The Ultimate Christmas Gift

As I sit and wonder, I ponder on my life
I think about my savior and his birth on that silent night.
A little infant in swaddling clothes a sleep in a manger bed;
For you this day a child is born, the herald angles said.

The Shepard’s left there flocks, to come bow on bended knee
Three wise men came from a far, to worship the new born king.
Oh what a holy night for the birth of our savior and king;
What a precious gift of love, and sacrifice this sweet child would bring.

If I could stand in front on him, what would my reaction be?
Would I fall to my knees, shed tears of love at his feet?
The love that the savior has for me, I can not comprehend;
When I was in darkness he’s right there holding my hand.

Every year at Christmas time I am filled with the saviors love;
I ask my self if it was me, could I make the ultimate sacrifice of love.
I wish that I could give all of you, something as special and rare as this;
The love the savior has for us, the ultimate Christmas gift.

So this is what I am going to give you, I am going to remind you of his love;
Not only the love of our savior, but our heavenly father above.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son,
That who so ever believeth in him, should not perish,
But have ever lasting life.

So this Christmas morning, when you’re opening your Christmas gifts;
Remember to think of our savior and the atonement
THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS GIFT!

Ronda Gardner
12/19/2006

Nine Months Out….

I can’t believe that it has been nine months since I had surgery; I am too the point were my weight loss has slowed down and it is a bit frustrating but I know that it is normal. I am starting to worry that I am not going to loose anymore weight; I know that I will that it is going to be slow, I just need to be patient.

There are certain foods that still make me absolutely sick and I am never going to add them back to my diet, I know that it will be better for me in the long run. I think that I am doing really good; the only good thing is, is that I am not gaining weight I am staying the same. I know that I am going to really need to kick the exercise; I know that it is going to be key important to the rest of my weight loss. I am going to start doing to Pilates (at home that is) I don’t really like going to the gym, it stinks and it really gives me a headache.

I still have about eighty pounds that I want to loose and I need to really start working harder to get it off. I will let every one know what I am going to start doing and whether or not it is working. I am just concerned about it I know that I shouldn’t be worried about anything until my surgeon tells me that I am doing something wrong.

I love you all very much and am grateful that I have the love and support that I do it means a lot too me!

The Three Trees

Christmas is my favorite time of year because at Christmas is the only time of the year that people step out side them selves and do this that they normally wouldn't do any other time of the year. This is my favorite Christmas story and I would like to share with all of you. I hope that it touches you the way that it touched me.

The Three Trees

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world! The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.

Years, passed. The rain came, the sun shone and the little trees grew tall. One day three wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first wood cutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall make a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said.

The second wood cutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It's perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last wood cutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the wood cutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the wood cutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, or treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the wood cutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and awed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the wood cutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I could make a cradle for him." Her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful." She said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and a thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She new she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awoke. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten wood pile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hand to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

Lots of Thoughts

There are a lot of things going on right now in my life; with friends and family and I just don't know what I am going to do about anything any more. In know that I have blogged about my frustrations before; but let me know you that the longer these things go on the more upset and frustrated I get about everything. So many of my friends treat me so different these days because of the weight loss; but I've noticed that it isn't all of my friends it is only my friends that are over weight. It's almost like they can't deal with the idea of me being smaller than them.

I honestly don't care how they feel and think about my weight loss; that is there problems. But the thing is, is that I am the same person today that I Was yesterday so I don't understand why they are dong this. I am sure that things will get better or I will just stop being friends with all of them. I do have to say that I have a LOT of very supportive friends who have been there for me through this entire process and I am very grateful to them for the love and support; I know that it has made all this a heck of a lot easier. Thank you all

Much Love

Strawberry Salad with Crab and Red Onion

Servings: 6

Salad Dressing

3 Tablespoon raspberry vinegar

3 Tablespoon water

1 Tablespoon honey

2 Tablespoon canola oil

1/8 Tablespoon salt

1/8 Tablespoon pepper

Salad Mixings

3 cups strawberries, quartered

10 ounce spring mix blend salad greens

2 teaspoon pine nuts

6 ounces can lump crab meat

1 small red onion, sliced thin and ringed

Directions

1. Combine first 6 ingredients and stir well with a whisk.

2. Combine strawberries and green.

3. Add the salad dressing; toss to coat.

4. Sprinkle with pine nuts.

5. Top with crab and red onion rings.

6. Serve.

Chef Dave’s Turkey Salad Left-Over’s

6 Servings

2 cups turkey, cubed or shredded

½ cup light mayo

½ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp onion powder

2 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped fine

¼ tsp celery salt

¼ tsp poultry seasoning

Place into a mixing bowl and mix well.

Salad is now ready to be “Gobbled” up!

Per Serving: 160 calories, 14 grams protein, 10 grams fat (2 grams saturated fat), 2 grams carbohydrate, 0 grams fiber, 250 mg sodium

29 steps to a perfect turkey

1 fresh whole turkey

¾ cups butter, melted

1 ¼ cups dry white wine

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

2 teaspoons sage powder

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 large onions peeled and cut in half

1 stock of celery, cut into 2 inch pieces

4 carrots, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces

1. Rinse turkey with cool water, and dry with paper towels.

2. Pre-heat oven to 450 F degrees with oven rack placed on the last notch on the bottom.

3. Combine melted butter, sage, garlic, and white wine into bowl.

4. Fold a large piece of cheesecloth into quarters and cut into a 17-inch, 4 layer square.

5. Immerse cheesecloth in the butter and wine, let soak.

6. Place onions, celery, and carrots into bottom of roasting pan then place roasting rack on top of veggies in pan.

7. Next place turkey, breast side up on a roasting rack in a heavy metal roasting pan.

8. Fold wing tips under turkey.

9. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt and pepper inside turkey.

10. Fill large cavity with as much stuffing as it will hold comfortable; do not pack tightly. (Cook remaining stuffing in a buttered baking dish a 375 F degrees ).

11. Tie legs together loosely with kitchen string.

12. Rub turkey with the softened butter and sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon salt and pepper.

13. Lift cheesecloth out of liquid and squeeze it slightly, leaving it very damp; reserve remaining liquid.

14. Spread cheesecloth evenly over the breast and about halfway down the sides of the turkey; it can cover some of the leg area.

15. Cook for 30 minutes.

16. Using a pastry brush, baste cheesecloth and exposed parts of turkey with butter-and-wine mixture every 30 minutes.

17. After first 30 minutes reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue to cook until temperature of the turkey reaches 155 degrees F (insert an instant –read thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, avoiding any bones), basting every 30 minutes and watching pan juices, reserving them for gravy.

18. After the turkey reaches 150 degrees F, carefully remove and discard cheesecloth.

19. Baste turkey with pan juices.

20. If there are not enough juices, continue to use the butter-and-wine mixture.

21. Cook 1 more hour or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, remembering to baste every 30 minutes.

22. When fully cooked, transfer turkey to a serving platter and let rest for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make gravy.

