Sage Advice for ALL OF US

(Reposted with the brilliant author's permission - to find her and other valueable post-ops, ASK ME): "There's noooooooooooooo crying in baseball.....!!!!!!" That's the sentiment (scenario) that comes to mind sometimes when I hear some of the comments from people who've already had the surgery. In case you haven't made the connection, that's a line Tom Hanks made famous in the movie "A League Of Their Own." Resorting to tears or just giving up every time the going gets tough. Or your sick of taking vitamins, getting in protein is hard, water doesn't taste good, etc. That kinda' thinking is NOT going to make you successful or keep you healthy. ENOUGH already! It's time to LOVE yourself enough to get "TOUGH" with your aftercare. Your long term health is worth it!! Success comes with a backbone, NOT a wishbone! First and foremost, you have to keep it POSITIVE. As with everything in life, if you think you can't - you WON'T! Simple enough? I have to wonder when "we" (as adults) finally take ownership for our actions, our life and our health? We have been given a gift, a second chance to actually LIVE life again instead of merely existing on the sidelines. It's up to each of us to do that as healthy and productively as possible. We're ALL statistics waiting to happen and the insurance companies are chomping at the bit. The bean counters are eager to drop Weight Loss Surgery ("WLS") from the policies; some already have. Don't you know that any negative feedback thrown into the mix only strengthens their cause? I may not be able to control every thing that happens to my body after WLS, but most things I can. I CHOOSE to take control and I will be a positive statistic when the numbers get counted. We live in a spoiled society, expecting everything in life to come with a buncha really cool choices. Well, guess what? When it comes to your health, you're not always going to get a choice. You either DO IT and stay healthy, or you DON'T and your body pays the price. The way I saw it, I had a 90 day healing and adjusting period after surgery. My 'super morbidly obese' body had more then enough stores to survive the learning curve. In turn, it gave me plenty of time to heal, adjust and learn. For those of you OVER 90 day's Post-Op, the probation period is over - its time to get serious and LIVE what you've learned. ~*~ You say you can't get in enough liquids through out the day, don't like the taste of water, or just keep forgetting? -- TOUGH! It's not an option anymore. Find a way to do it, get suggestions and tips from others in support groups, message boards, etc. Read, learn and JUST DO IT!! Why do you think there is a choice here? ~*~ You say you don't like the big horse pill type vitamins, or the tart chalky chewables? ...it's, just too many to bother with? Or maybe you just can't remember to take them? -- TOUGH! You gave up the option NOT to take vitamins when you agreed to have your insides rerouted. FIND a way to get them in; crushed, minced, chopped, liquefied, in a shake, etc. No exceptions, your health depends on it. ~*~ Protein is a must. So you can't get it all in via foods and you don't like the way the shakes taste? -- TOUGH! Either get it through your meals (and there are a gazillion food choices out there) or supplement it with protein shakes and bars. Trust me, I don't drink my protein shake every morning because I think it tastes like a chocolate blizzard from Dairy Queen. I've tried many varieties over the last 2 years. I'd even venture to say 25 of the top sellers/flavors have crossed my lips. For the record? I've yet to find one that is as 'delicious' as boasted by the distributor. So what. I still drink one every morning. My HEALTH dictates that I need "X" grams of protein per day. If I'm not getting enough from my meals then I supplement a shake. 'Nuff said. This surgery is a gift, I owe it to me and everyone else fighting the approval process, to do it right! I will continue to choke down my vitamins, my water and my protein every single day, for the REST OF MY LIFE. Some days will be easier then others, regardless, no days will be missed. It's all about discipline. Create a routine, set a timer, develop a pattern, tie a string around your finger, glue a note to your forehead, whatever it takes. You're an adult - take responsibility! If this surgery doesn't slap a back bone into you, not much will. * Leilani * [Original draft written: June 2004 -- Revised: April 2006]

Got it Thanks for sharing this with us GG. It's so true. Elisa

E - I was reading some of your profile entries the other night and I thought of this for you especially. YOU can BE anything you WANT to be. You are worth it! xosm

Aww thanks GG! Do you think I could copy the post and put it on my profile? I want to keep it as a reminder and read it everytime I update my page...which I do monthly. Thanks! Elisa

Hi Elisa. Lei has given permission for it to be reposted [I have it on my profile, too], you just have to do it the same way I did; start by saying it's reposted with the author's permission and end with her credits. xosm

Very good post...I totally agree!

I'm not that smart, LUCKILY, I have some smart friends who share well with others. I'll never forget where I came from, how I got here and where I want to be. Thanks to ~Leilani~ I will continue to feel inspired and supported to be all that I can be! xosm

I love this post. It applies to everything in life not just WLS. I hate it when people whine about not wanting to drink their water or how much they dislike protein. I just wanna say "Suck it up! You're an adult damn it!" I work for a LARGE nationwide insurance company. I get tired of people whining at work too. It's NEVER their fault that they had an accident. It's always "Well, they should have seen I was backing up and stopped" or "I parked in the middle of the only two spaces in the parking lot so nobody would bang my car with their door. Can you believe they keyed my car?" WELL DUH!

Sadly, I think the 'it wasn't my fault' whine has become a big part of our culture. I remember waiting for approval for this surgery and being told I may NEVER be able to tolerate pizza or bagels or soda again, and being willing to PROMISE anything just to have this new chance at life. How easily some folks forget that. xosm

Thanks for the post GG! Well, I don't whine, but I have been non-compliant. I can eat almost anything, and I started feeling like maybe I would be fine without the magic three quota of water, vitamins, and protein, if I just ate normally. Then I realized I don't eat normally. My intake has too many carbs and sugar, not enough protein, almost no water, and no vitamins. Please don't beat me up, I'm confessing here. I realized yesterday morning I was having a bad backache, and dark urine. I remembered last year having this same problem from July to September. I thought I had a bladder infection and ended up in the ER with kidney stones. I am going to turn myself around today. Instead of coffee this morning I am drinking white lavender tea made with distilled water. I am going to try and drink a water based beverage every two hours. I will try to drink plain water as well, but I have difficulty keeping that down for some reason. I will take my vitamins again starting today, and go to the store and buy cottage cheese to have every morning, it has as much protein as a shake, and I enjoy that. I will also start walking tonight as well. I have felt anxious, and a little depressed, sometimes and the walking will help. I have had too much sugar, caffeine, carbs, and occasional alcohol, and I know my body deserves better. I haven't lost for 6 mos., and I fluctuate 5 or so pounds up and down. I feel the glycemic factor is returning because my waist has expanded. My pounds didn't go up much, but my clothing size has. I started to feel like I was stuck. I realize that the caffeine and sugar have been helping me with my fatique, and actilng as a mood elevator. I know the transition off is going to be a challenge, so i am going to taper so as not to start major migraines. The lavener tea is my beginning, it has a small amount of caffeine in the white tea part. I agree we have to be good examples. Thanks for reminding me of my bigger purpose. I will check in for support on the board while I transition. Thanks for your support. Rebecca