Kim M.

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Dear OH Friends,

The NAMI Walk is only 10 days away and our team, WALK BY FAITH, needs your help!

To date, we have raised $210 of our goal to raise $500 by the day of the walk (Saturday, October 2, 2010).  PLEASE take a few moments to review our team web page and consider donating to our efforts.  It doesn’t matter which walker you donate under – it all goes to NAMI.  Follow this link to our web page:
www.nami.org/namiwalks10/DES/morrisfamily  
(Note: NAMI is a 501(c)3 charity and any donation you make is tax deductible.) 

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the largest education, support and advocacy organization that serves the needs of those whose lives are touched by mental illnesses.  This includes persons with mental illness, their families, friends, employers, and the law enforcement community and policy makers.  The NAMI organization is composed of approximately 1100 local affiliates, 50 state offices, and a national office.

The goals of the NAMIWalks program are (1) to fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness, (2) to build awareness of the fact that the mental health system in this country needs to be improved, and (3) to raise funds for NAMI so that they can continue their mission.

My family is very grateful for the support that NAMI has provided to us over the past two years.  NAMI has been instrumental in our gaining a better understanding about our son, Cody’s, illness and has provided us ideas and strategies aimed at supporting him on a daily basis.

Thank you for your time and support!

This morning, I weighed 224.4 pounds which means two things:

#1 - I have reached my goal of 225 pounds on my surgiversary two weeks early!
and
#2 - I have a BMI under 40!


YIPPEE!!!


I am so proud of myself for recognizing that I was in trouble a few weeks ago and then taking the steps and completing the actions necessary to get myself back on track.

Now I am all about sailing through today, Wednesday and Thursday ... because we leave for Disney World on Friday!!


God is good, all the time!!!

I am posting to share with you about an upcoming event that my family is participating in that is very important to us. It is NAMIWalks for the Mind of America, which is NAMI’s signature walkathon event that is being held on October 2, 2010, in Des Moines, Iowa.

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the largest education, support and advocacy organization that serves the needs of those whose lives are touched by mental illnesses. This includes persons with mental illness, their families, friends, employers, and the law enforcement community and policy makers. The NAMI organization is composed of approximately 1100 local affiliates, 50 state offices, and a national office.

I am so grateful for the support that NAMI has provided to my family since my son, Cody, began his struggle with schizophrenia. NAMI has helped us to gain understanding about the illness and, most importantly, they have taught us how we can be of support to Cody.

In addition, NAMI has been an awesome resource to me as a person that has suffered from depression for many years.

My team, WALK BY FAITH, has two goals for our participation in NAMIWalks 2010: (1) To raise at least $500 to support the valuable services that NAMI provides to persons with mental illnesses and their families, and (2) To raise AWARENESS about and STOMP OUT THE STIGMA surrounding mental illnesses.

Please help my team to reach our goals by donating to our fundraising effort TODAY!  Our team website is http://www.nami.org/namiwalks10/DES/morrisfamily

Thank you for your time and support!

Kim Morris - WALK BY FAITH

I apologize for my extended absence.  Unfortuntately, it has not been due to my being busy enjoying my life.  It has been because I have been stuck in a hole of depression.  Also, I have felt so ashamed about my food choices and resulting weight gain.

I made the decision to wean myself off of my meds at the beginning of the year.  The high of losing so much weight so quickly left me a bit delusional.  I thought I could take on the world.  I thought I could free myself of all illness and medications.  I underestimated the grip that the illness of depression has upon me.  DUMB DUMB DUMB

The good news is that I recognized that I needed help, saw a doctor, and started back on meds this week.  I am feeling a bit more stable already.  I just hope and pray that I am feeling more like myself within the next couple of weeks.  We are leaving for Disney World on September 3rd!!! 

I was so miserable when we went to Disney World in 2008.  350 pounds + 90 degree temps + tons and tons of walking for 8 days left me in pain from head to toe.  I felt like such a burden to my family.  I left the parks many times alone because I felt I was slowing them down or keeping them from having fun.  I spent many times alone in our hotel room crying - no, SOBBING - and hating myself for the condition I allowed my body to get in.  To sum it up, IT TOTALLY SUCKED!! 

I still have a way to go with my weight loss.  I need to get back on track with my food choices and exercise routine.  I am positive that 230 pounds + 90 degree temps + tons and tons of walking for 8 days will be painful, BUT I know that it won't be even close to as prevalent for me this time - THANK GOODNESS.  And I will do anything I can to make sure the word "miserable" is never a word that I use when describing a trip to Disney World ever again!

