Rachelena
Chutes and Ladders
Feb 26, 2008
Falling Off the Diet Wagon
by Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS
One of the most discouraging aspects of weight loss are the inevitable slips. Everyone has them. For some people, an occasional slip engenders an all-out binge ... followed by guilt, self-recrimination, a sense of powerlessness and a feeling of “what’s the use?”
Sound familiar?
I call it “falling off the diet wagon," and if you can change how you think about it, you don’t need to be victimized by it anymore.
Let's start by looking at a simple children’s board game called “Chutes and Ladders." Here’s how it works: you use a spinner to advance from space to space toward the winner's spot. Along the way there are ladders -- which leapfrog you over a lot of spaces -- as well as chutes -- which send you back in the opposite direction.
Some kids play this game with a laissez faire, “whatever” attitude, taking life as it comes with all its ups and downs, pitfalls and triumphs. They learn the wonderful moral of Chutes and Ladders -- half of the secret to life is just showing up. Keep playing the game, and eventually you’ll get where you’re going.
Some kids, however, get very upset when they land on a chute. They’re ready to quit the game, pick up their proverbial marbles and go home. For some reason, they believe that life isn’t supposed to have any chutes. When they land on them, they are very disappointed and feel like giving up.
Weight loss is like a huge game of chutes and ladders.
In dealing with hundreds of clients over the years, I’ve discovered that the biggest difference between the winners and the losers in the weight loss war isn’t whether or not people have “slips” and go off their program. It's not really a question of “if” they have them, it’s a question of “when."
What really makes the difference is how you deal with the slips when they happen.
Here’s an example. You’ve been absolutely wonderful on your eating plan for three weeks. You've been sticking to your exercise routine and feeling pretty terrific. You go to your best friend's wedding and have a glass of wine. Before you know it, someone is insisting you try those delicious little canapes, and before the wedding singer can say “Tanta Elka Cuts the Cake," you’ve managed to down about 4000 unwanted calories from stuff you wouldn’t have been caught dead looking at during the past couple of weeks ... pates, desserts, breads, stuffings, you name it.
Most people think that’s where the action stops. Actually, it’s where the real action begins.
First, a reality check. Have you done a lot of damage? Not really. Maybe you put on a pound or two. Big deal. You can knock it off in no time, and go right back to “work” on yourself.
So what’s the problem?
The problem isn’t what we did, but what we make it “mean." We tell ourselves that our “transgression” means that we have no will power, that we will never succeed, that our efforts are in vain.
In other words, we hit a chute and now we want to stop the game.
Let me suggest something more empowering.
Suppose, instead, we learn to see life’s occasional “chutes” as just that -- stumbling blocks that everyone hits on their personal path to personal power, nothing to be afraid of and certainly nothing to give a lot of “meaning” to.
So you hit a chute. On your next spin, you might hit a ladder.
Most important of all, you can’t win the game unless you keep on playing.
And every minute gives you a new chance for another spin.
Take it. And don’t look back.
I call it “falling off the diet wagon," and if you can change how you think about it, you don’t need to be victimized by it anymore.
Let's start by looking at a simple children’s board game called “Chutes and Ladders." Here’s how it works: you use a spinner to advance from space to space toward the winner's spot. Along the way there are ladders -- which leapfrog you over a lot of spaces -- as well as chutes -- which send you back in the opposite direction.
Some kids play this game with a laissez faire, “whatever” attitude, taking life as it comes with all its ups and downs, pitfalls and triumphs. They learn the wonderful moral of Chutes and Ladders -- half of the secret to life is just showing up. Keep playing the game, and eventually you’ll get where you’re going.
Some kids, however, get very upset when they land on a chute. They’re ready to quit the game, pick up their proverbial marbles and go home. For some reason, they believe that life isn’t supposed to have any chutes. When they land on them, they are very disappointed and feel like giving up.
Weight loss is like a huge game of chutes and ladders.
In dealing with hundreds of clients over the years, I’ve discovered that the biggest difference between the winners and the losers in the weight loss war isn’t whether or not people have “slips” and go off their program. It's not really a question of “if” they have them, it’s a question of “when."
What really makes the difference is how you deal with the slips when they happen.
