When is a grad a Grad?

Ok. Your sitting out there lurking on the grad board. You're 1 year anniversary is in 3 days. Are you a grad or do you wait 3 days to post. Or let's say you are almost 20 months post-op, you've not made goal, but you are still losing, albeit slowly. Are you a grad? As exclusionary as it might sound, what separates us from the others? So here's today's football to be kicked around. What makes a grad a "grad"? Other than some date on a calendar, what are the attributes of one? Equally important, when did you become a grad. There it is. Have at it. PH/Nowhere Man/Jay

I figure I had my original surgery Jun '03 (26 months ago) and my revision surgery Jan '05 (8 months ago). Combine the two (26+8) and I get 34 months. Divide 34 by 2 and that gives me a 17 month post op average despite the fact that I almost started completely over with the weight loss and I still have 100 pounds to lose. That's my excuse for hanging out here. DeeDee

and i thought you loved us! and i was going to learn how to make a perfect pitcher of iced tea straight up for you too.. btw hate those flavered teas ..us northerners are more into our dunkin donuts iced coffee : and i use HELLMANS LIGHT Mayaonaise and never never ever use dark meat for chicken sald only the breast will do! have agreat day! JoAnn:

Of course I love ya!! Especially knowing you'd learn how to make a perfect pitcher of tea for me. And any woman who knows to use white breast meat and Hellman's Mayo in her chicken salad deserves to be dubbed a Southern Belle Transplant. (Where's the dubbing icon?) So, by the self-appointed power vested in me as a true Mississippi Southern Belle I hereby dub JoAnn honorary Southern Belle! Now don't forget to put up the white shoes after Labor Day or I'll have to un-dub ya! DeeDee

hmmm ...i think a grad is someone who is 1 year out almost a year out that seems to know what they are doing and trys to give ad**** to pre-ops and new post -ops has differnt eating, emotional issues with food than pre-ops has differnt things to fret about has tested the aters has been there done that and gotten bashed from saints that do no wrong! a grad also is uuportive of one another may have a differnce of opion say it and wont be hurt or get the pantys or for a guy bvds twisted in knots we have all been there and understand things we post dont want bull**** for our thoughts and for some reason RESPECT is the word on the board no matter what our opions are just my thoughts JoAnn

One of the many definitions of a grad is: a student (person) who continues studies after graduation (surgery). I do extensive research into the own health care. I teach many support groups and I continue to learn everyday. We are never finished finding out about us and our post-op life. My shell is getting harder now....I have a flame retardant suit on today. Darlene

I'll be 2 years in October, I have made it to the Dr's goal..so I would claim to be a grad.. I also think a Grad is someone who is over the honeymoon period, and needs the support of the others, who are just trying to find their way. We all have our personal demons, and is nice to share with someone who is far out enough to help us with them.

For the purposes of this board, I think a grad is a person who is one year or more post-op OR someone who is at goal. In reality, I think I became a grad about three months before my one-year anniversary, when my weight loss slowed dramatically--my appetite returned with a vengeance, and I began having to fight for my weight loss and really struggle with my lifelong behaviors and attitudes toward food and exercise. The honeymoon was over, in other words, and I settled in for the long haul. So I didn't become a grad because I know more than others (far from it); I became a grad because I shifted gears from the euphoria of rapid, effortless weight loss to the real work of a long-term lifestyle change. I feel extremely unqualified to offer advice here, but I do feel like I belong. ---- Leslie

A grad is someone who: 1. Knows their weight isn't "gone forever" unless they follow the rules. 2. Doesn't get shook up or think their surgery didn't work because they didn't lose weight this week (or this month). They've already been there/done that -- and knows it's part of the losing process. 3. Has experienced all the changes that occur during the first year and can pass on that experience to the newbies. 4. Has passed through the "honeymoon year" of this surgery and now knows that it's going to take some work to either make it to goal or maintain the goal. 5. Knows that the habits that got you fat in the first place are still lurking there ready to take over and take you back to fatland. 6. Understands what it means to say WLS is a tool and not a cure. Deb

I like it!!!!! Ann