My 1 year surgiversary is less than a month away - September 14th.  Today, I weigh 232.2 lbs.  My goal is to weigh 225 lbs on my surgiversary.  BUT, most importantly, my goal is to be out of the hole of depression and back on the road to a healthy, vibrant, and FANTASTIC me.

I am 4 days shy of my 9 month surgiversary and I am struggling ... ugh ...

I haven't been to the gym in a long time.  I have blamed this upon baseball season - running to practices and games after work has been my excuse - but the truth is that I am just "off" all the way around.  It seems my appetite is back in full force and I have reverted back to poor food choices on many occassions.  Carbs ... way too many carbs.  I have only gained back 3 of the 120 pounds lost, but I am SO scared that I am getting out of control and will end up back where I started if I don't reel myself back in!

Has anyone else experienced this at this point in their journey?  Is it possible that I have stretched by pouch back to the size of my original stomach?  Is there anything anyone would recommend that I do to get myself back in line?

I would really appreciate your sharing your experiences and/or ideas! 

Hello OH Friends!

I'm sorry that I have been MIA ... just LIVING MY LIFE!!

Today is my 8 month surgiversary and I am down 119 lbs! 

I continue to be THRILLED with the success that I have had - the weight loss is obviously fantastic, but the fact that I am FEELING SO AWESOME ... it is such a blessing and I am so grateful ... God is good!

I hope that all of you are feeling as wonderful as I do and living your lives too!

Today is my 7 month surgiversary! 

I weighed 233 lbs this morning.  I am down 123 lbs from my highest weight (356). 

I have gone from a size 32 in jeans to a size 20.  I have gone from a size 5x in shirts to a size 2x.

I had blood taken on Saturday and will get the results at my follow-up visit with Dr. Eibes next week.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that he is satisfied with my weight loss and that my vitamins levels have increased since they were checked at the end of January, which is when he put me on daily Vitamin A and weekly Vitamin D supplements.

I have not been to the gym in almost two weeks and it really sucks!  I am struggling with not feeling well.  I have "acute viral gastroenteritis" and was in bed from Tuesday to Thursday of last week.  I am not over it completely.  My PCP said it could take me a couple of weeks to get over it.  When I saw him on Wednesday, I couldn't keep anything down and was very dehydrated.  He put me on a med to keep me from vomitting.  He said it is very strong and commonly prescribed to chemo patients.  I began taking it on Wednesday but couldn't keep anything down until Thursday.  If I was not keeping anything down on Friday morning, he planned to send me to the hospital for IVs.  Thank goodness that wasn't necessary!  But I have had incidents of vomitting since, including this morning.  I hate feeling so worn down, having such an irritable stomach/pouch, and feeling like there is a huge ball of gas in my gut all the time!!  I pray I get over this sooner than later!  UGH!

All told, I remain very happy with my RNY.  I would do it again in a heartbeat and I so wish that I had done it sooner!  But, it happened when it happened for a reason.  And it has truly been a gift! 

Until next time OH Friends ..

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND MAGIC WILL HAPPEN

I have a NSV to share that is NO JOKE!
I am wearing size 20 jeans today!  

AWAKE AND ALIVE
By Skillet  

I’m at war with the world and they
Try to pull me in to dark
I struggle to find my faith
As I’m slippin’ from your arms

It’s getting harder to stay awake
And my strength is fading fast
You breathe into me at last  

I’m awake! I’m alive!
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it’s my time
I’ll do what I want ‘cause this is my life
Here, right now!
I’ll stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I’m awake and I’m alive!  

I’m at war with the world ‘cause I
Ain’t never gonna sell my soul
I’ve already made up my mind
No matter what I can’t be bought or sold

When my faith is getting week
And I feel like giving in
You breathe into me again  

I’m awake! I’m alive!
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it’s my time
I’ll do what I want ‘cause this is my life
Here, right now!
I’ll stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I’m awake and I’m alive!  

In the dark, I can feel you in my sleep
In your arms I feel you breathe into me
Forever hold this heart that I will give to you
Forever I will live for you!  

I’m awake! I’m alive!
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it’s my time
I’ll do what I want ‘cause this is my life
Here, right now!
I’ll stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I’m awake and I’m alive!

Today is my 6 month surgiversary and I am down 117 pounds!!

I cannot believe how much more energy and stamina I have now, and the NSVs I have achieved are incredible and to numerous to mention!