Here’s an example. You’ve been absolutely wonderful on your eating plan for three weeks. You've been sticking to your exercise routine and feeling pretty terrific. You go to your best friend's wedding and have a glass of wine. Before you know it, someone is insisting you try those delicious little canapes, and before the wedding singer can say “Tanta Elka Cuts the Cake," you’ve managed to down about 4000 unwanted calories from stuff you wouldn’t have been caught dead looking at during the past couple of weeks ... pates, desserts, breads, stuffings, you name it.
Most people think that’s where the action stops. Actually, it’s where the real action begins.
First, a reality check. Have you done a lot of damage? Not really. Maybe you put on a pound or two. Big deal. You can knock it off in no time, and go right back to “work” on yourself.
So what’s the problem?
The problem isn’t what we did, but what we make it “mean." We tell ourselves that our “transgression” means that we have no will power, that we will never succeed, that our efforts are in vain.
In other words, we hit a chute and now we want to stop the game.
Let me suggest something more empowering.
Suppose, instead, we learn to see life’s occasional “chutes” as just that -- stumbling blocks that everyone hits on their personal path to personal power, nothing to be afraid of and certainly nothing to give a lot of “meaning” to.
So you hit a chute. On your next spin, you might hit a ladder.
Most important of all, you can’t win the game unless you keep on playing.
And every minute gives you a new chance for another spin.
Take it. And don’t look back.
Head OR Nurse...
Feb 25, 2008
Today I was scheduled for a seminar class with the head OR nurse. I got a call at 7:30 this morning saying it was canceled. Im really upset because I was told that because my surgery was in less than 2 weeks there is no other time that I can have this opportunity to meet with her and ask her my questions. They are just going to mail me the packet and hope for the best... grrrrrrr
Protein Shakes
Feb 22, 2008
Ok, so I have been on the hunt for the best protein shake out there. Dr. Geiss recommends Medifast, but it is just so expensive at over $2.00 a shake. I was looking for something that tastes great, is moderately priced, and has less than 150 calories, over 20g of protein, and less than 3g of fat.
I have been reading the daily Q&A e-mail from this website and a lot of people have been asking about protein shakes so I got a lot of ideas from those posts. Thank you to whoever answered them.
Medifast- Ready to Go, 90 calories, 1.5g of fat, 11g of protein. It tastes great but there is barely enough protein. PRICE:$2.75
Designer Whey- Powder, 100 calories, 2g of fat, 18g of protein. Chocolate flavor is ok. Better with milk and Ice in a blender than just water. Strawberry flavor has an awful after taste no matter how you make it. PRICE:$.65
Syntrax Nectar- Powder, 90 Calories, 0g of fat, 23g of protein. Caribbean Cooler flavor tastes like a watered down Pina Colada. Slight after taste, but not unbearable. Made with Milk it is really good!! PRICE:$.61
BSN Lean Dessert Proten Shake- Powder, 130 calories, 3g of fat, 20g of protein. Chocolate Fudge Pudding flavor is by far the best tasting protein shake I have had so far. Even though it has a few more calories than the others it is worth it. No after taste. PRICE:$.88
I still have a few out there I want to try, so I will be updating the list. If anyone has any suggestions or additions for this list please let me know. Thanks. Feel free to copy. If you want to know where I got the prices from, just ask.
I have been reading the daily Q&A e-mail from this website and a lot of people have been asking about protein shakes so I got a lot of ideas from those posts. Thank you to whoever answered them.
Medifast- Ready to Go, 90 calories, 1.5g of fat, 11g of protein. It tastes great but there is barely enough protein. PRICE:$2.75
Designer Whey- Powder, 100 calories, 2g of fat, 18g of protein. Chocolate flavor is ok. Better with milk and Ice in a blender than just water. Strawberry flavor has an awful after taste no matter how you make it. PRICE:$.65
Syntrax Nectar- Powder, 90 Calories, 0g of fat, 23g of protein. Caribbean Cooler flavor tastes like a watered down Pina Colada. Slight after taste, but not unbearable. Made with Milk it is really good!! PRICE:$.61
BSN Lean Dessert Proten Shake- Powder, 130 calories, 3g of fat, 20g of protein. Chocolate Fudge Pudding flavor is by far the best tasting protein shake I have had so far. Even though it has a few more calories than the others it is worth it. No after taste. PRICE:$.88
I still have a few out there I want to try, so I will be updating the list. If anyone has any suggestions or additions for this list please let me know. Thanks. Feel free to copy. If you want to know where I got the prices from, just ask.
