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This is what had in mind when he created Graduate-OSSG. . .long term

support of issues that we deal with for the rest of our lives. . .After all,

we all lost weight a zillion times before with a zillion other methods . .

..keeping it off is what we never could do . . .this time we aren't taking

anything for granted and with support we can get it all off and will keep it

all off whether we do protein or not, exercise or not, seven secrets or not.

ONLY By sharing our successes and challenges we can help each other. The

only real failure here, would be if one chooses not to participate. And that

doesn't necessarily mean posing publically . . . private words of support and

questions move the list right along . . .

:o) Vicki

In a message dated 10/05/2001 3:32:12 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

vt_rita@... writes:

> I triple ditto this. (Thanks for thinking of me

> )

>

> My motto is If I could have done this by myself, I

> would have long ago.

>

> One thing I learned is if I forget the past I WILL

> repeat it. Been there, done that, ate the t-shirt.

>

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I triple ditto this. (Thanks for thinking of me

)

My motto is If I could have done this by myself, I

would have long ago.

One thing I learned is if I forget the past I WILL

repeat it. Been there, done that, ate the t-shirt.

At my suppport group meetings the closest next post op

to me is 2 years. (I am 7 and a half yrs post op) No

one after 2 years comes. This past week I seriously

considered not going back (for a lot of reasons,

mostly selfish and ego on my part). But once again I

am reminded what happens when I choose to isolate

because " I have a life now " , " I am too busy to

participate " , and " Gee, I have it made, I don't want

to lose weight anymore so have nothing to gain by

staying " (except the weight)

So, moving aside my ego and " hurt " feelings, I will

return next month to the meetings and listen as I

usually do to the pre ops, the new post ops, the ones

further out who are experimenting with sugar again and

saying they have no problem with a taste. And I sit

back and hope that they are right. I know that one is

too many and a thousand are not enough for me.

Thanks for the gentle reminder to get out of myself

and reach out to others.

Hugs

Rita in Vermont

Open RNY 3/31/94 463 lbs

as of 7/26/01 189 lbs

--- " A. " wrote:

> <<I am still here writing to all that are still

> trying to succeed, because

> too many people succeeded (or failed)? and then went

> away from the support

> groups, on and off line, without trying to help

> others learn from their

> experience? All of us post ops (and pre ops trying

> to map the future) lose

> the benefit of ANY experience, good, bad and

> in-between, when people forget

> and walk away>>

>

> I have to second this...and it would be so easy for

> me to walk away. But I

> don't because I am completely convinced that by

> staying involved, we are

> able to remain focused and not so easily fall into

> the old traps. I have to

> say that it has become quite a struggle for me to

> get through all the mail I

> get from this and the local list I belong to. My

> life has gotten so FULL and

> I don't have the luxury of being able to read up

> while at work (I'm so

> jealous of you that do...what CUSH jobs you must

> have...lol). But

> nonetheless, I gain so much from connecting with my

> " kind " and I also want

> to be there for the newbies like others were there

> for me when I needed it.

>

> My own brother, who had wls just 4 months before me,

> chose not to

> participate in any kind of support program. He

> didn't think he needed

> anyone's help and thought it would all just

> magically happen. We all know

> where that kind of thinking gets you, don't we? He

> never came even close to

> loosing what he needed to and has now regained

> almost all that he did lose.

> He gets around his surgery by grazing all day long

> and places the blame

> elsewhere. I can't tell you how sad this makes me!

> His wife has told me that

> she sees the difference that being involved in

> support groups makes and if

> he were to ever decide to have a revision she would

> drag his butt to

> meetings! I did inform her that it is still possible

> for him to utilize his

> tool even at this stage (provided there's no

> mechanical failure). I was

> thinking about Rita when I told her that...I am so

> impressed by how she took

> control of things and did even better than at first!

> Go Rita!!! :-)

>

> So while I may lag behind in reading and may not

> post promptly or often, I

> will be here because I KNOW the value of sharing.

> Thanks to all who give so

> generously!

>

> A. in Indy

> SRVG on 4-11-00

> Dr. Huse

> St. 's...Carmel,IN

> Pre-op BMI 47, Pre-op Weight 278 lbs.

> As of 10-4-01, -123 lbs. and weighing in at 155!

> Current BMI 26.5

>

__________________________________________________

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I fugured that Helene wanted this to go to the whole

list.

Hugs

Rita

--- hwd112 wrote:

> Date: Sat, 06 Oct 2001 09:33:03 -0400

>

> To: Rita Weisburgh

> Subject: Re: Staying Involved

>

> I so agree with you both. I don't think there has

> been more than one day since my

> surgery almost two years ago (not counting

> vacations) when I have not looked to

> the OSSG support groups to help ground me and remind

> me of the importance of

> maintaining my equilibrium. I can't imagine going

> through this struggle on my

> own. And now that I am having a hard time, and the

> food obsessions are returning,

> the support is more important than ever. My brother

> also had surgery six months

> ago, and chooses not to go to support group

> meetings, on line, or talk with anyone

> else but me who has had the surgery. I fear for him

> and what will be, as I watch

> his poor food choices and try to keep my mouth shut

> about it. I made a vow to

> myself that I will continue staying in touch for the

> rest of my life. I know how

> valuable it is to me to hear from long-timers, and

> hope one day to be able to be

> of help to someone else.

