Support and keep peace (Nice thread) LONG

Laurie, Thanks.........I just spoke from the heart.........My flowers do that to me..........In fact we are kinda like flowers.........We are all blossoming and becoming beautiful & healthy....... Kelly

Awwwwwwwwww your a sweetie....   I have personally decided this... I will not give advice regarding food intake or slip-ups unless asked anymore.  My approach has gone over with some like a lead balloon...  I also have met many wonderful people, but after over two years on the board I understand that just because a person had WLS doesnt mean I will like them. I laugh to myself thinking that some coffee groups are using the support time to gossip about other people, to me thats so sad and shows how some still dont feel good about themselves. So before I go on and on again like the proverbial lead balloon.... no worries.. take care of yourself !! Lets shoot for getting together next week ok? Hugs

Aww Linda!  You have been nothing but encouraging and supportive to me!  You're a doll! As far as coffee groups, I can't even remember the last time I got to go to one.  Wah!  I loved the idea of the Christianity Coffee WLS group, and am still trying to figure out if this is a go or not going to happen anymore.  I don't think there would be room for childish gossip in such a group and really love the whole concept! (((Hugs))) Michelle

LA, I would love to meet next week, how about Tuesday?  I want all the info you can share with me.......You've done awesome with your tool, and I'd love some help.  And I can share with you what my nurse had to say too. I'll post it to, maybe I can help someone else that's struggling too. Kelly

No matter what I say, it will only give more fuel for all the gossip.... So....  ~~~~  DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY!!!

 

Barb, I feel we made alot of progress today.....Everyone on the board I think is ready for peace & support, etc. We had some good posts on here, so I'm glad I started it. We all are going through this WLS, and we all need support, love, caring and understanding........ I feel my ideas and others were good ones, and may help those of us that are a little more sensitive than others. You've done a great job with your tool, and you've helped many people on here.  I hope the fire has been snuffed out for good......We all are here for support, So lets support one another........ Kelly

You make some really good points in your email - thanks for your thoughtfulness and concern about the direction the board was taking.  I was noticing a lot of negative stuff, and was concerned that maybe things were going downhill.  I'm more of a "lurker" but I post when I have something to add that hasn't already been said.   You mentioned addiction, and another poster spoke of it as well.  I have found a great place for support at OA meetings.  I had great success with WLS, but as we all know, the surgery doesn't fix our heads.  I went to therapy about 6 months after surgery, and it helped somewhat, but the obsession with food remained.  I hadn't gained any weight back yet, but was very concerned that I would.  A friend from church led me to OA, and it has been wonderful for me.  After surgery, I lost about 100 lbs within about 7 months, and have started losing again now that I'm not overeating.  I'm already below goal, but I think my weight will stabilize soon.  If anyone is interested in OA, there are meetings just about everywhere, or you could contact me if you'd like. Again, thanks for posting your thoughts and suggestions about being supportive of one another.  I think it's important to remember to be kind and respectful whenever possible.  Despite our personal differences and even different surgeries, "we're all in this together!"

Renee, I think this board is great, but needed a little tweeking to make people feel more comfotable and at ease.........I'm still pretty new (6 months out almost) but if I was a newbie I would be gun shy, So I thought I'd put my best foot forward and try to make peace, and hopefully everyone would follow. Were all in the same boat and all need support....... These OA meetings sound interesting and I might just check into them, I've been struggling for 2 months now and feel like such a failure. Everyone says I look good and have done well, but I know the weight can go on fast and I don't want that to happen..........I can't wait to see my nurse, I have so many questions........I don't want to fail.......If they could only fix are heads with this surgery..........I may just PM you for more info on OA. Thanks for sharing this....... I'm feeling good with all these responses.....Very supportive, Good advice, ideas.....This is what a board should be...... Kelly

adriannamae,
This is a beautiful post. I'm usually a lurker on the Mn. board because I dont really know anyone on here but I hope to meet some of you when I come out to the OH conference. I've seen the drama and the lashing out at people and the nonconstructive criticisms not only here on OH but also lapbandtalk.com. It makes me sad sometimes, and a little helpless. Sometimes I want to ask for support or advice (I've been plateued for about 2 months) but I'm afraid to because you never know who is going to say anything like "Simply put, your an idiot and don't know how to use your tool" in more or less words. Sometimes it just feels like grade school, anyone else get picked on for being the fat kid? I think the we are all in this together, and should be somewhat encouraging and supportive of other people thoughts and feelings. Everyone doesn't have to meet for coffee or be shopping buddies. But we're all in the same boat, we all had some sort of weight loss surgery which to me is a pretty major life changing event. Lets remember that NO ONE is perfect, whether you've lost ALL of your over weight, or 50 pounds, we all have our demons and skeletons inside.

So Adrianna, thanks for posting this, and I'm truly not trying to step on any toes, I just wanted to add a little from an outsiders point of view.

Thanks,
~Lauren

Lauren, Thank you.....And thanks for posting yourself......I put this post out in hopes that it would help this board, I think by all the responces things will go better. Please if you ever need support come here because I really think everyone is ready & willing to be supportive to one another in a kind way. Or if you need a butt kicking then ask for one. Yes, I know a bunch of us are going to the OH conference, by all means please hook up with us. Post on the boards when it gets closer or PM one of us.  Kelly