1 year post-op appointment - I can do this, right?

Thank you :)  I just love you.  Don't be upset.  Every individual's journey is so different, and you've had a **** ton of stuff to deal with this year and you have done fabulous.  And you're not only putting the work into your body, but into your mental and emotional health as well.  You are an inspiration for so many reasons, but one of the biggest is that you don't give up, you keep fighting and you realize that you are worth being happy, and that happiness is worth fighting for, working for.

I really need a hug from my kiddo.  Having her is what motivated me to actually have this surgery.  It's her face I look into when I think I can't do it, and in her I find the strength to slay dragons.  I can do this because I have to do this.  I have to be the best I can be for her as much as for myself.

Aw shucks, well thank you!  Yes, I'm getting ALL of my well being together this year and I'm glad I'm doing it.  I'm a totally different person than I was a year ago.  I went to AC for a bachelorette party this past weekend and I wore tight dresses, felt confident, and DANCED my butt off.  I will post more about this soon hehe...thanks for always inspiring me too :)

It's my future children that I did this for.  I can't wait until the day I become a mom and the day I become a super awesome, fit, happy soccer mom haha.

I so wish I'd taken the plunge before just so I'd have some photos of being pregnant and the first year of her life.  Oh well, I've got the rest of her life to make up for it.  You will be the super awesome, fit, happy soccer mom!  I'm so thankful that I can be the kind of mom I want to be - the one who is not afraid to go swimming with her kid because that would be a swimsuit in front of other people, the kind of mom who wants to take her places and give her all sort of experiences, the kind of mom who takes care of herself and values herself.  Having a kid makes you feel powerful beyond words.  I never knew that I could slay dragons until I had her, but her faith in me is so empowering.  You'll see :)

You................. are going to be fine......

Being scared and having fear, puts you in the perfect position and mindset to now transition into "protection mode"...

Protect your accomplishments, protect all that hard work and "protect your skinny"

It's the people that lose site of where they came from and think everything is fixed and normal that should worry.....

A big part of maintenance is "staying connected" keep coming up with methods that keeps your head in the game.

You got this..... fear is a good thing !

frisco

Thank you so much.  That is the one rational thought I had on my way home - fear is a good thing.  I have to protect myself, be honest with myself so I don't go back.  No head in the sand, no acting like maintenance means I'm cured, no bull ****  I have a healthy fears of heights, this fear is healthy too. 

And I love "protect your skinny"  I need a bumper sticker or a Tshirt with that

Oh Deena. You don't have to be scared. I'm here. I will always listen and always support you. You are beautiful, you are smart and you've come so far. Have faith in yourself.

You don't need your surgeon to confirm your success, you just need to look in the mirror. Your surgeon didn't do that. YOU did. His job really ended a year ago and you've been the one steering the ship since. When I taught my oldest daughter to ride a bike she always wanted me to hold on to the back. One afternoon I let go and she continued riding just fine. After a while she turned around and realized I wasn't there. She had this look of panic and then gave me a big grin because she thought she needed me, but was doing it by herself beautifully. I of course will support you and so will your husband, Mom, everyone here on OH and countless others I'm sure. We'll be here to pick you up if you fall. Or even if you don't fall, but you're afraid you might.

I'm sending you a virtual hug today, but I'll be able to give you a real one in two days!!!!!!!!!!

You're so right.  Although when my mom let go, and I realized it, I fell, the handlebar came around and knocked my two front teeth out.  I need a lot of support apparently :)  Thank you for always being you.

I can't wait to see you Friday!  Oh!  Send me your flight details so I can pick you up and we can give each other hugs in person. 

Deena, I think your fear is exactly what you need to remain successful.  I can see why you wanted to prove to your doctor that you got this down.  I was pretty much left vulnerable after surgery with Kaiser.  I saw my surgeon 10 days out & that was it.  It makes me pretty pissy just to think about the crappy aftercare I had.  I tried attending the support groups but too many times, no doctor or authority figure showed up.  Yeah, it was cool... a bunch of us WLS peeps just got together in a group to discuss victories but that was not what I needed.  I needed to be held accountable too.  It's easy for people to say you don't need a surgeon to validate success.  I can agree with them to a certain extent.  Sorry but hooray for them if they can say now before being in maintenance or even friends/family who don't struggle with what we go through everyday.  We are all different.  Yes, we can thrive off positive feedback & encouragement but it can only go so far.  We need to be on top of our game because those people cannot do that for us.

Deena my gurl, just stay focused.  Stay active like you are.  That will help you remain successful.  Keep tracking your food.  Weigh yourself regularly and get back on track if the scale goes up a few pounds.  Don't wait until you gain 20 pounds like me to realize things got a little out of control.  There are plenty of WLS peeps who are successful and we are all here to support each other.  

I wanted to lose my regain before this conference.  I was hoping it was enough motivation for me to show everyone that I had this **** down.  I decided to say **** it & just show up to see all my successful friends and know that it's all YOUR turn to motivate & inspire me ... you, Candy, Elina, Summer, everyone ... I don't like admitting I am weak but heck, I am still here fighting the good fight & I will win one of these days.  I have all of you thank for me wanting to keep my head in the game.  I love you gurl, I cannot wait to meet you!!!! 

You, beautiful girl, are anything but weak.  You're fighting, you're kicking ass, you might not have gotten to where you wanted to be by the conference, but you haven't given up.  That's the true test of strength.  Thank you for the advice.  I am going to continue to track, to be active (I exercise for my head as much as my body), and I can't imagine not weighing every day.  I need that daily accountability.  I think it's what helps me not turn a bad meal or a bad day into a bad month. 

I love you, lady!  I'm going to give you a big squeeze on Friday!  Yay!  Yay!  Yay!

I cannot wait!!!!  I'm so excited!!!!