Repost of the Lightweight Creed _ June 25, 2011

The Lightweight Creed
(Created and approved by members of the OH Lightweights Forum, Jan 2008)

I am a Lightweight. I am only one of many others like me. Together, we are a team. Though our journeys and choices may be different, we are bonded together by the commonality of being Lightweights and the strategies, successes and struggles that entails. It is this bond that defines this board.

I began my journey with a BMI of less than 45 and/or with less than 150 lbs excess weight. My lower BMI and excess weight does in no way make me less deserving of medical intervention, and I should not be made to feel inferior or guilty.

I qualified for WLS because I have co-morbidities, or because my medical history proves that my weight is diet and exercise resistant.

I have worked with my healthcare team to determine the best surgical option for me. I am confident that others have done so as well, so I will refrain from passing judgments. 

I will freely share the most accurate information I have, as well as my own personal journey and why I chose my surgery in an informative, educational and respectful way so that others may learn from my experiences. 

I respect the decisions of my fellow Lightweights, regardless of the surgery they chose and the nutritional/exercise plans they follow.

I will always promote health and a healthy lifestyle, whether physical or mental; and will respect alternate methods and views toward achieving good health, even if I do not espouse them personally.

I will always be sensitive, honest and respectful when contributing to discussions on this board and in my PMs. I will never flame, demean, invalidate or harass others for their questions or decisions. I will remember, at all times, the difficulties and pain I went through on my own journey and be considerate of others when discussing theirs.

I will always defend and unite with my fellow Lightweights against prejudice and hostility. 

I understand it is my responsibility to report offensive conduct to my fellow Lightweights, so that we may deal with offending parties as a united front to preserve the supportive and tolerant atmosphere of our board.

I understand that if my conduct becomes offensive, I will not be welcome to participate on this board any longer.

That was beautiful! I copied and pasted it to word so I can look at whenever I need too. Thanks!

**Like**

Excellent! I'm glad you appreciate it.

Oh man, I just found this board and THANK GOD!  I actually do appreciate all the good advice and caring I've gotten on the RNY Board, but I do feel a good bit of the stuff there doesn't apply to me.  The demographic seems to be vastly female, and vastly with starting weights in the 300s and over with huge food issues.  I got the surgery for diabetes and blood pressure control..Period.  The weight is nice, but I was never THAT huge (I barely qualified for WLS), and I just don't wish to live the way these folks do, obsessing on every calorie.  I''m physically active ..(was somewhat pre surgery ..a LOT more now), and just trying to live well.  The surgery forces certain food choices (and a LOT of supplementation, yes I plan to be on protein shakes forever!), and I"m willing to accept that in return for no diabetes!  I am NOT going to make food choices based on a difference of 10 calories in a serving though!  I guess I should also look at the mens group, though ummm ....that won't help activities of a different kind :)

Again, pleased to meet you all.

Nice to meet you, Steve. We have a few guys that post here that are LWs too. Some things just seem to apply to us LWs and other groups don't get or they get miffed if you speak of LW things like small sizes and losing 100% of your excess weight. Glad you found us.

--gina
 

Hi Steve. We are not all female on this particular board. Glad you are here. I had my DS surgery in New York last December. I also got my surgery to control blood pressure, cholesterol, and to stave off diseases such as diabetes.

Welcome Steve, glad you found us.

I barely qualified for surgery as well...was a 35.2 BMI signing into the surgeon's office. I did my surgery to get rid of my co-morbid conditions. Losing weight is a nice side effect but getting rid of insulin and metformin and most of my pain meds was a bigger reason to do this.

And other surgical boards don't always understand that. I worry over carbs for the simple reason they still affect my blood sugar level, but what else I eat is up to me. I did this to NOT be on a diet the rest of my life.

Liz

I think the food obsession thing and picking foods over small calorie differences rather than things like how good they taste is very much a dieting thing. So, the longer you've dieted, the more likely it is that you get trapped into an obsessive relationship with food.

Getting to goal helps a lot but it doesn't help everyone.