>

> Helene

> RNY 12/22/99

> 350 then/153 now

>

> Rita Weisburgh wrote:

>

> > I triple ditto this. (Thanks for thinking of me

> > )

> >

> > My motto is If I could have done this by myself, I

> > would have long ago.

> >

> > One thing I learned is if I forget the past I WILL

> > repeat it. Been there, done that, ate the

> t-shirt.

> >

> > At my suppport group meetings the closest next

> post op

> > to me is 2 years. (I am 7 and a half yrs post op)

> No

> > one after 2 years comes. This past week I

> seriously

> > considered not going back (for a lot of reasons,

> > mostly selfish and ego on my part). But once again

> I

> > am reminded what happens when I choose to isolate

> > because " I have a life now " , " I am too busy to

> > participate " , and " Gee, I have it made, I don't

> want

> > to lose weight anymore so have nothing to gain by

> > staying " (except the weight)

> >

> > So, moving aside my ego and " hurt " feelings, I

> will

> > return next month to the meetings and listen as I

> > usually do to the pre ops, the new post ops, the

> ones

> > further out who are experimenting with sugar again

> and

> > saying they have no problem with a taste. And I

> sit

> > back and hope that they are right. I know that one

> is

> > too many and a thousand are not enough for me.

> >

> > Thanks for the gentle reminder to get out of

> myself

> > and reach out to others.

> >

> > Hugs

> >

> > Rita in Vermont

> > Open RNY 3/31/94 463 lbs

> > as of 7/26/01 189 lbs

> > --- " A. " wrote:

> > > <<I am still here writing to all that are still

> > > trying to succeed, because

> > > too many people succeeded (or failed)? and then

> went

> > > away from the support

> > > groups, on and off line, without trying to help

> > > others learn from their

> > > experience? All of us post ops (and pre ops

> trying

> > > to map the future) lose

> > > the benefit of ANY experience, good, bad and

> > > in-between, when people forget

> > > and walk away>>

> > >

> > > I have to second this...and it would be so easy

> for

> > > me to walk away. But I

> > > don't because I am completely convinced that by

> > > staying involved, we are

> > > able to remain focused and not so easily fall

> into

> > > the old traps. I have to

> > > say that it has become quite a struggle for me

> to

> > > get through all the mail I

> > > get from this and the local list I belong to. My

> > > life has gotten so FULL and

> > > I don't have the luxury of being able to read up

> > > while at work (I'm so

> > > jealous of you that do...what CUSH jobs you must

> > > have...lol). But

> > > nonetheless, I gain so much from connecting with

> my

> > > " kind " and I also want

> > > to be there for the newbies like others were

> there

> > > for me when I needed it.

> > >

> > > My own brother, who had wls just 4 months before

> me,

> > > chose not to

> > > participate in any kind of support program. He

> > > didn't think he needed

> > > anyone's help and thought it would all just

> > > magically happen. We all know

> > > where that kind of thinking gets you, don't we?

> He

> > > never came even close to

> > > loosing what he needed to and has now regained

> > > almost all that he did lose.

> > > He gets around his surgery by grazing all day

> long

> > > and places the blame

> > > elsewhere. I can't tell you how sad this makes

> me!

> > > His wife has told me that

> > > she sees the difference that being involved in

> > > support groups makes and if

> > > he were to ever decide to have a revision she

> would

> > > drag his butt to

> > > meetings! I did inform her that it is still

> possible

> > > for him to utilize his

> > > tool even at this stage (provided there's no

> > > mechanical failure). I was

> > > thinking about Rita when I told her that...I am

> so

> > > impressed by how she took

> > > control of things and did even better than at

> first!

> > > Go Rita!!! :-)

> > >

> > > So while I may lag behind in reading and may not

> > > post promptly or often, I

> > > will be here because I KNOW the value of

> sharing.

> > > Thanks to all who give so

> > > generously!

> > >

> > > A. in Indy

> > > SRVG on 4-11-00

> > > Dr. Huse

> > > St. 's...Carmel,IN

> > > Pre-op BMI 47, Pre-op Weight 278 lbs.

> > > As of 10-4-01, -123 lbs. and weighing in at

> 155!

> > > Current BMI 26.5

> > >

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >

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I fugured that Helene wanted this to go to the whole

list.

Hugs

Rita

--- hwd112 wrote:

> Date: Sat, 06 Oct 2001 09:33:03 -0400

>

> To: Rita Weisburgh

> Subject: Re: Staying Involved

>

> I so agree with you both. I don't think there has

> been more than one day since my

> surgery almost two years ago (not counting

> vacations) when I have not looked to

> the OSSG support groups to help ground me and remind

> me of the importance of

> maintaining my equilibrium. I can't imagine going

> through this struggle on my

> own. And now that I am having a hard time, and the

> food obsessions are returning,

> the support is more important than ever. My brother

> also had surgery six months

> ago, and chooses not to go to support group

> meetings, on line, or talk with anyone

> else but me who has had the surgery. I fear for him

> and what will be, as I watch

> his poor food choices and try to keep my mouth shut

> about it. I made a vow to

> myself that I will continue staying in touch for the

> rest of my life. I know how

> valuable it is to me to hear from long-timers, and

> hope one day to be able to be

> of help to someone else.

