Question:
Do you think I am crazy to feel this way
I am 2 1/2 years post op. I've gone from 310 pounds to 165 pounds and can lose more if I excersise more, but I am satisfied with my weight. I wear a size 12 and look pretty good to me. I can go in reqular size store. I feel terrific other than I have to constantly watch my blood level, otherwise everything else is fine. I had this operation to feel better, Not to be super skinny nor to wear a size 5. I'm in my early 40's so I don't neeed to compete with my 18 year old daughter wearing her clothes, I am satified..... Like I said before I can lose More if I exercise Or had a tummy tuck, but I don't have that much loose skin. When I can affford the tummy tuck I'll do it but it's no big deal right now. People tell me I look good, No one knows I had surgery unless I told them, I don't many friends, so really, no one knows except one or two of them. My question is: Should I be more willing to get thin since I have the opportunity to. Should I feel guilty because some people are trying to get thin with all their might, and I am satisfied being Average weight. Or should I take to opportunity to get as thin as I can, for this operation to be a success? Do anyone feel like this or AM I CRAZY??? any comment good or bad will do. — Rebe W. (posted on January 31, 2004)
January 31, 2004
I think the fact you feel good and can accept yourself is THE real MEANING
of SUCCESS.
I am 144-150 from 330. Try to get lower and lower and I can wear a size 5.
So IN MY OPINION you being HAPPY and satisfied is SUCCESS at it's finest.
CONGRADULATIONS :)
— Sabrina H_NC
January 31, 2004
I will have my third anniversary on Feb. 13th. I haven't lost all the
weight I want to, went from 280 to 198, but I am no longer taking 2 shots
of insulin and 9 pills for diabetes. I feel good, that was my major reason
for having surgery. I think that health issues are the reason we are
approved for surgery, not what size clothes we will end up wearing.
Congratulations on your weight loss, and on being satisfied with your
results.
— connie m
January 31, 2004
hi there well in my opinion you should do what feels comforatable to you if
you are happy with your weight stay there but if you would want to loose
some more at a later date you will still have the tool to do it with. ((((i
am pre op 2-6-04 and pretty soon i will have the tool too good luck)))
— bryan
January 31, 2004
Be happy in taking control of your life, getting healthy and being
satisfied with the way you look. Seems like you've accomplished all the
goals for weight loss surgery and you are right to be satisfied-- heck, I'm
in the same boat and I'm giddy.
— SteveColarossi
January 31, 2004
Rebe...I feel the same exact way you do! I went from 316 in August of 2001
to 156 (today, lol), wearing size 10, and I'm content to stay right where I
am. I am completely and utterly happy with my success. If I never lose
another pound, and stay within 5lbs of where I am now, I'm perfect in my
eyes :o) Congratulations to you! Denise
— lily1968
January 31, 2004
Pre-op, I would get SO upset when I would read a post and someone would say
"Life sucks, I have stopped at a size 10, I REALLY want to be a size
2/4" There I was 327lbs size 4X- Size 10 ? Oh my, only in my WILDEST
dreams- I didn't know where to set my goal weight, because I had always
been obese- so I set a goal size....14.... I had this surgery because I was
MISERABLE. I could not fit in a booth, I could not find clothing to fit, I
wobbled instead of walked, My feet/back hurt all the time, my knees were
giving out on me, I could not sleep due to my HORRIBLE snoring- I had to
get off a ride at disney the year before because I could not fit in the
seat- I was affraid of breaking a chair when I sat in it- I could not tie
my shoes without looking like I had just run a marathon, I had no energy
for everyday living, My belly rubbed on my steering wheel. I NEVER set my
eyes on a bikini, I did not feel the need to look like Barbie- I don't NEED
to be a size 2- Nahhhh your not crazy- if anything- I think you are more
normal for looking at this as a way of just getting healthy and being able
to MOVE- After 14 months, I have settled into a size 12/14 - I'm very
content (well I will be after a tummy tuck haha) I TOO am not going to try
to lose any more weight, I have increased my carbs a little (watching them
carefully) My personal opinion, is a woman with a little "meat on her
bones" looks sooooooooo much better :)
Cheers Kim
— WABBIT F.
January 31, 2004
Not crazy at all. Your attitude sounds very healthy. I have read too many
profiles from people who lose over 100 lbs and then get hung up on the last
5 or 10 they can't seem to lose to get to some magic goal number. (or
super small size) You're more healthy and happy now, so you are a success!