23. Pour all of the pan juices into a glass-measuring cup. Let stand until fat rises to the surface, about 10 minutes, and then skim it off.

24. Meanwhile, place roasting pan over medium-high heat and add 1-cup dry white wine to the pan.

25. Using a wooden spoon, scrape the pan until liquid boils and all the crisp bits are unstuck from pan.

26. Stir well and bring back to a boil.

27. Cook until liquid has reduced by half, about 10 minutes.

28. Add the defatted pan juices and cook over medium-high heat 10 minutes more.

29. You will have 2 ½ cups of gravy.

30. Season, to taste, strain into a warm gravy boat, and serve with turkey.

If the turkey comes with a pop-up timer, remove it! Using and instant-read thermometer later will give a more accurate indication of doneness.

Size of Turkey Unstuffed Timing Stuffed Timing

8-12 (pounds) 2 ¼ - 3 (Hours) 3-3 ½ (Hours)

12-14 3- 3 ¼ 3 ½-4

14-18 3 ¼ - 4 ¼ 4- 4 ½

18-20 4 ¼- 4 ½ 4 ¼ -4 ¾

20-24 4 ½ -5 4 ¾ - 5 ¼

Being Sick Bites The big One....

I have not been sick in YEARS, and I wake up Thanksgiving day with a wicked soar throat. Of course instead of feeling better the next day I get worse and this is the pattern for the last five days. I went to the Doctor this morning and I have a Sinus infection isn't that fun? I think that my head is going to explode along with my nose. I have an antibiotic and hopefully with in the next few days I will start feeling human again.

An Ab Exercise For Everyone!

I don’t have much of a problem with belly pouch or bulge, since I’ve been doing one ab exercise or another for most of my life to make my abs flat.

But most of you haven't done any kind of ab exercise recently or ever in your life so you can benefit by my experience with one particular ab exercise especially.

I know a small ab exercise that can literally whittle your waistline and work your abs at the same time. If you work diligently at this ab exercise, that is.

Here is my ab exercise:

Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet resting on the floor.

Bend your right leg sideways and rest your right ankle on your left knee.

Link your fingers behind your head and situp, twisting your torso as you do, so that your left elbow touches your right knee.

Then lay back down and repeat 20 times. If you’re a beginner at ab exercise you may want to work your way up slowly, starting with five ab exercises everyday and each week adding one more ab exercise on.

Do this ab exercise with both legs, resting your left ankle on your right knee as you repeat the selected amount of crunches.

I took my waist down an inch doing this ab exercise, and I’ve never gone back up. There is no reason why you can't too!

Believe me. Once you start to apply this you will begin seeing results very soon.

For more of Beth's expert advice visit her Website now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Scott

How To Exercise Less To Lose More Weight?

For most people who want to lose weight, they will exercise heavily and damage their health. You’ll get to know the correct way to exercise here to exercise less but still lose weight.

You can eat healthy food. If you’re healthy, your body has higher activity level that burn more fats even you exercise little. If your body is not healthy, cells can’t regenerate, less cells to burn fats, fats don’t have the vitamin and minerals to turn into energy when you exercise.

You can exercise without tense. When you exercise relax, you’ll feel happy and exercise will be more effective. If you’re exercising and telling yourself “I must lose weight!” Exercise will not bring you big result and you will be tired.

You can exercise light. When you exercise heavily, you can’t train the muscle which burn fats effectively. You’ll have big muscle and burn little fats. Exercise light will train your lean muscle which allow you to burn lots of fat and have good body shape.

Remember to breathe when you're exercising. Only you have enough oxygen allows your body to use your energy effectively. If the energy in your body is not used effectively, you burn less fats.

So by all these knowledge, you can choose to to exercise less but burn fats effectively or exercise the same but burn few times more fats than before. You can now not stuck in the situation that you need to exercise a lot and hardly lose weight.

These methods are just small part of the knowledge of “Exercise less to slim” I gave at my website. You can discover more at Weight Loss Tip and grab knowledge on “Write to slim”, “Eat more to slim” and “Exercise less to slim”.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Ediso

A Warning of the Complications of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery involves stapling the stomach to make it smaller and reattaching the small intestine to bypass a portion responsible for the majority of calorie and nutrient absorption.

The procedure is only available to the morbidly obese (more than 100 pounds overweight) who have been obese for more than 5 years and shown a serious effort to lose their excess weight through not surgical methods such as diet and exercise.

Surgery in any form is risk-inherent and gastric bypass surgery can result in complications. Complications of gastric bypass surgery include infection, leaking of the stomach resulting from a failed staple, respiratory problems, and hernias. The most serious of these is a gastrointestinal leak that happens in 1 out of 20 cases. The resulting infection, if not caught quickly and treated accurately, can be fatal.

Complications of gastric bypass surgery rarely result in death but the death rate hovers around 1.9%. When considering this, remember that gastric bypass surgery patients are already in a very unhealthy state and their bodies are not in a condition to fight off serious infections that do sometimes occur even in routine surgery.

The risk of complications of gastric bypass surgery must be compared to the risks of living morbidly obese, which is a deadly condition that will eventually result in severe disabilities and early death.

Gastric Bypass Surgery Info provides comprehensive information on procedure, recovery, cost and complications relating to standard, laparoscopic and mini surgeries. Gastric Bypass Surgery Info is the sister site of Bariatric Surgery Web.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eddie_Tobey

Happy Thanksgiving

As the holidays start to roll in; I start to think about my life, the wonderful people that I have the opportunity to know, and all the many blessing that I have been blessed with.

My husband Mark, came into my life at a time when I was looking for acceptance and love, he gave me both unconditionally. He looked and me and feel in love with the women that I am and not someone the didn’t exist. He has been a part of my life for five years and I am so grateful for the blessing of his love in my life. I know that I am difficult to live with at times but I hope he realizes how much I love him and how much he means to me. He is my life and my heart and hope that we together for along time.

I love my family very and would do any thing for them. They are truly the greatest blessing in my life; I don’t know what I would do with out them. My little brother Russell is the biggest pain in the butt, and he torments us to no end and there are days that I would love to do nothing more than straggle him. But I know that he loves me and the would do anything to protect me. He is one of my best friends and I love him very much. As I was preparing for my surgery he was the only person in my family that was not supportive of my choice but in the end he told me that he loved me and would support me in any decision that I made.

My sister Sarah and I used to try to kill each other; we could not get a long for the life of our mother and I think that there are times that she would have liked to strangle us! But as we grew up we became closer and the birth of my first nephew Anthony really brought us together. He was an answer to my prayers, he was what I needed at the time that he was born. Sarah is my best friend; her and I do so much together; she went to the New kids on The Block concert with us even though she was never really a fan. She used to give me hell for liking them but we have mutual friends that all like them and it has just brought us all together.