>

> Helene

> RNY 12/22/99

> 350 then/153 now

>

> Rita Weisburgh wrote:

>

> > I triple ditto this. (Thanks for thinking of me

> > )

> >

> > My motto is If I could have done this by myself, I

> > would have long ago.

> >

> > One thing I learned is if I forget the past I WILL

> > repeat it. Been there, done that, ate the

> t-shirt.

> >

> > At my suppport group meetings the closest next

> post op

> > to me is 2 years. (I am 7 and a half yrs post op)

> No

> > one after 2 years comes. This past week I

> seriously

> > considered not going back (for a lot of reasons,

> > mostly selfish and ego on my part). But once again

> I

> > am reminded what happens when I choose to isolate

> > because " I have a life now " , " I am too busy to

> > participate " , and " Gee, I have it made, I don't

> want

> > to lose weight anymore so have nothing to gain by

> > staying " (except the weight)

> >

> > So, moving aside my ego and " hurt " feelings, I

> will

> > return next month to the meetings and listen as I

> > usually do to the pre ops, the new post ops, the

> ones

> > further out who are experimenting with sugar again

> and

> > saying they have no problem with a taste. And I

> sit

> > back and hope that they are right. I know that one

> is

> > too many and a thousand are not enough for me.

> >

> > Thanks for the gentle reminder to get out of

> myself

> > and reach out to others.

> >

> > Hugs

> >

> > Rita in Vermont

> > Open RNY 3/31/94 463 lbs

> > as of 7/26/01 189 lbs

> > --- " A. " wrote:

> > > <<I am still here writing to all that are still

> > > trying to succeed, because

> > > too many people succeeded (or failed)? and then

> went

> > > away from the support

> > > groups, on and off line, without trying to help

> > > others learn from their

> > > experience? All of us post ops (and pre ops

> trying

> > > to map the future) lose

> > > the benefit of ANY experience, good, bad and

> > > in-between, when people forget

> > > and walk away>>

> > >

> > > I have to second this...and it would be so easy

> for

> > > me to walk away. But I

> > > don't because I am completely convinced that by

> > > staying involved, we are

> > > able to remain focused and not so easily fall

> into

> > > the old traps. I have to

> > > say that it has become quite a struggle for me

> to

> > > get through all the mail I

> > > get from this and the local list I belong to. My

> > > life has gotten so FULL and

> > > I don't have the luxury of being able to read up

> > > while at work (I'm so

> > > jealous of you that do...what CUSH jobs you must

> > > have...lol). But

> > > nonetheless, I gain so much from connecting with

> my

> > > " kind " and I also want

> > > to be there for the newbies like others were

> there

> > > for me when I needed it.

> > >

> > > My own brother, who had wls just 4 months before

> me,

> > > chose not to

> > > participate in any kind of support program. He

> > > didn't think he needed

> > > anyone's help and thought it would all just

> > > magically happen. We all know

> > > where that kind of thinking gets you, don't we?

> He

> > > never came even close to

> > > loosing what he needed to and has now regained

> > > almost all that he did lose.

> > > He gets around his surgery by grazing all day

> long

> > > and places the blame

> > > elsewhere. I can't tell you how sad this makes

> me!

> > > His wife has told me that

> > > she sees the difference that being involved in

> > > support groups makes and if

> > > he were to ever decide to have a revision she

> would

> > > drag his butt to

> > > meetings! I did inform her that it is still

> possible

> > > for him to utilize his

> > > tool even at this stage (provided there's no

> > > mechanical failure). I was

> > > thinking about Rita when I told her that...I am

> so

> > > impressed by how she took

> > > control of things and did even better than at

> first!

> > > Go Rita!!! :-)

> > >

> > > So while I may lag behind in reading and may not

> > > post promptly or often, I

> > > will be here because I KNOW the value of

> sharing.

> > > Thanks to all who give so

> > > generously!

> > >

> > > A. in Indy

> > > SRVG on 4-11-00

> > > Dr. Huse

> > > St. 's...Carmel,IN

> > > Pre-op BMI 47, Pre-op Weight 278 lbs.

> > > As of 10-4-01, -123 lbs. and weighing in at

> 155!

> > > Current BMI 26.5

> > >

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >

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I actually had the pleasure of meeting Louise almost 2 years ago when I

was about 6 months post op. An attractive woman with a wonderful job and

great purpose in life! I was very sad when I read about the breast cancer,

but knew that she would make it through it. She does much good for many

people and deserves success. This is not to say that cancer chooses its

victims or survivors by what they deserve . . . not at all. Back to weight

loss, I think the media view of obesity as a character flaw has to be

stopped. It is not a character flaw! Good people get fat too, as do

wonderful strong people. Trying to control the desire to overeat with diet

and exercise doesn't work!

