"Today"

You got that right Roxy.

Beautiful!  Thanks for sharing this - I'm gonna need it for a long while to come.  

Thank you Betsy.

Gary, 

such an amazing and true statement.  I Hope you do not mind I also would like to use your quote as a daily reminder that I am the one who controls my journey.  Thank you 

You're Welcome.

I really appreciate this and all of your posts, Gary V.

Thank you Roma. That matters very much to me.

What a great post!  I absolutely concur, this is a decision-based lifestyle.  The initial surgery, for me, was a bootstrap, but I make the DECISION, every day - nearly six years later - to succeed.  This isn't a story of WLS, it's a story of a permanent life change, one day at a time that starts with that decision at every meal.  These days it's often automatic, kind of like muscle memory, but on some occasions the muscle gets an extra workout, LOL!

I will say this, learning thru these boards during my research phase that the WLS would not result in automatic weight loss in the long term was a shock that took me some time to come to grips with. (Right after surgery, capacity is so limited that weight loss occurs, but that doesn't last.)  I originally thought I could have surgery and continue to eat the way I had been (that old debbil "magical thinking") and the weight would just fall off.  I'm glad I was brought up short, early-on in the process, so that I could get my head straight before I went into surgery.  I hope the same for newbies.

Thank you Kathy, I really appreciate your kind words.

Hi Gary, how are you?  HOW IS your wife doing?  I hope she is healing well and pain free.

Your poem is wonderful, it brought tears to my eyes, in a good way.  I hope it was comfort for you and your son during a dark time.

I am just so THRILLED how much you "get it" All of your paragraphs speak to me on a deep level, but the one I really find that has touched me is "The reason I'm losing this unwanted weight is because I DECIDED to."  Yes you had the surgery, but now you have decided to follow your plan, work hard and face the choices that you will have to make to be successful.

The hard work does start soon, maintenance is very hard. But you are so aware, so in tune with your body, and so ready to begin this next chapter of our life.

So proud of you Gary.  Keep up the great work!  Really happy for you!

All the best,

Daisy