Celebrating 3 Years of Living Large without being Large
Three years ago yesterday, I entrusted the wonderful staff of nurses at Barix, and the great Dr. Pupkova, as I hopped up on a gurney knowing that with Dr. P’s experience and my willingness to do whatever was necessary post-operatively, life could be lived a whole different way then the one I was experiencing up until that day.
This past weekend was spent sharing wonderful moments with people that I met as a result of that trust and doing my part. . .
Adhering to the suggestions as outlined by surgeon and nutritionist
Exercising at least 4 times weekly
Making more healthy choices and when I deviate, getting back on track before it becomes detrimental to enjoying this new way of life
Participating in Support Group forums, such as the monthly meetings held at Barix and various other places, as well as the great support group community of both the PA and Over Fifty Forums of ObesityHelp.com.
What I can say is that I never dreamed that I would meet and make friends with so many people, who were so similar to me, even though our backgrounds differed, the journey we were on brought us together, bonded us and has now made me a part of something very good and useful to my fellows.
My past year was largely spent feeling like a failure because I had not achieved a certain number on a scale, the bigger part of the feeling was that I had slacked on some of those things I listed above, some of which I still am not doing as I once was, but which I fully intend to reincorporate into my daily life. What I realized in the past month, or so, was, I am not a failure because of a number on a scale, but actually am a great successing story, as I continue to participate and stay the course of this lifelong commitment towards self nurturing and being part of a community of support that helps countless people know that we are not alone. I am not perfect, nor, dare I say, is anyone of us, but staying accountable and connected to this ever growing community, is exactly what I feel necessary to sustain long-term successing. My journey continues and the road to successing gets increasingly full as more and more of us come together in support of one another.
I THANK each and everyone of YOU for sharing your joys, experiences and more importantly, your struggles, daily, because beyond the early days of WOW moments, there are many challenges that will need to be faced and what I know is that “What I cannot do, WE can do together."
With much love, Laureen
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland
Laureen,
Annette 
