No Longer AWOL

Tater salad demons!  I wonder if they look like that comedian who says, "They call me Tater Salad"? The first months as a post-op are so easy that it's a rude awakening when all the food voices come back!  I see now that I have to keep walking the path one step at a time. Thanks for the kind words, and I love how you alway**** the nail right on the head.  You should write an advice column, it would be far more interesting than Dear Abby. Kix

Oh Kix I am so sorry that you had a bad week... I am glad your angel gave you a kick in the butt. I dont know what I would do if  my  Kix gave up.. I look forward to seeing you around... I struggle with wanting to give up sometimes too... That darn potatoe salad... and crackers, and all those compulsive foods...   hang in there.... You have done great... hugs and prayers. love ya marie

Hey, Marie! One of my favorite summer memories from my years in St. Louis was driving through Southern Illinois and buying lovely, succulent Illinois sweet corn from the farm stands.  And the tomatoes! I keep reminding myself that the important things in life are those we work for, and I haven't come this far in my weight loss journey to fail now.  I was just surprised at how it hit me suddenly, and with such intensity.  Talk about the honeymoon being over!  Hugs, Kix

WELCOME HOME KIX!   This is a great place for support and encouragement.  I've missed you these past several days.  You bring lots of encouragement.  Think of how amazing it is on the eve of your surgery anniversary as to how much your lost in weight and accomplished in the past year.  Your weight loss is truly amazing, and you are doing wonderfully.  I have to hike up the "girls" also - I would say they were more like empty sacks of potatoes or something.  Just think of the inspiration that you brought to the ladies at the gym this morning.  I know what people have expressed to me about my 135lb loss, and how they are inspired to make changes in their own lives.  Keep up the good work and when your weight stalls (as mine has been known to do), put your shoulders back, hold your chin and head high and know that you are a blessing to all of us!

Aw, thanks!  I don't know if you remember those old TV commercials where two people are talking in a crowded, noisy restaurant, and one says to the other, "My broker is EF Hutton, and EF Hutton says..." and the entire restaurant falls silent and everyone looks at those two people.  I sort of felt like that in the dressing room!  I don't mind, though.  Kids come up to me all the time and ask about my little portable oxygen carrier that I wear in a fanny pack.  For some reason, they are fascinated by the tubing and ask all sorts of odd questions.  I'm used to educating people, I guess. Since tomorrow is my anniversary (a year already!), I think I will pop down to my surgeon's office and drop off a photo of myself.  I didn't think he'd remember me, but my bariatric doctor assures me that he does.  I think he will be pleased that he gave me my life back, and I need to remember stuff like that when those evil foods start calling me. Hugs, Kix

OH KIX, I am so glad your back. I have been alot like you lately. I have been eating sugar. I stayed away from it for so long, but for some stupid reason I started trying it again, and found out I don't dump. I am trying so hard to stay away from it. To punish myself I started getting up at 5 am and walking every morning. Thanks for posting it is so great to know that I am not alone. We are all addicts and just because we have this surgery, the addiction doesn't go away.  Congrats on your 1 year anniversary. I always look forward to your posts Take Care,  Lynn

Lynn: I am so terrified of finding out whether or not I dump that I refuse to try sugar.  I've managed to avoid it so far, but every day I'm just one donut away from falling off the wagon.  I know exactly how you feel.  I didn't go through all this to fail, and I have to keep reminding myself of that when the going gets tough. Food addicition is such a struggle, and a pox on those who call weight loss surgery "the easy way out."  It's not easy at all. On a Bay-Area related topic, I was watching the news here in Denver, and now that football season has started, it's all Broncos, all the time (ptui!).  The Broncos played their first game of the season against the Niners (go Niners!), and I see the Niners are already a mess this year, as the Broncos won 17-13.  Stupid Niners, I wish they would sign players *****member how to play football rather than those who forget after the first quarter.  AARGH.  I remember when people used to throw beer cans at the players at old Kezar Stadium, so I guess after all these years, I should be used to bad Niners football by now. I confess that one of my guilty pleasures is telling people here that I'm from Oakland, they get their panties all wadded up due to the Broncos-Raiders rivalry.  Kix

Kix, I gotta admit I am not a football fan, thou my entire family belong to the "Raider Nation" As you know I love the Oakland A's. I have been to alot of games this season, it has been sooo much fun, and if you can believe it I have not hit up the consession stand once. Been bringing all my own water and healthy snacks. It is so darn expensive anyway. A tiny bag of peanuts for 4.50. The sugar thing ha**** me hard... my boss keeps a big bowl of peanut M and Ms on his desk. I started by just trying 1, then 2 now I grab a handful. It just makes me sick that I have done this. It started when he was on vacation.. thank goodness he is back.. I would never let anyone see me do this.  So glad to have you back Lynn

Kix - I can totally understand your football story.... I'm a huge New York Jets fan (have been all my life... 33 years... ) living in New England Patriots territory... Although I have never seen my Jets win in my lifetime, I am diehard! I know exactly how you feel getting people all riled up .... I kind of revel in it too...    Now, if they could only win a championship (better yet, a Superbowl) and make me look good, it's be great!!! I do love football season :) Valerie