Update 6-23-07

I've heard from so many "unknown" SWBM friends during the past 6 months. I just realized I had not updated anything since December, so thought maybe I should do that.

Since October 10th, I have had ten (10) deaths of very immediate family and/or friends. My best friend from 4th grade contracted the human form of mad cow disease in June 2006, and died on Oct. 10, 2006. Then, of course, Mother passed away on December 11th, and HER best friend from high school days, and the woman for whom I was named, died 2 weeks later. My mother-in-law’s best friend, whom she had known since college days (for over 70 years) died the very same day as my mother's friend. Since then, I’ve had a multitude of cousins die and at the end of February, my dearest friend, Jean, who was my genealogy traveling buddy, died from complications from her heart valve replacement 3 years before. It has not been a good winter for me!! Then, at church, we’ve lost 5 more friends. It has finally dawned on me that I am seriously into depression. I am keeping busy, and have started and re-started lately to lose what I had gained while I was taking care of Mother last year. I've been at a standstill, primarily because I keep having emotional meltdowns. However, I know that the thing to do is NOT to quit trying, but to KEEP trying. Each day, I am able to handle more and more of the emotional issues associated with these 15 deaths in a period of about 5 months. I am re-joining the grief support group at my church, and am really working at taking each day, one meal at a time. The best part is that even though I'm not back into the real losing mode yet, I am NOT gaining. I have lost some, and am determined to stay on track. Many have written me to see how I'm doing, and often they express concern that they might be "bothering" me. I never feel that way about talking about SWBM. It has been and still is a life saver for me, and their comments (and yours) are healing for me!! I appreciate hearing from anyone, who is genuinely interested in improving his/her health. That is why I am so passionate about this program. It has been the only plan I've ever followed that actually CHANGED my health for the better. You just cannot put a price-tag on something that important. I really think that is what separates this program from all the other weight-loss programs out there: this one actually improves your health. I did WW at least 6 times, and also Jenny Craig. Although I lost on both programs,, neither one made one bit of difference in my lab results or my health. Only SWBM has been able to accomplish that for me. So, hang in there. That's what I'm doing. The grief process is slow and painful, but it is a fact of life, and the sooner I work through it, the quicker I'll be back to losing steadily!! Thanks for letting me bend your ear!! Liz