My parents have done so much for my husband and I since we got married that I will never be able to repay them for it. I hope that they know how much we appreciate all that they have done for us. My mom and I had our ups and downs she was my biggest enemy in high school; and my best friend now. My mother was my hero growing up, he was always there for me he was the one I went to when I had problems he understood me. I am the spitting image of my Grandma Tom (hard) and I feel that I have a special bond with my dad and some of my uncle because of it.

My family means so much to me, I love them all so much and am so grateful to have all of them in my life. I have a wonderful sister in law names Kristi and seven beautiful nieces and nephews that I think the world of. Anthony is the oldest, then there is A. J (Alma Jr.) Sadies and Hallie these are my sisters children and I am very close to all of them. They are my heart and hope that they know how much I love them and how much they mean to me. Benjamin and Jacob are my brothers boys and they are adorable and I love them as well; I don’t have the same relationship with them as I do my sisters but I love them just as much and think that they are wonderful loving boys. These children may be as close as I get to any of my own and hold a special place in my heart for all of them.

Today as you sit down to dinner remember to tell those that you love how much that they mean too; never pass up an opportunity to say those three words you never know when it is going to be too late. Never take for granite all you have and the loved ones in your life; because life is short and you never know when it is going to come to an end. Don’t forget to say today what you might regret tomorrow, and don’t forget to thank god for all the blessing in your life; nothing would be possible with out him.

I love all of you, all of my wonderful family and friends that have shown me so much love and support over the last eleven months, with out your love and support I would not have done as well as I have. Much love on this day of thanksgiving I hold you all in my heart!

Forbidden Love

I saw him from across the room,
He mesmerized me with his eyes.
He looked angry and confused,
He acted as though he hated me.

I have never felt like this before,
I am weary and excited all at once.
I want nothing more than to get to know him
However, he is on guard and hesitant to let me in.

The more he pushes me away,
The more I want to be close to him.
I want to know what he is thinks and how he is feeling
He fascinates me more than is safe.

He tells me that he is dangerous
That I would be smarter to walk away,
That it is dangerous to have him near me
That I would be happier with out him.

He does not understand that I cannot be away from him
That he makes me feel alive, and free.
He is the heart that beats in my chest
He is the wind that is beneath my wings.

The touch of hands on my skin
Sends chills racing up and down my spin,
When he gently kisses my lips
I am helpless and out of breathe.

He is all that I want for the rest of my life,
Our loves feels the empty void inside.
He is my heart, my life and light
I would give up mortality to be with him for eternity!

Ronda Gardner
11/26/08

Finding Myself...

I have decided that there is only so much that you can change with out loosing your self; and need to redefine who it is that you are and what it is that you want from your life.

I have lost one hundred and fifty pounds since March 14, 2008; and it still amazes me the changes that I have gone through. Not only physically but also emotionally and mentally, I am a new woman, with a new life and wonderful opportunities ahead of me.

It still blows my mind that men actually pay attention to me, I am not used to men looking at me and finding me attractive. I have never been worth the attention and it is rather nice to feel sexy, pretty and attractive; this is a new experience for me and I love every minute of it.

I walk just a little straighter with my head held just a little higher; and I have a new spring in my step. I cannot believe how much self-confidence I have now; we define our selves by our bodies and I have never felt like I was much to look at and that no man would ever want me. I am so grateful that I met my husband during my post gastric bypass life; he feel in love with me the women that no other man could be bothered to take the time to get to know. Appearances and looks are so important these days; society is obsessed with them. There are so many shallow people in this world and it is sad; because there are so many amazing people out there who will never be giving a change to find some one to love them because they do not fit in to the mold that society and has for a mate.

I hope that some day that society will change; I guess that I am so passionate about this because I have been a victim of bigotry and hate because I am over weight. High school was so difficult for me because I was different and did not fit in; I hope that if I am blessed with children some day that they do not have to live the kind of life that I have. That they aren't treated as I was because they are different: I hope that I can instill good healthy eating habits in them and they do not get my genes.

I am still trying to find my self and learn who it is that I am; I know that I am the same women but there are so many changes that I need to do some soul searching to make sure that I don’t change so much that I loose my family and friends. I love you all and I am so grateful to have so many loving and supportive people in my life. Thank you for the love and support on this incredible journey; it has been amazing and to think that it has only just begun I have the rest of my life ahead of me.

Big Hugs!

Twilight

I read these books a year ago and I am a little apprehensive about seeing the movie; the books are good, I would not go as far as saying that they are brilliant but they are good books. You can't help but fall in love with Edward Cullen; He and Bella have a love that every women hopes and dreams for. The kind of love people only find in books. I am going to the movie thinking that is not going to be anything like the books; but I am going to give it the benefit of the doubts. I'll let everyone know what I think of the movie after I see it!

I'm Feeling Frustrated and a Little Angery...

I know that I shouldn't be feeling the way that I am feeling; I should allow people to live there lives the way that they want, and if they do not want to be my friend then that is fine. But do me a favor and don't pretend that you are my friend and use me to help you reach your ultimate goal. I think that I am going to tell Dr. Belnap that I am not sure that I want to help patients any more. It is too emotionally draining for me to get that involved and I don't think that I want to do it any more.

The one thing that I have learned through out this process and weight loss that happiness DOES NOT make you happy. Happiness comes from with in yourself; if you are not happy before hand you will not be happy after you loose the weight.

So the best advice I can give to any one that is thinking about having this surgery; make sure that you are having it for the right reasons. Don't do it just too loose weight to be happy; because it is hard.

New Kids Pictures....It Was So Much Fun!

Stay The Same by Joe McIntyre

Joe McIntyre has a song thats lyrics really reach out speak to me, they really open my eyes and make me think about my life and how I feel about my self. How that I am special just the way that I am and that I need to learn to love my self and except me.


Chorus
Don't you ever wish you were someone else,
You were meant to be the way you are exactly.
Don't you ever say you don't like the way you are.
When you learn to love yourself, you're better off by far.
And I hope you always stay the same,
cuz there's nothin' 'bout you I would change.
Verse
I think that you could be whatever you wanted to be
If you could realize, all the dreams you have inside.
Don't be afraid if you've got something to say,
Just open up your heart and let it show you the way.
Chorus
Bridge
Believe in yourself.
Reach down inside.
The love you find will set you free.
Believe in yourself, you will come alive.
Have faith in what you do.
You'll make it through.
Cuz there's nothing about you I would change


OK I am done blogging today you wont here from me again!
much love

Recent Pictures

I Am In Love...

Oh my goodness, I had been excited about the concert last night for months; but that was nothing until they got on stage last night they were freaking amazing and I am in love all over again.

