Next question!

NowhereMan
on 12/4/05 4:57 am - NoWhere Land
OK, many thanks to those of you who fielded and thoughtfully responded to a post I made on the 1st of December. Here's my next line of questioning. I am convinced that a grad becomes a grad not through the passing of some milestone on a calendar. I think that a grad becomes a grad because they advance in the area of self-awareness, that is, they transition from being self-conscious to being self-aware. Most of us know all too well the tricks and tactics of post-op living. We are well aware of things like protein first, being well-hydrated, etc. But the question I want to pose is this: What have you learned about yourself that made you a grad? What makes you tick in post-op life that was not there before? Did it come on like a bolt of lightning or did you slowly figure it out? Have at it. Nowhere Man/PH/Jay ( who will continue to post these kinds of questions as long as people answer them)
Charlie
on 12/4/05 5:52 am - Daytona Beach, FL
Jeez Leweeeeze....ya want me to THINK about this. I have no friggin idea....so I'll make something up.....LOL. What have you learned about yourself that made you a grad? ****That I'm only human...that no matter what, I will always have the same mental bugaboos that I had before. So I learned that I have to work harder and harder at it to STAY a grad. I've learned that I need to balance what I eat with what I DO. *** What makes you tick in post-op life that was not there before? ***Continued Commitment. Weighing DAILY so I have that uppermost in my mind. If I start the day thinking about that....it helps me make better choices during the day. It is now over 3 years and I am STILL DOING IT. I was never able to do anything for that amount of time before WLS. **** Did it come on like a bolt of lightning or did you slowly figure it out? ***Neither. I've always known it. I've always known that CONTINUED COMMITMENT is how to stay successful in anything. If you give up...you fail. And I always gave up. One cookie or one coke...and I'd give up. I still have issues with that...but I work on it every day of my life. Thats why I don't set foot in any fast food joint....or start drinking sodas again. It feels too much like failure to me. Thats not to say YOU are a failure if you eat a Big Mac.....but I will be....so I don't. Does that make sense? Didnt' think so....hehe.*** Ok...so there ya go. Next question! Hugs from the beach Charlie
Jan Ocala
on 12/4/05 7:07 am - Ocala, FL
It took me forever to answer the last question and now you want me to do it again? I'm with Charlie - Geez Louise! What makes me a grad is reaching goal and starting maintenance. My thought processes are shifting from a losing mode to a stay-where-I-am mode. What makes me tick that wasn't there before is that I can control how much and what I eat. I can use the surgery as it was meant to be used - as a tool to help control my appetite before I get totally out of control. I've had a few WOW moments that were like lightening bolts and I guess that's also what's different this time. I always knew in my head what I SHOULD do, but wasn't able to do it. With the help of this surgery, I can live my life as if I were a naturally thin person, even though I'm not! I can push away from the table like a naturally thin person does because the surgery makes it possible for me to do so. I can eat a few bites of something and be satisifed with it, instead of having to eat everything in sight and STILL not being satisfied!! I still struggle with grazing, though, and I wonder how I'll ever control that! Another good question! Jan 240/122 ~ Size 20/size 4!
WendyNVA
on 12/4/05 9:34 am - Va Beach, VA
Hey Jay, Im soooooooooo glad Jan and Charlie answered this post before I read it.. I'm going to simply say DITTO to both! Wendy
JoAnn
on 12/4/05 9:35 am - north of boston.., MA
i have learned that food cannot comfort me when i am depressed, angry, sad, happy.. maintence is what has given me awreness..i think most of the time before i put something in my mouth versus thinking before what comes out of my mouth.. once i was able to eat more after the so called honeymoon period i decided to eat no more than 1800 to 2400 calories a day... i dont want to lose any more weight but i sure dont want to gain any more.. so i figured out what works for me and so far so good ..took a while to do .. hope alls well joann
(deactivated member)
on 12/4/05 9:53 am - Las Vegas, NV
Generally, I don't think people become any more self-aware by losing weight. Your preamble makes the presumption that grads have "advanced"... why? Because we've lost weight? Poppy**** We are as lost as ever, just in a new place. Movement does not necessarily equal advancement. Tek
NowhereMan
on 12/4/05 10:07 am - NoWhere Land
Not all people who lose weight are grads. Some people have WLS and never "get it". Yet some do 'get it'. For that reason, I do not believe that being a grad is a function of the calendar. They reach a kind of stasis, but not characterized by complacency. They know not only how to work the levers and pulleys of the 'tool', but they have figured out a thing or two about themselves and what pulls their strings. Nowhere Man/PH/Jay
(deactivated member)
on 12/4/05 10:20 am - Las Vegas, NV
I agree that what makes a grad a grad (as represented on this board) is they have reached a kind of stasis... things are no longer changing as rapidly as early post-op. I don't think Morbidly Obese people are particularly complacent, so I can't grant grads as different in this regard. If you define a "grad" as having figured out a thing or two about themselves (as you stated)... Well, I suspect grads believe they have figured out a thing or two, but in reality are only fooling themselves in new and different ways. Again, not progress, simply movement. Movement does have the benefit of giving new perspectives. Tek
Dx E
on 12/4/05 11:08 am - Northern, MS
Wow, The discussion of the semanticists. That's Entertainment! (* humming Ethyl Merman in my head) For J- For me? I learned, or have come to believe of late, That inertia had more to do with me being MO Than My Will-Power. It is harder to get started than it is to continue going. Much more than I had assumed. Having been Obese since the age of 5, Prior to any rational system of "Choices," It took something as drastic as WLS to get me moving Toward Life. Prior to WLS, I believed that normal sized people were somehow More disciplined, focused, and somehow better Because they made time to exercise, play tennis, go running, All of those things that I would have rather missed While sitting on the couch. What I've learned, is they do all of that stuff Because it's EASY! In fact FUN & EASY! When one is not carrying an "Extra Person-Worth of Dead Weight" Which leads me to believe that my assessment Of them was wrong, therefore my self-assessment In comparison was off the mark as well. Nothing new "makes me tick" that I'm aware of. There are just more options open to me now Regarding physical activity and such. No bolts of lightning, just a series of little daily sparks. Second discussion line- How can one say that Movement, Of any sort, is Not Progress? On a scale of one to ten, Movement upward toward 10 is "Progress Toward Ten." As it is "Progress away from One." Movement Downward toward 1 is "Progress Toward One." As it is "Progress away from Ten." A Judgmental View of the Direction of the Motion (Rather than Actual or Objective) Is the Only thing that Would attach the quantifier of "Movement, Not Progress...." One Man's Damnable Anarchy, Is another's Glorious Revolution. The presumption that anyone is "lost" Ignores the very nature of a Journey Process. There must be an impetus to motion. Even if that stimulus is the lack of motion. Ooops, I've gotten back to inertia. This is where I came in.......... Love this Thread! Best Wishes- Dx
(deactivated member)
on 12/4/05 11:29 am - Las Vegas, NV
You win. You out semanticed me. however... prog·ress ( P ) Pronunciation Key (prgrs, -rs, prgrs) n. Movement, as toward a goal; advance. Development or growth: students who show progress. Steady improvement, as of a society or civilization: a believer in human progress. See Synonyms at development. A ceremonial journey made by a sovereign through his or her realm. Not all movement is progress. It's just feel-good political correctness to equate the two. I'm not in a FGPC place right now. I just to get the "get it" attitude. I don't get it, I don't want it, and I hope there's a cure for it if I do get it. I'll stay down here with everyone else. I'll buy inertia. I think Tek needs to lighten up... a little edgy tonight Tek
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