8-7-11 Health Up-Date!

Wow.... here I am again! I haven't checked in for awhile. I've done SO good, continued to keep my weight stable, have maintained nicely!

I have had a bit of a health set-back though. On July 25, 2011.... I started having severe sharp pains in my upper stomach! The pains were in one specific spot, pretty high, then I started vomiting. So I really knew that there was a problem, a serious problem! So I went into Emergency. They were extremely thorough which is so good! I had a CT Scan. They found I had some scar tissue that was creating a "twist" or a "kink" in the lower intestine! I also had an ultra sound, to check my liver, kidney and galbladder. Those all looked really good. They admitted me, thinking the twist may take care of itself. By noon on Tuesday though.... the problem had NOT resolved itself so they did surgery! I do feel I was very lucky though, it was caught so early! It could have become a total blockage of sorts, but was not. I had fabulous care while there! Ha... it was very strange being the patient again, and not being there as a helper to others!

I ended up being in the hospital from that Monday night, until Thursday afternoon. My family has been excellent in helping me here around the house... shopping for me, running errands, etc! Neal took off Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to take care of the kids while I was in!

Now... I just need to take time to recuperate. I am not to lift, push, or pull anything now. So my lawn mowing, vacuuming, etc are on hold now for a few weeks!

I am feeling pretty good now... just having a little trouble with headaches since the surgery. Dr thinks it may be due to the anesthesia, and as it wears out of my system... it will get better! The headaches are starting to dissipate so that is good! I was back in for a check up on August 3, and I had my stitches out, and all seems to be going along well. I go back again this next Wednesday, August 10. I am very thrilled that I have gotten fantastic care!

Well.... I hope all of you are doing ok! I am doing fine.... I really do consider myself lucky! It's just a matter of a few weeks and I'll be up and running again! This is just a speed bump in my road! It flattened me a bit here, but I am not discouraged at all! I've felt great, and I will again VERY soon!

Thank you everyone for your continued care and concern, and your love and support!!!
Love to all... Eydie :-)

**Foods & Drinks**

Healthy Foods & Drinks For Everyone!!

I am asked so often.... Eydie, what do you eat, what do you drink?? So, I have put together a list! These are items that are really for everyone, not just people who are trying to lose weight, or that have had the surgery! These are things that I serve and have in my own home!

PROTEINS: Low fat cheese sticks, cottage cheese, turkey, chicken, ham, venison, roast beef, eggs, yogurts (Greek Yogurt has more protein), Laughing Cow Cheese (many different flavors), etc.

FRUITS: bananas, apples, pears, oranges, kiwi, grapes, grapefruits, star fruits, mango, peaches, pineapples, etc.

Fresh fruits are the best, but also can use frozen or canned. If you use canned fruits, make sure they are packed in their own juices... NO ADDED SUGARS!

VEGETABLES: carrot sticks, celery sticks, tomatoes, romaine lettuce (any of your darker green lettuces - no iceberg lettuce as there is no nutritional value in it), spinach leaves, green-red-orange peppers, cucumbers, radishes, etc.

DRINKS: Powerade Zero, G2, Crystal Lite, FUZE... and most importantly... water! When buying the drinks... always check the labels! So many of these look alike, and it is so easy to buy the wrong thing! The Powerade Zero, and G2 look just like the regular Gatorades, but we can have only the ZERO or the G2!!! These have so much less sugar, or no sugar! When buying the FUZE... again, watch labels. There are a few varieties that have 5 or 10 calories... these are great, but there are also a couple of them that are extremely high in sugar and calories, so be careful!

IDEAS FOR HEALTHIER SNACKS:
Apple wedges with peanut butter
Apple wedges with soft 'Laughing Cow Cheese'
Celery sticks with peanut butter
Carrot sticks with 'Laughing Cow Cheese'
Cottage cheese with pineapple tidbits
Cheese stick wrapped with a slice of deli turkey or ham
Yogurt with fresh fruit
Veggie sticks with dip made from Greek yogurt & Onion Soup Mix
Grape tomatoes dipped in 'Laughing Cow Cheese'

FOODS TO AVOID!!!!

