[Kenyar]

omg thats so true WOW.

[Imlosinit]

wow.. I'm finding this thread very inspirational even as a pre-op person. I think what Doc said, applies to us all, whether we're pre-op, newly post op or several years post op. I'm going to have to file this away in my memory and bring it back out and dust it off when I'm feeling down after losing my weight.

[kitty56]

This is a good post and it is making me think and understand more of why I do not see what other people see in me. Why I see me sometimes thinner and yet other times I see so much fat on me yet. I have a hard time getting past of seeing me heavy yet. But every once in a while I get a glimse of me thinner but it is short lived and I see the fat yet. I guess I am soooo fucused on my big stomach and I think once I get the tummy tuck, I hope that helps me not to fucus so much on my stomach, I think that is where my problem with my head is. I see the weight loss on all of these people here and they all look so beautiful and the guys are all so handsome when they have lost all that weight, but do not get me wrong I think everyone heavy or not are beautiful people and are such caring and loving people, but once the weight goes off, oh my gosh do the people look wonderful and the confidence is very high with everyone. We take chances after the weight is off compared to before the weight is lost.
Kenyar, you are just such a gorgeous person and you have such a spirit for life and living it. I love reading your posts and I really love all the pictures you post of you and your family. Like Doc said be careful not to lose to much so you do not get sick. We need you here healthy & happy here, we all love you.

[thumper1]

This definately has been a great post and thanks for all thats been said. Kenya you were and still are one of my inspirations and I am feeling alot of what you explained too.I am down and some of it is something I caused and I am not ready to talk on here yet, so...........Take that awesome long hair you have and go out on the town with it!!!!!!

[Perfesser]

Originally Posted by clancythecamper

I actually understand ~ the wt loss phase was so much fun and success feels good! The deal is that losing weight doesnt really equal success at some point. The deal is we have to figure out what our next goal is, whether personal, professional, health, etc then go after that.

The way I am starting to see it come into focus for me, now that I am essentially at "goal", is that the surgery and weight loss is something we mistook for a goal. We set an arbitrary number that was supposed to define "success". My first number was 180, and I thought that'd be a stretch. After free-falling through that, I revised to 175, and never bothered to update it when it looked like my body wanted to be somewhere around 170 or 165 (still not quite sure about that! )

Okay, that was my "goal". We all use the language, and we all think of the eventual set point as being the desired end of the process. It's not! The lower weight we all stabilize at eventually is an enabler!! You can't reach the end target of your life with anywhere from 20-50 years left to live!! But the new lease on life that this lower weight has given each of us permits us to do things we never thought possible.

How many here have read a post from a person describing an upcoming trip to an amusement park, or a flight? How many have experienced that fastening the seat belt around you in the back seat of the car no longer requires a pit crew and a big shoehorn? How many have seen a new future open to our view as a result of this journey? Ask Diana about her garden and see if she has noticed a change in her capabilities!! (She still sees the old her, but she's the only one. The mind is the last thing to come around.) Ask Becka if it's easier keeping up with her kids now that she's half the woman she used to be! Heck, we all have stories to tell about what we can do now that we couldn't before! Even Kim T's husband has to watch his closet for missing shirts now!!

What I'm getting at is that the WLS has enabled for us a new life, with new goals and new prospects. What we once thought of as our "goal", once met, is done. A new goal is maintenance. Another goal is to explore what we couldn't and learn to do and enjoy what was once off-limits to us. I felt this strongly hiking in the mountains this summer. I also felt it this week as I moved around 23 tons of crushed asphalt in a landscaping project at home. I actually shoveled about 5 tons of it by hand one evening before deciding to get a bigger shovel (with a diesel engine attached!! )

The target weight enables us to open our minds to new horizons and goals. It's a useful measure of a near-term success, not a goal of itself. The true goal is to live worthy of the gift of life we have all been granted now that we can!

So what did you always want to do but couldn't because of the limitations that your weight imposed on you? What's holding you back now? Git 'er dun!! A life unlived is a life wasted!!

CT

[DocSanae]

In CraigT's own words:
The Journey is the Destination.
Enjoy

[Kenyar]

i have been thinking (uhoh ) andi guess the next partshould be changing my physical appearance. I know maintenance is key but for what i wantto do, 'weight' isnt so important. i want to build muscle. i think this yeari am going to focus on training. i went to the gym today andhad a tour i think i might actually sign up. i have been dragging my feet with the exercise part of this for some time. ineed toget up off my butt and challenge myself....i think this is it.

[Perfesser]

Originally Posted by Kenyar

i have been thinking (uhoh ) andi guess the next partshould be changing my physical appearance. I know maintenance is key but for what i wantto do, 'weight' isnt so important. i want to build muscle. i think this yeari am going to focus on training. i went to the gym today andhad a tour i think i might actually sign up. i have been dragging my feet with the exercise part of this for some time. ineed toget up off my butt and challenge myself....i think this is it.

That would tie in so nicely with your PD goal of fitness for the test, and it could be a sustainable effort in the long run.

In industry, we always defined what's called a SMART goal. It is Specific as to what is to be accomplished, Measurable in clear unambiguous terms, Achievable in that you've got a real chance to accomplish it, Relevant in that it applies to what you're doing or who you want to become and Time-based in that you have a schedule for meeting the goal.

In the context of building muscle, a SMART goal could be something like "I will be able to bench-press 150 pounds by the end of October." This is specific as to the technique used (bench press), measurable (150 pounds), achievable (hopefully - your mileage may vary), relevant in that it relates directly to the overall objective of building muscle and time-based (end of October).

A series of goals could be used to define the results you would like to see in different areas of the body. Goals for leg muscles, abs, traps, arms, etc. can be set and worked towards. The criteria for the police test would be a good resource to help you determine what some of these goals might be.

Remember, though, that a goal that's not put in writing is called a "wish". Unless it's there before you, nagging you and guiding your efforts, it has no relevance to what you do daily. In writing, it's always there to motivate you. We all do this here with our numbers on our profiles.

Good luck, Kenya! Between this and your violin, you should be able to keep body and mind active!

CT