It didn’t feel like it had been fifteen years since I Had last seen them in concert and the whole experience was incredible. Donnie wahlberg you can tell by the look on his face that he completely loves what he does and the effect that he as on the crowd. I screamed my self horse last night and I danced until my feet felt like they were going to fall off. But, man it was worth it.

I wish that I could have been there with all of my friends that I shared this part of my life with but I was there with the ones that were important and that is all that matters. We didn’t all sit together but the thought that they were all there was good enough for me. Most of my friends from then don’t like the kids anymore, they have grown up and moved on and listen to country music now, but not me; well I am grown up but I DO NOT listen to country music.

As soon as I get the pictures from the concert I will post them on here; it was amazing and I hope that they do it all again.

NEW KIDS TONIGHT....

THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK CONCERT IS TONIGHT AND I THINK THAT I AM GOING TO DIE FROM EXCITEMENT! I WILL POST ANY PICTURES I TAKE TONIGHT. IT IS A DREAM COME TRUE, ONE THAT I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD NEVER SEE!

Woo Hoo Im Doing The Happy Dance!

I have not lost anything in about a month; in fact it has gotten to the point that I don't get on the scale often because I know that I am the same. Well after sitting at 280 for four weeks I got on the scale this morning to discover that I am down another 7 pounds, I did the happy dance on the scale. That puts me at 273; I am on my way again and I am happy, 83 more pounds to get to my goal!


GO REAL SALT LAKE, WIN TONIGHT AND GO ON TO THE FINALS!

Furious Indignation's

OK I have some thing that I am going to rant about; I have to say this first, having a Gastric Bypass is a scary decision it is hard and difficult to do with out the support of loves ones and friends. When you do not have that love and support, it makes it even harder, having said that I am going to unburden my self.

I have a friend who just recently had a Gastric Bypass; while she was preparing for her surgery, she asked her mother to go to some of her appointments with her and she would not. She acted as if she could not be bother; but while she was trying to loose the weight required of her before Dr. Belnap would operate her mother gave her nothing but grief. She was always telling her that she should be doing this instead of what Belnap wanted her to do. Then when she went up to weigh she would get mad at her if she did not loose what her mother thought that she should loose.

Well it got really ugly I am not going to go into to all of it for my friends sake and if her mother happens to read this I don’t want her to know that I know as much as I do. When she asked her mother to help her to be there for support her mother told her that she was not going to hold her hand; that she decided to do this and she was on her own. Well now that she has had surgery her mother is acting like the food police; my friend feels as if she is going to loose her mind. She showed up at my house the other night in tears because of something a close friend of hers said to her father, and the reaction that her father had because of it.

This is what makes me mad; they are using this to bully her! They are being mean to her thinking it is going to help her get to where she needs to be. They do not understand anything that she is going through because THEY refused to go to any appointments and meet with Dr. Belnap until the very end. I wish that there were more that I could do for her; I have stepped up to the plate and been for her what her mother should have been. I have started to feel very maternal towards her because she needs more than she is getting.

So this is what I want to say, if you are thinking about having a gastric bypass or some one that you are close to is having one, try to learn as much as you can about what they are going to be going through so that you are able to help them. This is hard and they are going to need some one to be there to help them through the bad days. I know that I cried a lot right after I had surgery and it was hard for me. If I couldn’t eat my family didn’t get mad at me, if I got sick from something they didn’t give me the third degree and ask me what I ate. They understood that my body was not going to be able to tolerate everything that I ate; they were loving and supportive and that was all I needed.

I know that this is the hardest way that I have ever lost weight but I feel great and I am so glad that I did it; I would not go back and change any thing for the world. I want to thank all of the wonderful people who have posted on my blog, the love, support has really helped me, and I appreciate it so much. Much love to all of you and I wish you all luck in whatever journey that you are on!

President Elect, Barack Obama

When this Presidential campaign began, I did not know what I thought about the changes that we were facing. We had a Vietnam veteran, a Female who is in search for as much power has she can achieve a Black man who is very young and does not seem to have a lot of experience and Mormon that got a lot of bad press because of his religion. I was not sure what I thought about that.

I did know one thing; if Hillary Clinton won office, I was moving as far away from the United States as possible. I did not really like McCain; I felt that some of his policies were not strong enough and he was not focusing on what I thought was important. Obama has some great ideas and I liked many of his policies. However, let me tell you what my problem was; I heard some many things about him that made me uneasy, I do not feel like as a country we received adequate answers to some of those allegations. Even know after he as won Office and is our next President there are still disconcerting accusations about him.

I like Barack Obama I just wish that I felt a little better about some of the things that we are hearing about him. I am whiling to give him the benefit of the doubt; he may surprise us and be one of the best presidents that we have ever had. I think that it is great that this country elected a Black man to office, it says a lot about us as a people. It speaks volumes we have grown and this country is ready for a change. History makes it’s self; and this election history was made and I am glad that I am able to say that I was alive to see it happen.

I am disgusted at how much racism and prejudice is still alive today; I thought that we got over that many years ago but it is still a live today. The fact there are white supremacist that are threatening his life just makes my skin crawl; I don’t care who he is or what he has done he does not deserve to be treated the way that the weak minded people of this country are treating him.

So why don’t we give him a chance to prove him self before we going judging him. Give him a chance to do what he promised before we go labeling him. I think that if we can make it through eight years of Mister Bill “I can’t keep my dick in my pants” Clinton; honestly can President Elect Obama Be half as bad? I know that this post is going to get me some nasty comments and there may be a lot of hostility towards me, but as a United States Citizen I have, the right to Freedom Of Speech and this is how I feel. Therefore, I guess that if this has upset you do not read it or just ignore what I said and let me have my say.

Ronda

MIA

It’s been a while since I blog; I was thinking the other day that there just isn’t anything to blog about, I am officially on a plateau and you know what, it doesn’t bother me. I am holding at 280 pounds but both my surgeon and my Doctor have both told me that it is normal. My body is doing something that every one that has this surgery does (I cannot remember what they called it) but as soon as my body is done I will start loosing again.

It feels good to get on the scale every week and see that same number. I wish that I would drop; I have gone back to the basics but I know that I need to be patient and I will start to loose again when my body is done doing what it is doing. I feel great; I feel better than I have in a long time. I never thought that I would weight this at the beginning of the year. It has been an amazing year.

I have been having some problems, Kidney Stones are not one of my favorite things in the world; I would prefer not to have them at all. Kidneys are not functioning properly and I have been having many lower backaches. Therefore, I went to the Doctor on Thursday and they are running some blood and Urine test. I am hoping that they actually find something and that this all is not in my head. I will let every one know what is going on when I find something out.

