This Spoke to Me

Diane came on the board a few days ago and asked how we were all doing.  It was great to see her!  I love Diane, and she has always been such an upbeat and positive person on the board.  When I let her know that I missed her here, she said:

Hey Mel! I hate being away from the board but I have a new life... 

And, I wanted to say how much I agree with this statement.  I "pop in" all the time, read up on what's going on, don't post and then later stop by again... several, if not 10 times a day.  I have internet at work so in between tasks, I check the internet sites that I am a member of.  

I felt somewhat guilty about not posting.  I love the board.  But, I have so much on my plate right now that I am just not able to post.  When I read Diane's statement, it really spoke to me.  I could identify with what she said.  

I remember when I had the surgery.  I did not have a life worth living.  I "existed" every day.  I was not happy nor healthy and life and breathing had become a chore.  Since wls, I live!  I breathe!  I enjoy!  It has given me a second chance for life and living. I have experienced things in the past 2 years that I thought I never would.

So along with this little thought comes a question to YOU:

What do you want weight loss surgery to do for you?

Are you ready for a change in your life, that you are really living?

If so, share some of those things.

If not, why?  What is holding you back?  

We've all been given a wonderful new opportunity to live our lives....   

I want to have the energy to clean my house
take a walk in this beautiful weather

Hi, Melinda.
I can understand why some people feel like they want a new life with weight loss surgery. I think I blogged about this not too long ago. I feel a little differently about it myself. I like my life very much. It is filled with a loving family, a house of our own, a new grandbaby and so much more. I'm not really seeking a new life for myself. I just have an awareness that my life will be shorter than I would wi**** to be if I don't get off some of this weight. I do want to be able to participate in more activities than I can now. That would be absolutely wonderful, but if for some reason something keeps me from having surgery, I will be disappointed but I will still have a great life. I have so much to be thankful for. Having surgery, and losing weight will just be the icing on the cake.

I do want to say that I understand about wanting something different than an obese person's life. I felt the same way before I met my husband. He has loved me so unconditionally that I have accepted that I'm okay the way I am. My new life started when I met him. What I want from surgery is freedom from the bondage of inactivity that accompanies my obesity. That and a hopefully longer life are the things that are important to me. I'll just have to wait and see if those things happen, if the surgery happens for me.

Blessings,
Karen

When I first decided to have WLS was when my cardiologist and PCP told me that unless I got the excess weight off my life expectancy was not very good - maybe 3 or 4 years. I had congestive heart failure, chronic edema (swelling) of the legs and feet, sleep apnea, was pre-diabetic, and was always fatigued. I could not even toss a baseball with my grandson for more than 5 minutes, or walk up the 2 flights of stairs at work.  I was taking 13 medications daily. I decided to have the surgery simply because I wanted to live longer.

Now, 7 months after surgery I am 160+ lbs. lighter. I feel like a new man and have much more energy. I no longer have congestive heart failure, chronic edema (swelling) of the legs and feet, sleep apnea, and am no longer pre-diabetic. I now take only 1 medication a day.  I can play ball with my grandkids, walk the treadmill for 4 miles or more, lift weights, ride my motorcycle for extended trips - basically do anything I want to. My life has changed tremendously - I actally HAVE a life now!!  WLS was the best thing I ever did. 

I feel indebted to the folks who were here for me when I was a pre-op newbie researching, answering questions, relating personal experiences they had pre and post-op, and just giving support. People like you Mel, and Trina, Bob L., Scott, Marilyn and all the others *****sponded and helped me in my journey.  I'll never forget that. That's why I want and feel I need to contribute to this forum and maybe re-pay a little bit of what I was given to me by helping others who are about to start or have just started their personal WL journey. 

Yep, I have a great, active life now - thanks to this wonderful surgery. But I don't want to ever forget how it felt to be just starting and needing answers and support.  I want to try and be there for someone else, just like ya'll were here for me.

This has been one heck of a ride! Everything I hoped it would be has meet and exceeded any expectations.
I think my buddy BamaBob is exaggerating a little I find it hard to believe he lost 1,160 lbs, but he did have a big butt! BwaHahaha!!!!!

Well, they didn't call me Two Ton for nuthin'!! BwaHahahahaha!!!

( That's what you call a "typo"!  )

Glad it was just a typo  . When you said your but  was dragging heck I would believe it 1,160 lbs of skin! BwaHahaha!!!!

BobL, I saw that too in bama's post!  Is that what they call "wide load" in the trucking business? lol

10-4!!!!

It's funny you should mention this.  Beth and I were talking the other day!  Yes, we actually communicate with each other in person than on the computer!  And we talked about how active our social calendar has become.

Before we had surgery, I was always the "social butterfly" of the group.  I went to most functions, but never stayed long, or had an excuse in case I had to leave.  It's almost ridiculous the amount of parties that we have been invited to this year!

Beth seems to think it's because we are smaller, and I agree to a certain extent.  Yes, we have been invited to more Christmas parties than ever before, but I also notice, we are accepting more invitations than we did before!

Your comment about just existing rang so true to me!  That's all I did...exist!  Now I am existing with a purpose...to live!

For a long time I used this statement to summarize work...

"I work to live, I don't live to work". 

Before and after WLS my mantra is this...

"I live to eat, now I eat to live, and living is what I do!"

Have a great day!
Scott