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13 YEARS AGO TODAY I did something that changed my life.....actually gave me a life!! 

Thank you God for allowing me to be able to have Gastric Bypass!!!

“Within you right now is the power to do things you never dreamed possible. This power becomes available to you just as soon as you can change your beliefs.” ~Dr. Maxwell Maltz

I can tell you....I dreamed it.....and worked really hard to make those dreams come true....and continue to work everyday...because I have so many more dreams I want to fulfill!! 
THE ONLY ONE STOPPING US IS US!! 
If I can do it so can you!! 
You just have to believe!!!

I am now a Registered Nurse and work on the same Bariatric Med/Surg Floor that I had my surgery one!!! 

Thank God for all my blessings!!!

Hello, 

Over 12 years ago I had RNY surgery. I thought losing all the weight was my "Big" accomplishment! But I have realized that was just the beginning of a long journey for me!

This Saturday, May 11, 2013 I will be graduating from nursing school. I could have never accomplished this weighting 400 lbs. 

I have always wanted to be a RN and now I am!!! I will be able to care for people who walk in the same shoes I used to walk in!! It warms my heart to know I will be able to make a difference in other peoples lives and also be able to help them with their journey!!

Thank you God for guiding me along the way! Telling me everything would be ok, when I cried! And showing me there can be a much better life for me!

I am so blessed!!! I want to tell everyone....

NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS!!! NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!!! ALWAYS BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!! YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU SET YOUR MIND TO!!!

HUGS, 

Ginger;-D

All my life I dieted....lost a little weight....went off the diet...and gained the weight back plus more!!!!

10 years ago I promised myself I would not fail again!!!

Instead of going on a "diet" I went on a "Lifestyle" change.  Altering the way I ate, exercised and even thought about food!! It didn't happen over night....food was my best friend and I truly loved it!!!

But after days, weeks, months and even years I learned I could enjoy food...and even learned how to enjoy healthier foods!!!

It has been a real roller-coaster of a ride to get to 10 years out and I don't weigh 400 lbs.  Yippee!!!   In the beginning I would think....and pray...."Please God, don't let me gain the weight back"!  I really wasn't sure I could do it...I never could before....why would I think I could do it this time???? That was part of the problem before.....I didn't believe in myself....it took a long time....BUT I DO BELIEVE NOW!!!! I CAN DO ANYTHING I SET MY MIND TOO!!!! (And so can you!)

The road this far out is not easy...I can eat so much more than I could in the beginning, but I AM NOW IN CONTROL!!!
I know what to do to maintain my weight! 

I still do not eat bread, rice, pasta, potatoes or sugar.....but I don't even think about it any more!!!

Find what works for you!  And do it for a lifetime....and BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!!!!!

Sending you much love and success!

Ginger

Today I am 9 years out from Weight Loss Surgery! Wow how time flies!!! When I was pre-op I promised myself (like so many others do) I would finally lose the weight and for once in my life keep it off!! With a lot of work and a lifestyle change I have been able to accomplish these goals.   

In the 9 years I have heard so many people say, “5 lbs, 10lbs, 20 lbs, 100 lbs gone forever!” And a few years down the road they were eating their word literally! The reason I think this happens is because initially the weight just melts off sometimes without much effort from the individual. And in their euphoria they think, “This is so awesome, I have lost the weight and I will stay like this!” (They think it is so awesome because for the first time in their lives they can eat whatever they want and still lose weight because of the small portions they are eating!) THEY ARE WRONG!!!! Guess what, later you will be able to eat more!!! I know it will come to a surprise to you when you can….however it WILL HAPPEN!!! I remember the first 6 months or so post-op, I could only eat 2 oz 3 times a day….and I felt like I was going to pop!!! Now, I am just like anyone else who has not had the surgery. I can finish an entire meal. I could go to lunch with you and with the amount of food I can eat you would never know I had Gastric Bypass.   

