So the other night my surgeons office held a ceremony for everyone that had wls in 2013. My surgery was 10/21 so I was excited to go and see everyone's progress. I know what they say about expectations but it was really kind of depressing. They had people seated in groups by month, December, November, October then September, August etc.. as each group got up I expected (haha) that for the most part each group would be a little skinnier. With the exception of a few people the October, November December group was the thinnest! I wish I hadn't gone to this ceremony. I feel so discouraged after seeing all of these still fat people. I was one of the thinnest people in the whole room and I wasn't expecting that! Arg... I really need to find a way to get that picture out of my head!

Does anyone mind if I steal the dead horse's tail? My WLS-related hair loss hadn't fully recuperated and the horse's color matches mine perfectly

Does anyone mind if I steal the dead horse's tail? My WLS-related hair loss hadn't fully recuperated and the horse's color matches mine perfectly

I LOL'd.

You people are making my point exactly! You see, an "apology" DON'T ERASE THE HURT THAT IT'S CAUSED but now-a-days people seem to think they can say anything and if it causes a big ruckus, just apologize and move on. I don't know, maybe we're taking out cues from politicians or something but while you might move on from after an apology, you can rest assured that the offended individual does not. Maybe they should but it's not always easy.

Here's my point: This site is a support group. If someone started at 300/350 pounds and was now 200 lbs and posted before & after pictures of their amazing 100 to 150 weight loss journey and someone posted under their pictures that they were "still fat", what type of support is that? Do you think that person would view this site as a support forum/group? Do you think that person would feel better about themselves if the person that posted that comment posted an apology?

Nevertheless, I'm done with this topic and will look for more positive topics in the future since this is my main point of support!

This is a forum in cyber space. There is nothing more the original poster can do but apologize.

NO! We can do a LOT more! PEOPLE CAN THINK BEFORE THEY SAY THINGS! ISN'T THAT THE EXACT MESSAGE WE'RE TEACHING OUR KIDS WITH ANTI-BULLYING? SAME THING! ADULTHOOD DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT OR CORRECT!

(Whoops, I didn't think my post through. Removed by the anti-sarcastic side of me).

Edited March 18, 201412 yr by gmanbat

What. In. The. World.

No, really.

As I'm sick and feeling rather putrid, I shall say but this.

Please, everyone, read the definition of the word 'Fear' in a dictionary.

Understand what it is. Recognise how it can present itself.

Have compassion - on both sides of the fence.

I shall now return to my duvet, electric blanket and warmed cup of milk.

And before anyone asks; no, there's no bleedin' Protein powder in it

Madame Reverie,

Lllluuurrrvvv your attitude!

Bleedin' LMAO!

What. In. The. World.

No, really.

As I'm sick and feeling rather putrid, I shall say but this.

Please, everyone, read the definition of the word 'Fear' in a dictionary.

Understand what it is. Recognise how it can present itself.

Have compassion - on both sides of the fence.

I shall now return to my duvet, electric blanket and warmed cup of milk.

And before anyone asks; no, there's no bleedin' Protein powder in it

But is there a shot of whiskey in it? That's all that really matters.

Cant, chick. I'm on whacking amounts of antibiotics.

Boo!

Whisky kills stuff.

Well, it might certainly kill the efficacy of the tablets..

Either that, or it'll kill my stomach and leave me talking down the big white telephone to God!

Shame, as a hot whiskey would go down a treat right now!

I've kept quiet but there's something I feel the need to say. First, I come here for support and perspective. I'm not always in a sunshine-y mood when I need this support. I thought this would be a good place to get the perspective I was after and the honest and serious comments from (almost) everybody truly helped me wrap my head around an experience that threw me for a loop. It helped me see things differently, which was exactly what I needed and what I asked for. However. .. to those of you that are SO angry and ready to beat me with a stick all I can say is I'm sorry for you - that you can't see things from someone else's view and have some understanding, even days later. My op truly wasn't meant to hurt anybody, I was hurting from my personal journey and experience and as others have done, they have given their point of view without the nastiness. I sincerely pray that you find enough peace within yourself to get over your grudge for somebody that posted something in an online support forum. I hope that you never inadvertently say something that offends someone else and they act the way you do. I'm not sorry for my post. I do regret some of the words I used and I regret that they hurt people on here in any way. But support isn't always pretty. Sometimes what we need isn't politically correct or polite. Sometimes it hurts. But hurting back is NOT what I teach my children. That's all. Have a nice day

Anyway, I spoke with the Cordinator afterwards and she confirmed that the odds worked that way from what she saw; people who kept coming back to the support group seem to be doing very well in general, and sticking with their program. She did not say much about the people who don't come, exempt by omission, and it left me wondering how easily accessible these support groups are to everyone. Hope so!

