Define WLS Grad???

Hello Everyone, Next week will be my surgery one year anniversary and I have reached goal of 135 pounds as of last month. I have never seen a definition of WLS grad and was wondering - are you a grad when you make goal? This seemed to be the logical answer but just checking. Sharon

If it were when you made goal, there wouldn't be very many people on this board! There are quite a few who have made goal and maintained, but there is a pretty big contingent who just can't seem to lose those last few pesky pounds or who have regained a few. It's when you are a year or further out from surgery. So next week you will be an offical "grad". Welcome! Lyn

ok heres my take on being a wls grad.. its like high school graduation you made it thru the toughest times.. you passed all your finals(learning to eat right, drink water, exercise)..ta da(POMP N CIR****ENSES PLAYING IN BACKGROUND) lol your ready for the world..you are in control of your eating habits from now on..if you eat the wrong thing you take responsibilty for your eating habits.. you take responsible to keep your body healthy.. there are many people out overa year who dont do the right thing eat wrong creep bad food into thier bodys.. but were are all human and to eerr is human.. i never set my self a goal on a weight to be honest with you..i just wanted to be healthy and if that ment losing 100 pounds when i needed to lose 150 i still made a dent and improved my life.. dont fret over 10 -20 pounds you reached your goal and even if you put on 10 pounds which might happen in a few years your still a sucess..

WLS Grad is when you find that the questions on the main board don't pertain to the problems or stuff you want to discuss now. You graduated to another playing level of WLS. The control portion! It usually happens after the honeymoon period...(12 mos to 18 mos) Congrats on your one year anniversary. You have done well with the 135 pounds loss! If being a grad was being at goal....this board would have very few posters! But we do have goal people that are maintaining! I am not one of them yet! I am still aspiring to GOAL. Debbie

Nominally, a grad is one who is 1-year post-op. My take is akin to Joann's. You're a grad when you take ownership of your WLS and figure out that it is not sufficient in and of itself to make you skinny. You're a grad when you realize that you and only you have the capability to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. (Note that I did not say goal!) You're a grad when you learn that there is more to your life than WLS. Nowhere Man/PH/Jay