The Simple, Elegance of WLS- (gentle reminder-re-post)
Hey Guys........... With the recent “Drama” I thought I’d re-post some of the “Softer Gentler” Men’s Board Threads--- (bear with me, and skip if not interested or not in ‘Gentle Mode’) The Simple, Elegance of WLS- So sorry for the Long Ramble.... But- My pea brain Has been spinning again..... It started with finding a small seed sometime back. A seed from a Large Dogwood tree That drapes over my back patio. I picked it up and carried it in- “I’ll eventually plant that, To see what happens.” Here it sits In a little paperclip holder on my desk. It’s not Worrying about, Or Thinking about “The Future” at all... It’s Not Thinking about- How do I go about Blossoming?” Now, I’ve seen a lot of folks on the Main Board Lately, Discussing Calorie/Carb counts, All of the various shakes and recipes, The virtues of specific exercise regimens, Various tangentially connected issues Surrounding the whole WLS Journey. Numbers, numbers and more numbers. All with the intention of using the “Tool of WLS” To the maximum. Some one recently posted- “There’s Just SO MUCH STUFF to keep track of!” And many people commiserated with how Complicated their “routines” had become. More and more extra steps To insure good food choices, And great “Long Term” Success. A Constant Daily mish-mash of numbers, Rules, Activities, Suggestions, etc..... It’s Very Complex, This WLS Business. Or so it would seem. I’m a Designer, by Profession/Career, (not- “Who I am,” by any means, just my job.) And I’m constantly on the look out For Perfection in Design. One of my favorite quotes, (That does not come from my Hero- BuckMinster Fuller,) But rather from another “Futurist”, Artist, Author, (The Little Prince) And Architect / Designer- Antoine de Saint-Exuper. "Perfection in Design is achieved, Not when there is Nothing more to add, But when there is Nothing left to take away." Looking at this seed, Reminds me that it contains all of the info Needed to build a tree. A tree that has unique blossoms. No computer could hold the information Needed to construct a self healing device, That systematically gathers energy from the sun, Minerals from the soil, and “builds” itself. It synchs up with the phases of the moon To produce blossoms again and again. No complexity. Not a constant recalculation Every step along the way. Just a simple set of Genetic Directives. An Elegant Solution is Nature. Just the Natural Flow of Excellence. Rather than adding rule upon rule To plot out the “Design of the Tree,” This seed has the whole of the plans In a simple exquisite package. So I would like to draw some advice From Nature, concerning WLS. It’s not about numbers And rules And constant adjustments And Tracking And calculating percentages..... Nature has a Simple, Elegant, Perfect set of “Directives.” That’s when I remembered That WLS does as well. Eat to be Satiated, Not “Full!” Protein first, then other foods... Don’t drink with your meals. Water, Water, Water, And then have some more water. Supplement your Vitamins. Get some exercise. And That Really is “The Basics.” We constantly hear- “Get back to the Basics.” When anything, Anything, is messing up, Go back and check it, From the Foundation Up And the Problem CAN NOT remain a mystery. If you drink as much water as you should It’s actually hard to fit in grazing and “Snacks.” If you don’t Over-Eat To the point of Nausea or Discomfort Your pouch will work. When ever I see someone Not Succeeding, It is “Usually,” I repeat- USUALLY! Because they are neglecting One or more of the Simple Directives. “I’ve been snacking lately...” “I’m having trouble remembering to get in my water...” “When is it OK to have Pizza?” “I don’t Dump, SO I’ve been eating sweets lately...” “I’m eating a lot of bread and the Gas is Killing Me!” Etc................ “So if someone fails to Lose the Weight It’s Their own Fault?!?!” No! Some may have other unresolved Medical Problems, Emotional Problems, etc... That Prevent them From succeeding completely. Some seeds are planted In too shady of a spot, And even with a Perfect set of directives, Will NEVER reach their potential. Do we blame the Dogwood tree? That would be Insane. BUT, When someone has been “Planted in the adequate conditions” If they use their choices To ignore or forgo the Simple Plan, The Design of WLS, They will undoubtedly Fail to reach their potential. So, Having problems? Go back and take a look at, A Brutally Honest Look at, How well you are following The “Elegant Solution” of WLS. If you’re doing everything right Perhaps you should look to see if there is A “pine tree blocking your sunlight?” Is there some “issue” (emotional or otherwise) That can be “trimmed back,” Or removed, That would allow you to Blossom? WLS is Not a Magic Solution But it is a Simple One. It gives us that chance for a “Do Over” At our Turn in Life. If you bog it down With Labyrinthine, Byzantine Complexities, “I’ve got to have This Particular Protein Shake, or ‘That’ Power Bar, and this exact Brand of Vitamins, Or I can’t be expected to succeed!” All of those “Things” that completely occupy Our first several months of being a Post-Op. Then, You run the risk of missing out On the Elegant Solution. WLS is a “Last Resort Solution,” Don’t lose it in the Clutter. It is our chance To BE the Person Who Eats To Live, Not Lives to Eat, To BE the Person Who fits Exercise into their Healthy Life, To BE the Person We missed out on Being Before.
We are all “Designed” to be Excellent!
Strip Away those “Things” that are
Blocking Your Natural Flow of Excellence!
Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!
And you won’t have to
Think about Blossoming,
It just Happens According to Design.
Now Back to work.......
I’ve got to clean this desk,
There’s seeds and crap in my paperclip holder!
Best Wishes-
Dx
Capricious; Impulsive, Semi-Predictable 
