Old timers and Stressors - Accountablility -Regret

Becky, 8pm tonight?  Sounds good to me.  I'll put the word out with a new post.  Hope you don't mind.

that's great Tanya... just got home from HEB and I will be ready by 8 I hope.  Please please feel free to post.. we all need all the support we can get.

thanks for helping!

Your post is why I think I feel the way I do about having my surgery; (see cold feet)  I think it is because I have read so many post over the months of those who struggle with working the tool and I think ok so if so many struggle with doing the right thing and I already have bad habits and even the dr said most people go back to their old habits then what chance do I stand? 

it's understandable to have cold feet, but the bottom line really is..

do you want to be healthy and feel 10000% better than you do right now?  If you had any other disease, and Yes, this is a disease, would you be willing to do anything to deal with the disease and keep it from killing you?

So if most people go back, what do most people do? Probably not struggle so much  or know that they can have bad days and still get back on track.  It's like raising a child, working for a difficult boss, climbing a slippery slope, or any other anything in your life.  It takes time, it takes the support of your family and this family of choice right here.  WE have been there, WE know.

You are gonna have stalls and you will get frustrated and you will say, "why the hell did I ever do this, cuz I want cheesecake (or whatever your vice is)."

You will always get support here if you need it.  But you might also get a 'snap out of it' if you need it.  Because if you say, 'well I eat this or I eat that and I don't know why i'm not losing'.. or 'the doctor says don't eat '  " but i'm going to anyway; gosh, my tummy hurts!' .. well you're gonna get tough love.

IF you want the health and are willing to sacrifice, you won't regret it. 

Aren't you worth it?

Get the facts.  Don't just listen to those on OH who are vocal.  There are medical facts out there that will tell you exactly what percentage of people are successful.  And let me tell you, the bottom line is that I am healthy.  Even if I gain back a few pounds, I no longer have the medical problems that I did pre-op.  In the end it is a decision that only you can make, but let me say loud and clear, even with the recentl struggles I would do it all over again in a heart beat and I think you'll get the same thoughts from most WLSers. 

Are you coming to the OH conference in Dallas on Septeber 25-26?  Check the events page and get the details.  But I'm sure you'd find it beneficial  So mich good info, not to mention actually meeting some of us face to face.  I wouldn't mind you quizzing me till I'm blue in the face if it'll help you.  Most of the people on this board let me quiz them when I was going through the process and it really helped.

I didn't chime in on your thread yesterday as time constraints didn't allow me to.  However, I'll say this.....the journey isn't always easy, however, when you use your tool you can see such wonderful, inspiring progress. 

I went 2 1/2 years with no food struggles.  Lots has happened the past 1 1/2 years that has caused some emotional stuff to deal with and I realized that although I did well the first 2 1/2 years my eating addiction is and will forever be a part of me.  I HAVE to make amends with my weaknesses and learn to deal with life situations and not turn to food whenever I need to be comforted. 

I'll chime in with Becky and Tawyna also and say that I LOVE my WLS, I love having my health back and I'll fight tooth and nail if necessary to not regain any sizeable amount of weight.  We aren't perfect, support is there for each of us to reach out to and IMO it's the key component of life as a WLS person.

Take your time to come to term with what you need and want to do.  Bad habits aren't just associated with food, I have other bad habits and do I'm sure many others on this board.  It's how you deal with your habits long term that are important.  Don't go into it with I'll be perfect.....it's not going to happen.  We are human, humans make mistakes....picking yourself up, dusting the dirt off and learning from your mistakes and TRYING, and TRYING again will make you a WLS success story.

Bearing any malfunctions from WLS, I don't believe I'll ever gain the 130 lbs (give or take) that I've lost. 

I do suggest you see a therapist if at all possible to learn to deal and cope, I didn't do it and I haven't had allot of luck finding anyone locally that deals with eating disorders.  IF I find that person, I promise I'll be there gleeming all the skills and tools available to deal with obesity.

Good luck!

 Exhorter,

Most of us who have issues didn't have them for years.   It seems that once the "honeymoon phase" is over and all the "WOW" moments stop.....some of us when we get really stressed out turn back to food.   Not everyone does that nor does everyone gain weight back.    I have gained a little back...but trust me...I watch my weight like a hawk.    I feel that we ALL need counciling for our food issues !!!!   But all in all....You ask any of us if we would do the WLS over again.   I imagine most of us would say yes !!!!  I have NEVER regreted my surgery for one second.    

Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian

I may not be exactly where I want to be, but I'm still a success from a WLS standpoint.
IMO, many people get hung up on the "all or nothing" approach to everything. That works for me in some respects, but not all, and everyone has to do what works for them.
I did this to be normal. I like food, I like the taste of food, but don't consider myself to be addicted (i'm not addicted to air or water, but definitely need them to survive!) I'm sure others will disagree with me, but that's fine!
I'm sitting at about 170, which is about 5 lbs out of my highest happy range. I weigh what I weighed when I first started college, and  I'm not anywhere near the miserable 262-265 that I was pre-WLS.
I'd say my biggest issue is being too busy to make myself a priority, and to lazy to take the time to plan appropriately.   I have a 1 year old, a new job at which I have to be very conscious of my hours, and just general life to deal with. I'm not special or any more important than anyone else. 
This far out, WLS is a small facet of my life, not like when I was a new post-op and everything was looked at through the "prism" of WLS.

Becky it is not lack of knowledge - I KNOW full well what I need to be doing - don't we all?

for me it is the emotional energy that is needed to put into losing those last few pounds - to not gianing -

the last few days I have been eating a lot of sald with meat n cheese instead of eating junk carbs/potatoes with the kids - and wow I feel better and the scale is inching back down - my goal 2 weeks ago was to lose 10 pounds this month while Tim was gone - ummm ok so that did not happen b/c I was stressed out and hormonal - so now all of a sudden I can eat right and work out and keep my head on straight - not bragging but making a point here - and it is not that friggin hard so WHY did I not do this the last 2 weeks????
lets see - I feel better eating right
the scale moves the correct direction
I have more energy when I work out
I am in a better place emotionally

so why oh why does it take a brick upside the head to make me REMEMBER what I am suppose to do????

I can't ever seem to remember that it is not that hard to do what I am suppose to if I will JUST DO IT  but making myself do it takes all that emotinal energy that I don't always have to spare

not sure this makes any sense but to me it seems that it's not doing what I am suppose to it's STARTING back to do what I know I should that is hard

Danni

I will just say I will be watching this closely. I have gained 10 lbs this summer and feel horrible about it....I know what I need to do to "stop" the madness but just can't seem to find it in myself to do it. I am going through another 'big" challenge right now that is a major turning event in my life....so I know that is causing me stress and I am mindlessly eating these days. Wellthat and the fact that I have 10-12 kids here daily so I eat on the run and oftne what I foix for them....ie....chili dogs, pizza. spaghetti/....etc....Plus having to keep snacks on hand....hopefully we can band together here (and not only on facebook) and come up with some solutions....