Re: Stuart Smalley I'm NOT!!!

October 4, 2002

Wow, Thanks Dan. I saved this one for my inspirational WLS journal of advice

from the list. I am struggling with that last 60 pounds after my revision 10

months ago and even though I feel I am doing the right things the scale is

being very stubborn and extremely slow right now. But its a matter of my

working the plan which you so beautifully pointed out.

Again Thanks.

Martha H

Hill Ca

Stuart Smalley I'm NOT!!!

>

> But....now that I'm four years into my WLS, there is a LOT to be said for

> positive reinforcement within your household...but most importantly,

within

> you. Yep, I do have a daily affirmation that I repeat to myself...it's

> something to give me focus when I wake up each morning and reminds me that

> there is only one person to screw up the effects of my WLS...that person

> being me.

>

> Slipping into bad habits is waaaaay too easy. A lapse is a short ordered

> thing that by habit can turn into a relapse...unfortunately, we are

critters

> of habit. Fortunately, we are critters of habit too...because we can have

> positive habits right along with the not-so-positive habits. Recognizing

> what the bad habits are is Job One....being able to put them in front of

you

> so you recognize them when you're getting ready to order a meal; or snatch

> up something well out of the your personalized approved food or quantity

> list...or laying on your back when the alarm goes off instead of getting

up

> to EXERCISE (there's that E word!! ).

>

> I think that some of the failings that I've witnessed personally as well

as

> with members of this group and our local bunch of " losers " here in Atlanta

> is an inability to put the appropriate amount of focus on this task. Task

> is a good word because it equates to work...and this is work; don't ever

let

> anyone tell you that you took an easy way out. Fortunately, RnY makes it

> considerably easier to deal with than going stark cold turkey...but people

> do succeed at cold turkey regimens, just not as often as the World would

> like. We on the other hand can optimize our new " plumbing " ...but just

like

> anything else, one has to maintain themselves in order to allow the WLS to

> benefit us.

>

> Silly as it may seem...simply reaffirming your daily goal, putting it in

> your mind before anything else takes precedence...should be something to

do,

> or at least to try. I can't emphasize enough the need for being selfish

and

> self-absorbed when it comes to this life long pursuit now. Friends,

family

> and employment will have to take second place to your weight loss and

> maintenance goals. Friends, family and employment will be more than happy

> to wile you away because you provide a benefit to them....provide a

benefit

> to yourself first and foremost. Much like the safety announcement on all

> the Commercial air carriers.... " should that mask drop down in front of

> you....put it on YOURSELF first!!! " Others will take care of themselves,

> it's a guarantee.

>

> So, lads and lasses....I hate to read about folks that fall into

despondency

> when they begin to gain weight or go into the " I've lost control "

mode...as

> too many take the WLS procedure as the Last Measure of Defense. It's

> not...it's another avenue of attack that many of us have found success

with.

> It's not the panacea for the rest of your life...once the WLS gets you

where

> you bottom out...you've got to get off your bottom and take care of the

> rest. I've slipped and slid down the slippery slope a number of

> times...move on and get ready for the next failings; with the exception of

> Sue R. and Vitalady...we're only human. And as simple as it may seem...a

> simple " Board Meeting " with the chairman each morning with regards to

events

> from yesterday and plan of attack for today...gives you focus and an angle

> of attack to pursue.

>

> Silly? Not really. Silly would be blowing $20,000 for WLS and then

winding

> up back at square one...and that event does happen. The old adage about a

> " failure to plan is actually planning to fail " applies here...you've got

to

> adjust and keeping fine tuning yourself for the rest of your life now.

When

> you hit your basis weight...it's a whole lot easier to maintain than to

gain

> and take it back off; so plan ahead by just telling yourself in

affirmation

> each morning what you will and won't be doing in this regards. That

> creature of habit will sooner or later make it automatic.

>

> Do a quick sorting out each morning while getting awake and I think you'll

> be pleasantly surprised...it does work for me.

>

> Good luck, eat healthy...get out there and do your Cardio!!

>

> Dan

> rny 10.13.98

> EdWaits,MD-Atlanta

>

> " because I'm swell enough, smart enough and some people pretend to like

me! "

>

> Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG

>

> Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe

>

October 4, 2002

Wow, Thanks Dan. I saved this one for my inspirational WLS journal of advice

from the list. I am struggling with that last 60 pounds after my revision 10

months ago and even though I feel I am doing the right things the scale is

being very stubborn and extremely slow right now. But its a matter of my

working the plan which you so beautifully pointed out.

Again Thanks.

Martha H

Hill Ca

Stuart Smalley I'm NOT!!!

