There seems to be two schools of thought within the Facebook Weight Loss Surgery Community. 

The first think that celebrating success, sharing meals, sharing fitness, and “selfies” is a statement of lack of self-esteem.

The second believes that sharing all of this on Facebook is just that- a celebration of how far we have come, where we began, and part of the process of learning to love who we are in the moment.  Each of us works very hard for every Non Scale Victory be it being able to tie our shoelaces, fitting on an amusement park ride or shopping in the “regular” section of the clothing store.  Why not share it and celebrate it and motivate yourself to continue on your journey, a journey that is hard each and every day as we make the choices for our health?  Why not share it with the hope that if it helps and inspires one person in addition to yourself you have paid it forward?

I love hearing folks tell me that, as they were trying to blow off their fitness time on any one day, they heard my voice in their head encouraging them to go, and they did.  I helped someone.  If I can get fitness in regularly on a schedule with the craziness that has been my life since 2004, so can anyone else if they choose to.  After all I AM 67 years young and in the gym 5 days a week and running a business (or two) and helping my single daughter with my grandkids and on The Board of Directors of the Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America, and, and, and…..  If I can lose 270 pounds and maintain the loss, so can anyone else, if they choose to.  What I am doing is showing folks how I get done.  Am I a saint of some sort because of it- NO WAY! 

Facebook is also one of my personal accountability tools and I am honest when I’m having a bad day, when I eat crappy food, when I make choices that are not in the best interest of my health.  I am human, I am a work in progress.  I have had regain when my tool failed me, and regain when I failed my tool.  I have blogged about both.

I feel a personal connection, and yes, even a responsibility to the folks who follow my journey on Facebook for whatever reason.  I want to help everyone see that they too are possible.  I have learned much these past 12 years since I have had weight loss surgery, and I believe I have much more to learn, and even more to share.

So rest assured, despite those who don’t like seeing my selfies daily (they can just unfollow me) I will continue to post my fitness, my food, my victories, my setbacks - My personal journey to a healthier, happier life. 

I do hope that YOU begin sharing some of your personal victories with me.  I LOVE a good party, so let’s celebrate life together!  YOU have earned those bragging rights, cause this sure ain’t easy folks!!