Motivation

[Guest guest]

Could you please send me the website for the pics?

Thanks,

Nita

[Guest guest]

Hi Candis. Those are some really good questions you asked about motivation.

You and I are pretty close to the same surgery date, so I think we are in the

same place. I've found myself pigging out a bit on tortilla chips a couple

nights this week. Instead of saying I'll have this many, and setting out a

handful, I was eating right out of the bag. I guess part of it was because

there was nothing there to get stuck so it was really easy to just keep on

munching. And I haven't been able to get into any kind of walking routine. I

know I need to make this a priority. So, I look forward to the more experienced

responses to your questions, cause they might help me out, too. Take care.

Jeanne in WI

Age 38

Open RNY 05/21/2002

314/ 278 /150-175

5' 8 "

djgraves@...

[Guest guest]

Candis, I found myself looking at the pics yesterday also. It realy is a big

difference when you can see it! I know that I was cleaning out a old pocketbook

the other day and found some pictures from a couple of years ago at a family

reunion and I was thinking OMG! I can't believe that is me! What a difference 77

lbs can make. My face looks soooooooooo different. It is hard at times to get

lost in the day to day hustle and bustle of it all but know that in the " big "

picture it will all work out. I know that when people see me for the first time

that I haven't seen in several months they have that " deer in the headlights

look " thing goin on and then it reminds me of my progress. I tend to fret on

myself and that is like a wake up call to me that i'm on the right track. It

does seem so over whelming at times trying to stick with everything....vits,

protein, b-12 shots, eating right....etc. I just remind myself this was a

lifelong decision that I made and I have to stick to my guns! I guess I could

say that my motivation comes from knowing that this was " my " choice and I am

glad that I made it. I think of the little things that I can do now that gave me

such a hard time before and that tends to keep my spirits up,things

like.....tying my bows of my shoes in the middle, not on the side...putting on

pantyhose without practicly standing on my head....shaving my leggs with great

ease, getting out of bed without my whole body aching, getting clothes from the

regular size not the plus section (even though I find myself still looking over

there).....going bike riding with my son who by the way thinks that is the

coolest thing since peanut butter....rollerbladeing.....swimming (actually

doing laps not just standing in the water).....I could go on and on but you get

the point. Look for the small things they do make a world of difference and can

keep you on track....hope this helps....Annee

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Annee Lee's wonderful post gets clipped when I answer from the web <sigh>....

In addition, when I lost the 100 lbs at Duke, it was strongly suggested that I

take photos every 20, and then every 10 lbs down (once you could see a

difference at 10 lbs), for 3 reasons.

1. Because it gives us a feeling that we're really accomplishing something when

we can see the difference in the weight loss. If we plateau out at one point

and can't really remember that difference (after all, we look pretty much the

same from one day to the next), we can get disappointed easier.

2. Because if we are still fat in the head, it provides us with a good reality

check.

3. If we've got emotional problems with losing weight like losing protection or

losing a sense of power, sometimes it helps us stay connected to who we are.

This reason is the most subtle, but in the long run may well be very important

to some people.

Pam in Niceville

[Guest guest]

there are pictures of us in the files here and on www.obesityhelp.com

Re: motivation

> Could you please send me the website for the pics?

> Thanks,

> Nita

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/17/02 6:36:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

candis@... writes:

> . How do you keep your motivation going?

one day at a time . . . I pray everyday that I can do what I need to do for

this day.

I'm only 3 weeks post-op. Foods aren't appealing to me; I eat because I'm

suppose to . . .there's no joy in foods anymore~don't feel like cooking,

planning etc. Hope that changes and I get motivated to try new receipes etc.

Right now seems 1/8 cup, 1/4 cup measurement isn't worth the bother.

What keeps you going?

I will be 54 tomorrow and was seeing my life collasping around me. I was

missing out on the activities that had brought joy in my life previously and

wanted them back.

Knowing that next summer will be different keeps me going~and I'm looking

forward to skiing this winter! So that's my focus right now. I'll buy my

season's ticket next month; go for picture pass in October and buy new ski

pants etc.

> you up when you get down a bit about the lack of immediate

> gratification that is inherent in our weight loss trek?

