Just a few thoughts about this Forum...

I think some folks know, I seldom have an interesting thought but love to "Ramble". I started something week before last just "Because?".

I was reading this forum and happen to think "Why"?

I leaned back in my chair and thought you look at a forum everyday, read post from people you don't know and are captivated, to the point you come back day after day. WHY?..


So I started pulling words from my post. I took what other people were saying and put them on my iPhone notepad. It was obvious and I realized quick. (THAT'S IT).. this is why you visit. I don't know if anyone else has ever really looked at the response members give, but I stayed in my threads and this is some of what I put on my notepad.

1. Enjoy this ride !!
2. It just gets better and better you are so going to have so much fun.
3. This is like a marathon, not a weekend sprint. Measured in years not months.
4. Remember you are in charge of your new life.
5. Protect against Stress..
6. Be kind to yourself.
7. Be patient and kind to yourself
8. Chill !!
9. Your in the Honeymoon stage.
10. Its normal to be stressed when the scale isn't moving the way you want.

That's my top 10, and was logged in just minutes from here to my notepad. NOW FOR What makes me focus.

1. Beer is liquid bread; only donuts are worse.
2. The sleeve only works for you, if you start working the sleeve.
3. Thank my family for calling me out for snacking
4. Sorry to "Rain on your parade" you are at the beginning of a slippery slope.
5. Some people who aren't careful lose the first 9 months, then start regain.
6. Small bites, chew 30 seconds, wait 30 seconds repeat.
7. Remind myself to breathe instead of pant.
8. Problem shared is problem cut in half.
9. After being sleeved its hard to know if you are hungry or thirsty, IN DOUBT, Drink First !!
10. Brush your teeth after you eat. (which I now do daily after dinner around 7:30-8:00).. signal your brain..


This is why I stop by and sometimes "ramble". YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST.

I appreciate everyone's responses and FOR ME it's been a FOCAL POINT.

Have a GREAT DAY
RUSS

I love your posts! I haven’t had my surgery yet and your posts are informative, reassuring and REAL and help me so.much. Thank you Russ!

Great post, I love it!

Great post as usual. I think the bottom line of this forum is that those of us who have "been there and done that," just want to offer what we've learned and done to be successful so that others can be successful too!

I keep coming back because I know that everyone here understands me. I know that I can post that I've been having problems with snacking and someone will put me in my place. I come back because it is possible to make friends on a forum where we all have at least one thing in common. I guess I'm a tad bit more comfortable than most people are talking to people I don't know because since I was 16 years old (almost 23 years), I've met probably around 200 people from online friendships/relationships. Not all of them have been good encounters (husband #2 & current husband started out as online friendships) but not all bad either. I've met people from my MS support group and met some people from a crafting group. I come back to encourage others and to get encouragement. I don't want to fail and the people I see everyday don't understand what we have to experience. I am glad you continue to come back and appreciate any kind of rambling you do. :)

Thanks Russ, great post and makes me rethink some things I may have missed. So keep rambling :)

Such a great post Russ! We love your rambling. So glad I'm here and that I found this forum too. You guys are awesome!!

Love this post - and this forum.
It is wonderful to be able to talk to people who totally understand what I am going through as they have "been there, done that"!
I love the support and the advice - especially the tough love "tell it like it is" type :-)
As much as my partner loves and supports me he doesn't understand what it is actually like - and I don't expect him to.
I also really like being able to offer my contributions based on my experiences.
Long may our sleeve family continue to grow.

Awww Russ My Man,
You are a thoughtful, kind soul. I enjoy reading all your 'ramblings', they tickle me, enlighten me and entertain me friend. This is a journey for sure and nobody understands what we're going through unless they've gone through it themselves. It's a great a place for honesty and at times, tough love. That is what keeps us successful in my humble opinion.

I'm always glad to see your posts. I hope things are calming down and you're back in the saddle again. I know you've got this. Yay for you remember?

Thanks! Your doing great and btw donuts are the worst since they are liquid bread with sugar added made in a shape that maximizes surface area and then fried in oil and covered with sugar.

I love your rambling! I think I'm the one who told you to chill!

I come back because even after 5 years this forum keeps my head in the game. I still learn a lot from others. I hope I can help newbies. But I do feel like you guys are family, because I don't personally know anyone who had this surgery, and you all understand.

I haven't been following my eating advice this week as we are in a condo in the Rockies. But I think climbing mountains every day will balance it out. Yesterday it was 5 miles up and 5 down. Had to wait for about 15 minutes for 2 moose on the trail, a baby and her mom. Then when one went right and the other left, we still waited because we didn't think mom would like us getting between her and her baby. Now that really has nothing to do with weight loss, except if you combine it with exercising in the beauty of nature it's a win-win!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sraebaer

I love your rambling! I think I'm the one who told you to chill!

I come back because even after 5 years this forum keeps my head in the game. I still learn a lot from others. I hope I can help newbies. But I do feel like you guys are family, because I don't personally know anyone who had this surgery, and you all understand.

But I think climbing mountains every day will balance it out. Yesterday it was 5 miles up and 5 down.

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5 miles up and 5 miles down:eek:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jackalope81

Thanks! Your doing great and btw donuts are the worst since they are liquid bread with sugar added made in a shape that maximizes surface area and then fried in oil and covered with sugar.

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OMG I have read this response at least 5 times and I LOL every time. Hilarious!

Russ, I'm glad you're feeling rewarded by your participation here.

For me, the value here comes from the "reality" shared with others who've been through and are going through what I'm going through. Of course, none of our experiences are identical. But sometimes there are great similarities. And that camaraderie is quite valuable to me.

I do sometimes feel frustrated when I see someone here who I'm pretty sure simply isn't going to "make it." Sometimes they don't have the resources necessary to change their lives, which is what WLS invites us to do. But as a very long-lived person I know that I can't fix anyone and probably shouldn't try, since each of us can only try to fix ourselves.

Having said that, not a single person here is perfect, nor will any of us ever be--certainly not me. The single tool that has served me best is my improving ability to start anew, over and over and over. Each morning I plan my day, which is a useful exercise. And I try to set an intention for the day, which is another useful thing to do.

I know that one day I will die. And I don't expect to leave behind a legacy worth writing about. But I will have been here. And I will not have succumbed or given up until I had to. So far, today is not the day I'll have given up. And God willing, neither is tomorrow. :)

I realize this may sound a little depressing, but I don't mean it that way. It's a fact that each of us is terminal. We are not getting out of here alive. So until that occurs, let us live and love and create our lives, while trying NOT to prevent others from creating and living their lives, even if what they want is not the same as what we want.

"It's a fact that each of us is terminal. We are not getting out of here alive. So until that occurs, let us live and love and create our lives, while trying NOT to prevent others from creating and living their lives, even if what they want is not the same as what we want."

Hallelujah Ann2 - I think that you will indeed leave a great legacy x