So, keeping this in mind…..Use your “Honeymoon” stage as a time to create Healthy Eating and Exercise Habits FOR A LIFETIME!!! (This is not a DIET they are temporary). Otherwise you will be back where you started before WLS (or close to it). Through the years I have seen it so many times! I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO YOU!!!!  And if you find after a few years you are falling back into you old habits….STOP….Get back to your healthy habits….IT IS NEVER TO LATE!!! 

Beware of who you are getting your advice from, where are they in their WLS journey, are they a newbie? (If so they have no idea what it will be like later…how could they possible know?) Are they successful with “their” journey? Think about it like this….would you chose a personal trainer who didn’t look like one? I know I wouldn’t.    Plan your healthy meals, get your water in, take your vitamins, and exercise at least 4 – 5 times per week (and there are no excuses….for not doing it) You may think, “I’m too busy, I don’t have time, the kids need me, I need to spend more time with my significant other, I’m too tired”. OK, THEN DON’T DO WHAT YOUR SURGEON TELLS YOU TO DO! That’s OK, it is your life and this is your weight loss journey! But ask yourself, “Do you want to be successful?” I know you do!!! Then do what it takes to get where you want to be and stay there!!! It really doesn’t matter which surgery you have….if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do you CAN GAIN WEIGHT BACK!!!! SORRY, THERE IS NO MAGIC PILL!   

Weight loss surgery is only a tool to use to lose the weight! How are you using your tool? Where will you be years from now? I hope you will be where you want to be and living life to its fullest and doing all those things you always dreamed of doing!!! Off all the medications, living a happy healthy life!   Here’s to you, living the life you want!! I can tell you from personal experience, the life I am living in this body now is a life I have dreamed about living since I was in middle school!!! I truly cherish and you would have to drag me kicking and screaming to go back into the 400 lb body I used to live in!!!  

Believe in yourself…..You can get where you want to be!!! I believe in you!!!!  

Hugs,

Ginger

I was working out and this song came on my IPod...I started going faster and faster....I LOVE THIS SONG AND I CAN RELATE!!!! I DO BELIEVE THAT ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE AND ANYONE CAN OVERCOME OBSTACLES!!!!  I HAVE WAITED FOR THIS ALL MY LIFE...(just like the song says)   A TIME TO BE HEALTHY AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF...WELL, I AM ALMOST 50 NOW AND THAT IS JUST A NUMBER!!! Becasue I AM DOING ALL THOSE THINGS I HAVE ALWAYS DREAMED OF DOING!!!  BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!!!  YOU CAN ACHIEVE ALL THAT YOU DREAM!!!

You can go to "You Tube" to listen or I posted it on my facebook as well.

Hugs,

Ginger


Fantasia "I Believe"
Have you ever reached a rainbow's end
And did you find your pot of gold
Ever catch a shooting star
And tell me how high did you soar
Ever felt like you were dreaming
Just to find that you're awake
And the magic that surrounds you
Can lift you up and guide you on your way

[Chorus:]
I can see it in the stars across the sky
Dreamt a hundred thousand dreams before
Now I finally realize
You see I've waited all my life for this moment to arrive
And finally, I believe

When you look out in the distance
You see it never was that far
Ohhh No
Heaven knows your existance
And leads you to be everything you are
Ohhh
There's a time for every soul to fly
It's in the eyes of every child
It's the hope, the love that saves the world
And, ohhh, we should never let it go

[Chorus]

I believe in the impossible
If I reach deep within my heart
Overcome any obstacle
Won't let this dream fall apart
See I strive to be the very best
Shine my light for all to see
Cause anything is possible
When you believe yeah

[Chorus]

Ohh Yeah

Love keeps liftin me higher
Liftin me higher
Love keeps liftin me higher
I said love keeps liften
Love keeps liften me
I said Love keeps liften
Love keeps liften me higher
Said love keeps liften me higher
I said love keeps liften me high

You can find me on facebook and twitter too!

www.facebook.com/GingerRock

www.twitter.com/GingerRock

Take a minute every day just for you.....in a quiet place think about where you want to be in one year, two years, five years....think about what it will take to get there.....If you think about it, plan, and do what it takes, you can achieve all that you want!  Write it down, tell someone, make yourself accountable....you can do whatever you put your mind to. 
Believe......

Ginger