OAC Action Alert

If you read this blog I'm guessing you or someone you love is affected by obesity. The Obesity Action Coalition is asking for our help in championing for them, for us. I just joined for $20 for a year so why don't you join?

Please urge your legislators to sign the Towns letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Obesity Action Coalition has drafted a sample letter and a way to do this with just a few clicks.

United States Representative Ed Towns (D-NY) has asked his colleagues in the House of Representatives to join him in sending a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urging her to "better standardize access to obesity treatment services through HHS establishing a comprehensive definition of "preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management" services within the essential health benefits package under the new health care reform law to include the full continuum of medically necessary interventions, including behavioral, nutritional, pharmaceutical, psychosocial and surgical, to treat those affected by obesity."


So much is said in the news about prevention of obesity which is awesome and needed but rarely is treatment of obesity mentioned even though 34% of Americans are currently obese and 1 out of every 8 deaths in America is caused by an illness directly related to obesity. This could help change those numbers and ensure live saving treatments for those we love. Please use this link to send a letter in support.

P.S. Are you a member of the Obesity Action Coalition yet? Here's how you can join. The OAC is a national non profit organization dedicated to giving a voice to those affected by obesity through education, support & advocacy.

Trying to get into a routine

I am learning so much on my journey. The last few days have been interesting as I've woke up the last 2 days weak and dizzy and feeling like I am going to pass out. I figured I wasn't getting in enough liquid or protein so I increased that and I felt a little bit better today. I see my surgeon on Wednesday but I did decide to go ahead and call their office and talked with my surgeons nurse. She said I should now increase my liquids to get in as much as I can at least 60 ounces and I don't need to have a minimum per hour (as long as I don't get naseous). I also need to make sure one of my meals is a protein shake. So now I really have to be diligent and make sure I am continuosly drinking (still sipping because I can't take in a lot of water at a time). I am so happy I decided to take a 3rd week off work because honestly this routine is much harder than I thought. I still don't have it down. I am trying to prepare to go back to work next week and will hopefully find something to make it easier on myself so I don't get caught up in working and forget to take my sips.
This truly is like starting over but the difference is I have preprogrammed actions already, if only I had a delete button. I've had some interesting thoughts which I've read and are completely normal. Like "what did I do to myself". I don't regret the surgery at all but just sort of like wow this is a permanent change and it is a huge change. It is hard and I didn't think it was going to be easy by any means but it is much harder than I suspected. So I guess things aren't as I thought. I thought I'd have more pain and take longer to recover physically and that didn't turn out to be true. I didn't think the drinking would be easy but I thought I had a good system but that turned out to be false. So what do I know? I do know I need to listen to my body. I do know I need to increase water and protein so I don't get dehyrated. That is all I know at this point.

Free Samples of QUEST Low Carb Protein Bars

Get 2 Free Samples of QUEST Low Carb Protein Bars

Go to QUEST's Facebook Page
Click the FREE SAMPLE link.
You must LIKE the page and fill out the form (enter my name under "referred by") and they will mail you 2 free samples of the original flavors (FYI: no sugar or sugar alcohols)

They are drier bars/no coating so they hold up well tossed around in purses and carry-on bags when traveling.

Please note I have not tried these myself so there are no guarantees but it is free so worth a try (no shipping charges). If they run out of samples today, try again tomorrow. I heard that they are limiting how many are given out each day.

Shanda