I've been for one visit to be weighed-lost 20# I really don't want

this to be a numbers game ( pounds lost, clothing size, etc ) REally trying

to focus on other things. Awhile back Kim in Alaska posted her list of 100

ways she'd know she was a success with wls. I like that approach. I copied

her list and started changing some to fit me. ( filed it but can't find it

now that I'm post-op) My husband has been very encouraging, communicating

that I'm doing fine, that I need to pamper myself, relax, etc. This morning

he said get online and catch up on your e-mails . . .he sees this group as a

plus for me. GBIC is a very important part of my life right now~the support

shown to all is an awesome rare find these days.

Candis, thanks for posting your motivation questions;you got me

thinking! And inspired me to count my blessings and be patient.

{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Elaine in Maine

[Guest guest]

Hi Candis,

Good questions. At this stage, I just think about all I've been through so

far and don't want to blow it. I think about how my waistline is returning

and how good it feels to go out in public. I think about how light I feel

when I walk. I think about my grandchildren and how much my love for them

played a part in my having surgery. I don't want to fail them or anyone who

loves me. Not that they won't love me anymore, but I know they want the

best for me and I don't want to disappointment.

Something that cheers me up is counting backwards all the 10's I've passed.

272, 62, 52, 42, 32, 22, 2 " 1 " 7, that always amazes me, lol!

in California

Open RNY - 03/29/02

272.5/217 - as of 07/13/02

-55.5

motivation

Hi All!

The last few weeks I have been dealing with a lack of motivation.

It's like my memory span is about 4 seconds long and I can't

remember why I am doing this. (Translation: I can't see rapid

weight loss from day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute.

Talk about short attention span theater!)

I went to the photos section of GBIC and looked at all the

pictures. Wow! Talk about getting the ol' MO back! Just

looking at all the beautiful people in the before and after

pictures (and the time involved to lose all the weight) is a real

reminder that just because I can't **see** progress day to day,

hour to hour, minute to minute, doesn't mean it isn't happening.

THINGS TAKE TIME!!! Longer than my 4 second memory. <LOL>

Longer than a day, longer than a week. I didn't put on all this

weight overnight, so it's going to take a while to take it all

off. Holy Jumpin' ! You'd think I would remember this. But

I do forget it from time to time and when I do, I lose my

motivation. When I lose my motivation, I get all depressed and

down. My original motivation was that I wanted to see my

grandchildren. My kids are 9 and 11 right now, so it's a really

long range goal. Maybe too long.

I would like to pose some questions to all of you. How do your

keep your motivation going? What keeps you going? What cheers

you up when you get down a bit about the lack of immediate

gratification that is inherent in our weight loss trek?

Maybe I will learn a few tricks for keeping my chin(s) up during

this journey.

Thanks!

Candis King

Wheaton, IL

[Guest guest]

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GastricBypass-InfoCentral/?yguid=83992117

Click on the link for photos.

Jeanne in WI

Age 38

Open RNY 05/21/2002

314/ 276.5 /150-175

5' 8 "

djgraves@...

[Guest guest]

Got this from another list and thought it applies to weight loss.

Kathleen

Motivation

Once there was a very learned man. After a lifetime of study and

research, he was scheduled to deliver a lecture to a group of college

professors on the topic of motivation. He arrived early the day of the

lecture and spent several hours painstakingly transcribing his

formulas and notes to several large blackboards on the stage.

Virtually every square inch of the blackboards was covered with

information.

As he did this, the janitor, who had come in to sweep and be sure

everything was ready for the big event, watched. As the man

finished, stepped back, and breathed a sigh of relief, the janitor

wandered over to the stage.

" Hey, Doc! 'R you the guy that's gonna talk to all the perfessers

tonight? " The learned man nodded.

" What's all that scritch-scratch up there on the blackboards? " the

janitor asked.

" That, sir is the result of a lifetime of study into the subject of

motivation. If someone follows the procedures and formulae I have

developed, he or she will be successful motivating himself to

accomplish whatever he wishes. " The professor seemed very proud.

" Well.... I'm no perfesser, but it seems like you all went to a lot of

trouble for nothin'. I can tell you how to motivate yerself in two

words. "

The distinguished gentleman huffed and puffed for a moment and

finally managed to sputter, " Well, if you know so much, why don't

you come up here and tell me the two words. "

The janitor climbed up onto the stage, looked around somewhat in

awe of where he was and perhaps also that he was on the same

stage with this great man, and walked over to the blackboards. He

wrote two words in the last clear spot there.

Can you guess what they were?

GOTTA WANNA

The learned man shook his head sadly and said, " I spent a whole

lifetime trying to find something that was there all the time. I couldn't

say it any better if I had another lifetime. "