Where is everyone?

Where is everyone?

I suppose everyone is off living their newly lightened lives.  I know I am! As I sit here on the foggy and delightfully cool spring morning half the woman I used to be, I can't help but reflect upon the journey of the last few years, how much my life has changed, and yet stayed the same.
 
My clothing size has changed from a 24 to a 4, but I still dress in black and white. My rationalization before was that black is "slenderizing". Now I just say that because I don't have many clothes, it all matches and makes it easy to put together outfits.

I am still the same person I was before WLS. All those insecurities and self doubt didn't melt away with the pounds, but somehow they did seem to shrink just like the fat cells. However, I must remember that like the fat cells, those same insecurities can swell right back up if I don't take care of myself!

I always enjoyed motorcycle riding, hiking and walking, only now I can enjoy them for a longer duration without so much huffing and puffing and stares and heckling from passersby.

My husband and I eat out just as much as before, but now we only order one meal and share. I used to let him order, but now if I can only have a few bites, I want to be able to enjoy them to the fullest! (My husband likes for me to explain that I have had stomach surgery so the waiter doesn't just think he is cheap! Ha ha.)

I do my job to the best of my ability. I always have, but for some reason I am no longer "invisible" and my co-workers and boss come to me for advice . I am not "doing" anything differently. For some reason people seem to be more comfortable around me now. Go figure.

The only problems I have experienced in the last year and a half have been with constipation, gas and most recently, hypoglycemia. These are all problems I had before the surgery, but have been exacerbated by the surgery.

I can eat almost anything in moderation, except Chic-Fil-A biscuits. I eat the chicken all the time, but one bite of the biscuit sits like a lead ball in my pouch and seems to take forever to go away.

My husband would like me to gain ten pounds, but I don't ever want to be over 140 pounds again, ever!

My only regret is that I couldn't have done this 20 years ago! I have to tell myself that there was a reason why my time came when it did. (Such as a change from 5% mortality rate in the 90's to .4% now)

Do I mourn the loss of the ability to eat all I want? Of course I do. Instead now, for the first time in my life, I have a stop mechanism. 

I am still the same person on the inside. Sure my skin hangs like a ninety year old's, but hey, every time I put on my size 4's and look in the mirror, I feel like a new woman!

Happy Summer!

Congrats on your success

Congratulations on your success! I am seeing Dr. Macik as well, and considering VSG. No surgery date yet. I'm nervous about having surgery, and the inevitable "rough spots" that I know I'll probably encounter (nausea, etc.) but I try to focus on the aftermath: losing weight so that I can play tennis and jog again! And I don't doubt that people treat you differently since your weight loss. I'm wondering if the same will happen to me, and my guess is, it will. I can't count the times I've been virtually ignored by salespeople and thought "Yes, if I wasn't overweight I bet the reaction would be WAY different!" I remind myself that what others think isn't important. It's how I feel, MY health, what I am able to do post-op that I couldn't do before.
And if I have to end my love affair with Chick-Fil-A biscuits, that's probably a good thing!

Hey Cheryl,

I have been wondering the same thing.      " Where is everybody?"

I'm still here.  I have been doing a lot of traveling this summer and am in school full time.

I haven't bothered posting lately because the GA forum seems pretty much dead.  There were only 9 new topics for the entire month of May and of those 3 were announcing support meetings and meet and greets.

It is a shame because at one point this was a great place to find friends and support.  We used to celebrate approvals, surgiversaries new babies, post op romances. We'd get together for monthly outings, give pre- and post op care advice, recommend surgeons, psych, nutritionists, protein and vitamins, etc. None of that support is flowing anymore.

Granted, our bantering would get controversial at times, but at least somebody did give a hoot.

 I just don't have the energy or desire to drum up any enthusiasm for GA forum anymore.   For example, members  post they are having serious complications and you get 150 lurkers and only a couple of folks have the decorum to share an encouraging word??? 

                                                              
                                           What's up with that?

Does becoming a post op make you self centered or an introvert? Or a snob that doesn't have time for the fat girls left behind waiting for their wls dates?

     
         Why do people disappear when they start losing weight?



But...you get 100's of people arguing on MB about why DS is better than rny is better than the band,  yada yada yada. 


                                                            
                                 Am I being over critical?

I do pray people are finding good support from their surgeon's groups and face-book, because this is a difficult journey to travel alone.



Regards,

LaShelle

I just wanted to say that just because I don't come here as often as I used to doesn't mean that I don't think about all of you.  I have a MAJORLY busy life these days.  I had baby #4 back at the end of September and he was 3 weeks early because of my blood pressure.  Having 4 kids keeps a person busy.  Keep in mind that was also right before the holidays and then having kids in school, being a room mom, and having one child that is preparing for middle school... well... I think you get the picture.  Anyway, I'm still here and one of these days would love to see everyone at lunch or something.  I just have been so busy.