>

> But....now that I'm four years into my WLS, there is a LOT to be said for

> positive reinforcement within your household...but most importantly,

within

> you. Yep, I do have a daily affirmation that I repeat to myself...it's

> something to give me focus when I wake up each morning and reminds me that

> there is only one person to screw up the effects of my WLS...that person

> being me.

>

> Slipping into bad habits is waaaaay too easy. A lapse is a short ordered

> thing that by habit can turn into a relapse...unfortunately, we are

critters

> of habit. Fortunately, we are critters of habit too...because we can have

> positive habits right along with the not-so-positive habits. Recognizing

> what the bad habits are is Job One....being able to put them in front of

you

> so you recognize them when you're getting ready to order a meal; or snatch

> up something well out of the your personalized approved food or quantity

> list...or laying on your back when the alarm goes off instead of getting

up

> to EXERCISE (there's that E word!! ).

>

> I think that some of the failings that I've witnessed personally as well

as

> with members of this group and our local bunch of " losers " here in Atlanta

> is an inability to put the appropriate amount of focus on this task. Task

> is a good word because it equates to work...and this is work; don't ever

let

> anyone tell you that you took an easy way out. Fortunately, RnY makes it

> considerably easier to deal with than going stark cold turkey...but people

> do succeed at cold turkey regimens, just not as often as the World would

> like. We on the other hand can optimize our new " plumbing " ...but just

like

> anything else, one has to maintain themselves in order to allow the WLS to

> benefit us.

>

> Silly as it may seem...simply reaffirming your daily goal, putting it in

> your mind before anything else takes precedence...should be something to

do,

> or at least to try. I can't emphasize enough the need for being selfish

and

> self-absorbed when it comes to this life long pursuit now. Friends,

family

> and employment will have to take second place to your weight loss and

> maintenance goals. Friends, family and employment will be more than happy

> to wile you away because you provide a benefit to them....provide a

benefit

> to yourself first and foremost. Much like the safety announcement on all

> the Commercial air carriers.... " should that mask drop down in front of

> you....put it on YOURSELF first!!! " Others will take care of themselves,

> it's a guarantee.

>

> So, lads and lasses....I hate to read about folks that fall into

despondency

> when they begin to gain weight or go into the " I've lost control "

mode...as

> too many take the WLS procedure as the Last Measure of Defense. It's

> not...it's another avenue of attack that many of us have found success

with.

> It's not the panacea for the rest of your life...once the WLS gets you

where

> you bottom out...you've got to get off your bottom and take care of the

> rest. I've slipped and slid down the slippery slope a number of

> times...move on and get ready for the next failings; with the exception of

> Sue R. and Vitalady...we're only human. And as simple as it may seem...a

> simple " Board Meeting " with the chairman each morning with regards to

events

> from yesterday and plan of attack for today...gives you focus and an angle

> of attack to pursue.

>

> Silly? Not really. Silly would be blowing $20,000 for WLS and then

winding

> up back at square one...and that event does happen. The old adage about a

> " failure to plan is actually planning to fail " applies here...you've got

to

> adjust and keeping fine tuning yourself for the rest of your life now.

When

> you hit your basis weight...it's a whole lot easier to maintain than to

gain

> and take it back off; so plan ahead by just telling yourself in

affirmation

> each morning what you will and won't be doing in this regards. That

> creature of habit will sooner or later make it automatic.

>

> Do a quick sorting out each morning while getting awake and I think you'll

> be pleasantly surprised...it does work for me.

>

> Good luck, eat healthy...get out there and do your Cardio!!

>

> Dan

> rny 10.13.98

> EdWaits,MD-Atlanta

>

> " because I'm swell enough, smart enough and some people pretend to like

me! "

>

> Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG

>

> Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe

>

October 4, 2002

Wow, Thanks Dan. I saved this one for my inspirational WLS journal of advice

from the list. I am struggling with that last 60 pounds after my revision 10

months ago and even though I feel I am doing the right things the scale is

being very stubborn and extremely slow right now. But its a matter of my

working the plan which you so beautifully pointed out.

Again Thanks.

Martha H

Hill Ca

Stuart Smalley I'm NOT!!!

>

> But....now that I'm four years into my WLS, there is a LOT to be said for

> positive reinforcement within your household...but most importantly,

within

> you. Yep, I do have a daily affirmation that I repeat to myself...it's

> something to give me focus when I wake up each morning and reminds me that

> there is only one person to screw up the effects of my WLS...that person

> being me.

>

> Slipping into bad habits is waaaaay too easy. A lapse is a short ordered

> thing that by habit can turn into a relapse...unfortunately, we are

critters

> of habit. Fortunately, we are critters of habit too...because we can have

> positive habits right along with the not-so-positive habits. Recognizing

> what the bad habits are is Job One....being able to put them in front of

you

> so you recognize them when you're getting ready to order a meal; or snatch

> up something well out of the your personalized approved food or quantity

> list...or laying on your back when the alarm goes off instead of getting

up

> to EXERCISE (there's that E word!! ).

