Greetings fellow roux en Y friends. I have been a long time lurker and have finally decided to post. I am 7 months post surgery - July 24, 2012 and am doing well. I have not lost at the rate of some I read about here but am happy with what is going on. I have experienced major stalls over and over again and am currently in the midst of yet another one that I hope will break soon. My philosophy and mantra "It is what it is" and I just have to keep moving forward each day with the hope for continued weight loss. Pre-surgery weight was 255, current 195. I can eat most anything but in much smaller amounts than before. This being said I try to make the most diet advantageous choices each day. I feel frustration that I am eating about 1/8 of what I used to eat but the weight loss is slow - then - I remind myself of my mantra "It is what it is" and go on from there!

I have chosen to tell NO one but my immediate family that I had this procedure. This is a very personal choice, but I have never been encouraged or helped by others "watching" what I eat. When people ask me what I have done to lose weight I say eat less - a LOT less- and exercise more. Which are both true. I feel the most angst about keeping silent about this when I encounter others who I know, have had a lifelong struggle with weight and they ask me how I am achieving success - I give my standard answer but know that this really will not help them, It has only been the tool of gastric bypass that has allowed me this success. Although I have the desire to give them information about this has helped me achieve weight loss - it is a slippery slope - once I tell one person - it gets around. Choosing not to make this choice public has protected me from the stigma of taking the "easy" way out from those that view the inability to lose weight as a social or self-discipline problem, not a medical condition. "It is what is it" and these are my thoughts.

Welcome Colorado...I am wyoming!!!

I am from CO as well! congrats on your decision, it should be up to you !

Cyn-shakiraa Dos 12-17-12

Welcome I'm from nw Wyoming but currently in nw North Dakota.

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I took a different approach. It suddenly doesnt matter how I did it... but that I did it. By telling my story and showing the success that I have had 2 others have had wls after a life long struggle with weight like me. Im proud of the decision I made and even prouder of how far I have come. To the people who think I took the easy way out... They are not important to me.. with my renewed self confidence, I no longer really care what negative people say... and quite honestly I have never had anyone say to me that I took the easy way out. Im glad that you are here and no longer a lurker... alot of people that are just starting out can benefit from the advise you can give.

Welcome I stop mentioning my WLS to others as well. I don't even admit I had it done. Lmbo I keep it on Facebook don private page & here. Those who know knows but I don't mention it anymore.

It's funny how we are all different with our thoughts. I tell everyone I really don't care who knows that I'm trying to make myself healthier. I have a question. Can we suck on hard candies sugar free of course? I never heard anything about that.

This isn't the easy way out you have to be very careful and think about everything you do so its a lot of work but its worth it as far as telling people that's a personal decision but its your choice not anyone else's

I can completely understand how you feel. Everyone family and friends are so different. I decided to take the approach of education since my decision was helped by other who also went through the process. It is important to tell all the food and the bad that comes from it. Right now, im dealing with deflating boobs that can only be fixed by surgery. There is so much more I the surgery then just loosing weight. It's almost like a rehab, with a life long membership.

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