Not long ago I ordered a great recipe book online, from Healthy Living Cookbooks, Recipes for Life After Weight-Loss Surgery.

Check it out! Great recipes—easy and not complex, not gourmet, but everyday meals. I'll give it a thumbs up—4 star goodness!

The following information was submitted by our Bariatric Coordinator, Kim Joyner: "Wanted to let you know that Oprah will dedicate her show tomorrow (Tuesday, May 10th) to obesity. 

Bariatric surgery will be discussed. 

Stacey Halprin has been a guest of the Oprah show more than 10 times.  She has a great website, (attached).  I heard her speak and also bought her autobiography.  Should be an interesting show for us.  Hope you can set your DVR." - Kim Joyner

You can view Stacey's website, before and after photos and read more on her story at: 

www.staceyhalprin.com

Congratulations, Stacey!

These days, it seems, I'm spending more time writing a book than reading books. My stacks are piled high with books that have gotten me through the past years. I've been busy reflecting and reviewing what I've learned over the past and pondering how to take that information that has been helpful in transforming my life and pass it on to others.  

This month, I did purchase one new read that has held my attention. It's not the easiest read, but very interesting. At first, I liked it because it puts into words things that I knew already, but with more clarity. I haven't finished it yet so we will see if it continues to be one of my favorites. The book is about how to read your bible or as the author puts it, how to "eat it". I'm interested in seeing what he says because my one-day dream is to write a similar book on how to read your bible. Anyway, before that, I have two more in the line up. I am currently writing a book on weight loss surgery success and after that...a cookbook. I'm not sure in what order they will unfold. 

Oh, that reminds me I did get a new cookbook for Christmas...oh yeah.  I love cookbooks...as a matter of fact, I have two cookbook titles on my birthday wish list...

My January reading 

Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson

The Blackberry Farm Cookbook   

I was with a group of friends the other day and we were discussing books that we like to read. This group of book-lovers are girls after my own heart. I love books. 

We were discussing the number of books that we read each month, and they probably surpass me on that one.  We also shared the kind of books we like to read.  Some like to read fiction or historical fiction, but as for me...my favorites are "informational" books. 

I used to read fiction, and still like to get one out on a rainy day, but right now I go for more for the ones that help me "reimage" after weight loss. This is a good way to stay motivated. 

To each his own, and when we share about the books we read, we both learn twice as much. 

Here's this month's stack...(actually these are the September, October, November, and some will most likely be on December's list)

Never Say Diet, by Chantel Hobbs (Chantel's story, includes lots of exercises)

Telling Yourself the Truth / Find your way out of depression, anxiety, fear, anger, and other common problems by applying the principles of misbelief therapy, by William Backus and Marie Chapian

Identity Theft  Reclaiming Who God Created You To Be by Mike Breaux

Identity Who You Are In Christ by Eric Geiger 

Healing the Shame That Binds You, by John Brandshaw

This summer my husband and I started a new endeavor...

...pre-marriage mentoring. 

Not only are we mentoring couples who are about to "tie the knot", we are strenghtening our own marriage relationship of almost 35 years. 

Relationships are an important part of life and even learning about marriage relationships can help us strenghten any other relationships as well.

So what do reading marriage books and strengthening marriage relationships have to do with losing weight? Almost everything.  I have discovered that relationships are a huge part of our overall journey to living a healthy life both emotionally, socially and physically, helping us maintain our weight loss success.   

Here are just a few books on my reading list...

• Love and War, John and Stasi Eldredge
• The Marriage Builder, Dr. Larry Crabb
• The Mystery of Marriage, Mike Mason
• Scared Marriage, Gary Thomas
• Love and Respect, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
• Romancing the Home, Ed Young