Support, and I am not Talking Undergarments...

Mar 29, 2012

Support is a fabulous thing!

I write on my OH Blog usually a couple times a week, sometimes more, sometimes less, but I write.  Because I am willing to share my journey, I have been blessed with so many supporters, to which I wave and say, "If you are ever in Seattle (or Maui, when I am there), holler!!!"  I have been able to meet six people off of Obesity Help, and I am happy to meet & support everyone of you, as I receive amazing support from emails and comments, daily.  If you cannot go in person to a support group, I am so happy that Obesity Help exists to be support for the many members (I am thinking somewhere in the hundreds of thousands, am I close?) here.

What my support is like:  I am the leader of one support group - so if you live in the Puget Sound Area, holler, we meet twice a month.  I also attend two other meetings a month, in person.  One is connected to the hospital I had both my surgeries at (RNY & Panniculactomy), the other is just members of OH who started their own group and I had meet one of them at the OH Conference last Summer.  I also attend, over the phone, one other meeting, for Obesity Help Leaders.  Yup, we need a place to let our hair down, too.  Learning, camaraderie, and activity is what I think of when I am asked "what is support?'  Whether you have a good family support team, friends, or just here on OH, you need support on this journey, as we all have failed in our past.

How do I succeed at losing weight?  Being honest.  Not just with others, but with myself.  I keep a food journal, because I thought I "knew everything" about losing weight, but got stuck in a plateau.  Hmmm, what am I doing wrong?  I decided to "get an App," and USE IT.  Sure, I have had four different ones, but I finally found one I will use EVERY DAY.  Guess what?  I ate 1900 calories the first day I started to keep a journal again.  Holy smokes!  No wonder I am stuck!  Sure, I was working out, but that did not mean I could indulge in pre-weight loss surgery calories.  Honesty got me back on track.  Measuring your food is a pain, but when you think you know it all, you get stuck -- so get those measuring cups back out.

Going to a meeting and sharing your experiences with others is a win-win proposition!  Trust me, when someone tells me I am an inspiration to them, I get embarrassed, but thank them.  When I meet someone who inspires me, I make damn sure I tell them!  I shouldn't be the only one embarrassed!  I say it a lot, you get support by giving support.  I look at my current weight, and say, "Shoot, I am he size most folks are when they start this journey..." It makes me feel a little bad for a moment, but then I remind myself, "But, I used to be 180+ pounds heavier!"  It is all in how you look at any situation.  Try to look for the positive, you will find it!  When I faced my divorce, I would joke, "I lost 135 pounds, then turned around and lost another 200..."  I hate to admit the good in having a marriage end, but it was necessary for my family (not just the husband and the wife) to go their separate ways, life had become toxic.

Last night was another support group meeting I had to miss.  I felt like a loser (in a bad way) for not showing up.  Then I reminded myself that I really do need more time to heal, that my little bit of running around I had been doing was causing swelling.  The payoff: I weighed myself this morning & was 2 pounds lighter -- well, less water.  It is all in how you look at things.  I wrote a quick email to the support group leader, letter her know why I stayed home, as I ran into her on Monday at my doctors office, when I was told to be "less active".  So, in my quest to get back in the water & losing weight again, I have decided to do as told, even if it is boring.

When you feel like you need help, never be afraid to reach out.  If your medical center does not have a support group, look for an OA (Overeaters Anonymous), a TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), on OH in your state Forum (lots of groups are available - just look for us!), or even the classifieds of your local paper or on Craigslist.  By sharing your journey, we all benefit.  So, if you don't have support, look for some.  If you are willing to give support, put yourself out there for others, they will find you.  Just know that we all need support at some point in life.

Okay, here is where I thank every person who wrote me this week, I finally caught up with all the emails!  I have clothing to go through for another OH member, and swimsuits to send out.  With every day that passes, I am happier to be alive!!!  Make every day count, and stay positive!!!

Brenda : )~

3 Comments