Okay, I'm a fairy patient kind of girl. If i see someone in need, I will duly assist in any way possible. That is my nature.

However, there are limits to this...

Something is really getting on my proverbial mammary glands and I just have to put it out there... Before I 'go to town' on someone....

What am I referring to?

The indomitable, self-indulgent, totally out of proportion whinging on this website.

What kind of whinging, I hear you cry?! Well, it's not the general and often valid complaints, concerns and outpourings of confusion related to WLS. Which, lets face, it, we all have for time to time... Or even the posts that deviate from being WLS related and are either observations on life or genuine cries for help.

It's the 'OMG, I ate some fresh air!!!!! <swing your head back whilst placing your wrist on your forehead in a swooning fashion>

'I am going to have to flagellate myself for the rest of my natural born life because I ate a cracker with cheese spread on it!'

'I ate a mouthful of cream-cheese frosting, I hate myself' - then cue the over-exaggerated 'depression' and attention-seeking mewing because someone, in a 'moment of madness' <raises an eyebrow> didn't reach for a Protein shake or Quest bar.

Now, before I get lambasted for not being 'sympathetic' and being told in a lofty and self-righteous way that 'not everyone is as strong as other people and they just need some gentle encouragement'.. What I am going to say to that right now and up front is 'BALLS!'

So someone ate something with 15g of carbs, 11g of sugar and little protein. SO WHAT?!!! If you're clever enough to work out that these aren't good nutritional ratios, then you're smart enough to know that you shouldn't be eating it. So get some perspective, be objective, dust yourself off and carry on. Don't take up my visual space with your whinges that do no more than to advertise your bordering on infantile attention seeking ways...

If you make a habit of making bad food choices when you know the nutritional values - then frankly, you're an idiot. If you're having serious addiction issues - then that's a WHOLE different ball game and there's not a person on the planet that won't do all they can (within the limits of this medium and geography) to help.

Just to those who want to curry sympathy and 'collect' platitudinous pats on the back for being self-indulgent whinge-bags - over very little - all I have to say is just hope I don't come across those particular posts. The response won't be pretty.....

And for the smug ones who are undoubtedly going to say 'Well, you don't have to read them.. You can just skip past them..tra-la-la-la' I say BALLS to that too. Attention seekers have a habit of making their topic titles sound very 'life or death'. Having the concept of 'duty of care' bashed into my head for years, I feel obliged to read them. But no sooner do I get to the second sentence, I discover its been written by 'one of those types' and the rage subsequently builds...

So my rant to 'those types' and in summary is;

Do, please, and before I turn green, shut up!!!

<and relax...>

I know I haven't been here as long as you vets have(and I'm not getting sleeved til 22nd), but lately there seems to be so much

"Your liquid diet is going to suck way worse as you go, just watch out" or "the pain post op will be the worst pain you'll ever feel" kind of stuff. I'm just annoyed that others would drive fear into their posts when a lot of people are already scared.

Its truth. I always tell people to really think about if they want this because let me tell you... a small part of me feels like I've made a huge mistake. Pre Ops don't quite understand the psychological impact of this dramatic change. It messes with your head and while you start to shrink it will pull out the worst in you eventually (hopefully) getting to the best of you. I refuse to sugar coat this because I think about it every.single.day.

I'm an old hat at this forum (don't let the new profile fool you - this is my shameless promotions profile), and I know exactly what you're talking about. It does get tiresome to see the same posts over and over again, from different people. I do, some days, wish that people would use that cute little search function over there in the upper right hand corner ...

That being said, we were all newbies once, and we all had the same questions, the same fears, the same oh-my-God-I-just-ate-an-oreo-am-I-gonna-die moments. Some of us react differently than others to those moments. We can chose to freak out or not. For those that freak out a little more exuberantly than others, they may require a little more hand-holding and reassurance, and that's okay. We can see the post, chuckle a little, and either click to reply or not ...

I have not even gotten my date for this to happen for me, but I do think it's a mistake to get so wrapped up in the situation that you have to white knuckle your life away. I didn't decide to do this so I could give up every food I ever loved that wasn't the absolute best nutritional choice for me. I am choosing it because it will help me get better control. I will learn about great nutrition, but I have no illusions about me suddenly becoming perfect in my eating. I won't be. I don't even think I want to be. But I will do better and feel better and the weight will come off as it comes off. I will have a control tool, that's all...and I will learn as I go. I want to walk into this with realism.

A couple years ago, I believe, I made a comment about how I feared as the sleeve gained popularity, there would be less research done by folks researching this option of WLS. They only know that their friend did it and lost weight, so they are going to do it to. They never address the issues that led them to being morbidly obese and then are shocked when, post-sleeve, they cannot abuse food the way they used to. I'm afraid this is only going to be more and more prevalent as more and more people blindly get VSG.

I jumped blindly into the Atkins, South Beach, Cabbage but could easily pull the escape cord. That is not an option here. You have to know that when you get the VSG, you are going to have to make a fundamental change with your relationship with food. If you are not ready to do that, then you are not ready for the VSG.

Its truth. I always tell people to really think about if they want this because let me tell you... a small part of me feels like I've made a huge mistake. Pre Ops don't quite understand the psychological impact of this dramatic change. It messes with your head and while you start to shrink it will pull out the worst in you eventually (hopefully) getting to the best of you. I refuse to sugar coat this because I think about it every.single.day.

