My Pictures

Ok all..had to come and say hi and tell you that I finally added before pictures to my profile today..There is one of me and hubby the same week I had my surgery that just blows me away. I had no idea I looked that fat..and I wasn't that far from 400#s! What was I thinkin? Anyway I will post some post op here soon..I want see if I can get the Dr office to email me my before and 3 month pics. I go to the Dr next week to see what I have lost so far..hubby too! If that scale says anything in the 200s I swear I will burst into tears right there in the office. It has been over 6 years since I weighed anything below 300..I can't wait to leave that dreaded 3 far behind me. I am really needing some ideas as to how to motivate myself to exercise. Just really hard for me to find a reason to take myself to the gym. I am embarrassed to say that we have paid for a gym membership for two months now and I have not even stepped foot in the door of the place.  Any advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated..thanks all and I will get those post op pics up as soon as I can get some good ones taken..Hugs to All..Katie

Hey Katie!!!
I love the one with the tiara!  I never know how to say this next part but I can tell you're going to be one of those who's going to get cuter by the day.  I see a beautiful face and a soul in those eyes.

OK, you know how I talk about shame/blame/guilt/judgment (some are probably thinking too much) but I'm not going to stop anytime soon.  First I hear guilt about the gym membership.  Exercise needs to be something you look forward to or at the very least something that you enjoy from time to time.  You don't have to go to the gym to do exercise.  In fact I'm not sure I would even feel comfortable at a gym because of the regulars that do it every day.  I don't know if I've mentioned this to you but there's a great yoga DVD called Heavyweight Yoga2 from www.heartfeltyoga.com that you might like.  You can do it at home any time.  Do you like to dance?  Put some music on and dance all by yourself.  I don't remember what area you live in but walking is awesome.  You could walk in a mall if you have to.  Plug in your favorite music and walk.  You are in the prime time right now so you will get more out of your surgery if you start something now.  For me the whole gym thing may be too much right now.  That's how we set ourselves up to beat ourselves up.  We say "I'll join a gym!" and then when we don't go we beat ourselves up and let the stinkin' thinkin' start.  "I knew I couldn't do this".  Time for a turn around statement! " OK, so maybe I don't really feel comfortable in going to the gym right now but I can walk or dance or move somehow!"

I also am aware that it will be easier to exercise as you lose the weight.  Can you and your husband go walking?  If he doesn't go is there someone in a support group that can be your walking buddy?  I'm guessing you can't get out of the gym membership?  If you end up later liking or wanting to be a "gym rat" GREAT!  No beating yourself up right now about not going.  I can't tell you how much damage it does to your head when you allow that to happen.  This one's for you my darling.
hugs, Y

Oh Yvonne you are such a sweetie! You have no idea how badly I needed to hear your wonderful words tonight. I sat here at the computer and cried as I read your advice..because it was just so awesome!! I talked to my DH about the gym membership tonight. Fortunately we are at a wonderful place that does not use year memberships..it goes month to month...so tomorrow he is going to stop in and cancel our membership. He says its not worth having it hanging over our heads and we can buy alot of work out videos for 50.00 a month. Plus I totally forgot that I got a Wii Fit Plus board and game for Christmas!! So I can play everyday with my little girls when they get home from school and we can both burn off some energy! I don't have to be embarrassed anymore and worry about people looking at me at the gym..its so liberating. If anyone has any workout DVD ideas for me that would be a big help. I do love to dance and putting on music and dancing sounds like a great idea. I promise no more stinkin thinkin about the exercise and thanks again for the great advice..thats why they pay you the big bucks..LMAO  Big Hugs..Katie

Katie you have to know that when you tell me what you got out of my post that it makes it all worth every word.  YOU and people like you are the reason I do this.  It is so much easier when you talk with someone that has walked on the road before.  I'm so glad you are liberated too!  What a small thing that becomes a big thing until you talk about it and it becomes small again!  I love my Wii Fit. It is every bit of a work out.  Like most things it is what you make it.  I'm just soooo glad you talked about it.  So you got any more?  When and if you do, spill it girlfriend!    I like the Heavyweight Yoga2 DVD.  I don't remember if I mentioned it before or not.  Please forgive me if it's in the same post!  I forget where I type things so I'd rather retype it than not mention it.  It's at www.heartfeltyoga.com
Yoga for me is like slow dancing with yourself and it helps expand your range of motion.  Those skinny b's that bend like a pretzel (so I've been called) didn't start that way.  We all start by starting to touch our toes or get as close as we can.  The next day it goes a little further. 

