2008-03-17T11:50:02Z urn:uuid:60a76c80-d399-11d9-b93C-0003939e0af6 CoalEngine CoalSpeak urn:uuid:1225c695-cfb8-4ebb-aaaa-80da344efa6a 2008-03-17T11:50:02Z

What luck! By: Colleen Cook, BSCI Printer Friendly During my graduating year in High School (1977) I got the biggest kick out of the TV commercial featuring the winners of the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes. The two mild mannered, plainly dressed, farm folk declared (with more drawl and twang than Gomer Pile) “What luck! We Mays are in luck. We have just won a million dollars! Our lives will never be the same!” Yep, they are lucky, I thought. I am a May too, so how come I’m not so lucky? Though many spend a considerable amount of time, effort, and energy entering sweepstakes – hoping to get ‘lucky,’ I have adopted a different philosophy. “The harder you work the luckier you get!” Time and time again that has proven to be the case. Following my weight-loss surgery in 1995, I recall mustering up the nerve to call a few of my friends to tell them what I had done. The first call I made was to a long time nurse friend. I will forever remember her immediate reply after I told her where I was and that I had just had a gastric bypass. “You are so lucky!” she exclaimed. “Lucky?” I replied. “What do you mean lucky?” I have spent my entire life fighting my weight and finally, finally, I had the courage to make this gigantic commitment. It took great thought, planning, preparation, prayer, not to mention a support of my family, and a 2nd mortgage to do this. Luck had nothing to do with it!” The first year was a dream come true. The weight seemed to fall off. I lost 125 pounds. No complications, no bumps, and very little effort on my part. Wow was I lucky! I would find myself eating something I shouldn’t. Or skipping a few days of exercise only to weigh in to find that I lost another pound! “Dodged a bullet this week; Man I am so lucky!” I thought. And then…. I found that the next month, was not so lucky. I learned by experience that I was not invincible, and that maintaining my weight loss requires much more than luck. It requires dedication, commitment, thought, focus, and constant effort. Indeed I found, that in weight issues too, the harder I work, the luckier I am. It has been nearly 13 years now and my weight continues to fluctuate up and down 10-15 pounds or so. Interesting, when I work hard at it, I lose - when I don’t, I gain. Go figure. It seems that this weight management thing will always require effort. Throughout your journey, you too, will have ups and downs, good days and bad days. We have a remarkable tool, but we will always reap what we sow. As you work to reach and maintain your weight-loss goals, remember to stay committed to your Success Habits, stay in tune with your body, work hard; and oh, good luck! Improve your luck! Visit us online at www.bariatricsupportcenter.com Printer Friendly

urn:uuid:1225c695-cfb8-4ebb-aaaa-80da344efa6a 2008-02-14T10:00:20Z

I Love You! Have a Cookie! By: Colleen Cook, BSCI Printer Friendly As my husband lay in a hospital bed, recovering from a total hip replacement, I searched diligently for a way to show my love and support. Then, I found the perfect answer, “licorice and Oreo cookies!” After 50 years in the workforce, my mother is retiring. Though she is not happy about it, I want to find a way to celebrate her many years of hard work. Oh, I know! I will bake her a pie. A cherry pie! That is her favorite. Hard to believe, but our oldest son, Craig is turning 27. He is a wonderful young man with a great wife and an adorable son, Skyler. That surely is cause for a special family dinner. Prime rib, all the trimmings and of course, I will bake a cake. I suspect that many of you are just like me. Even after 13 years as a weight loss surgery patient, when I feel the need to show my love, support or appreciation for someone I use food. It seems we all do. And that, I am afraid, has been the case since the beginning of time- you know, killing the fatted calf and all that. We love, we celebrate and we motivate with food. I have been wondering if it would be a futile endeavor, or would it actually be possible to change this behavior ? Now, I know that I cannot be responsible for everyone else, but I can be responsible for the choices I make. One day, one event and one holiday at a time. So, now that the good candy from the gingerbread house is about gone… along comes another sweet holiday, Valentines Day. You know, expensive dinners, heart shaped cookies, cakes and candy. In years past, Valentines Day has been the perfect excuse to bake giant heart-shaped sugar cookies with white icing and red sprinkles. But, this year I am going to do things differently. I know, it will be tough, now that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups come in a heart shape, but I am committed to showing my love for my family and friends without using food! I have decided to spend my cookie baking time, writing heartfelt letters and notes of appreciation to those I love. My hope is that my words will fill their hearts, and that they will feel loved and appreciated, warmed and emotionally fed, and that they will not miss the cookies. Won’t you join me this Valentines Day, by doing what you can to fill someone’s heart – rather than their stomachs? I love you – here’s a note! Please visit us online at www.bariatricsupportcenter.com Printer Friendly

urn:uuid:1225c695-cfb8-4ebb-aaaa-80da344efa6a 2007-12-04T11:23:34Z

Dreaming in Detail By: Colleen Cook, BSCI Printer Friendly For my birthday a few months ago, my husband of 29 years bought me personalized license plates: ASPR HR. I am sure that it confuses some, but not those who know me well. The letters stand for “Aspire Higher” and I guess you could say that is my mantra. I am a pie in the sky, nothing is impossible, reach for the stars, dream big dreams kind of gal. Many years ago I adopted the belief that “It costs no more to dream a big dream than it does to dream a little dream” so I began to dream BIG and in great detail. My husband, bless his genuine heart, is really quite the opposite. He is grounded, logical and his focus is usually on what he can do TODAY to make life better for us and our family. He doesn’t spend time dreaming of places to go or things to do down the road. So imagine my surprise when he began to ask me why the plans for our future cabin did not include a large walk in pantry! “What?” I exclaimed, “I can’t believe it! You are doing it! You are dreaming in detail!” You see for years, I have had a very clear vision of my dream home. I found the blue prints for our beautiful mountain cabin about 6 years ago and I think about it often; in detail. And boy, am I excited about it now. Just imagine what might happen as a result of BOTH of us DREAMING IN DETAIL! Stay tuned…. Colleen Bariatric Support Centers International www.bariatricsupportcenter.com Printer Friendly

urn:uuid:1225c695-cfb8-4ebb-aaaa-80da344efa6a 2007-11-28T18:30:00Z

Laughter Leads to Weight-loss? By: Colleen Cook, BSCI Category: Colleen Cook Printer Friendly We have all heard the old saying that “laughter is the best medicine” but what a cool thought to think that if we laughed more often, not only would we feel better but lose weight, too. This morning I learned about a group called the Association for Applied Therapeutic Humor whose mission is dedicated to: “Advancing the understanding and application of humor and laughter for their positive benefits.” A daily laughter workout of 15 minutes burns 40 calories and if you do the math – that’s 4 pounds in one year! How cool is that? During this crazy, busy holiday season, won’t you join me in making an effort each day to laugh more? Lets literally “lighten up!” Give it a try. After all, what have you got to lose? Four pounds, that’s all! Colleen Cook, President, Speaker, Author Bariatric Support Centers International www.bariatricsupportcenter.com Printer Friendly