Laughter is the best medicine; along with your consistent exercise routine.

The benefits of a belly laugh
No matter why you are giggling, studies have shown that a laugh will do you good. Laughter helps you deal with a variety of maladies including the stress of daily life. The benefit of laughter on your health is no joke. A sense of humor can't cure all ailments, but data is mounting about the things that laughter can do.

Short-term benefits
A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body, beginning with your face.

Laughter can:
Stimulate your organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
Activate your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
Soothe tension and tummy aches. Laughter can ease digestion and stimulate circulation which helps reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Long-term effects
Laughter isn't only good for a quick pick-me-up, it's also good for you over the long haul.

Laughter may:
Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and by decreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses.
Relieve pain. Resear*****reasingly shows that laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural pain killers.
Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make difficult situations a little bit easier.

How to have or gain a sense of humor
Are you afraid you have an underdeveloped or nonexistent funny bone? Developing or refining your own particular sense of humor may be easier than you think.
Put humor on your horizon. Find a few simple items, such as photos or comic strips that elicit a chuckle from you or others. Then hang them at home, in your office or even on the visor of your car.
Laugh and the world laughs with you. Develop a sense of humor about your own situation, and watch your stress begin to fade away.
Think positive. Look for the positive or the humorous in every situation, and surround yourself with others who do the same.
Knock-knock. Browse through your local bookstore or library's selection of joke books to get a few rib-ticklers in your repertoire that you can share with friends.

Laughter is the best medicine
Go ahead and try it. Turn the corners of your mouth up into a smile and then give a laugh, even if it feels a little forced. Once you've had your hearty chuckle, take stock of how you feel. Are your muscles a little less tense? Do you feel more relaxed or buoyant? That's the natural wonder of laughter at work.
Source: mayoclinic.com

Pat, You look great too. I just really want to wish you the best on your upcoming operation. Just be kind to yourself and let Marivn Baby you.  Hug's Jeannie

Southside - Weight loss Support Group  Please come and Join us at the Southside Weight Loss Surgery Support Group! We meet the 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm in Class room C of the Henry Medical Education Foundation Center at Henry Medical Center; 1133 Eagles Landing Parkway; Stockbridge, Georgia 30281. The group is facilitated by Jeannie Armstrong - OH Support Group Leader. The meeting is: January 22 ,2008  At 6:30 pm I hope to see you all there! Hug's Jeannie

Hello Sweetie,  Jeannie here, As you remember I had the same problem last year and I had to have mine out just 3 months after my RNY. I was really sick and really in no pain. But I have heared that your shoulder hurt and you have stabbing pain under your right breast. I hope that this helps, Go and get it looked at though. Hug's Jeannie

Welcome Mick,  Hi my name is Jeannie and I'm a leader in Stockbridge, Ga at Henry Medical Center. I want to say that it is really nice to talk with someone else that is Banded. I have a few members that have had the Lap-band, and they have some questions from time to time and I hope that I can come to you and ask you some questions about it. See I have had the RNY, and I'm 19 months post op and I really feel great in having this new life. It is really wonderful. Thanks Jeannie

I'm glad that you and your HUSBAND are doing well. Just take care and be kind to yourself. Also we are here if you need to ask any questions. Hug's Jeannie  

I want to invite everyone to come and join my OH-group, I'm still in the beganning stages but please feel free to jump in. We are here to help and answer your questions. www.obesityhelp.com/group/jeannie4759_group Hug's Jeannie  

Congrat's On the upcoming EVENT!  Prayer be with you Hug's Jeannie

I'm really happy that you and your husband are going to be banded the same day AGAIN. So now you both will have 2 special says a year. Congrats, and best wishes. Hug's Jeannie

HI-JACKED,  Pat, I see that you are going to be having some more PS, I really hope that things are going to be well. I really look forward to seeing you and your HUSBAND at the next meeting. Take care and be KIND to yourself. Hug's Jeannie

Hello GAGRYK45,  My name is Jeannie and I have my SUPPORT GROUP meeting on the 4th Tuesday of each month. My next meeting is January 22, 2008 at 6:30pm at HENRY MEDICAL CENTER in the EDUCATIONAL Building in room -C. I have some really good information for everyone and I would love to see you there. If you have any questions PLEASE feel free to contact me.  Hug's Jeannie

Hello, I just wanted to let you all know that I'm very happy and now today I'm alost 17 months post op and feeling GREAT. I did have just a few little bumps along the way and just some miner health issues. But most of all I'm really GLAD that I was able to have my WLS July 2006.  Today I'm a support group leader in Henry County Georgia and I have completed all of my trainning through OBESTIY HELP, and I'm here to help other with SUPPORT as they start their journey. I'm also here to help all the others that might even need a hand. I know for myself that if it was not for the SUPPORT that I can get from all of my friends here on these boards I do not know what I would have done.  So here is my SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF YOU HERE! HUG'S JEANNIE