Gastric Bypass Barbie

Barbie Celebrates Her 1 Year Blogiversary

1 Year ago today, I officially launched GastricBypassBarbie.com. Hard to believe, isn’t it? I mean, in those days, I didn’t know if anyone would find the site (let alone stick around and read my musings!) And if they actually did find me, I wasn’t sure they’d return! I vividly remember how excited I was to learn that 5 people had stopped by…or 1 person had left a comment. I was simply amazed that anyone would care what I had to say. Back then, I had no idea where the site would take me, how it would change over time, or how I would so radically evolve in the process!

Let me take you back to July 22, 2009.

I was 1-1/2 years post-op, and feeling as green as the day is long. A few, well-meaning people had “whispered” things into my ear that made me doubt whether I should even start a blog. They “helpfully” told me that I should “wait until I had three years of success under my belt” as a bariatric post-op; before I writing about my experiences; that way, people would “believe me more.” Other people told me that, since I was “so unusual” (in that, I’d lost more weight than the “average post-op,”) I’d just end up offending people, and no one would listen to anything I had to say, because it wouldn’t apply to them! In other words, there was a lot of negativity, disguised as supportive advice.

Fortunately, there was a lot MORE positivity and, being blindly optimistic, my passion for sharing won out! Well, *that* and I’m incredibly stubborn and impatient, so I didn’t want to wait. Of course, that didn’t stop me from wrestling with whether anyone would take me seriously for not having lived a very long bariatric after life. I had my doubts that I would find new and interesting things to say for longer than about a month; I wondered if I would always feel as enthusiastic, positive and successful as I did then. In July 2009, I was fresh, alive, inspired, largely unaffected by the online world…and filled with self-doubt.

When I pressed  the “Publish” button for that first time, I was both terrified and proud. After all, I had taken that first, big step –– even though I had NO IDEA where the road would take me.

Here’s how I would describe the Barbie from 1 year ago:

• Optimistic
• Wide-eyed
• Innocent
• Naive
• Encouraged
• Passionate
• Sensitive
• Thoughtful
• Motivated
• Healthy
• Focused
• Carefree
• Natural
• Reactionary
• Loving
• Generous
• Nervous

Well, I think it’s pretty clear to anyone who’s followed me over the course of the last 12 months that, while some things have remained the same, OTHER things are much different.

Here’s how I would describe the Barbie of today:

• Confident
• Focused
• Centered
• Grounded
• Guarded
• Positive
• Seasoned
• Aware
• Compassionate
• Skeptical
• Responsive
• Supportive
• Loving
• Generous
• Empowered
• Gratified
• Humbled

I’m sure I left out words from both lists, but I think you can see the idea. A lot of things can happen in 12 months, and my life is no exception. I wonder what the NEXT 12 months will hold? I guess we’ll have to wait until July 22, 2011 to find out

In the meantime, let me share a few, notable milestones from the past year:

