and bad) the surgery has had on us.  I want to be able to be a total solution to the success of WLSers...complete with a nutritionist and weight trainers...your ideas and thoughts are most appreciated....I just need to know how to get these people's attention!

The first step to losing weight is to acknowledge the need to lose it..whatever your weights are...1st we have to Confess we are FAT (Finally Accept the Truth)...this has absolutely nothing to do with physical weight but everything to do with all the other "stuff" lets talk about it...J2SL (Journey to Self Love) Empowerment Support Group, coming to an area near you!!!

I cannot express it enough...you can run but you cannot hide...if you do what's in you it will come out...no need to pull, tug, or force it...I'm a living testimony...A made up mind is a beautiful mind...all praises be to the King of Kings...I bless God for the ability to wake up and come to my senses...no more tryna figure it out..when you are following your passion, it drives you to keep moving no matter what it "looks" like...when you follow your passion you possess the boldness to move forward without hesitation, fear, or doubt..you realized doors were never closed when you are following your passion...you realize they were opened all the time but the passion provokes productivity...with that being said...allow your passion to overwhelm you today and take you from the place you were to the place designated for you!!!
 

You can do it, I know you can...If you have had your surgery and you are not yet happy with the results, do something different.  Allow something you love to do be the driving force for your life...no matter what you want to accomplish.  If for all these years you wanted to write a book, go back to school, start a business, travel, sing, dance...whatever your passion is...allow it to provoke change in you today..there are no more excuses...if you want the surgery, get it!!! Its a tool that has taken me from the back of the bus to the driver of the it!

Now that your decision is made up regarding the surgery...what next? I'd love to hear what your passion is!!! What do you think is keeping you from pursuing it? Lets talk about it?

You guys have been so amazing, encouraging me daily to continue to tap into my passion...I love you all! Please continue to encourage me by sending me notes that I've said something to inspire you..its what I have been created for...I will continue to be supportive and a guide for as long as I breathe. I promise to remain transparent and accessible to you, if that's what you want.

I wanted to submit to you this day something very simple...It's ok to embrace your "Weight" being over...you dont have to be ashamed that your friend or cousin had the surgery and it didnt work for them.  I can promise you, this tool works, if you use it as a tool and not the answer.  On top of that, if you do not address the issues that caused the physical weight gain to manifest, you will more than likely sabotage the purpose of the tool.  Stop asking people what they think about you having your surgery.  Because of their ignorance they are not good sources of counsel. 

As you contemplate having the surgery or if you have already had the surgery, dig into the other weights that may have you heavy..what I mean by that, what other things keep you feeling heavy...is it shame? Is it fear, guilt, doubt, anger, bitterness? Have you been molested, raped, cheated on, have you cheated? Have you felt abandoned, divorce, child acting out? Well let me share something with you...I've been molested, rape, I've cheated and been cheated on.  I've been abandoned by my father and divorced not once, not twice but three times.  I have a child with Autism and even attempted suicide...

Unfortunately, the surgery does not address emotional and psychological obesity.  Once the physical weight is gone these issues will be left exposed...you have got to address them..I'm here to help you sort those things out..I have had to deal with it and guess what? I'm perfectly fine and I know you will be too!!! I am also sure that if you address the deeper issues you will indeed be successful with the physical weight...I invite you on this journey to self love with me..its been an amazing journey to say the least!!!!

Earlier this week I posted about the emotional rollercoaster I've been on since having the surgery.  What do you do when all of your excuses to succeed has been eliminated?  It's nothing left accept DO! Many of you have decided you wanted the surgery but has allowed someone around you to discourage you based on their ignorance...that was almost me back in 2009.  My mom was so afraid because she didn't understand how the surgery would affect me, her reaction to my decision created tension between us, so much so she wouldn't go to Mexico with me.  Her response to me was, "I don't understand why you can't see yourself beautiful." My response to her was, "how about you carry an extra 100lbs of flour around and see how beautiful you feel." 

The truth of the matter is simply this.  If it's the surgery, weight watchers, change of behavior, diet or exercise; when you make up YOUR mind to do whatever YOUR heart's desire, you will be successful.  Of course there is challenges in everything we do, but when it's your decision, nobody else can hinder it.  My advice would be to surround yourself with the support you need to keep you encouraged and empowered.  In most cases, that will not be from your close family members unless someone has undergone the surgery already. 

Let me let you in on a little secret.  If you are considering having this surgery solely based on how you want to "look" this solution is not for you.  The rapid changes are very difficult to deal with and when your family tells you they never "saw" you as you "see" yourself it could potentially rock your world.  The truth is, people who love us really don't care about what we "look" like. In fact, sort of like seeing yourself everyday, they don't really see you when your changing either, unless your changes are coming from within. What I mean by this is, my family didnt see my weight loss until I was close to 100lbs gone. I remember specifically my youngest daughter going away for the summer coming back home and freaking out because she said I "looked" so skinny...that was a whole year after the surgery...it was like to her I lost it overnight but she didnt see it until she left and came back home. 

I'm saying all this to say, let's work on the inside before, during and after your surgery.  This process is a long and very trying one.  In some cases, its been 20 years that you have been carrying this weight. One would like to suggest that 7-24 months when all the physical weight is almost gone, you have arrived.  The true transformation doesn't occur until you can un-live all the years it took you to not only put the weight on but carry it from situation to situation...how are you going to handle things when your pouch won't let you overeat? When too much sugar will have you on your knees begging God not to let you die? Well the correct support group will have you grabbing for your nearest friend who knows EXACTLY what you are feeling when a box of chocolate or pint of ice cream will no longer do...

I have decided that once and for all, I LOVE ME and because I love me, I make better decisions for myself.  Gone is the day when I consider others for things before I consider myself. Gone is the day when I believe that someone else is more qualified than I am to do the thing I know I've been called to do. Gone is the day of self infliction of pain, low self-esteem, negative self-image, lack of self-confidence but improved and increased self-love. Now that I love me, I love everyone different this includes my mom and my children.  It is true, you cannot adequate love anyone until you love yourself...that too has been a very interesting and trying journey that I will be on forever...I invite you to get on this journey with me.  When your mind is made up, the sky isn't even the limit...ask NASA!!!

Just this week...my made up mind has opened doors I couldn't have even imagined!!!! Try it...please share with me any struggles you have been going thru...we have to approach our decisions with our whole heart..its not just about the physical weight as much as it is the other stuff that caused the manifestation in our physical...no matter what method you choose, just make up your mind and watch what happens!!!

Hello my fellow WLSers...Its been 3 years since surgery and I must admit I have maintained my weight just fine..however, I've been an emotional wreck...I knew this was going to happen however I had no idea the magnitude...I have been up and down, side to side and I still can't quite seem to gain momentum...I have so many business ideas and things I want to do but for some reason, I can't seem to get it together enough to complete anything...this year I completed and published my first book..well now what? Oh boy do I need help...so much so, I'm going back to my first love and going to attempt to finish my degree in psychology...if you do not know how this surgery is going to affect you...please consider strong support before going under the knife...it is crucial..

Next January I am planning on starting a support group in my office twice a week..I'm working on the curriculum now, those of us who have undergone the surgery know exactly what I'm talking about as far as support...nontheless, I promise to become more active in here...I pray you all are doing well!!!