Use your WLS! ...... Old repost.......for newer guys...

Old post from about a year ago… Sorry for those who’ve been around awhile..skip this old rant……. _______________________________________________________________ Last Night I spoke at a WLS Seminar And it went fine. Afterwards, there was a bunch of the “mingling and handshaking” Where most of the questions that people were afraid to ask In front of everyone get asked. 6 men were there, out of the 40-some-odd people. Back when I started all of this, men made up only 12% Of the total people having WLS. Last night the new numbers were announced- Now 19% of the people having WLS are Men! We’re Up By 7%! In fact, of the 4 “guest Speakers” 2 of us were men. A “Bander” and Myself. I’ve seen him before at these things. “Hey, Lookin’ Good!” We had our surgeries about a month apart and lost to goal In same amount of time. He only had 140+ to lose, so I still Get a little “one-Ups-man” with him. That was good news. Now the Downer of the evening came from a woman there. She was probably 160+ Over her ideal weight. 4X easy. She pulled me off to the side to tell me about her surgery And ask -“How in the world have you lost the weight?” She had RNY 4 years ago as well. Different Group of Doctors than Mine. She’s here looking for more info. She explained that at first she lost a lot of weight (80 to 90 pounds) But then she just gained and gained. She’s about 40 pounds less than she was before surgery. Still, she’s only lost about 20% of her excess weight. I asked if she had been “scoped” To see if she had a staple-line disruption? “Have you looked at getting a Revision?” “Yep, did that about 2 1/2 years ago. Don’t need a revision, My surgery is fine, it just doesn’t work!” I asked if there was “pouch stretch?” “No, my problem is I don’t dump!” I asked her what she ate? “Oh, I can eat anything.  Ice Cream and Pie And fried stuff ...Candy bars, everything. It made me a little sick at first, But for the last 3 years, I’ve had NO problem with it!”   I asked- “B-...b...But ...DO you eat those things?” “Well, Yeah! The surgery doesn’t stop me!” Just blank stare from me..... She asked- “So what should I do?” “Do you exercise?” “Oh Lord no, not until I get down to a weight where I can!” Blank stare from me....again. (I’m sure I was slack-jawed) She grins- “So how do you do it?” “I don’t know what to tell you, Other than ... I Don’t eat sweets or stuff just because I Can, I Eat protein first, Exercise, Drink as much water as I can, And take my vitamins.” SHE stared blank... “Go talk with one of the Docs up there And get set up with a nutritionist.” At that point, One of the Men interrupted (Thank God) And asked if I lost faster than the guy with the Band. “Bout the same actually.” He said- “Well, I’m going to be self-paying and it’s a lot cheaper. I just want one that’ll work.” Noticed the lady had drifted back into the group.... Must have watched her for a second, Sort of drifting in thought... Man says- “Right?” Thought a beat and said to the man... “Which ever one YOU Work with, Will Work, But neither of them will do it alone. YOU lose the weight, The Surgery WON'T Do It For You!” He hadn’t heard the lady. He must have thought- “Dam this guy is adamant for no reason...What an Azz-hole!” I talked to several other folks. Kep****ching “the lady” And she never spoke to one of the Docs Or the Program Manager. Just sort of used the evening as a social event, And spoke with the other Post-ops there. One of the Women Post-Op speakers Who I see from time to time in Support group, came over to “Get the buzz” on my PS. Then after we had briefly “caught up, she asked- “Did you talk to that woman in the blue shirt?!?” “Yeah.” She asked- “WTF?!?” (and she used the initials which makes me smile a little) I said, “It kills me when I think of people who need to get this surgery, Who ‘Fight’ to get this surgery, And then there are people blowing it, With theirs.” So, what did I get from that? I want to pass on, To tell everyone, To scream out- “DON”T BLOW IT!!!!” There are people getting passed over everyday For this life saving surgery. If you are lucky enough to get it, Use it the very best you can! I guess this is the opposite end of that- “Clean Your Plate!! There Are Kids Starving in China Who would give anything to have those Lima Beans!!”

 

Well, that worked pretty well on me.... So- USE YOUR WLS!!! There are Kids, Bloating up on Rice in China that would give anything… Oh Well...

 

Just some thoughts.... I’m way over my 3 emoticon limit anyway, And have to get to sleep….. Best Wishes- Dx

 

"In fact, of the 4 “guest Speakers” 2 of us were men.
A “Bander” and Myself.
I’ve seen him before at these things.
“Hey, Lookin’ Good!”
We had our surgeries about a month apart and lost to goal
In same amount of time. He only had 140+ to lose, so I still
Get a little “one-Ups-man” with him".  I am picturing a little West Side Story knife fight about to break out.    ...and about the lady, at least I am to ashamed to actually admit what I eat.  She doesn't seem to know that she is all screwed up.

Great stuff - thanks for posting!

Keep em' coming Dx.  Even us old timers need to be reminded of past wisdoms as our memory seems to fade from the early WLS days. Thanks! Boner

Great reminder!  Thanks, Dx! CB

Thanks for the words of wisdom. Sometimes I get scared because at just under 8 weeks out I can feel myself wanting to "test the water" and try some stuff. I just keep reminding myself how I felt pre-op when this was the only thing in the world I wanted and how I kept telling myself that I wouldn't be that person.

I really give it up to you guys that are years and years post-op and still going strong. I really hope I'll be able to be in the same position as you guys 2 years, 5 years and 30 years down the road!

Thanks for the post...

That is a great post, Dx. Thanks.

That will always be one of the great questions. Why some people are able to get in their protein, sufficien****er, solid food every three hours, exercise and cut way back on s**tty food, while others go right for a buffet of high calorie liquid stuff coupled with inactivity.

As for me, I can now leave chocolate, ice cream and other stuff sitting around the house and not even look at it. I suspect others must have more difficulty.

But who knows, it could just be because I stayed on the program from the beginning. Perhaps that's what it takes.

Best Wishes,

Dave