I've bellyached around for over a month because I hadn't lost one pound. My doctor's goal is 180 pounds for me. Well, today I'm 178.5 Haven't seen that since the birth of my second child, who turned 35 in June. Now.......I'm having a very stressful time and can't seem to eat anything good for me right now. My mom has just be diagnosed with leukemia and I'm nervous because I've been trying to eat things all day. I just read an article from Texas paper that a doctor says, in his experience, that WLS is only 5% successful after five years!!! 57 years of bad eating habits sure do keep coming back to haunt me and since my surgery rebirth 8 mos. ago, I'm disgusted because I haven't developed better coping skills. I did bake a splenda whole wheat banana nut bread in the slow cooker yesterday and it clogs me up. Good thing huh!! I'm glad they won't find me sitting on the couch with a banana bread overdose!!! Up-date on DH's wt. loss journey: He is down 23 pounds and two pants sizes. He even turned down a second piece of banana nut bread a minute ago. I'm like Jiffy, I'm always trying to feed someone and if I'm anxious I bake and cook and then have to palm it off on people. My GS asked me why I'm always trying to feed them and keep asking them if they are hungry?!?!? We were pretty poor growing up and my mom kept us feed with lots of good homemade foods and lots of it; she also fed half of our relatives. If she had flour, sugar, eggs, and milk, we always had something good to eat. RE sister that had WLS in 2001: I finally got the courage to directly confront her about her wt. regain. I told her I know I'm a newbie at it, and am terrified about regaining. She is going to start and go to the bariatric meetings with me and is looking into the 5-day pouch test. I'm kind of mixed on it. You can jump start your wt gain with it, but does your body say "hey your starving me." And then go into a stall? Hope to God, I never have to find out.

Serious health problems associated with being overweight or obese include diabetes, sleep apnea and asthma and while it is possible to take the weight off through diet and exercise, only about 5 percent of obese people are able to keep the weight off long-term.

I've noticed that if this is the same article as most people have read up on lately, you are looking at the statistics for keeping off weight WITHOUT surgery.

Also, if you find that you are turning to bad foods - time to start writing things down and holding yourself accountable. Be sure to get on that scale too. Do not give yourself too much leeway to make bad choices.

You know - you sound a lot like me - we need to let go of the number and celebrate how far we've come and how much we've accomplished. Rome was not built in a day and years of abuse are not going to fly off of our bodies overnight.

You are 178.5 lbs - the lowest you've been in what - 35 years??? Time to not be so hard on yourself lady.

Dawn

Hang in there girl, I know things are really bad right now! Her Mom (my aunt) is doing very poorly. So say a prayer for her and her family in this very difficult time. Our family is very bad about turning to food for EVERYTHING. Someone once said we were food pusher. Its like Jiffy said. We always want to make sure people are full and happy!

Loves

Hugs for you my friend

Try to be as kind to yourself as you can...know that you have love and respect from me and all here and you deserve much respect and love for yourself.

My heart goes out to you, Nancy. May you find the self-esteem and thoughtfulness to plug the emotional hole that you are trying so hard to fill with food. I've found that in a time of need like this, I used to put myself last, eat whatever is handy, don't take care of myself because I am focused on my family...BUT please take time for you, do for yourself what you would do for a friend that is going through a hard time with her family. I would take care of you if I were there...please care for you in my absence.

Angela

Nancy I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom I really do understand. When I was in my 20's I weighed over 300 lbs. I lost 150 lbs on my own (no wls) and kept it off until I was 33 years old. Thats when my sister died and I gave up on everything, life, eating and had a hard time with my marriage. I gained 100 lbs back Then in 2005 I had lapband. Lost 60 lbs. I am now struggling with acid reflux really bad and can't go for a fill having these problems. I know exactly what you mean about years of bad habits, cooking and feeding people. We were poor growing up too, 7 kids and my mom & dad barely making ends meet yet we always had something home made... my mom was a great cook (still is).

I wish I had some magical words for you to make things right but I don't. All I can offer is a cyber hug and please know, you are not alone in your struggles.

BTW Chicken little.... CONGRATULATIONS on your WL.. you've done a fantastic job and should be very proud of yourself. WLS is not a cure, it sure does take hard work staying on track so I know you've worked very hard.

Hugs & Kisses, Leenie

KUDO's to your DH for his weight loss


.

Things are a little better this morning for my mom. They did and emergency trach on her last night and her breathing is improved. She didn't have to go on a vent and I'm glad about that. Because of the leukemia, her immune system is compromised, but we did find the source of infection that caused the neck swelling. Can you believe it was sebaceous cyst!!! Anyway, I spoke with one of my aunts last night and she will be 62 y/o and is very, very obese with incredible high BP and diabetes way out of control. I talked with her about WLS and she is just like me, "I think this time I might be able to do it on my own!" I'm really encouraging her about some kind of WLS. You guys have all been so encouraging and informative, no matter the type of WLS, that I was able to give her some stats from you all. She thinks she might look into it!!! Fingers crossed! I'm doing private duty for a MS patient, who I'd taken care of in 1991 and her quality of life has really diminished since then. After I left there last night, and was going down to see Mom, I realized I didn't have a real worry in the world compared to her and my mom. My patient is the most positive, up-lifting person in the world, who faces minute-by-minute struggles and does really well. I momentarily lost my "grateful for the WLS" and all the positive things in my life at the present time and concentrated on my old demons and my no longer best friend FOOD. Thank you all so much.

Nan, I'm glad your Mom is doing better today poor dear. And I hope that your Auntie does something now to help herself. You can lead a horse to water..... Good luck sweetie !!!

Leenie

oh honey - so much going on [and i have no internet access on weekends]. remember this: your emotional eating will have NO EFFECT on your mother, or the MS patient. the only thing it'll do is make YOUR life harder.

Nan My heart and Prayers are with you hon
Now Put down the cookie and pick up a pen and paper!

you are doing so good. i will be praying for your mother

Up-date on my Mom: She has been dx with Acute Leukemia (AML) and at her age and because of pre-existing health problems, we have decided it is time for hospice. She has been on a ventilator since last Sunday night. Our hope and prayer is that we will be able to take her off the ventilator and bring her home, but in reality, I really don't think it is going to happen. My mom and dad have been married for 58 years and Dad is doing relatively well and really has been really supportive to us seven kids. The cancer doctor is really a very straight forward man was very clear about the prognosis for my mother. She is still in ICU and we have limited access to her and hope that they will be moving her to the cancer hospice ward so that we can be with her more. My niece and I have been doing some all-nighters and I have forgotten how draining that can be. She is a new RN as of June and has no fear and has helped out many in the waiting areas and the nursing staff. The other day she came up with a whole sour cream pound cake and cups of coffee and tea for all the different family's waiting to see their family in ICU. She has accepted a job two hours away from here and I'm going to miss the sweet kid. Will try to keep up with the board, but sad to say my mind will be else where for a while. You all keep up the good work and love and hug your mothers (if you can) really, really, hard.

Nan I want to reach through the puter and hug you. You're whole fam will be in my prayers. We're sending love your way

oh nancy - i empathize with you wholeheartedly-. and you know you're doing the right thing, DON'T YOU???? enjoy this last bit of time with your mom- bring in a dog or something, if she was attached to one.

many warm thoughts and prayers for you, darlin.