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Attendees:  Kathy B. Sherry B., and Sherry S.

Yes, even though there were only 3 of us, it was an extremely successful and informative meeting.  We discussed calcium and the need to take that supplement.  Kathy clued us into Puritan's Pride and actually did the dissolve test as we conducted our meeting.....12 minutes to dissolve!  Puritan's Pride offers a supplement with Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin D!  All the elements needed to make this work for us.

Why do we need calcium citrate as a supplement?  Calcium is needed for healthy bones,  nails, muscle tissue; assists in blood clotting and heart and nerve functions. 

GET IN YOUR CALCIUM!!!

Attendees:
Sherry B., Sherry S., Toni, Kathy, Veronica, Mollie, Dr. Ellner

The meeting began by discussing the need to exercise.  We all agreed that we are more motivated when we have the company of others.  We organized 2 times to walk at the Big Dipper Arena.

Monday-Wednesday-Friday at 7:00 a.m. and Monday through Friday at 5:00 p.m.  These times should meet the needs of both morning and afternoon exercisers.  Bring your walking shoes, some water and hand weights.  It was a pleasure to have Dr. Ellner join us and lend her support and answer our questions.  She emphasized the fact that walking is not good enough, we need to get those heart rates up to 145 (so no lolly-gagging).  Dr. Ellner suggested wearing a heart monitor as a gauge and that we may be able to buy them cheaper bulk on-line.  Some of the members agreed to look into this and report back.

Sherry S. and Dr. Ellner brought us up to speed regarding the Stomaphyx and answered many questions regarding why someone would need one as well as how it is different than bypass.

1.  Stomas can become stretched over time by over-eating and too many endoscopies (to fix strictures)
2.  Pouches too can become stretched by over-eating.
3.  Some bypass surgeons do not measure the pouch when they make them (made too big)
4.  Unlike that feeling of "Fullness" we had after bypass surgery, Stomaphx is much more difficult to determine when one is full....thus the importance of eating the meal within the allotted time and gauging when one is satisfied-remembering also not to drink with the meal.
5.  Dense protein is better than moist as it sits in the pouch longer and gives a sense of fullness that we want and need.  Examples of dense protein includes, chicken, steak, fish.
6.  Do NOT drink for 30 minutes after a meal.  Set a timer like Alice does!

Our next virtual meeting will be April 8, 2008.  Please remember the 3-D meetings held at TVC on Noble Street the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00.  Sherry S. will be the new leader of that group with Anita co-facilitating.  

Dr. Ellner will be back in Fairbanks in April and encourages everyone to come out for the meeting, attend the support group and have questions.

Our first meeting was a huge success!  So nice to see you all there. 10 out of 15 members attended: Owen, Sherry S., Sherry B., Alice, Toni, Gaye, Veronica, Lynnie, Marianne, and Kathy.

SUMMARY:

Discussion of Sherry S. upcoming revision with Dr. Ellner on February 26.  We are all very excited and happy for you Sherry.  Revisions give bypass patients a second chance to lose the weight they didn't or could the first time.  This is an exciting new procedure and Sherry will be our shining star and will be making a television commercial to be aired in California.  After the procedure, she will eat like we all did when we were first out of surgery..same kind of schedule, feeling of fullness etc.  No open cutting will be involved, they go through the mouth to do this procedure, so it is not as invasive.  This is an excellent procedure for patients who's pouch was made too big or stretched.  Sherry S. said that in her case, her pouch was made too big (looks more like a sack), the stoma is too large and she never achieves a sensation of fullness.   Check out the 5 day pouch test at http://www.5daypouchtest.com

Alice will be providing information about the Weight Watcher's group she goes to.  Look for that on the message board or added to this blog.

Some of us (Sherry B and another member)  are seeing a local therapist about transfer addiction issues.  Some discussion was made about how most of us have compensated for our earlier obsessions with food by transferring it to something else (still food, alcohol, candy, shopping etc).  Those underlying issues have to be addressed--and a therapist can help with that.  For those of you who expressed interest in seeing her, her name is Susie Gilbreath and her phone number is 374-4410.

Most of us in group were concerned about creeping weight gain and the inability to lose any more weight (stalling).  After discussion, we settled on a number of reasons, lack of exercise (yeah...blah, blah, blah), grazing all day, eating and drinking things we know we shouldn't (bread, pasta, rice, candy, salty nuts, wine etc)  Most of us are getting in our water, but many can't drink it plain and need to add something to it (lemons, limes, crystal light).  The link to do the 5 day pouch test is: http://www.5daypouchtest.com  I am reading up on it now and will inform more on the message board.

Exercise...Marianne goes to the 5:30 p.m. Jazzercise class, Veronica, Sherry B., and Lynnie will also try to start going.  Lynnie, Sherry B. and Veronica also go to the Saturday yoga class at Jazzercise and a new session should be starting up soon...more info on that later.

