SwanRose

For anyone who has followed me knows that I've surely had many ups, downs, complications, BUT I also had the blessing of celebrating many victories along the way. I would NEVER trade any of those victories to give back any of my complications. I believe with all my heart that if I did not have WLS(s) I would be one of those folks showcased on My 600Lb Life. I would be very super obese, and living a miserable, unhappy and worse, unhealthy existence. I was already well into the 300's by the time I was in my 20's. I was headed for disaster! The most sad fact is, I probably wouldn't even be here right now typing all of this out. I might have been stroked out by now, as I was diagnosed with HBP at 31 years old, and I had an uncle who died from complications of that disease when he was only 44. I'm turned 40 in December. I would probably not even be alive... as scary a thought as that is.
I am forever thankful to myself that I loved me enough to do whatever it took to save me.
How about you? How do you think your life would have played out if you didn't have your WLS?

We need to stop thinking of obesity as a moral failing. Yes, this surgery is expensive, but medical science's best bet is that you won't lose weight without it. You wanna gamble on being a statistical outlier? Be my guest, but meanwhile the rest of us are gonna do the best we can to fight this thing, and right now, 'the best' is surgery.
For more information on how we become obese, check out this very informative article:
http://aeon.co/magazine/being-human/david-berreby-obesity-era/

I'd love to be a "chantoose" in a saloon!

Has anyone read Dr David Perlmutter's 'Grain Brain' book? I haven't read it yet, but saw his info show on PBS last weekend and he had some interesting things to say.
The basic message is that we need healthy fats so shouldn't go for the extreme low fat diets, but that gluten is very harmful.
My experience is that although I feel much better when I don't eat bread, it's the food that I crave the most - which could be a sign of gluten intolerance or sensitivity.

I'd love to be a "chantoose" in a saloon!

I'd love to be a "chantoose" in a saloon!

I'd love to be a "chantoose" in a saloon!

Just for fun
What's the stupidest bit of weight loss advice you've been given by somebody who 'just doesn't understand'?
A few years ago a guy I knew told me I should learn to play chess because it would teach me the mental discipline I needed to lose weight.
He was an odd guy. He used the word discipline a lot in conversation - I never wanted to know why!
Anyway, I told him chess is the most boring game in creation and I'd rather watch paint dry. (Apologies to any avid chess players out there.)

Just for fun
What's the stupidest bit of weight loss advice you've been given by somebody who 'just doesn't understand'?
A few years ago a guy I knew told me I should learn to play chess because it would teach me the mental discipline I needed to lose weight.
He was an odd guy. He used the word discipline a lot in conversation - I never wanted to know why!
Anyway, I told him chess is the most boring game in creation and I'd rather watch paint dry. (Apologies to any avid chess players out there.)

Just for fun
What's the stupidest bit of weight loss advice you've been given by somebody who 'just doesn't understand'?
A few years ago a guy I knew told me I should learn to play chess because it would teach me the mental discipline I needed to lose weight.
He was an odd guy. He used the word discipline a lot in conversation - I never wanted to know why!
Anyway, I told him chess is the most boring game in creation and I'd rather watch paint dry. (Apologies to any avid chess players out there.)

Just for fun
What's the stupidest bit of weight loss advice you've been given by somebody who 'just doesn't understand'?
A few years ago a guy I knew told me I should learn to play chess because it would teach me the mental discipline I needed to lose weight.
He was an odd guy. He used the word discipline a lot in conversation - I never wanted to know why!
Anyway, I told him chess is the most boring game in creation and I'd rather watch paint dry. (Apologies to any avid chess players out there.)

Has anyone read Dr David Perlmutter's 'Grain Brain' book? I haven't read it yet, but saw his info show on PBS last weekend and he had some interesting things to say.
The basic message is that we need healthy fats so shouldn't go for the extreme low fat diets, but that gluten is very harmful.
My experience is that although I feel much better when I don't eat bread, it's the food that I crave the most - which could be a sign of gluten intolerance or sensitivity.

I'd sign up for a class today if one were available and would recommend such a class to others.
I tried a class some years ago but everyone else there was skinny and the (male) teacher was very dismissive of me so I didn't go back. (A female teacher might have been just as dismissive, I suppose, but this guy came across as not liking large women. You can always tell when that's the case.)
I already meditate at home, but I'd give a meditation group a try too.
Never heard of anything like this offered through my doctor.

Just for fun
What's the stupidest bit of weight loss advice you've been given by somebody who 'just doesn't understand'?
A few years ago a guy I knew told me I should learn to play chess because it would teach me the mental discipline I needed to lose weight.
He was an odd guy. He used the word discipline a lot in conversation - I never wanted to know why!
Anyway, I told him chess is the most boring game in creation and I'd rather watch paint dry. (Apologies to any avid chess players out there.)

I've probably heard them all:)
The problem with the chess analogy is that it's comparing apples and oranges. The impulse to eat (and therefore the cravings) come from the brain stem or "primative" brain. Our cognitive abilities (logical/rational thought, knowledge, etc.) originate from our frontal lobe. This is information from my therapist, by the way. Which is why I could read every diet or self help book out there, know all the right things to do to be healthy and, yet, I didn't put it into action. Eating is necessary to sustain life and is associated with comfort, love, and survival. Chess - you can live without.
To me, this analogy is no more than saying "you don't have any discipline or self-control" which many people believe about overweight people. That is so far from the truth!
For people without food issues, eating disorders, etc., give that advice to "just stop eating", "just count calories" just... just.... Not everyone's brain is wired the same way. Not everyone can do this on their own. I know I "just" needed the surgery and a TON of therapy to lose this weight and those stupid advice-givers can "just" kiss my tush now!

Brush your teeth if you get hungry. Yeah that worked...not!

**By not eating processed food/carbs my diet is not healthy and I can't sustain a weight loss**
Oh ok, so when people used to farm and eat off the land that was a bad thing? So eating processed food/carbs is a good thing? This was coming from a personal trainer.
**Just lose the weight on your own**
Oh, ok, thanks for that advice, I couldn't figure that one out!
I know so many people who just don't eat at all and then criticize heavy people. I'd rather be overweight than anorexic.

Just drink more Water.
Really? I heard thins one a lot... and I am a Water drinker, I drank about 128oz of water daily... before today that is (surgery day).
Years ago, a woman I worked with, told me to drink ice water because is increases your metabolism by your body warming it up. WTF?

Hey, congratulations on your surgery @Writerjennifer. -- I notice that weight loss advice often begins with just, if you would just....
Well, if they would just.....shut up!
Good luck with your recovery and this beginning if a whole new chapter in your life!
@@The Icy One. Not sure who is creepier, chess guy or cotton ball advisor -- good grief!

Just drink more Water.
Really? I heard thins one a lot... and I am a Water drinker, I drank about 128oz of water daily... before today that is (surgery day).

Oh dear God... I have a very vivid imagination and now I need brain bleach...
Someone once told me to soak cotton balls in orange juice and swallow them. That the cotton balls would taste yummy going down, sit in my stomach like fluffy food and keep me full forever and I would never be hungry and I would lose tons of weight, super fast! Yeah... Riiight!

"The only reason most people are fat is because they drink soda" - my skinny friend said to me, someone who practically never drank soda (or my calories in general).

Hey, my ex primary care doctor suggested that if i would just buy the right cookbooks I wouldn't need the sleeve. She is my EX PCP for a reason.

FOTFL - Falling on the floor laughing!

"Protein makes you fat".....when it is breaded and deep fried.