Re: a spiritual milestone

[Guest guest]

Hi Gemello,

How exciting for you. Thank you for sharing this wonderful occasion with us. You are so right about the importance of having a spiritual connection. I belong to another online WLS group that is a Christian group and we share the importance of knowing that this kind of journey is so hard to make without having a grounded spiritual connection. It's encouraging to know that you have a spiritual family that is supportive of your journey and is regularly praying for you. As you have discovered, being at peace with your God helps you make peace with your own personal stuff and makes your journey even more meaningful. My prayer is that you continue to inspire all of us, especially those who do not have a spiritual connection in this journey we have chosen to make together. The love and care you have for each person on this list is reflected in the love you have deepened for yourself and your own health. Please continue to post and pray

for each and every one us, inspire us with your shared milestones and your gentle wisdom. You are truly a blessing.

Chrisgemellodigiovanni wrote:

Hello everyone:Today I was received into membership at my church. This may seem like a strange milestone in a weight loss surgery journey, but it is my path toward a fuller mind-body-spirit connection.In my church, we are all encouraged to tell our stories of abundance and thanksgiving for Divine blessings. My story is peppered with obesity issues as it has framed a large part of my life.My story I have shared with my church:***How has the abundance in the beloved community of MCC San Francisco touched you on your spiritual journey?I have just achieved a radical physical transformation. Over the past two years, I have lost 153 lbs. This goal was at first a small hope deep inside of me. I had to believe that this miracle could happen in my life. But the

physical aspect is now underway, in maintenance, in recovery. But where did the belief, the faith come from? As I got closer and closer to goal, and deeper into my recovery process, a support group facilitator encouraged me to further open my heart to spirituality. She explained to me the mind-body-spirit connection. She asked me, "Now that your mind and body are being nourished and cared for, how are you nourishing your soul?"I have been attending the MCC San Francisco off and on, mostly on holidays, for the past ten years. And so as I began to look for answers to nagging questions of emptiness and meaning in my heart, the need came to me. I needed to find a community, a spiritual home. I know that I could not return to a traditional church because I am rejected due to my sexual orientation. So I came back home: here. The motto I had heard many times before in this church

resonated deeply in my whole being: "Whoever you are, wherever you have come from, you are always welcome here."In one of Penny's sermons, I heard her say, and I'm paraphrasing here, "Therapy will only get you so far. It's community that heals you." So here I am so full of gratitude--radically transformed in mind, body and spirit. At last, I have found for my soul: home, nourishment, community, and sanctuary."***After we took our vows, the members of the church rose to applaud us and to receive us into the embrace of membership. This was a dream come true, but not the way I expected it.For so many years, I had always envisioned reaching my goal weight at a Weight Watchers meeting. I dreamed of the applause that I would receive. I had attended years of Weight Watchers meetings at the MCC San Francisco, but that moment never came, and I grew more and more

obese.So there I was in the sanctuary today. The whole church was on its feet applauding me and the other new members. But the love and acceptance that that ovation represented had nothing to do with the fact that just one day before I had achieved my goal weight. Yet it had everything to do with it.It had nothing to do with weight loss because the members and I were reaching out to each other, making connections on a personal spirit-to-spirit level. And yet, it had everything to do with my weight loss surgery journey because I never would have had the courage to reach out for that acceptance had I not been transformed by this process.Rev. Penny spoke of one of the most important struggles of our time, when so often we are filled with fear, meaninglessness and despair. Our struggle is one of hope vs. cynicism. We are called upon to cultivate hope and reject

cynicism.And so my vow is to never give up hope, hope for a better life. That hope keeps me centered and positive. That hope feeds my faith that I am part of a larger community and allows me to see the humanity in all faces--even in those who are not like me and in those who hate me because I am different.So I will continue to hope. I will continue strive to ensure that my hope is not empty. I will turn that hope into positive action toward myself and others. My hope is that I will touch lives and uplift others in ways that others have uplifted me.Gemello-153 lbs at goal

Gold Canyon Candles Sensaria Natural Skincare

[Guest guest]

Hi Gemello,

You have the most amazing talent for touching my heart - and mind.

Your milestone does not strike me as a strange one to include as part

of your journey. When I first started my own WLS journey, it all

seemed to be about losing the excess fat - but, the further out from

surgery I get, the more I realize that that there is so much more

involved. I need to lose a lot of excess baggage that isn't just fat

and I need to grow in many ways while I'm shrinking.

I am a major advocate for therapy for WLS patients, but that quote "Therapy

will only get you so far. It's community that heals you." really

hit a chord for me. I know that therapy is playing a critical part in

my life right now, but being a part of an accepting and supportive

community makes all the difference in the world.