:) Sherry

Welcome to The Next Frontier Weight Loss Surgery Support Group.  We are very happy you are here.  Please, let’s first establish a few ground rules.

 

1. What is said in this forum is confidential.  We respect each others privacy; please do not share what is said here with others not present at this meeting.
2. No one has come to this place to be bashed, ridiculed, chastised or treated like a child.  Please be kind with your words, and respectful of the person who is speaking.  Advice and constructive criticism can be given gently and with compassion.
3. Please keep side chats out.  This chat room is open to us all 24/7, so please feel free to chat anytime EXCEPT during the meeting.
4. Use the Message Board to post any questions or comments you want to have responded quickly.
5. The Blog is a place where you can write lengthy pieces of information or personal information if you so desire.  You will also find a brief summary of our monthly meeting notes here.

I am seeing a therapist.  Yes, I said therapist.  I found that one year after surgery I still had unresolved issues that needed professional intervention.  After talking to many of my friends here, I found that they too had issues that they needed help with and were not getting satisfactory answers or help from our bi-weekly meetings.  So,....here we are.  The Next Frontier.  I plan on being very candid in our first meeting.  Please remember that we are in this together, there is no one sitting in judgement of what we have done, said or do.

Your friend in WLS,
Sherry

Ok...so here I am...bridging the gap betwen 2007 and 2008...a new year is upon us and I am in in the midst of it.  where to we go from here?   onward and upward.....yeah...check out the book the complete artists way...I'm doing the exercises...it's tough and challenging but what the hey....I'm up for a challenge...always. This year...I want to make myself better..physically, mentally, emotionally....it all starts with ME

I am reading a very good book that I think would benefit everyone.  "The Complete Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron, can be purchased at Barnes and Noble for a whopping $30.00--however, I highly recommend purchasing this book upon the arrival of our new year, and your decision to make a commitment to making healthy choices.  There are 10 basic principles and here is the first:

1.  Creativity is the natural order of life.  Life is energy:  Pure creative energy.

Creativity is defined by the Webster's Dictionary as:  artistic or intellectual inventiveness.  We all know that after that "Golden Year" we must be creative and inventive in our thinking and in ways to live with our new bodies and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  

Part of my New Year's resolution includes exploring my own creativity and incorporating that into my own spiritual practice.  For example:  I know that I need to exercise and that I have been procrastinating.  I just checked out the new Yoga place on College (www.infin8yoga.com) and will be joining them on Mondays and Wednesday's 6:30 - 7:30 a.m. classes and the Saturday class.  Please consider joining me if yoga is your "thing".  

Endeavor to be creative and find that healthy thing that will inspire you.  Celebrate your life by making one healthy change this year.

Hee hee....I got my first pair of insultated Carhartt overalls...yes!  the lovely and traditional Alaskan "rust-brown".  Ladies size 12 x 32!!!!!!!!!  and there is loads of room to spare to wear my long underwear and jeans underneath them!  This New Year's Eve hubby and I celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary.  We rented a cabin in the middle of nowhere, near Chena Hot Springs and will go cross country skiing all day, soak in the hot springs, and then I'll don those lovely overalls and go for a moonlight walk.

18 months PO and life is good.  I'm not losing anymore, but I'm not gaining either.  My clothes sizes have remained constant for almost a year.  Life is good.

Looking at my "wish list" pre-op for the first time in months, I can scratch off numerous COMMON items the non-obese person couldn't relate to.

I can cross my legs
I can tie my shoes, bending over without holding my breath...and the tie is in the CENTER not the side.
I can buy and wear a size B pantyhose
I can comfortably go to the restroom in a seriously confined place.
I can put my knees beside my ears....YES this is for YOGA!!!!!
I can wear my blue rubber boots for gardening and have room to spare at the calves.
I can endure an hour and a half of aerobics, want some more and actually do it.
I can make love without thinking about how awful my body must seem to my husband (I've found out this was insecurity on my part)
I can get into the backseat of a compact car and be comfortable.
I can climb stairs without huffing and puffing, thinking I am going to die and have to stop to rest.
I mop the floors without huffing and puffing.
I buy clothes off the rack that actually look nice
I can balance on one foot while putting my socks and underwear on.
Zip my pants without sucking in my stomach

Life is good and I have many WOW moments every day.  I will never be sorry I did this for myself.

Sherry :) aka: AKFlurry

Went back to my old Jazzercise 6:00 a.m. class on Monday morning.  I chatted with everyone as I always had used to but noticed they were not as amicable as they used to be.  The following day, one lady asked me "who are you?".......I was shocked!!!!  my old workout companions from one year earlier did not recognize me in my new body.  Of course I provided them with my photo album and they then said "OH YES!!!!! I remember you!"  How lovely to meet with old friends who loved you and treated you like a human being before you lost the weight and became what society dictates as "NORMAL"....these are real people!