Rolling with our Thanksgiving theme going back to Wednesday and through today, let's continue with positive thoughts. We've personally thanked people on this site who have been instrumental, we have talked about what we are thankful we learned by being overweight or obese, and we touched on a time when we've done something good to help others. This one will require a little more thought, but I hope everyone will chime in, as it could be what you say on this post that makes a difference to someone else! Today, I want to talk about the one A-HA moment you had when you learned something about WLS either from a Dr. or as a result of studying this site or other WLS studies, and how that made you thankful that we had this option.

My A-HA moment was when I realized after watching a video that my bariatric surgeon did, that perpetual dieting (losing, gaining, failure after failure) was actually causing more long term harm to my body than I had given it credit for. The realization that I may never get off that "dead horse" and I may never be able to pick up my grandchildren because of the weight and the degenerative arthritis, propelled me into making this decision and I am SO THANKFUL that we have WLS as an option to help end the cycle.

What was your A-HA moment?

I did not know ahead of time that it wouldn't just be about the weight loss and physical health. I was so focused on that that it was a real A-HA to find out that being released from obsessing about food feels so incredibly liberating. Empowerment!

My a-ha moment was realizing I'm not the only one. From the info session at my drs office and this site - I see how many people are like me and feel like me and are fighting the good fight against their lifelong weight. For so long I felt so alone in this world of heaviness - and then I met you guys!

Thank you guys, those are awesome!

I had become very lethargic because of my arthritis and pain in my knees; which added to my weight gain.

When I saw the orthopedic doctor, he said I HAD to lose weight in order to get my knees done and get some pain relief...
I had thought about WLS before, but now I was even more propelled to look into it... I wish I had done this sooner.

I have gone back to the orthopedic, who was VERY pleased with my weight loss and we are planning my surgery for the beginning of '15!!!

Once that is done, I am hoping to be even more active and looking forward to pain relief in my left leg (first one to be done)...

I couldn't have gotten here without WLS...

the past year I have been maintaining with a 5 pound variable... tho I'd like to lose more, right now I'm just not active enough...BUT I have MAINTAINED for a year, which has NEVER happened with all my "diets" before this tool was "installed" LOL

BigGirlPanties,

Congratulations on your maintenance!!!!

I think that's going to be the next hurdle for me--after surviving the holidays without stuffing myself into a coma.

I think that is what I am REALLY grateful for. I can eat just a little taste of the food and BE SATISFIED with it.

Thank God and VSG!

I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

Kathleen

Ah ha moment is that morbid obesity is a disease process... way more to this than "will power"

My big A-HA moment was watching my husband, who I considered to be a slave to food of the 10th degree versus me, lost more weight than ever with his sleeve. It was about month 3 of his journey that we had the hard talk where he basically said, "I've done something about my weight, health and longevity. You don't have to go with surgery but you do need to do something. I need you around." I scheduled an appointment that week for consult. I'm glad he was brave enough "to go first" and "to have the talk." It has changed our lives and we're only just getting started.

@@devint That is intense! And awesome! Thanks for sharing

Ghrelin was my aha moment.

Finding out that there was something called ghrelin.

In my big old stomach.

so you went from oxycodone, the active painkilling ingredient to Percocet which is oxycodone plus acetaminophen ( Tylenol) and that worked better? Hmm that's strange.

Check out Monday's post! It's a good one