1. I started seeing an amazing therapist (Jim) and we have made tremendous progress in ways I couldn’t have dreamed possible.
2. I have begun to find balance and harmony in my Bariatric After Life™ (work in progress)
3. I have become mentally and emotionally stronger, happier, more confident and deeper
4. I went to the 1st annual WLS Meet in Greet in Las Vegas as an exhibitor and speaker with MexiKen, Super Dave and Maid Marian Michele and made wonderful new friends and professional connections, including (in no particular order): Antonia Namnath – WLSFA.org, Dr. Bariatric, Sarah Will Be Skinny, Andrea JunglGirl, Lynnda, Mike and Toni, from BariatricTV, Ian McAgh and his lovely wife and son, T2Nashville, Tammy from Tennessee, Banded Wendy (and all the Banded Bitches), Nancy Weasel Hunt, ILTommyD (Tommy Dunmore from Illinois), JC (who had just begun his bypass journey about 3 weeks before the M&G), Amy Fekete (who videoed my talks), and a bunch of other people who are forever etched in my brain, but apparently not in my fingertips! You are not forgotten, I promise!
5. I launched my Youtube Channel (where, for the first time in my life, I do not run away from a video camera) and got to meet a bunch of remarkable people who comprise a vibrant and active WLS online community.
6. I joined Facebook and am rich with new and wonderful online friends.
7. I went to OH in Costa Mesa and made MORE wonderful new friends and professional connections, like: Dr. Garth Davis, Dr. Connie Stapleton (love her!), Yvonne McCarthy (Bariatric Girl), Teresa Dunn White (Celebrate Vitamins), Shannon Watts (Revival Soy) and many, many more!
8. I went to ASMBS in Las Vegas and — yes — made MORE wonderful new friends and professional connections: Susan Maria (Bariatric Eating), Dr. Guillermo Alvarez (Endobariatric, Piedras Negras, Mexico), Dr. Robert Davis, Dr. Marc from Bariatric Fusion, Eric, Kim and Kristin from Obesity Help and a bunch of other people whose names have escaped me, but whose impact on my life has not.
9. I participated in a photo shoot for the hospital where I had my RNY and will appear in their marketing materials. Billboards??? EEEK.
10. I will be attending the OH Conference in Cincinnati (crosses fingers) in August and Houston in November, and was even given my own discount code (GBBarbie) — How cool is that?
11. I have formed a team to participate in the Long Beach WALK FROM OBESITY (Team Barbie) in September, and already have 5 walkers and several sponsors.
12. I will turn “3-bariatric years old” in December.

This is, by no means a complete list but, it is from the heart. I mean, I knew my Blogiversary was coming up *soon,* but didn’t realize it was TODAY until I checked last night!  By golly, I was almost late to my OWN party (which is not hard to believe, if you know anything about me). So, while this is probably not how I envisioned my celebratory blog entry to read, it IS a finished blog entry, and it is published on the actual anniversary date, so I’m putting it squarely in the “success” column

Heck, maybe there’s a metaphor for my new life in there: I learn, I adapt, I risk, and then I do it all over again — whether I’m ready or not!

Anyway, I’ll leave you with this:

To those of you who have been with me from the beginning, I thank you for your encouragement and love.

For those who have discovered me along the way — and stuck around for the insanity — I thank you for your patience and fortitude.

For those of you who just found me today – I hope you will find something of value here on the site, return regularly, andl be encouraged to continue living the most fruitful and rewarding Bariatric After Life possible.

Most of all, to MexiKen, who continues to support and champion me as I forge my way through uncharted terrain, I give all of my love. I literally could not do this without his belief in me. He is my biggest fan (and I am his).

I’m not sure where this whole *thing* will take me, but I know this: Even though I don’t get paid a single penny to do it — but maybe one day will — I will continue to help others. It is my passion and my drug. My reward is knowing that, because I have chosen to be an open book with the online world, I have positively impacted others in ways I never imagined.

Though I have less “free time” than ever before, I am actually “freer” than I’ve ever been in my life, all because I am no longer ruled by “shoulds”, “colds”, “mights” and “musts.”

Thanks to all of you for your continued support, and let’s have fun in year 2!

Now, off to the elliptical!

Comment & Win: CHOBANI GREEK YOGURT

Okay, most of you know what I ran a little contest to dovetail with my Gastric Bypass Barbie table at the WLS Vegas Meet ‘N Greet (February 19-21, 2010). All you had to do to be entered, was visit me at the event and sample one (or all) of the items I was taste-testing, and then come to my site and leave a comment.

Today, I’m announcing the winner of the CHOBANI GREEK YOGURT prize. I guess you’ll have to watch the video to know who won (but, isn’t that the whole point?) Drumroll, please….

Congrats to Paula Yenerall!

Here’s what she wrote:
I attended the Las Vegas WLS ‘meet and greet’ with my daughter, Sheri Burton who had the lap band procedure. Even though my own insurance will cover WLS, it requires me to be at least 100 lbs. overweight. I have the choice of, let’s see, gaining another 25 lbs. or trying to lose on my own. So, right now I am trying to lose on my own.

I was very excited to see such great results there were and how happy people were to be there.

I enjoyed everything right along with my daughter.

I tasted only the yogurt but found it to be terrific. I kept asking her, is this really something good for you because it tastes too good. Texture was wonderful and the creaminess and thickness of the yogurt very different than the runny ‘diet’ ones I am used to.