My shoulders are also bothering me bad right now, and I have tendonitis in my elbows by my Doctor will not treat it because it is work related. So I am turning an injury report in tomorrow at work and hopefully they will get me to work med soon. Therefore, with the elbows bothering me it is affecting the shoulder. I am going to go to Dr. King he is a specialist that bills as a regular doctor and he will do the injections that help my shoulder. They are painful but I will do almost anything to feel better and if it will help my shoulder heal, it is worth it.

Well that’s about all that’s going on right now, so I am going to head so I can get ready for church. However, I do have to add that the NKOTB concert is in 14 days, I am so excited that I cannot stand it! Have a wonderful day and enjoy the rain

Beautiful.....

This song is by Christina Aguilera, I have always loved the meaning behind this song; and there have been many times that I have been brought to tears by the thoughts that the lyrics invoke in me.
It’s such a shame that a world that is so diverse can’t be more accepting of all those around them who are different. I will agree that it isn’t fair that people aren’t all made the same, but how boring would this world be if we were all the samesize, shape, and color.

I am who I am, I am the women that the lord intended for me to be. I am happy with who and what I am; it bothers me that now that I am one hundred and forty pounds lighter that I am looked at as a person, I am now a human being and it is frustrating. I am glad that I have a husband who loved me before the life changing surgery and accepted me completely. I think that if I would have still been single I don’t think that I would have ever gotten married.

I hope that some day this world will be able to look at people and accept them for who they are, and that the color of there skin, there ethnic background or there religious beliefs don’t come into play. I hope that some day we will all be equal and become the human race.

Every day is so wonderful
And suddenly, I saw debris
Now and then, I get insecure
From all the pain, I’m so ashamed

I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can’t bring me down
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can’t bring me down
So don’t you bring me down today

To all your friends, you’re delirious
So consumed in all your doom
Trying hard to fill the emptiness
The piece is gone left the puzzle undone
That’s the way it is


You are beautiful no matter what they say
Words can’t bring you down
You are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can’t bring you down
Don’t you bring me down today…

No matter what we do
No matter what we say
When the sun is shining through
Then the clouds wont stay

And everywhere we go
The sun wont always shine through
But tomorrow will find a way
All the other times

Cause we are beautiful no matter what they say
Yes, words won’t bring us down, oh no
We are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can’t bring us down
Don’t bring me down today

My First Support Group....

I went up for my sixth month appointment yesterday and it went really well. We had a support group and it was really nice. We talked about how our family and friends treat us and act since we had surgery. It is really nice to know that I'm not the only one going through some of what I am going through.

I also learned that even though we all had a gastric bypass, we are all at different stages. Some of us are farther out than others and have lost more than some one who is out farther out than us. It helps me to remember not to compare my weight loss to any bodies else's because we are all different and we all have our own special health problems that we need to learn how to deal with in our journey to health.

I need to go to the Doctor and have some urine test run because my kidneys aren't functioning properly and I am in a lot of pain and I think that I am going to die. My back hurts all the time, and I know that I have passed a lot of stones lately. I also feel like I have a constant bladder infection, and it burns to urinate. So this is what I am having problems with right now. I am going to the Dr. on the 20th of this month to get things taken care of too see if we can get to the bottom of the problem.

I love you all and couldn't do this with out your love and support!

I'm Having One of Those Days.....

I am wondering today why I had this surgery; it has just been one of those days. I haven't felt well all day; I've had a really bad headache, the arthritis in my shoulder is killing me and of course there isn't any thing that I can take to help take the inflammation down that will actually help make it feel better.

I'm not feeling sorry for my self but I am feeling a little frustrated about hurting really bad. I'll get over it and think differently about it tomorrow; its just one of those days. Thank you for letting me rant a little bit about hurting and being frustrated.

My Journey….

I have been blogging since the fifth of January; I’ve talked about the good times and the highs; I’ve also talked about the hard times and the lows. I never thought for a moment that this was going to be an easy road that I had decided to take; I did now that it would be worth it in the long.

My doctor’s office referred me to Dr. Belnap for a consultation for a Gastric Bypass; it took me a while to make the call. This was a major decision that I was making and it was a life changing one, something not to be entered into lightly. I am a religious person; and when there is something of great importance that I need help with I turn to God to help me to know that I am doing the right thing or that what I am wanting to do it right. I prayed about having a Gastric Bypass for a month before I got my answer and I knew for asurety that this was the road that I should be taking.

I remember the night that I went to meet with Vikki and Dr. Belnap for the first time; I was nervous and I didn’t know what to expect. I got up there and filled out my paper, talked to some of the people who were up there for the same reason. A couple of them were self pay and were scheduling there surgeries that night, and I have to admit that I was jealous; I am glad that I had insurance that would pay for my surgery but at the same time I wasn’t looking forward to the year a head of me. Lost of test and blood work but you know everything went really fast and surprisingly well. I was approved for my surgery ten months after I started.

I know that I am glad that I chose to go to Dr. Belnap; even though I had to loose forty-seven pounds before I had surgery. He told me when I went up for my pre-operative appointment that it may take me a few months but that I could do it; he asked me how one went about loosing weight (I a pro at that) I went on 100 grams of proteins 20 grams of carbohydrates, no sugar, no carbonated beverages (my own choice) no bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. This diet works; I was tiered and ornery and I had the shakes and was nauseated a lot, but I got enough weight off in seven weeks to have surgery. He also told me that the weight loss was to help him be able to get in there to do what he has to do; and to help me it made my recovery so much easier than my other friends that have had the surgery.

THIS IS POSSIBLE! It can be done I did it, I walked out of my appointment that night told my husband that I wasn’t disappointed and that I was going to loose this weight as fast as possible.

Here is a sample of how I ate when I was preparing for surgery.

Breakfast
I would have a soft boiled egg, 12 g protein
I would have Canadian bacon with that
And a glass a milk

I would chew on raw almonds if I needed something in between meals, they sit in your stomach and help fill you longer and they are a good source of protein.

Lunch
I would have tune, 20 g protein
Cottage cheese, 12 g protein
String cheese, 6 g protein
And then I would have green veggies with it because green veggies are good for you.

Dinner
Some kind of chicken or turkey (tried not too eat too much red meat)
Veggies again
Cottage cheese

Drink lots and lots of water it is good for you in more ways than you can know!

I know that I really focused hard on proteins and some days I felt like all I was doing was eating; but one week after surgery I had lost thirteen pounds and I was excited and rearing to go.

I want every one to know that is thinking about this surgery; or is getting ready for surgery that it is worth it, I can’t tell you that it was easy but I will tell you that it was worth it. In six months I have lost one hundred and forty three pounds and I feel so amazing. The women that I am now I never thought that I would get the chance to be.

Having a Gastric Bypass saved my life; and Dr. Belnap played a major roll that. I am so grateful for the new life that I have been given; I have already done things that I never thought that I would do. So just hang in there I know that you can do it, remember its not easy but it is worth every tear, every loud out burst and every frustration that you feel; because the feeling of that weight melting off is the most amazing feeling in the world. So keep your chin up and keep on keeping on! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!

