Hi all!! For those that attended our meeting, thanks, I need the support as much as you do. For those unable to make it, we missed you and hope you are doing well!!
I have been reading a book entitled: The Success Habits of Weightloss Surgery Patients by Colleen M. Cook, ISBN: 0-9740179-7-3. This is what we began our meeting talking about.  The first  Successful Habit is Personal Accountability. We wrote down our wildest dreams, many things we may have forgotten about. Not just weight loss but other things. Some of us shared them with the group others did not. If you weren't there, this is a great exercise to do. Stop what you are doing and think about your wildest dream that has been lying by the wayside. My question to you: Where are you? Are you headed in the right direction to get to that dream? Stress comes into our lives when we spend our time, our money and our energy doing things that are NOT getting us closer to our goals.  We talked about doing regular weigh ins and setting weight loss goals.

• I am happy to say that Matthew is finished with regretting having surgery, WOO HOO!! Congrats Matthew, took him awhile to see the benefits but his head is in the game now. Welcome aboard to a wonderful journey!!
• We had some newbies, preops and we spoke about why we picked a certain surgery. There are so many reasons; price, recovery time, the surgery itself, getting back to work. I recommend going to Youtube to watch the surgery.This video is Dr. Cirangle performing it in San Francisco.  I found it appealing and thought any surgeon could probably do the VSG, that is why I picked that one among other reasons. 
• We talked of how to reach our goals if we had some way fallen off the straight and narrow: how about sticky notes placed around the house of what you want to weigh at your next week's weigh in? Reward yourself after you reach certain goals (non-food items!!) Put your weight on your calendar email so you have to see it every day. Be sure to take a before, during and after photo and measurements and take them often. 
• Recovery: get back to your routine ASAP!! That is important!
• Constipation: Miralax, senokot, Calcium Citrate, lots of fluids!
• Food items: Premier Protein, Unjury Unflavored mixed with lemonade, Egg white protein powder with sugar free, fat free frozen yogurt, Orange Julius WLS style: 1/4 c. egg whites, orange juice, ice, blend. Pure Protein Bars, Protein shooters, Sunkist protein shots 
• Vitalady for online vitamins
• In Peachtree City at the library they have a walk every Saturday at 9 a.m. 
• Joanne told us about going to Suwanee to a trampoline park, sounds like so much fun. Be sure to forward me information about it Joanne, we may have a "field trip." How does that sound?
• Goals until next month: I won't list names, you know who you are!!  

1. Be strict on eating, cut out alcohol, cut out pizza
2. add exercising, up fluid intake
3. get down 20 more pounds
4. up protein intake, down 10 pounds, add more exercise
5. weight down to 290, getting to gym 3 days a week
6. get into a better routine, more discipline, no chick fil a biscuits
7. get out the WII Fit Plus and use it, start 6 month insurance required appointments

So exciting!! We are all doing so well, we have our moments, our months that maybe are hard to come back from. But how would we appreciate the good times, if we didn't have the bad ones?
 Our next meeting is March 10th at 9 a.m. we will again be trading protein, bars, etc. bring what you didn't like so someone else can try it. Bring an idea, something that worked for you. Even a wrapper or empty bottle of something great you found. If you want to forward it to me ahead of time, I will keep it with me and bring to our next meeting!
Until next time!! Joyfully Yours!!

Two overweight women were walking home from work, and they began talking about their schedule of activities for the evening. "I've got an idea" said one. "Let's flip a coin. If it lands on heads, we'll go get a cheeseburger. If it lands on tails, we'll go to get a pizza. And if it lands on its side, we'll go to the gym to work out.
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How is every one doing? Does the above apply to you? Have we gotten back on track yet? What are your goals?

Our next meeting is this Saturday, January 14th @ 9 a.m. @ Piedmont Fayette Hospital, here is the link: PFH WLS

Drop me a line and let me know how you are doing, your struggles, your triumphs. How you did during the holidays.

I for one am looking forward to getting on track, getting together with those of like minds and like tummies!!!

See you all there!!

We had a great meeting today. Thanks for coming and lending your support to those of us who were in attendance! Wish you all could have been there!! Hopefully you will be able to come next month on Saturday, Dec. 10th at 9 a.m.

The room was very nice, several tables and chairs. I do believe we could use open chairs. Any other ideas?

I gave out "goody bags" with lots of free items from some great sponsors. If there are other items you have used and would like for us to try, either you can contact the company and ask or contact me and give me their information and I'll "beg" for some products and/or coupons. The only company so far that has told me no was Kashi, which was a little disappointing.

We tried to focus on how to stay on track during the holidays. At the end of the meeting I asked everyone for their goals that they would be concentrating on by the next meeting and I wrote them down, including mine and my husband's goals. Exercise was the Number 1 goal! Others were to stay on the diet set up for them, mine was to get more protein in. I plan on trying to find a shake I can tolerate. For those of you who were unable to make the meeting, you can send me an email and let me know what your goals are for the next month, I plan on bringing these up in December so we can see how we did. I think this will be a good incentive for us all. We really need to be careful, slider foods are just that. We can get so much more in of "junk". Let's support each other on this journey. Come to the meetings as you are able, stay in touch via email, phone, etc. I am here and am willing to get you through the hard times. If I don't know the answer, I will find out for you!! If you would like someone's contact info, let me know and I will see if they don't mind giving it out.

Here is the rundown of our meeting:

• Great idea: If you are unable to tolerate milk products, use water in your protein drinks instead.
• Sweet and Salty snack: watermelon, feta and mint (can't wait to try it, if I can find a watermelon)
• Homemade (to make it healthier) Brunswick Stew pureed
  
• Zinger Tea
• Lipton Diet Tea
• Protein Bars at Food Lion with 14 grams of protein. If you find additional information on these, please share, like calories and carbs.
• Orange Julius, WLS Style: Orange Juice, egg whites, splenda, crushed ice.
•  Egg white, low fat ricotta and mushroom saute
• Adding pureed cottage cheese into your protein shakes
• A scoop of chocolate protein powder, a scoop of vanilla protein powder, 16 oz. milk= 62 grams of protein to drink over a several hours.
• We also talked about our spouses dieting with us, this is a great idea. I liked the idea of the surgeon weighing and keeping up with the spouse of the weight-loss patient. My husband has begun to weigh in with me on Mondays. This helps me feel like I have some great support.
  
• Exercise, taking smaller bites and also about Sleep Apnea. We have several who use a CPAP machine so they breathe better at night.
  
• Lavender Oil: put a few drops in your shampoo, helps your hair look fuller.
  

Well, I believe that wraps it up. If I have forgotten something important that you got from the meeting, please share it with us.

Have a wonderful week, get outside before it gets too cold. Carve out YOU time, get your liquids and protein in. See you next time!!

What is up with this?

-Reached down to scratch an itch on my leg Saturday and there was a huge lump!!
-Went to the ER, they ruled out a blood clot and was told to follow up with PCP
-It is the ugliest, biggest hematoma I have ever seen!
-Had to go to my doc today because my left leg was soooo cold and my leg was aching really bad, she told me to take Vit. C, I may have scurvy?! What?!
-checking my platelets
-Have to have some sort of artery test soon

I can't believe I never had any of these problems before now. I am 75 pounds lighter, what in the world?