This is what worries me...

So on another site ...a woman messaged me about my surgery and asked how I was doing with it. I told her great and that I have lost 138 pounds and so on. She messaged back saying she was doing not so great. Said she had gastric bypass 11 yrs ago and gained it all back.

Then I'm thinking "WOW...11 yrs" ...that is a long time! I have control of this now. Can I have this much control in 11 yrs?? How about 3 yrs from now? When I first had surgery I was on such a high. I felt successful and I was all "I'm doing this for life".....but I'm 28 - I got a long way to go to maintain this!!! 

Hey Brooke -

Totally dig where you're coming from.  All I can offer is my own mindset about it that helps me get through this now - forgive me if you've read all this before.  I think I've ranted about this thought process on here before.

4 months ago I risked my life to become the person I am today.  Everything I do today is to honor the sacrifices made by the person  I used to be for the person I am now. 

When I eat right, when I excercise, when I take a risk by doing something new I couldn't before - all of these things honor the person who risked his life so that I could be here to do these things now.

If it had been another person - a parent, a loved one, a total stranger - who had got up on that operating table to allow me to lose all this weight, to change my life - would I disrespect them by returning to the life I had before?  No.  So what would it mean if I respected the gift from myself any less?

When I get weak, and we all do, I think about myself lying alone in that operating room wondering what comes next, what happens tomorrow.  If there would BE a tomorrow.  Well, there is a tomorrow, and I'm him.  I am my future, right here, right now.  And I refuse to be a disappointment to the person who risked their life to get me here.

/end hallmark moment

I loved the hallmark moment!  I think I will adopt your respect concept (if had been someone else, would I disrespect) if you don't mind?

And... I needed to hear it again. Please post this in some form every month, Love... it's too true and so vital to hear often. Call it Honor the sacrifice post and it should be manditory reading for everyone.... well at least I know for me.

Wow...thank you so much for this post...I've got tears in my eyes.  I'm going to print this out and post it on my refrigerator, in my office, keep a copy in my wallet, etc.  and re-read it as often as I need to to keep the faith.

Brid

Glad it helps, folks.  I need to remind myself of this every once and awhile. 

Hell I guess Thespen said it best...

But her is the technical part..

Whether you have had surgery, it doesn't matter the kind of surgery, or if you haven't had surgery.. It all boils down to one very simple fact...

Calories in must be less than calories out..

That's it.. Thanks Jillian!! ****ep that on a card in my wallet.. Time to get it lamenated it's fraying.)

Hey Brooke,
I can understand your fear, but you have to remember that surgery is just a tool.  Can you gain all the weight back?  Sure.  Can you keep the weight off?  Sure, as long as you develop good eating and exercise habits.  You are worth the effort it will take to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

If I can be successful at my age, so can you.  Have faith in yourself and accept the surgery for the wonderful tool that it is.