I am going to buy some and include that in my regimen to lose weight.

Thank you to Cari De La Cruz for bringing this product to sample and to all of the organizers and guests and speakers at this event.

You’re welcome, Paula, and THANK YOU for your kind comment.

To collect your prize, send me an email with your address so Shari Lawrence at Chobani can send you your loot.

WE HAVE A WINNER!

For those of you who attended the 1st Annual WLS Meet & Greet in Las Vegas, you know that I was giving samples of three, amazing products: Jarrow Whey Protein Shakes, Chobani Greek Yogurt, and Protein Blitz Sports Drinks. I asked people who tried these protein-rich foods leave a review on my site, and they’d be entered to win a fabulous prize.

Now, before I announce the first winner (and tell you what she’s won!), let me tell you how the product testing went, and what people were saying — even if they didn’t come back here to leave a comment!

We began the morning by blending thick and creamy JARROW WHEY protein shakes. Super Dave and MexiKEN were busily whipping up three, tasty flavors, using nothing more than a Vanilla base powder and some Jello SF Instant Pudding mixes in Pistachio, Banana Cream or Cheesecake flavors, while Maid Marian Michele skillfully worked the room with a big tray of little cups on her shoulder and a smile on her face.

The banana cream was an easy hit — after all, everyone knows what banana tastes like, right? So, those went down easy. We reminded people that they could easily use the banana cream for their chocolate peanut butter shakes, or as part of any fruit-flavored shake, and the gears started turning as they began to fantasize about the myriad ways in which they could add a banana to their morning drink — without using a real banana!

The raspberry cheesecake was equally popular, and all agreed that the surprise addition of the no sugar added raspberry preserves from Trader Joe’s made it extra-tasty. I think more than a few people said they planned to have it on-hand to keep their morning routine fresh and tasty.

But, hands down, the FAVORITE and most SURPRISING taste sensation of the morning was DEFINITELY the pistachio! Why? Because most people think they don’t like pistachio. Maybe it’s the green color, or maybe they have memories of eating too much pistachio ice cream when they got their tonsils out? Whatever the case, I was hard pressed to find one person who didn’t really love it — especially Melinda (RecoveringFatty.com). She was a fellow “swagger and exhibitor” at the event (here table was right across from mine), and at one point in the morning, she started to feel dehydrated, and really crummy. Fortunately, Super Dave was their to save the day, and whipped her up a full serving of Protein-Packed Pistachio goodness. She reports that she has become a certified pistachio freak, and was on a real pistachio jag for awhile there.

Well, soon enough, Maid Marian Michele had run out of little sample cups on her tray, and everyone was “full” — so we decided to wrap up that product taste test and prepare for mid-morning snack.

Without further ado, I’m pleased to announce that the winner of a 2 lb. tube of JARROW WHEY PROTEIN is: T2NASHVILLE aka Tammy!

Here is what she said:

I was present at the Vegas WLS Meet & Greet and had the opportunity to visit your booth and taste test the products there. Thanks so much for all you did in making those products possible for us to sample.

Jarrow Vanilla Protein Powder – Barbie had several different flavors of icy protein shakes to try, all made with the Vanilla version of this product. I asked to “smell” the jug of powder – no nasty protein smell at all! Didn’t even really have a vanilla smell, which I often have to “get past” in a lot of powders. I tasted the pistachio shake and the raspberry cheesecake shake – both were equally delicious! Barbie also had a banana flavor available, but I’m not a banana fan. I must say that I was impressed by the quality and taste of the product. Today, I researched the stats on the powder. While it doesn’t have as much protein as most powders, it does have less calories and more absorbent protein. I really wish Jarrow sold their products on their own website, but they rely on local suppliers or other online stores to sell it. I’m still comparing pricing to try to find the best deal, and I plan to visit my local Vitamin Shoppe to see if they carry it. All in all, a big thumbs up for me on this product!

Thanks, and CONGRATULATIONS TAMMY! I’ve forwarded your comments to the company, and maybe they’ll take your suggestion into consideration In the meantime, you need to decide which flavor you want: Vanilla, Caribbean Chocolate or Unflavored.

