Special Announcement

I have activated my new website/blog. With much encouragement from Ronda at Innovative Weight Loss Solutions I am trying to reach a wider “audience”. My blog at http://www.deannsinsights.blogspot.com/ reaches just those people I tell it exists or if someone stumbles upon it. It can also be accessed via the Geary Community Hospital website with the link they have to it. By developing this new blog it can be “discovered” by people visiting a well know weight website. So with this encouragement from Ronda and others I have developed and activated the blog at www.obesityhelp.com/member/deekid. This will take you directly to my blog. It has the ability for me to post more than one picture in the album section. So you can go to it and see my progress. My goal for this new blog is to reach people and hopefully inspire and encourage. The postings starting from tomorrow (Sunday May 3rd) will be the same postings as I put on my blogspot blog, which is the same update you get every week. So you will not have to go to the obesityhelp site if you don’t want to. As I said, I am able to post new pictures to show my progress through obesityhelp. The following is the 1st post I have on the new site beyond my introduction on it. From here on the post will be identical to my regular updates to you. Thanks for you support and prayers! I pray God will bless my efforts at obesityhelp.com. DeAnn :0)

In 2006 when my neurologist said I had to have gastric bypass surgery I weighed my heaviest, 297 pounds. I was humiliated, felt hopeless and in great pain both physically and now emotionally. I remember crying, thinking; he doesn’t care and just wants me to feel bad. I thought; He can’t be serious. I can’t be that overweight. I surely have some other options. I can’t do surgery. There has to be another way! I remember reading my medical records I had obtained for an appointment with a specialist and seeing “Morbid Obesity”. I thought; What?! Are they serious? How can they be so cold? In that feeling of shame, I made a commitment to myself to do whatever it took to lose weight. I was determined that gastric bypass was not the road for me and I was going to show him and everyone. I knew I needed to face my problems with food, change my behavior and the long lived habit of relying on food for comfort and as my dear friend. I believed that I had choices available to me. Within the week I joined Weight Watchers. I stuck with Weight Watchers for over a year and never reached my 10%. It was extremely frustrating. Once again the feeling of humiliation and shame overcame me. I thought; why isn’t this successful? I know people have been successful on weight watchers, why can’t I be? It was at that time I realized I had to face the facts, bite the bullet and be honest with myself. I took a long look in the mirror and at several pictures. I literally looked myself in the eye and said, “DeAnn, you are morbidly obese. You have to do something about it or you are going to die.” It was at that very second I knew I had exhausted all my options and had been unsuccessful. That was unacceptable for me. So I began talking to my best friend, seriously thinking about what I was willing to do and what I was willing to give up or modify. I began my many hours of research on the internet, reading many books, magazine articles, watching actual surgeries on the internet, etc. I sat myself down and took an honest evaluation of myself, my life, and my surmounting health issues and admitted I had exhausted every other option. In order to save myself and live life to the fullest I would have to have the surgery. It was at that moment, for the 1st time in many years I truly felt hopeful about resolving my health issues. I honestly believed this route would be the tool I needed to love myself in the way I deserved. This was the lifestyle option I needed to live fully and not just exist in a state of exhaustion and routine. Deciding on surgery was an act of loving myself. I rarely put myself first, but I knew I had to do something or I wouldn't have a self to put anywhere. Since that day of decision (February 14, 2008) I have been a more positive, up-beat, enthusiastic, confident person. I went to a support meeting and then an informational meeting at Geary Community Hospital; Junction City, Ks. The Innovative Weight Loss Solutions weight loss program was in charge of the meetings. The staff was enthusiastic and helpful. Ronda is the director and very bubbly and encouraging. Pam is very sweet and knowledgeable. She is willing to help with anything. Jennifer is the dietician and is always there for me. All three are the best supporters of my life. They are all enthusiastic and caring. The website for the hospital is: http://www.gchks.org/ and the website for the weight loss program is found on the hospital website under services; weight loss surgery. You will find all kinds of information there. If you want to follow my journey from 3 days before surgery up to this posting go to: http://www.deannsinsights.blogspot.com/. The hospital actually has a link to my blog. This surgery is more than just a surgery. It is a tool to a new lifestyle. I have had to not just change what I eat and how much I eat; but how I think, what I expect, how I view food and life in general. The surgery is not a cure for obesity. It is as I stated, just a tool. I still have to do the work every day. I have changed my thoughts on exercising, eating, and on myself. I am a more positive, excited, happy and confident person because of the surgery, it's results and my outlook on life. I feel great and wish I had had this surgery 3 years ago. I have finally figured out that support of others is a must through this journey called life. You have to let others support you as much as you have to rely on yourself. That used to be hard for me to do. Putting myself and my health 1st wasn't an option or act I did very well. Within the text of this surgery and beyond, I have discovered the support of family, friends, co-workers, organized groups and sometimes strangers is the glue that keeps the plan together. I hope you will enjoy this journey I am on. I hope I can be an inspiration and encouragement to those of you who have had the surgery and those of you who are trying to explore and decide on the path your life is going to take. I'm glad my path has been improved and been repaved by health and happiness. Of course I would be amiss if I didn't credit that health and happiness to the one who provides everything and sustains me--God! Let's continue the journey together. Fell free is ask questions and share your comments. We can learn and grow together. Until the next post, take care and remember you deserve to feel good. Take the needed measures to do that. DeAnn :0)


My Suess Principle
Set your goals
Evaluate your motives and dedication
Use a step process to get to the goals
Support systems are a must (God, Friends, Family, Co-workers, Activity Groups, etc.)
Savor you success

"You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be."
~David Viscott~