So you lost the weight- now what?

Ellen
Yes I know exactly what you mean.  A DS vet I admire very much (Darma, she doesnt post here much but I know her IRL), told me to watch out for this.

We live for a year or more with our "high".  The scale always going down, people encouraging and complimenting us, etc. 

Now we just are the way we are.  I made a post about something similar awhile back and dug it up.  Here it is:

www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/4287781/quotNo-One-Teaches-You -What-Its-Like-to-Be-on/#35311096

Thanks for digging that up! Can't believe I didn't bookmark your post Joanne, especially since it reflected so much of what I was feeling then too. Doh!  Mind if I add it to my ds sticky? I think it would really help others.

 I would be honored to be on the sticky!
Thanks

I enjoyed the ride a while longer, partying and such :-). Then I eventually got restless and looked around and said, "Okay, time to DO something, but what?" Took a little while, but I finally got my ducks in a row to go back to school and it was TERRIFYING. Taking that step out into a world of people who had never known me fat and dying was incredibly freaky. I'm still getting used to the idea, to be truthful.

A couple weeks ago I was having supper with a couple of fellow students. Conversation turned to PE classes and from there to nutrition and dieting. These two girls are both DS material, SMO. I assured them that diets do nothing but make you fat and that the only thing that works for the longer term at this point in medical history is surgery.

"Oh yeah, that band thing."

"Nope, NOT a band, that's the WORST option. Let me tell you about the duodenal switch...." And out came the before picture. Their unison shrieks turned heads at two neighboring tables and others gathered around.

"NO WAY THAT IS NOT YOU!!!!" Etc. "Yup, that was me five years ago."

It was totally bizarre that they couldn't begin to conceptualize me as larger than either one of them. They truly have this image of me as an average sized "older" woman. Which is exactly what I am now--though of course we can argue about the definition of "older" :-D.

 Loved your story Elizabeth! I'm in such awe of you and the other long term vets for all you share and encourage just by sharing yourself and your life experiences. It really gives me hope and settles my own self doubts.

I was at a memorial service this past weekend and of course there was food after the service. I selected some fruit, cheese, and a tiny finger sandwich to nibble the guts out of. This petite lady behind me says "no wonder you stay so skinny". It was a weird feeling that someone who didn't know me sees me in that manner. I had a little chuckle and took my seat. It almost felt like I told a lie by not stating what really helped me lose the weight.    smdh   It really will take time to get used to the new me.

IMHO, I think posts like this and many more posts of maintenance is vital to this board.  We newbies and wannabees need the whole picture as much as you maintenance peeps need to vent what you're going through as well.

With any luck, we all will be where you're at and will need the answers you are seeking.  As much as we newbies need you vets, you vets need each other as well!

Very true Diane...very true. We all need each other to lean on no matter what stage of our DS lives. WL can only take you so far...the rest will be up to you. Glad this post helped you too.

I've really enjoyed reading this post... Thanks Eileen and everyone that contributed!

Lisa

Thanks so much for this post Eileen.   I find that, even though I'm in the thick of the WOW portion of this journey, that the personal growth aspect of this journey had weighed heavily on me recently.  I really appreciate hearing this side of things and hope that I can handle it with grace when I get there!