Only just the start...let's get real.

Well said!!    Glad to hear from you! It's been awhile! Take care and I sure wish I could write my thoughts as well as you do!!  Take care.  M

Hi Molly!

How have you been doing?? It has taken me awhile to get my self situated and focused again! LOL! I missed coming here for support and for some great information.

And YOU do write your thoughts very well!! Hope to hear more from you!

Hugs,
T

 I've never posted here on the main forum and rarely read, but so happy that I did today.  I loved every word of this pst. Thank you for the honesty, and saying so man things that I've recently thought.

Last friday was two years since my VSG and two months since plastics.

Ive struggled with my weight since I was 7, I'm 61 today.  My weight was what I thought about in the middle of the night, waking up, going to sleep and everything in between.  Now the weight is off, the full body plastics are over, my jeans are a size 6 from a 24 two years ago.

Now WHAT?  It's true they operate on our stomach, not on our head.  I have to use support groups, OH, WLS friends and anything else available to help me live with my head and body in sync.  Life was so much about "arriving at my destination".  So I'm there.  Now what?  Don't get me wrong, life is good and I'm filled with gratitude at everything in my life.  There's so much joy and happiness....yet still.....

Can anyone relate?

Lee, the "Now What" has probably been the most difficult part of all of this.  The high of losing weight doesn't last forever.  I've had periods of what I define as a void for me, what I do is keep pushing through.  It's definitely a never-ending journey.

 It's strange CG because I never had rapid weight loss.  I've had to really struggle for every pound I shed.  It's taken me two years to get to where I am today.  So my long path  to goal has prolonged the intense period of focus on getting to goal.

I too call it filling the "void".  For me it's about learning to fill it in healthy ways.  Not always the easiest thing to do. :)

Hi Lee,

SO glad you did stop by and post. I totally understand the NOW WHAT-and I suspect this is really the norm for those of us travelling this path.

You know-there just isn't LOTS of information about the NOW WHAT-because we are some of the first groups living it-in reality. It looks like it's down to us to start talking about it-out loud.

As with everything-there are always the pioneers. We are the pioneers of the post op life. If it doesn't exist-we absolutely owe it to ourselves and our peers, who will soon embark on the same journey, to bring it into being!

Two things more-One..congrats on your amazing success! And next-I have questions about plastics!! I actually took awhile to decide if I was going to live with it or make a plan for reconstruction. I have chosen the second. Perhaps if it's OK-I can drop you a private mail to ask more questions?

I seriously hope to see you around more!

Cheers and thanks!
T

 Of course you can write me!  The plastics forum here on OH has lots of great info.  I spent a lot of time in Dr. Saucedas group here on OH researching so that I'd have the best possible recovery.  I'm so glad I did.  As with everything, knowledge is powerful.

Im amazed that there isn't more talk about the "what now", but you're right, we're the pioneers and it's up to us to start the conversations.

Thanks for your response and for starting the conversation.

Happy birthday, Lee! At least I think happy birthday.

I turned 61 on the 13th, and can totally relate to everything you say, including the weight and sizes. I haven't had plastics is the only difference- I do have a turkey wattle under my chin I should get handled. The other bags and sags- meh. Spanx works for me.

So now we have to get with the journey, not the destination. For me it's about my volunteer work and having a purpose in life. It pulls me outside of myself and my own little universe, and it helps a lot with staying on track. I have a reason to, and it makes me feel a lot better. So it's a win/win.

Hope this helps. I know it helps me.

 Happy birthday Anne!  I actually turned 61 in October.  My bad grammar was misleading.

On my last day in Mexico while having plastics, I was terminated from an 18 year senior management position with five days notice.  My office was moved to the mid-west so it wasn't about me.

Ive been healing from plastics and feeling blindsided from work.  It's been an emotional roller coaster because I was laid low with healing, yet in emotional turmoil at the same time.  Not a good combo.

Now that I'm feeling better and can get out and exercise, I'm more balanced and focused.  I've been thinking about volunteering but do need to start my job search sometime soon.

So all of this has given me wy too much time to think about the what nows.

Regardless of everything, I have a great life with so much to be grateful for.  Great family, wonderful friends, really special weight loss surgery buddies here at home.

Thanks for your great suggestion!

Excellent post T.  I agree it is just the beginning, I'm enjoying it that's for sure.