When we lose the weight we also forget to be mindful of how we move and walk.  When I get tired I revert to walking like I did when I was much heavier.  All stuff that I'd love to make videos about.  Some day....right?  You're a cutie and you made me smile....and I really needed it.
hugs, Y

Katie.... I love your pictures... remember to take photos all along the journey. For some reason I have a big lapse between my pre-surgery and where I am now.  While I did post the ONEDERLAND photo of the scale- I don't have a photo of me at 199.

Try to take photos of you & your hubby every 10-15 lbs.
You will be amazed a what a difference those lbs can make! 

Both of you - Keep up the good work as you support each other! 

hugs!

Thanks JEllen and Yvonne..I am working on getting pictures taken more often. My dad is so proud of myself and DH weightloss that he went out and bought a new camera so he was sure he would have current pictures of us to show off in his emails  He has not told me he was proud of me in over two years! He is a very good father and loves me tons..just has always had a problem with my weight..he had WLS 20 years ago and regained and relost his weight..he is now sitting at 10 pounds from his current goal! When going throught pictures with my mom, we came across his goal picture of him in his big pants..I cried..My mom gave me that picture and I made him a page in my scrapbook too! He was so very pleased that I wanted to include him in my journey book. I should prolly take pictures of that and post them too because I am very proud of that book in progress. Everytime we hit a goal or have something happen I make a page for it. I have several pages that need to be done but I am waiting until after tomorrow. We both see the surgeon for the first time since surgery and we get weighed again! I never in a million years thought I would be excited to get on a scale! LMAO  I am hoping that hubby and I are both under 300 by now..so I will post tomorrow and let you all know what we find out. We are canceling our gym membership today!!! Wii Fit here I come :)

Big Hugs..Katie

Katie do you realize that when you dad had WLS 20 years ago that he had a surgery that failed everyone and he somehow did it on his own? wow...

I can relate to you so much about your relationship with your dad.  I know exactly what you're saying about having a problem with your weight. My dad and I battled for 30 years.  It was a very tired battle that I lost but I knew he just wanted me to live.  He just didn't know how much I wanted it too and how very hard I tred....and what I tried....and what I was almost willing to try. I'm so happy for you and it's very important to start it right and recognize where things start to go wrong for most.  I'd really like to dedicate some special newbie pages or threads. 

I'm up past my bed time ....more tomorrow....I just had to tell you how happy I am for you.
hugs, Y

Hi Katie!

Just thought I would chirp in here a bit about exercising.  My father was tough on me growing up - he pushed me into every type of exercise and forced me to do it.  (while calling me fat)  And yes - I ended up hating almost everything.  But somewhere along the line - I realized that it is about "me" time.  Time for me to listen to great music, get in touch with my body, and do what I want to.

I made a few note cards for myself a while back - some of them say: "I am an exerciser" "I love to workout", "I am an athlete ", - mind-body-connection.  Put the notes in places where you will see them - repeat them to yourself everyonce and a while.  Eventually your mind replaces the negatives with the good thoughts about exercise.

I also found that yoga can be so rewarding - or so boring.  It  really depends on the instructor!  Find one a begining yoga class and a great teacher that inspires you and cares.  The slow but definite positions help build that body confidence while working on flexibility and muscle strength!  so good for all of you - the mind especially. (my avatar is me after a yoga class - with my favorite tank top that says "No well behaved woman ever made history!".

And for me - when I go to a gym I need to remind myself that not everyone is looking at me!  get over myself!   lol -  But go buy some great exercise clothes that will motivate you to put them on and do your thing.  If the gym is still intimidating - maybe a treadmill for home.  I bought a treadmill at sears a few years ago -at 0% interest for 6 months.  I started with 10 minutes a day - and usually once I was on I didnt want to get off!   slow and steady..:)

Hugs,
Diana