Lately, I've been going through a really rough time "filled

with fear, meaninglessness and despair" - I haven't

written about it here yet, I probably will soon, but I'm not quite

there yet - anyway . . . I will try to follow your lead in cultivating

hope. I am just

so scared right now that it is hard not to be paralyzed. So

much of this journey is downright fun and I am so happy about how well

I've done . . . but I have some serious issues that need to be

addressed. As my shrink pointed out in our last session, nearly all of

my identity was wrapped up in being a morbidly obese person. Gemello,

you're the one who first mentioned how this journey is like being an

adolescent - that is so very true. Of course, the real adolescents

have the advantage of time - it is a b*tch being an adolescent in my

mid-fifties.

Sorry for my digression. I really just wanted to congratulate you on

achieving such a momentous goal. You remain an inspiration to me.

All the best,

Kay

in San Leandro

open RNY 12/1/03

Gemello wrote:

Hello everyone:

Today I was received into membership at my church. This may seem

like a strange milestone in a weight loss surgery journey, but it is

my path toward a fuller mind-body-spirit connection.

.. . .

I have been attending the MCC San Francisco off and on, mostly on

holidays, for the past ten years. And so as I began to look for

answers to nagging questions of emptiness and meaning in my heart,

the need came to me. I needed to find a community, a spiritual

home.

. . .

In one of Penny's sermons, I heard her say, and I'm paraphrasing

here, "Therapy will only get you so far. It's community that heals

you." So here I am so full of gratitude--radically transformed in

mind, body and spirit. At last, I have found for my soul: home,

nourishment, community, and sanctuary."

***

After we took our vows, the members of the church rose to applaud us

and to receive us into the embrace of membership. This was a dream

come true, but not the way I expected it.

For so many years, I had always envisioned reaching my goal weight at

a Weight Watchers meeting. I dreamed of the applause that I would

receive. I had attended years of Weight Watchers meetings at the MCC

San Francisco, but that moment never came, and I grew more and more

obese.

So there I was in the sanctuary today. The whole church was on its

feet applauding me and the other new members. But the love and

acceptance that that ovation represented had nothing to do with the

fact that just one day before I had achieved my goal weight. Yet it

had everything to do with it.

It had nothing to do with weight loss because the members and I were

reaching out to each other, making connections on a personal spirit-

to-spirit level. And yet, it had everything to do with my weight

loss surgery journey because I never would have had the courage to

reach out for that acceptance had I not been transformed by this

process.

Rev. Penny spoke of one of the most important struggles of our time,

when so often we are filled with fear, meaninglessness and despair.

Our struggle is one of hope vs. cynicism. We are called upon to

cultivate hope and reject cynicism.

And so my vow is to never give up hope, hope for a better life. That

hope keeps me centered and positive. That hope feeds my faith that I

am part of a larger community and allows me to see the humanity in

all faces--even in those who are not like me and in those who hate me

because I am different.

So I will continue to hope. I will continue strive to ensure that my

hope is not empty. I will turn that hope into positive action toward

myself and others. My hope is that I will touch lives and uplift

others in ways that others have uplifted me.

Gemello

-153 lbs at goal

[Guest guest]

Kay:

You provide so much insight and honesty. You know, I'm feeling a bit

of fear myself. I wanted to express it but hadn't had the time to

yet, but oh well. Here goes...

Now that I'm at goal, my fear is, " What on earth do I do now? " I

know how to lose and gain weight--we're all experts at that--but how

do I increase my caloric intake and decrease my exercise intensity

without totally getting out of control?

I've really had to do some soul searching for the last few days.

I've been reassuring myself that I've got all the tools right here at

my disposal, but the fear persists. But I keep plugging away,

logging what I eat, drink, etc., etc. I will not give up the hope

and belief that I will succeed.

I have to say it to myself until I believe it. That's how it worked

before. During my workout this morning, it repeated it over and

over: " You're gonna be OK. You can do this. "

I also surrendered it to my Higher Power. That was the first time

that I admitted it in prayer. And I did it while looking at my 8

points of maintenance. Gotta practice what I preach, so to speak.

Thanks Kay for making me remember to post my fears as well as my

successes. It's only through being honest with myself that I can

help me and hopefully others coming along the way.

Gemello

at goal

> Hi Gemello,

>

> You have the most amazing talent for touching my heart - and mind.

>

> Your milestone does not strike me as a strange one to include as

part of

> your journey. When I first started my own WLS journey, it all

seemed to

> be about losing the excess fat - but, the further out from surgery

I

> get, the more I realize that that there is so much more involved.

I

> need to lose a lot of excess baggage that isn't just fat and I need

to

> grow in many ways while I'm shrinking.

>

> I am a major advocate for therapy for WLS patients, but that quote

> " Therapy will only get you so far. It's community that heals you. "

> really hit a chord for me. I know that therapy is playing a

critical

> part in my life right now, but being a part of an accepting and

> supportive community makes all the difference in the world.