BREADS & PASTAS! They are made from the unhealthy carbs that trigger cravings! Proteins keep you feeling full for a longer period of time. The more carbs you eat, then hungrier you get. You still get your healthy carbs through your fruits and vegetables.

ALSO AVOID POP, CHIPS, AND CANDY.... AT ALL COSTS!!! These are foods that bring on fat the quickest, and... there is NO nutritional value in them at all! Once you eat them, it is so quickly, that you will be craving more... and then more, and then the cycle just keeps going! You never get "full" with these foods!

By eating the healthier snacks, you will feel more satisfied for a longer span, and ... once you rid your body of the "JUNK FOODS" you will notice a difference within. You will start to feel "CLEANER". Yes, it will be tough at first, but... use the "TOUGH LOVE" on yourself... You are SO worth it!!

**REMEMBER: NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS HEALTHY FEELS!!!!!<strong>

June 14, 2011

Greetings again my Dear Friends and Family!
I know it has been awhile since I have up-dated here! I am still getting along wonderfully! I am feeling SO good, SO healthy! I am still on my program 100% and it really isn't even a challenge... it has just become such a way of life for me! I still eat very basic foods. My proteins, fruits and veggies!
I've had another birthday now! Ha... I say, yes, another birthday, but not any older! I am now 47 yrs old, but I feel fabulous! I have lost the 170 lbs!!!! I feel better... I feel younger than I have in years!!!! I am riding a bike again (2-wheeler)! I am mowing the lawn again (with a push mower). Isn't that incredible???? So, it is amazing how well I feel!!! But... that is why I also say I am NOT going back!
I am still checking my blood sugars every once in awhile.... and they are still running between 80-90!
I am still helping out at the clinic/hospital when I can with their nutrition classes, the support groups, informal counceling, and Orientation Day, etc. I am still working with my schooling too (Dietary Manager/Medical Nutrition). That is going very slowly, just so hard to find time to study, and work with my projects! But... still plugging along with it!
I hope each of you are enjoying the summer time! We've only had a couple of days that truly felt like "SUMMER" but its still nice to have the break! We are in the heart of baseball season here with the kids! They are having a great season!
Well... all for tonight, and once again... I thank you Dearly for ALL of your grand support! Your emails, your calls.... they ALL mean so much to me!!! Your are the best!
Love to all... Eydie :-)

4-15-11 ~ 170 lbs lost now!!!

Hello again! I am just stopping by here once again to up-date everyone! Things are going great here, the weather has gotten a bit nicer. Maybe I should say the sun has been a little brighter, the snow is mostly gone, yes, it is still quite nippy out though as we've had pretty strong wind the last couple of days. It looks like spring is here, and everyone's mood is lighter, but we are still wearing our sweatshirts, etc! I've gotten my bike out, rode it the other evening. Yes... I think spring is coming! I am still walking in the halls at the school, as the kids have their activities. I walked 4 miles now! So hard to believe when I look back to a year ago. I started with walking just part of 1 loop. Now I can do 12 loops for a 4 mile walk!!! Amazing! Again... how did I start exercising? By laying on the bed and doing leg lifts. Just 5 with each leg. Then I added lifting both legs together! So... when it seems so out of reach, when you can't possibly exercise, just do what you can. Lay on the bed. There was NO way I could have ever laid on the floor to do any kind of exercises! But while laying there... just raising a leg, it was a start! Now... look what I am able to do! Then I added some arm movements. Again.. very, very simple things, but it got my body in the right mode!
Well... I am 16 months out of surgery (December 7, 2009)... 170 lbs lost now! Last week we helped friends move out of a 4 level home. At first I thought it was so rough, but when I got back home and realized that I'd lost 2 more lbs... I was quite excited! Now I'm looking for more friends who want to move! Haaaa! So now I weigh 153 lbs! I've been at my Drs goal weight (160 lbs) since September 8, 2010, so that means I've been at goal for 7 months now!
Thank you again everyone.... hope you are enjoying these beautiful days! Get outside, breathe in some of this fresh crisp air! Love ya all.. Eydie

4-3-11 Greetings!

