Does our board need a shake-up?

Lys & Nancy...

Thank you both for responding as well.

Lys, I think it was very helpful that you shared your limitations yet opened up your availability via PMs.  Careful what you wish for...LOL...you mail box may become full quickly...LOL!!

Nancy, with your help, & the help of everyone else here, OUR board will shine again!!

 

Okay, Ann. You busted me.

You're right, as a longer-term post-op, I should really be helping more than I have. I find though that sometimes the answer I would have added is already there. My other problem is that I sometimes feel like I have to explain myself in great, long detail, which can be time consuming. Those are just excuses though.

With my 3rd anniversary coming up this month, WLS is in my head all of the time these days. I'm not a poster child for the way one should behave post-WLS, but I will try and help out more.

Where's my dunce cap? :)

(and in an effort to switch things up, I'm keeping this SHORT! :) )

Welcome home, Julie, my little imp!!  I'm so glad you are back!!

Excuses?  Maybe...but then most of us have our own excuses.  This thread was not created to bring shame or make anyone feel guilty.  I started to voice a concern that I was pretty sure others have been thinking of too.  I'm just trying to remind folks of how important this board has been to us all & what an asset it has been to many of us & SHOULD be for our newbies.

I feel like this is the perfect place for me to pay forward all the benefits that I have enjoyed when I was a newbie.  I feel obliged to help our current crop of newbies along the way so that they can reap the benefits of their new tool & make some lifelong friends along the way, as I have done.

As for the size of your posts...honey, IF you have the time to expound, then do so.  But if you don't, try not to feel guilty but instead give the Reader's Digest Condensed version.  Even though newbies don't feel like they have all the answers...& frankly, who does?...they do still come here armed with SOME knowledge.  NONE of our doctors give us our tool & then send us off into the world to fend for ourselves blindly.  Most of the time they are looking for reassurance or validation that what they are doing is on track, or if they suspect something is wrong, that they realize their intuition is correct.

And let's not forget how much fun it is to celebrate each others' wow moments!!  We all tell our newbies to hang on for the ride of their life, & that's very true.  But even us old timers need that celebration or encouragement, or in my case, a kick in the bootie, sometimes.

Bottom line...

W E   N E E D   E A C H   O T H E R ! ! !

So, again I say WELCOME HOME!!!  You have been missed.

Ann, I took your post as nothing more than giving every one of us a kick in the pants. From where I stand, it has been nothing but a success so far. It's like you gave Popeye some spinach or something.

There was a time when other states were jealous of the VA board because of the amount of activity we had here. I hope that we can keep the momentum going and become that way again.

I think it's awesome that we're on our way! :)

I'm with ya, Lady!  :)

My apologies for being away -- as you know, Ann, my life has been very busy over the last few months, but I will make sure I get on here more and contribute wherever possible.

Thanks for being the impetus for a supportive board again!  :)

My pleasure, pretty lady!!  And yes, I know you've had your hands full.  But just so's you know...I've missed you!!!  Welcome back!!

 

What an interesting post, and I'm actually glad that you put it out there.

I'm one who has been away for quite some time - months actually.  I lurk from time to time to just to make sure that those I love and care about are doing ok.  But, for the most part, have chosen to stay away for several reasons.  Where do I start????

1.  As the originator of the VA Board's "What Are YOU Doing To Move Today", it became no longer fun doing these posts daily when I was asked how did it feel to BRAG to everyone what I could accomplish, when there were others out there who could not even walk.    How did it make me feel to rub it into other peoples faces that I could run, dance and move without thinking twice about it. 

That was NEVER the intention of my daily post - it was to motivate and challenge people to simply move each day.  Nothing more...nothing less.  BUT...how would it make YOU feel to listen to such hateful garbage (not once, not twice, but several times).

And then...to post daily but as you already pointed out...get no response.  After a while, it became no fun and really began to feel like I was doing something wrong.

2.  We have had many people come here with their crazy questions that you step back and begin to think "What is wrong here"?  It's one thing to come and ask what kind of protein should I be eating, or should I be eating sweet potatos at month 3, what's a good form of exercise for starting out, or even, hey...this happened to me, what about you, etc.  It's another to post that you are eating fatty quiche at 3 weeks out.  Just because you can, doesn't mean that you SHOULD.  And then, let's take it a step further, if you ask me for my advice, you must be willing to listen to it.  NOTE:  I did NOT say accept it, but listen to it.  There are many who come here asking for advice, basically doing the how many people do I as****il I get the answer I want.  So, I got tired of responding and even found myself yelling at the laptop.  I know...unhealthy and no fun!

3.  It really became a board for a select few - those few *****sponded.  Each day, daily topics were done to get people engaged....nothing.  Even topis were selected at random to get people chatting....nothing.  Now, I know that we are all busy, but damnit...this board IS important to each and every one of us.  IT'S OUR BOARD!  But, no one had anything to say.  Makes it no fun. 

4.  Then, let's add the behind the scenes stuff.  When you hear things that are said behind the scenes, trust is broken.  And for me, trust is HUGE.  I began to question the motives of those who I "thought" were my friends, and even began to view some as being simply hypocrites.  They had the talk, but not the walk.  Some even only post when they had a question or was looking for a pat ont he back....screw everyone else.  I like to call them One-Way friends.  They only go one-way (theres!).

So, take this and add my own personal life/hell and this should explain why I have become a lurker.

I do miss everyone, but..........

Simply put.  I HAVE MISSED YOU.  It is SO good to see you here.  ((((((((((((((JILL))))))))))))))))

I have missed you too.  I am SO proud of the work you have done - 200 pounds is AWESOME and you reached your goal - CONGRATS!!!!

You rock, Girl!!!!

Jill, I do miss you.  Your fitness post was a great inspiration.  It was great to found out different methods of working out then just going to the gym.  Can we say stripper pole?  he he he.

You are a great person and someone who has accomplished so much with their surgery!  You are truly missed here on the board.