Post-Ops for Pre-Ops/New Post-Ops

I've been reading lots of posts from pre-ops and new post-ops.  I remember that excitement and hope for the future from my WLS.  Now that it is 2012, I'm 11 years post-op.  In some ways, it feels like yesterday that I had my surgery and in others it feels like I've always been this size.  My journey hasn't been a completely straight line.  A few years ago, I experienced a weight regain (thankfully lost it) but it certainly was a speed bump in my WLS journey.

Thinking about my own journey, I thought it would be good to start a thread about things we know now that we wish we'd known back when we had WLS.

1.  What I know is that we don't cross the finish line in our WLS journey. 

2.  It is a daily commitment and re-commitment we make with ourselves. 

3.  Don't take your weight loss for granted.  Once lost, you can regain.  Once lost, it is important to maintain.

4.  It is more than a recipe - it is staying aware of what is eating you and not eat over that.

5.  I'm worth more than anything I might eat over.

~ Cathy

It's for life, you don't get to take a day off from wls or it will remind you who is boss. So for me if I am having a pouting hissy fit and I want to sit down with a pint of ice cream, I have to know certain (atleast feeling like I am dying) is going to follow. Is it worth it, Ummm NO, but does it make me mad at times I cannot eat whatever will make me sick, Yes, for about a minute until I remember that the reason I needed wls was because I lacked self control and would eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's every single day and wonder why I couldn't lose weight.

I have learned I can trust myself somewhat to eat the right things, if presented with a bad choice I might partake but I generally don't buy the wrong things for myself. I have a hard time buying anything at the grocery store, its generally a big overwhelming challenge. I do much better with limited choices, I like to eat the same protein bars over and over.

I love how my body feels thinner, I don't want to ever feel my flesh pressed against anything again and feel the pain of not fitting into whatever it was. Its so nice to feel comfortable.

Am I always on a diet, sure the world thinks so, but to me its my normal way of eating so it doesn't feel like a huge sacrifice.

I agree with everything Cathy wrote, wls is not the end, really its just the beginning.

Thank you for being the reality that there is long term success IF YOU WORK YOUR TOOL post WLS!

I am learning that I am responsible for the outcome and the results, other than the part of stuff happens.

It is being the most useful personal growing- that's one of the best outcomes.