"Journaling" ??

My daughter Sarah has a good friend that is a psychologist and she and Sarah were talking one day about weight loss and Elizabeth said that Journaling really does help with wieght loss. It helps you to see where you are going and what you are really  eating, what is frustrating you and eating at you.

I said to Sarah, "I agree, many of the greats have journaled all their life, like Oprah. She has accomplished a great deal, but I can never Journal more than 3 days....it is just not my thing.

...and then I had this lightbulb go off in my head......I think that is why I was successful when I was on the OFF forum all the time.....this really is a form of Journaling that is fun, because someone is out there when you are frustrated or sad and you don't feel it is for nothing.

I intend to start keeping track of my food on here also. I had a procedure done today at the hospital. My Bariatric surgeon did a scope on me. Said there was some redness and irritation at the opening, but my pouch is in good shape and he just gave me some medicine for the "gastritis". I was groggy all day from the anesthetic, but I am okay now. My husband drove me around.

What do you think about Journaling and have you tried it or does this work for you also?
Marti

Marti, I think you are very right. I use this forum as my journaling and as my shrink too. I take care of me here...and if I help someone along the way that is all the better for me. I can't keep it unless I give it away.
I so appreciate everyone here...you are all my lifelines...I use you to keep me on the right track and I work to help keep others on their track too. That is why we were all brought here, I think and that is to help each other as no one else could do that for us. They just don't understand. I guess that is what truly makes us brothers and sister...we are from one family...the family of wls.

Thanks for posting this...it helps to keep me sane!

 Brenda, it's you and others on this forum that make it a *safe* place for all of us.  Thank you.
I feel I can ask questions here and there is a warmth in this little online group that is very special.

Thank you!!

...re journaling - I believe journaling can be very helpful.  I am just not very good at it.

I'm a big believer in journaling.  I try to do it daily (I built my own program).  Whenever I get lazy and then feel I'm not losing or I go up a lb I get right back to journaling. For me it really helps.  Trying to keep track of everything I eat in my head doesn't work.......I forget to include something and that can easily put me over my daily calorie allotment....a hundred here, two hundred there add ups at the end of the week!!!!!!
So, yep, I think journaling is important!  I track food and exercise.

I also think you are right, on the off board I fell safe,an in a comfort zone, I maybe new on writing on the boards but I have looked into this off group for 5 years, but never wrote. \
Now I do ,I'm journaling here, because this is my safety area I can feel relaxed enough to say n speak to people with the caring n understanding of others.
I'm no longer alone, doing this by myself.  Thanks to all for allowing me to have this feeling.

I'm 4 months out from my RNY and into my 2nd week of journaling.  I never felt the need to journal until I hit my first major stall that lasted forever, and I began to question what I might be doing wrong.  I have found that journaling has been good for me because it helps me keep track of where I'm at with all the important stuff like protein, carbs and caloric intake.  It also helps me to be more accountable.

Marti,

This was a reminder that I felt better when journaling every day. It was the place to write my deepest thoughts, good and bad. Instead of keeping the 'mental baggage' in my head it went into the journal. Time to get back in the habit. Thank you.

Feel better and take your new med.

Thanks for the reminder Marti.

I was really good at journally the first year. I agree maybe it is time to start once again.

Being on OFF with veryone here sure helps. This is  a good form of journally too!

Love and hugs....connie d

I do a daily journal of my food on FitDay.com.  It really keeps me on track.
I took an english class in college and it was all about journaling.  I kept a daily (or almost daily) journal for a couple of years.  Especially when my boys were younger and in their tweens, and teens.  It helped to write down my feelings.  When I started to clean out stuff to pack I ran across the journals and read them.  I don't remember feeling as distraught as I sounded in them.  I do remember worring about my youngest son, what he would possibly do with his life.  He's a teacher now.  I guess as mothers we just naturally worry.  Journaling my thoughts and feelings back then really helped keep me somewhat sane.  Now, keeping my daily food journal really helps to keep me on track.  I'm sure I'll keep up with it for quite a while.
Jan

It is so good to see you Marti.. I don't know about journaling ( I have done it off and on for years as letters to my grandchildren) But I was so good at  keepng a food list, every day for almost 2 years after WLS..and lost 170 pounds. I have tried and tried to get back to it, because it really helps me, but I just can't seem to keep it up. I am so fed up with ME !!! I know what to do, don't do it..and then whine about it...grrrr