>

> I think that some of the failings that I've witnessed personally as well

as

> with members of this group and our local bunch of " losers " here in Atlanta

> is an inability to put the appropriate amount of focus on this task. Task

> is a good word because it equates to work...and this is work; don't ever

let

> anyone tell you that you took an easy way out. Fortunately, RnY makes it

> considerably easier to deal with than going stark cold turkey...but people

> do succeed at cold turkey regimens, just not as often as the World would

> like. We on the other hand can optimize our new " plumbing " ...but just

like

> anything else, one has to maintain themselves in order to allow the WLS to

> benefit us.

>

> Silly as it may seem...simply reaffirming your daily goal, putting it in

> your mind before anything else takes precedence...should be something to

do,

> or at least to try. I can't emphasize enough the need for being selfish

and

> self-absorbed when it comes to this life long pursuit now. Friends,

family

> and employment will have to take second place to your weight loss and

> maintenance goals. Friends, family and employment will be more than happy

> to wile you away because you provide a benefit to them....provide a

benefit

> to yourself first and foremost. Much like the safety announcement on all

> the Commercial air carriers.... " should that mask drop down in front of

> you....put it on YOURSELF first!!! " Others will take care of themselves,

> it's a guarantee.

>

> So, lads and lasses....I hate to read about folks that fall into

despondency

> when they begin to gain weight or go into the " I've lost control "

mode...as

> too many take the WLS procedure as the Last Measure of Defense. It's

> not...it's another avenue of attack that many of us have found success

with.

> It's not the panacea for the rest of your life...once the WLS gets you

where

> you bottom out...you've got to get off your bottom and take care of the

> rest. I've slipped and slid down the slippery slope a number of

> times...move on and get ready for the next failings; with the exception of

> Sue R. and Vitalady...we're only human. And as simple as it may seem...a

> simple " Board Meeting " with the chairman each morning with regards to

events

> from yesterday and plan of attack for today...gives you focus and an angle

> of attack to pursue.

>

> Silly? Not really. Silly would be blowing $20,000 for WLS and then

winding

> up back at square one...and that event does happen. The old adage about a

> " failure to plan is actually planning to fail " applies here...you've got

to

> adjust and keeping fine tuning yourself for the rest of your life now.

When

> you hit your basis weight...it's a whole lot easier to maintain than to

gain

> and take it back off; so plan ahead by just telling yourself in

affirmation

> each morning what you will and won't be doing in this regards. That

> creature of habit will sooner or later make it automatic.

>

> Do a quick sorting out each morning while getting awake and I think you'll

> be pleasantly surprised...it does work for me.

>

> Good luck, eat healthy...get out there and do your Cardio!!

>

> Dan

> rny 10.13.98

> EdWaits,MD-Atlanta

>

> " because I'm swell enough, smart enough and some people pretend to like

me! "

>

> Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG

>

> Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe

>

October 4, 2002

In a message dated 10/4/02 10:08:42 AM Central Daylight Time,

dlturner@... writes:

<< an inability to put the appropriate amount of focus on this task. Task

is a good word because it equates to work...and this is work; >>

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

Oh, this is SOO true. I'm glad someone pointed it out. Not only is it work,

it is HARD work. Darned hard work.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

I can't emphasize enough the need for being selfish and self-absorbed when it

comes to this life long pursuit now. Friends, family and employment will

have to take second place to your weight loss and maintenance goals.

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

Another oh-so-true! Mid-1980's, I did a 6-week stint in-patient in an

" eating disorder " program. Very intensive and focused; group therapy daily

along with behavior modification and nutritional education and exercise,

Overeaters Anonymous meetings right in the hospital, etc. No visitors allowed

but for 2 hrs once a week; one phone call only daily (in or out, but not

both). Very strict. In those 6 wks, I lost only 18 lbs, and came away feeling

belligerent and put-upon and " blamed. " Needless to say, the weight did not

stay off and I went on to climb to 328 lbs b4 I decided to save my own life.

The one thing of value, though, that I have hung onto from that

incarceration, was the caveat that " you must be willing to go to ANY LENGTHS

to maintain your recovery. " For some people, that meant giving up lucrative

jobs, or getting out of bad marriages, or dropping toxic relationships with

other family members or so-called friends, as well as passing up favorite

foods or not going to restaurants very often, etc.............I think when

we're being selfish about caring for ourselves, we need to remember that

after surgery, we are still living with all of the emotional issues that got

us to MO in the first place, and we have to be selfish about overcoming those

issues--going to any lengths necessary to resolve them--in order to succeed

with weight loss and maintenance.

And THAT folks, is also darned hard work!

Regards,

Carol A

October 4, 2002