So who's this Bariatric Diva, anyway?

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I am the Bariatric Diva.  You may address me as Robyn, though (or "Your Divaliciousness," if you must). <wink wink> 


I'm a person, just like you, with common joys and sorrows.  Same bills to pay, family issues, and money worries.


I'm a girl who loves Paris, and the colors purple and pink (thus explaining the color scheme of the blog).  I have Car Lashes with rhinestone eyeliner on my Divamobile, Trixie.  (We're both girly-girls.)  Costume jewelry, my garden, chocolate and James Spader make me swoon. (Not necessarily in that order.)

Personal photo 

I'm a mental health counselor at a local college, and still pinch myself for getting paid for something I love to do so very much.  I'm also an ordained minister who specializes in officiating weddings.  I feel so honored to be chosen to be the person who brings couples across the threshold from being single to married.  It's an awesome gig.  Each job gives me a great deal of satisfaction and personal balance. 


I love my loud, crazy, funny family.  I'm the oldest of four, and the only girl; I've got three great brothers.  Lost my dad 11 years ago and miss him every day, but Mom's still alive and kicking.  My two adult daughters are my best friends and I couldn't be more proud of the women they've become.  I'm blessed to have three awesome grandkids who are still young enough to think I'm pretty cool.  Making preparations to marry my sweetie next year, to whom I'll refer as FH (Future Husband), and we have two furry feline children, Lucy and Spader, who greet me at the front door every night.  My life is so freakin' good.


I've battled with obesity my whole life.  I still struggle with eating right, exercising, getting my mind wrapped around the fact that I really do deserve the healthy body I have, and I don't have to soothe myself with food.  Expressing feelings is better and makes me a more genuine person.


I'm not the expert in your life.  I don't know exactly how you feel about your weight, or the difficulties you endure because of it.  Don't know what you're doing (or not doing) to change your circumstances or whether it's working.


I am the expert of my own life, however.  I'm here to document my adventure toward living a healthier life in a healthier body.  Maybe you'll recognize and relate to my thoughts, behaviors and emotions.  Maybe you won't.  But this is my truth--how I feel, what I think, what I do that works and what most certainly doesn't. 


This is a no-holds-barred blog...no sugar-coating here, fellow Divas.  Sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly will help me get my head on straight about the relationship I have with food, to stick to the commitment for lifelong change, while being grateful for where I am at any moment. 


You can find me on Twitter (@BariatricDiva) or at bariatric.counselor@hotmail.com.  (Facebook and website coming soon.)   I want to know what you think, how you're doing, your victories, what works for you, what issues bring you the most difficulty.


I'm so glad you're here.  This would be a challenging journey for the Bariatric Diva to take all by herself.