— Patricia T.
January 31, 2004
You're not crazy, maybe more secure that most of us. I think you're doing
fine. I've got from a tight 34 to buying a size 16 today. I sometimes get
frustrated because I've still got a ways to go. In our support group many
have told me BE HAPPY WHERE YOU ARE AT TODAY. Sounds like you are and
that's wonderful!
— debmi
January 31, 2004
Hi,
I am still preop, however, I, being 54, am not doing this to be thin.
Personally, I think thin is as extreme as fat. I think our society is
obsessed with being thin. I do not want to be thin. I want to be
"just right," whatever that turns out to be for me. I want to
lose enough weight to cure or alleviate the comorbidities I now have, but
losing for cosmetic reasons is not it for me, even though the insurance
companies insist that it is. WLS is for medical necessity, not for vanity,
in my opinion.
After all of that, it does not matter what any of us say, you need to be
firm in your own mind and heart what your own desires are; no one can tell
you what to think except you. Thanks. LM
— catly
February 1, 2004
Hi, I'm pre-op, my surgery is this thursday. At age 53 I right now I don't
care that much if I end up at 150 or 115, I just want to be healthy. Having
read so many profiles where people said "my Dr's goal weight for me
is" I asked my Dr what his goal weight for me was and he said
"for me to be healthy & feel good" I'm glad that I don't have
that pressure so I can focus on what feels right to me. And no, I don't
think you're crazy. Marj
— MarjN
February 1, 2004
Congratulations for having such a healthy attitude about this whole thing.
I too don't plan to obsess about this. If I get to a 12 and feel great,
I'll be happy with that. If I get to a 2 or anywhere in between and feel
great, then I'll be happy about that too. I'm 55 years old and did NOT do
this for cosmetic reasons. I wanted to be able to keep up with my wonderful
little grandchildren. I've lost 88 pounds, down from 276 and already they
LOVE having a grandma who can run, swing, sit on the floor, etc. with them
and I love it too. I have no plans to have any plastic surgery other than
maybe my arms because they are going to be a problem with getting clothes
to fit but I can't imagine anyone wanting to look like Laura Flynn Boyle
did on the front of People magazine. SCARY!!!! She looked like she was one
step away from starving to death. So good for you.........be healthy and
happy. And you know what, if you ever do have the urge to get thinner, your
tool is still there and will help you get there.
— SCbabe B.
February 1, 2004
I think you have a good attitude as long as you are comfortable where you
are. I think you have done fantastic. Keep up the great work.
— jko
February 1, 2004
I am also a size 12. My bmi is a little over 25 so technically I am still
over weight. BUT I like how I look. Last night my husband said I was
"bony". after being a 28-30 I think this is fabulous and If I
stay here forever I will be THRILLED. I see so many setting goals that seem
unrealistic, and I feel sorry for them and the frustration they must feel.
My goal as suggested by my doc was to see where my body settles in at its
comfortable weight. My personal goal of lower blood pressure, lower
cholesterol , and reduced heart attck risk were met quite a while ago. YOU
HANG IN YHERE! you sound refreshingly normal.
— **willow**
February 2, 2004
I can't say more positive things about you right now! The whole reason why
I had this surgery is to feel better about myself (and obviously be
healthier) The fact that you are happy in your own skin, makes me have the
utmost respect for you right now! You're not "crazy", you're
content - which I think is the greatest gift in the world!
— jengrz
February 2, 2004
Rebe, you are wonderfully normal and even better healthy where you are, and
most importantly, satisfied. Any one of us could "diet" our way
down to those single digit sizes, but think about what it would take to
MAINTAIN it. I think this is the source of so many unhappy post-ops, that
are not happy unless they are model thin or reach the way-out-
of-proportion numbers on the insurance charts, and even when they do reach
those numbers, they kvetch when they gain weight because they find it
impossible to maintain unless strictly watching their food intake...not a
way to live in my book. I consciously stopped at a size 10-12, although
my surgeon wanted me to lose 10-15 more (another size or two). I like the
way I look now, get lots of positive comments, feel healthy, and most of
all I can eat way more calories a day at size 10-12, then I would be able
to at a size 6! No thanks...
— Cindy R.
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