In my (humble?) opinion, what messes up so many people about the weight

issue (before and after weight loss surgery) is buying into the media view of

nutrition, diets and exercise and their role in weight control! The

information you read is financed and thrown out there by a 40 billion dollar

a year industry . . . Why would they want you to know the truth and destroy

their businesses? Why would Weight Watchers want you to know that the

chances of your losing weight and keeping it off with their program and

almost nonexistent? Why would they want you to know there is a much better

chance that you will end weighing more than you do now in the long term???

They all want you to believe that getting the fat off IS THE BATTLE and it

isn't. I know thin people that never diet or exercise and I know heavy

people that constantly diet and exercise like professional athletes, SO diet

and exercise obiously isn't the key.

I personally went in search of the answer post op, as there was no way I

was ever going to allow myself to as feel as out of control and powerless as

I did pre op. And totally relying on a stapleline, and being at the mercy of

a surgery to determine where my weight ended up made me feel even more

powerless! (Yes, I an obsessive-compulsive and a control freak as well!)

Being twice my high school and college graduation weights was a painful

physical nightmare I didn't care to be living anymore. I knew my surgery

gave me the luxury of some " unearned " weight loss and I decided to take that

time to learn and really change. (I viewed the surgery as a temporary plug

in the damn, knowing I had to find a permanent solution or the damn dam would

break and the problem would be even worse!) An important thing I figured

out, is that 100% of people that have WLS of any kind, lose weight after

weight loss surgery, regardless of their starting weight, heredity, diabetes,

eating habits or metabolism. (I didn't say they keep it off or for how

long.) The only difference between them pre op and post op, is how many

calories they are able to get into their system each day.

I quit losing weight post op 4 months after surgery because I filled my

pouch constantly, never letting it be completely empty for very long. I also

filled my pouch to fullness . . .the same thing I did pre op to my stomach

which allowed it to get as big and hold the volume that it could. Since I had

never heard of 7 secrets or becoming a normal eater, it didn't even know what

I was doing wrong?! All I knew is that I was either on a diet and losing

weight, or between diets and gaining weight. I figured that after going

through surgery (which I needed regardless of the weight loss aspect due to

reflux and gall bladder disease due to my obesity), I was not going to have

to diet and exercise and LEARN TO LOVE IT or settle for FAT . . .NOT! I knew

there was something I didn't know and had never learned about being normal

and I was determined to learn what it was and apply it to my life. (I can't

remember a time in my life when weight or appearance wasn't put on the table

as an issue of some sort, even when I was " normal. " ) I then decided to apply

what I had learned in business as a top sales producer, sales training and

support manager, and sales manager for a fortune 500 company. They had

invested thousands of dollars in my education so that I could motivate and

train others to be as successful as the worlds top producers! In sales, you

copy the habits and behaviors of the people whose positions you aspire to and

results you want to obtain. If you act like a " flunky " you will become a

" flunky. " If you do what the top seller does, you will become a top seller.

If you want to become a millionaire, you do what millionaires do. So I

searched my mind for the bottom line and I found it. If you want to be

successful, you model your attitudes, behavior, and thoughts after the people

who have mastered what you seek to obtain! When it came to weight control, I

thought that is what I had been doing when I modeled, Powter, Oprah,

... Afterall, they all fought weight problems and succeeded

right ??? WRONG! They all struggle with their weight and fight to keep

every pound off. They gain and lose! So who do I want to be like???? That

was my turning point. My first thought was Crawford!!! I wanted to be

like Crawford, so I let the fantasy go further and imagined that body

transplants/cloning were humanly possible and I could have Crawfords

body with out any effort on my part *POOF* instant super model body. That is

when I realized that if I fed and cared for her body the way I did mine, it

wouldn't be long before 's body with my thinking, behavior and eating

habits wasn't going to super model anything! Heredity determines, height,

bone structure, shape/ weight distribution, and metabolism to an extent . .

..Heredity does not determine when, what, why or how much you eat, those are

learned behaviors! So 's body with my behavior was still going to end

up FAT, it would just be distributed her way genetically. So that leads me

right to 7 secrets . . . 7 secrets has changed my thinking and relationship

with food to the point that if someone were to give me a body transplant, I

would be able to listen to the physical needs of that body and care for it

properly . . .

So what is proper??? Listen to the physical needs of the body attached to

your head. When it is hungry feed it. When you feed it the right food it

will feel light and energetic. When you feed it the wrong food or when its

not hungry, it will want to sleep and have no energy. Most of us, when we

feel this zapped feeling think food will restore our energy. Sometimes we

need sleep, we should honor that. " The Seven Secrets of Slim People " takes

us step by step to a healthy normal relationship with food. Its not magic or

somebody's idea of how to control weight. Its about the way God made us

before we made the media and sent out messages. Hunger tells us when to eat,

cravings tell us what to eat. It is amazing how by reconnecting with our

physical needs, other needs that have been ignored come to the surface to be

taken care of as well. I know a lot of people own the book at my

recommendation, but not too many have done the work it asks of you! Owning

the book or just reading the book will not cause the changes to occur. There

are worksheets that teach you to tell the difference between mind messages

that should be ignored and body messages that need to be honored . . .It

takes time and work to cultivate a new healthy relationship with food. All

food becomes equal and can be chosen by physical need . . .but it takes time

and hard work. Really changing our relationship with food, isn't instant

like the results from surgery. Some of the list still sounds like beating

yourself into submission . . .Do make sure your vitamins are right, Do

participate in support groups that have a positive message, and do get out

your 7 secrets book . . .And if your body wants protein, do not try and give

it something else or you will feel zapped!

