Question...Do you have that fear?

is it starting (or has it) hit you of the fear of potentially gaining weight back? (meaning this as just a question and not that any of us are going to gain weight back) I know, personally, I have had this fear throughout my journey, though I am just as movtivated today to work this tool as I was last year. It's just something that is so real because we are now and have been seeing post-ops posting more about gaining weight back. It does scare me, but it scares me straight. It keeps me on my journey and it keeps me motivated to keep going and be healthy. It's those moments when someone comes up to you and says "I know a friend of mine who had the surgery that gained all their weight back" when I look them in the eyes and tell them "Well that's sure as hell NOT GONNA BE ME!" And then I smile and walk away knowing I am going to continue on my NEW life style. I think in many ways that fear of the potential to gain back can help us to keep on our paths. Thanks for reading my mantra, haha. So what do you think? ~Shannon

Funny. I think we are coming from the same place but I have to say to myself--"that could be me" when I hear about those folks who gain it back. That way I acknowledge that it could happen and am on the lookout for those old habits creeping back in.

I agree, it definitely coud happen to any of us. It's important to acknowledge that it could happen. Very good point.

I also say.. that is not gonna be me~ I , right now, where i am.. am resolved to being realistic about everything. I am not hiding from the fact that bad choices could make me gain weight. It is the fear that I will gain it back that keeps me pretty close to the straight and narrow. I am lucky that I dump on most things that are bad for me. Things i said i would never try. But, I did. Luckily it was only a few bites of something and wham.. pouch let me know.. DON'T do it. Thank goodness!

Good Job Heather! Keep it goin! You are doing fantastic! I too dump on the bad stuff (which I don't desire anymore anyway) and I am thankful for that bodily reminder, haha.

I hate when people tell me they know so and so who gained all of their weight back. But the sad thing is that it's so true, it is VERY common for this to happen. But ya know it's not a flaw with the surgery it's a flaw with the people. The surgery just helps give us the jump start. I say it gave me the mental time out I needed to get my head straight. Those first few months post op gave me the time out I needed from food to break my bad habits and unhealthy relationship with it. Now I have started all over and while I am very thankful for my surgery it is all about ME now! We make the choices every day that keeps us loosing or maintaining once we get to goal. We choose what to eat and how much, whether to exercise, etc. So when I say that won't happen to me, I can say it with confidence. Knowing I don't have to hope the surgery will "still work" in 5yrs but that I will still be doing the same healthy things and reaping the same healthy benefits that I do today. I am thankful (and proud) to say I still don't know if I dum*****t. I have never tried anything that would cause me to dump, I just go with the assumption I will. But I hope if I ever do that I will get the same friendly reminder from my body that you are talking about. So I guess my answer is NO I don't have a fear of gaining the weight back. I am too proud a person to let anyone have the chance to say "I told you so" to me, I will prove any nay sayers wrong and keep my weight off for good. I know we can/will all do it!

Hi Stacy, you make EXCELLENT POINTS!! I believe that we all can do it and will do it too. You are doing so great, and you look fantastic! ~Shannon

I'm a FREAK, when it comes to weighing. I think I will weigh myself everyday in the am until I die..... That's how I keep myself in check. If I see anything, or made bad choice... the SCALE let's me know, or if I don't take my LASIX...my scale let's me know........ I still have a LOT of big clothes, because of the fear of gaining the weight back... Due to my back condition, it's very hard for me to excersize. I need to do better.. I wish I had a pool here at home.................................... God Bless you.. Tanya L 358/218/185