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Working with patients seeking gastric bypass surgery is what motivated me to lose weight.  I couldn't continue ignore the fact that excess weight will lead to health problems.  I saw patient after patient with the same problems involving difficulty moving, a huge list of perscription meds, and serious health conditions.  It scared me to see my future and I realized how out of control my own behavior was. 

Patients are required to follow a healthy eating plan and lose a certain amount ot weight before the surgery and every patient has said, upon completing the eating plan, that they are so surprised that they could lose weight.  I want to scream "Yes!!! You can do this."  I refuse to believe that so many people need surgery to control themselves and it is no guarantee either.  If you don't change your eating habits you will gain the weight back even if you have the surgery.  For some people the surgery is saving their life but for some they are seeking an easy way out. 

The way I have helped myself lose weight is through a healthy eating program and support group called PRISM.  It deals with all of the emotional aspects of overeating and that is the biggest obstacle.  The weekly support group is so motivational and helps me stay on track.  Everyone is so honest and we are helping each other change and become healthy.   

posted 4 years, 1 month ago
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Food, food, food....I'm addicted to food and I honestly wish I could have another type of addiction.  I have to learn how to stop this addition and at the same time nourish myself.  I can't cut food out of my life.  The biggest challenge is finding another way to sooth myself.  I have some automatic reaction in my body to go back to the brownies, cookies or whatever when I'm stressed.  I relate to everything I hear about deception and destruction.  Our society sees overeating as a big funny joke.  Even in the support group I have joined we laugh about food seeking stories.  I pretend that I can't relate to the story about the person who buys 5 Blizzards at Dairy Queen and that is their food for the day. 

Thanks for an interesting show.

posted 4 years, 2 months ago
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