Looking back

I've recently been contacted by someone thinking of having WLS with all their questions etc. It's made me think back to life before WLS and trying to make that decision, trying to imagine what it will be like etc etc. It's been good as it haas helped me remember and think how much better life is now - even in the difficult and/or frustrating times. I would NEVER go back! Well my question to you guys is: Is life on the loosing side how you imagined it would be? What is different? For me, even though I researched loads, and asked loads of questions, I could never have imagined it. I didn't realise how major a surgery it was (DUH!) and how much impact it would have on my body in a negative way while I recovered. I thought I'd be eating much less - say a walnut size portion ( I was worried I'd be eating like a freak!). I thought the weight would fall off. I didn't realise how much work I'd have to put in making the right choices and stuff - but I also never realised how much easier it is to make the right choices 99% of the time. I could not have imagined how much better physically I feel - how much more energy. Basically I feel like a new woman. And to think I'm only half way there! What else is there to come Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow there's loads more now that I've got started. That has really cheered me up and lifted my day realising how far I've come. I'd lost sight of that always looking at where I want to get to Ruth

The biggest thing for me is That I I I I I have to make good choices. The surgery doesn't fix that. I mean yeah I dump on sugars and bad carbs BUT I can have a cookie here...a chip there...So I guess what I'm saying is I was a food addict and I am a food addict. The surgery didn't magically fix my brain for me. I also thought, yeah I'll lose fast and I may have excess skin but I'll be happy to have that excess skin. Ummmm, I hate it. Yeah I like it better than the alternative (all fluffed up with fat). I've still got a long way to go to "like" what I see in the mirror. Like you I can't believe how much more energy I have and how much better in general I feel. I try to look at my "before" pic quite often to remind myself I NEVER want to go back there! Anyone who asks me about the surgery gets the same response: "Its the best thing I've ever done for myself and my only regret it that I didn't do it sooner." Mandy

I agree with you 100%. I also did not realize just how much hair would fall out! I did not know how much I would have to work to keep it off long term (magic pill thinking). I never knew how accepting the world could be. I don't think I truly realized how much all that weight was holding me down & holding me back. I just love the way my hubby looks at me now! I am so glad I had this surgery! Darlene

Hi Ruth You have come very far and doing great! I agree with you 100% as well. I could not imagine how good I could feel not just emotionally, but physically. It's also somewhat sad how different people treat me compared to before. I'm glad you posted this topic. It's good to remember and even better to help out someone else. Jean

I second all of that. I knew I would loose weight and just after the surgery I was frustrated cause, cause it wasn't coming off like i expected it to, I wanted to wake up and be skinny, but that was not the case, it takes hard work to get there. On the other side of the coin, I never thougth I would loose this much weight so quickly. I thought it would take me at least a year to loose a hundred pounds and if I was lucky, I would get below the 200 mark by christmas (64 pounds). After six months, its still hard work. 100 pounds down and in a size 8... wow.. who would of thunk it. I actually enjoy shopping now. I was one of those that bought five of the same thing when i discovered what fit and wore the very plan clothes hoping not to draw attention to myself. Not the case anymore.. I have a full wardrobe. I sit here now in a pair of hipster pants with a tight shirt showing all the success I've had to everyone. I dug out my rings and necklaces.. and I think I look pretty darn good. I want people to see me know, know that I am a person. Have you noticed when you go to the store; people say hi and ask if you need help. Strangers smile and say hello. When I was heavy, they would glance up and quickly look away like they didnt see me. To them I was invisible, which is the way I prefered it. Not anymore.. wow it feels great to be acknowledged. My daughter (15) weighs 103.. tiny thing.. not my gene pool as you can see has never said anything about my weight loss. The other night we were out for dinner and she kindof stopped, ****ed her head and looked at me weird. I said whats wrong. She said.. "you really have lost a lot of weight.. your skinny" wow did that feel great. Guess that new wardrobe is paying off. my son (high functioning autism) age 11 introduced me the other day by saying.. thats my mom.. the skinny one.. she is skinny. Its moments like that that remind me why I had the surgery. I did it to get my life back, to live longer for my children and to be able to get up and do the things I couldn't do with them because of my weight.

One thing I have notices post op that I didn't pre op was that I do not look "old 218 lbs" like before, I look New 218 lbs. The skin thing.....the shape of how your body got fat means that you may not look the same naked at your old weight. Rachael

Things I've learned: * I thought I would never feel hungry or that my desire to eat would just go away. It hasn't! I still have to battle not grazing all day. * I didn't realize the saggy skin issue would bother me so much. Physically and emotionally. I have much more sagging skin that I ever realized and it gets in the way of exercising and fitting into clothing. * I've found out that I have much more willpower than I ever thought. * Some of my family members NEVER ask me how I'm doing and just don't seem to want to hear about my successes. * I've found I am gaining more selfconfidence to try new things I never thought I'd try. * Strangers are much nicer to me now ... saying "Hi" or opening doors or just striking up conversations. I never realized how much I was ignored until I can see the difference now! * I've learned who are my true friends and support system. * I've learned that I can push myself to physically exercise like I never thought possible. I joined a gym and felt scared to death about it but now I actually love going! * I've learned to open up and speak in public and that people won't laugh at me. * I've learned that this really is a tool and it won't magically make me thin ... I will have to work at it everyday for the rest of my life. * And I've learned that I never ever want to be the size I used to be. I've learned how much better it feels to be lighter and feel more free. I've learned that no matter how difficult it will be, I actually want to do this for ME! Deanna