What a Relief.....

I have been under a great deal of stress of the last couple of months; and I finally hit my first plateau. Mind you I wasn't really stressed out about it; I know that they are normal during any weight loss, but let me tell you that they are not fun. I went back to the basics, concentrating on getting in enough proteins and not getting too many carbohydrates; even though I only eat complex carbohydrates I get sick if I eat too many. Well after playing with the same six pounds for a month I got on the scale this weekend and I am down nine pounds, which puts me a two hundred and seventy nine pounds.

I am twenty seven weeks out from surgery and I am doing great, I have to be honest with you; I DID NOT THINK THAT I WOULD LOOSE THIS MUCH MY FIRST YEAR!!!!! I have a little over a hundred pounds left too loose and I am hoping to get as much of it off as possible. I love the new person that I am; I love the way that people look at me now, they look at me with pride and awe and it is an amazing feeling.

This was one of the hardest decisions that I have ever made and I did not enter into it lightly; but I am glad that I had the surgery and that I chose to go to Dr. Belnap, he has given me a new lease on life and I am loving it. I am so grateful for the life that I am able to lead now; it wouldn't have been possible if I wouldn't have had a gastric bypass.

I am having a little bit of a problem but it isn't anything serious. My good cholesterol, is a little low but the doctor has put me on Niacin and has added whole grains to my diet. He also told me that exercise will help raise it back up as well. I've been a little light headed and dizzy lately and I am not sure why, I have a doctors appointment tomorrow to talk to him about all that. I also have an appointment on the twenty forth of next month to have complete blood work done again to check my cholesterol and everything.

I see my surgery Saturday for my six month check up and I am excited to see him and talk to him. His staff is always telling me that I am there Star Patient and that they are so proud of me. I have been wanting this all my life and this is my one chance to take control of my life and take it back, and actually start to live!

I want to thank all of you for the hundredth time for all the love and support that you have shown me; this has been a hard and difficult road that I am on and it helps a lot to have such wonderful friends and family behind me. You give me strength to face each new challenge and your love keeps me standing tall.

I love you all!

More Colorado Pictures!

This is my handsome boy, Anthony is so grown up! Before I always thought of his as the four year old little boy who went to Colorado to live, he defiantly is NOT a little boy anymore. I love him and he's a doll; Girls stay away from him, he can't date until he is 50!


Hallie had herself a good pout when we stopped to take pictures! She only wanted to ride with who ever would go the fastest and on the scariest trails. She is a dare devil like big brother A.J!


Me and Sadies just being silly, she is a sweet girl I wish every one could know her, she is wonderful!


This is Me and my friend Shandy, we have known each other for ever she adores the kids and the kids love her!


This is me on a four wheeler and I had a blast there was no getting me off it. I was really scared at first, but quickly got over it!

Pictures of My Trip to Colorado...

This is one of trails that Sadies my niece took me down while I was in Colorado, I live in Utah and I'm surrounded by the majestic beauty of the mountains, but I was still in awe at how pretty it is. My uncle Hyrums family owns this property!


This is but ONE of the stair cases that we took to get down to the suspension bridge!


This is the Colorado River, it runs directly behind there house; you can lay in bed and listen to its soothing rush!


A view of the Colorado river the above, I can't remember if this was from up by the house; or if it was from the mountain that we were four wheeling on. But I thought that it was beautiful.


This was the other stair case that we took to get down to the bridge and this one was a little difficult because the stairs were not evenly spaced, but I was enchanted!

Mini-Break Weekend.....

I scheduled Friday off so I could go to Colorado for the weekend and spend some well needed time with my Nieces and Nephews. We had a lot of fun, we arrived Friday afternoon about Three thirty. We sat and visited and just enjoyed each other Friday night, had dinner and just spent time together.

Sadies brought her Ipod and Idock down stairs and I sang with her; and then Sadies, Hallie and Shandy got up and danced and entertained us. It was funny, Then Hallie, Anthony, A.J, Grandpa, and there mom got into to a game of keep-a-way and it got a little out of control and we ended up having to get upset with the kids because they started to be mean to each other.

Well Saturday we had a blast; Uncle Hyrum got three four wheelers for us to ride and it was a blast. We had four all together because they own one them selves. I rode until I couldn't stay on it any more. I hurt so bad today that it isn't funny; and I have the cutest raccoon eyes that I have ever had. But if I wouldn't have had my sunglasses on I would have had more dirt in my eyes than I did. I did a lot of things that I never thought that I would do and I had fun.

The property that the family owns is beautiful I took some pictures and I am going to post them. We went for a small walk/hike and crossed a suspension bridge that crosses the Colorado River. The Pictures speak for them selves so I will just post them and let you enjoy!

Recognition....

I’m not sure if I have talked about this before; but I have been thinking about it a lot lately and I want to get it off of my chest.

I’ve noticed lately that when I go to the store or to a restaurant or a little shop, that men are starting to notice me! Now the thing about this that bothers me is that I am still fat in my mind and eyes; and men didn’t notice me six months ago but they do now? I find this odd, I feel like I am the same person today that I was back in March; but because I am A LOT smaller than I was then I am a person now, a human being who deserves to be looked at and noticed?

I don’t now maybe I am being over sensitive about everything; but I can tell you that I am so very happy that I found my husband before I lost my weight and that he fell in love with me when I was that other women. I know that he loves me for me and not the body that I am going to have. I think that if I was still single I wouldn’t date any one that I knew before the change.

I know that I have changed a lot more that has to do with more weight, I am more self confident than I was before the life changing surgery. I walk with my head held higher than ever before, and there is a new bounce in my step. I feel beautiful and sexy (even though I still feel fat)

I do like the way some men/people look at me; in an admiring way, I can not believe that this is the same person that I used to know. I guess that it bothers me and it doesn’t, it depends on whom and where we are. I really wish that people who just look at people who are different than them and take the chance to get to know them; instead of judging the book by its cover.

I could go on about this forever but I won’t; I want to hear what all of you to have to say about this. Thank you for the love and support.

Sixth Month Check....

On the 27th of September I have my sixth or seventh month check up; and I don't know why I am really nervous to go up and see Dr. Belnap. I am not doing bad in the least, I am actually doing really well. I mean I only have ninety three pounds left to go and it feels absolutely amazing.

I know what I want to look like but I don't think that I am ever going to get there; I also know that I am not built like super models, and that when you are extremely heavy like I was when you do get your weight off, you just don't look the same. It doesn't matter because I am going to look stunning. I know that I am still a little over weight, but I feel skinny and it feels absolutely amazing.