Tomorrow: I announce the winner of a case of Chobani Greek Yogurt!

Front Row: Toni, Patty, Tammy, Lynnda, Amy, Melinda, Danielle. Back Row: Jessica, Ian, Me, Andrea, Mike, Rob, Linda

So, I have 30-minutes to tell you about the BTV Soiree in the Platinum Mega-Suite, and maybe pimp a little of the Main Event Saturday. I was hoping to grab some piccies from the big night, but silly goose that I am, I was busy being a social butterfly, rather than a shutterbug! (Show of hands: Who’s surprised by this revelation? Anyone….? Anyone…?)

Okay, so yesterday I told you about our Fab Walk-up 2-Bedroom Suite at the Emerald Suites Cameron, Las Vegas, and I realize that it will be hard to outdo that as I describe BariatricTV’s room at the Platinum, but do your best to feign interest.

Let me begin by telling you that my hair looked AMAZING. There is quite simply only one reason I would EVER move to Nevada: The low humidity does incredible things for my luxurious locks – and volume! Fuggetaboudit! Unbelievable – like a Suave commercial. I would tell you about Super Dave’s hair day, but his wasn’t going so well, so we’ll just say, he probably WON’T be moving to Vegas any time soon.

So, anyway, at around 8PM (local time) we got all dolled up (SD in his Tommy Bahama shirt, and me in my black pencil skirt, black stilettos, golden top and grandma’s bling), and walked down 3 flights of stairs to head for the Platinum.

Then, it was upstairs to the now-infamous MEGA SUITE! I took a deep breath. And then another breath…and then another breath, and before I could take another breath (and start hyperventilating or pass out), Super Dave threw open the double doors and in we went! WOW! This place made our place look like a shantytown lean-to. I won’t describe all of the decadent details, finishes, colors, fabrics and appointments (you can watch Toni’s video on BTV and get it all firsthand), I will instead describe the feeling of walking into a room filled with heretofore VIRTUAL FRIENDS! It was an unbelievable experience, coming face-to-face with people I’d only ever seen online, and you know what? They look SKINNIER in person!!! I’m not kidding.

Let’s see…who did I meet?

Well, naturally, there was the BTV contingent: Lynnda, Toni, Danielle, Big Mickey and John (Lynnda’s esposo), and then there was Team Recovering Fatty (Melinda and Tammy), and then there were folks from the boards (Rob, Amy, Paty, Ian) and whole bunch of YouTubers and Facebookers (like Amanda, whom I had to meet 2X before I figured out she was the same girl, ha ha, and Ian’s wife Jessica, and their little boy Aidan), and…gosh…a bunch more people whose names will come back to me the minute I post this – you watch!

Big Mickey was filming all sorts of stuff, and I got to do a bumper and a confessional in the master bedroom. Wait….that sounds HORRIBLE! Well, you know what they say? What Happens in Vegas…

The BTV team had a spread of lovely items to sample, including Calcet Chews, new BA protein shake flavors (banana, white cupcake and chocolate mint), and there was a ton of ProJoe (which I didn’t “do” because I’m clean and sober off the caffeine now). They also had lovely platters of fresh fruit, meats, cheeses and Kay’s Natural’s munchies. Slurrp. Good times!

So, we all mingled for a couple of hours, ogled the big swimming pool down below, and laughed at how we need each other’s screen names to know who we’re talking to, and before you know it, the party was wrapping up. But, not before MexiKen and Super Dave’s Gal Friday (Michele) made it in from the airport! You know, me and Super Dave make an awesome team, but we only have our magical bariatric-super-hero powers when our better halves are there with us. You know the rules: Clark Kent has Lois Lane; Spiderman has Mary Jane; Iron Man has Pepper Potts…

Now, here’s a quick little aside: When Michele walked into the suite, she gasped, and exclaimed, “Oh my GOSH! Are WE staying HERE?!” Super Dave smoothly replied, “No. OUR place is WAY BETTER!” Poor Michele. Nothing like managing expectations. I’m hoping she was just too tired to care…especially after climbing all of those stairs.

Well — time’s up for this morning! Stay tuned…Tomorrow: The Main Event!

