How many Jack Russells would you think are too mnay?

One of the Jack Russell puppies in the picture is Perdy. I think it is the one on the far right----the runt of the litter! You wouldn't think so now, if you could see her, experience her craziness and zest for life. She may have begun life as the 'one always left out,' but she has gained a life that adds so much to mine. When I look at the picture, I often wonder what her brothers and sisters are doing now and where they live. I htnk about howthier lives might be. I just hope that they have owners who love them, spoil them, take them everywhere. If not---I wish that I could have them all. That woud really be a crazy over-the-top scenario. My poor little house! www.authorneilcoleman.com

Bariatric surgery---old habits await those not prepared!

It has been about 19 months since I had my bariatric surgery and there is little I have to complain about re the results. From a hefty 120 kilos (Remember I am only 169cm so that equated to a BMI of about 45 plus!) I was able to get down to about 77 kilos---I don’t count the bout of tummy upset that took me briefly to 75kilos!---- and I also relieved myself of many health issues, including type two diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnoea and high blood pressure. Life is looking good and it seemed that my weight loss was permanent. I helped to set up a Bariatric Support group on FB and it soon had a good number of supportive members. I managed to garner a little publicity via MiNDFOOD magazine re the efficacy of the operation, but my real aim was to sell my book, ROSKILL. I make no excuses for that of course because when one is self-published, any publicity is good publicity! Of late I have been hearing about some people who have had the operation or one of the several available, that they had put on a high proportion of the weight they lost, some within a year. At first I put this down to them ‘not sticking to the programme.’ I thought---they are just sneaking calories in---like too many liquid ‘sweeties’ or easily taken in calories. Believe me that is entirely possible. For most of us, we hit the wall pretty quickly re the amount of food we can eat in any one sitting, but if one does that with the ‘wrong food’ on a regular basis---well something has to give----or gain in this case. The above scenario happens slowly---it can creep up on you. Before you know it, you are returning to the ‘old habits.' You make little excuses, just like you used to. So---in a sense, this is where the head stuff comes in; those old behaviour patterns that helped to get you into that massive state in the first place. If you do not exercise this pattern is even more obvious. One must walk---every day and slowly increase the intensity. One must be vigilant about those creeping kilos. Watch and take action. All that effort can be lost as the kilos apparently start to reappear! It is support groups like this one that can help. It is important to be honest with yourself and fess up when you see a pattern emerging. I am not suggesting a return to the yo-yo diets of old---the ones that probably propelled you to gain your ‘massiveness’ in the first place, but I am saying—take stock of what you are eating and stay away from too many carbs, especially those in the form of processed sweet things and bread. Join a walking group or get a dog; one that demands long walks or you risk your house being eaten and trashed! Jack Rusells fit the bill nicely! Those of us who have had the operation, know that we have to take supplements. I find that if I go more than a day or two without my intake, I hit the wall pretty quickly. I get tired and lack energy. The couch looks more inviting than the walk, but that is easily remedied by returning to my strict pill popping. I was using Centrum and it worked well. I have since swapped to some Usana products and the cost is similar, especially if you become a ‘preferred customer.' That means getting regular orders and combined with their other products re skin and hair care, it is well worth the extra money. I did think of becoming a ‘distributor,’ (that is a pending decision!) but knowing someone is enough for me. I have included the link for that in this posting. OK---from here, I need to do the following. Look carefully at what I am eating again but not dieting. Taking a few simple steps re my creeping desire to eat ice-cream and baked goodies (or not so goodies) and about five times a week, using a Usana meal replacement. I know that when I take these I am not hungry for quite a few hours. I can combine that with my regular ‘grazing’ in my veggie patch. I have this new fun thing, whereby, while dinner is simmering, I water the greens in the garden and then proceed to have my ‘salad on the hoof!’ Yes, I pick raw greens and chew away on them, hoping that I have not included any critters’ in my intake!Pullng a few weeds out also adds to the exercise regime. Will this be enough to prevent the ‘repackaging’ of my former self? I hope so and it is the Bariatric Support group that may make the difference. I am sure we all fear going back to that place we inhabited before. Let us keep encouraging one another and tell our stories so that others can support as we will help them. This journey is a never-ending story. The link I talked about https://www.facebook.com/pages/USANA-Home/361216007385543 The link to my book www.authorneilcoleman.com and a direct link re downloading the eBook version http://www.amazon.com/dp/047325655X