I shouldn't be afraid of Dr. Belnap because he is the sweetest most compassionate and loving man I have ever met. I am glad that he is the one that I chose to go to I couldn't have asked for a better surgeon. If any one is thinking about having a Gastric Bypass I would suggest that you go to him; but keep in mind that he requires his patients to loose any where from twenty five to forty pounds depending on how much you weigh. It is usually about ten percent of your body weight. He does it for your safety and to make things better for you.

Having a great support system is also very important; I have a wonderful group of family and friends who have supported me through this who;e process. I know that I say Thank you all the time but I mean it; thank you for the love and support that all of you have given me it means so much. Remember that if there is ever anything that you need or to just talk about what ever that I am here. You can email me or call me and I will help you with what ever it is that you are having problems with.

Thank you all and God bless!
Ronda

The Block....

I am really excited, the new album from the New Kids On The Block comes out on Tuesday; I never thought that I would see the day that they would get back together. The songs from the album that I have heard are wonderful and I can't wait to see them in concert in November. It is like a dream come true!

The Road Traveled......

I know that I started this blog to track my journey through weight loss; it has been an amazing experience and it makes me feel great to think that people look at me in a different light. They actually view me as a person and it is wonderful; I am in no way skinny but the weight that I am at I carry well. I look smaller than I am right now I weigh 286 pounds and I feel great, physically, mentally, and emotionally. This is the best gift I could have given to my self.

There is one thing that I have started to notice that kind of bothers me; I know that it is probably the truth (if that is how you want to look at it) or just the way that people have viewed me through the years. People have been telling me that I am actually pretty now; that I am amazing out side now. I am not sure how to take it; I know that it isn’t being said to be hurtful and I am trying to not take it personally, but it is hard I never thought that I was beautiful but I didn’t think that I was ugly either. I know that everyone has the right to there opinion and I respect that.

Well enough with that; I hope that people learn something about weight loss and healthy living from my blog. I know that eating and living healthy is hard; I’ve fought my whole life to loose weight so that I could be healthy. There are so many people who struggle with there weight; I want to tell everyone that there is an answer to your problem and I know that it isn’t right for every one, but I testify to you that it works. It took me six years before I decided to do it.

People tell me that I took the easy way out and I will tell all of you right now that this is the hardest diet I have ever been on; but I would not go back and redo it. I have learned so much from having a Gastric Bypass; moderation in all things is so important. You need carbohydrates, sugars, and fats, but you don’t need as many as people eat. I have also learned that if I do not drink enough water I get so sick that it isn’t funny; I can’t tolerate sugar or milk so I drink Soy milk and leave sugar alone.

I want all of you to know that all the love and support and encouraging words mean so much to me. They have really helped me get through the rough patches and they have helped me keep keeping on. Thank you, I love you all! God Bless

Ciao

Changes.....

This was me on The 19th of January; I can't believe this women used to be me. This was one hundred and thirty four pounds ago. Is has been such and incredible journey and I am glad that I mad the choice to have a Gastric Bypass; and I am glad that I chose Dr. Belnap as my surgeon, I could not have asked for a more compassionate, caring and loving man. I was very confidant in his ability's; I tell any one that he was the one that performed my procedure all I hear are glowing comments about him.

When I went up on the 18th of January for my pre-operative appointment I had gained seven pounds since my consultation;Vikki his office manager told me not to be surprised if he told me that I needed to loose forty pounds before I could have surgery. Well he did, but he also explained to me that it was for my safety; that it would make it easier for him to get in there and do what he has to do and it would make it safer for me as well. I would be lying if I didn't say that I wasn't a little disappointed when I left; but I wasn't upset I decided that I was going to go on the diet he put me on and I was going to do the best that I could. I knew that the faster I lost my weight the faster I would have surgery.

The diet was not in any way easy, it was the hardest diet I have ever been on; but I lost forty two pounds in seven weeks and the last week was the worst. I did the following; 100 grams of protein, 20 grams of carbohydrates, no sugar, no bread, pasta, rice, or potato's and I cut all carbonated beverages. I thought that the hardest thing to give up was going chocolate and it wasn't and I don't miss it at all.


This is me now, two hundred and eighty six pounds and I feel great. I've lost one hundred and thirty four pounds (a normal sized person) and it is the most incredible feeling. I can't find the words to describe how I feel with out using a curse word. So I will say it this way "I feel Bloody Great!"

I look at the pictures of me before surgery and I can't believe its me. That women is dead; I will never forget her and the things that she went through, and the lessons that she learned. I respect her but I don't ever want to see her in the mirror again. I love the person that I am now and I will never look back! I owe so much to Dr. Belnap and his staff they have been so supportive and have helped me more that I think that they will know I love all of them. I hope to some day be able to thank them enough for everything that they have done for me; March forth was the first day of the rest of my life!

Thank you for the love and support that all of you have shown me, it means the world to me I love you all. God Bless you all!

ciao

New Pictures

My best friend Jackie has been here for a while because when they came out for there family vacation she got sick and ended up in the hospital having emergency surgery; she had a bowl obstruction and nearly died. She was in the hospital for fifteen days but is doing really good now.

Well she asked me the other day if I wanted to go and have some pictures taken, so that is what we did on Saturday morning. I am going to attach them here! I can't believe the difference's in me; I look like my mother.


Ronda Gardner
August 16, 2008
Lost 134 pounds



Ronda & Jackie
August 16, 2008

Weight Watchers Vs Weight Lifting - Which One is the Biggest Loser?

The Battlefield:

A University of Missouri researcher studied a specific amount of participants and watched to see what program helped people...

• lose body fat
• lose body weight
• gain health benefits

These participants stayed with their particular program for 12 weeks.

They only issues I have with this is they didn't say what the fitness group did and they didn't say if the Weight Watchers groups did anything else to help out.

There's only one place to go from here...

The Results:

Steve Ball, assistant professor of exercise physiology in the MU College of Human Environmental Sciences... geezz... how is that for a title?

Anyway, he found that those who participated in the Weight Watchers program had no affect on their body fat percentage. In fact, In a lot of them it went up. The amount of lean body mass these participants had also when down.

The groups that did some fitness program at a gym had very little drop in body weight but did find a decrease in abdominal fat. They also witnessed an increase in lean body mass.

Finally, the weight watchers group had a much higher percentage of participants finish the program because they were part of a support group. The support group provided them the motivation to keep going when things got difficult.

The gym group found that a lot more would give up... in fact Mr. Ball states that on average 50% of people who start at the gym will give up 6 months later. This due to a lack of support and motivation.

All in all...

No wonder the best results would come in doing both the fitness program and the Weight Watcher program in this case. And why is this so?

Weight Watchers is a nutritional program and it proves that if you watch what you eat then you will lose weight. But not all weight is good weight to lose.

Losing weight through nutrition and building muscle through an effective fitness program will...

