Why we need this board more than ever...

This has been touched on in the other posts but I just wanted to post why this board is so important to our LONG term goals. The WLS journey might begin with the consult and surgery but it does not end when we reach goal. Some of us have made goal, some are below goal and some are still striving and working towards goal. What is the same is that we all still have issues with weight and food. Take me for example, I have made it below goal-yeahhh but I am dealing with a lot of stress and issues which could easily cause me to to start gaining. I have stress eating issues. I come on here to try and get ideas. Sometimes, just writing about what is happening is enough for me to get a handle on it that time but you know what?? It is never going to go away. I am having some rocky times at home and I know I am not the only one (which helps). Being at goal does not make that go away, in fact, it is having family members trying to deal with the new way I look-and quite frankly some do not like the way I look any more. How crushing is that? I need this board to help when I have weird pains and before I panic, I can come here and see if anyone else is having something similar. I can also come here for a reality check when my crazy world starts tilting to know if I am seeing things clearly or just being delusional. Anyway, when I need to touch base, this is the place I come. I love my local support group but that only meets once a month. Sometimes, I need help now! I try to keep posting to help others. Sometimes, I just do not know what to say but that does not mean I am not reading all the posts and checking with everyone. So, thanks again for all the advice and words of encouragement. I know this journey would not have been possible without the A team. We are all vital to each others success not matter how far we are down the road.

I agree with you 100%. Our battle is just beginning. The honeymoon stage is over for most of us and we need to deal with it together. This board is NOT just about boasting how much weight we've lost in a short amount of time. It is about support, concern, love, and friendship. We have built a trust with each other that is very strong and we should realize that no one will ever be shunned or embarassed by another Ateam member. We need each other, more than ever! We are here for each other. Most of us will go through a lot of the same turmoil and we can be there for each other. Even if we don't have a solution, we have an ear and a heart for each other. So all Ateamers, come back, help us, let us help you, and most of all, let us all be there for each other. I pledge myself to my brothers and sisters of the Ateam. How about all of you? Shar

Sharra and Shar you both have helped me hang on when I wanted to just give up. I can so related to emotional issue of eating, right now the stress of my inlaws is incrediable. the death bed confessions has devistated my husband my self and she did not have the balls to tell my husband.I had to tell him Now my husband is crushed and hurt and he will never get to tell his father the alligations are so untrue. His father is in a semi veg state, EVIL MOTHER IN LAW!!!!! She has been the cause of I would say 100 lbs of weight gain!!!! I was never the type to speck my mind instead I would shove down my feeling with a bag of cookies chips or drink down soda like it was booze.Bite my tongue FOOD my DRUG of choice.. But now My lap band won't let me numb the anger feeling pent up inside. but when it losens up I can. I so wanted to binge eat yesterday.. But I looked at her pathectic body ravished by years of aneroxia and not taking care of her self and I told myself I do not ever want to be like her abusive and malnourished is why her health is so bad.I plan to be healthy sexy hot senor citizen one day LOL as my realtives get fatter they are getting so jealious of me and u know what about time.. before they use to make me feel so bad being so morbid obese like I was sub human Has anyone noticed how pretty we all look and younger with weight loss compared to our skinny counter parts? Truely we all all are butterflies.. We just had a extra large cocoon for awhile but were all are emerging as butterflies.. Good to see our A team come back to life !!!! get the fighting spirt back!!!!!!!!!!!!!! KEEP WRITING EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!! NO MATTER HOW TRIVIAL WE JUST NEED TO KNOW YOU ARE Still THERE!!! We need each other more than ever.. Sucess is in numbers. Lisa

I'm still here, A-Teamers. Just haven't had anything much to post about, as I have been at this weight since last October, and am not currently having any major issues. Note that I said "currently". That doesn't mean I don't expect to have issues; I do. I haven't lost my sweet tooth, and I still find I am an emotional eater, although because of the pouch (Thank you Lord!) I can't binge anymore. I have to say I miss our guys. Don't know where David went - used to love his jokes. I just hope he's ok. Same with the others. Yes, we are vital for each other. We can't let this forum die. I am reading all the posts too, and responding to some of them. I'm still training for the Chicago marathon in October. If any of you can come to Chicago (or are already in Chicago) on the marathon weekend of October 12, I'd love to get together with you. I'll arrive on Friday morning, then will leave early Monday morning. I've already met one OH'er; would love to meet others. I have come to think of the A-Team as family. We're in it together.

I plan on cheering you on and giving you a hug at the finish line!!!!!!!1

I'm looking forward to it!!!! Marcia

A marathon?? WOW. That seems to big a goal I just cannot imagine. I will be cheering you from home. Thanks for the responses. It really helps to know I am not alone. You all are the BEST....