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My Journey

My weight loss has been a journey,

One I never imagined would succeed.

After so many years it is so hard,

To distinguish between a want, and a need.

We need food for survival,

But we want it for all the wrong reasons.

We use it to Celebrate anything,

Even the changing of the seasons.

Many do not understand,

The struggles that we face.

Discrimination is running rampant,

It’s not always about race.

We are so much harder on ourselves,

Than anyone else could every think about being.

Cause every day in the mirror,

It’s our own body we are seeing.

There came a time to make a choice,

To live or just stop breathing.

I had to admit I needed help,

But the path would not be easy.

Some would say I took the easy way out,

Having surgery is not the answer.

But those people have never walked a mile in my shoes,

Being fat is like a cancer.

Having this band inside of me,

Is the tool that gives me hope.

Some days it really tests me,

And I wonder if it’s friend or foe.

It has given me the start I needed,

It challenges me everyday

I’ve worked hard for every pound I’ve lost,

For me it was the WAY!

My life is so much better,

And it gets brighter every day.

This journey has taught me oh so much,

And I Praise God every time I weigh.

So if you have this choice to make,

And you’re not quite sure what to do.

Don’t worry about what others say,

Search your heart and make the choice for you!

written by: Regina (rroswelltx)

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Regina:

You put all my thought and emotions into words! I love it! Iam so glad that we are members together in the June Crew!

Love, Hugs and Friendship,

Lisa

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That is wonderful... you cover just about all the emotions, how people treat you and the people who will never understand as I did not understand untill I got heavy... great!!!

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Just today I was talking to a friend long distance that may want the band, and she was talking about all the misunderstandings that people are telling her about. Her sadness about others not really understanding were all to familiar to me. This poem is such a recap of our conversation, its like you were a fly on the wall in our rooms. I think a lot of peoplew will see themselves in these words you skillfully put here for us.:clap2: :clap2:

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you have very clearly put the thoughts and feelings many of us have had into some very nice words- well done.

the friend or for bit strikes a chord, our band challenges our past and present behaviour, thats part of the learning process. I have read where people say the band does not help emotional eating, and I think that is untrue. even the fact we can see it as a foe at time shows us that it is showing us somthing that is uncomfortable to see/know- we can only fix or change behaviour that we aknowledge- it s the band that has helped me tell the dfference between want and need, between real and head hunger. not always very convenient when I want that snack and I realize I want it for the wrong reasons, but I thank the band evntually.

I also like the bit about walking a mle n someone elses shoes. I am a great believer in peer support, especially when dealing with long term/chronc issues. THe so called experts are helpful but only someone else who has experienced the same challenges, fears, dscriminations etc can trully understand, emphathise, sympathise and feel what we feel. knowing that someone else has felt the way we feel at times s comfortng, especially when we see that they have gotten through the tough times- that brings real hope

great words presented in a very poignant manner

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PS - the only ting I might have an ssue with is the title

My journey

Its a good title, but it covers the journey of just about every bandster I have ever met or spoke to. so I would prefer The Journey or Our Journey. Not a critiscm, more a complment. You have written from a personal perspectve but have captured a far broader image of the band journey than I think you may have realised at the start- if that makes sense

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Thank you all for the feedback, it has been at least 10 years since I have written anything. I used to do it so regularly but just don't anymore.

I titled it my journey only because I would never feel comfortable speaking for anyone else when not everyone may feel the same as I do. I do however feel good that I have been able to capture what others may feel too. I don't know what sparked me to write this, I guess I felt as though by doing it, it may help other's understand what I have gone through in the last 9 months. Thats the reason why I wanted to post it here, because you all do understand and i knew ya'll would tell me what you really think. I am happy to be a part of this forum, and happy for the life my band has given me. Thanks again everyone.

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Your poem is my life too. You brought tears to my eyes. No one but those of us LIVING this struggle can understand.

Thank you for the emotional poem.

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    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 1 reply
      1. Phil Penn

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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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