:o) Vicki

In a message dated 10/08/2001 9:36:10 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

lefyock@... writes:

> So the deal is that I

> started at 321 and lost to 185 and now am at 217. I had my surgery in

2/99

> so it is not like I don't know better...The weight gain started in March

> (after my cancer diagnosis) and has been going on since then. That is 32

> pounds 7 months. I eat wrong, stopped exercising, and basically am blowing

> it...So now to the part of what I am doing about it:

>

> 1) I have never been to my " in person " support group once since my

surgery,

> in part, because they meet on a night I teach. I noticed recently in a

> newsletter they sent out that they have added another day, once per month,

> so

> I will go

> 2) I have a referral from my PCP to see a gastro spec. for a picture of

what

>

> is going on but I really don't think I have a SLD

> 3) Get back on more vitamins, etc

> 4) start walking 3.5 miles per day , 5 days per week

> 5) dust off my 7 secrets book

> 6) keep posting

> 7) more protein and protein drinks, less carbo like foods

> 8) back to the basics, protein first, water, exercise

> 9) don't just talk about it and start doing it

> 10) Keep posting about me and supporting others on the list

>

> I guess that is enough for now. I really didn't want to post about my

> weight

> gain but I feel I need to exorcise myself into action. Wish me luck... or

> make that the ability to make proper choices...take care, Louise

>

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I actually had the pleasure of meeting Louise almost 2 years ago when I

was about 6 months post op. An attractive woman with a wonderful job and

great purpose in life! I was very sad when I read about the breast cancer,

but knew that she would make it through it. She does much good for many

people and deserves success. This is not to say that cancer chooses its

victims or survivors by what they deserve . . . not at all. Back to weight

loss, I think the media view of obesity as a character flaw has to be

stopped. It is not a character flaw! Good people get fat too, as do

wonderful strong people. Trying to control the desire to overeat with diet

and exercise doesn't work!

In my (humble?) opinion, what messes up so many people about the weight

issue (before and after weight loss surgery) is buying into the media view of

nutrition, diets and exercise and their role in weight control! The

information you read is financed and thrown out there by a 40 billion dollar

a year industry . . . Why would they want you to know the truth and destroy

their businesses? Why would Weight Watchers want you to know that the

chances of your losing weight and keeping it off with their program and

almost nonexistent? Why would they want you to know there is a much better

chance that you will end weighing more than you do now in the long term???

They all want you to believe that getting the fat off IS THE BATTLE and it

isn't. I know thin people that never diet or exercise and I know heavy

people that constantly diet and exercise like professional athletes, SO diet

and exercise obiously isn't the key.

I personally went in search of the answer post op, as there was no way I

was ever going to allow myself to as feel as out of control and powerless as

I did pre op. And totally relying on a stapleline, and being at the mercy of

a surgery to determine where my weight ended up made me feel even more

powerless! (Yes, I an obsessive-compulsive and a control freak as well!)

Being twice my high school and college graduation weights was a painful

physical nightmare I didn't care to be living anymore. I knew my surgery

gave me the luxury of some " unearned " weight loss and I decided to take that

time to learn and really change. (I viewed the surgery as a temporary plug

in the damn, knowing I had to find a permanent solution or the damn dam would

break and the problem would be even worse!) An important thing I figured

out, is that 100% of people that have WLS of any kind, lose weight after

weight loss surgery, regardless of their starting weight, heredity, diabetes,

eating habits or metabolism. (I didn't say they keep it off or for how

long.) The only difference between them pre op and post op, is how many

calories they are able to get into their system each day.

I quit losing weight post op 4 months after surgery because I filled my

pouch constantly, never letting it be completely empty for very long. I also

filled my pouch to fullness . . .the same thing I did pre op to my stomach

which allowed it to get as big and hold the volume that it could. Since I had

never heard of 7 secrets or becoming a normal eater, it didn't even know what

I was doing wrong?! All I knew is that I was either on a diet and losing

weight, or between diets and gaining weight. I figured that after going

through surgery (which I needed regardless of the weight loss aspect due to

reflux and gall bladder disease due to my obesity), I was not going to have

to diet and exercise and LEARN TO LOVE IT or settle for FAT . . .NOT! I knew

there was something I didn't know and had never learned about being normal

and I was determined to learn what it was and apply it to my life. (I can't

remember a time in my life when weight or appearance wasn't put on the table

as an issue of some sort, even when I was " normal. " ) I then decided to apply

what I had learned in business as a top sales producer, sales training and

support manager, and sales manager for a fortune 500 company. They had

invested thousands of dollars in my education so that I could motivate and

train others to be as successful as the worlds top producers! In sales, you

copy the habits and behaviors of the people whose positions you aspire to and

results you want to obtain. If you act like a " flunky " you will become a

" flunky. " If you do what the top seller does, you will become a top seller.

