My Journey So Far at 6 Years Out (Extremely Long and Wordy)

Dawn,

Of course I read every word.  Twice. lol  Your words and feelings and experiences are similar to all of us.  This "journey" we're on never ends, does it.  There are struggles of some sort everyday.  We learn to deal with them, as you have.  I so admire your candor and willingness to share.  I know full well that you are an incredible support group leader. I'm aspiring to that myself (so far so good lol).

You are in my heart, Dawn.  I've "known" you for an awful long time now. (Hey, remember when we all thought your name was Stef? LOL) You, my dear, are a true success and the wisdom and experience you share with others is invaluable.  Thank you for that.

Be happy, sweetheart.  You've more than earned it.

Love,
Karen XOXO

Karen,

Thanks so much for the kind words.  As a long timer on this board, your words mean much more than you could know.  It's a shame that we don't have more around here to talk about the long term struggles that exist...but at least the board has become about keeping it real :)

WOW! You have a great memory on the Stef thing.  I was certain that hiding behind a moniker would give me privacy but then found out quickly that when you use your name and your picture with your post,, people find that they remember you better and you become more of a presence than just someone who "pops in and out" of the board.  I laughed though - that was SO long ago!  Wicked memory!

As a support group leader, it's a very funny thing - I was hesitant to share my post with my group.  It's partially the deeply personal  things I've shared as well as the fact that I'm a terrible perfectionist and feel like I always have to make it feel like I've got my act together. LOL  But I guess admitting we are human makes us more relateable in the end as the post was well received.  I know that you do a great job with your cawfee talks and are highly respected in your group.  I have a feeling that you are far more inspiring than you know.

Have a great day!

Dawn

Dawn,

Thank you for being brave and honest enough to post this.  As you can tell from the responses (I have never seen this many responses to a thread) you struck a cord with others.  When I started this journey I struggled to find those who are more than five years out to really see what life was like, long term, on the other side.  I somehow sensed the magical first year was not the be all and end all of this journey.  I don't think you should worry about turning newbies off, I think we ALL need to know at the START of this journey that this is a life-long process and our tool cannot work all by itself.  We need to try and start the headwork early so that when the real struggles begin, we have a head start.

My surgeon said something interesting to me recently; surgery isn't a cure for obesity but rather a control.  This really brought the message home that although my BMI is essentially normal, I have NOT been cured of obesity and I should never let my guard down.  It's like treating high blood pressure, the medication keeps the numbers low, but if you stop the pills, your readings will go right  back up again.

I have copied and pasted your post into a running file I keep of tips/tricks/thoughts and ideas surround this journey.  I think it is a powerful reminder of how we should approach this gift and the rest of our lives.

Thank you so much for sharing,

Andrea.

Andrea,

It's very true that this is not a cure.   That's why there's often so much passion for those that seemingly are trying to sabotage themselves on here.  The long timers care.  We care a lot.  We know how HARD this struggle becomes and how so many live with regrets.  We don't want anyone to have a regret....

Thanks for all your kind words!  I wish you well on your journey!

Dawn

Thank you for this post, I really appreciate your candor and insight.  I just went to the orientation session and brought my husband along.  He is supportive but asking fair and reasonable questions about what will change afterward and how do I see this surgery impacting not just my diet but my life in general and wants me to be to be 100% sure that it will it be worth it.  Your post reinforces what I have read about expecting ups and downs and that the surgery is only one part of the process, but to hear that after it all you don't regret having the surgery is very reassuring.  I have actually sent him a link to the post so he can see it as well and hopefully have a better understanding of what to expect.  Thank you again! 

It is a truly wonderful gift.  I would definitely do things differently but I would never change or not do surgery. NEVER EVER EVER!!

Good luck to you!

Dawn

Thanks so much for posting this. I really like reading your site as well, it was a wealth of information when I first started researching WLS and I have been poking around after having my own surgery.

Thanks for taking the time to respond Lindsey,

All the best to you,
Dawn

You are probably now overwhelmed with positive responses that you probably didn't expect...lol

I am very grateful that you posted this.  Came at the right time too because as I wrote n my blog, was in a little dark place the last couple of weeks.  

All those years brainwashed as I call it, from a routine of overeating, for what ever our reasons are, is certainly not something that will heal with a snip of our stomach and alot of people think it will.

Love everything you wrote because we forget sometimes to work the brain part of this journey and in my opinion, it's the #1 thing to have success.  To see a number on the scale or have a small body is a bonus to me.  But to be healed mentally, that's huge and man oh man, what a process that is...lol...like you said so well, work in progress for the rest of our lives.

Thanks for being you!
Nathalie

This kind of "OVERWHELMED" is a good kind of overwhelmed.

It seems the timing has resonated with a lot of people.  A lot of people are struggling and I guess we all tend to hide more than talk about what we are going through.  I try to be honest and open and well sometimes that makes us feel a bit vunerable.  But we all feel that way I think from time to time.

Thanks for the kind words Nathalie
Dawn