Sailor or a Native?

Sailor or a Native? We tend to fall into two groups here, Those people who were, at one time, Normal sized And are headed “Back to Past Weight!” Or Those of us who have Never Been Normal sized And are headed “To All New Weight!” Which are you? Will being “Normal-sized” be a “New Thing” for you, Or a return to “The Old Thing.” It does make a difference in what we’re doing, struggling with, etc... If writing a- “What I learned while Losing Weight” Theme paper, I’d say the thing that may be missing in the discussions/thinking Is The Individual’s Personnel History. How did I get to the place Where I felt it necessary to undergo Surgery In order to Lose Weight or Get Healthy? Were they “Once upon a time” in a Fit Condition? Or were they Always Obese? I think this makes a Huge Difference In one’s “progress” resulting from WLS. A Parable- The British Empire had well disciplined Sailors. They spoke correctly, followed orders, Were Civil and well mannered And proper in every way. You would say they were “Normal.” A group of them wreck and wash ashore on an Island inhabited by What could only be referred to as Savages. At first the Sailors held on to their “Normal” And disciplined, proper ways. But bit by bit, they began picking up the habits And manners of the Natives. This happened many times in history, And when the Sailors were later rescued They were said to have “Gone Native.” Total Disregard for Discipline, Proper dining manners, No regard for their appearance at all. Just like the Savages on the Island- Not “Normal” people at all. Then, An Intervention! A ship lands on this distant Island. They are “Rescued.” Many stories of the British Navy Tell of those who had “Gone Native” Having a very difficult time “re-assimilating” Into “Normal” Society. They had to Re-Learn Bathroom habits, Dining rules, The importance of personal grooming And appearance, Discipline of any kind. Once these Sailors had come back to being “Normal” They had been through quite a Journey. But, some of the Savage Natives, Who had never been exposed to “Normal,” Also came along. They also worked very hard To learn or submit to proper Dining Protocols. They also learned personal grooming and discipline. When assimilated into “Normal” Society they “Passed” As Normal Citizens of the British Empire, Indistinguishable from the Re- assimilated Sailors. But what of their “Progress.” Their Journeys? How could they be the same? Had the Sailors re-discovered “Normalcy” And the Savage Natives only put on the Veneer? Were they both the same “Normal?” And were the Sailors and the Normalized Savages The equals to the Citizens of the British Empire Who had never traveled abroad? We – Learn or Re-Learn, Dining Habits, Discipline, Concern for personal appearance, But Surely the Journeys Are remarkably different. The-“What I learned while losing Weight” Theme paper Should be quite different, If written by a Sailor or a Native, Yes? Although the Sailors surely one day Fell back into their past positions in life, As if nothing had ever happened. Only a memory. Did the Natives ever feel Like they too were “Normal” Or did they forever live in a Masquerade? Passing for someone else? Sitting here in my Medium Sized, 100% Cotton Ralph Lauren button-down, I have no longing for the Itch of a One-Size-Fits All Grass Skirt, But the memories of Ripping into Handfuls Of Still Roasting Wild Boar On the beach Under a full moon, Haunt Me Still.......... Damn, That Bold Sumatran Starbucks Wasn’t the De-Caf at all! Thanks for letting me share my thoughts. Best Wishes- Dx

Hi Dex,

Here are some past weights. Here's the 1979 skinny redneck 19 yr old look. The glasses make me look like Weird Al!:

Then, I get fat again and lose for study abroad in China for the goofy horndog tourist/spoiled student look at 25:

I guess this must be at least the 7th or 8th time I've lost big weight. This time the weight and eating habits are defininitely the most stable and easy to maintain. I suppose it's part pouch size, part pouch, part hormonal and part having to self-pay 15 grand to get the RNY.

Hoping that I've "assimilated" healthy eating patterns, but I do allow myself to pig out two days a week. So far so good.

Best Wishes,

Dave