I think you're right about the support group being very helpful. My surgeon is a 3-hour (one way) drive for me and the support group meetings are in the afternoon. There's no way I can take off from work a day every month to go to a support group meeting--particularly after all the full days I took off last year for every pre-op and post-op appointment! I haven't found any support groups any closer and I do think it would be very helpful.

Just a thought (slightly off topic, but it popped on my head as I was reading this) Do you think that maybe the difference between those that are very successful and those who arent as successful as quickly is research and commitment. It just occurred to me that you don't see too many people on these forums stating that they are losing weight (with the exception of the stalling that everyone experiences).

Im in a class right now that is necessary for insurance, but I really feel like I learn more in my own research. We have one of those teachers that is against the surgery and so she tries to push people into natural weight loss techniques as opposed to teaching us what we will need to do after surgery. I worry about some of the people in my class who never check out the forums or do any research because the class is the only learning outlet they have. There were several people in class last week that were legitimately shocked to hear that they couldn't have bacon right after surgery...we have been in class for 19 weeks now!!!! Anyway...I think I began a rant somehow!! Thank you if you are still reading!!

Just a thought (slightly off topic, but it popped on my head as I was reading this) Do you think that maybe the difference between those that are very successful and those who arent as successful as quickly is research and commitment. It just occurred to me that you don't see too many people on these forums stating that they are losing weight (with the exception of the stalling that everyone experiences).

Im in a class right now that is necessary for insurance, but I really feel like I learn more in my own research. We have one of those teachers that is against the surgery and so she tries to push people into natural weight loss techniques as opposed to teaching us what we will need to do after surgery. I worry about some of the people in my class who never check out the forums or do any research because the class is the only learning outlet they have. There were several people in class last week that were legitimately shocked to hear that they couldn't have bacon right after surgery...we have been in class for 19 weeks now!!!! Anyway...I think I began a rant somehow!! Thank you if you are still reading!!

I think you are right in some areas. Research and knowledge is so important. But I also think that dedication to improving your health is the most important.. not 100% because that would mean we were perfect..And we know none of us are.

I was one of those that thought I had it all sewed up. I knew what I was getting into and researched it for 2 years. After the surgery I realized I knew nothing at all. Sure I watched a few videos on how the procedure was done. Followed experiences on You Tube. Spent some time on here reading others experiences.

Here is information you need to continue and succeed. Fight your way, day to day. Learn to fix your brain by reading how others did it or are doing it. Fight your fears by seeing how others have handled it. And realizing that it is a life time war that you win one fight at a time. I could broad cast my own loss every day on here but that is not the real deal.

I lost my weight differently then most people on this forum and lived to tell about it. I never ever thought about stalls, weight gain or loss. I have gone by what I felt like and clothes sizes.

We don't have a support group here either and it ticks me off so much because hundreds of people in my area have had WLS and it is like the biggest secret in history.

Go where you learn the most and be as prepared as you can. My experience was that I would never have been ready if I looked into that completely..And never could I have looked into it completely anyway..I think you and I need to use every venue available to us. And start making a dent in the spots where there is no support or help for us.

There is so much more then losing the pounds. There are the emotional, mental, physical and constant self doubt and not to mention how others treated us and now treat us differently. It is such a merry-go-round it makes my head spin.

Just a thought (slightly off topic, but it popped on my head as I was reading this) Do you think that maybe the difference between those that are very successful and those who arent as successful as quickly is research and commitment. It just occurred to me that you don't see too many people on these forums stating that they are losing weight (with the exception of the stalling that everyone experiences).

Well except all the people who post they lose weight and are in smaller sizes, posting excitedly about things they can do now they couldn't before...

Just a thought (slightly off topic, but it popped on my head as I was reading this) Do you think that maybe the difference between those that are very successful and those who arent as successful as quickly is research and commitment. It just occurred to me that you don't see too many people on these forums stating that they are losing weight (with the exception of the stalling that everyone experiences).

Well except all the people who post they lose weight and are in smaller sizes, posting excitedly about things they can do now they couldn't before...

I more so meant that there aren't people on the forums talking negatively about surgery in general, that it doesn't work...etc. I welcome all the positive posts I can find. I'm clearly someone who commented in this post after only reading the first page of comments. Now that I've read through all NINE pages.....my comments seem out of place and all I can say is that this forum is a lifesaver for me. I get knowledge and support and guidance from all the posts, positive and negative, but sometimes people need to just let stuff go. You've made your point and the posts lose the validity when people are just squabbling over semantics.