Special greetings from Northern Minnesota! We have had some beautiful days... some almost seem like Spring!! We've had a few warmer days, even some rain now. The snow is quickly disappearing which is great! Everyone is so happy about that!
All is going very well with my health, I am pleased to report! I am going on 16 months out of surgery now!(December 7, 2009) Can you believe that? It just doesn't seem possible that it's been that long! It's sure been an incredible journey for me! I hit my goal on September 8, 2010... so that is 7 months of holding my goal weight!
I am still involved with the nutrition classes at the clinic, and also work with pre & post op patients. I really enjoy my time with each one! I am also still working on my studies for Dietary Manager-Medical Nutrition. That is going quite slowly, but I do feel like I am learning alot along the way, and it does help by being at the clinic/hospital... working hands on!
I feel that by being SO involved, by keeping this all front and center in my life is helping to keep me honest and keep me motivated to stay with the program as well. I just DO NOT want to go back to my old life! As I work with the different patients, the ones that are so successful are so motivating for me, and the ones that are not successful... I do learn from them as well... seeing where their bad choices have taken them... I just do not want to go there!
Well my dear followers, my dear supporters, all for now, but as always... I appreciate all of your encouragement along the way! It really does help me, knowing I have such fabulous family and friends!! Thank you all so much!
More later... Eydie

Clinic/Hospital Newsletter January 2011

If the print is too small to read here... this is what is written:

Eydie Garcelon of Park Rapids adopted a new credo following her gastric bypass surgery at the Center for Weight Management.

"Nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels," she says. "And I feel fabulous!"

At a maximum weight of 323 pounds, she took two kinds of insulin 4 times daily for her type 2 diabetes and four other medications to attempt to control her co-morbidities. Her diabetes couldn't be controlled.

She experienced constant knee pain and "my triglycerides were alive and well," she says, meaning she also suffered from high cholesterol.

Her gastric bypass and support from the Center's multi-disciplinary team gave Garcelon the tools she needed to become healthy again. She has lost 168 pounds since her surgery and is off all medications. Her last blood sugar reading was 87.

Today she celebrates life with 3-mile walks, attends support group meetings, and inspires others as a bariatric volunteer at the Center. She has a healthy relationship with food, and is currently persuing a new career in the field of nutrition.

Park Rapids Enterprise Newspaper 1-29-11

If the print is too small to read... I will write it out here:

Eydie Garcelon has lost more than 100 pounds in a year and is feeling great.

She is also making an effort to have a healthy family that's excited about eating well and exercising for fun.

Eydie had gastric bypass surgery just over a year ago. She had numerous health issues, including diabetes, and wanted to make a change.

"It's not just the weight loss but the road that this has taken me down," she said.

She has made her weight loss goal and now weighs 155 pounds. Eydie said she now feels healthier than she ever has, and wants to share it with others.

She has gone back to school to study medical nutrition at the University of North Dakota.

"I want to be able to help others lose weight and keep it off and live healthier lives," she said.

Eydie and her family have made an effort to eat healthier foods and exercise regularly.

The family is participating in the Power Up program offered through Community Education. Eydie, along with her husband Neal, and children, Shelby and Ben, are all on board.

"It takes some planning to make sure we're eating healthy foods," Eydie said. "I also carry stuff with me."

Her bag is filled with fresh fruit, salads, nuts and other snacks for her and the kids so they aren't tempted to stop for fast food.

"I'm proud that I haven't gone back to drinking pop," Eydie said. "That was tough at first."

At the house, the Garcelon's don't have chips or pop and instead have "real" food on hand.

"It's just different choices, a different way of thinking, " she said.

Many evenings during the week Eydie is at Century School with her children as they participate in wrestling, 8th hour and basketball.

"Sometimes we're here 'til 8 at night so I make sure I pack healthy food for the kids and I to eat," she said.

While the kids participate in activities Eydie takes advantage of the open hallways at Century. She walks the hallways on a regular basis for exercise.

"I feel fabulous. When I first started walking I couldn't do a full lap. Now I can go nine loops, three miles," she said.

She has also joined a fitness club in town and uses the treadmill and bicycle and works on toning, strength training and resistance.

Eydie has come a long way since she began her exercise journey.

"I started with leg lifts while laying on the bed," she said. "I could only do five."

She encourages others to walk the hallways at Century.

"It's dry and warm in the winter and cool in the summer," she said.

For more information on when the hallways are available for walking contact Community Education at 218-237-6600.

