News

It has now been over a year since I had my lap-band put in.  If I had to do it over again, I would have gone with the gastric bypass.  If I had, maybe I would have lost more than 50 lbs., I would not have had the problems with sliming that made me get the fluid let out of my band several times, and I would be able to eat better.  In fact, in another year depending how long it takes for me to lose 100 lbs., I may get the bypass anyway.

In other news, I am now a NAMI Connection leader, meaning I co-facilitate a support group run by people with mental illness for people with mental illness.  I spent the last weekend at training to learn all there needs to know to run the meetings.  I loved the training, as it reminded me of grad school, and now I feel that I am able to give back to the systems that have helped me so much.

Idiot in office

Thought I would share this.  It seems that in New Hampshire, a representative is off his rocker.  http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.addictinginfo.org%2F%3Fp%3D2754&h=827a8

According to him, I would be relocated to Siberia.  What would my kids and husband do?  While I am disabled from mental illness, I am a contributing member of society.  I was a teacher and school counselor before the onset of bi-polar disorder.  I earned my MA degree in counseling with a 3.96 GPA.  I earned the disability that I receive.

And I volunteer. I am on the board of my churches’ preschool.   Next weekend, I will be trained as a NAMI Connection leader.  I will be working with my peers (who would also be shipped to Siberia), and helping provide support and resources to others with mental illness.  I would also like to point out that at the meeting I attend, I am the ONLY one on disability.

Lent

So, I have been thinking a lot about what I am going to give up or limit for Lent, and I think I am going to give up sugar.  No.  Really.  Me.  I’m going to give up sugar.  I generally don’t have any added sugar to my coffee, but I LOVE my sweets.  So for the next 40 days it will be sugar free or nothing for me!

Thank goodness that I can get my fix for something sweet through many items I can get sugar free, like the place down the street that makes amazing sugar free mochas and the fact that every ice cream brand has a sugar free equivalent.  Heck, I even saw sugar-free peeps the other day.  Does this mean that I’ll go crazy on Easter?  Well, maybe, but that’s okay too, as long as I only stick to that day.

What will I need to change?  Well, there will be no handful of kids’ cereal as I pour my daughter her daily dose of whatever I have in the house.  My yogurt will have to be sugar-free.  After dinner desert will be sugar free, but thank goodness for my recipe for sugar-free vanilla egg custard.  Maybe this will help me continue my downward trend.  After MONTHS of a plateau, I lost 4 pounds of the six I have regained.  I’ve also added extra exercise lately, and I am focusing on getting the protein I need.  Please pray for me as I do this, as it will be hard for such a sugar-junkie.  I’ll post how things are going as they enfold.  

Just Say No

How many people have a hard time with the title?  Lately, it seems to be one of my biggest challenges.  I’ve overextended myself, and with the resulting stress, I have been putting plenty of stuff in my mouth that doesn’t belong.  Yet another way that I am having trouble saying no.  I’m not able to tell myself no, and as we speak, my husband is running out to get fast food for his and the kids’ lunch, AND a milkshake for me.  Why? Because right now, I just can’t say no to my milkshake craving.

The one place I have been able to say no is top exercise.  My family had the Norovirus this week (a conglomerate of tummy bugs with slight fevers and LOTS of chills).  I couldn’t keep anything down except soup for days.  I was so weak, I didn’t exercise until Thursday.  Then I didn’t exercise on Friday and I haven’t so far exercised today.  I know I need to especially because I WILL drink the whole milkshake.  But I don’t want to.  I’m tired and I’m grumpy and I just want to nap.  But first, let me wait for my milkshake.  When I get up from my nap, then I’ll re-evaluate my exercise, and I did promise a trip to the YMCA pool.  And as I’ve said I’m having a hard time saying no.