DID YOU HAPPEN TO CATCH...

Hi all. Did anyone happen to catch any or part of American Idol last night? I was alarmed to see Randy Jackson looking quite a bit heavier than the last time I saw him, after he had initially lost around 100 lbs. after surgery. He looks to have gained a lot of it back already, and I don't think he's even a full year out. Any thoughts? Thanks. Maureen

Maureen, I didn't see it but I believe you...some people are just not ready. There's an article about gaining the weight back on the last People magazine...pretty scary Take care, Paola

Thanks, Paola. I'll try to pick up the issue. Is it still in the stores? Who does the article feature? Maureen

I agree. I watched tonight and thought the same thing. Also is it just me or does Al Roker also look heavier too? Donna

Yes, Donna, I think Al Roker looks quite a bit heavier today than he did a year ago. But he's kept some of it off. Maureen

Now I'm scared guys! I worry about all that stuff too. I hope this won't happen to any of us.

I didn't mean to scare anyone by bringing the issue up, Cynthia, so please accept my apologies. However, I feel it is better to look at the true facts that surround this journey. There is a perception about weight loss surgery that it is "the easy way" to lose "all" excess weight, and that it will "magically" stay off forever. Again, we come full circle to the truth: in order to be successful, we must do what we've always had to do -- make healthy food choices, eat much smaller amounts of food, and exercise hard at least 3-4 times a week. Not much different than we've been told before, right? The only difference is we've got this amazing tool, this tiny tummy that gets full easily, so that the constant nagging feeling of deprivation is a distant memory. Using this tool, we should be able to do all that we need to do (as described above) to get the weight off. But that tool will weaken eventually, and we will get our hunger back. That's why it is imperative that we take advantage of these first several months and LEARN TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY, both in terms of our relationship with food, and in incorporating healthy activity in our daily lives. THIS IS A LIFE LONG CHANGE. Only by doing this do we stand a chance to be successful. I wish what we've all gone through was a magic pill and we'll get normal sized and live happily ever after. But that's a myth. Reality says I still have to do the hard work, every day for the rest of my life, and it's still a crap shoot because of my gene pool. Still, I feel better today than I have in 20 years, so I'm hopeful for the first time in 20 years. Good luck and have a great day. Maureen

Maureen, I think People comes out every Thursday...maybe Friday. It's the issue that has the "Survivor" couple on the cover. The article doesn't feature anyone in special...just people like us. If you can't find it email me your address and I'll mail it to you...my magazine was about to go in the trash anyway. My email is [email protected] Take care, Paola

PS: You know...I just remembered my doctor/nutritionist telling me that it's quite normal for us to gain a little weight after our bodies finish losing and "stabilize." I had a friend at work that had the surgery and after all the rapid loss she gained a little back and stopped there. Paola

That's encouraging, Paola. Thanks.