Hi everyone and a big THANKS to celadon for that super post on setting realistic goals.
My big goal for the season began with Kim's invitation to end the Holiday Season
lighter than when it began. Many of us accepted that challenge and I was among the
takers. I don't know about you all, but my brain can get pretty convoluted if left to
it's own devices. It can distort a pretty decent effort into "not good enough" unless
I somehow check my stinkin' thinkin' process for accuracy. No better way to insure
myself against a false negative than writing down daily progress. When I first signed on
to Life After WLS, I had stopped weighing myself regularly and yes, I came to find I had gained
15 lbs in the past 6 months. I asked how often others were weighing in and the responses
varied from, every day to once a week but in either case the tag line was "Without Fail!"
Since I'd weighed myself daily on my digital scale for several years and been happy with the
results, I decided to return to that practice. Kim sited some impressive studies that showed fewer
regained lbs when folks weighed in regularly. Thanks, Kim! Anyway, when progress is slow
and steady, as it's been for me in this process of returning to my previous comfort zone,
I see clearly that I MUST write down my daily weight, or by the next day... I've fallen into
a fantasy of what I had lost or gained. I tend to see more change in the decimals than
in the whole numbers at this point and this makes recording really essential for me. Yesterday my
weight was 157.8lbs and today it was 157.4; a small loss, but still a loss. That tiny bit
of progress can make all the difference for me in the long run. *I* say, we need to take
delight in every day of conscious choice; each day we stay on the path to wellness
regardless of dramatic or subtle results. Slow and steady wins the race and that's the reality
of my journey. May we all be grateful for the real progress we are making every day in this
wondrous metamorphosis! Let this be the year of the butterfly for all of us!
Full Version: Write It Down!
LAWLS Neighborhood > The Town Square: LivingAfterWLS Knowledge Center > Power Tools for LivingAfterWLS
Ditto what you said.....Kim sometimes really does know what she's talking about huh? 
Kimmy...you're such a good motivator! Love ya girlie!
Stephanie
Kimmy...you're such a good motivator! Love ya girlie!
Stephanie
Mickeefynn,
[i]
You are right. Celadon's post was good.
Loved the line about the year of the butterfly. That's exactly what I'm going to be. I'm transforming from a fat little caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly & I'm coming out of the cocoon in 2008!
One thing I'd like to say about weighing daily, which I do. If you are one of those persons who will beat yourself up if you don't see loss daily, then weigh weekly. Otherwise, you will drive yourself nuts! Just holding a little fluid can make your scale tell you you've gained 2 lbs. since the day before. So, love yourself enough to not weigh daily if you can't handle it.
Jeanie[/i]
[i]
You are right. Celadon's post was good.
Loved the line about the year of the butterfly. That's exactly what I'm going to be. I'm transforming from a fat little caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly & I'm coming out of the cocoon in 2008!
One thing I'd like to say about weighing daily, which I do. If you are one of those persons who will beat yourself up if you don't see loss daily, then weigh weekly. Otherwise, you will drive yourself nuts! Just holding a little fluid can make your scale tell you you've gained 2 lbs. since the day before. So, love yourself enough to not weigh daily if you can't handle it.
Jeanie[/i]
Let this be the year of the butterfly for all of us!
I like that................being a butterfly.
Hugs
Meliss
I like that................being a butterfly.
Hugs
Meliss
Great post MickeyFynn!!!
We have a motivational tool here that I reference often: The
LivingAfterWLS Personal Self Assessment Worksheet. The worksheet should
be done quarterly (more often if you like) and can be downloaded Here: Self Assessment Worksheet.
Here is part of the article that goes with this tool:
Read the Full Article: Finding the Goal Again
In a few days we start a new quarter and a new year -- How about taking
some time to do this assessment, plan accountability and put it down on
paper. You'll be surprised how far you can go when you have a plan.
CHEERS!
We have a motivational tool here that I reference often: The
LivingAfterWLS Personal Self Assessment Worksheet. The worksheet should
be done quarterly (more often if you like) and can be downloaded Here: Self Assessment Worksheet.
Here is part of the article that goes with this tool:
QUOTE
Not long ago I received a letter from Anita, a generous person and
LivingAfterWLS community member. Last week was her 1-year WLS
anniversary. She wrote, "I have really done some soul searching and
reading since I emailed you. In reality I lost all sight of what I
should be doing with my diet and exercise."
Her sentence "I really lost all sight of what I should be doing " spoke to
my heart. Could the absence of long-term accountability be one reason
we lose sight of the goal and struggle after WLS? We know the slogans,
"WLS is only a tool" and "WLS is for life" but those statements are
vague lacking accountability and action. What if we accounted to
ourselves and committed to paper an action plan for improvement?
Imagine a tangible tool to account, applaud and assess our present
state and plot our direction with WLS? Could that be the key to greater
success long term with WLS?
WLS patients arenotoriously prudent to follow the pre-op directions. After surgery we
religiously attend our first year follow-up appointments and support
groups. After the first year we tend to slack off, we start feeling
normal. Support groups seem repetitious and focus on pre-ops or
newbies. Perhaps a backslide keeps us home; we are embarrassed to have
stalled at losing or have regained a few pounds. Distance from my
center has been an easy excuse for me, and now I don't call because
staff turnover means I have to talk to strangers. By losing touch with
my WLS center I have surrendered any accountability for how I use "The
Tool.
LivingAfterWLS community member. Last week was her 1-year WLS
anniversary. She wrote, "I have really done some soul searching and
reading since I emailed you. In reality I lost all sight of what I
should be doing with my diet and exercise."
Her sentence "I really lost all sight of what I should be doing " spoke to
my heart. Could the absence of long-term accountability be one reason
we lose sight of the goal and struggle after WLS? We know the slogans,
"WLS is only a tool" and "WLS is for life" but those statements are
vague lacking accountability and action. What if we accounted to
ourselves and committed to paper an action plan for improvement?
Imagine a tangible tool to account, applaud and assess our present
state and plot our direction with WLS? Could that be the key to greater
success long term with WLS?
WLS patients arenotoriously prudent to follow the pre-op directions. After surgery we
religiously attend our first year follow-up appointments and support
groups. After the first year we tend to slack off, we start feeling
normal. Support groups seem repetitious and focus on pre-ops or
newbies. Perhaps a backslide keeps us home; we are embarrassed to have
stalled at losing or have regained a few pounds. Distance from my
center has been an easy excuse for me, and now I don't call because
staff turnover means I have to talk to strangers. By losing touch with
my WLS center I have surrendered any accountability for how I use "The
Tool.
Read the Full Article: Finding the Goal Again
In a few days we start a new quarter and a new year -- How about taking
some time to do this assessment, plan accountability and put it down on
paper. You'll be surprised how far you can go when you have a plan.
CHEERS!
Some days I'm a butterfly... some days a moth...
but I fly just as well either way
but I fly just as well either way
QUOTE(Meliss @ Dec 26 2007, 12:54 PM) 
Let this be the year of the butterfly for all of us!
I like that................being a butterfly.
Hugs
Meliss
I like that................being a butterfly.
Hugs
Meliss
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