>

> Lately, I've been going through a really rough time " filled with

fear,

> meaninglessness and despair " - I haven't written about it here yet,

I

> probably will soon, but I'm not quite there yet - anyway . . . I

will

> try to follow your lead in cultivating hope. I am just so scared

right

> now that it is hard not to be paralyzed. So much of this journey

is

> downright fun and I am so happy about how well I've done . . . but

I

> have some serious issues that need to be addressed. As my shrink

> pointed out in our last session, nearly all of my identity was

wrapped

> up in being a morbidly obese person. Gemello, you're the one who

first

> mentioned how this journey is like being an adolescent - that is so

very

> true. Of course, the real adolescents have the advantage of time -

it

> is a b*tch being an adolescent in my mid-fifties.

>

> Sorry for my digression. I really just wanted to congratulate you

on

> achieving such a momentous goal. You remain an inspiration to me.

>

> All the best,

>

> Kay

> in San Leandro

> open RNY 12/1/03

[Guest guest]

Hi Kay, sorry you’re going through a

rough time. We’re here for you when/if you want to talk more about it.

- Lesa -

-----Original

Message-----

From: Kay

Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004

1:41 PM

To:

gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients

Subject: Re:

a spiritual milestone

Hi Gemello,

You have the most amazing talent for touching my heart - and mind.

Your milestone does not strike me as a strange one to include as part of your

journey. When I first started my own WLS journey, it all seemed to be

about losing the excess fat - but, the further out from surgery I get, the more

I realize that that there is so much more involved. I need to lose a lot

of excess baggage that isn't just fat and I need to grow in many ways while I'm

shrinking.

I am a major advocate for therapy for WLS patients, but that quote " Therapy will only get you so far. It's

community that heals you. " really hit a chord for me. I

know that therapy is playing a critical part in my life right now, but being a

part of an accepting and supportive community makes all the difference in the

world.

Lately, I've been going through a really rough time " filled with fear,

meaninglessness and despair " - I haven't written about it here yet, I

probably will soon, but I'm not quite there yet - anyway . . . I will try to

follow your lead in cultivating hope. I am just so scared right now

that it is hard not to be paralyzed. So much of this journey is downright

fun and I am so happy about how well I've done . . . but I have some serious

issues that need to be addressed. As my shrink pointed out in our last

session, nearly all of my identity was wrapped up in being a morbidly obese

person. Gemello, you're the one who first mentioned how this journey is

like being an adolescent - that is so very true. Of course, the real

adolescents have the advantage of time - it is a b*tch being an adolescent in

my mid-fifties.

Sorry for my digression. I really just wanted to congratulate you on

achieving such a momentous goal. You remain an inspiration to me.

All the best,

Kay

in San Leandro

open RNY 12/1/03

Gemello wrote:

Hello

everyone:

Today I was received into membership at my church. This may seem

like a strange milestone in a weight loss surgery journey, but it is

my path toward a fuller mind-body-spirit connection.

.. . .

I have been attending the MCC San Francisco off and on, mostly on

holidays, for the past ten years. And so as I began to look for

answers to nagging questions of emptiness and meaning in my heart,

the need came to me. I needed to find a community, a spiritual

home.

. . .

In one of Penny's sermons, I heard her say, and I'm paraphrasing

here, " Therapy will only get you so far. It's community that heals

you. " So here I am so full of gratitude--radically transformed in

mind, body and spirit. At last, I have found for my soul: home,

nourishment, community, and sanctuary. "

***

After we took our vows, the members of the church rose to applaud us

and to receive us into the embrace of membership. This was a dream

come true, but not the way I expected it.

For so many years, I had always envisioned reaching my goal weight at

a Weight Watchers meeting. I dreamed of the applause that I would

receive. I had attended years of Weight Watchers meetings at the MCC

San Francisco, but that moment never came, and I grew more and more

obese.

So there I was in the sanctuary today. The whole church was on its

feet applauding me and the other new members. But the love and

acceptance that that ovation represented had nothing to do with the

fact that just one day before I had achieved my goal weight. Yet it

had everything to do with it.

It had nothing to do with weight loss because the members and I were

reaching out to each other, making connections on a personal spirit-

to-spirit level. And yet, it had everything to do with my weight

loss surgery journey because I never would have had the courage to

reach out for that acceptance had I not been transformed by this

process.

Rev. Penny spoke of one of the most important struggles of our time,

when so often we are filled with fear, meaninglessness and despair.

Our struggle is one of hope vs. cynicism. We are called upon to

cultivate hope and reject cynicism.

And so my vow is to never give up hope, hope for a better life. That

hope keeps me centered and positive. That hope feeds my faith that I

am part of a larger community and allows me to see the humanity in

all faces--even in those who are not like me and in those who hate me

because I am different.

So I will continue to hope. I will continue strive to ensure that my

hope is not empty. I will turn that hope into positive action toward

myself and others. My hope is that I will touch lives and uplift

others in ways that others have uplifted me.

Gemello

-153 lbs at goal

[Guest guest]

Hi Lesa,

Many thanks. I know how wonderfully supportive this group is . . . I'm

just not there yet - having a lot of thinking to do.

Take care,

Kay

in San Leandro

open RNY 12/1/03

Lesa wrote:

Hi Kay,

sorry you’re going through a

rough time. We’re here for you when/if you want to talk more about it.

- Lesa -