If you want to become a millionaire, you do what millionaires do. So I

searched my mind for the bottom line and I found it. If you want to be

successful, you model your attitudes, behavior, and thoughts after the people

who have mastered what you seek to obtain! When it came to weight control, I

thought that is what I had been doing when I modeled, Powter, Oprah,

... Afterall, they all fought weight problems and succeeded

right ??? WRONG! They all struggle with their weight and fight to keep

every pound off. They gain and lose! So who do I want to be like???? That

was my turning point. My first thought was Crawford!!! I wanted to be

like Crawford, so I let the fantasy go further and imagined that body

transplants/cloning were humanly possible and I could have Crawfords

body with out any effort on my part *POOF* instant super model body. That is

when I realized that if I fed and cared for her body the way I did mine, it

wouldn't be long before 's body with my thinking, behavior and eating

habits wasn't going to super model anything! Heredity determines, height,

bone structure, shape/ weight distribution, and metabolism to an extent . .

..Heredity does not determine when, what, why or how much you eat, those are

learned behaviors! So 's body with my behavior was still going to end

up FAT, it would just be distributed her way genetically. So that leads me

right to 7 secrets . . . 7 secrets has changed my thinking and relationship

with food to the point that if someone were to give me a body transplant, I

would be able to listen to the physical needs of that body and care for it

properly . . .

So what is proper??? Listen to the physical needs of the body attached to

your head. When it is hungry feed it. When you feed it the right food it

will feel light and energetic. When you feed it the wrong food or when its

not hungry, it will want to sleep and have no energy. Most of us, when we

feel this zapped feeling think food will restore our energy. Sometimes we

need sleep, we should honor that. " The Seven Secrets of Slim People " takes

us step by step to a healthy normal relationship with food. Its not magic or

somebody's idea of how to control weight. Its about the way God made us

before we made the media and sent out messages. Hunger tells us when to eat,

cravings tell us what to eat. It is amazing how by reconnecting with our

physical needs, other needs that have been ignored come to the surface to be

taken care of as well. I know a lot of people own the book at my

recommendation, but not too many have done the work it asks of you! Owning

the book or just reading the book will not cause the changes to occur. There

are worksheets that teach you to tell the difference between mind messages

that should be ignored and body messages that need to be honored . . .It

takes time and work to cultivate a new healthy relationship with food. All

food becomes equal and can be chosen by physical need . . .but it takes time

and hard work. Really changing our relationship with food, isn't instant

like the results from surgery. Some of the list still sounds like beating

yourself into submission . . .Do make sure your vitamins are right, Do

participate in support groups that have a positive message, and do get out

your 7 secrets book . . .And if your body wants protein, do not try and give

it something else or you will feel zapped!

:o) Vicki

In a message dated 10/08/2001 9:36:10 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

lefyock@... writes:

> So the deal is that I

> started at 321 and lost to 185 and now am at 217. I had my surgery in

2/99

> so it is not like I don't know better...The weight gain started in March

> (after my cancer diagnosis) and has been going on since then. That is 32

> pounds 7 months. I eat wrong, stopped exercising, and basically am blowing

> it...So now to the part of what I am doing about it:

>

> 1) I have never been to my " in person " support group once since my

surgery,

> in part, because they meet on a night I teach. I noticed recently in a

> newsletter they sent out that they have added another day, once per month,

> so

> I will go

> 2) I have a referral from my PCP to see a gastro spec. for a picture of

what

>

> is going on but I really don't think I have a SLD

> 3) Get back on more vitamins, etc

> 4) start walking 3.5 miles per day , 5 days per week

> 5) dust off my 7 secrets book

> 6) keep posting

> 7) more protein and protein drinks, less carbo like foods

> 8) back to the basics, protein first, water, exercise

> 9) don't just talk about it and start doing it

> 10) Keep posting about me and supporting others on the list

>

> I guess that is enough for now. I really didn't want to post about my

> weight

> gain but I feel I need to exorcise myself into action. Wish me luck... or

> make that the ability to make proper choices...take care, Louise

>

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Share on other sites

I actually had the pleasure of meeting Louise almost 2 years ago when I

was about 6 months post op. An attractive woman with a wonderful job and

great purpose in life! I was very sad when I read about the breast cancer,

but knew that she would make it through it. She does much good for many

people and deserves success. This is not to say that cancer chooses its

victims or survivors by what they deserve . . . not at all. Back to weight

loss, I think the media view of obesity as a character flaw has to be

stopped. It is not a character flaw! Good people get fat too, as do

wonderful strong people. Trying to control the desire to overeat with diet

and exercise doesn't work!