DAY 1: Cheap Motels and Vegas (Baby)

1-Bedroom Suite. Ours was WAAY better.

So, me and my Bariatric Body Guard, Best Buddy and Hero, Dave (aka Super Dave) hit the road in an SUV crammed to the gills with protein drinks, powders, snacks, blenders, luggage, banners, event tees, video cameras, computers, storage tubs and various other bits of accoutrement you swear you’re going to need when you’re going to exhibit for the first time at a convention-that-isn’t-really-a-convention.

All I can say is, it’s a good thing this event was driving distance from home, because I have no CLUE what I’ll do when I have to FLY somewhere and set up a booth.

Anyway, the trip to Vegas was smooth and uneventful, and even though I’d driven it several times in my past, I still managed to sound like my Dad did whenever he’d take a road trip somewhere he hadn’t been in awhile: “Oh my gosh, when did they build that? I don’t remember the road being this nice…This is a really big desert…are we there yet? Are we there yet?” Okay, my dad never said “are we there yet…?”

Somehow, we managed to blow right by the “Welcome to Nevada” sign (which Super Dave swears I missed because I was talking – as-if – and reminds me was right by State Line – which I commented on, when we passed, so there), and into Fabulous Las Vegas. We got a call from SD’s daughter telling us that Obama was gonna be in town for the weekend, and asking whether he was here for our event. Hmmm…maybe next year, we’ll ask him to give a keynote.

Okay, so we got to our fabulous dive hotel, and whilst trying to check in, realized that I did not have my driver’s license – d’oh! MexiKen had it in his pouch because I’d given it to him on our last bike ride! EEEK. Off to the bank for some cashola (the currency of choice, next to chips in Vegas.) I signed something that said I wouldn’t raid the minifridge, then the guy showed us a map of the hotel and put a big “X” on our room: 315. “Oh my goodness,” I exclaimed, “A third floor room on the corner; how nice!” and we proceeded to pull the car around to the door.

May I remind you of the Beverly Hillbilly packout in the rear of the car?

We were gonna need a really big luggage cart, but that’s okay…that’s what elevators are for. But wait…there’s no bellhop…or doorman…no valet…and they told us to pull around to the outside of our room. Where’s the guy with the cart…? Well, for $116/night (2-bedroom suite with full kitchen), what do you expect? So, I gamely grabbed an ice chest, and SD grabbed a big ‘ole suitcase and a big heavy storage tub, and we headed for the room.

Hold the phone…what’s this? Stairs? Where’s the elevator There is no elevator? O…k….a…y.

Up we go. Only…I can’t take two steps without collapsing into spasms of laughter. This is the funniest thing I can imagine…We have rented a room at a hotel motel that has NO ELEVATOR.

Needless to say, our initial concerns about them not having a “fitness room” were for naught, and we somehow managed to get 5 trips of crap into our spacious little non-smoking room (directly on the other side of the door from the smoking hallway.)

Moral of the story: This NEVER would have happened to us if we were still FAT. They don’t give top floor rooms in motels that have no elevators to FAT people. Ergo…we must be FIT people!

Tomorrow: BariatricTV’s Shindig at the Platinum Hotel, MexiKen and Super Dave’s trusty sidekick, Michele arrive — Plus THE MAIN EVENT!

PS – I know, I know! This post is MEANINGLESS without pictures! Bad news…I didn’t take any. Good news, about a hundred other people did, and they “swear” they’ll share them with me. Basically, when I get ‘em, you’ll get ‘em…Stay tuned!

REVIEW AND WIN: Jarrow Whey (Vanilla)

If you stopped by the Gastric Bypass Barbie booth and sampled JARROW WHEY PROTEIN at the Las Vegas WLS Meet & Greet February 19-21, 2010, you can enter to win a free 2 LB. TUB of your very own! Just post a comment below and tell me about your taste test. The better the review, the better your chance of winning. I’m interested in hearing what you like and don’t like about the product; how you’d rate the taste and texture, whether you’d buy it for yourself, and whether you like the nutritional values (e.g., grams of protein, grams of sugar, number of carbs and calories).

Make Jarrow Whey part of your daily protein program. Live Happy!

Leave your comment and you might win