Fat Free Mind

I have been practicing being kind to myself recently, because I often put others first in my life — to excess. So, one evening I was feeling down and blah, and felt guilty because I didn’t want to make dinner or help my son with homework.
My husband works hard and commutes a shockingly long distance [...]

I love this optimistic quote from Lewis Carroll: “Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
Carroll’s imagination brought him ideas that were creative, exciting, daring, and risky - and his heart allowed him to believe the impossible.
As a weight loss surgery patient, you may not feel as optimistic as Carroll. Maybe you [...]

In the August 2008 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, a study was published about a powerful tool people can use to lose weight. This tool is so amazing, dieters in the study who used it lost twice as much weight. Twice as much!
You wouldn’t believe what this tool is, and even if [...]

Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Luke Skywalker looked into Darth Vader’s eyes and found the good in his father.Luke said, “The Emperor hasn’t driven the good from you completely.”
Vader denied him, insisting, “You don’t know the power of the dark side.”
This scene reminds me of the many times in my life I [...]

Just when we think it’s going to be a slow news day, we learn that Jessica Simpson is putting on weight. The Blagojevich scandal will have to take a back burner to Jessica’s reported weight problem as recent photos of her at a Florida concert emerge.
If this is newsworthy, then I guess I need to [...]

I recently attended my second Renewal Retreat by the National Association for Weight Loss Surgery (NAWLS). I wasn’t a participant per se. Actually, I am a freelance writer/editor who Director Katie Jay sometimes hires for assorted projects. Over the years, our friendship has blossomed, and I guess you could say that if Katie were Oprah, [...]

I just love this recent Daily Inspiration from NAWLS! Thought I’d share it here…
Say, “Weeee!”
How often do you truly have fun — just surrender to a moment and let yourself experience child-like curiosity or playfulness? “Weeee Moments” are moments when you decide to let go of inhibition and be human, not in a self-destructive way, [...]

My family watched the movie Rudy a few weeks ago. In it, a young man who had learning challenges, and an unsupportive family, had a strong desire to play football for Notre Dame.
The things he went through to make that dream a reality are truly amazing. He never gave up. He worked hard, took plenty [...]

The story of Pandora, a character in Greek mythology, is a great metaphor for my weight loss surgery journey. At first gastric bypass felt like a gift, but then I opened “Pandora’s Box,” and a host of horrors sprung out.
When I had weight loss surgery, I wish I had been cured instantly of my food [...]

My imperfect desktop (and my helpful cat, Lucy).

We can probably all relate to the joy we feel when we clean out our closet. As we begin sorting through the piles of dirty and unfamiliar clothing, we tell ourselves that we will never again let the closet get in such disarray.
 
Maybe you are super organized and [...]