Just a Pick Me Up...
Feb 22, 2008
If I could be Super Morbidly Obese, I could be a Super Bandster! Right? Well, I'm going to try! BUT I know that just as any other addiction, the addiction to overeat, may raise it's ugly head! That's okay -- Because I'm planning to hang up that SMO cape and get out my new SB cape. The spandex outfit is pretty snug, but I don't care. I'm ready! ~I_am_with_the_band
I read that and I said to myself... self, that is the funniest most amazing piece of truth I have ever heard.
I read that and I said to myself... self, that is the funniest most amazing piece of truth I have ever heard.
Compliments of KenMan and others...
Feb 19, 2008
How to Avoid Plastics....
1. Take your Vitamins...your body needs to be well nourished if you're gonna get the best response from it!
2. Get at Least 80 grams of Protein in per day... If you don't get enough protein your body will consume itself to make up for it!!
3. Exercise!! Increased Blood Flow means faster Healing and Delivery of Essential Nutrients for your bodies recovery!!
4. Take Silica! It has been proven to increase skin elasticity so your skin will be able to compact itself naturally!!
4.5 Scar Removal Pads are Made from Silica... Use these on your scars of course!! Once the Cuts are Fully Healed!!
5. Use Cocoa Butter Moisturizers!! Cocoa Butter is what Pregnant women use for Stretch marks and after birth to help the skin!!
6. Don't Lose the Weight Too Rapidly!! If you lose weight too fast; your skin doesn't have time to contract and will end up being saggy!
7. It's Good To Be Young!!! Our bodies are more resilient, they heal faster and can adapt to changes more quickly than someone that is older.
8. It's good to be a Guy!!! Women tend to hold most of their weight on their stomachs, Breasts, and Thighs.. while some guys tend to carry it all over their body so no one part of their body is holding too much of the weight!
9. Once you are fully healed; Start Lifting Weights!! Not only will Lifting weights be necessary to have a gorgeous body..but lifting helps tone, increases mass and helps increase your metabolism!! So that skin will then be filled up by beautiful Muscles!!
10. Lose the fat!!! Make sure to have a low body fat percentage... If you weigh 100lbs and have no muscle... that skin is still being stretched by the fat...so if you decrease your fat to a low body fat percentage..there will be nothing keeping it stretched so it will be able to contract further!!
11. Avoid Stress...Stress can affect so much in your life including healing...Find a way to relax and remove stress from your life!!
12. Avoid Smoking... Smoking is not only unhealthy but smokers have reduced skin elasticity...
13. Use Sun Screen... Or avoid the Sun!! Sun Light not only Causes Cancer but it will damage your skin and might cause you to need other procedures than Surgery to get it fixed!!
14. Genetics...Some people are more prone to having better elasticity just like some people are more prone to Diabetes and Cancer..
15. The YoYo Effect.. Losing and Gaining weight repeatedly damages your skins elasticity.. now that we have the Tools to avoid weight regain it is important to avoid it!
16. Stay Hydrated!! Your Skin is 25% Protein and 75% water.. if you deprive yourself of hydration you are depriving your skin of a Necessary component in it's Elasticity...Don't make excuses and Drink the Water!!
17. How much weight Do you have to lose??? If it's 50lbs then you don't have much to worry about...if it's 200lbs then you are far more likely to require Plastics..Don't ignore the other Rules though just because you have a Lot to lose!! They will still help you minimize the Surgery Needed!!
18. How Long have you been Obese?? The Longer you have been Obese the less elasticity your skin will have.. Think of a Stretched Rubber Band..stretch a few seconds and it returns to normal..Stretch it for hours and it won't, or will require longer to return to a normal range!
19. Wait a while!! When you have just lost all that excess weight your skin might be saggy.. If you give it some time to shrink... maybe a year or so.. it can shrink even further and you might find out you really don't need it!!
1. Take your Vitamins...your body needs to be well nourished if you're gonna get the best response from it!
2. Get at Least 80 grams of Protein in per day... If you don't get enough protein your body will consume itself to make up for it!!