Eydie hopes to encourage others by offering guidance. After completing her education she would like to help at the clinic and hospital with pre-operation patients and maybe work with kids and teach them healthy eating habits.

She offers these words of advice for anyone wanting to eat an extra slice of pizza or bowl of ice cream: "Nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels."

2-27-11 Still here and doing great!

Hello again my Dear Family and Friends.... my great support system!!! I am alive and doing well. Staying true to my new life-style... my new way of eating. Really it hardly seems new at all... it's just the way I live now! I am out over a year now! December 7th of 2009 was my surgery! So it's been fun looking back to a year ago now, and where I was, how I was doing, etc! Even though I was still new to this and had a few little problems, there was not a time when I was sorry that I had done it! I knew it would be tough at first, but I just needed to get over those hurdles... over those speed bumps! Now.... here I am... I have lost 168 lbs!!! I look back at some of those "before" pictures and almost can't recognize myself. Was that REALLY me??? Yikes! But the worst part of those pictures? Yes, I hated how I looked. I hated the dresses I wore! But.... the worst part was.... in each picture I am smiling, but I was crying on the inside! I think I was happy for the most part, but.... I wasn't truly happy on the inside! Now though, I am happy and smiling on the inside as well as the outside!

I have had a couple of fun things take place in January. The hospital and clinic newsletter did a little medical article on me. Also the local newspaper did an article as well. I will try and post those on here for you to view. It was nice to be able to share my story because there are so many horror stories out there about this surgery. So, it was good to be able to see a successful side of it as well. There really is help out there for those who really need it! My health was completely destroyed, and this surgery.... and my diligence... has completely paid off! I am off of ALL of my medicines! I was a horrible diabetic but my numbers range between 80-87 now! Absolutely perfect! YES!!! My A1c used to be off the chart... over 15. Now my last reading was 5.5 AMAZING!!!! In my wildest dreams, I would never have thought it could be that good, but it is! So.... now you know why I won't go back. This is why I am so hyper-sensitive about this! I ain't going back!

Ok... the other day I had someone ask me about troubles now. Well... I said that the surgery didn't fix everything. I still have money problems, price of gas is too high, never enough time in a day, kids still argue at times, too much snow & cold here in Minnesota, etc, etc, etc!!! So... no, the surgery didn't fix everything. There is still stressful days! I really think that as long as I am alive and breathing... there are going to be issues! There are going to be stressful days and situations! Now... the new thing I am experiencing with this is... when my body is tense, or I am stressed... I cannot eat! I will take a bite or two, and my tummy will kind of "knot-up". A very strange feeling, and it's not a good feeling at all. If I am stressed and try to eat, it will give me a stomach ache! Now, before my surgery, if I was tense or stressed... that is just what I would do, I would eat... no problems at all... the foods went down far too easily! Ha, at the size of me, it looks like I was quite stressed most of the time!!!! Anyway, so that is something that is new, and not so good, but I just work with it. I will take a bite or two and realize I just am not going to be able to eat right now, so I will just wait! Once I've relaxed, then I try again and no problem! So in a way, it is good, I cannot eat if I am stressed! I see that as a positive thing!

I continue to work out at Anytime Fitness here in town. I do resistance training, toning and strength training. I also walk in the halls at the school whenever I can while the kids are in their activities! I walk between 2 or 3 miles! Yes... I can walk 3 miles now! YAY!! I remember starting out there and hardly able to make 1 loop!!! But it was a start, and look where it has taken me!!! So I went from a THIRD OF A MILE.... to 3 miles!! It really CAN be done... one step at a time!

I am still working at the clinic/hospital volunteering with the Bariatric Dept. I am also doing my studies through North Dakota University - Grand Forks. Going for Dietary Manager/Medical Nutrition. I am finding I just don't have enough hours in a day, but I am able to study when the kids go to bed at night! I had thought at first that we could all sit down in the evening and the kids could do their homework, and mom could do hers. Not so! It just doesn't work that way! I can't believe how much reading there is for this course!!!! Wow! Anyway, I am excited about it, and hope I get good grades with it!

Well... all for tonight everyone! Thanks again for your continued support! I appreciate it SOOO much!
Love to all... Eydie