• raise your metabolism
• increase you lean body mass
• decrease you body fat
• improve you mood
• improve you body
• and so much more!

There is only one place to go from here. You need both a nutritional program and a solid fitness program. Sure Weight Watchers can work, but you need something. In regards to fitness you need to lift weights... it's just as simple as that.

The support group for motivation is HUGE. Don't sit there hanging by a thread... get involved in a support group now!

Dan Boyle is a National Academy of Sports Medicine certified personal trainer. He has been involved in the fitness industry for over 7 years and has set up the ultimate support group. To learn more and get involved in a results driven support group, visit http://www.fitness-analyzer.com

4 Tips For Fast Weight Loss

Fast weight loss diets can be done without any harmful side effects if you only use this kind of diet for only a few weeks. Anything longer than this will result in some side effects that you do not want, such as,

Fatigue and irritability, constipation, lower metabolism and nutritional deficiencies. What I will tell you in this article is some tips to guide you in the right direction to lose weight.

Losing weight can be summed up in 4 things that you can do for the rest of your life and it will keep the extra weight off.

Here are the 4 facts.

1. Goals, You will need to set some realistic goals so you will have a target to shoot at. When you decide on the amount of weight you want to lose, go a little farther with it and break the amount on down into how much you want to lose each month, down to how much weight you want to lose each week. Then break it down into how much you will lose per day.

When you get your goal broken down this far you can tell if you have a realistic goal or not. Now is the time to decide what you can be able to do, then as the weeks start going by you can always change your goal up a bit.

2. Diet, this will be the next step to take in your weight loss plan. Figure out the foods you like the most and research them to find out the calories and fat contents in them. By doing the research you will be able to come up with a diet you can live with and not starve yourself. Just be health conscious of what you decide on.

Include many foods that have fiber, because fiber will help greatly in the digestion of your food. Select lots of fruit to snack on between meals and do not forget to add more water to your diet plan. Plenty of water in your body will make things run a whole lot smoother

3. Exercise, without this you will not lose weight, because you have to burn up more calories than you take in. Think about things you like to do outside, like walking, raking leaves. Instead of riding the lawnmower get out the old push mower, you will certainly burn up some calories using that kind of mower. Some people have a more enjoyable time exercising if they go to a gym.

By joining a gym you can include weight training which is a big metabolism booster. But a word of caution here, you really need to check with your doctor before taking on weight training or other exercises. He can help you out on the area of exercise you need the most and make sure your body can take the extra work.

One other thing about weight lifting, if at all possible do it the first part of the day. The reason is weight training gets your metabolism revving and it will be in high gear all day. If you wait until late evening then you stand a good chance of having a restless night of sleep. Your body will be all charged up and your mind will want to go to sleep.

4. Consistency, for all of this to work in your weight loss plan you will have to stay consistent with it. The more you stay with it the more benefits you will receive, like getting slimmer, fitting into that new pair of jeans or that new dress that is a size or two smaller.

Normally, when you start a program like weight loss it take 3 months before you start seeing or noticing any results. Just remember the more consistent you are the better the benefits.

For fast weight loss if you plan out your program and take the time to follow through with it you can lose the weight. Make sure to have a balance meal and fruits to snack on during the day.

Terry Wade is a weight loss/fitness researcher and writer. Get a free copy of Fat to Fitness ebook by clicking here.

Changes….

Gastric bypass surgery has really changed my life in more ways than I think that people can comprehend. There are days that I have a hard time comprehending the changes that my body is going through. It is absolutely mind blowing to see the way that I have changed and the way that it has affected my life. I have lost one hundred and twenty six pounds and I feel like a new women. I think that the greatest feeling is to see the reactions of friends that I haven’t see in a long time; some of them haven’t recognized me and it feels great.

I know that months ago that I said that I couldn’t wait too see what I was going to look like when I lost weight; well for those of you who know my family I look my momma! It makes me happy because I think that she is a beautiful women; I was told by Vikki from my surgeon’s office that a lot of the time when you loose weight you age slightly. Well thank goodness I have not had that problem! The fact that my hair is falling out is a little disconcerting but I know that it will grow back in. It is an affect from surgery that I can deal with!

Last week I went in for my Physical because it has been a while and I am supposed to go on birth control it isn’t really safe for me to have a baby right at the moment. Well it’s not really unsafe but I don’t get enough nutrition for my self right now; and I would really like to loose as much weight at possible before I go having a baby. In fact Dr. Belnap suggests that you have the children you want before you have weight loss surgery, but there is no way that I could imagine having a baby at four hundred and seventeen pounds.

Well I was generally healthy before surgery cholesterol, sugar and everything was perfect. The doctor’s office called me today and everything is even better than it was before. The only thing that wasn’t good was my “good cholesterol” is a little low, but because my bad cholesterol is also low they aren’t worried about it, it will be okay! All my vitamin levels are good so I am doing great; and I feel BLOODY wonderful!

I want to thank all of you for the love and support that you all show me; it has really helped a lot! I love you all God Bless!

Ciao

I can’t believe it….

It has been a crazy week; my niece and nephews got here on Sunday along with my friend Jackie her husband Joe and there three girls Kayla, Madyson and Emma. We have had a busy fun filled week!

Went had a low key day on Monday, we went grocery shopping and to the distribution center, after that we went to my grandmothers house for her birthday. We just hung out and talked and spent a nice talking and catching up and getting to know each other. Tuesday we went to the Hogel Zoo and walked around, we walked around and had a blast. After that we went and ate lunch and then we went to Temple Square, it was really nice. We had a wonderful day!

I was amazed when we went to the zoo; I was afraid that I was not going to be able to handle walking around. I amazed my self with what I was able to do. I felt so good and it was wonderful being able to spend the day with my favorite kids in the world.

I will update you all more on my fun weeks later and add some pictures as well. Thank You for the love and support, it means a lot to me.

Ciao

The Down Hill Slide….

It is really hard to think that I am half way to my goal; I originally thought that I was going to get down to one hundred and seventy pounds. But I’ve been thinking about it and I think that I am going to aim for between two hundred or one hundred and ninety pounds.

I’m not really short; I’m 5’8 and I don’t really have small bones. I’ve been told by several people that your weight isn’t about the number, its about how you look and feel. I am going to aim high and then go from there. I am four months out from surgery and I am down one hundred and twenty five pounds and it is the most wonderful feeling in the world. I never thought in the world that I would be at this weight and feel this good.

I am grateful for science and the amazing things that they are achieving with medicine. I am so grateful to Doctor Belnap for the second chance at life that he has given me. Someday I will be able to thank him enough for what he has done for me. I wish that every one that had a weight could have this surgery. But I know that this isn’t the answer for everyone; and it wasn’t the answer for me for a long time but when I finally decided that it was, it was the easiest thing in the world to prepare for. I am glad that I did it!