3. Exercise!! Increased Blood Flow means faster Healing and Delivery of Essential Nutrients for your bodies recovery!!
4. Take Silica! It has been proven to increase skin elasticity so your skin will be able to compact itself naturally!!
4.5 Scar Removal Pads are Made from Silica... Use these on your scars of course!! Once the Cuts are Fully Healed!!
5. Use Cocoa Butter Moisturizers!! Cocoa Butter is what Pregnant women use for Stretch marks and after birth to help the skin!!
6. Don't Lose the Weight Too Rapidly!! If you lose weight too fast; your skin doesn't have time to contract and will end up being saggy!
7. It's Good To Be Young!!! Our bodies are more resilient, they heal faster and can adapt to changes more quickly than someone that is older.
8. It's good to be a Guy!!! Women tend to hold most of their weight on their stomachs, Breasts, and Thighs.. while some guys tend to carry it all over their body so no one part of their body is holding too much of the weight!
9. Once you are fully healed; Start Lifting Weights!! Not only will Lifting weights be necessary to have a gorgeous body..but lifting helps tone, increases mass and helps increase your metabolism!! So that skin will then be filled up by beautiful Muscles!!
10. Lose the fat!!! Make sure to have a low body fat percentage... If you weigh 100lbs and have no muscle... that skin is still being stretched by the fat...so if you decrease your fat to a low body fat percentage..there will be nothing keeping it stretched so it will be able to contract further!!
11. Avoid Stress...Stress can affect so much in your life including healing...Find a way to relax and remove stress from your life!!
12. Avoid Smoking... Smoking is not only unhealthy but smokers have reduced skin elasticity...
13. Use Sun Screen... Or avoid the Sun!! Sun Light not only Causes Cancer but it will damage your skin and might cause you to need other procedures than Surgery to get it fixed!!
14. Genetics...Some people are more prone to having better elasticity just like some people are more prone to Diabetes and Cancer..
15. The YoYo Effect.. Losing and Gaining weight repeatedly damages your skins elasticity.. now that we have the Tools to avoid weight regain it is important to avoid it!
16. Stay Hydrated!! Your Skin is 25% Protein and 75% water.. if you deprive yourself of hydration you are depriving your skin of a Necessary component in it's Elasticity...Don't make excuses and Drink the Water!!
17. How much weight Do you have to lose??? If it's 50lbs then you don't have much to worry about...if it's 200lbs then you are far more likely to require Plastics..Don't ignore the other Rules though just because you have a Lot to lose!! They will still help you minimize the Surgery Needed!!
18. How Long have you been Obese?? The Longer you have been Obese the less elasticity your skin will have.. Think of a Stretched Rubber Band..stretch a few seconds and it returns to normal..Stretch it for hours and it won't, or will require longer to return to a normal range!
19. Wait a while!! When you have just lost all that excess weight your skin might be saggy.. If you give it some time to shrink... maybe a year or so.. it can shrink even further and you might find out you really don't need it!!
My Insurance...
Feb 12, 2008
I was starting to get really nervous that I was not going to get approved by my insurance company because they do not consider sleep apnea or PCOS to be a co-morbidity and they will not approve the surgery if the patient does not have a co-morbidity no matter what their BMI is.
Well, there must be someone watching over me in heaven because today I got my approval letter in the mail from my insurance company!!!!!
Well, there must be someone watching over me in heaven because today I got my approval letter in the mail from my insurance company!!!!!
My Motivation Dress....
Feb 11, 2008
I am going to buy this dress and hang it in a frame by my bed... The day I can wear it I am going to be the happiest person on Earth!!!!
Smoking...
Feb 07, 2008
I have reached one of my goals in my WLS journey this week. I guess it would be what you would call a non scale victory lol. I quit smoking. I am taking chantix and I swear its a miracle pill!!! I don't crave it, I don't want it, I don't need it and I don't miss it. I can't believe that after trying to quit so many times and failing this was so easy.
31 DAYS TIL I HAVE A LAP BAND!!!!
31 DAYS TIL I HAVE A LAP BAND!!!!
Medifast
Feb 01, 2008
Hey Everyone. I don't know if your surgeon requires you to use a protein shake after WLS. My surgeon recommended Medifast. It can be a little pricey but I just found a coupon for $55 off of a total order of $255.
The coupon code is CRAZE55.
The coupon code is CRAZE55.
About Me
Hicksville, NY
Location
32.2
BMI
Surgery
10/18/2010
Surgery Date
Nov 06, 2007
Member Since