In my (humble?) opinion, what messes up so many people about the weight

issue (before and after weight loss surgery) is buying into the media view of

nutrition, diets and exercise and their role in weight control! The

information you read is financed and thrown out there by a 40 billion dollar

a year industry . . . Why would they want you to know the truth and destroy

their businesses? Why would Weight Watchers want you to know that the

chances of your losing weight and keeping it off with their program and

almost nonexistent? Why would they want you to know there is a much better

chance that you will end weighing more than you do now in the long term???

They all want you to believe that getting the fat off IS THE BATTLE and it

isn't. I know thin people that never diet or exercise and I know heavy

people that constantly diet and exercise like professional athletes, SO diet

and exercise obiously isn't the key.

I personally went in search of the answer post op, as there was no way I

was ever going to allow myself to as feel as out of control and powerless as

I did pre op. And totally relying on a stapleline, and being at the mercy of

a surgery to determine where my weight ended up made me feel even more

powerless! (Yes, I an obsessive-compulsive and a control freak as well!)

Being twice my high school and college graduation weights was a painful

physical nightmare I didn't care to be living anymore. I knew my surgery

gave me the luxury of some " unearned " weight loss and I decided to take that

time to learn and really change. (I viewed the surgery as a temporary plug

in the damn, knowing I had to find a permanent solution or the damn dam would

break and the problem would be even worse!) An important thing I figured

out, is that 100% of people that have WLS of any kind, lose weight after

weight loss surgery, regardless of their starting weight, heredity, diabetes,

eating habits or metabolism. (I didn't say they keep it off or for how

long.) The only difference between them pre op and post op, is how many

calories they are able to get into their system each day.

I quit losing weight post op 4 months after surgery because I filled my

pouch constantly, never letting it be completely empty for very long. I also

filled my pouch to fullness . . .the same thing I did pre op to my stomach

which allowed it to get as big and hold the volume that it could. Since I had

never heard of 7 secrets or becoming a normal eater, it didn't even know what

I was doing wrong?! All I knew is that I was either on a diet and losing

weight, or between diets and gaining weight. I figured that after going

through surgery (which I needed regardless of the weight loss aspect due to

reflux and gall bladder disease due to my obesity), I was not going to have

to diet and exercise and LEARN TO LOVE IT or settle for FAT . . .NOT! I knew

there was something I didn't know and had never learned about being normal

and I was determined to learn what it was and apply it to my life. (I can't

remember a time in my life when weight or appearance wasn't put on the table

as an issue of some sort, even when I was " normal. " ) I then decided to apply

what I had learned in business as a top sales producer, sales training and

support manager, and sales manager for a fortune 500 company. They had

invested thousands of dollars in my education so that I could motivate and

train others to be as successful as the worlds top producers! In sales, you

copy the habits and behaviors of the people whose positions you aspire to and

results you want to obtain. If you act like a " flunky " you will become a

" flunky. " If you do what the top seller does, you will become a top seller.

If you want to become a millionaire, you do what millionaires do. So I

searched my mind for the bottom line and I found it. If you want to be

successful, you model your attitudes, behavior, and thoughts after the people

who have mastered what you seek to obtain! When it came to weight control, I

thought that is what I had been doing when I modeled, Powter, Oprah,

... Afterall, they all fought weight problems and succeeded

right ??? WRONG! They all struggle with their weight and fight to keep

every pound off. They gain and lose! So who do I want to be like???? That

was my turning point. My first thought was Crawford!!! I wanted to be

like Crawford, so I let the fantasy go further and imagined that body

transplants/cloning were humanly possible and I could have Crawfords

body with out any effort on my part *POOF* instant super model body. That is

when I realized that if I fed and cared for her body the way I did mine, it

wouldn't be long before 's body with my thinking, behavior and eating

habits wasn't going to super model anything! Heredity determines, height,

bone structure, shape/ weight distribution, and metabolism to an extent . .

..Heredity does not determine when, what, why or how much you eat, those are

learned behaviors! So 's body with my behavior was still going to end

up FAT, it would just be distributed her way genetically. So that leads me

right to 7 secrets . . . 7 secrets has changed my thinking and relationship

with food to the point that if someone were to give me a body transplant, I

would be able to listen to the physical needs of that body and care for it

properly . . .

So what is proper??? Listen to the physical needs of the body attached to

your head. When it is hungry feed it. When you feed it the right food it

will feel light and energetic. When you feed it the wrong food or when its

not hungry, it will want to sleep and have no energy. Most of us, when we

feel this zapped feeling think food will restore our energy. Sometimes we

need sleep, we should honor that. " The Seven Secrets of Slim People " takes

us step by step to a healthy normal relationship with food. Its not magic or

somebody's idea of how to control weight. Its about the way God made us

before we made the media and sent out messages. Hunger tells us when to eat,

cravings tell us what to eat. It is amazing how by reconnecting with our

physical needs, other needs that have been ignored come to the surface to be

taken care of as well. I know a lot of people own the book at my

recommendation, but not too many have done the work it asks of you! Owning

the book or just reading the book will not cause the changes to occur. There

are worksheets that teach you to tell the difference between mind messages

that should be ignored and body messages that need to be honored . . .It

takes time and work to cultivate a new healthy relationship with food. All

food becomes equal and can be chosen by physical need . . .but it takes time

and hard work. Really changing our relationship with food, isn't instant

like the results from surgery. Some of the list still sounds like beating

yourself into submission . . .Do make sure your vitamins are right, Do

participate in support groups that have a positive message, and do get out

your 7 secrets book . . .And if your body wants protein, do not try and give

it something else or you will feel zapped!

