[Lynn P]

This entry is dated Aug 8, 2008

I am feeling a kind of serendipity feeling as I write this. My huge family is here with me eating and laughing and enjoying being together! Although it is a very sad day, there is more celebration than you can imagine. Our family always sees the "transition" in life as a very joyous one... as death--although difficult and sad holds the ultimate gift. It was a pleasure to be with Dad when he took his Bon Voyage!

And for me and my Anniversary! Well, how Ironic I would be celebrating the exact reason I decided to have WLS afterall.....
Health,
Blood Pressure
Arthritis
Diabetes
and all things related including --
the emotional feelings...

I would not have had the stamina to endure this week or the coping skills to get through this if I had not been blessed 1 year ago today with my new life!

I wrote this at my father's funeral. It was easier to put into words why I had surgery--why I needed it for myself and for my loved ones after I had made the transition from an overweight person to a renewed person.

It is difficult to find the words and the feelings to tell others why we are deciding to take a hold of our futures. Many will not understand, many will say you haven't tried hard enough, or many will try to sabotage your thinking process...all for your own good.

Just remember they are not walking in your shoes and they can never know the feelings, experiences and issues that brought you to this door. Just remember, the journey of WLS helps you find the you in there that has been buried and lost. You will find out so much about yourself as you help you--and others-- as we travel down this path together~~

We all know it isn't a smooth path, and that surgery doesn't cure everything. It is just a tool to help us get started. We actually still have to do the work.

What are your reasons for weight loss surgery? If you are Pre-op, you may find some enlightening thoughts. If you are Post-op, we'd like to hear your enlightened thoughts. Please share them with us.

Diabetes Mellitus A disease that occurs when the body is not able to use blood glucose (sugar). Blood sugar levels are controlled by insulin, a hormone in the body that helps move glucose from the blood to muscles and other tissues. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body does not respond to the insulin that is made. There are two main types of diabetes mellitus: Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes. All forms of diabetes have been treatable since insulin became medically available in 1921, but there is no cure.

Overweight It is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9. Body weight comes from fat, muscle, bone, and body water. It is important to remember that although BMI correlates with the amount of body fat, BMI does not directly measure body fat. As a result, some people, such as athletes, may have a BMI that identifies them as over their ideal body weight even though they do not have excess body fat. CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE JOURNEY BMI CALCULATOR!