Wasn't it you, who just a few days post op yourself, told someone who had fallen a bit off the wagon, to simply stay on track or just not eat or something to that affect?

Things look a lot different as the weeks pass, don't they?

A couple years ago, I believe, I made a comment about how I feared as the sleeve gained popularity, there would be less research done by folks researching this option of WLS. They only know that their friend did it and lost weight, so they are going to do it to. They never address the issues that led them to being morbidly obese and then are shocked when, post-sleeve, they cannot abuse food the way they used to. I'm afraid this is only going to be more and more prevalent as more and more people blindly get VSG.

I jumped blindly into the Atkins, South Beach, Cabbage but could easily pull the escape cord. That is not an option here. You have to know that when you get the VSG, you are going to have to make a fundamental change with your relationship with food. If you are not ready to do that, then you are not ready for the VSG.

I am struggling with this right now, hard core.

Its truth. I always tell people to really think about if they want this because let me tell you... a small part of me feels like I've made a huge mistake. Pre Ops don't quite understand the psychological impact of this dramatic change. It messes with your head and while you start to shrink it will pull out the worst in you eventually (hopefully) getting to the best of you. I refuse to sugar coat this because I think about it every.single.day.

I believe this to be a normal reaction. The reality is often much different from the expectations. I think a majority of people have a point of where they say, "OMG, what have I done!?"

What matters, though, is how long that lasts. For me, it was about a day, then I pulled up my big boy underwear and dedicated myself to this journey. Others, can't get past it and wallow in self-pity for longer, usually accompanied by an ice cream shake from McDonalds.

Wasn't it you, who just a few days post op yourself, told someone who had fallen a bit off the wagon, to simply stay on track or just not eat or something to that affect?

Things look a lot different as the weeks pass, don't they?

Immensely different from week to week.

I believe this to be a normal reaction. The reality is often much different from the expectations. I think a majority of people have a point of where they say, "OMG, what have I done!?"

What matters, though, is how long that lasts. For me, it was about a day, then I pulled up my big boy underwear and dedicated myself to this journey. Others, can't get past it and wallow in self-pity for longer, usually accompanied by an ice cream shake from McDonalds.

For some reason going into week 4 I am beginning to realize that this is where the rubber truly meets the road for me. I have got to find a new food identity right now. I start work again tomorrow after being off for a month. Real life is starting again soon and I better figure it out.

For some reason going into week 4 I am beginning to realize that this is where the rubber truly meets the road for me. I have got to find a new food identity right now. I start work again tomorrow after being off for a month. Real life is starting again soon and I better figure it out.

You will find your way. The first month was the most difficult for me. Food wasn't appealing, I couldn't use food as a comfort, I was irritable and when I did eat something, it hurt and tasted like a cat's rear end.

Good news is that you will find your groove ... clothes start fitting looser ... people look at you in the eye ... women hold the door open for you ...

And then you're like, "Wow, this is cool" and you get re-invigorated and re-committed to your journey. Just stay focused and try to follow your medical team's suggestions as closely as you can.

For some reason going into week 4 I am beginning to realize that this is where the rubber truly meets the road for me. I have got to find a new food identity right now. I start work again tomorrow after being off for a month. Real life is starting again soon and I better figure it out.

I struggled a lot in the beginning (after the initial healing and special diets) because my head/emotions wanted to go back to my old pattern of using food to comfort myself. I didn't feel my emotions before, I ate them until I didn't feel anything. Food was my drug. After the sleeve, I couldn't eat enough to get my "high" anymore - to get to that place where I was numb. It was VERY uncomfortable to actually feel my emotions. After a lot of therapy before the sleeve and after, I'm a little better at letting myself feel without reaching for food to cope. The one thing that people need to know before surgery is the mental work is so much harder than the physical recovery. But if you don't do the work, you will likely end up right back were you started.

You will find your way. The first month was the most difficult for me. food wasn't appealing, I couldn't use food as a comfort, I was irritable and when I did eat something, it hurt and tasted like a cat's rear end.

Good news is that you will find your groove ... clothes start fitting looser ... people look at you in the eye ... women hold the door open for you ...

And then you're like, "Wow, this is cool" and you get re-invigorated and re-committed to your journey. Just stay focused and try to follow your medical team's suggestions as closely as you can.

I agree - seeing results and feeling better has been a big confidence boost. I'm at a much better place now than I was a few months ago.

Must follow this thread if only for entertainment purposes lol.

And by the way' date=' I had a baggie size serving of movie theatre popcorn this weekend and the earth stopped moving, there was chaos in the streets and I think I may have lost 10 hairs. This is exactly what I expected to happen though [/quote']

And you will never regain that lost nutrition opportunity (eye popping glare) or Its OK honey boo boo ("hugs and kisses") lol

Immensely different from week to week.

Yep...and wait till you're 1 year, 2 years, 3 years out. Wait till you hit maintenance.....or worse....stop losing 20 pounds from goal. It's an ever evolving process. But manageable with realistic expectations and self awareness.

I think this is mean spirited. As are most of the posts here.

I will think twice about this being a safe place to post my thoughts or my pictures.

Oh come on! This is the rants and raves section of VST - this is the appropriate place to rant a bit. How long have you been reading VST? Because if it has been a while (it has been a year for me), you start to see some annoying themes. So when you see someone post their pictures in multiple threads to maximize the amount of people patting them on their back, and they do this multiple times, doesn't that make you say....hmmmm....?