Thought for the Day!
Howdy Ya’ll,
A popualr hiking mountain by the village of Camden, Maine, has a trail
called "Tablelands Trail" — name for its many "tables" or plateaus. Every
Summer shepherds everywhere take their sheep up to graze in cool tablelands like
these.
Before a shepherd leads sheep up to these summer grasslands, the tableland
has to be prepared. Shepherds scout out areas free from dangerous ridges where
sheep might wander into trouble. Areas with poisonous weeds have to be avoided,
for sheep are known to eat things that are not good for them.
Psalm 23 was written by one with the heart of a shepherd, someone familiar
with the practice of making the pasture ready for grazing. "Thou prparest a
table before me" might well refer to this age-old shepherd’s act of preparing
the way for the sheep.
In the same way, those who have already had GBP and who are willing to
reach out to others and help us in a way we could have never imagined. I want to
thank all of you for caring enough to reach out and share your life. This is
what God meant when He said we should love our neighbors.
My surgery date is Wednesday November 12th and I am ready, but yet still
grieving the thought of having to give up food that I love. My mom two weeks ago
had 3 strokes and I know that this is something I have to do for me, to become a
healthier person. With the holidays right around the corner, how am I ever going
to get through not eating all those wonderful things at the dinner table. With
everyone around me eating, what am I going to do. I can’t just sit and watch
them eat. Anyone have some advice to what I can do? I am only 12 days away from
my surgery and feeling a bit anxious. I haven’t weighed myself to see if I have
lost any weight. I was at 323.4 and was told I had to get down to 300. I did get
down to 308 but then my mom had her strokes and I have been eating everything I
know I am not going to be able to eat after surgery. Help, I need encouragement.
Tiffany - Keep your chin up and your focus on you Goal. Within your soul
you have a strength that is waiting to burst out and lead you into a new life of
happiness.
Jen - I am so happy for you that you have lost all the weight.
Congratulations! It’s very encouraging to me to know that you have accomplished
this for yourself.
Pam - I am thankful for you. I have only been online this week and have
drawn so much encouragement from you. Keep being the wonderful person God has
made you to be.
Bahia - I am excited for you having GBP and will be praying for your
recovery speedy recovery. Know that what you are doing is the best thing you
will ever do for yourself.
Ray Monaco - I am excited for you too that you are having this wonderful
surgery in which will help you become a healthier you. It is a tool to help us
live a longer life. Praying for you while you have to wait over the next month.
Time does seem to drag, but the closer it get the quicker it arrives.
Sending Beary Big Hugs From Texas,
Always Cindy
July 22nd, 2006 at 2:28 am
Cindy, hmmmmm - you will be (probably) distressed to discover that you WON’T
have to give up all those foods you love. Oh, well, maybe for a period of
time, while your pouch heals, but the bottom line is that I can eat, right now
at 11 months out, everything I ate prior to surgery - just not as much of it.
Not NEARLY as much of it at a sitting. So, this piece of grieving you can
shelve, because although Thanksgiving and Christmas this year you won’t be
able to join in as much (and may not want to) - by next year at this time
you’ll be wishing you WERE forced to give up all those foods you love! I
promise you <G>.
Pam in Niceville
July 22nd, 2006 at 5:28 am
Cindy,
Thank YOU for your kind words. In terms of the eating around the holidays
issue: I don’t know how to explain this, but you aren’t going to care as much
as you think. You are going to have a different tummy and EVERYTHING will be
different. By that time you may not be on solid food yet, I guess it depends on
your Dr.’s orders, but believe me when I tell you that your appetite changes,
your tastebuds change (especially right after surgery) and it truly is a miracle
tool. Mentally, you might miss the act of eating at the Holiday table, but you
will still be there, just not eating as much. I literally didn’t have an
appetite for at least 3 months after surgery, so the hunger part may not even
come into play for you at that point. I felt the same way you did before
surgery, I had mine in March so I was sad about missing out on the Easter Feast
that my family has. Well, I didn’t miss a thing - I had a few bites of my
favorite things and was satisfied because I got a taste of everything and then I
was full. That’s why this surgery is so successful - it really does work! It’s
made a believer out of me…and I was convinced that I was the one person who
would NEVER be able to stop eating and over-eating.
All I can say is, wait and see, you’ll understand once you are through it. I’d
also be interested to hear if others feel the same way. Good luck!
Jen in Naperville
Sugery date: 3/3/03
259/167/150
July 23rd, 2006 at 2:25 am
Hi all- I had my surgery alittle over 3 months ago and have lost 67 lbs!!
Before surgery i also thought that i would really miss eating. but I have found
out that i am very satisfied with eating just a little because I do feel that
FULL and SATISFIED feeling that i was always seeking before. No regrets here at
all. I feel great and would do it again in a minute. (but hope I never have to)
Hugs Jan
July 28th, 2006 at 7:16 pm
Cindy,
My cousin recently had the surgery and I know she was worried about eating or
not eating foods she loved…and it is not too bad because she doens’t even
want them….yippeee…the consequences outweigh the benefits! look forward to
not wanting them!
beth