Rambling on a cool, breezy day; Almost Gastric Bypass

Sometimes I love this climate. It's a little overcast (for here; for back east, it's sunny), but there have been gentle to moderate winds all day, and it's cool--maybe 75 or so. Beautiful. I've been sitting at this computer all day due to my GI upset. I didn't even bake bread, and was so looking forward to it all week. Maybe I can do it on a weekday if I plan it just right.

Remember how upset I was last week that I'd gained from 95.1 to 95.9? This week, I was 94.5. What a relief! Now, I'm not stupid. I know it's likely to be water loss with all of the intestinal stuff. Still, when those numbers come up on the scale, they make me happy anyway.

Can someone write in my comments why, during the Challenges, it's been so important to drink all that water? That's just impossible for me. I keep forgetting, for one thing. And even when I'm thirsty, I can't drink all that much during the workweek because I'm not allowed to go to the restroom whenever I want to. Still, I like to try on the weekends. What does it do for the body? I read somewhere that it reduces migraines. Is that so?

Sorry to be so ignorant, but Allen's blog doesn't have a search function. Maybe I'll go all the way back to the beginning and read it. I did go pretty far back, but not all the way. Now that I sort of "know" him better, I'd like to read everything he wrote.

I sincerely hope I've spelled Allen's name right. I've seen it as Allan, too, so I'm not sure. If it's misspelled, let me know and I'll correct it.

He was on a tear today, wasn't he? Do you blame him? Karen, what you wrote about not all people were ready reminded me so much of myself and smoking. What a waste of years and money invested in the most dangerous thing you can do to yourself. I wish I'd snorted coke instead of inhaling nicotine, frankly. (Coke is God's way of telling you that you make too much money.) And I'll never outlive some of the negative health effects I earned from it. But I just wasn't ready to quit until I did.

Back to Allen, and I've said these things before, so skip ahead. He's working his diet hard in such a difficult situation because of his job. I'd pick up several entrees and go nuts with them if I worked there. Do you see the beauty of some of those dishes? Anyway, he's doing it, he says, because he broke that chair, had an epiphany, and decided he didn't want to die, or worse still--live as an invalid. Or at least I think he was afraid of the latter. If you've ever seen a heart patient in a wheel chair, you'll know what I mean.

He's smart, persuasive, charming, and had contacts. He researched bariatric surgery. He saw the diet he had to follow pre-op and post-op. He had another epiphany: if I have to eat like this with the surgery, why can't I just eat this way and lose the weight without it? Hence a great idea was born for him, keeping in mind it wouldn't work for everyone. He started a blog. Many came. Many learned. Many joined in the fight. He was able to make a deal to get a marvelous, nutritious, weight loss plan that would normally cost people thousands of dollars, for free. The plan was vetted by bariatric specialists in medicine and nutrition. All people had to do was follow the plan, and they would lose xxx amount of weight in a tad over a year. (Is it 15 months? I forget.) He's lost over 180 lbs. since last June, right? Not even a year. The Plan requires: 1. healthy eating, 2. lots of fluids, and 3. mild to moderate exercise. That's it. Yup, the good, old-fashioned, low-cal diet. Don't cut out all carbs. Don't cut out all meats. Don't cut out all fats. Just less of all of it. No strenuous exercise, just some walking. No expensive purchases. Water is free from the tap. And he's lost over 180 lbs. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

More deals. In addition to the free medical advice, he's managed to get wonderful prizes for those who've achieved their goal weights as a percentage based on their original weight, etc. I can understand it but can't explain it. There are two top prizes. One will definitely be awarded. The other is identical, but is a personal challenge to one person in the plan. If she doesn't earn it, no one gets it. The prize is worth thousands of dollars, too. All together, the rest of the prizes tally well over a grand or two and it might be more, because I don't remember them all--there are just too many. So if health doesn't motivate you, and vanity doesn't motivate you--hell's bells: what about sheer greed? I thought money motivated everyone.

Okay. There are some people who, for medical reasons, had to drop out. That's very different and everyone knows that, although not everyone could have predicted it. But those who dropped out because they'd rather eat the way they always have, lost an opportunity they will never have again. I'm not giving up hope for them, though, because the time will come when some of them decide they can't go on living the way they're living now. They'll have their own epiphanies, and take off the weight, changing their lives. Others will not be as fortunate.

I feel bad for him. Though he's said a hundred times that he blogs for himself--and I believe that's true--I believe he also wants to help as many people as he can to get to their goals, succeed at something they've only dreamed of all their lives, and give them the opportunity to finally find real hope and ultimately, success. He has a huge heart, great humanity, and a remarkable generosity.

Only about half remain in the Challenge. I guarantee you he's disappointed. I'd be angry, at least for a little while. Different personalities, I guess.

Maybe you shouldn't give people things. It's like lending a friend money. That's the last time you'll see them because they don't want to pay it back. If they do want to pay it back, yet can't afford it, they disappear out of embarrassment. Either way, they're gone. Same with the Challenge people. They were given a huge amount, all for free. They can't pay it back with weight loss, so they've flown the coop. But 36 remain. Those 36 are a badge of honor, and are honorable themselves.

I've wandered far afield here, but I had to get some of this off my chest. I should have only said: Those who left the Challenge for real reasons. . . I'm sorry you're sick, and hope you get better (if possible) as soon as you can. Those who left because they couldn hack it. . . you lost a once in a lifetime opportunity. Those who've remained in the Challenge. . . no matter how much nor how little you've lost, you're honorable, hard-working people. You made a commitment and you're sticking to it. Fabulous!

And Allen? He's a great, great, guy.