:o) Vicki

In a message dated 10/08/2001 9:36:10 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

lefyock@... writes:

> So the deal is that I

> started at 321 and lost to 185 and now am at 217. I had my surgery in

2/99

> so it is not like I don't know better...The weight gain started in March

> (after my cancer diagnosis) and has been going on since then. That is 32

> pounds 7 months. I eat wrong, stopped exercising, and basically am blowing

> it...So now to the part of what I am doing about it:

>

> 1) I have never been to my " in person " support group once since my

surgery,

> in part, because they meet on a night I teach. I noticed recently in a

> newsletter they sent out that they have added another day, once per month,

> so

> I will go

> 2) I have a referral from my PCP to see a gastro spec. for a picture of

what

>

> is going on but I really don't think I have a SLD

> 3) Get back on more vitamins, etc

> 4) start walking 3.5 miles per day , 5 days per week

> 5) dust off my 7 secrets book

> 6) keep posting

> 7) more protein and protein drinks, less carbo like foods

> 8) back to the basics, protein first, water, exercise

> 9) don't just talk about it and start doing it

> 10) Keep posting about me and supporting others on the list

>

> I guess that is enough for now. I really didn't want to post about my

> weight

> gain but I feel I need to exorcise myself into action. Wish me luck... or

> make that the ability to make proper choices...take care, Louise

>

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<>

And they look like a pretty good 10 Steps too! And, welcome back, Kott, er,

.... Louise!!

In Charlottesville, VA

Roux-en-Y with Gall Bladder Removal: March 31, 1999, 318 lb.

July 26, 2001 -- 194

5'6.5 "

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< I haven't been involved with this group for very long, but am impressed by

how they accept people and have some REALLY good advise! Smart group.....EVEN

if they ARE MOUTHY!!! (kidding<grin>) >

Debbie,

ONLY " SOME " Really good advice??? All our advice is GOOD! Some is Better!

okay, sometimes we get off track and it is only " all right " advice! LOL

And, yes we are MOUTHY and proud of it! But, then you get what you ask for! <

great big grin>

In Charlottesville, VA

Roux-en-Y with Gall Bladder Removal: March 31, 1999, 318 lb.

July 26, 2001 -- 194

5'6.5 "

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Hi all,

Just wanted to thank everyone who has emailed me publicly and privately about

my regaining situation. I'm hanging tough and will give you updates. Thanks

again, I knew I could count on you. Take care, Louise

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*********ONLY " SOME " Really good advice??? All our advice is GOOD! Some is

Better! okay, sometimes we get off track and it is only " all right " advice!

LOL

And, yes we are MOUTHY and proud of it! But, then you get what you ask for!

<great big grin> **************

ROTFL......... Ok , you guys give LOTS of good advice!!!! LOL And I

LOVE mouthy! 'Cause I am one MOUTHY " broad " myself! And you know..... I

don't mind being a " broad " . LOL Cause I ain't so broad anymore!!!!!

Debbie in Gig Harbor

Dr. Weber for Original RNY (1/22/1999)

and Revision (2/16/2001)transected stomach

starting weight 320

lowest weight 200

current weight 219 (down from 265 before revision)

original by-pass 70cm

revision to 170cm

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*********ONLY " SOME " Really good advice??? All our advice is GOOD! Some is

Better! okay, sometimes we get off track and it is only " all right " advice!

LOL

And, yes we are MOUTHY and proud of it! But, then you get what you ask for!

<great big grin> **************

ROTFL......... Ok , you guys give LOTS of good advice!!!! LOL And I

LOVE mouthy! 'Cause I am one MOUTHY " broad " myself! And you know..... I

don't mind being a " broad " . LOL Cause I ain't so broad anymore!!!!!

Debbie in Gig Harbor

Dr. Weber for Original RNY (1/22/1999)

and Revision (2/16/2001)transected stomach

starting weight 320

lowest weight 200

current weight 219 (down from 265 before revision)

original by-pass 70cm

revision to 170cm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

*********ONLY " SOME " Really good advice??? All our advice is GOOD! Some is

Better! okay, sometimes we get off track and it is only " all right " advice!

LOL

And, yes we are MOUTHY and proud of it! But, then you get what you ask for!

<great big grin> **************

ROTFL......... Ok , you guys give LOTS of good advice!!!! LOL And I

LOVE mouthy! 'Cause I am one MOUTHY " broad " myself! And you know..... I

don't mind being a " broad " . LOL Cause I ain't so broad anymore!!!!!

Debbie in Gig Harbor

Dr. Weber for Original RNY (1/22/1999)

and Revision (2/16/2001)transected stomach

starting weight 320

lowest weight 200

current weight 219 (down from 265 before revision)

original by-pass 70cm

revision to 170cm

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