STAYING ON TRACK

Good morning PA!!!  I was just sitting around yesterday, thinking about what direction my life was going.  I've been at goal for the better part of six months now and, for the most part, am happy where I'm at.  But then I started thinking about the difference of my daily activities, including all the basics - excercise, liquid, protein, vitamins and smart food choices.  And I came to a stunning conclusion.  If I had started out post-op making the same decisions I make today, I'd be nowhere near my goal.  It's amazing how complacent one can be when they become "happy" with where they're at.  Those of you that were at the PA pilgrimage may recall a statement Shauna had made about thinking that you have succeeded.  It went something along the line of "The moment you think you succeeded, you failed".  What she meant by that was if you think you have this licked, it means you're licked.  And she is so right.  Sure, I still get to the gym, but not like I used to.  It used to be 5 days a week, religiously.  Liquids aren't bad, mostly crystal lite.  But, not 64 ounces EVERYDAY.  Protein always was an issue, but at least early on if I didn't get all 83 grams through food, I'd supplement it with a shake late in the day.  I hadn't touched a vitamin for a good 6-7 months until I finally broke down and bought a bottle the other day.  And, lastly, as far as making smart food choices, this was pretty much a hit or miss.  There are days I'd make smart choices - chicken, shrimp, salads, etc...  But, too often, I allowed pizza, snach machine foods like chips and candy to come back into my life.  And those of you *****ally know me, know my biggest weakness - swedish fish.  Anyway, the moral behind this is the following.  Do not think for one moment that this is just another fad diet.  It's not Jenny Craig, Weigh****chers or Nutri-System.  It's not LA Weight Loss, Herbalife or Atkins.  We were given a tremendous tool and an instruction booklet came with it.  DO NOT THROW THIS BOOK AWAY!!!  What I mean is, there are reasons why we learned what we learned.  It didn't come with an expiration date.  Well, maybe it did - the day you take your last breath on the day you lived your last second on this earth.  Sounds harsh, but it's reality.  I forgot this myself far too often.  I have made a very consious effort for a few days now to practice what I preach.  And I'm doing well.  Because these very same things allowed me to drop from 365 pounds and a 51 BMI to 190 pounds and a 27 BMI.  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not fall into the same trap.  Luckily, mostly because when I work out I wear a ridiculious full rubber body suit that allows me to sweat like nothing you've ever seen, I've been able to maintain my weight.  But, if you've never heard this before, allow me to say this to you - being a thin person doesn't automatically make you a healthy person.  If you're already at goal and are continuing to do what you've done since surgery, congratulations.  If you're still on your journey to goal, please keep all this in mind.  Take care all. Sincerely, Andy Kovatch

Thank you for posting this.  I know alot of us are struggling right now with staying on track, whether it be with our exercise, liquid intake, food, vitamins....  When you are struggling, it is important to know you are NOT the only one, so that you can turn to others for support.  Asking for help was something I really struggled with for a long time, but I have become better and that is largely because of the incredible people I have met and grown to love over the last year or so.    HG

Hi Andy! Thank You SO Much for taking the time to Post your thoughts, And Lessons Learned today. I SO Needed to hear ALL of this. It seems Pre-Op we KNOW all of this... And Live it like it is supposed to be Lived. Then like you said... The OLD Habits and OLD way of thinking Creeps Back in! I am SO Glad I am not alone on this Issue. I mean I am Sorry that ALOT Of us can relate to this... But it MakesMe feel like EVERYTHING is going to be Okay. I am Normal, I have been Beating Myself up... As I have not been Perfect! I have some Disfunctional Eating going on, As well as a few things that I should be doing... That I am NOT! I Needed to hear all of this, So that I can take BABY Steps at getting things right. At least I am heading in the right direction!!!! Thanks for your Post. You Helped Me IMMENSELY!!! ((( HUG ))), Michele / WONGA!

I had a wonderful cousin, Roselle, and tomorrow would have been her 54th Birthday!   Three years ago she had gastric bypass, she did it because her doctor told her that she really needed to consider it as her diabetes was out of control.  Within 15 months she had reached goal, going from a size 22/24 to a size 6/8.  Her doctor actually told her he did not want her losing any more weight.  After a series of major setbacks in her personal life, her old grazing, bad food choices crept in.  She was no longer drinking 64 ouces of water and the like, but drinking about 2 pots of coffee a day, the foods she ate were of little or no nutritional value and I'm sure she was not taking in the proper amount of protein, though she got plenty of activity, the scale suddenly started going in the opposite direction, believe me, she was not happy about it, but she was not able to get a grip on it either.   I guess I need to tell her story, because though I will never know with absolute certainty, I believe her bad habits may well have contributed to her untimely death, as I was told by someone that drinking excessive amounts of coffee depletes the body of nutrients.  This surgery changes our abilities to absorb nutrients and the improper way she was living, misusing her tool may have been a leading contributor to her having a siezure in her sleep, causing oxygen deprivation for an unknown period of time and ultimately her death.   Over and over I hear that this is a tool, that it can make a big difference in our life, one that can help me personally achieve a healthier and more mobile lifestyle, but the key is ME, I must use all the resources at hand in the manner they are meant to be used. I consider this board one of my resources, my consult is this Friday. 

Good Morning Andy, Our lives' have always been filled with struggles and triumphs. You've gone through your struggle and shared it, Norman Benford went through his struggle and shared it, Shauna went through her struggle and shared it. And yes I have had my struggles too and have shared that with some of you, but we all have had tremendous triumphs as well. The difference today is that our achievements are outnumbering the defeats by leaps and bounds. That was not always the case. Sharing has been a key ingredient, as well as our own internal fortitude and the drive to live well... finally. Andy you are no different from the rest of us who sometimes find it easier to help others than it is to help yourself. Continue to do just that, being the strong support group leader that you have been, but don't get lost in helping.  Don't forget. Don't forget where you  were. Don't forget where you don't want to return. Don't forget to be selfish.  Don't forget YOU. Don't forget to love yourself first and all other things will take care of themselves. And man will you please take your multi-vitamins. Take care buddy, Dennis    

Good morning, I'm glad that I'm not the only one who struggles with this.  The old monster sometimes creeps back in my life, but I try not to give into it all the time.  I have to admit there are moments, when I lose that battle. I stay focus on my liquids most of the time. We all know the surgery is just a tool, but didn't alter our brain.  Keep up the effort in a positive way and good luck to everyone..

Andy

Thank you so much for posting these words of wisdom. It may have to be posted repeatedly, but I am going to save and print it.

While I am still very new at this, I can tell already that the choices of food becomes more difficult because I can eat more variety and I my stomach doesn't seem to get as upset as it did earlier on. When I say the choice becomes more difficult I mean because my head has to make the right one. Part of what helps me choose is knowing that all of you awesome people are rooting for me to succeed.

You continue to inspire.
Cheers to you.

Arlene

Yeah. It's so easy to forget that we need to strive to be healthy, not skinny. Because you can be skinny, and not healthy. Don't be that person!

How true! so many forget why they had surgery to begin with. It's easy to lose sight of the being healthy part when we start looking so good because we're thinner.. We have to realize that there can be a happy medium. I saw what you posted and it just really rang true with me :) I Chick

Hi Andy, Thank you so much for posting this, I am pre-op and what you have said makes me focus on what lies ahead. I am so ready for surgery and when I read what "Real People" are going through, well it's a reality check. Stay focused and beleive in yourself. You didn't come this far to give up. YOU ARE SO WORTH IT!!!!!  Stay healthy for YOU!!!!!      Take care and keep us posted!!!! Judy