Question:
Has having your surgery made the whole family healthier?
I am hopefully getting close to be able to obtain my dream ~WLS... I'm a self-payor... yada, yada, yada. Anyway, my daughter is very concerned that once I DO have the surgery I will one day be smaller than her. I have told her that this is not a cosmetic thing, but a health thing and that once I have the surgery we will all be eating better as a result of it. I also told her I will have the energy to exercise, walk, ride bikes and all of the other things we don't do as a family now. I am trying to make her see that this is a healthy decision for all of us. I don't want her to be at a point in her life like I am, seeing surgery as my only way to once again have a 'normal' life. So any words of wisdom you have would be greatly appreciated as I will let her read them. Thanks! — MICHELLE F. (posted on January 22, 2004)
January 21, 2004
michelle, as a result of my wls almost 2 yrs ago my entire family (5
kids,1husband) has began to eat better, mainly because they eat what I fix
and I now fix only healthy foods. I hope I have broke the generational
curse in my home of obesity....My children are more aware now of the foods
they are putting into their mouth and the scales are showing it for them
all......Hope this answers your question.....God Bless Donna
— littlelady B.
January 21, 2004
I am a little over a year post-op and my 17 year old said to me the other
day "mom do you notice that since you had the surgery the portions on
MY plate have gotten smaller?"..LOL!! I guess I am trying to get them
to eat smaller portions without realizing it!! My 2 boys (17 & 13) on
their own (even before my surgery) have been very aware of food issues and
weight issues in our family and hopefully will not have to deal with these
issues as adults!
— Kathy M.
January 21, 2004
I don't have kids, but my hubby has definitely started eating better and
being more health conscious. I am 5 mos postop, and during that time hubby
has switched to skim milk, drinks very little soda, drinks a protein shake
now and then, drinks 64 oz of water per day, eats more veggies, we grill or
rotisserie our food instead of fry, and we never eat fast food anymore.
Also he has learned to read labels better and the carb/fat/sugar content of
stuff means more to him now. I cook 2 new recipes each week so we don't
get bored eating the same old stuff. I have a wls cookbook and it has lots
of good recipes in it, and he has eaten everything I have made so far!
Tell your daughter she will benefit from wls without having to actually
have or need the surgery, because she will learn better eating tools from
you now. Congrats on getting close to your surgery!
— beeda
January 21, 2004
I am only 7 weeks post-op but I have seen a big difference in my family.
My husband and kids (21 & 14) have all lost weight and they even walk
with me. You will be surprised how they will cut back just because you
have. Enjoy your journey with them!
— Jill S.
January 22, 2004
Michelle!
Yes! Very much so! I'm a self-pay patient, too. We should totally talk!
Email me any time, okay?
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
January 22, 2004
I have not noticed any difference at all as far as my family eating
healthier. My husband has always been fit and my children are too young to
even be concerned with what 'fat' is. I still control what they eat and
do. Mwahahah...oh sorry. What I must stress is the overall mental health
of your family. This is WAY overlooked with this surgery. Your daughter
has already expressed a concern that you will be smaller than her. This
surgery is an emotional ride for them as well as you. Be open with
communication and listen to your family. Rebecca 10/03/01 265/140
— RebeccaP
January 22, 2004
Sorry, I also wanted to add.....My mother had WLS when I was 5...sometimes,
it's just your genes and nothing you have done wrong.
— RebeccaP
January 22, 2004
I have totally changed they way my family eat and drink. They don't give
me a hard time about it at all either. My husband and my children are
excited to enjoy my protein smoothies in the mornings /and, or/ evenings!
I even add 2 tbsps of flaxseed oil and they just want more. In the very
beginning of my post-op months I would make my family's plates so small
that they would look at me like I was crazy. My husband really had to
remind me that he need more food. So funny once I caught myself doing
that. It was just so difficult for me to imagine that anyone, even my 11
year old, could eat so much food at once. I am much better at it now that
I am 11 months post-op and have been at goal for 2.5 months.
— 1ariel
January 22, 2004
This is funny that you are talking to your daughter about this, because my
daughter (age 25) and I had this same conversation before my surgery. I
have been overweight my entire life (the doctor put me on my first diet
when I was 6 months old!), and my daughter grew up with me on one type of
diet or another. So when I finally decided on this and was approved for the
surgery, she was concerned that, I could be smaller than her. Well, now I
am 6 months post op and guess what - I am smaller than she is!! (Go me!!),
but because of it, she has starting to eat better and she joined a gym so
that she can start working on herself - and all because her "fat momma
ain't fat no more"!!! LOL
— Danette C.
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